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Saturday, April 9, 2016

The Original Teacher

An SGI member once wrote me: 

"...It would be no small matter if those who slander me were to incur no punishment from Heaven in their present body. So those deities [who fail to punish them] will not only be destroyed throughout past, present and future, but even now are surely being called upon to account  to the Buddha for their actions.  And when that happens, it will be no fault of Nichiren's! Rather, by siding with those priests who slander the Law, they are summoning disaster upon themselves."    MWV 5, pp 203.... Observe Mark!  

Another SGI member wrote: 

"It is a world where laity is always second or third class--where Nikken is the biggest dog of 'em all and you can never be more than a toy poodle."

Nichiren Daishonin pointed his disciples to The Buddha Shakyamuni of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra and to the Law, to avoid any confusion as to whom and what we should follow. 

"Demonstrating ten great mystic powers the Buddha (Shakyamuni) transferred Namu Myoho renge Kyo to the four great bodhisattvas" (Ibid pg 77) 

Who transferred Namu Myoho renge kyo to the four great bodhisattvas? 

"Shakyamuni is the original teacher for all people as well as their soverign and their parent" (MW vol 1, Admonitions Against Slander, pg 166) 

Who is the original teacher for all people?

"Shakyamuni is the father, soverign and teacher of all other Buddhas and all gods, of the whole assembly of men and heavenly beings and of all sentient beings." (MW vol 1, Letter to Nikke, pg 257) 

Who is the father, teacher and sovereign of all sentient beings?

"But because of this book by Honen, this Senchaku Shu, the Lord Buddha Shakyamuni is forgotten." (MW vol 2, Rissho Ankoku Ron, pg 23) 

Nichiren Shoshu and SGI members forget Lord Buddha Shakyamuni.

"One should know that the Enlightened One, the Buddha, is a Great Teacher for all living beings, a Great Eye for them, a Great Pillar, a Great Helmsman, a Great Field of Plenty." (MW vol 2, Opening of the Eyes, pg 77) 

"The doctrines that the Buddha taught over a period of fifty years number eighty thousand...The eight years during which he preached the Lotus Sutra he called the time when he 'now must reveal the truth'.  Thus Taho Buddha came forth from the earth to testify that 'All that you have expounded is the truth,' and the Buddhas that are emanations of the Original Buddha gathered together and extended their tongues up to the Brahma-heaven in testimony." (MW vol 2, Ibid, pg 79) 

Not clear? Only the Fuji schools, the NBAA, and their adherents could be so blind as to misidentify the Eternal Buddha. 

"The Buddhas of the ten directionss gathered in assembly, Shakyamuni Buddha announced that 'all of these are emanations of my being." (MW vol 2, Ibid, pg 141) 
                         
and 

"When Shakyamuni Buddha revealed that he had gained enlightenment in the far distant past and had since then been constantly in the world it became apparent that all the other Buddhas were emanations of Shakyamuni." (MW vol 2, Ibid, pg 149) 

All Buddhas are emanations of Shakyamuni Buddha. It is SGI and Nichiren Shoshu who do not practice according to the preachings. 

"Since the Buddha of the Juryo chapter is revealed as the eternal Buddha, it follows that the great bodisattvas such as Monju and Miroku and the great bodisattvas from other realms are in fact disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha." (MW vol 2, Ibid, pg 150) 

and

"All these beings are discples of Shakyamuni Buddha. Since the various Buddhas themselves are emanations of Shakyamuni Buddha, it goes without saying that their disciples must be disciples of Shakyamuni.  And of course the various deities of the sun, moon and stars, who have dwelt in the world from countless ages in the past must likewise be disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha." (MW vol 2, Ibid, pg 152) 

All these beings, even the greater bodhisattvas such as Anryugyo, Jogyo, Jyogyo, Muhengyo, Nichiju, Nikko, and the other Bodhisattvas of the Earth, Tientai and Nagarjuna are disciples of Shakyamun Buddha of the Juryo chapter. However, SGI and NST priests and members, are not his disciples [because they have been misled by evil teachers such as Daisaku Ikeda and Nichikan]. 

"The Lotus Sutra is nothing other than a scripture that reveals that Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment at a time even more distant than gohyaku-jintengo." (MW vol 2, Letter to the Priests of Seicho-ji, pg 268) 

Long before any other, Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment and then taught all beings the sum of his Supreme Enlightenment, Myoho renge kyo. 

"Now the votaries of the Lotus Sutra are the children of Shakyamuni Buddha." (MW vol 3, Ibid, pg 49) 
         
Not the children of Nichikan, Nichinyo, Ikeda  

"The Lord Shakyamuni assembled Taho Buddha as well as the other Buddhas, who were his own emanations, from throughout ten directions and left one great medicine-the five characters of Myoho renge Kyo-for the people of the Latter Day." (MW vol 3, The Munadala of the Mystic Law, pg 58) 

Who left us the medicine? 

"Lord Shakyamuni treasured this Gohonzon in mind...He revealed it in the Juryo chapter..." (MW vol 3, Reply to Nii-Ama, pgs 64-65) 

Who revealed the Gohonzon? 

"Shakyamuni Buddha, the World Honored One, declared, 'I am the foremost throughout the threefold world." (MW vol 3, Ibid, pg 176) 

Nichiren Daishonin points out that Shakyamuni declared, "I am the foremost throughout the threefold world". Ikeda declares Nichiren foremost but really means himself. Nikken declares himself foremost. The ignorant among the SGI members declare themselves foremost. Are you counted among the ignorant? Was Nichiren? Am I be counted among them? Think about this carefully. 

"However, they are alike in that they all abandoned Shakyamuni Buddha," and in the next paragraph he states, "If there is anyone among my followers who is weak in faith and goes against what I, Nichiren, say, he will meet the same fate as did the Soga family." (MW vol 3, The Supreme Leader of the World, pg 237) 

There are countless examples in the SGI and Nichiren Shoshu of their members receiving punishment. Nichiu developed white leprosy. Nikkyo burned up in a conflagration while his entrails remained. President Ikeda's first born son died of a bleeding ulcer. In this day and age that is nearly unheard of! Mr. Kasahara's first born son died from a massive brain injury. George Williams children are sociopaths. A top SGI senior leader was killed in the early eighties when a snow plow ran over his car. Another, in Detroit, died when a heavy metal stage hook took off the top of his skull. A men's division bagpiper was killed and mutilated by the Manson family on the way back from bagpipe practice. NST members Bill Vogel and Brad Nixon are other examples. 

"They are monks and nuns by virtue of the Lord Shakyamuni." (Ibid, pg 65) 

Nichiren, Nikko, Nissho, Nichiju, Nikkyo and Rev. Kubota, for example, are monks by virtue of Lord Shakyamuni. Those who abandon Shakyamuni can not even be considered monks. They are no better than beasts. 

"There are three reasons why Shakyamuni Buddha rather than any of the other Buddhas has a relationship with all the people of the world of the saha world.  First of all, he is the World Honored One, the soverign of all the people of this saha world... 
         
The second reason is that Shakyamuni Buddha is the father and mother of all the persons in the saha world.  It is proper that we should first of all pay filial respect to our own father and mother... 
         
The third reason is that Shakyamuni is the original teacher of all persons in the saha world." (Ibid, pgs 65-66) 

Perfectly clear!
         
"For this reason, all the persons in this saha world of ours, if they detest the sufferings of birth and death and wish to have an object of veneration to which they can pay respect, should first of all fashion images of Shakyamuni Buddha...and make these their object of worship." (Ibid, pg 69) 

We should first of all fashion and pay respect to the Gohonzon, the image of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra. Certainly, we shouldn't fashion and pay respect to 200 square foot photographs of Daisaku Ikeda.

"Shakyamuni Buddha our father and mother, who is endowed with the three virtues of soverign, teacher and parent, is the very one who encourages us, the people driven out by all the other Buddhas, saying, 'I alone can save them'.  The debt of gratitude we owe him is deeper than the ocean, weightier than the earth, vaster than the sky. Though we were to pluck out our two eyes and place them before him as an offering until there were more eyes there than stars in the sky, though we were to strip off our skins and spread them out by the hundreds of ten thousands until they blanketed the ceiling of heaven, though we were to give him our tears as offerings of water and present him with flowers for the space of a hundred billion kalpas, though we were to offer him our flesh and blood for innumerable kalpas, until our flesh piled up like mountains and our blood overflowed like vast seas, we could never repay a fraction of the debt we owe to this Buddha!" (Ibid, pg 71-72) 

We owe our greatest debt to Shakyamuni Buddha [as did Nichiren]. As the leader of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, Nichiren Daishonin (Jogyo) knew perfectly well that Shakyamuni is the Master of Teachings and the person to whom we owe our deepest gratitude and allegiance. If we are Bodhisattvas of the Earth, we should follow the example of our leader Nichiren Daishonin, not the poor example of Ikeda, Nichikan, or your joint territory chief. 

"Japan and so on to the whole of Jambudvipa should uniformly take the Master of Teachings Lord Shakya of the Original Doctrine as the Object of Worship". (Hoon Sho). 

Perfectly clear. If you wish to practice the Daishonin's teachings rather than some inferior teaching, you should take Lord Shakya of the Original Doctrine as your Object of worship and chant Namu myoho renge kyo. 

"I have dedicated my life to Shakyamuni Buddha and the Lotus Sutra, extending compassion to all living beings and rebuking slanders of the Law."  (MW vol 5, A Sage and an Unenlightened Man, pg 107) 
     
The Daishonin dedicated his life to Shakyamuni Buddha. Why do you dedicate your lives to Nichinyo, Nikken, Nichikan, or Ikeda?
     
"When Shakyamuni Buddha in the clouds above the Sacred Mountain, in the mists of Eagle peak, summed up the essence of the doctrine and entrusted it to the bodhisattvas of the earth, what do you suppose that  teaching was? It was nothing other than these five characters, the essential law;" (Ibid, pg 110) 
       
We owe our most sincere gratitude to Shakyamuni Buddha.
         
"I Nichiren, humble person though I am, have recieved Lord Shakyamuni's royal command and come to this country of Japan." (MW vol 5, The Pure and Far Reaching Voice, pg 143) 
       
Nichiren received the royal command of Lord Shakyamuni, not the command of the commoners Makiguchi, Toda, Nikken or Ikeda. 
       
"Shakyamuni Buddha is the lord of all Buddhist teachings, the leader and teacher of all human beings." (Ibid, pg 143) 

Shayamuni is our leader and teacher.
            
"And among the Sutras, the Lotus Sutra is a manifestation in writing of Shakyamuni Buddha's intent; it is his voice set down in written word." (Ibid, pg 147) 

The Lotus Sutra is the intent of Shakyamuni Buddha. 
         
"Shakyamuni Buddha and the written words of the Lotus Sutra are two different things but their heart is one.  Therefore, when you cast your eyes upon  the words of the Lotus Sutra you should consider that you are ,beholding the living body of the Buddha Shakyamuni." (Ibid, pg 147)    

When you slander Shakyamuni Buddha, you are slandering the written words of the Lotus Sutra, the Gohonzon, and Namu Myoho renge kyo. This is why the people I mentioned above suffered divine punishment, not for any worldly misdeeds. 
       
"However the Buddha recognizes each character as a golden Lord Shakyamuni.' This is the meaning of the statement that '[one who is able to hold this Sutra] thereby holds the Buddha's body'.  Those who practice Buddhism but adhere to distorted views destroy this loftiest of Sutras." (MW vol 5, Reply to Soya Nyudo, pg 164) 

The worst transgressors are Ikeda, Nikken, and their followers. 

"Only the Lotus Sutra represents the wonderful teaching preached directly from the golden mouth of Shakyamuni Buddha, who is perfectly endowed with the three bodies." (MW vol 5, Letter to Myomitsu Shonin, pg 196) 
         
Shakyamuni Buddha posseses all Three Bodies, the Manifest Body, the Reward Body and the Dharma body (Namu Myoho renge kyo.). Therefore, when you slander Shakyamuni Buddha, you slander Namu Myoho renge kyo. 
       
"Shakyamuni, the Lord of Teachings, is the foremost sage in the saha world." (Ibid, pg 199) 
        
Certainly, neither Ikeda nor Nichinyo is the foremost sage, let alone your Zone Chief, General Director, or local priest.

"As we see from these passages of scripture, Shakyamuni, with his Buddha eye, observed the situation that would prevail at the begining of the Latter Day of the Law.  If, when the age has arrived, there were to be no persons of the type the Buddha describes then the World-Honored One would be guilty of false and baseless talk. [And if that were to be the case, then] who would put faith in the theoretical and essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra, and in the doctrine of the eternally inherent Buddha Nature." (MW vol 6, Reply to Lord Hakiri Saburo, pg 40) 
       
The doctrine of universal Buddha-nature that SGI calls its own derives from Shakyamuni Buddha. Believe and understand this and you [SGI] may be spared a fate worse than Honen's.
       
"Shakyamuni summoned the four bodhisattvas and entrusted them with the five characters of Myoho renge Kyo." (MW vol 6, Rebuking Slander of the Law, pg 60) 
       
Of what need do we have for Nikken, Nichinyo, or Ikeda? How dare they teach that we must rely on them, rather than Shakyamuni Buddha.

"We see from the Sutra that only these four bodhisattvas had been the disciples of Shakyamuni, the Lord of Teachings, since the remote past." (Ibid, pg 62) 
       
For this reason, we too put our faith in Lord Shakya of the Original Doctrine.

"The sons will disseminate the Law of the Father." (Ibid, pg 62) 
       
When you alter his Law or teach the Law of another, you are injuring the Buddha, your father, causing him to bleed.. You are committing one of the Cardinal Sins of Buddhism. You are also breaking the unity of the Buddha's Sangha, another one of the Cardinal Sins. 
     
"The nation of Japan today has turned its back on the Lotus Sutra and cast aside Shakyamuni Buddha." (MW vol 6, Letter To Ichinosana Nyudo, pg 99) 
       
Exactly as the pitiful SGI and Nichiren Shoshu. 
       
"Shakyamuni Buddha is the Parent of all living beings in this world." (Ibid, pg 100) 
       
That includes even the lowest beings, those SGI and Nichiren Shoshu members who benefit from their father's Law yet deny and denounce their father.

"The Lord Buddha Shakyamuni is the enlightened teacher for all living beings in the country of ours.  It is thanks to our teacher that we can understand who our parents are.  It is owing to Shayamuni that we can distinguish black from white." (Ibid, pg 100) 
       
Denying Shakyamuni Buddha his rightful place and failing to put their faith in Lord Shakya of the Original Doctrine, SGI and Nichiren Shoshu members remain deluded, unable to distinguish black from white.

"It will be hard indeed to find anyone who can preach the Lotus Sutra just as it teaches in the Latter Day of the Law of Shakyamuni Buddha." (MW vol 6, Three Tripitaka Masters, pg 118) 
     
Please note this age is Shakyamuni Buddha's Latter Age. "Shakyamuni lives today; this is the age of the Buddha" (On the Buddha's Behavior) 

"The Tathagata Shakyamuni, seated in the tower adorned with seven kinds of precious gems, entrusted the five characters of Myoho renge Kyo to Takahashi Nyudo." (MW vol 6, Reply to Takashi Nyudo, pg 124) 
         
Shakyamuni Buddha entrusted us with the five characters of the Daimoku.
     
"Were it not for Shakyamuni, the lord of teachings, how could such blessings as these be bestowed?"

It is thanks to Shakyamuni Buddha that we enjoy the boundless benefit of the Law. He and his messenger Nichiren are true teachers. Those who appropriate the lofty position of Shakyamuni, be they priest or layman, are not even worthy of a nod, let alone a monetary donation. Don't waste your time with lesser spiritual advisers and "teachers". Please return to the source and abandon those SGI and NST ingrates.
       
"The Hokke [Lotus] sect is the sect founded by Shakyamuni." (MW vol 6, How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood, pg 175) 
     
This is why Nichiren Daishonin declared that he never founded any sect. He deferred to his teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha as would all men of humility. But not Ikeda, Nichikan, Nichiu, or Nikken. These are conceited men, egoists of the highest magnitude. Don't deceive yourselves that you will become happy revering them or worshiping their Gohonzon. 
         
"Therefore [the sect based on] the Lotus Sutra is known as the Buddha-founded sect and is also called the Hokke Sect."  (Ibid, pg 175) 
       
The SGI and the Nichiren Shoshu throw out the twenty-eight chapter Hokke by denying the vital principles contained therein, especially the most vital of the vital principles, that Shakyamuni Buddha is the Original Eternal Buddha. 
         
"The various other sects were founded by bodhisattvas or teachers in the period after the Buddha had entered nirvana....." 
     
Nichiren Shoshu, SGI, Shingon, Zen, Ritsu, Pure Land, Tibetian, etc. 
     
".....Should we now turn our backs upon the Buddha's decree and follow the sects established by the bodhisattvas and teachers?" 
       
and suffer a fate worse than Honen? 

"Or should we ignore the words of the bodhisattvas and teachers and follow the sect established by the Buddha." (Ibid, pg 176) 
       
You would be wise to ignore the words of Nichiu, Nichikan, Nikken, Toda, Makiguchi and Ikeda and would be wise to take to heart the words of the Daishonin. 
         
"The messenger of the Lord Buddha Shakyamuni has twice been paraded through the street." (MW vol 6, A Father Takes Faith, pg 242). This is self explanatory. 

"Because Shakyamuni expounded the Lotus Sutra in order to repay the debt of gratitude he owed to his father and mother, Taho Buddha, who had come from the land of treasure purity, praised him as a Buddha of true filial piety. And the Buddhas of the ten directions assembled and declared him to be the most filial among all the Buddhas." (MW vol 6, OnFilial and Unfilial Conduct, pg 290) 

Shakyamuni is the most filial of the Buddhas.
       
"The various Buddhas [other than Shakyamuni], since they are known as World Honored One, may be regarded as Sovereigns.  But since they do not make their appearance in this saha world, they are not teachers.  Nor do they declare that '...the living beings in it (this threefold world) are all my children'.  Thus, Shakyamuni Buddha alone fulfills the three functions of sovereign, teacher and parent." (Ibid, pg 43) 
        
Shakyamuni Buddha alone fulfills the three functions of Sovereign,Teacher, and Parent.

"The Shakyamuni Buddha who lived in a past even more distant than gohyaku-jintengo-became enlightened to the Lotus that is the entity of the Mystic Law. Thereafter, in age after age and lifetime after lifetime, he declared that he had attained the way and he revealed the fundamental principle of wisdom and reality." (MW vol 7, The Entity of the Mystic Law, pg 67) 
       
Shakyamuni Buddha originally became enlightened to Namu Myoho renge kyo in the infinite past.
       
"In this passage, Shakyamuni Buddha explains that he is entrusting to the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, his original disciples, the five characters of Myoho renge Kyo which is the essence of the Lotus Sutra.  Shakyamuni, who attained enlightenment countless Kalpas in the past, says elsewhere, 'By now the original vows that I made have already been fulfilled.  I have converted all living beings and caused them to enter the Buddha way'(ibid pg 72). 

This is absolutely clear. There is no other way to interpret correctly this passage or the other absolutely clear passages cited above. It is as the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren describe, "Just as the Buddha is the king of all Dharmas, so, too, is this Sutra the king of all Sutras."

Even if one were to preach some other sutra in the future (for example the Taisekaji preachings that Nichiren Daishonin, rather than Shakyamuni Buddha, is the Original Eternal Buddha), it could never happen that the teachings in the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren may be superceded. 

20 comments:

  1. Question for SGI study department leaders:

    From ME: What is the source of the teaching you uphold, that "Nichiren is the True Buddha" the original Buddha?

    SGI: Duh??

    Let's seek the answer, together, in your own study material, The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Vol. I- published Soka Gakkaia, 1999- turn to page 385- "The True Aspect of All Phenomena"- right hand column second paragraph:

    "If you are of the same mind as Nichiren, you must be a Bodhisattva of the Earth. And if you are a Bodhisattva of the Earth, there is not the slightest doubt that you have been a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha from the remote past. The sutra states,"Ever since the long distant past I have been teaching and converting this multitude." There can be no discrimination among those who propagate the face characters of Myoho-renge-kyo in the Latter Day of the Law, be they men or women."

    Now turn to page 387, Nichiren closes this reply to Siren-bo by declaring:

    "I have been chanting NamU-myoho-renge-jyo out of my desire to guide all men and women in Japan. The sutra says, [Among these bodhisattvas were four leaders]The first was called Superior Practices...These four bodhisattvas were the foremost leaders and guiding teachers." A bond of karma from the past has led you to become my disciple. By all means keep this letter to yourself. I have herein committed to writing the doctrines of my own enlightenment. I will end here."

    TO: SGI Study department leaders:

    Do you agree that Nichiren has stated this letter contains doctrines -of his own enlightenment? Do you agree that he, Nichiren specifically refers to himself as a Bodhisattva Superior Practices?

    ME: IF Nichiren did not reveal the identity SGI claims he has, WHO did?

    Let's read the third paragraph of the "Background "pg. 387- addendum by Soka Gakkai- specific author unknown.

    "After clarifying the ultimate teaching of the Lotus sutra, the Daishonin states that Bodhisattva Superior practices, the leader of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. will propagate that teaching , and that he himself is carrying out the mission entrusted to that bodhisattva. In light of his own behavior and his fulfillment of the predictions in the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren Daishonin suggests that he himself is Bodhisattva Superior Practices."

    ME: That is correct. NOW, pay close attention to the next sentence-- I will use CAPS for proper emphasis on the DISTORTION of the Daishonmin's own writings.

    "A MORE PROFOUND INTERPRETATION HOWEVER, IDENTIFIES HIM AS THE BUDDHA OF THE LATTER DAY OF THE LAW, WHOSE PURPOSE WAS TO ESTABLISH THE GOHONZON FOR THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF PEOPLE IN THE LATTER DAY ."

    Question: WHOSE interpretation is MORE PROFOUND than what Nichiren actually wrote??

    ME: There is no reference to the author of the "more profound interpretation"-- nor is there a by-line, a named author of the "Background" on this Gosho.

    Question: Do you know WHOSE teachings you are following?

    ~Katie






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  2. Correction-- "I have been chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo..."

    I apologize for getting flustered when I see the incorrect spelling of "Namu"- on every page of the Soka Gakkai's "Major Writings"---

    Since chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo-- I am more aware of the slander involved in this horrific alteration---

    ~Katie

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  3. nice.

    sgi/nst truncated daimoku. question: if one were to change or alter the "one essential phrase", what else would they change?
    answer: everything that truly matters.

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  5. Shakyamuni Buddha became enlightened to Namu Myoho renge kyo at a point in time and space on some planet is or more likely was a part what is now viewed by some scientists and occultists as an infinite universe ( without beginning or end) that has an infinite past, present(presence) and future with no original big bang but rather continuous Generation Order Destruction (GOD) its fair say

    Nichiren Daishonin and Lord Shakya both being at one with 3 Bodied Tathagata Thus Come One in brief moment in the vastness of eternity. It is the 3 Bodied Tathagata that was revealed though Lord Shakya and Nichiren Daishonin that is to be most highly venerated and that's why Lord Shakya and Nichiren Daishonin are so venerated because the 3 Bodied Tathagata Thus Come One needs a body to express itself with and through


    However the 3 Bodied Tathagata Thus Come One is accessible to us through genuine Daimoku, Gohonzon,Lotus Sutra and Nichiren's teachings especially Ichinen Sanzen, the three thousand worlds in a single thought-moment, conscious awareness throughout the modes of existence


    "Therefore, Myōhō Renge Kyō enables us to obtain the present Buddha’s gate of insight into a single thought-moment. [It is the realization of] the unity of mind, body, and environment throughout all the ten worlds that is the three thousand realms of existence." (Conversation Between A Sage and an Unenlightened Man)


    "For those who are incapable of understanding the truth of the “three thousand worlds contained in one though-moment,” Lord Śākyamuni Buddha, with his great compassion, wraps this jewel with the five characters of myō, hō, ren, ge, and kyō and hangs it around the necks of the ignorant in the Latter Age of Degeneration".

    (Kanjin Honzon sho)


    Shakyamuni, Nichiren and all the other Buddha's were once ordinary mortals like us according to this Gosho and I believe have the choice to be ordinary mortals again as much as they want.

    If we truly are the oneness of good and evil and having freedom of choice we accept the karmic consequences of those choices. How the mighty hath fallen and how wonderful is the phoenix rising from the ashes

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  6. If birth and death are never ending cycles of eternal life which the individual Karma aspect of the Alaya consciousness flows then it would make sense to say that we have also been Buddha's in the infinite past otherwise there is no equality but rather an hierarchical authoritarian dictatorship that we kowtow to

    I have always and still do have trouble with accepting the name 'The Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha' because we are all eternal but we don't say 'The Eternal Mark Rogow', 'The Eternal Greg Romero', 'The Eternal Shinkei' (Jerry) do we but you can if you like because it is true. The only eternal never changing one or entity that I know of is the 3 Bodied Tathagata Thus Come One all else is the eternal ever changing


    "Numberless major world system dust particle kalpas in the past the Thus Come One Shakyamuni, who was then an ordinary mortal, came to realize that his body was made up of the elements of earth, water, fire, wind, and space, and having done so, he immediately attained enlightenment.

    After that, in order to instruct and convert others he appeared in the world again and again, in age after age going through the process of acquiring the way and in place after place manifesting the eight phases of a Buddha’s existence.

    Later he was born in the palace of a king, gained enlightenment under the bodhi tree, and made it appear to living beings that he had attained Buddhahood for the first time. In the forty and more years following, he set forth various expedient teachings in order to lead and guide living beings."

    The Unanimous Declaration by
    the Buddha's of the Three Existences regarding
    the Classification of the Teachings and
    Which Are to Be Abandoned and Which Upheld

    Written by Nichiren (if this is an authentic Gosho) but even if it hasn't been written by him it makes good sense to me as I understand Nichiren Buddhism

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  7. a few points of consideration: people in the latter age do not have the capacity to mentally understand the lotus sutra(myoho renge kyo), therefore the buddha asks us to substitute faith for wisdom. faith turns into wisdom. the stronger the better. incorrect thought(faith) does not produce buddhahood. hence, the heavy encouragement to develop strong, correct faith. what is necessary for this is correct prayer, which is namu myoho renge kyo. not nam or anything else.

    the historical shakyamuni, in the saha world, eternally prepares(preparatory teachings) for the lotus sutra. this is his eternal function, and it is eternally necessary.

    the lotus sutra is eternal, therefore when it is time to deliver the lotus sutra, the original eternal buddha appears. a function only the eternal original buddha fulfills. he always appears as the original buddha. dr. mark rogow does not always appear as dr. mark rogow.
    yes, all life is eternal and because the law of renge is real, having a correct vehicle is priceless. hence, nichiren stresses gratitude.

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  8. "dr. mark rogow does not always appear as dr. mark rogow." ( who has his own individual ever changing karmic thread as does Shakyamuni)

    Either does Shakyamuni always appear as the eternal original Buddha. The historical Shakyamuni Buddha of 2 and a half thousand years ago is the same Historical Buddha that gained enlightenment as a common mortal trillions of Kalpas ago from what I understand. He wasn't a Buddha just before he became enlightened was he.

    "incorrect thought(faith) does not produce Buddhahood"

    So it is important what it is that we put our faith in, in the first place if we are to truly have wisdom


    How can we have wisdom if our faith is deluded about the nature of Buddha

    I believe the only eternal original Buddha is the 3 bodied Tathagata all the rest are Johnny come lately's . The Musa Sanjin Buddha is the common denominator of them all, if it wasn't for this function none of them would of become Buddha's in the first place


    "the historical shakyamuni, in the saha world, eternally prepares(preparatory teachings) for the lotus sutra. this is his eternal function, and it is eternally necessary".


    Yes that's right but in his allotted patch of time and in limited parameters of the universe. I cannot see how one historical Shakyamuni in the infinite Saha world could be the only one. There would have to be trillions of buddas to help with the same capacity as he to alleviate the suffering


    It would be nice if we all could have some unbounded gratitude to the Eternal 3 Bodied Tathagata Thus Come One of which all Buddha's. Bodhisattvas and enlightened beings are emanations of and then maybe all this quarrelling that is going on in Buddhism cease for a while and we can graduate out of prep school

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    1. "It would be nice if we all could have some unbounded gratitude to the Eternal 3 Bodied Tathagata Thus Come One of which all Buddha's. Bodhisattvas and enlightened beings are emanations of and then maybe all this quarrelling that is going on in Buddhism cease for a while and we can graduate out of prep school."

      It strikes me as odd that you are seeking something larger, grander, or more perfect than the Buddha who felt pity for us human beings in the "Saha world"--"a prison within a nation" with respect to the infinite universe. Yup, Earth is perhaps the bottom rung of the ladder....

      Shakyamnui Buddha is described in many ways by Nichiren-- all of them designating him for the highest honor, our deepest gratitude -- if you cannot believe Nichiren's words regarding the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni, why would you chant the daimoku he taught ?

      I think the quarreling is a matter of taking Nichiren's word for his own identity- Bodhisattva Superior Practices and Shakyamnuni Buddha as the One, Original-all time Greatest Buddha!

      If it were possible to ever repay our debt of gratitude to Shakyamuni Buddha--... It just seems foolish to seek some other source for your unbounded gratitude...

      ~Katie

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    2. "So it is important what it is that we put our faith in, in the first place if we are to truly have wisdom."

      This is the crucial point, I think. It seems to me, you are disregarding the "Buddha's golden words" and imposing your own arbitrary views, when you state:

      "However the 3 Bodied Tathagata Thus Come One is accessible to us through genuine Daimoku"

      Right here, you insert your own "wisdom"-- Or rather, you chant the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, disregarding the Buddha's intent, to save all living beings in this saha world, and instead you are asserting your own belief in what you claim is attainable.
      Perhaps you have misunderstood this passage you quoted:

      ""Therefore, Myōhō Renge Kyō enables us to obtain the present Buddha’s gate of *insight* into a single thought-moment...."

      *Insight* is not the same as actually perceiving. Chanting daimoku will not cause you to develop the Great and Perfect Wisdom - to perceive 3,000 realms in a single life moment, that T'ien T'ai possessed, for example.

      Recall that Nichiren himself admitted that he lacked *this* wisdom. Why is this? Because, he was born in the Latter Day of the Law. It would behoove you to adhere strictly to what Nichiren taught, because no matter how unique, creative and brilliant each of us, including you, may be, the fact is our sense organs and our minds are as impure and defiled as this age, *mappo*. Nichiren's capacity to forbear hardships and persecutions, and his deep concern for others were the qualities he believed would cause T'ien T'ai to hold him in awe, as they supported and fueled Nichiren's devotion to upholding, practicing and propagating the Lotus Sutra in accordance with the Buddha's instructions for the Latter Day. Nichiren substituted faith for wisdom.


      I would say you have replaced *faith* with *intellect*, and claiming to have the ability to perceive the *nature of the Buddha*, you are saying that you have attained what , in fact, cannot be attained in the Latter Day of the Law. And then, you would place faith in these erroneous perceptions? Hmmmm.

      "Yes that's right but in his allotted patch of time and in limited parameters of the universe. I cannot see how one historical Shakyamuni in the infinite Saha world could be the only one. There would have to be trillions of buddas to help with the same capacity as he to alleviate the suffering."

      We should strive to for the same capacity as the Buddha to alleviate suffering right here, right now for the sake of other living beings, and ourselves as well.

      I chant daimoku with the same mind as Nichiren. I believe I am a bodhisattva of the Earth, disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha from the distant past and I can assure you I am NOT an emanation of the "3 Bodied Tathagata Thus Come One" :-)

      ~Katie







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    3. here lies the great concern. the history of nichirens buddhism has been, and is, fraught with arbitrary opinion which cannot be fully supported by either the teachings of the buddha or his emissary for the latter age. all nichirens sects have strayed. mostly for selfish gain. if we do not uphold what nichiren really taught, the teachings will be lost. it is our great fortune to abide by what is right. lets do our best.

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  9. Nichiren calls ALL other Buddhas emanations of Shakyamuni Buddha.

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  10. Nichiren calls ALL other Buddhas emanations of Shakyamuni Buddha.

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  11. "I cannot see how one historical Shakyamuni in the infinite Saha world could be the only one. There would have to be trillions of buddas to help with the same capacity as he to alleviate the suffering."

    "Difficult to believe and difficult to understand" but since Nichiren teaches that it is so, we should believe.

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  12. All our minds are fixed and set accordingly to what we think is right at the time and even though our views may appear arbitrary to others its only relative to the perciever

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  13. thats why nichiren strongly suggests we use the clear mirror of the lotus sutra.

    nichiren lived the lotus sutra. was ordained, by the buddha, to appear in the latter age to explain it. who else would be better? unless we join those who don't believe nichiren.

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  14. Noel,

    I began reading Nichiren's writings a few days after receiving my Gohonzon in 1988. I received Gohonzon 5 days after I first chanted daimoku. I heard the recitation of Gongyo for the first time at a district leaders home a hour before receiving my Gohonzon at Myosenji Temple. My initial response to chanting and hearing the recitation of the Lotus Sutra was pure joy. Thus my unbridled exuberance was a ticket to the fast track NSA membership of an August "Shakubuku campaign".

    I knew very little about Buddhism and less about the NSA. My thirst for knowledge arose from the joy I felt. Thus, I began to study the Gosho, and the English translation of the sutra passages in the same serious manner I employed to become a registered nurse. However, there was a major difference in the way I read Nichiren's writings. I did not read the Gosho with a critical or analytical mind, nor did I feel a need to cross reference Nichiren's sources, or validate his quotations from the Lotus Sutra and other works he referenced.

    Early in my practice, I developed the habit of reading the Gosho while I chanted daimoku - pretty much not attending to the visual object of worship in my butsadan. When I began to ask questions that leaders referred to as shari hotsu- esque ,for which they admonished me, I was also criticized for assigning a higher priority to Nichiren's writings, than my Nikken gohonzon and the "guidance of the NSA/SGI".

    Imagine how much joy I feel now, realizing after just 3 weeks reading this blog, that my so-called, odd behavior as a new member, and intolerable behavior as a long time member, was quite reasonable given the truth about the divergence of NSA/SGI from Nichiren's teachings and the true nature of gohonzons inscribed by Nikken and Nichikan.

    When I read Nichiren's writings and the Lotus Sutra, I am seeking with an open mind , not *thinking* with a mind fixed on concepts of right and correct. Reading with a seeking, rather than a critical mind, I bring my life experience into consciousness and reflect on the deeper significance of my thoughts, words and actions with regard to Nichiren's experience of embodying the Lotus Sutra. After 28 years, I am confident that I will definitely find my particular life struggle or dilemma illuminated by the wisdom of the Buddha, somewhere in the collected writings of Nichiren Daishonin. In this same manner, based on my long standing faith- based practice and study behavior, I can almost instantly discern the difference between an arbitrary viewpoint and the True teachings of the Buddha.

    The extent to which I can agree that my mind is fixed, is a matter of thinking that basing one's faith and practice on one's own personal discretion and arbitrary views of the explicit, detailed, re-inforced again and again, teachings as Nichiren recorded them-; relying on one's own mind to question, critique or disregard exactly what Nichiren has written , is NEVER *right*.

    This critical thinking approach to the Gosho reflects an attitude, that imo, is foolish, arrogant, and most of all, dangerous. I am neither a Buddhist scholar, a lay nun. nor even an esoteric meta physicist. My convictions are based on my first and constant response to the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra- joy, - pure, deep abounding joy.
    ~Katie







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