Nichiren Shu's [and SGI's] false portrayal of Nichiren

Rev. Ryuei asserts that Nichiren Daishonin was a “Confucian Gentleman” who was a proponent of interfaith [rather than a lion of break and subdue practice]. Contrary to this false image of Nichiren, we can see the true Nichiren through his teachings:

“The Dharma Teacher Chih-i said: “The Lotus Sutra itself says, ‘among the sutras, it holds the highest place.’ It also says, ‘Among the sutras I [Shakyamuni] have preached, now preach, and will preach, this Lotus Sutra is the most difficult to believe and the most difficult to understand.’ The Immeasurable Meanings Sutra makes clear that the sutras the Buddha already ‘has preached’ here refer to ‘the teaching of great wisdom and the Flower Garland teaching of the ocean-imprint meditation’ and so forth. And with regard to the sutras he ‘will preach,’ the Nirvana Sutra says, ‘. . . from the prajna-paramita (the teachings of the perfection of wisdom) he brought forth the Nirvana Sutra.’ These scriptural passages show that the Lotus Sutra is superior to the Flower Garland and Nirvana sutras; they make it abundantly clear, clear as could possibly be. You should understand accordingly.

Rebuked in this manner, some of his opponents simply shut their mouths, others spewed out abuse, while still others turned pale. The Ch’en ruler then rose from his seat and bowed three times, and all the hundred officials pressed their palms together in reverence. Powerless to prevail, the leaders of the other schools conceded defeat. Thus it was established that the Lotus Sutra holds the highest place among the teachings of the Buddha’s lifetime.”

Further along in this treatise, we read…

“So long as the people truly did not know of this statement, it seems that the false interpretations of the teachers I mentioned spread without anyone incurring retribution. But once a person of forceful character has come forward to make this sutra passage known in a bold and uncompromising fashion, then grave matters are certain to occur. Because people have looked down on this person and cursed him, struck him, sent him into exile, or attempted to take his life, Brahma, Shakra, the gods of the sun and moon, and the four heavenly kings have risen up in anger and become that votary’s allies. Thus unexpected censures have come down from heaven, and the people are about to be wiped out and the nation destroyed.

Though the votary of the Lotus Sutra may be of humble background, the heavenly deities who protect him are fearsome indeed. If an asura tries to swallow the sun or moon, its head will split into seven pieces. If a dog barks at a lion, its bowels will rot. And as I view the situation today, the same sort of retribution is happening here in Japan.”

Ryuei and the not-Nichiren Shu make Nichiren Daishonin into a passive milk toast of interfaith. Instead of these false priests becoming images of Nichiren they make Nichiren into their image. Who is he kidding and what is Ryuei's and the Nichiren Shu’s true agenda?

There are Nichiren Shu members who have been taught mistaken doctrines by their priests who themselves are mistaken and there are other Nichiren Shu members who really don’t like Nichiren Daishonin. To placate these slanderers or worms in the body of the lion, the priests themselves have become parasites.

They are not different than the SGI… Give the people what they want not what is good for them [correct and accurate teachings of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin]. "Good medicine tastes bitter and moxacautery cures a cold." Instead, Ryuei and the not-Nichiren Shu gives the people sugar water or Shirley Temples instead of the medicine of immortality. How sad! How pitiful!

Nichiren on entering the Jeweled Stupa and attaining Buddhahood

“The attainment of Buddhahood or non-attainment of Buddhahood by the evil people of the Latter Age does not depend upon the lightness or gravity of their sins but is just according to their belief or unbelief in this Sutra” (Hakii Saburo dono gohenji, STN, v. 1, 749). 

“This Object of Worship is also contained in the two characters, ‘faithful (believing) mind ‘(shinjin); ‘by faith you are able to enter’ refers to this. The disciples and lay donors of Nichiren by believing undividedly in ‘forthrightly abandoning expedience’ and ‘not receiving even one verse of other sutras’ shall enter into the Jeweled Stupa of this Object of Worship” (Nichinyo gozen gohenji, STN, v. 2, 1376).  

Difficulties

“There are two ways of contemplating the three thousand realms in a single moment of life. One is theoretical, and the other, actual. What T’ien-t’ai and Dengyo practiced was theoretical, but what I practice now is actual. Because what I practice is superior, the difficulties attending it are that much greater. The doctrine of T’ien-t’ai and Dengyo was the three thousand realms in a single moment of life of the theoretical teaching, while mine is that of the essential teaching. These two are as different as heaven is from earth. You should grasp this deeply when the time comes to face death.”

Truthfully, no one wants to hear that one will encounter so many difficulties if one practices Buddhism correctly so SGI lies and almost exclusively talks about benefits. That is one reason 95% of those who ever practiced with the SGI in the U.S. abandoned their faith. They were not prepared to meet difficulties. 

Question: Then one might inquire, how is it that practicing incorrectly as does SGI calls upon so many difficulties? 

Answer: The SGI faith, practice, and teachings cannot even sustain minor difficulties that all people are destined to encounter, let alone the difficulties encountered by the votaries of the Lotus Sutra. The difficulties encountered by SGI members pale in significance to those of the votaries of the Lotus Sutra who prove their faith by encountering and overcoming even the obstacle of hatred and persecution by governmental authorities.

How long before SGI begins to refute Nichiren?

It has already begun but they are too cowardly to mention Nichiren by name. 

We too advocate a return to pre-sectarian Buddhism

Nichiren Daishonin advocated a return to pre-sectarian Buddhism. Forcefully urging a a unification of Buddhism based on the Lotus Sutra, he was the greatest reformer in the history of Buddhism. Introducing a simple faith and practice, he created a formula that was easy to follow. Our goal too is to return to pre-sectarian Buddhism. This will never happen as long as Nichiren Buddhists don’t put their own house in order. There should be only one Nichiren Lotus Sutra school, not thirty or forty. I retain hope that this will be accomplished and I have a plan to realize this goal. The plan is simple. All the schools must cultivate the very same faith and practice as the founder, Nichiren Daishonin. If one does not have the same faith and practice as Nichiren, you are not a Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhist, even if you chant the Daimoku to a Nichiren Gohonzon.

According to the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin, “faith is first and foremost." Only those having the very same faith as Nichiren Daishonin are Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhists. We have proven that all the various schools fail to have and uphold the same faith as Nichiren Daishonin. We, on the other hand, share the exact same faith as Nichiren. This is not mere self-praise. It is reality as it is.

Nichiju on the Gohonzon

"This Great Mandala is the mandala that represents non-duality of subject and its surroundings; unity of the Buddha and the Dharma; oneness of all living beings and the Buddha; and the inter-possession of each of the Ten Realms. Therefore, since those who reverently listen to its name [Namu Myoho renge kyo] will eradicate the three persistent delusions (Kenji, Jinja and Mumyo)* in an instant, and those who reverently gaze upon it, even once, will attain Sambodhi (perfect Enlightenment); then this Great Mandala is a secret means of immediate enlightenment and a model of attaining Buddhahood in this very body. And, this sutra is the real Purpose for the advent of the Buddhas, and the direct way to Buddhahood for all living beings. Reading or reciting [this sutra] is the practice that is suitable for the organ of hearing, and these are the roots of goodness that have a connection with this [Saha] world. Copying** [this sutra] is the root of making the life of the teachings ever-abiding, and is the great goodness of committing them to memory or keeping them in mind." -- Nichiju

*( 1 ) kenji no waku (delusions of view and desire); (2) jinja no waku (delusions as innumerable as particles of dust and sand); and (3) mumyo no waku (delusions about the principle of the Middle Way or ultimate reality)

** In this modern period, "bestowing this Sutra".

I will correct third parties who believe our differences merely small and petty

SGI leaders, serious Nichiren Buddhists scholars, true Nichiren priests, some others, and I, on the other hand, know that in fact, a decisive victory for one side or the other is for the very heart and sole of the Nichiren movement and for the very future of mankind.

