Josei Toda's view and Nichiren's view are night and day

"In any great undertaking, nothing is more important than public opinion. Take a careful look at history. No matter how rightful one's actions may be, nothing can be accomplished without support from the people."  --  Josei Toda

"In matters of doctrine, to fear others or stand in awe of society’s opinion and not expound the true meaning of the scriptural passages in accordance with the Buddha’s teaching is the height of foolishness." -- Nichiren Daishonin 

Soka Gakkai members have stayed too long in the outhouse

"The host, smiling, restrained his guest and said: Insects that live on smartweed forget how bitter it tastes; those who stay long in privies (outhouse) forget how foul is the smell. Here you listen to my good words and think them wicked, point to a slanderer of the Law and call him a sage, mistrust a correct teacher and take him for an evil priest. Your confusion is great indeed, and your offense anything but light. Listen to my explanation of how this confusion arose, and let us discuss the matter in detail."

What is the difference between a Nichikan and Nichiren Gohonzon?

The Gohonzon for the Transmission of the Dharma is a ten world expanded style Gohonzon. The SGI Gohonzon is missing some representatives of the Ten Worlds, for example, it is missing Devedatta and the Nijo (the men of Learning and Absorption).

More importantly the Nichikan Gohonzon's eyes have been opened by devils. The Gohonzon for the Transmission of the Dharma's eyes have been opened by Nichiren and his disciples and believers.

The practices of the Lotus Sutra are applicable to both laymen and priests

http://markrogow.blogspot.com/2015/09/q ... f-one.html

These teachings are applicable to everyone. The Opening of the Eyes, for example, was entrusted to a layman. Shakubuku (the forceful practices) is a way of life whether on a street corner or in a formal debate at the head temple on mount Hiei.

Soka Gakkai and George Orwell's Animal Farm

"All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others" -- George Orwell's Animal Farm

"We are all Buddhas" Yet SGI teachings on personal guidance is a perfect example on how SGI is a mirror of Animal Farm that all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others. Another example is, in disputes between general members and leaders or disputes between lower level leaders and more senior leaders, invariably the lower level member's argument is overturned, despite the righteousness of their claim.

Question: Why do you say that Daisaku Ikeda, the president and eternal mentor of the Soka Gakkai and his disciple leaders are meager in virtue? 

Answer: The SGI teachings on interfaith, mentorism, "beauty, goodness, and gain" [rather than beauty, goodnesss, and truth], and the SGI's authoritarian, autocratic, pyramidal structured organization, deprecates and debases the Lotus Sutra and the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin. Their teachings are not found in 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:

"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."

Daisaku Ikeda and his leaders may be likened to pigs who devour their physically, spiritually, or psychologically, wounded members, leaving not even skin nor bones. Their spiritual corruption through profligate wealth and power too, is not unlike a tame pig 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 Mitsubishii 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 Japanese government through stealth and the New Komeito political party. This, along with their lack of financial transparency, reveals the true nature of the mentor and the Soka Gakkai, that of greedy pigs.

How does our faith and practice differ from the Soka Gakkai's?

We share the same faith as Nichiren Daishonin and follow the Wonderful Scripture of the Fine Dharma of the Lotus Flower Sutra; SGI follows the aphorisms of an unenlightened mentor.

