"It was Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha who planted the seed of Myoho renge kyo in our Buddha-nature, the seed that, if watered with a correct faith and practice, grows into the magnificent tree of the Supreme Enlightenment of Myoho"
The Buddha-nature is the field, Nichiren is the sower and Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha the reaper and we are they and they are we
I was just putting it out there. I was echoing a firm belief from the faction of NB/NST. I can't be sure who is telling the truth because anyone can say whatever about anything and then there are all the different contextual levels that we can layer on that.
I heard recently from someone who was in contact with an administrative assistant at the SGI headquarters that the Dai Gohonzon was made by Nikko Shonnin and not Nichiren.
If this is true why wouldn't have millions of people from all over the world been told if this was true, and how long have they known.
Another scenario is that someone/s made up story because want to distance themselves from Nichiren Shoshu but they are still using Nichikans Gohonzon who was a high priest of nichiren Shoshu
It makes one wonder what will happen next. Maybe SGI members will receive an authentic Nichiren inscribed Gohonzons sooner rather than latter or they can say that the basics are there so why bother just refer to the map of the Gohonzon if you think your lost..it's all there...if it's not broken why fix it
The Daishonin said it is better to be a leper who chants the Daimoku than even the Emperor of Japan or some other great person who slanders the Lotus Sutra
"Faith, heritage and the water of the Law are [ultimately] one and the same.... If we do not depart from the faith upheld since Nichiren Daishonin's day, our mind and body will become Myoho-renge-kyo itself. If we act contrary to it, our mind and body will remain those of an ordinary person. If we remain so, it is impossible to receive the lifeblood which enables us to attain Buddhahood in the flesh."
"One thing that Buddhism teaches, is that sometimes its a benefit to suffer, as it enables us to quickly purge ourselves of the underlying causes of our misery and reach real enlightenment. Perhaps the allegations of Leprosy don't really matter so much as how he dealt with it. He is said to have wandered to the other side of Mt. Fuji and died there".
In "Fire in the Lotus" 7 Daniel B. Montgomery says:
"Before [Nichiu's] time the most celebrated relic at Taiseki-ji had been the Ozagawari Gohonzon, which had been inscribed by Nikko on the day the temple was completed, and presented personally by him to his disciple Nichimoku. Nichiu, however, proclaimed that the temple possessed an even greater treasure, one that could be rivaled by no other. It had the Dai-gohonzon, which Nichiren himself had inscribed, not for Nichimoku or any other individual, but 'for all mankind.'"
Richard Thieme writes in one of his posts to alt.religion.buddhism.nichiren, (after I'd made some comments about the existence of multiple Gohonzon being a good thing):
Nittatsu Shonin, in his defense of the provenance of the Dai-Gohonzon notes:
Allegation 8:The 9th high priest, Nichiu, carved the "Ita Mandara" which had never been seen or heard of. Nichi-jo, head priest of Kitayama Hommonji, a contemporary of Nichiu, reports that, for his sin, Nichiu became a leper for having gone against the fundamental intention of the founder of the temple (Nikko).Rebuttal:It is a fact that Nichiu had somebody carve a wooden Gohonzon based upon an original Gohonzon of Nichiren Daishonin. On this copied wooden Gohonzon is Nichiu's signature. It has been housed at the Treasure House of Taiseki-ji. But the Dai-Gohonzon and this copied wooden Gohonzon are two different things. _Nichiu reportedly created the above wooden Gohonzon in fear of the possible loss of the Dai-Gohonzon through civil wars that often erupted in those days. Richard then went on to note that this indicated that for Nichiu the Dai-Gohonzon was valuable, but not irreplaceable. Later this same fact would be trotted out to explain the infamous Kawabe memo, by saying that the Dai-Gohonzon referred to by Nikken Abe was actually this backup carved by Nichiu.8
But in either case, it would be nice to know the date in which these events allegedly occured.
Allegation 8: The 9th high priest, Nichiu, carved the “Ita Mandara” which had never been seen or heard of. Nichi-jo, head priest of Kitayama Hommonji, a contemporary of Nichiu, reports that, for his sin, Nichiu became a leper for having gone against the fundamental intention of the founder of the temple (Nikko).