If we were to accept the arguments of the Soka Gakkai scholar Ken’ichi Maegawa, there would be no Nichiren and no Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism

http://www.totetu.org/assets/media/paper/j017_198.pdf

Nichren was not interested in a framework of coexistence amongst the various sects and religions. He cared only for the Supreme Way and the relief of suffering by converting people to the Lotus Sutra.

More nonsense from Anonymous and my response

AnonymousJanuary 31, 2016 at 5:25 PM

You say: "All the jewels on land and sea, all SGI's riches, can not match the fortune of possessing this Gohonzon." What utter nonsense. All Gohonzons are merely pieces of paper and have no intrinsic value, and certainly no supernatural power, which is what you seem to be claiming. Gohonzons are simply mirrors for observing our lives, but even without a Gohonzon, one can manifest Buddhahood simply by chanting NMRK anywhere. If that is not true, then Nichiren lied.

Reply: No Anonymous. Nichiren didn't lie. You misunderstand Ichinen Sanzen and his teachings on self and "other power". Besides, I never made a distinction between internal and external Gohonzon. I refer you to the following argument: http://markrogow.blogspot.com/2016/01/refuting-core-sgi-doctrne.html

Anonymous criticizes my post and admonishes me. My response

The trouble with enabling people to see that SGI is a cult if you live in the UK is that a lot of the red flags have been toned-down here. Or at least that is my experience in the districts I have practiced with. Up until the Mentor/Disciple personality cult stuff started to be shoved down our throats 3 to 4 years ago, there was a deliberate effort to not seem cult-like. There is very little pressure to contribute to the Kosenrufu fund, which in the UK happens 3 times a year. There is no suggested percentage - you have to guess. There is even no obligation to make a contribution when you receive gohonzon (inc.uding omomori and tokuso) and many members never contribute either when receiving gohonzon or to the three funds a year. 

The same subtlety applies to encouraging members to buy the monthly magazine as well, lots of leaders and members don't actually subscribe and there is no pressure to do so.. Japanese leaders are not in great evidence. In fact I've been told that the General director and his female equivalent have to be British Citizens. 

It seems that the UK is not an income stream for SGI-Japan. Possibly because us Brits are not so heavily coerced into giving. Is SGI-UK therefore a vanity or prestige project for Ikeda?

Unlike in the United States, the public can see the accounts of the charity [www.charitycommission.gov.uk] and some years we aren't getting in enough donations from UK members to keep the UK organisation running. I'm not very experienced at reading accounts but SGI-UK received an injection of some £26 million in 2006 from the Japanese mothership, so it appears that money is flowing away from Japan and into the UK rather than in the other direction.

One inexplicable item I found from glancing through the latest (2009) accounts was that Robert Samuels (General Director-staff) and Kazuo Fuji (vice-general director - staff) had huge salary hikes in 2009:

R A Samuels - General Director 2008 salary= £57,327 2009 salary=£91,325 

K Fujii - Vice-General Director 2008 salary= £59,799 2009 salary=£112,470

They had both been steadily receiving just under £60,000 for many previous years, then suddenly their salaries are nearly doubled. Remember these are Pounds sterling not Dollars - these latest salaries are very substantial. 

Can anyone tell me what that might be all about? Hush money? Or am i seeing deception and conspiracy everywhere now? :-)" -- Simplify ex SGI UK member

SGI is Ikedaism with a sprinkling of artificial flavor of Nichiren

http://www.totetu.org/assets/media/paper/j020_108.pdf

"His [Nichiren's] ideas are thought to have a certain amount of influence on the tendency to value the effort to deal with concrete societal problems seen in new religions related to the Lotus Sutra in contemporary Japanese society." -- Hiroshi Kanno Senior Research Fellow, the Institute of Oriental Philosophy Professor, Soka University

How would Nichiren have replied to Dr. Shihab Ghanem?

http://www.iop.or.jp/News-LectureGhanem.html

Exercising the virtue of compassion and the virtue of pity

"Moreover, the “Expedient Means” chapter describes how the five thousand persons of overbearing arrogance withdrew from the assembly. They did so after hearing the Buddha make the concise replacement of the three vehicles with the one vehicle, and when the Buddha was about to begin making the expanded replacement of the three vehicles with the one vehicle. At that time, the Buddha used his power to influence them in such a way that they rose from their seats and withdrew. Later, through the Nirvana Sutra and the four ranks of bodhisattvas, the Buddha made it possible for these persons to achieve enlightenment in their present existence.

On the other hand, in the Non-Substantiality of All Phenomena Sutra it is recorded that Bodhisattva Root of Joy, addressing the monk Superior Intent, forced him to listen to the Mahayana teachings, causing him to speak slanderously of such teachings [and thus create a reverse relationship with them]. With regard to these two differing incidents, the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai explains that “the Thus Come One Shakyamuni was exercising the virtue of compassion in causing them to withdraw, while Bodhisattva Root of Joy was exercising the virtue of pity in forcing the monk to listen.”

The meaning of this passage is that the Buddha was moved by compassion and for the moment put aside thoughts of the later happiness of the five thousand persons. He could not bear to see them slander the Lotus Sutra and suffer the pain of falling into hell, and therefore he inspired them to withdraw from the assembly. It was like the case of a mother who knows that her child is sick but cannot bring herself to inflict suffering on the child, and therefore does not treat the child quickly with moxibustion. In the case of Bodhisattva Root of Joy, he was moved by pity. He did not mind that the person he was addressing would suffer pain for a time, but thought only of that person’s eventual happiness. Therefore he forced the person to listen to the Mahayana teachings. It was like the case of a pitying father who, seeing that his child is ill, is not deterred by the fact that the child may undergo temporary suffering but is concerned only for the child’s eventual welfare. Therefore he applies the treatment of moxibustion."

"One should preach the Lotus Sutra to them forcefully"

"According to the above passage of the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai, in this latter age the persons who are lacking in good roots are many, and those who possess them are few. Therefore, many people are doubtless destined to fall into the evil paths in their next existence. And if they are destined for the evil paths in any case, then one should preach the Lotus Sutra to them forcefully and thereby allow them to create a “poison-drum relationship” with the sutra. Hence there can be no doubt that this latter age is the proper time in which to preach the Lotus Sutra to all people, thus enabling them to create a reverse relationship with it by slandering it."

Interfaith and Nichiren

http://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/wnd-1/Content/144

"The Buddha has constantly warned us, saying that, no matter how great an observer of the precepts one may be, no matter how lofty in wisdom and well versed in the Lotus Sutra and the other scriptures, if one sees an enemy of the Lotus Sutra but fails to rebuke and denounce him or report him to the ruler of the nation, instead keeping silent out of fear of others, then one will invariably fall into the great citadel of the hell of incessant suffering. Suppose, by way of analogy, that one commits no treasonable act oneself, but knows of someone who is plotting treason. If one fails to inform the ruler, then one is guilty of the same crime as the person who is plotting treason."

