Learning from the Gosho - The Four Virtues and Four Debts of Gratitude

When the Buddhas of the three existences of past, present and future appear in the world, they all preach the importance of repaying the Four Debts of Gratitude. And the worthy men of antiquity, the Three Sovereigns, The Five Emperors, Confucius, Lao Tzo, Yen Huei and the others, taught the practice of the Four Virtues.

The Four Virtues are: (1) Filial piety towards one’s father and mother, (2) Loyalty to one’s lord, (3) Courtesy towards one’s friends and (4) Pity and kindness towards those less fortunate than oneself.

First, being filial towards one’s father and mother means that though a parent may act unreasonably or speak in a tone of ill will, one never shows the slightest anger or looks displeased. One never in any way disobeys a parent; is always mindful of providing a parent with all manner of good things, and if this happens to be impossible, in the course of a day one at least smiles twice or thrice in their direction.

Second, being loyal to one’s lord means that one never has anything to be ashamed of in serving him. Though it may mean sacrificing one’s own life, if it will benefit one’s lord, one acts with a willing heart. For though one’s trustworthiness may at first go unnoticed, in time it will be openly rewarded.

Third, treating one’s friends with courtesy means that, although one may encounter them ten or twenty times in the course of a single day, one greets them courteously as though they had traveled a thousand or two thousand miles to see one, never showing them indifference.

Fourth, treating those who are less fortunate with pity and kindness means that, toward those whose circumstances are inferior to one’s own, one thinks of such persons as one’s own children and shows them consideration at all times, exercising pity and compassion.

These, then are the four virtues, and if you observe them in this manner, you may be called a worthy man or sage. If you pay attention to these four concerns, then although you may err in other ways, you will still deserve to be called a good man. If you can follow these four patterns of behavior, then although you have never read all the three thousand volumes of the Confucian and Taoist classics, it will be as though you had in fact read them.

Source: Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - II (Pg. 636)