Soka Gakkai's mistranslates Nichiren Daishonin's most important writing, the True Object of Worship translated from Taisekeji's modern Gosho Zenshu:
"The essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra and true Buddhism are both pure teachings that lead directly to Buddhahood. However, Shakyamuni's is the Buddhism of the harvest, and this is the Buddhism of sowing. The core of his teachings is one chapter and two halves, and for me is Myoho-renge-kyo alone." (MW vol I Kanjin No Honzon Sho, p. 72)
Kyotsu Hori's faithful translation based on the original Chinese found in the Showa Tehon collection of Gosho
"The teaching of the essential section section during the the lifetime of Sakyamuni Buddha and that which would spread in the beginning of the Latter Day are likewise absolutely perfect. However, the former is for attaining enlightenment, whereas the latter is for sowing the seeds of Buddhahood. While the former is crystallized in the sixteenth chapter, 'Duration of the Life of the Buddha', with half a chapter each preceding it and following it, the latter is solely embodied in the five characters of myo, ho, ren, ge, kyo." [pg. 122]
Senchu Murano's translation, also based on the Showa Tehon:
"It is evident that the Revelation of Eternity was preached for the sake of us who live at the beginning of the period of Deprivation. In this respect, we are as blessed as those who heard the Buddha in person, the only difference is that they brought to fruit their seeds of Buddhahood by hearing directly the 'One Chapter and Two Halves', whereas we are endowed with the seeds of Buddhahood by receiving the Five Words." (Five Major Writings of Nichiren, Sench Murano translation, Kanjin No Honzon Sho, p. 37)
I wondered why all of a sudden there TWO kinds of Buddhism-- and only one belongs to Shakyamuni??
ReplyDelete" However, Shakyamuni's is the Buddhism of the harvest, and this is the Buddhism of sowing "--
Now the contest:
"The core of his teachings is one chapter and two halves, and for me is Myoho-renge-kyo alone"
So, whose is better, Shakyamuni's or Nichiren's "Buddhism"?
SGI Senior Leader:" It is the superiority of Nichiren's teaching -- accessible to all in the Latter Day, that makes it clear Nichiren is the Original Buddha -and Shakyamuni must have been his disciple..."
But, hey-- that is so NOT the way Nichiren wrote--NEVER once did he lay claim to his own Buddhism and assign Shakyamuni's Buddhism a cozy spot in the irrelevant, distant past...
~Katie
There is only one kind of Buddhism.
ReplyDeleteSoka Gakkai's mistranslates Nichiren Daishonin's most important writing, the True Object of Worship translated from Taisekeji's modern Gosho Zenshu:
"The essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra and true Buddhism are both pure teachings that lead directly to Buddhahood. However, Shakyamuni's is the Buddhism of the harvest, and this is the Buddhism of sowing. The core of his teachings is one chapter and two halves, and for me is Myoho-renge-kyo alone." (MW vol I Kanjin No Honzon Sho, p. 72)
Kyotsu Hori's faithful translation based on the original Chinese found in the Showa Tehon collection of Gosho
"The teaching of the essential section section during the the lifetime of Sakyamuni Buddha and that which would spread in the beginning of the Latter Day are likewise absolutely perfect. However, the former is for attaining enlightenment, whereas the latter is for sowing the seeds of Buddhahood. While the former is crystallized in the sixteenth chapter, 'Duration of the Life of the Buddha', with half a chapter each preceding it and following it, the latter is solely embodied in the five characters of myo, ho, ren, ge, kyo." [pg. 122]
Senchu Murano's translation, also based on the Showa Tehon:
"It is evident that the Revelation of Eternity was preached for the sake of us who live at the beginning of the period of Deprivation. In this respect, we are as blessed as those who heard the Buddha in person, the only difference is that they brought to fruit their seeds of Buddhahood by hearing directly the 'One Chapter and Two Halves', whereas we are endowed with the seeds of Buddhahood by receiving the Five Words." (Five Major Writings of Nichiren, Sench Murano translation, Kanjin No Honzon Sho, p. 37)
My take:
The original manuscript of the Kanjin Honzon Sho [True Object of Worship] is designated a National Treasure by the Japanese government and is kept in the treasure storehouse of the Hokekyoju Temple in Ichikawa City, Japan. The document is considered crucial to the understanding of Nichiren Daishonin. Nichiren refers to the treatise as being of the "utmost importance".