SGI are the foolish ones

"I believe everyone deserves respect and that respect extends to their choice of belief." -- SGI interfaith leader

“Next, concerning your reverence for those who observe these practices, a teaching is not necessarily worthy of honor simply because its practitioners are respected. It is for this reason that the Buddha laid down the principle, ‘Rely on the Law and not upon persons.’

“I have heard it said that the sages of ancient times who observed the precepts could not bear even to utter the words ‘kill’ or ‘hoard,’ but would substitute some pure-sounding circumlocution, and when they happened to catch sight of a beautiful woman, they would meditate upon the image of a corpse. But if we examine the behavior of the priests of today who supposedly observe the precepts, we find that they hoard silks, wealth, and jewels, and concern themselves with lending money at interest. Since their doctrines and their practices differ so greatly, who would think of putting any faith in them?

“And as for this matter of building roads and constructing bridges, it only causes people trouble. The charitable activities at the port of Iijima and the collecting of rice at the Mutsura Barrier have brought unhappiness to a great many people, and the setting up of barriers along the seven highways of the various provinces has imposed a hardship upon travelers. These are things that are happening right in front of your eyes. Can’t you see what is going on?”

The unenlightened man thereupon flushed with anger and said, “You with your little bit of wisdom have no cause to speak ill of that eminent priest and to defame his teachings! Do you do so knowingly, or are you simply a fool? It is a fearful thing you are doing.”

Then the lay believer laughed and said: “Alas, you are the foolish one! Let me briefly explain to you the biased views of that school. You should understand that, when it comes to the Buddhist teaching, there is the Mahayana division and the Hinayana division, and that in terms of schools there are those based upon the provisional teachings and those based upon the true teaching. Long ago, when the Buddha taught the Hinayana doctrines in Deer Park, he was opening the gate to a phantom city. But later, when the mats were spread for the teaching of the Lotus Sutra on Eagle Peak, then those earlier doctrines ceased to be of any benefit.”

SGI interfaith proves SGI has forsaken Nichiren

http://www.londonbuddhistvihara.org/Test%20Site/news.html

"Aside from these people, there are also those who appeared to believe in me, but began doubting when they saw me persecuted. They not only have forsaken the Lotus Sutra, but also actually think themselves wise enough to instruct me. The pitiful thing is that these perverse people must suffer in the Avīchi hell even longer than the Nembutsu believers."

SGI Malaysia are cowards

http://www.sgm.org.my/en/?cur=news/view&id=318&title=Interfaith_Dialogue_Reinforces_Message_of_the_Lotus_Sutra

People's Republic of China ripe for Namu Myoho renge kyo and the Lotus Sutra Buddhism of Nichiren

Statue of Quan Yin of the South Sea of Sanya [Quan Yin or Avalokiteśvara or Bodhisattva Regarder of the Cries of the World found in Chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra]

All you need to know about Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism

“With regard to the transfer of teachings, it is divided into two categories: general and specific. If you confuse the general with the specific even in the slightest, you will never be able to attain Buddhahood and will wander in suffering through endless transmigrations of births and deaths.” — Nichiren Daishonin

“But now this threefold world is all my domain, and the living beings in it are all my children. Now this place is beset by many pains and trials. I am the only person who can rescue and protect others, but though I teach and instruct them, they do not believe or accept my teachings.” — Lotus Sutra Chapter 3

“This passage means that to us living beings the Thus Come One Shakyamuni is our parent, our teacher, and our sovereign.” — Nichiren Daishonin

“Again, of all these chapters, only in the eight chapters did he reveal and transfer the object of devotion to the Bodhisattvas of the Earth.” — Nichiren Daishonin

“In this manner the Buddha displayed the wonders of his ten supernatural powers, and in what is termed the transfer of the essence of the sutra, he extracted the core of the Lotus Sutra and transferred it to the four bodhisattvas. He fervently enjoined them to bestow it after his passing upon all living beings of the ten directions.” — Nichiren Daishonin

“The essence of the “Entrustment” chapter of the Lotus Sutra is as follows: [Rising from his seat in the treasure tower,] the Buddha stood in open space and, in order to transfer the Lotus Sutra, patted no fewer than three times the heads of Bodhisattva Superior Practices and his followers, Manjushri and his followers, the great Brahma, Shakra, the gods of the sun and moon, the four heavenly kings, the dragon kings, the ten demon daughters, and others. They had clustered before the Buddha as thickly as dewdrops, crowding four hundred ten thousand million nayutas of worlds, like the grasses of Musashino Plain or the trees covering Mount Fuji. They knelt close to one another, bent their bodies so that their heads touched the ground, joined their palms together, and streamed sweat. Shakyamuni Buddha patted their heads just as a mother strokes the hair of her only child. Then Superior Practices, the gods of the sun and moon, and the others received the Buddha’s auspicious command and pledged to propagate the Lotus Sutra in the latter age.” — Nichiren Daishonin

"The correct teaching of the time can be propagated only by a person of wisdom. This is why Shakyamuni Buddha, after expounding all the sutras, entrusted the Hinayana sutras to Ananda and the Mahayana sutras to Manjushri. Concerning the heart of the Lotus Sutra, however, the Buddha refused to transfer it to any of the voice-hearers [such as Ananda] or to bodhisattvas such as Manjushri. The Buddha instead summoned Bodhisattva Superior Practices and entrusted it to him.” — Nichiren Daishonin

“When he was Prince Sattva in a previous existence, the Thus Come One Shakyamuni gained merit by feeding his body to a starving tigress, and when he was King Shibi, he gained merit by giving his flesh to a hawk in exchange for the life of a dove. And he declared in the presence of Many Treasures and the Buddhas of the ten directions that he would transfer this merit to those who believe in the Lotus Sutra as you do in the Latter Day of the Law.” — Nichiren Daishonin

"The five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo were transferred from Shakyamuni and Many Treasures, the two Buddhas inside the treasure tower, to Bodhisattva Superior Practices, carrying on a heritage unbroken since the infinite past." — Nichiren Daishonin

"The important point is to carry out your practice confident that Namu-myoho-renge-kyo alone is the heritage that was transferred from Shakyamuni and Many Treasures to Bodhisattva Superior Practices." — Nichiren Daishonin

"Demonstrating ten supernatural powers, the Buddha transferred the five characters of Myoho- renge-kyo to the four great bodhisattvas: Superior Practices, Firmly Established Practices, Pure Practices, and Boundless Practices." — Nichiren Daishonin

"Shakyamuni Buddha did not transmit the five characters of Namu-myoho-renge-kyo, the heart of the essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra, even to the bodhisattvas Manjushri and Medicine King, let alone to any lesser disciples. He summoned from beneath the earth the great bodhisattvas as numerous as the dust particles of a thousand worlds and, as he preached the eight chapters, transferred it solely to them." — Nichiren Daishonin

"The Buddha first transferred the Lotus Sutra to the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, and then to the bodhisattvas taught by the Buddha in his transient status, the bodhisattvas of other worlds, Brahma, Shakra, the four heavenly kings, and others." — Nichiren Daishonin

"Shakyamuni summoned these great bodhisattvas and transferred Myoho-renge-kyo to them." — Nichiren Daishonin