Rebuttal: It is a fact that Nichiu had somebody carve a wooden Gohonzon based upon an original Gohonzon of Nichiren Daishonin. On this copied wooden Gohonzon is Nichiu’s signature. It has been housed at the Treasure House of Taiseki-ji. But the Dai-Gohonzon and this copied wooden Gohonzon are two different things. Nichiu reportedly created the above wooden Gohonzon in fear of the possible loss of the Dai-Gohonzon through civil wars that often erupted in those days.
Nichiju’s contention that Nichiu died as a leper is based upon the rumor he reportedly heard from a farmer in his neighborhood. Nichiju is known as Nichiu’s arch enemy. Since the basis of his contention is mere hearsay, it cannot be legitimately used to justify his point.
Kempon Hokke USA:
The first announcement of the DaiGohonzon occured more than 200 years after Nichiren Daishonin’s passing by Nichiu. Initially, it was not denounced by Minobu or the Kempon Hokke but by Nikko’s other temple, Honmonji. There is not one reference to it before then.
For two hundred long years, not one person ever mentions the “Central Object of Worship for all mankind”. Nichiren Daishonin never writes so much as a word about it, much less teaches about all it’s complicated theoretical underpinnings. No one sees it. No one argues over it. No one discusses it, let alone mentions it for two hundred years until a very tiny family temple called Taisekeiji, during the tenure of High Priest Nichiu, says they have such an object. The facts are, the DaiGohonzon, its manifestation and its concepts, has absolutely nothing to do with Nichiren Daishonin.
Taisekeji says it was originally housed in a temple called Kuonji as the principle Object of Worship but, at the same time, when pressed, “why was there nothing written about it?”, they say it was a “secret”. “Secret” is the hallmark of esoteric Buddhism, something the Daishonin fought against for the better part of his life.
Since NST lied and continues to lie about the DaiGohonzon, the central core of their beliefs, then how can anyone follow such a profoundly dishonest sect (sangha)? How can anyone believe their other tenets that go against the Lotus Sutra and the teachings of Nichiren: The transmission to one sole heir [or the Living Master of the Seat of the Law."]; Nichiren as True Buddha; Shakyamuni as husk Buddha; and the Lotus Sutra having lost its power in the Latter Age? Yet, this is exactly what the SGI adopted and continues to adopt: A Living Master of the Seat of the Law (the successive presidents of the SGI); Shakyamuni as husk Buddha; Nichiren as True Buddha; and the Lotus Sutra having lost it’s power in Mappo. They continue to cling to the principles of this dishonest sect, even going so far as adopting the Gohonzon of the worst transgressor, Nichikan Shonin.
As far as Nichiu’s white leprosy, not only did Nichiju teach that this was the reason Nichiu abandoned Taisekaji but there are other accounts from Honmonji that confirm that Nichiu contracted white leprosy. It’s not like this was a big secret like the DaiGohonzon.
Allegation 9: The theme of “On Persecutions Befalling the Buddha” is encouragement of the faithful in the wake of the Atsuhara Persecution. Despite the reference to the attainment for the “fundamental intention for coming forth in this world,” it does not have any connection with the so-called “Ita Mandara” which is not mentioned in this letter at all. Taisekiji has used the close date of this letter to back its claims for the date of the Ita Mandala.
Rebuttal: What enabled the Daishonin to fulfill his fundamental purpose behind his advent in this world? At the expense of their lives, the Atsuhara farmers showed actual proof of their solid faith in the Daishonin’s teaching. The establishment of their unshakable faith meant the establishment of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. In other words, by witnessing their true faith, the Daishonin was able to decide upon the inscription of the eternal object of worship for all humanity.
Nichiren Daishonin was paying close attention to the progress of the Atsuhara incident. While respecting the strong faith displayed by the farmers, he heard the news of their martyrdom. Sensing that the time had finally come for him to inscribe the Gohonzon for all humanity, he did so with those farmers’ lives in his heart.
Kempon Hokke USA:
Nichiren never mentions the DaiGohonzon period. All the ornate rhetoric and conjecture in the world doesn’t change this fact. These liars and base men won’t even give the Atsuhara Martyrs their due. The actual proof of the people’s faith in the Daishonin’s teachings was, "not begrudging their lives to see the Buddha, willing to give their lives for the sake of the Law." This was the reason for Nichiren Daishonin’s advent.
"It was Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha who planted the seed of Myoho renge kyo in our Buddha-nature, the seed that, if watered with a correct faith and practice, grows into the magnificent tree of the Supreme Enlightenment of Myoho"
ReplyDeleteThe Buddha-nature is the field, Nichiren is the sower and Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha the reaper and we are they and they are we
At the deepest level [when we obtain Buddhahood and according to Nichiren, this is not to bandied about frivolously].
