Of Blood and the Buddha: A Nichiren Primer on Counseling Clients

Should you pray when you bleed? More specifically, should a Buddhist woman refrain from chanting and reciting from the Lotus Sutra during her menstrual cycle? This was the query fielded by the fiery prophet Nichiren in 1264 in Kamakura, Japan. Nichiren's response, however, is far more than a doctrinal resolution of an esoteric theological uncertainty.

To the contrary, Nichiren's advice is a model of analysis, common sense, and compassion that today's attorneys would be wise to emulate. As set forth below, Nichiren's cautious, sensitive, and pragmatic approach provides an enlightened template on how we can best counsel our clients in areas of doubt and possible peril.