"Instead he summoned forth the bodhisattvas Superior Practices, Boundless Practices, Pure Practices, and Firmly Established Practices and their followers from the great earth of Tranquil Light and transferred the five characters to them." — Nichiren Daishonin

"In this manner the Buddha displayed the wonders of his ten supernatural powers, and in what is termed the transfer of the essence of the sutra, he extracted the core of the Lotus Sutra and transferred it to the four bodhisattvas." — Nichiren Daishonin

And these blessings enjoyed by the Buddha can be transferred by him to people who put their faith in the Lotus Sutra. — Nichiren Daishonin

"But the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo, the heart of the eighty thousand sacred teachings and the core of the Lotus Sutra, he neither entrusted to Mahakashyapa or Ananda, nor transferred to great bodhisattvas such as Manjushri, Universal Worthy, Perceiver of the World’s Sounds, Maitreya, Earth Repository, or Nagarjuna. Even though these great bodhisattvas hoped that he would do so and requested  it of him, the Buddha would not consent. He summoned forth a venerable old man called Bodhisattva Superior Practices from the depths of the earth, and then, in the presence of the Buddha Many Treasures and the Buddhas of the ten directions, from within the tower adorned with the seven kinds of treasures, the Thus Come One Shakyamuni entrusted the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo to him." — Nichiren Daishonin

"This is the teaching that was transferred to the bodhisattvas who had been the disciples of the Buddha since the remote past." — Nichiren Daishonin

"Shakyamuni Buddha transferred this teaching to Bodhisattva Superior Practices, and now Nichiren propagates it in Japan." — Nichiren Daishonin

"Answer: Are those who have received the teachings directly from their teacher invariably free from error, while those who appear in later ages and examine and clarify these teachings are to be regarded as worthless? If so, then should we throw away the sutras and instead rely upon the four ranks of bodhisattvas? Should a person throw away the deed of transfer received from his father and mother and instead depend upon oral transmissions?” — Nichiren Daishonin

"Though he praises the Lotus Sutra, he destroys its heart."

"The Great Teacher Tz'u-en wrote a work in ten volumes entitled Praising the Profundity of the Lotus Sutra in which he praised the Lotus Sutra, but the Great Teacher Dengyo criticized it, saying, "Though he praises the Lotus Sutra, he destroys its heart." If we consider these examples carefully, we will realize that, among those who read the Lotus Sutra and sing its praises, there are many who are destined for the hell of incessant suffering. -- On Repaying Debts of Gratitude

Planting redwood seeds and growing redwoods we march on:

"Thank you for sending me those liturgy books in May of last year. I have kept the practice since then and would finally like to receive a Gohonzon. Please tell me what I need to do next, since I have completed the preliminary practice and believe solely in the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni. How much should I donate?" 

Please donate your money and service to Lord Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin.

SGI, plants hemp seeds and grows hemp.

"The Great Teacher Tz'u-en wrote a work in ten volumes entitled Praising the Profundity of the Lotus Sutra in which he praised the Lotus Sutra, but the Great Teacher Dengyo criticized it, saying, "Though he praises the Lotus Sutra, he destroys its heart." If we consider these examples carefully, we will realize that, among those who read the Lotus Sutra and sing its praises, there are many who are destined for the hell of incessant suffering. -- On Repaying Debts of Gratitude 

This passage ironically was posted by an SGI YMD leader on the Chanting Growers Group who complained about a friend selling moldy marijuana buds because he doesn't chant Namu Myoho renge kyo.]

Choose wisely

Should I choose an ordained certified Nichiren Shu priest, Nichiren Shoshu High Priest, SGI "eternal mentor", or some other intermediary, or  should I choose Transmsission Through the Sutra Scrolls and Writings of Nichiren Daishonin?

Just plain wrong

“It is no longer the Latter Age.”

“Nam and Namu isn’t a doctrinal issue.”

“Shoju not shakabuku should be practiced.”

“The Lotus Sutra has lost its power in Mappo.”

“Shakyamuni Buddha of the 16th Chapter is Nichiren.”

“Shakyamuni Buddha of the 16th chapter is Buddha-nature.”

“Shakyamuni Buddha of the 16th Chapter is Namu Myoho renge kyo.”

“The Lotus Sutra and Gosho are too difficult to understand without a mentor.”

“The transmission is through bequeathal to one sole living master in the seat of the Law.”

Correcting the slanderous fake Nichiren Shu priests

                                          

"According to the teachings of the true sutra, when the latter age has begun and Buddhism has fallen into complete disorder, a great sage will appear in the world. For example, the pine tree, which withstands the frost, is called the king of trees, and the chrysanthemum, which continues to bloom after other plants have withered, is known as a sacred plant. When the world is at peace, worthies are hard to distinguish. It is when the age is in turmoil that both sages and fools come into view. How pitiful that Hei no Saemon and the lord of Sagami failed to heed me! If they had, they would surely not have beheaded the envoys from the Mongol empire who arrived a few years ago. No doubt they regret it now.

The great ruler Emperor Antoku, the eighty-first sovereign, commissioned several hundred teachers of the True Word school, including the Tendai chief priest, Myoun, to offer prayers in an attempt to subdue the General of the Right Minamoto no Yoritomo. But their curses “rebounded upon the originator,” as the sutra says. Myoun was beheaded by Yoshinaka, and Emperor Antoku drowned in the western sea. The eighty-second, eighty-third, and eighty-fourth sovereigns, that is, the Retired Emperor of Oki, the Retired Emperor of Awa, and the Retired Emperor of Sado, as well as the reigning emperor— these four rulers had the Tendai chief priest and Administrator of Priests Jien, and forty or more other eminent priests, including those of Omuro and Mii-dera temples, offer prayers to subdue the Taira general Yoshitoki. But again, the curses “rebounded upon the originator,” and the above-mentioned four rulers were banished to various islands.

Concerning this great evil teaching [of the True Word school]: The three great teachers — Kobo, Jikaku, and Chisho — violated Shakyamuni Buddha’s golden words that the Lotus Sutra is supreme, interpreting them to mean that the Lotus Sutra ranks second or third and the Mahavairochana Sutra ranks highest. Because the rulers put their trust in these distorted views, they destroyed both the nation and themselves in this life and are destined to fall into the hell of incessant suffering in the next.

This next special prayer ritual will be the third. Those among my disciples who have already passed away are probably now observing this with their Buddha eye. And those whose lives have been prolonged, watch with your own eyes! The ruler and other high-ranking officials will be captured and carried off to a foreign land, and those who conducted the prayer ritual will either die insane, or end up in a foreign land, or hide themselves in the mountains and forests.

The messenger of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, has twice been paraded through the streets, and his disciples and other supporters have been thrown into prison, killed, injured, or driven from the provinces where they lived. Therefore, the guilt of those offenses will unfailingly extend to each one of the inhabitants of those provinces. Also, people will be afflicted with white leprosy, black leprosy, or all kinds of other terribly grave illnesses. My disciples, understand the reasons for this." [A Father Takes Faith]

Were we to enter into discussions with this Shingon priest, he would neither be smiling nor posing for a picture. He would have been praying to Mahavairochana to punish us, the modern day messengers of Shakyamuni Buddha. His curses would have "rebounded to the originator" and he would have fallen into hell alive.

They lack a correct faith.

