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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The Soka Gakkai Yesterday and Today or Inconsistency from Beginning to End

Yesterday:

"Implicit in the March 16 ceremony was his [President Toda's]
profound instruction that kosen-rufu must
be carried out based solely on the Head Temple --
 guidance which we must take deeply to heart. In
this connection, the sixty-sixth high priest, Nittatsu
Shonin, gave us guidance to the effect that the
ceremony in which we common mortals come to
 the Head Temple and chant daimoku to the
Dai-Gohonzon, which embodies the life of the
 Buddha of beginningless time, is the most fundamental
one. I want you to understand that our March 16
 Kosen-rufu Day may be considered one form of
"kosen-rufu ceremony," which we carry out under
 the mercy of the high priest, who, as the great
leader of kosen-rufu, directs us toward the Dai-Gohonzon."
Daisaku Ikeda, Seikyo Times, March 1986, p. 10 

"The concept of manifesting the Buddha nature
inherent in an insentient image through the "eye opening
ceremony," thus making it an object of worship, also
applies to the Gohonzon..." Soka Gakkai MWND, Vol 4,
1994 revised edition. 

"...the Gohonzons that we recieve are also the living flesh
of the Original Buddha whose eyes have been opened according
to the principles of the actual Ichinen Sanzen in the passages hidden
 in depths of the Juryo Chapter and the true attainment of Buddhahood
by plants and trees. Why would this very Gohonzon not be
the true aspect of the eye opening of wooden and painted images?
This is absolutely not found in the heretical sects outside of
Nichiren Shoshu, and is a profoundly secret doctrine which only
Nichiren Shoshu possesses." Daisaku Ikeda Soka Gakkai Daibyaku Renge 

"... the ceremony in which we common mortals come to the head
temple and  daimoku to the Dai-Gohonzon, which embodies the life of
he Buddha of beginningless time, is the most fundamental one."
Daisaku Ikeda, Seikyo Times, March 1986, p. 10 

"From the time our predecessor Makiguchi sensei, the Gakkai
has progressed according to the great spirit of not concerning ourselves
in any way concerning the position of the High Priest. In the future as well,
we will be consistent with this spirit. Those who violate this,  even if they
are top leaders, are to be immediately expelled. This has to be
the spirit of believers."
Daisaku Ikeda, Seikyo Shimbun, 1/29/56 

Today: 
Each and every one of Shakyamuini's words tells
us that it was right for SGI to separate itself from the
ruinous [High Priest] Nikken sect. The SGI is
advancing straight along the "path to glory." The Nikken
sect is sliding irrevocably down the "path to ruin."
 I want to make this perfectly clear to you all."
Daisaku Ikeda, World Tribune, September 13, 1993 

Yesterday: 
"It's no good unless these three, an excellent Law, an excellent
master and an excellent lay believer, are all present. Nam Myoho
Renge Kyo is of course the excellent Law. Furthermore, the High
Priests are the only ones who have recieved the Daishonin's teachings,
and as our masters, have transmitted to us the Daishonin's innermost
enlightenment exactly as it is with nothing lacking during 64 transmissions.
Therefore, when we worship the Dai-Gohonzon through the High Priest, benefits
will definitely come our way." The Complete Writings Of Josei Toda, Vol. 4, p. 399 

"We, ourselves, cannot produce the Gohonzon. Since it's
 the enlightened entity of Nichiren Daishonin,
no one has the authority other than the successive
high priests who have been the sole heirs to the
heritage of the True Law. We take no part in this.
Therefore, the objects of worship inscribed by those
in the Butsuryu and Minobu factions [of the Nichiren
Shu sect] are absolutely powerless. They are worthless
because they are fake. In fact, they contain the
power of evil spirits. That is why they are dangerous."
 Former SGI president, Josei Toda, Daibyaku Renge, 98, p. 98. 

"Members of the Minobu school of the Nichiren sect
chant daimoku. They have the Gosho Their
recitation of the sutra also includes the Hoben and
Juryo chapters. And, in the Shoshinkai, which consists
of ex-priests of Nichiren Shoshu , and the portions
of the sutra they recite and the daimoku that they
chant are identical to the practice we observe.
Though their religion may seem the same as ours, they
lack the single, unbroken heritage of the law
recieved directly from Nichiren Daishonin. If one's faith is
not based on this line of inheritance, it is worthless
 to embrace any Gohonzon, for no benefit will be
forthcoming. That is to say, "Without the lifeblood of faith,
it would be useless to embrace the Lotus Sutra." "
Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhism in Action, vol 3, p 254 

