"What Does It Means To Follow Nichiren Daishonin"? -- Bruce Maltz 1995 and slightly edited by Stephen Shonin Paine in 1996

"The truth of Buddhism has nothing to do with the opinion of
the majority. All that is important is whether a belief is
in accord with the scriptures. And, further, the golden
words of the Buddha have already informed us that in the age
of the Latter Day of the Law those who uphold the Right
Dharma would be few in number. Thus the Nirvana Sutra says
that "those who uphold the Right Dharma are as few as the
grains of earth on a fingernail, and those that slander the
Dharma are as numerous as the earth in of all the ten
directions" . -- Nichiren

"What Does It Means To Follow Nichiren Daishonin"?

On the thirteenth day of the tenth lunar month of the fifth
year of the Koan period (1282) at approximately eight A.M.
the patriarch Nichiren Daishonin at the age of sixty-one by
the Japanese reckoning passed away at the residence of
Ikegami Munenaka in what is now Ota-ku in Tokyo." "The death
of Nichiren was a tremendous blow to the movement which he
had founded nearly thirty years before and which had endured
whole-scale persecution especially around 1271. As
subsequent history demonstrated, once Nichiren Daishonin had
gone, his movement splintered relatively rapidly, for in
many ways it was his wisdom and the force of his personality
that kept his followers united in faith and practice".

"The spirit of "different persons with the same mind"
(itaidoshin) was difficult to maintain in the absence of
Nichiren himself. Within decades many lineages of the
Nichiren movement were relying on forged documents to
maintain their particular group and claim exclusive
pre-eminence over their rivals".

"In the midst of this splintering there appeared the Tendai
monk Gemmyo, who adopted the faith of Nichiren Daishonin
largely by reading some of his key works and changed his
name to Nichiju. Thereafter, having studied with different
lineages of the Nichiren movement, he concluded that their
actions and their claims were not truly in accord with the
words of Nichiren Daishonin and believed that he had to act
in obedience with the patriarch's words in order to be
called a follower of Nichiren. Professor Motai Kyoko of
Rissho University has described Nichiju Shonin as a person
with the sincere intention of tracing orthodoxy back to the
faith of Nichiren" (Nichiren kyogaku no kompon mondai, 266).

"Nichiju Shonin made no claims to some secret tradition;
rather, at the end of his life, he declared that his
disciples would be those who proclaimed, in accordance with
Nichiren Daishonin, "The various sects are the fundamental
source of falling to hell; the Hokke Sect alone shall attain
Buddhahood." And he added that if his words went against
the intent of the writings of the Patriarch, his disciples
need not take them as a basis for their belief." (Nichiju
Shonin den, 111-112)

"In effect, Nichiju Shonin, the founder of the Hokke Sect,
set aside his own will and desires and submitted himself
entirely to the words of Nichiren Daishonin. He relied on
Nichiren Daishonin because the latter relied on and
conformed to the Sutra. From that time the tradition of the
Hokke sect has been to rely on a succession directly through
the scrolls of sutra, not on human, successions with
supposed secrets. It is a tradition of genuine action
directly authorized by the Original Buddha Shakyamuni
through the Sutra and the words of the Patriarch, not a
tradition of claims to special privileges.

"The true follower of Nichiren Daishonin is the person who
actually believes and acts in accordance with the words of
the Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin".

"Nichiren Daishonin is no longer with us, just as the Buddha
can no longer be physically approached in his historical
Response Body (ojin). And as with the body of the Buddha, we
have relics of our Patriarch, Nichiren Daishonin: there are
two types of relics, those of their physical bodies and
those of their words preserved in writing. In the "Chapter
of the Dharma Teacher" (chapter 10 (T.9.31b) of the Hokekyo
or Lotus Sutra) it is said that one need not place relics
(sharira) of the Buddha in a Stupa built where the scrolls
of the Sutra abide or where it is preached and so on because
the whole body of the Buddha is already there. As precious
as the relics of the Buddha's physical body are, the Sutra
itself is His greatest relic, the spiritual truth that makes
Him the Buddha: thus "If there are those who can keep it,
then they keep the Buddha's Body." (The "Chapter of Seeing
the Jeweled Stupa" 11: T.9.34b) It is thus also true, by
analogy, that the most precious relic of the Patriarch is
his literary remains, for it is these that demonstrate the
spiritual truths that he was trying to convey as the
Messenger of the Buddha"

"Groups refer to their comrades in faith as "members". This
implies a hierarchal structure of members and seniors. It's
an illusion to think that this kind of structuring has any
value or even any reality. We are all brothers and sisters
of faith. This Buddhism should be like a large family which
provides a safe haven to practice Nichiren's Buddhism
according to Nichiren's own instructions. It is a place of
nurturing and caring. It is a place of learning. It is a
place where each brother and sister can be their natural
self, with no fear of judgement or critical scrutiny. It is
a refuge where the Dharma is the foundation".

