Robin "Nichiren" Buddhist of the Ikeda Sect Responds (3)

3).Destructive cults reduce everything to a bi-polar attitude: “for us, or against us.”

Robin: "Within the UK, I’ve never come across this “for us or against us” attitude, but I’ve certainly met wise people that criticise the SGI and the Lotus Sutra as well as foolish people that praise the SGI.

"Daisaku Ikeda’s words show his compassion for people being deceived by priests, which is again common among all religions. Going back to your website, you have the same view that SGI members are being deceived by Daisaku Ikeda as well as criticising Rissho Kosei-Kai and Gene Reeves.

On March 25 you say “If one accepts the transgressions of the Soka Gakkai, Nichiren Shoshu, Nichiren Shu and Shingon without discriminating between the correct and incorrect, can they really be considered disciples of Nichiren Daishonin?”. Surely this is a “for us or against us” statement in which you either are or aren’t a disciple of Nichiren? Also, is this your quote? Most of the Kempon webpage refers to Nichiren as Shonin not Daishonin or are the two interchangeable in Kempon Hokke?"

Mark: It might have been instructive to point out what I wrote to prove the point.

Anyone who criticizes the SGI, no matter how wise, is a fool and anyone who praises the SGI, no matter how foolish, is wise: http://www.mindspring.com/~sonoda/yamaz.htm

Here is another example:

“Seven years have passed since then. The outcome of the struggle of good and evil and the workings of the law of cause and effect have been strict and uncompromising. The decline of the crazed and destructive Nichiren Shoshu is clearly apparent. The victims, unfortunately, are the la ybelievers who practice with the temple, who are not aware of Nichiren Shoshu’s evil and have been deceived by the priests.” -- Daisaku Ikeda

The Kempon Hokke, on the other hand, accepts criticism from whatever quarter as long as it is based on the Lotus Sutra, writings of Nichiren Daishonin, and the truth. We also are not above criticizing our own, be they priest or laymen, should they deviate from the Lotus Sutra and teachings of Nichiren.

In the case of the Soka Gakkai it IS us against them:

"We, ourselves, cannot produce the Gohonzon. Since it's the enlightened entity of Nichiren Daishonin, no one has the authority other than the successive high priests who have been the sole heirs to the heritage of the True Law. We take no part in this. Therefore, the objects of worship inscribed by those in the Butsuryu and Minobu factions [of the Nichiren sect] are absolutely powerless. They are worthless because they are fake. In fact, they contain the power of evil spirits. That is why they are dangerous." Former SGI president, Josei Toda, Daibyaku Renge, 98, p. 98.

"Members of the Minobu school of the Nichiren sect chant daimoku. They have the Gosho Their recitation of the sutra also includes the Hoben and Juryo chapters. And, in the Shoshinkai, which consists of ex-priests of Nichiren Shoshu , and the portions of the sutra they recite and the daimoku that they chant are identical to the practice we observe. Though their religion may seem the same as ours, they lack the single, unbroken heritage of the law recieved directly from Nichiren Daishonin. If one's faith is not based on this line of inheritance, it is worthless to embrace any Gohonzon, for no benefit will be forthcoming. That is to say, "Without the lifeblood of faith, it would be useless to embrace the Lotus Sutra." " Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhism in Action, vol 3, p 254

I suggest also that you search out the SGI Bible of Shakubuku: Here are a few excerpts and my responses as a Kempon Hokke member. The SGI Bible of Shakubuku (1951), supervised by Daisaku Ikeda, was published by the Soka Gakkai to train believers. The Soka Gakkai no longer publishes the Bible of Shakubuku because it promotes the Nichiren-Shoshu. Nevertheless, SGI's fundamental doctrines have not changed except for denying that the heritage of the Law is transmitted through the person of High Priest of Nichiren Shoshu. Now they claim that the heritage is only transmitted through the Successive Presidents of the Soka Gakkai.