"What we must keep in mind here is that concerning the Lifeblood
there is the specific Lifeblood of the entity of the Law, and the general
 lifeblood of faith. We must clearly differentiate between the two.
In short, the Lifeblood of the Entity of the Law, the very life of Nichiren
Daishonin, who is the reincarnation of the Buddha of Absolute Freedom,
is the ultimate Lifeblood, the most important matter concerning
life and death. The entity of the law which reveals the life of
the Daishonin in it's exact state, is the Dai-Gohonzon of Nam
Myoho Renge Kyo. That Lifeblood which is passed on and protected
by the successive High Priests of the conferral of the Lifeblood of
the Law recieved by only a single person." Daisaku Ikeda, Lectures on 
Nichiren Daishonin's Gosho, Vol. 30, p. 58 

Today: 
"... we must deeply understand that the heritage of the
universal Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can only
be transmitted through organizations [SGI] joined in
unity, based on faith in Nichiren Daishonin's
Buddhism and the principle of the oneness of master
 and disciple." November 9, 1992 World Tribune 

"Today the only true inheritor of the Daishonin's
way of master and disciple is the Soka Gakkai. I
declare this unequivocally. That's why the Soka
Gakkai is so important. Without our organization, the
True Law would be utterly lost. There would be
no way to save humanity. That is why supporting and
defending the Soka Gakkai are the same as
defending and advancing the Daishonin's Buddhism."
Daisaku Ikeda, World Tribune, September 14, 1992 

Yesterday: 
"The Dai-Gohonzon of the high sanctuary of true
Buddhism at the Nichiren Shoshu head temple,
Taiseki-ji, is the basis of all Gohonzons. The
Gohonzon, which we are allowed to recieve so that we can
pray in our own homes, can be inscribed only by
one of the successive high priests who inherit the true
lineage of Nichiren Shoshu." Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhism 
in Action, vol. 1, pg. 21 

"It goes without saying that our Soka Gakkai is an
organization of Nichiren Shoshu believers. Therefore,
worshipping the Dai-Gohonzon and serving the
high priest is the fundamental spirit of the Gakkai."
Daisaku Ikeda, Inaugural address of president Ikeda, 1960 
"The basis of Nichiren Shoshu is the Lifeblood recieved only by
a single person. To faithfully follow the High Priest of the bequethal of the
Lifeblood is the correct way for priests and laybelievers. If one is
mistaken about this single point, then everything will become insane."
Daisaku Ikeda, Discussing Kosen-rufu and Human Life, Vol. 3, p. 32 

Today:
"Thus, Nichiren Daishonin teaches us to treat the
SGI members who work for Kosenrufu with greater
respect than anyone else, and we must seat them
high above esteemed priests." Daisaku Ikeda, World 
Tribune, March 14, 1994 

"The [High Priest] Nikken sect, claiming that the High
Priest's inner enlightenment and the Gohonzon are
"the two indivisible entities of the Object of Worship,"
 is using the Gohonzon and estabishing the "High
Priest creed." ibid. 

Yesterday: 

"Needless to say, the Dai-Gohonzon of the high
sanctuary inscribed for all mankind is the most
fundamental basis of the movement for the Nichiren
Shoshu Soka Gakkai [they have since changed the
name to SGI]. The Dai-Gohonzon has been preserved
and handed down within Nichiren Shoshu from
the founder, Nichiren Daishonin, to his successor,
 Nikko Shonin, and then to the third high priest,
Nichimoku Shonin, up to the present 67th high
priest, Nikken Shonin. I hope, therefore, that we will
courageously dedicate ourselves to studying
Nichiren Daishonin's teachings in order to deepen our faith
and to propagation true Buddhism in each country
or community, as we follow the high priest's
guidance, and respect the traditions and doctrines
of Nichiren Shoshu." Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhism in Action, '
vol 1, p 33 

"We conduct the third prayer to express our deepest
appreciation to Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha of
the Latter Day of the Law. In this third silent prayer,
we also offer our gratitude to Nikko Shonin, the
second high priest and the fouder of Taisekiji. Further,
we offer our appreciation to the third high priest,
Nichimoku Shonin, and all the successive high priests
of Nichiren Shoshu, each of whom transmitted
the heritage of the Law to the next. Presently, as
you know, the 67th high priest, Nikken Shonin, has
inherited the Law. Now he is the master of true Buddhism."
Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhism in action, vol 1, p 107 

"...we must protect and transmit the essence of the traditions and doctrines
that have been continually protected for over 700 years, since the time of
the Daishonin. I am concerned that unless we make this our basis, that no matter
how much we temporarily increase in power, we would be unable to
avoid the criticism of future generations that our Kosen-rufu was a sham."
Daisaku Ikeda, Daibyaku Renge, No. 333, p. 13 