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteShakyamuni and Nichiren before Sado = linear....cause and effect
Nichiren after Sado = non linear.... simultaneous cause and effect
Why accept the Nichiren Shoshu/Soka Gakkai fictions? It is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteI was just putting it out there. I was echoing a firm belief from the faction of NB/NST. I can't be sure who is telling the truth because anyone can say whatever about anything and then there are all the different contextual levels that we can layer on that.
DeleteI heard recently from someone who was in contact with an administrative assistant at the SGI headquarters that the Dai Gohonzon was made by Nikko Shonnin and not Nichiren.
If this is true why wouldn't have millions of people from all over the world been told if this was true, and how long have they known.
Another scenario is that someone/s made up story because want to distance themselves from Nichiren Shoshu but they are still using Nichikans Gohonzon who was a high priest of nichiren Shoshu
It makes one wonder what will happen next. Maybe SGI members will receive an authentic Nichiren inscribed Gohonzons sooner rather than latter or they can say that the basics are there so why bother just refer to the map of the Gohonzon if you think your lost..it's all there...if it's not broken why fix it
Nichiu commissioned the DaiGohonzon and he died alone, a leper.
ReplyDeleteThe Daishonin said it is better to be a leper who chants the Daimoku than even the Emperor of Japan or some other great person who slanders the Lotus Sutra
Delete"Faith, heritage and the water of the Law are [ultimately] one and the same.... If we do not depart from the faith upheld since Nichiren Daishonin's day, our mind and body will become Myoho-renge-kyo itself. If we act contrary to it, our mind and body will remain those of an ordinary person. If we remain so, it is impossible to receive the lifeblood which enables us to attain Buddhahood in the flesh."
Delete"One thing that Buddhism teaches, is that sometimes its a benefit to suffer, as it enables us to quickly purge ourselves of the underlying causes of our misery and reach real enlightenment. Perhaps the allegations of Leprosy don't really matter so much as how he dealt with it. He is said to have wandered to the other side of Mt. Fuji and died there".
In "Fire in the Lotus" 7 Daniel B. Montgomery says:
ReplyDelete"Before [Nichiu's] time the most celebrated relic at Taiseki-ji had been the Ozagawari Gohonzon, which had been inscribed by Nikko on the day the temple was completed, and presented personally by him to his disciple Nichimoku. Nichiu, however, proclaimed that the temple possessed an even greater treasure, one that could be rivaled by no other. It had the Dai-gohonzon, which Nichiren himself had inscribed, not for Nichimoku or any other individual, but 'for all mankind.'"
Richard Thieme writes in one of his posts to alt.religion.buddhism.nichiren, (after I'd made some comments about the existence of multiple Gohonzon being a good thing):
Nittatsu Shonin, in his defense of the provenance of the Dai-Gohonzon notes:
Allegation 8:The 9th high priest, Nichiu, carved the "Ita Mandara" which had never been seen or heard of. Nichi-jo, head priest of Kitayama Hommonji, a contemporary of Nichiu, reports that, for his sin, Nichiu became a leper for having gone against the fundamental intention of the founder of the temple (Nikko).Rebuttal:It is a fact that Nichiu had somebody carve a wooden Gohonzon based upon an original Gohonzon of Nichiren Daishonin. On this copied wooden Gohonzon is Nichiu's signature. It has been housed at the Treasure House of Taiseki-ji. But the Dai-Gohonzon and this copied wooden Gohonzon are two different things. _Nichiu reportedly created the above wooden Gohonzon in fear of the possible loss of the Dai-Gohonzon through civil wars that often erupted in those days.
Richard then went on to note that this indicated that for Nichiu the Dai-Gohonzon was valuable, but not irreplaceable. Later this same fact would be trotted out to explain the infamous Kawabe memo, by saying that the Dai-Gohonzon referred to by Nikken Abe was actually this backup carved by Nichiu.8
But in either case, it would be nice to know the date in which these events allegedly occured.
Nittatsu/Toda:
ReplyDeleteAllegation 8: The 9th high priest, Nichiu, carved the “Ita Mandara” which had never been seen or heard of. Nichi-jo, head priest of Kitayama Hommonji, a contemporary of Nichiu, reports that, for his sin, Nichiu became a leper for having gone against the fundamental intention of the founder of the temple (Nikko).
