Top ten reasons SGI clings to the Nichiren as True Buddha doctrine by Robin Beck

Originally Posted by robinbeck at August 15, 2005 03:53 AM

Updated and Reposted by rbeck at November 4, 2009 06:53 PM

On Controversial Taisekiji Doctrine

Origins of Nichiren as True Buddha

What evidence is there to support the Soka Gakkai, Taisekiji Nichiren Shoshu, or Honmon Shoshu positions that Nichiren is the True Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law or Original Buddha who eclipses Shakyamuni? There is none. However, there are objections within SGI to changing the official stance. So what are the objections to viewing Shakyamuni of the Juryo Chapter as the True Buddha, and Nichiren as Bodhisattva Superior Practices; the Buddha’s Messenger for Mappo?

Top 10 reasons why SGI clings to Nichiren as True Buddha:

#10. Giving it up would be an admission that Nichiren Shu Minobu Sect is right on this.

#9. Many people associate the historical Buddha with Hotei (the fat guy). Plus, we want to distance ourselves from burning monks, ascetic practices, and patriarchal Buddhism. Not to mention Tantra. Easier to just dismiss all that mess as provisional.

#8. It is egalitarian, and egalitarian is trendy. Gautama was a Prince, Nichiren was a Fisherman’s son.

#7. Look, it is hard enough to rewrite the history of the Temple Issue already.

#6. Having a Japanese Buddha makes the Japanese happy.

#5. Shakyamuni did not even really write the Lotus Sutra either. So there!

#4. It took me ten years to be convinced, now you tell me I was right all along????

#3. It would mean I got sold on a defenseless concept, that lacks any rational basis, and that is clearly quite impossible.

#2. It would mean Bruce Maltz was right.

Aaaaaand, the # 1 reason why SGI clings to Nichiren as True Buddha: Next thing you know, you will be telling me it is really Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo?