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Sunday, September 8, 2013

The Lotus Sutra's, Nikko's, and Nichiren Daishonin's view of "Nichiren".

The Daishonin is Bodhisattva Jogyo, disciple of the Eternal Original Buddha Shakyamuni.

"Since the Buddha of the Juryo chapter is revealed as the eternal Buddha,
it follows that the great Bodhisattvas such as Monju and Miroku, and the
great bodhisattvas from other realms are in fact disciples of Shakyamuni
Buddha.  If, among all the numerous sutras, this Juryo chapter should be
lacking, it would be as though there were no sun and moon in the sky, no 
supreme ruler in the nation, no gems in the mountains and rivers, and no 
spirit in man. "(MW, V2, pg. 150)

"Since Sakyamuni Buddha is eternal and all other Buddhas in the universe
are His manifestations, then those great bodhisattvas converted by
manifested Buddhas are also disciples of Lord Sakyamuni Buddha.  If the
"Life Span of the Buddha"chapter had not been expounded, it would be like the 
sky without the sun and moon, a country without a king, mountains and rivers 
without gems, or a man without a soul." (Noppa, pg. 176, Kaimoku Sho)

"Thus it was revealed that Shakyamuni had long been the Buddha since the
eternal past, and it became clear that various Buddhas in other worlds were
all manifestations of Shakyamuni Buddha..[ ] now, however, as Shakyamuni
was proved to be the Eternal Buddha, those Buddhas in the Flower Garland
Sutra, or Buddhas in the Hodo, Hannya, or Great Sun Buddha sutras all became 
subordinates of Shakyamuni Buddha."  (Kaimoku Sho, p. 174, translated by 
Kyotsu Hori, 1987)

BTW, here's the same quote, as translated by NSIC.  Please note the differences:

"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....but
now it becomes apparent that Vairocana Buddha of the Kegon Sutra and various 
Buddhas of the Hodo, Hannya and Dainichi sutras are in fact all followers of
Shakyamuni Buddha."  (MW V.2, p.149)

"Since Shakyamuni Buddha is eternal and all other Buddhas in the universe
are His manifestations........" (Kaimoku Sho, translated by Kyotsu Hori,
p.176).

"But now that it has become apparent that Shakyamuni Buddha attained
enlightenment countless aeons ago,.......etc.   (MW V.2, p. 151)

Not only is there no mention of Nichiren as "True" Buddha in the Kaimoku Sho but in the Kanjin Honzon Sho, translated by Kyotsu Hori, nowhere, does Nichiren mention that he is the "True" Buddha or the Buddha of the Latter Day:

"...Shakyamuni Buddha, within our minds, is an ancient Buddha without
beginning, manifesting Himself in three bodies and attained Buddhahood n
the eternal past......(ibid.  P.94)

"Shakyamuni Buddha, the Lord-preacher of this pure land, has never died in
the past, nor will he be born in the future.  He exists forever, throughout
the past, present and future."  (P.100)

"Many wooden statues and portraits were made of Shakyamuni Buddha as He
preached Hinayana and quasi-Mahayana sutras, but statues and portraits of
the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha revealed in the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus
Sutra were never made.  Now, in the beginning of Mappo, is it not the time
that such statues and portraits are made?"  (P.104)
The Hoon Sho(translated by Taikyo Yajima) states:

"All the people in Japan as well as the rest of the whole world should
revere the Lord Buddha Shakyamuni (Original and Eternal Buddha) revealed in
the essential section (honmon) of the Lotus Sutra as the object of worship
(honzon)."   (P. 198)
            
This is a repeat of the overview of Shakyamnui as Original Eternal Buddha as revealed by Nichiren understanding of the Lotus Sutra.

The Lotus Sutra itself states:

"For the sake of curing his children gone mad,
Though in reality he exists, yet he says he dies,
And there are none who can declare it is a vain lie;
I likewise am the Father of the World,
The One who saves from the various sufferings and travails.
Because the unenlightened worldlings are wrongheaded,
Though in reality I exist, I say I am extinguished;
because by seeing me constantly,
They would produce an arrogant and licentious mind,
Self abbandoned, attatched to the five desires,
And would fall among the Evil ways of rebirth.
I ever know the masses of beings,
Proceeding or not proceeeding on the Way;
According to what will save them,
I preach for them all sorts of Dharmas.
I Myself ever form this thought:
'By what shall I cause the masses of beings
To be able to enter the supreme Way
And rapidly achieve Buddhahood."(Lotus Sutra, Chapter 16)
               
Now we can begin to examine Nichiren's view of himself.

"...the Bodhisattvas (who sprang from underneath the ground), as described
in the 15th chapter, are followers of the Original Buddha Shakaymuni who
resides within our minds."(p.94)

"The "honzon", at the scene of this transmission of "Namu Myo Ho Renge
Kyo" from the Eternal Buddha to His Original Disciples that
is....(p.102)

The Lotus Sutra, Chapter 16 itself, states, 

"Then he sent a messenger back to his children, telling them that their father 
has passed away."

In the Kanjin Honzon Sho, Nichiren refers to this phrase: ''send a messenger back",  referring to those bodhisattvas who were called out from underground.
           
The SGI and Nichiren Shoshu argues that in the Kaimoku Sho the Daishonin states: "I will be the Pillar of Japan; I will be the Eyes of Japan; I will be the Great Vessel of Japan, thus proving Nichiren as possessing the Three Virtues of the Original Buddha. But this is a great mistake for several reasons:

1). It can be contrasted to the following passage in the Kaimoku Sho where Nichiren states that Shakyamuni possesses the Three Virtues for "all beings" :

"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)

2). The above passage of the Lotus Sutra states: "I am the Father of the world", not just the little island nation of Japan.

3). Nichiren in many other Gosho besides the Kaimoku Sho explains that Shakyamuni is the parent,  teacher and sovereign of the entire world(Admonitions Against Slander, Letter to Nikke, Letter to Nichimyo Shonin, The Learned Shan-wu-wei, Letter to Myomitsu Shonin, Rebuking Slander of the Law, Letter to Ichinosawa Nyudo, On Prayer and perhaps others.
          
Now we can move on to some of the passages in both the Lotus Sutra and the writings of Nichiren revealing the Daishonin's true identity:
        
"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)

(Obviously the Original Eternal Buddha need not receive anyone's royal command).

"Will the Bodhsattva Visista-caritra (Jogyo) appear in these days of the
Latter Law to open wide the gateway of the Truth, or will he not appear?
The Scripture tells us so; yet will it surely happen?  Will the Bodhisattva
appear or not?  At any rate, I, Nichiren have now accomplished the
pioneerwork."(Selection of the Time).

"For one aeon, two aeons, countless aeons I devoted myself to the
practices of a bodhisattva, until I had almost reached the state where I
couldn't never fail to attain Buddhahood.  And yet I was dragged down by
the powerful and overwhelming influence of evil, and I never attained
Buddhahood. I do not know whether I belong to the third group of those who 
heard the preaching of the sons of Daitsu Buddha and yet failed to attain 
enlightenment even when one son was reborn in the world as Shakyamuni 
Buddha, or whether I faltered and fell away from the teachings which I heard 
long before Daitsu Buddha, at gohyaku jintengo and thus have been reborn in 
this form. (MW,V2, pg.112)

Moreover, I am a poor monk without social status. While having traversed
the Six Realms in my past lives, I have sometimes been born a great king in
the human or celestial realm, making everyone obey me just as a strong wind
sways the twigs of small trees. Still, I could not attain Buddhahood then.
At other times, Imust have gone up step by step the way a great bodhisattva 
according to Hinayana and Mahayana sutras.  Having practiced the way of a
bodhisattva for as long as one, two and in numerous kalpa, I was about to reach 
the state of non-retrogression.  However, a powerful, evil karma prevented me
from obtaining Buddhahood.

According to the "Parable of a Magic City" chapter of the Lotus Sutra
there were three categories of people who had an opportunity to listen to
the sutra and sow the seed of Buddhahood during the time of Daitsuchisho
Buddha in the past. They were all to attain Buddhahood eventually with the third 
and last group being guaranteed of being future Buddhas upon listening to 
Shakyamuni Buddha preach the Lotus Sutra. I wonder whether or not I was 
excluded from this third category of people. Or, am I one of those who, while 
having listened to the Lotus Sutra and sowed the seed of Buddhahood 500
dust-particle kalpa (gohyaku-jindengo) in the past, have kept falling back
till today without eventually getting it? .. (Noppa, Kaimoku Sho, page 92-94)
"On Practicing According to the Preaching" (Nyosetsu shugyo sho
STN, v. 1, 733 1, 2), "I Nichiren, received the Buddha's edict and was
born in this land . ."
         
From the Lotus Sutra Chapter 21:

"After the Buddha's parinirvana this Scripture will be preserved well;
hence, the Buddhas all rejoice and display Their untold spiritual powers.
Because this Scripture has been passed on in trust, he who accepts and
keeps to it will be offering his praise and adoration, for, even within
immeasurable eons, it will still remain inexhaustible.

The merits and virtues of such a person are as limitless and endless as
space which knows no boundaries in all the ten quarters.

He who can keep to this, Scripture is one who already beholds me and
beholds the Buddha of Many Treasures as well as all my various bodily
transformations; he also sees the Bodhisattvas whom I am instructing and
converting this very day.

He who holds well to this Scripture causes not only me but also my
bodily transformations and the Buddha of Many Treasures in nirvana, all of
Us, to be filled with delight; the Buddhas now present in the ten quarters,
together with Those of past and future, behold Us and make offerings to Us
as well as cause Us to be filled with delight.

The wondrous, unseen Teaching found by all Buddhas as They sat in Their
place of enlightenment will surely also be found before long by him who
holds well to this Scripture.

He who holds well to this Scripture shall, in all delight, endlessly
expound the meanings of its Teaching, along with its terms and
expressions; in doing so, he will be like the wind in the sky which is
completely free of impediments.

After my parinirvana such a one shall understand this Scripture which the
Buddha has expounded, together with its karmic causes and conditions as
well as their sequential order, and explain them, pursuing their meaning in
accord with the Truth: just as the brightness of the light of sun and moon
can make all darkness and obscurity disappear, so such a one shall go
through this world skillfully eradicating the darkness in sentient beings,
such a one will teach countless Bodhisattvas finally to dwell in the One
Vehicle.

Therefore, he who would be wise, hearing of the benefits of these merits
and virtues, should, after my parinirvana, accept and hold to this
Scripture; in doing so he will then be certain about the Buddha's Way and
harbor doubts no more."
           
The Daishonin says:

" I Nichiren may be a fool, but, having declared myself to be the
messenger of Shakyamuni Buddha and the Votary of the Lotus Sutra, it is
nothing short  of amazing that my words unheeded"--Letter To Ichinosawa Nyudo,
"Until the envoy of the Buddha actually appeared to expound the Lotus
Sutra...  However, now that I am spreading the Lotus Sutra as the Buddha's
envoy , everyone---from ruler to the lowliest subject--- has become a
slanderer."---Letter to Niike).

"Although I, Nichiren, am not that messenger, since being in that time
period, I startlingly realized this doctrine, until the Sage comes forth I
have in rough terms spoken it as the Preface Section (jobun) " (STN v.2
1447, Letter to Misawa).

In 1277 (the third year of the Kenji ere) Nichiren Daishonin wrote a
deposition on behalf of Shijo Nakatsukasa Yorimoto (the autograph no longer
exists but TWO versions copied by Nikko still exist at the Omosu Hommonji
(STN v.2, 1346, 1360 notes):

1)  an unrevised version compiled in 1278 (the first year of Koan) with
the title "On the Dialogue with Ryuzo" or RYUZO MONDO SHO.

2)  a "revised version" from the fifth year of Showa (1316) when Nikko was
seventy-one years old.  Since Nikko's colophon says that he copied this
from a "revised version" (saiji hon) it is probable that Nichiren Daishonin
rewrote some of the passages some time after 1278.
       
It is instructive that Nikko would copy this later in his life as a message to his disciples that the revised version is definitive.
       
 Let's look at the correct faith for a disciple of Nichiren:

"I believe it is preached in the HOKEKYO that His Reverence Nichiren
Daishonin is the BODHISATTVA JOGYO, the messenger the Tathagata Shakya,
Lord of the Three Worlds, Father and Mother of All Beings.“ (STN v.2 1358
and note 1).  The capitalized part, the words THE BODHISATTVA JOGYO are in
the revised edition.
             
Nichiren Daishonin himself went to the trouble of adding the words "the Bodhisattva Jogyo" and even if Nikko,  after the death of Nichiren,  added those words, here and in the other revised sections, it shows that Nikko regarded Nichiren Daishonin as the bodhisattva Jogyo.

This is proof of how Nichiren Daishonin or, at the very least Nikko, saw the Daishonin's true identity.  This identity, which he sometimes hid, was that of the Bodhisattva Jogyo not of the Buddha.
        
Further evidence is found in the Gosho, The Plots of  the elder of Gokurakuji,", the account of the plot of Ryokanbo Nisho, against Nichiren Daishonin.  The unrevised account refers to the attempt to kill Nichiren and to the obstacles to him and his disciples on Sado but says nothing about Nichiren Daishonin identity.

However, in the REVISED EDITION of Nikko,  though not in Nichiren's hand, it states:
  
"Nichiren Daishonin, if it is as it is preached in the Sutra, is the Sage
who is the Messenger of the Tathagata Who Attained in the Distant Past
(kujo nyorai no onzukai), the Descent (suijaku) of the Bodhisattva Jogyo,
the Practicer (gyoja) of the Original Doctrine (or Aspect - Hommon) of the
Hokke, the Great Guiding Teacher of the fifth five hundred years" (STN v.2,
1352)

Why would Nichiren or Nikko include these words which clearly illustrate that Nichiren Daishonin is the emissary from the Eternal Buddha and the manifestation of  Bodhisattva Jogyo, unless they were attempting to show that he actually  is the Bodhisattva Jogyo sent by the Buddha Shakyamuni?

In the Minobu period letters nowhere did Nichiren Daishonin feel himself to be the Buddha, although he is certain of his attainment of Buddhahood.

Rather, as he had said in the treatise "On Practicing According to the Preaching" (Nyosetsu shugyo sho STN, v. 1, 733 1, 2),

"I Nichiren, received the Buddha’s Proclamation and was born in this land"  He also says he has engaged in his crusade of shakubuku "because the Decree of the Dharma King is difficult to defy." (ibid) (Note that this Nyosetsu Shugyo Sho survives only in the manuscript of Nikko s disciple Tayu Nichizon (1265-1345), copied in 1297 (the fifth year of Einin).)
           
Now we can look at what Nikko's has to say:

"The Order of Spreading the Sutra in the Three Ages (Sanji gukyo
shidai)(Nichirenshu shugku zensho, II, 53) specifically says:

"The Temple of the Hommon
 The disciple of Entrustment
 The Bodhisattva Jogyo Nichiren Daishonin."

It is clear that in the Original Doctrine (Hommon), the correct doctrine
Nichiren Daishonin is considered the Manifestation of Jogyo, the Great
Bodhisattva Converted by the Original Buddha, the disciple clearly
delegated with the substance of the Sutra in the "Chapter of the Divine
Powers of the Tathagatas".  

This same work of Nikko refers to the Buddha Shakya Who Attained in the Past (Kujo no Shaka Butsu) the Supreme Enlightenment  as the Object of Worship.
          
There is also proof to be found on a particular Gohonzon from 1274 (currently kept at Myohonji at Hota.)  It is No. 16 in the Catalogue of the Gohonzon Collection (Yamanaka Kihachi, Nichiren Daishonin Shinseki no Sekai, p 323 and type B (II) 7 no. 13 in Nichiren Daishonin Mandara zushu, pp. 58-59)

On it, in what is considered a "lauditary text", Nichiren writes: 

"Since the entrance into Extinction of the Great Enlightened World Honored
One there have passed in succession more than two thousand two hundred 
and twenty years.  Even so among the Three Countries of India, Han (China) 
and Japan, there has not yet been this GREAT OBJECT OF WORSHIP (Dai 
Honzon).

Either they have known but not yet spread it or they have not known it.
Our Compassionate Father, by means of the Buddha Wisdom, has hidden and
retained it, leaving it for the Latter Age.  At the time of the last five
hundred years, the Bodhisattva Jogyo comes forth in the world and for the
first time spreads and proclaims it."

Here we have clear proof that Shakyamuni is the Father of all people of the world and Nichiren is his messenger.
             
Though imperfect , because we uphold uphold a correct faith, we are assured of attaining Buddhahood in the near future. After reading the Lotus Sutra and the words of the Daishonin, can you SGI and Nichiren Shoshu members say the same with 100% certainty?
                                 
Namu Myoho renge kyo
                                                               

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