The Kanjin Honzon Sho from the Major Works of the SGI is translated from the Gosho Zenshu which is the modern Japanese translation of the original Chinese and medieval Japanese Gosho translated by Nichiren Shoshu priests. One should note that the Nichiren Shoshu and the SGI are the only Nichiren sects that advocate Nichiren as True Buddha and the only sects that rely on Gosho Zenshu. The Major Works translation reads:
continued....
"The “Teacher of the Law” chapter of the Lotus Sutra states, “Since hatred and jealousy toward this sutra abound even when the Thus Come One is in the world, how much more will this be so after his passing?” The “Treasure Tower” chapter states, “They [the Buddhas] make certain that the Law will long endure. . . . [The Thus Come One Many Treasures, I myself ], and these emanation Buddhas who have gathered here, surely know this is our aim.” Look at what the “Encouraging Devotion” and “Peaceful Practices” chapters state about the future. The theoretical teaching was preached for the people after Shakyamuni Buddha’s passing.
ReplyDeleteAs regards the essential teaching, it was addressed exclusively to the people early in the Latter Day of the Law. On the surface, the Buddha seems to have preached this teaching for the enlightenment of the people of his day; he planted the seeds of Buddhahood in their lives in the remote past [numberless major world system dust particle kalpas ago] and nurtured the seeds through his preaching as the sixteenth son of the Buddha Great Universal Wisdom Excellence [major world system dust particle kalpas ago] and through the first four flavors of teachings and the theoretical teaching in this life. Then with the essential teaching he brought his followers to the stage of near-perfect enlightenment and finally to that of perfect enlightenment.
In actuality, however, the essential teaching bears no resemblance whatsoever to the theoretical teaching. The preparation, revelation, and transmission of the essential teaching are intended entirely for the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law. The essential teaching of Shakyamuni’s lifetime and that revealed at the beginning of the Latter Day are both pure and perfect [in that both lead directly to Buddhahood]. Shakyamuni’s, however, is the Buddhism of the harvest, and this is the Buddhism of sowing. The core of his teaching is one chapter and two halves, and the core of mine is the five characters of the daimoku alone." Kanjin Honzon Sho (SGI Major Works ) pp 169-170
The Kanjin Honzon from the NOPPA translation of the Nichiren Shu is translated directly from the Showa Tehon which is a copy of the original collection of Gosho written in Chinese and medieval Japanese. The NOPPA translation reads.
"It is stated in the tenth chapter of the Lotus Sutra, 'The Teacher of the Dharma': 'This sutra has aroused much hatred and jealousy even in the lifetime of the Buddha. How much more can this be expected after His death!' And in the eleventh chapter, 'Appearance of the Stupa of Treasures': 'Taho Buddha and the Buddhas in manifestation (funjin Buddhas) from all the worlds in the universe gathered together to make this dharma live forever....Buddhas in manifestation should remember My (the Buddha's) intention to keep on spreading the dharma forever.'You may find similar statements in the thirteen chapter, 'Encouragement for Upholding this Sutra', and fourteenth chapter, 'Peaceful Practices'. They show that the theoretical section of the Lotus Sutra is directed to those in the beginning of the Latter Age.
continued.....
The essential section of the Lotus Sutra is preached solely for those living in the beginning of the Latter Age. At first glance it appears that the seed of Buddhahood was planted in them by the Eternal Buddha in the eternal past or 500 dust particle kalpa ago. The seed germinated and grew within them with the help of all the sutras from the Lotus Sutra preached by the sixteenth prince of Daitsuchisho Buddha in 3,000 dust particle kalpa in the past to all those preached by Sakyamuni in his life before the Lotus Sutra and the theoretical section of the Lotus Sutra. Finally the essential section of the Lotus Sutra enabled them to attain Buddhahood.