"Our weapons are nothing more than the Lotus Sutra and the
words of Nichiren, exactly as he wrote them. In the Age of
Mappo, the practice of "shakubuku" means to refute slander
of the Dharma. It also means to have faith in the Lotus
Sutra. Faith can only endure if compassion and wisdom are
earnestly sought after. It is compassion to warn another
person that he or she is drinking poisoned water".

"It is wisdom to spread the teachings without altering or
embellishing anything. When something does not accord with
the teachings of Nichiren or with the Lotus Sutra it must be
discarded as a provisional idea. Most importantly, evil
teachers and evil friends must be kept at arm's length. Just
as a robber is not welcomed into a home, these people must
not cross the boundaries of our spiritual haven".

"This is an aspect of "fuju fuse" (no giving, no receiving)
from those who slander the Dharma. Mentally, we must refuse
to accept anything that goes against the Lotus Sutra or the
teachings of Nichiren. Spiritually, we can spread the
Dharma by refuting slander, but we cannot "give" the
teachings to those who deliberately seek to destroy those
teachings. In Nichiren's day, that meant not praying in
common with all the other sects at official prayers for the
safety of the nation. Today, it means not mixing up the
teachings with the "lesser dharma". It does not mean to be
intolerant of others. However, we are sworn to be
intolerant of slander. It is the height of compassion to
uphold this aspect of "fuju fuse". It is not
compassionate to give a drug addict a drug, likewise it is
not compassionate to condone the twisting of the teachings
of the Lotus Sutra. Compassion has an element of
detachment, of freedom from the co-dependent pain that
comes with intimate association with deluded people".

"As for the issue of "succession", it is not an issue at
all. It is a "red herring", created by jealous factions
after the death of Nichiren. The ONLY successor is Nichiren
himself. He is the successor to T'ien t'ai and Dengyo, who
carried on the succession of the Lotus Sutra from the
historical Shakyamuni. This historical Shakyamuni
transcended his earthly incarnation to reveal himself as the
Original Buddha, beyond space, time or conditions. All
Buddhas of the ten directions are emanations of the Original
Buddha. There is no "discarding" of anyone, least of all the
Eternal Shakyamuni of the 16th Chapter of the Lotus Sutra.
As Jogyo, Nichiren became the true successor. Nichiren
himself said, over and over again, "Nichiren and his
followers", he never said "Nichiren and his successive
priests". Any writing that hints at a secret succession of
special lineages is untrue. Nichiren is the Third Jewel, the
Jewel of the Samgha. The other two jewels are the Jewel of
the Buddha (the Original Buddha who is the three Buddha
bodies simultaneously .....the historical Shakyamuni, the
Transcendent Shakyamuni and the manifestation Buddhas of the
ten directions) and the Jewel of the Dharma (the Lotus
Sutra, and, in our time period, the O-Daimoku which contains
the entire Lotus Sutra). To eliminate the Eternal
Shakyamuni Buddha, place Nichiren in his place, and to
elevate Nikko to the Third Jewel is to completely alter the
teachings of Nichiren, as clearly laid out in his own
writings".

"The succession is "Nichiren and his followers". No other
designation is ever mentioned in authentic writings of
Nichiren".

The Three Jewels are:

1) The Buddha....which is the Eternal Shakyamuni of the 16th
Chapter of the Lotus Sutra.
2) The Dharma...which is "NAMU MYO HO RENGE KYO"
("daimoku" or "title" of the Lotus Sutra)
3)The Samgha....which is Nichiren leading his followers.
(In Buddhism, the "samgha" means "The community of monks"
or believers)

"Let us go back to orthodox Nichiren teachings, thereby
countering some later traditions, who claim to be "true"
schools of Nichiren's thought and who adopt the name of
Nichiren (thereby legitimizing their teachings) but they
subvert and radically alter the basic tenets of Nichiren's
Buddhism. These tenets are clearly elucidated in
Nichiren's authentic writings.

There is no need for interpretation "between the lines" or
revision of the original writings (i.e. "Nichiren said this
but he really meant something else, which he only
obliquely hints at. Let us be the sect that understands the
true meaning, which is hidden...". This kind of "re-working"
of Nichiren's true intent is all too prevalent in off
shoot sects who established their doctrines long after the
death of Nichiren.)"

"In the interest of honesty and integrity, with respect to
Nichiren's writings, let us publish accurate translations of
Nichiren's works and to present thoughtful orthodox
commentaries on Nichiren's writings, and the Lotus Sutra in
general. Ultimately, let us to provide a place where people
can grow in faith, confident that the printed materials of
this Buddhism conform very accurately to the intent of
Nichiren himself. Let our motto be, "If Nichiren didn't say
it, then it mustn't be accepted as part of orthodox Nichiren
teachings. "Everything that is asserted through this
Buddhism must be backed by literal, theoretical and actual
proof......proof that is found in the Lotus Sutra and the
authentic writings of Nichiren himself, without any
distortions in questionable translation from the original
Japanese".