There is a basic misunderstanding of Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism on the part of SGI and NST members regarding Nichiren’s views of Shakyamuni of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra. Either that or there is a willful disregard of what Nichiren actually wrote or even worse, a willful offensive on their part to change the fundamental teachings of Nichiren. The SGI and NST members call the principle of the Eternal Shakyamuni [which is a pivotal part of Nichiren Lotus Buddhism] as “god-Shakyamuni”, a term with no basis in Buddhism, let alone Lotus Sutra Buddhism. It is simply an odious epithet for Shakyamuni Buddha, a slander that Nichiren never would condone.

The SGI and Shoshu members when discussing Buddhism, outside of a few isolated phrases, do not rely much on Nichiren’s writings. let alone the Lotus Sutra. In fact, SGI and Nichiren Shoshu members are relatively unfamiliar, with much of what Nichiren wrote. For example, Reply to Lord Matsuno’s Wife [Matsuno dono nyobo go-henji] reads:

“… In turbid water the moon does not abide; in a withered tree there are no birds. A woman who keeps the Hokekyo is like clear water, the moon of the Buddha Shakya[muni] takes up residence there. For example, although, when a woman is first pregnant, she is not aware of it in her own body, as the months gradually add up and the days repeatedly pass, she first wonders if it is so; later she  thinks that it is certain [that she is pregnant]. A woman of insight even knows whether it is a boy or a girl. The doctrine of the Hokekyo is thus. When one believes Namu Myo Ho Renge Kyo in ones mind, the Buddha Shakya is conceived with the mind as his lodging. Though at first one does not know it, as the months gradually add up, the Buddha in ones mind appears in dreams and a joyful mind gradually emerges.”

Since the SGI and Shoshu members remove the eternal Buddha Shakyamuni from their faith, can we believe them when they say that the Buddha-nature wells up in their lives? How can Buddhahood manifest while disparaging the central Buddha of the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha revered by Nichiren? Such an attitude towards Shakyamuni obviates Buddhahood from appearing. To uphold such a negative opinion of Shakyamuni while claiming Buddhahood can best be described as delusional.

Why do the SGI and Nichiren Shoshu members have this negative attitude towards Shakyamuni and adopt this blind belief? They haven’t researched the doctrines so they rely on the arbitrary opinions of their predecessors and leaders. They were simply told about these distorted views when they entered the SGI and the Nichiren Shoshu and they never questioned the validity of such views.

Nichiren teaches in another writing:

“If it is not the proper Object of Worship (gohonzon), even though there be no falsehood [even if the practitioner is sincere] it will not form the seed [of Buddhahood]. The Daimoku of the Honmon [Doctrine of the Original, found in the Lotus Sutra] is the seed of Buddhahood. This is because the Eternal Shakyamuni of the Honmon has put his Causal Practices (his myriad practices that lead to enlightenment) and his Virtues of the Effect [the merits of the effect, which is Buddhahood] into the seven characters of Namu Myo Ho Renge Kyo.”

In light of the Lotus Sutra and teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, do the SGI and Shoshu members ever think that their dismissal of Shakyamuni is unwarranted? Shouldn’t they worry about the consequences? If there is no receiving and keeping of the Lotus Sutra and no proper Object [if Shakyamuni is thrown out], then there is no Buddhahood.

As for the statement made by SGI members, “you are a Buddha just as you are”, taken out of context, it is meaningless. You are the Buddha, just as you are, if you receive and keep the Lotus Sutra and embrace the correct Object of Devotion. This is the meaning of the above text. Out of context, as it is used by the SGI, it would mean that Adolph Hitler was a Buddha  just as he was and all the people he killed were also Buddhas. Stalin, Mao, Attila the Hun, and Osama Bin Laden too would have been  Buddhas by this reasoning.

The Zen sect too states, “you are the Buddha, just as you are”. The Zen sect also teaches, “If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him”. Its not logical for SGI and Taisekiji to adopt such views which are based on a lack of knowledge of the Lotus Sutra and the writings of Nichiren. They lack a correct faith.

Who are the Jikakus and Chishos of the modern age?

"But there is a far greater error than the one I have been describing so far that has appeared in this country of ours, the gravest error of all in Japan and one that is as far apart from the one I have been describing as clouds are from mud. Because it has prevailed for so long, the country has been abandoned by Brahmā, Shakra, the gods of the sun and moon, the four heavenly kings, and the other heavenly gods, and the great benevolent deities who ordinarily guard and protect the nation have on the contrary now become its mortal enemies. Brahmā, Shakra, and the others who guard and protect the Lotus Sutra have addressed the sage ruler of a neighboring country, ordering him to chastise this country of Japan so that they may fulfill the vow they took in the presence of the Buddha."

He goes on to describe the True Word teachings and teachers, those like the High Priests of Nichiren Shoshu and Three Presidents of the Soka Gakkai who adopt the True Word Teachings of Guru Yoga [Yui Yoga] and the centrality of the Dharma Body Buddha [rather than the Three Bodied Tathagata Shakyamuni].

The true nature of the SGI mentor and the Soka Gakkai is that of greedy pigs.

The SGI teachings on interfaith, mentorism, "beauty, goodness, and gain", and the SGI's authoritarian, autocratic, pyramidal structured organization, deprecates and debases the Lotus Sutra and the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin. These teachings are not found in the teachings of Myoho renge kyo, least of all in the "one chapter and two halves". The Soka Gakkai's teachings are even inferior to the non-Buddhist teachings from which they derive. Failing to recognize and revere their true father, teacher, and sovereign, Shakyamuni Buddha, they beseech everyone to honor and revere the apostate heretic Daisaku Ikeda. They are no better than birds, beasts or Nembutsu believers who exort us to revere Amida Buddha. Lastly, they strive to keep their members away from the true disciples and believers of Nichiren by lying about us, lying about the true teachings of the Lotus Sutra, and lying about the actual import of the teachings which is that each one of us is a Bodhisattva of the Earth or Buddha in his or her own right, not one sole individual. They are greedy pigs. Nichiren says of such men:

"The hearts of the people are like those of birds and beasts; they recognize neither sovereign, teacher, nor parent. Even less do they distinguish between correct and incorrect in Buddhism, or good and evil in their teachers. But I will say no more of these things."

"All the teachings other than the “one chapter and two halves” are Hinayana in nature and erroneous. Not only do they fail to lead to enlightenment, but also they lack the truth. Those who believe in them are meager in virtue, heavy with defilement, ignorant, poor, solitary, and like birds and beasts [that do not know their own parents].

Most of all, Ikeda teaches them to abandon the Master of Teachings Lord Shakya for his beastlike animal self. Nichiren teaches:

"Nevertheless, the schools of Buddhism other than Tendai have gone astray concerning the true object of devotion. The Dharma Analysis Treasury, Establishment of Truth, and Precepts schools take as their object of devotion the Shakyamuni Buddha who eliminated illusions and attained the way by practicing thirty-four kinds of spiritual purification. This is comparable to a situation in which the heir apparent of the supreme ruler of a state mistakenly believes himself to be the son of a commoner. The four schools of Flower Garland, True Word, Three Treatises, and Dharma Characteristics are all Mahayana schools of Buddhism. Among them the Dharma Characteristics and Three Treatises schools honor a Buddha who is comparable to the Buddha of the superior manifested body. This is like the heir of the supreme ruler supposing that his father was a member of the warrior class. The Flower Garland and True Word schools look down upon Shakyamuni Buddha and declare the Buddha Vairochana and the Buddha Mahavairochana to be their respective objects of devotion. This is like the heir looking down upon his own father, the supreme ruler, and paying honor to one who is of obscure origin simply because that person pretends to be the sovereign who abides by the principles of righteousness. The Pure Land school considers itself  to be most closely related to the Buddha Amida, who is an emanation of Shakyamuni, and abandons Shakyamuni himself who is the lord of teachings. The Zen school behaves like a person of low birth who makes much of his small achievements and despises his father and mother. Thus the Zen school looks down upon both the Buddha and the sutras. All of these schools are misled concerning the true object of devotion. They are like the people who lived in the age before the Three Sovereigns of ancient China and did not know who their own fathers were. In that respect, the people of that time were no different from birds and beasts."