"Shakyamuni's dharma is the dharma of the past and no longer beneficial". (page 63, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Nichiren taught that Shakyamuni's Lotus Sutra is the only teaching to be spread in the Latter Day.

"It is necessary to realize that we no longer have a connection to Shakyamuni's Buddhism." (page 65, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Nichiren taught that we are the direct disciples of the Original Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni.

"You should know that Nichiren Daishonin is the only true Buddha because Shakamuni's Buddhism is useless." (page 67, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Nichiren taught that Shakyamuni Buddha is the Original Eternal Buddha and we can not even discard the Theoretical Section of the Lotus Sutra, let alone the Essential Section.

"Buddha Shakamuni is inferior to the true Buddha Nichiren." (page 316, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Nichiren taught that all Buddhas throughout the past, present, and future, are emanations of Shakyamuni Buddha. He also taught that those who abandon Shakyamuni will fall into the Avici hell.

"The Lotus Sutra which is the long-cherished wish of Buddha Shakamuni is no longer valid in this era, not in the least." (page93, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Nichiren says the Lotus Sutra is the ultimate teaching of the past, present, and future

"If you don't worship the Gohonzon of NST (SGI), you will know no well-being in the age of Mappo." (page70, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Yet, the deluded SGI members criticize us for pointing out that the Nichikan Gohonzon breeds evil men.

'If you worship the Honzon of a wicked religion, you will naturally experience misfortune (page280, The Bible of Shakubuku).

The misfortune of the SGI senior leaders and their family members, is actual proof that they worship a Honzon of a wicked religion and the tremendous good fortune of the believers in the Kempon Hokke is proof of the righteousness of our Honzon and the goodness of our religion.

"All other sects except NST (SGI) are wicked religions and are a negative influence on society. (page280, The Bible of Shakubuku)

The reality is that wherever the SGI has spread, the people have suffered every manner of misfortune and even their own members obtain neither merit nor virtue.

"The teachings of Buddha Shakamuni is as useless as last year's

calendar. If you are guided by his teachings, your life will surely

fail as a logical result." (page303,The Bible of Shakubuku)

Then why so many unrealized dreams among the Soka Gakkai members and why such wonderful benefits in the life of the Kempon Hokke believers who embrace the Lotus Sutra and Shakyamuni Buddha?

"Every person who doesn't worship the Gohonzon of Fuji-Taiseki temple (SGI) are bad people who slander the true dharma.' (page314, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Then the SGI members are bad because, according to their own criteria, they slander the "true dharma" of Fuji-Taisekaji temple. The reality is that they are bad people, especially their high salaried leaders, for other real and serious transgressions: For abandoning the Lotus Sutra and Lord Shakyamuni Buddha and exploiting the Dharma for personal gain.

"The family which believes in the so-called Nichiren-shu will have children who have deformities, mental retardation or madness." (page321, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Then why do so many children of SGI top senior leaders never make it past their twenty first birthday while most Nichiren Shu priests' and believers' children not only survive but thrive? The reason is that the SGI's leaders curses and particularly Ikeda's curses have returned to the originator. For slandering votaries of the Lotus Sutra they or their SGI family members suffer everymanner of disease and death before they grow old.

"All other sects except NST (SGI) are false heresies who exert bad influence on society." (page323, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Then why are there more severe calamities wherever Soka Gakkai has widely spread? Then why does France label the SGI a dangerous cult and has Daisaku Ikeda never once received an award or honor from his own people, the Japanese? Why did the Komeito suffer such a brutal beating in the last election? Because they are a good influence to society?

It is not we of the Kempon Hokke against others, it is we who are united with the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the universe and Nichiren and those who aren't from whatever quarter. We also acknowledge Nichiren's teachings on complicity with evil and who is and who isn't a good spiritual friend. From the vast corpus of writings of Ikeda and the Soka Gakkai, it is apparent that SGI members and, especially leaders, are poor spiritual friends.