The Twenty Important Principles of the Lotus Sutra

1. Giving the prophecy of enlightenment in near future to the men of the two vehicles (chap. 3)
2. Showing (or Opening ) Buddha's original enlightenment and his immeasurable life span (chap 16)
3. Praising that benefits that will accrue even to the fiftieth person who rejoices upon hearing of it (chap 18)
4. Persons who merely hear the name the Lotus Sutra may attain Buddhahood in this lifetime (chap 17)
5. Shakyamuni showing that Devadatta was his teacher in a past life (chap 12)
6. Manjushiri showing that the eight-year-old dragon king's daughter was his student in a past life (chap 12)
7. The promise that anyone who hears only one phrase of the LS shall attain Buddhahood (chap 10)
8. Anyone who protects the name of the LS will receive innumerable benefits (chap 26)
9. Women who hear the chapter of Medicine King shall never be reborn as women (chap 23)
10. Anyone who hears, reads and recites the LS shall know neither old age nor death (chap 23)
11. Those who carry out five practices shall get to the stage of resemblance to enlightenment (chap 19)
12. Those who carry out the four Peaceful Practices shall get into copper-wheel in their dream (chap 14)
13. Those who vex or trouble the practitioners of the LS will have their heads split into seven pieces (chap 26)
14. Those who give alms to the practitioners of the LS will enjoy good fortune surpassing the ten honorific titles (chap 10)
15. Among the sutras Shakyamuni has preached, now preach, and will preach, the LS is the most difficult to believe and the most difficult to understand. (chap 11)
16. Offering ten similes to praise the teachings of the LS. (chap 23)
17. Maitreya not knowing any single one of Bodhisattvas of the Earth. (chap 15)
18. The Omen of Lotus in the east which even Manjushiri didn't understand (chap 24)
19. Teaching major world system dust particle kalpas to bodhisattvas of the theoretical teaching. (chap 07)
20. Giving a metaphor of numberless major world system dust particle kalpas to show the original enlightenment (chap 16)

Soka Gakkai members, especially Daisaku Ikeda, exhibit the Nine Types of Arrogance

(1) thinking that one surpasses one's equals; (2) thinking that one is equal to those who are superior; (3) thinking that one is only slightly inferior to those who are far superior; (4) assuming false humility in affirming the superiority of those in fact superior to oneself; (5) asserting equality with one's equals; (6) asserting the inferiority of one's equals; (7) thinking that one is not surpassed by one's equals; (8) thinking that one's equals are not equal to oneself, i.e., that they are inferior; and (9) humbly acknowledging the superiority of superiors and vaunting one's inferiority (a form of false humility).

Don't leave your critical thinking at the front door of the Kaikan.

http://cclfaith.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-power-of-daimoku.html

Another SGI experience reads:

"Dr. Kawada treated fourteen people with stage four cancer. Some were not even SGI members. Their doctors had given up on all of them. One even had to be brought in on a stretcher. All fourteen people joined the SGI. They all learned to chant following this guidance of using the right side of their brain to project an image of no cancer intheir bodies. In the U.S., last-stage cancer patients are encouraged to draw a white cell eating a cancer cell. Though this has been shown to help, practicing Buddhism has an even bigger impact. In two months the person on the stretcher overcame their cancer. Then his doctor joined. Eventually all fourteen overcame their cancer." ‎-- Bharat Soka Gakkai

Nichiren teaches in Repaying Debts of Gratitude:

"Answer: I, too, admire and believe in these various accomplishments of his. There are other men of old who possessed such uncanny powers. But the possession of such power does not indicate whether that person’s understanding of the Buddhist teaching is correct or not among the non-Buddhist believers of India there have been men who could pour all the waters of the Ganges River into their ear and keep it there for twelve years, or those who could drink the ocean dry, grasp the sun and moon in their hands, or change the disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha into oxen or sheep. But such powers only made them more arrogant than ever and caused them to create further karma to confine themselves in the sufferings of birth and death. It is men like these whom T’ien-t’ai is referring to when he says, “They seek after fame and profit and increase their illusions of thought and desire.”

The Chinese priest Fa-yün of Kuang-che-ssu temple could make it rain suddenly or cause flowers to bloom immediately, but Miao-lo writes of him, “Though he could bring about a response in this way, his understanding still did not accord with the truth [of the Lotus Sutra].” When the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai read the Lotus Sutra, soft rain began to fall in an instant, and the Great Teacher Dengyō caused sweet rain to fall within the space of three days. However, they did not say that because of such powers their understanding of the truth coincided with that of the Buddha.