"Let us pledge to remain true to the orthodox teachings of
Nichiren, and to provide English language materials to all
believers who seek the truth of the Dharma of the Lotus
Sutra".

"Regarding authenticated texts of Nichiren....

The five major works of Nichiren (1. Rissho Ankoku Ron 2.
Kaimoku Sho 3. Kanjin Honzon Sho 4. Senji Sho 5. Ho'on
Jo) are authentic works, and some still exist in Nichiren's
hand. Others were faithful copies which existed in several
places".

"If you become familiar with these works, you become
familiar with Nichiren's thinking. Just to absorb these
five works is a huge undertaking! After that, the personal
letters can be read with greater ease. The most complete
edition of Nichiren's writings, the "Showa Teihon Nichiren
Shonin Ibun", in three volumes, contains collated texts of
523 complete writings and 248 fragments of letters
attributed to Nichiren. Volumes 1 and 2 are authenticated
text, Vol 3 is the "dubious, problematic texts"i.e
forgeries".

"Debates over the authenticity of some works of Nichiren
began fifty years after his death, but Nikko already saw the
problem and warns, in his "Nikko yuikai okibumi", (testament
written in 1333, the year of his death), that "those who
make forgeries and include them among the authentic writings
are 'parasites in the body of the lion'"

"The splintering of Nichiren's followers into opposing
factions within a few years after his death encouraged the
composition of forged documents. Fortunately, many works in
Nichiren's own hand survive: there are 90 complete works
and 130 fragments. An additional 28 complete works and 6
fragments had been preserved at Minobu (Kuonji) until the
late 19th century, when these were lost in a fire. However,
their existence till then was well known and documented".

"There are 55 known forgeries. Some well known SGI
favorites, like "Hell and Buddhahood", the Abutsubo Gosho,
the Kechimyaku Sho, "Becoming a Buddha in one Lifetime",
Ongi Kuden, etc. are well documented by various scholars as
forgeries". A famous thesis on the suspected forgery of the
"Kechimyaku sho" is exhaustively done by Tamura Yoshiro.

"Shakyamuni Buddha our father and mother, who is endowed
with the three virtues of sovereign, 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)

"All that you [Shakyamuni Buddha] have expounded is the
truth." (MW vol 4, Teaching, Practice and Proof, pg 120)
"First, in Japan and all the other countries throughout the
world, the object of worship should, on all cases, be the
Lord Shakyamuni of true Buddhism." (MW vol 4, Repaying Debts
of Gratitude, pg 271)

"Our merciful father, Lord Shakyamuni, said 'Rely on the Law
and not upon persons." (MW vol 5, A Sage and an
Unenlightened Man, pg 65)

"In the same volume in the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha says,
'for the sake of the Buddha way I have in countless
different lands from the beginning until now widely preached
various sutras, but among them this Sutra is foremost'. This
passage means that Shakyamuni Buddha has appeared in
countless lands, taking different names and assuming varying
life spans." (Ibid, pg 77)

"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)

"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." (Ibid, pg 110)

"I Nichiren, humble person though I am, have received Lord
Shakyamuni's royal command and come to this country of
Japan." (MW vol 5, The Pure and Far Reaching Voice, pg 143)

"Shakyamuni Buddha is the lord of all buddhist teachings,
the leader and teacher of all human beings." (Ibid, pg 143)

"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)

"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)

"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)

"Now the Latter Day of the Law, is the time when the seven
characters of Namu Myoho renge kyo-the heart of the
twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra that Shakyamuni
Buddha who had achieved enlightenment in the remote past,
along with the bodhisattvas Jogyo, Muhengyo and the others
is to propagate-will alone spread throughout the country."
(Ibid, pg 187-188) "The messenger of the Lord Buddha
Shakyamuni has twice been paraded through the street." (MW
vol 6, A Father Takes Faith, pg 242).

"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, On
Filial and Unfilial Conduct, pg 290)

"Therefore, the words of this Sutra are indeed the very soul
of Shakyamuni Buddha. And since every single word
constitutes the soul of the Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha will
protect persons who practice this Sutra as though he were
protecting his very own eyes. He will accompany such
persons just as a shadow accompanies a body. How then could
the prayers of such persons not be answered." (MW vol 7, On
Prayer, pg 34)

"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)

"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)

"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'...This passage represents the
ultimate purpose for which Shakyamuni appeared in the world,
the secret Law that he attained in the place of meditation."
(Ibid, pg 7)