Learning from the Gosho - Climbing Up Dragon Gate

On Mount Tien-t’ai in China, there is a waterfall a thousand feet high called Dragon Gate. From early spring on many fish gather at the foot of this waterfall in hopes of climbing it. When one in a thousand or one in ten thousand succeeds in making the ascent, it becomes a dragon. Fish desiring to become dragons are like common persons wishing to be admitted to the palace of the emperor, or like poor persons seeking treasure. And becoming a Buddha also is similar to these things.

That waterfall, which plunges a thousand feet, thunders down faster than an arrow shot from a strong bow in the sky.

When the fish come to climb the waterfall, people gather together throwing nets, casting lines, and shooting at the fish with bows and arrows, so that there is not an inch open on either bank.

In the sky above hawks, eagles, kites and crows circle, awaiting their chance. When night falls, tigers, wolves, foxes, and raccoon dogs appear out of nowhere, snatch up the fish and devour them.

You should know what it is to become a Buddha through this example. We have no idea how many times, as sentient beings transmigrating through the six paths; we have been born in India as a lion, or in China or Japan as a tiger, a wolf or a fox. Or how many times in the heavens as a hawk, or an eagle, or on the ground as deer or a snake. Or how many times we have been born as a pheasant to tremble before a hawk, or a mouse to cringe before a cat, and, while yet living, have had our heads pecked at or our flesh bitten off.

The pile of bones from the bodies that we have lived and died in over the course of one kalpa would soar higher than Mount Sumeru and be packed deeper than the earth. Though our lives are precious, they are all too easily snatched away.

Therefore you must resolve that if, this time, you give up your body and sacrifice your life for the sake of the Lotus Sutra, it will without fail become the source of satisfaction of countless, innumerable kalpas of lifetimes!!

Source: Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - II (Pg. 673)