62. What is the meaning behind "sanction"?
In general, "sanction" means that the master gives his sanction to a disciple's enlightenment. In Nichiren Shoshu, the object of worship that forms the basis of faith and practise is the Original Buddha's enlightenment and is the entity of the Buddha, so sanction for the Gohonzon itself is absolutely necessary. According to Nichiren Shoshu, the sanctioning of the object of worship by the High Priest, who is the only person to be bequeathed the Daishonin's Buddhism, is what makes the attainment of Buddhahood possible, so an object of worship that does not have the High Priest's sanction is a "counterfeit object of worship" and worshipping it becomes the cause for falling into hell. It is also written in the Soka Gakkai "Shakubuku Kyoten (Shakubuku Manual)":
"In light of passages from 'On the Three Great Secret Laws' and 'TheTrue Object of Worship,' it is clearly understood that it is a tremendous mistake to worship an unsanctioned object of worship." (p. 340)
[c. 1996, Nichiren Shoshu Temple]
Soka Gakkai also teaches that only they can sanction the bestowal of Gohonzon. Nichiren teaches that those with strong faith in the Lotus Sutra ("person", not priest or lay leader) can open the eyes of Gohonzon.
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