The pig is an appropriate animal to liken such men. Daisaku Ikeda and his leaders, like pigs, devour their physically, spiritually, or psychologically, wounded members, including their skin and bones. Their spiritual corruption through profligate wealth and power too, is not unlike a tame pig who is released into the wild and which becomes a vicious dangerous feral pig, growing tusks and attacking both man and beast. Pigs, though naturally clean animals, have the karma to live and thrive in filth and they will eat almost anything. SGI's interfaith is not unlike the pig's indiscriminate eating of filth. The SGI has thrived through their associations with filth: An example is SGI's association with the Mitsubitshi corporation which builds and manufactures weapons of mass destruction. Pigs will literally eat themselves to death if given unrestricted access to food. The SGI mentor and senior leaders have given themselves unrestricted access to money and power through SGI's "planned giving", their hard sell contribution campaigns, and inserting their most loyal members into all facets of the Japanese government through stealth and the New Komeito political party. This, along with their lack of financial transparency, reveal the true nature of the mentor and the Soka Gakkai, that of greedy pigs.

SGI shut up and drink the kool-aid guidance

"I would comment on this directly, but I can't read it because the font is too small for my computer (it's all fuzzy). I do want to say one thing though. 

Have you ever played the telephone game? You know that game you played at slumber parties or rainy days at school? It's when a group of people stand in line and the person on one end of the line, whispers something into the ear of the person standing next to them. That person whispers what they heard into the person next to them and so on, until the last person in the line listens to the whisper and then says aloud what they heard. It's really cute because what comes out the other end is very distorted. I remember being at a slumber party where the message, "I like a boy at school", went through the line and came out, "artichoke and sugar soup". For ten year old girls, this was hysterically funny.

The problem with sharing guidance is a lot like the telephone game. One person hears it and is inspired, then tells another person who in turn writes it down. Unintentionally and unknowingly, each time it is shared with a new person, a word here and there can get changed. This is made more complicated by the fact that since it is about Buddhism, the listener's karma comes into play. What they hear may not be what was said at all. 

I came across this problem rather recently. I was handed a piece of paper with some guidance on it that I thought really inspiring. Later, I heard that the person who had given the guidance in the first place was asking that the printed version be ignored. It seemed that a few words had been changed, but that change made it very off-base. The reason they were changed was simply that those were the words that people remembered hearing. Nobody meant any harm, I surely didn't, but here we all were basing our prayer on something that had become a guidance version of artichoke sugar soup. 

The World Tribune has an entire staff of writers, translators and scholars. They spend a tremendous amount of time and energy, making sure that what is printed in the World Tribune is exactly in line with the Daishonin's Buddhism, and exactly what those quoted have said. Sometimes they will spend entire days talking about a single concept. That's how hard it is to be accurate. 

From my experience with that guidance I mentioned, I now feel that it's better to use the guidance I hear to fuel my own practice and get benefit, and then share my own experience. 

I really do thank you though for your generosity, and your desire to see everyone have a breakthrough." : D [SGI salaried leader by my best guess]

Soka Gakkai where lying isn't lying and where stupidity is rampant

Angela: ... Are we moving away from not considering the Dai-Gohonzon special because the priesthood is holding it for themselves, and we don't have access to it or because it was never special in the first place?...

Dave: It was never special in the first place.

"...If it was never special in the first place, why were all those NSA members giving their hard earned money away to build the Sho Hondo?.."

Because NSA supported the Nichiren Shoshu Priests and never questioned their doctrines publicly. Actually, the sincere efforts of NSA members to construct the High Sanctuary were not and never will have been in vain. It represents the true acceptance of the Daishonin's vow for worldwide propagation. The priest's self-serving inventions are secondary.

"...Why were we encouraged to go on tozan as much as possible for all those years? I went on tozan 3 times. Now I chant to its smaller version everyday."

Because, once again, we fully supported NST doctrines. Understandable at the time.

"...You're saying that everything we were told about the Dai Gohonzon is a lie means that everything NSA members were told about the Dai Gohonzon, all those years ago, was a lie also..And, that they built the Shohondo for nothing. Objects don't have power one day and not the next..."

The NSA leaders were NOT lying...they were supporting NST doctrine. Yes, we built the Sho Hondo for nothing, and objects DO NOT have power any day!

It is the meaning of the document as realized by the person in front of it that has power. The externalization of the Gohonzon is just wrong.

This is the most valuable lesson the SGI has ever experienced. We now understand never to seek this Gohonzon outside ourselves. Our eternal and absolute separation from the Priesthood marks the beginning of a truly radical philosophy. Forget the magic wooden Gohonzon!

I am a supporter of the SGI who resolutely rejects NST mythology. I exist to help expedite our extraction from this mythology.

A careful read of reform Priest Matsuoka's essays will clarify the facts.

There is nothing in our conduct until now that indicates any "lying" on our part. Our conduct in the future, however, depends on our willingness to tell the truth clearly...in a way which need not derail the faith of those with attachments to old teachings. -- David lies

Nichiren Daishonin demolishes SGI interfaith

"Therefore T’ien-t’ai in his commentaries rates believers in ascending order as followers of non-Buddhist teachings, Hinayana believers, and those who follow the provisional Mahayana teachings, and stresses that the benefits enjoyed by the lowest group of Lotus Sutra believers are greater than those enjoyed by any of the other groups. The ascetic Agastya poured the Ganges River into one ear and kept it there for twelve years, and the ascetic Jinu drank the great ocean dry in a single day. But these ascetics of the non-Buddhist teachings with their supernatural powers were a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand times inferior to persons at the three stages of worthiness set forth by the Āgama sutras of Hinayana teachings, namely, persons at the stage of ordinary mortals who do not possess even one supernatural power. Likewise, Shāriputra, Maudgalyāyana, and the other Hinayana followers who had acquired the three insights and the six transcendental powers were a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand times inferior to those ordinary persons who practice even one verse or one phrase of the Mahayana sutras such as the Flower Garland Sutra, the Correct and Equal sutras, or the Wisdom sutras, although they have not yet cut off the three categories of illusion and do not possess a single supernatural power. And great bodhisattvas who practice the teachings of the Flower Garland, Correct and Equal, or Wisdom sutras so thoroughly that they have reached the stage of near-perfect enlightenment are a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand times inferior to those ordinary people of this latter age who have formed even a slight bond with the Lotus Sutra, although they have not yet cut off the three categories of illusion and have committed all manner of evil. All this is made clear in the commentaries written by the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai." -- Nichiren

Myomanji [Kempon Hokke] Regulations from 1451 with commentary

Myomanji [Kempon Hokke] Regulations from 1451

Translated by Jeffrey Hunter, Ph.D.