ReplyDeleteOn closer examination, however, the essential section differs from the theoretical section. That is to say the essential section, all through the prologue, the main discourse, and the epilogue, was preached for those people in the beginning of the Latter Age of the Decadent Dharma. The teaching of the essential section during the lifetime of Sakyamuni Buddha and that which would spread in the beginning of the Latter Age are likewise absolutely perfect. However the former is for attaining enlightenment, whereas the latter is for sowing the seed of Buddhahood. While the former is crystallized in the sixteenth chapter, 'Duration of the Life of the Buddha', with half a chapter each preceding and following it, the latter is solely embodied in the five characters of Myo, Ho, Ren, Ge, and Kyo, the title of the Lotus Sutra." Kanjin Honzon Sho, Nichiren Shu (NOPPA 1991) pp 120 - 122;
What was referred to by Nichiren as "the teaching for attaining enlightenment" [MW - Buddhism of the Harvest] is the teaching by the historical Buddha during his lifetime, i.e., his spoken words to his disciples. In the Age of Mappo we can only rely on the Lotus Sutra but the manner of its faith, practice, and propagation in the Age of Mappo differs from that done by the historical Buddha during his lifetime. We rely on the Daimoku transmitted by the Buddha to the Bodhisattvas from underground who are commissioned to expound the Lotus Sutra in this Age of Mappo. In Chapter 15 of the Lotus Sutra, the various provisional Bodhisattvas from this and other worlds ask to expound the Lotus Sutra. However, the Buddha demurs saying, "I do not want you to uphold this sutra...." Kanjin Honzon Sho, Nichiren Shu (NOPPA 1991) p 124; MW p 172.
Nichiren, referencing Tien-tai, discusses this rejection: "After all, Sakyamuni Buddha could not reveal his innermost enlightenment, or the great dharma hidden in the lines of the Duration of the Life of the Buddha Chapter [Chapter 16] to those great bodhisattvas from other worlds who had been guided by the teaching of the theoretical section." Kanjin Honzon Sho, Nichiren Shu (NOPPA 1991) p 126; MW 173.
continued.....
ReplyDeleteNichiren continues, explaining that in this Age of Mappo, the essence of the Lotus Sutra, Myo Ho Renge Kyo is taught to the people by the Bodhisattvas from underground, who are the original disciples of Sakyamuni Buddha:
"Lands at the beginning of the Latter Age slander the true dharma and those who live there have poor capacity for comprehension and faith in Buddhism. Therefore, instead of relying on Buddhas from other worlds, the Buddha called out great bodhisattvas from underground to entrust them with the task of transmitting the five characters of Myo, Ho, Ren, Ge, and Kyo, the essence of the 'Duration of the Life of the Buddha' chapter, to the people in this world. It meant also that those guided by the teaching of the theoretical section were not the original disciples of Sakyamuni Buddha." Kanjin Honzon Sho, Nichiren Shu (NOPPA 1991) p 126; MW 173.
"Having thus manifested the ten divine powers, Sakyamuni Buddha transmitted the five characters of Myo, Ho, Ren, Ge, and Kyo to the original disciples of the Buddha since the eternal past, who had sprung up from underground." Kanjin Honzon Sho, Nichiren Shu (NOPPA 1991) p 140; MW 176.
"Tien-tai comments on this in his 'Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra': Following 'Thereupon Sakyamuni Buddha said to the host of bodhisattvas' is the third section of the chapter on the Divine Powers, summarizing the essence of the Lotus Sutra and transmitting it to the bodhisattvas from underground." Kanjin Honzon Sho, Nichiren Shu (NOPPA 1991) p 142; MW I:76.
"The manifestation of the ten divine powers in the 21st chapter on the 'Divine Powers' is for the sake of transmitting the five characters of Myo, Ho, Ren, Ge Kyo to the four bodhisattvas of Jogyo, Muhengyo, Jyogyo and Anryugyo, representing the host of bodhisattvas who had sprung from underground." Kanjin Honzon Sho, Nichiren Shu (NOPPA 1991) p 142; MW I:76-77.
Nichiren goes on to explain that the time had only just arrived for the bodhisattvas from underground to appear and propagate Myoho Renge Kyo, the excellent medicine for the Latter Age:
"Now we are at the beginning of the Latter Age of the Decadent Dharma, when Hinayana teachings strike down Mahayana teachings, provisional teachings destroy true teachings, east is taken for west and west for east, and heaven and earth are upside down. Under these circumstances, the four ranks of bodhisattva-teachers who preach the theoretical section of the Lotus Sutra remain in hiding. Gods desert the land which they are supposed to protect. Then, for the first time, those bodhisattvas from underground appear in this world to encourage ignorant people to take the five characters of Myo, Ho, Ren, Ge, and Kyo, the excellent medicine of the Latter Age. Many ignorant people would fall into hell by slandering the five characters, but they would be saved eventually. (NOPPA) pp. 143
The meaning of the Buddhism of the Sowing and the Buddhism of the Harvest is not that there are two different Buddhisms, the Buddhism of Shakyamuni and the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin. It means that this Latter Day is for sowing the seeds of Buddhahood, not for harvesting the seeds.