Rebuttal: It is a fact that Nichiu had somebody carve a wooden Gohonzon based upon an original Gohonzon of Nichiren Daishonin. On this copied wooden Gohonzon is Nichiu’s signature. It has been housed at the Treasure House of Taiseki-ji. But the Dai-Gohonzon and this copied wooden Gohonzon are two different things. Nichiu reportedly created the above wooden Gohonzon in fear of the possible loss of the Dai-Gohonzon through civil wars that often erupted in those days.
Nichiju’s contention that Nichiu died as a leper is based upon the rumor he reportedly heard from a farmer in his neighborhood. Nichiju is known as Nichiu’s arch enemy. Since the basis of his contention is mere hearsay, it cannot be legitimately used to justify his point.
Kempon Hokke USA:
The first announcement of the DaiGohonzon occured more than 200 years after Nichiren Daishonin’s passing by Nichiu. Initially, it was not denounced by Minobu or the Kempon Hokke but by Nikko’s other temple, Honmonji. There is not one reference to it before then.
For two hundred long years, not one person ever mentions the “Central Object of Worship for all mankind”. Nichiren Daishonin never writes so much as a word about it, much less teaches about all it’s complicated theoretical underpinnings. No one sees it. No one argues over it. No one discusses it, let alone mentions it for two hundred years until a very tiny family temple called Taisekeiji, during the tenure of High Priest Nichiu, says they have such an object. The facts are, the DaiGohonzon, its manifestation and its concepts, has absolutely nothing to do with Nichiren Daishonin.
Taisekeji says it was originally housed in a temple called Kuonji as the principle Object of Worship but, at the same time, when pressed, “why was there nothing written about it?”, they say it was a “secret”. “Secret” is the hallmark of esoteric Buddhism, something the Daishonin fought against for the better part of his life.
Since NST lied and continues to lie about the DaiGohonzon, the central core of their beliefs, then how can anyone follow such a profoundly dishonest sect (sangha)? How can anyone believe their other tenets that go against the Lotus Sutra and the teachings of Nichiren: The transmission to one sole heir [or the Living Master of the Seat of the Law."]; Nichiren as True Buddha; Shakyamuni as husk Buddha; and the Lotus Sutra having lost its power in the Latter Age? Yet, this is exactly what the SGI adopted and continues to adopt: A Living Master of the Seat of the Law (the successive presidents of the SGI); Shakyamuni as husk Buddha; Nichiren as True Buddha; and the Lotus Sutra having lost it’s power in Mappo. They continue to cling to the principles of this dishonest sect, even going so far as adopting the Gohonzon of the worst transgressor, Nichikan Shonin.
As far as Nichiu’s white leprosy, not only did Nichiju teach that this was the reason Nichiu abandoned Taisekaji but there are other accounts from Honmonji that confirm that Nichiu contracted white leprosy. It’s not like this was a big secret like the DaiGohonzon.
ReplyDeleteNittatsu/Toda
Allegation 9: The theme of “On Persecutions Befalling the Buddha” is encouragement of the faithful in the wake of the Atsuhara Persecution. Despite the reference to the attainment for the “fundamental intention for coming forth in this world,” it does not have any connection with the so-called “Ita Mandara” which is not mentioned in this letter at all. Taisekiji has used the close date of this letter to back its claims for the date of the Ita Mandala.
Rebuttal: What enabled the Daishonin to fulfill his fundamental purpose behind his advent in this world? At the expense of their lives, the Atsuhara farmers showed actual proof of their solid faith in the Daishonin’s teaching. The establishment of their unshakable faith meant the establishment of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. In other words, by witnessing their true faith, the Daishonin was able to decide upon the inscription of the eternal object of worship for all humanity.
Nichiren Daishonin was paying close attention to the progress of the Atsuhara incident. While respecting the strong faith displayed by the farmers, he heard the news of their martyrdom. Sensing that the time had finally come for him to inscribe the Gohonzon for all humanity, he did so with those farmers’ lives in his heart.
Kempon Hokke USA:
Nichiren never mentions the DaiGohonzon period. All the ornate rhetoric and conjecture in the world doesn’t change this fact. These liars and base men won’t even give the Atsuhara Martyrs their due. The actual proof of the people’s faith in the Daishonin’s teachings was, "not begrudging their lives to see the Buddha, willing to give their lives for the sake of the Law." This was the reason for Nichiren Daishonin’s advent.