1. Do not go to temples and shrines of other sects; likewise, do not worship their Buddhas and gods or offer your alms, not even a single coin.

2. Do not request the services of shrine maidens (miko) or others in the service of shrines, likewise, do not depend on their prayers to bring down fever or allow them to pray for various benefits.

3. When our own monks are unavailable or insufficient in number, do not seek the assistance of other sects.

4. Do not participate in the associations (ko) of other sects.

5. Do not attend Buddhist ceremonies and prayer services sponsored by other sects, or receive on such occassions rice, tea, or sake. Likewise, on similar occassions sponsored by our temple do not invite others.

6. While we may share our firewood with other sects sponsoring merit baths (kudokuburo), do not use their baths. Likewise, do not allow adherents of other sects to use our merit baths.

7. In prayer services and other Buddhist ceremonies not sponsored by the court or the shogunate, do not offer alms, not even a single coin.

8. If the husband is of another faith and the wife of ours, never expel him from the community. But if the husband is ours and the wife an outsider, wait three years [for her to convert] before expelling them both.

9. Even though the temple belongs to another parish (monto) of the Lotus sect, do not go to it or worship its Buddha or give alms to its monks or devotees.

10. While we may listen to sermons preached by monks of other branches of the Lotus sect, do not join their congregations in reading the scripture or reciting the daimoku.

11. Amulets of other sects may be left in houses that are being rented, but if such houses belong to a member of our community, the amulets must be removed.

12. Sons- and daughters-in-law of other sects should be converted; if they visit our houses or if they are servants in such houses, they should be converted if even only for a day.

13. If the monks and devotees of this sect witness or hear of any slanderous behavior, they must reveal it to others. Otherwise their present life will be miserable, and they will fall to the deepest hell.

Now:

1). Kempon Hokke priests go to the temples of slanderers on Mount Hiei and Mount Minobu to worship and lend support to slanderers.

2).?

3). Kempon Hokke priests allow priests of other sects to officiate at prayer meetings.

4). They are active in the various associations of Nichiren sects.

5). They habitually invite Tendai priests from Mount Hiei and even Nembutsu priests to their prayer meetings and celebrations.

6). ?

7). They do in fact offer alms to disbelievers.

8). Wealthy patrons are precluded  from this regulation.

9). They are in bed with the Nichiren Shu.

10). They engage in prayer services with slanderers.

11). ?

12). Often overlooked.

13). Egregious behavior often overlooked, especially as regards wealthy patrons

Alms and SGI "Buddhas"

From their very beginning, SGI had appropriated the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin to bolster and give their philosophy of greed ["gain"] an air of respectability. For example, SGI teaches that "we are all Buddhas" but they function as if some Buddhas [Ikeda, top leaders, fortune babies, etc.] are more worthy than other Buddhas or that only some Buddhas [Ikeda and the top leaders] are worthy of receiving alms. In reality, only Ikeda and his top leaders gain. Everyone else loses by hearing one thing and living another. It is impossible to develop the kind of unshakeable faith that Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin teach in order for us to attain Buddhahood in a sangha [group] such as theirs.

With disciples and believers of Nichiren,you know what you can expect.

"Interfaith is necessary in this time period. Then slowly but surely all those wrong religions will seek us, The Thus Come Ones and realize that their religions are crap compared to Nichiren's Buddhism, the parent, teacher, and sovereign of all mankind …" --  SGI Top Senior Leader and smiling backstabber

With disciples and believers of Nichren,you know what you can expect. As the Lotus Sutra teaches, when upright the Buddha appears.

20 questions for Nichiren Shoshu and Soka Gakkai members

Twenty Questions for Nichiren Shoshu and Soka Gakkai members

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There are 20 separate questions in this post, some contain multiple questions. It should be very easy for you to get ALL the answers...the chief and assistant priests at Myohoji  or the SGI Study Department will surely be happy to help you, Reverand Iwaki was always happy to help me when I asked him questions, no matter how many. Same with Greg Martin and Danny Nagashima. You see, they were eager to convert people to Nichiren Shoshu and the Soka Gakkai. By taking on the task of answering these questions, if you answer them ALL for us, surely there will be many converts to the Nichiren Shoshu or Soka Gakkai very soon! (remember, there are many "lurkers" here and all are ready to hear your answers and be converted to the "True Buddhism!") Wow, you are getting a chance to shakubuku SO many people! Nichiren Shoshu and Soka Gakkai will be so happy!

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jqpub...@netnitco.net (Craig Bratcher) wrote:

In September 1282, Nichiren Daishonin transferred the totality of his teachings and the Law to Nikko Shonin, the sole legitimate successor whom he had designated. The transfer document is known as the Minobu Transfer Document, because it was written at Minobu. Minobu Transfer Document (Document for Entrusting the Law Which Nichiren Propagated throughout His Life):

"I, Nichiren, will transfer all of the teachings I have propagated throughout my life to Byakuren Ajari Nikko, who should be the great leader for propagating True Buddhism. When a sovereign accepts this Law, the High Sanctuary of Honmon-ji (Temple of True Buddhism) should be erected at the foot of Mount Fuji. Simply wait for the proper time to come. This is the actual High Sanctuary of True Buddhism. Above all, my disciples should observe this document."

Questioner: this is actually the first time i've ever read these "transfer documents," thanks for posting them. here are my questions:

Q: I've never seen Nichiren use the words "True Buddhism" in his writings, why did he use these words in a "transfer document?"

Q: Why would Nichiren designate the base of Mt. Fuji as a special place, when Minobu held such special significance for him? I base this question on the following writings written on Minobu:

"I received the One Great and Secret Truth from Buddha Shakyamuni on the Vulture Peak. I keep this truth in my heart. Therefore my heart is the place where the Buddhas enter profound meditation. The Buddhas turn the wheel of the Dharma on my tongue, manifest themselves in my throat, and attain enlightenment in my mouth. Can this place (Minobu) possibly be inferior to the Pure Land of the Vulture Peak?" (from "Nanjo hyoe shichiro dono gohenji" by Nichiren)

Nichiren also wrote, 

"No matter where I die, please build by grave on Mount Minobu, because that is where I spent nine years reciting the Lotus Sutra to my heart's content. My heart lives forever on Mount Minobu." (from "Hakii-dono" Gosho, by Nichiren)

Q: So, if his grave and his "heart" are forever are on Mt. Minobu, why would Nichiren designate the foot of Mt. Fuji as the place for his "Hommon-ji"?

Q: Nikko established Hommon-ji Temple in Kitayama in 1298, 2 miles away from Taisekiji. according to the above "transfer document," Nichiren stated that a "sovereign" should build Hommon-ji, not Nikko. and Taisekiji was built by a nobleman, not a sovereign, named Nanjo Takimitsu in 1290. Why did Nikko move 2 miles away from the already established temple Taisekiji, and then build Hommon-ji instead of waiting for a sovereign (who accepted the Law) to build it? Nichiren told him, "Simply wait for the proper time to come. This is the actual High Sanctuary of True Buddhism." it doesn't seem that Nikko followed Nichiren's words very well, did he? actually Nikko didn't even build Hommon-ji, it was a *residence built for Nikko* by Nanjo Tokimitsu and Ishikawa Yoshitada (neither sovereigns), and he *remodeled* it into a temple and named it Hommon-ji in 1298, 7 years after he moved away from Taisekiji. wow, Nikko really ignored Nichiren's transfer document, didn't he!