Excellent!
Delete"The meaning of the Buddhism of the Sowing and the Buddhism of the Harvest is not that there are two different Buddhisms, the Buddhism of Shakyamuni and the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin. It means that this Latter Day is for sowing the seeds of Buddhahood, not for harvesting the seeds."
Thank you for this very comprehensible dissertation-- I am now wincing, as I think of how difficult it is to sustain the attention of the Senior Leaders who have grossly misinterpreted this crucial matter.-
I feel that I was protected-- somehow, as I immediately shunned the notion of Nichiren having established True Buddhism-. In actuality, these SGI USA leaders who replied to my questions were reassigning Shakyamuni to a status that would have been appalling to Nichiren--and elevating Nichiren to a status he never claimed or sought--
I sincerely appreciate the time and effort you put forth to share in detail on these very perplexing matters.
~Katie
ignorance is bliss? umm, maybe for a while. its the heart that really matters. sgi/nst produce sick hearts, not capable of understanding the rare and profound. sgi/nst is evil because it promotes and upholds ignorance of the true teachings.
ReplyDelete"you must be guided by the intent of( the lotus sutra, which is) the immediate attainment of enlightenment, and never give yourself up to the mistaken views that stem from doubts or attachments."(and,63)
Hi Greg,
ReplyDeleteI have known only one other SGI member, actually she is now a WD Region Leader; just this one woman who was as interested in and eager to study and discuss the Gosho, basic Buddhist doctrines taught by Nichiren and the Lotus Sutra. However, she became distant and somewhat irritable just after the 50th year celebration of SGI in America-- and the "passing of the baton by Ikeda to SGI USA/youth"-- ceremoniously at the "Rock the Era" activity summer 2010.
So, my question is do you think there is "ignorance" of the True Teachings-- or nearly completely successful suppress of them in the SGI?
I ask because I see a parallel between what I see as *discarding* the Gosho, as the same action taken by priests in Nichiren time, who discarded the Lotus Sutra.
It is so much more difficult to engage in discussion regarding study of that which has been classified, "irrelevant", than to discuss or debate the relevance or specific meaning of that which is regarded crucial to understanding.
Catch 22-- How do you get people to see how off course they are, if they are adverse to referring to maps??
~Katie
hey katie, nichirens lotus sutra buddhism is a mess. it has been for a very long time. fortunately, today, scholars and science can help in many areas. on this blog we/mark tries to use gosho's and other writings that are consistent and have been authenticated or considered to be in nichirens hand. the sgi/shoshu use many gosho that are disputed and that are not consistent with what nichiren taught. if one is fairly familiar with gosho, one can spot the phonies(kind of). also their translations of the writings are many times not accurate. this makes them difficult to understand. they have done this to support their own erroneous teachings. this is why shinkei always asks if one can read kanji. his point is that some translations are not correct. so one does the best they can.
Deletewhat the nsa/sgi taught and practiced back in the late sixties and early seventies is a world apart from what they taught in the 80's, and a universe apart from what they teach now. i have always been dumbfounded that the early membership is so deep asleep that this does not seem to matter%#??#. long story short, they followed nichiren more closely. the sgi has never been correct because they come from nichiren shoshu, but they were much closer. the sword cuts both ways, with correct faith the lotus sutra leads to buddhahood. used incorrectly, it leads to a deeper delusion, nichiren and tentai concur.
as nichiren says, there is no buddhism without faith, practice study. study means, study the teachings of the buddha and his emissary, nichiren. not ikeda's erroneous opinions.
there is both suppression and ignorance. the general membership and many leaders never real study, never really have, and are not encouraged to do so. . 'read sensei's guidance.' in discussions with them, they don't even know what i/we are talking about. the staff spins it the way they are expected to. suppression, absolutely.
for us: nichiren identified with fukyo bodi and the never disparaging chapter, which by the way the sgi teaches incorrectly. mappo is for planting seeds so no matter what the result, as they say, keep the faith. i refer you to marks comment.
Eventually they will all awaken, some sooner [in this lifetime] and some later.
ReplyDeleteEventually they will all awaken, some sooner [in this lifetime] and some later.
ReplyDelete