"That which forms the basis of Nichiren Shoshu is the Lifeblood.
With the Dai-Gohonzon as the basis, the successive High Priests
alone recieve and inherit this Lifeblood, and preserve it eternally."
Daisaku Ikeda, Discussing Kosen-rufu and Human Life, Vol. 3, p. 256 

"The Great Pure Law of the Latter day of the Law is transmitted
by the successive High Priests of the bequethal of the lifeblood
of the Law recieved by only a single person, and they inscribe
the Gohonzon for us believers from that standpoint." Daisaku 
Ikeda, Discussing Kosen-rufu and Human Life, Vol. 4, p. 6 

Today: 
Furthermore, in light of the true meaning of the Daishonin's
Buddhism, it is a great mistake to think that
only the high priest is vested with authority regarding the
Gohonzon merely because of his position
and title. World Tribune, Sept. 13, 1993 

"The faith of "not begruging one's life," life based on the
Gohonzon ...such faith exists only in the Soka
Gakkai. Only the Soka Gakkai possesses "action"
aimed toward the goal of kosen-rufu, and correct
"guidance" leading to happiness."
Daisaku Ikeda, World Tribune, Jan. 17, 1994 

Yesterday:
However, such criticisms [that the practice of Shakubuku
is too harsh] were only based on the superficial
understanding of common mortals which is incomparably
 inferior to the understanding of the original
Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin. Rather than reprimanding
them, Nichiren Daishonin describes the
cowardice, timidity and ignorance of those disciples as "pitiful."
Today, a similar situation has arisen. Faithless disciples
criticized High Priest Nikken, who is the only
legitimate inheritor of the Law as the "emissary" of the
original Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin. Those who
for whatever reasons criticize the high priest are
 traitors against the orthodox lineage of Nichiren
Shoshu. Buddhism in Action, By Daisaku Ikeda, 
1984 ed., pages 273-274 

Today: 
"Today, I would just like to point out that, if the 
priesthood  is earnestly saying that, "to go against the
high priest is slander," then they are only going to
get caught in their own trap." Daisaku Ikeda, World 
Tribune, Jan. 17, 1994 

Yesterday: 
"The Dai-Gohonzon of the high sanctuary of true
 Buddhism at the Nichiren Shoshu head temple,
Taiseki-ji, is the basis of all Gohonzons. The Gohonzon,
which we are allowed to recieve so that we can
pray in our own homes, can be inscribed only by
one of the successive high priests who inherit the true
lineage of Nichiren Shoshu." Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhism
in Action, vol. 1, pg. 21 

"Only the successive High Priests of the conferral of the Lifeblood of the
Law inscribe the Gohonzons we recieve based upon the principle that he is
an emination of the Buddha." Daisaku Ikeda, Discussing Kosen-rufu and 
Human Life, Vol. 1, p. 112 

Today: 
"At the present time, the Soka Gakkai itself is the one and only
group of united priests which receives and inherits the 'lifeblood of
faith.'" (Seikyo Shinbun, 9/18/93) 

"Lay believers who, among all the people in the world,
embrace, believe in and practice the True Law...can also
be said to be the treasure of the priest" 

"The status of the successive High Priests is lower than that 
of the treasure of the priest.Lay believers who are disciples of the
Daishonin individually represent the treasure of the priest" 

"It can be said that the priests and lay believers
all individually represent the treasure of the priest" 
Speech by Soka Gakkai DIkeda
World Fibune,  Sept. 30, 1991 

"Now that we have clearly separated ourselves from Nichiren
Shoshu, let us firmly establish a religion for human beings..."
Daisaku Ikeda, Sept. 1993 Daibyaku Renge (SGI) 

"If even a good priest sees someone slandering the Law and
disregards him, failing to reproach him, to oust him or to punish
him for his offense, then that priest is betraying Buddhism. But if he takes
the slanderer severely to task, drives him off or punishes him,
then he is my dsciple and one who truly understands my
teachings." -- The Nirvana Sutra Explainig Why SGI/Ikeda was 
Taken to Task and Driven off 

"From the time our predecessor Makiguchi sensei, the Gakkai
has progressed according to the great spirit of not concerning ourselves
in any way concerning the position of the High Priest. In the future as well,
we will be consistent with this spirit. Those who violate this,  even if they
are top leaders, are to be immediately expelled. This has to be
the spirit of believers." Daisaku Ikeda Explains Why He Was Expelled, 
Seikyo Shimbun, 1/29/56 

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