Q: Where is any mention of a Dai-Gohonzon in the above document? Surely he would have remembered to mention it, and want it to be placed in Hommon-ji? Are you saying Nichiren forgot his most sacred Object when he transferred the lineage to Nikko? Why would he forget that, didn't he want Nikko, his "sole successor," to have something as important as the Dai-Gohonzon?

jqpublic: In his writings, Nikko Shonin used such words as "Saint of the Lotus," "the Saint's Image," "the Lord of the Law, Saint," "the Buddha, Saint," "Saint Nichiren" and "the Altar of the Saint" to refer to the Daishonin and the Dai-Gohonzon.

Q: You mean that Nikko never actually referred to the Dai-Gohonzon by name? Why not and which reference do you mean Nikko used to refer to the Dai-Gohonzon, "the Saint's Image" or "the Altar of the Saint?" because a Gohonzon is neither, Nichiren didn't teach these things. how peculiar of Nikko!

jqpublic:"I will transfer Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings of fifty years to Byakuren Ajari Nikko."

Q: But doesn't Nichiren repeatedly state in his numerous writings that the only way to "transfer Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings" to someone is for them to chant Namu Myoho Renge Kyo? That we all inherit the Law directly from the scrolls of the Lotus Sutra by praising its title? Why would Nichiren contradict his own many years of teachings by transferring the Dharma to just one man?

Q: If Nichiren was the "True Buddha," WHY would he be transferring "Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings of fifty years" to Nikko? Wouldn't he want to transfer *only* his own teachings, such as Namu Myoho Renge Kyo and the True Object of Worship, to Nikko? Why would the "True Buddha" transmit the "provisional Buddha's" teachings to his "sole successor?"

Craig [jqpublic:], you stated above:

In September 1282, Nichiren Daishonin transferred the totality of his teachings and the Law to Nikko Shonin, the sole legitimate successor whom he had designated.

Q: But the document you just quoted from didn't say that, it said he transferred *Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings of fifty years* to Nikko! why did Nichiren entrust Nikko with his own teachings in the first document, but then entrust him with Shakyamuni's teachings in the second document? Are you saying that Nichiren wasn't thinking straight, and contradicted himself?

jqpublic: These "Two Transfer Documents" are important items which prove that the entirety of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism was correctly inherited solely by Nikko Shonin.

Q: Nichiren specifically transferred to Nikko *Shakyamuni Buddha's* teachings...why did Nikko not listen to Nichiren? Because if he was entrusted with Shakyamuni's teachings, then he would certainly revere them and follow them to the letter, as Nichiren did; he would not discard Shakyamuni as Nichiren Shoshu and Soka Gakkai have, no?

Q: Why would Nichiren transfer Shakyamuni Buddha's *fifty years of teachings*, when Nichiren wrote over and over again in his Gosho, that the only true teachings of Shakyamuni were expounded in the Lotus Sutra? Do you mean Nichiren entrusted a *provisional Buddha's* *provisional teachings* to Nikko?

jqpublic: Up to the present day, for seven centuries, the pure lineage of true Buddhism has been maintained through the successive high priests of the Head Temple Taiseki-ji, to the current sixty-sixth High priest, Nittatsu Shonin. They have preserved the pure heritage of the Law, just as water from one glass is transferred in its entirety into another.

Q: So there were no breaks in that lineage, not even once? Perhaps you could explain for us how this lineage is transferred from one priest to another, and if that transfer occurred accurately in all instances. thanks.

jqpublic: The Essentials of Nichiren Shoshu (2) reads in part:

"All the doctrines of Nichiren Shoshu are originally included in Nikko Shonin's understanding and inheritance based on faith in the great mandala of Nichiren Daishonin.

Q: "Great mandala?" They didn't say "DaiGohonzon?" this was written by Nichiren Shoshu in 1978, when it was called the "DaiGohonzon." I'm confused, how come Nichiren never mentioned a "Dai-Gohonzon," and whoever wrote the above sentence in 1978 didn't either? surely it was Nichiren's most important teaching, why is Taisekiji ignoring it so?

Q: Does Nichiren Shoshu mean "great mandala" as being ALL Nichiren Gohonzons? In that case, how can one inherit the Law from a Gohonzon that is not inscribed by Nichiren?

jqpublic: Now there are quite a few Nichiren sects whose adherents chant the daimoku. However, with the exception of Nichiren Shoshu, which has passed down Nichiren Daishonin's

Buddhism in complete purity, they have all gone against the "Two Transfer Documents."

Q: Those who chant Namu Myoho Renge Kyo receive the transmission of the Law from *Shakyamuni Buddha* just like he told Nikko to but then again, Nikko didn't heed Nichiren's advice:

"When a sovereign accepts this Law, the High Sanctuary of Honmon-ji (Temple of True Buddhism) should be erected at the foot of Mount Fuji. Simply wait for the proper time to come. This is the actual High Sanctuary of True Buddhism. Above all, my disciples should observe this document.

Q: But Nikko didn't observe Nichiren's words because he remodeled his own residence in Kitayama into Hommon-ji, and didn't wait for a sovereign to do it. Does that make Nikko a slanderer of the Law?

Q: Also, since Hommon-ji was entrusted to Nikko, why does Nichiren Shoshu base itself at Taisekiji, 2 miles away? Don't they know they are basing their religion at a temple built my nobleman Nanjo Tokimitsu, and that Hommon-ji is only 2 miles away?

Q: This is all so confusing, because Nichiren Shoshu claims their lineage is pure and unbroken from Nikko, but Nikko left Taisekiji. So if the lineage was unbroken, wouldn't Nichiren Shoshu be based in Kitayama at Hommon-ji? And if Nichiren Shoshu believes what Nichiren said about "Hommon-ji," don't they feel bad about not following Nichiren's words and instead basing his Buddhism at "Taisekiji?" Why didn't they enshrine the Dai-Gohonzon at Hommon-ji, since Nichiren said Hommon-ji was to be the "actual High Sanctuary of True Buddhism?"

Regarding these two "transfer documents," from "Fire in the Lotus" by Daniel Montgomery:

"In 1488, two centuries after the death of Nichiren, Nikkyo, a priest at Taisekiji-ji, claimed to have discovered two documents written by Nichiren, passing on full authority to Nikko alone. The original documents have disappeared, but 'true copies' are preserved at Taisekiji."

Q: So Nikko "lost" the transfer documents, and they weren't found until 1488? How then, can Taisekiji be absolutely sure they were following Nichiren's wishes to the letter, and not slandering? What happened during those nearly 200 years, what specific guidance did they follow for nearly 200 years? When they found and read these documents, did they find that they had deviated from Nichiren's intentions in any way, and if so, did they correct them?

Craig, you said above:

"These "Two Transfer Documents" are important items which prove that the entirety of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism was correctly inherited solely by Nikko Shonin."

Q: If i was Nikko Shonin, and the sole legitimate successor of Nichiren's teachings, I sure would have made sure the "transfer documents" didn't get lost, I would have protected them. Why did Nikko lose these important documents?

Thanks for taking the time to read all of these important questions. I'm sure you and others in Nichiren Shoshu or Soka Gakkai will be eager to clear up all of these pesky inconsistencies, perhaps you can get your NSS priest to help?