Regardless of what unusual powers the Great Teacher Kōbō may have had, he described the Lotus Sutra as a doctrine of childish theory and wrote that Shakyamuni Buddha was still in the region of darkness. Persons of wisdom and understanding should have nothing to do with such writings."

May we see the child's medical records? Was it a missed diagnosis? Was it a syndrome like the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome that naturally gets better over time? What about the fourteen patients with cancer? 

I would be pleased to examine the medical records of all 14 patients. Since they all recovered from Stage IV cancer and they joined the Soka Gakkai, I'm sure they will give their consent to my review. I will pay for the postage.

Sensei and SGI must not have liked Shin Yatomi and Pascual Olivera. Had they been liked, they surely would have been put in contact with Vice President Kawada MD. Every SGI member with Stage IV cancer should seek out Dr. Kawada, I reckon....and where was Dr. Kawada when President Daisaku Ikeda's own favorite son died at 29 of an easily curable stomach ailment?

Would SGI ever lie about such a thing? Hell, they lie about everything, from a rainbow appearing at the opening of the Ikeda World Peace headquarters building to Nichiren being the Eternal Original True Buddha. Please remember the following guidance of Daisaku Ikeda

"This is the time of year when there are sharp fluctuations in daytime and night-time temperatures. Let’s take due care to wisely look after ourselves, for example, by keeping warm at night so we don’t catch a chill while sleeping! Let’s all try to advance in the very best of good health!." -- To My Friends published in the Seikyo Shimbun.

Hehe. Through the SGI practice and faith in the mentor, Stage IV cancer and "incurable" hereditary diseases, whether of the lung, colon, breast, pancreas, esophagus, blood, bones, tongue or brain can be cured in 15 out of 15 instances but Daisaku doesn't want his poor sickly disciples to catch a chill at night. Laughable. Don't leave your critical thinking at the front door of the Kaikan.

Miracle cures in the Soka Gakkai

""Dr. Kawada [SGI Vice President] treated fourteen people with stage four cancer. Some were not even SGI members. Their doctors had given up on all of them. One even had to be brought in on a stretcher. All fourteen people joined the SGI. They all learned to chant following this guidance of using the right side of their brain to project an image of no cancer in their bodies. In the U.S., last-stage cancer patients are encouraged to draw a white cell eating a cancer cell. Though this has been shown to help, practicing Buddhism has an even bigger impact. In two months the person on the stretcher overcame their cancer. Then his doctor joined. Eventually all fourteen overcame their cancer."

Then why didn't top SGI leaders Shin Yatomi and Pascal Oliveira overcome their Stage IV cancers? Perhaps they weren't important enough to be introduced to Dr. Kawada.

SGI faith and practice has no power. They lie through their teeth regarding members' miracle recoveries. 

Two of the Five False views are the bones and marrow of Soka Gakkai members

(4) Adhering to misconceptions and viewing them as truth, while regarding inferior views as superior; and (5) viewing erroneous practices or precepts as the correct way to enlightenment.

Soka Gakkai's public and private teachings

"The first requirement of a global citizen is to hold a view of life that respects the dignity of life, and respects the dignity of human beings. This view of life should also be supported by a cosmology with a far reaching vision. In the Life Span of the Thus Come One Chapter of the Lotus Sutra, a vast cosmology, spanning eternity is expounded using the metaphor of numberless major world system dust particle kalpas 五百塵点劫, and at the core of this cosmology lies the Eternal Buddha. The Eternal Buddha is at one with the Eternal Law, and the life of the universe itself is the manifestation of the Eternal Savior Buddha.

Secondly, based on the framework of the Eternal Savior Buddha, the mission as the “envoy of the Thus Come One, or the Bodhisattvas of the Earth who vow to spread the Buddha’s teachings after his demise is expounded...." -- Yoichi Kowada Director of the Soka Gakkai Institute of Oriental Philosophy and very top SGI leader. 

Daisaku Ikeda says, “the Original Buddha is Shakyamuni” when talking to scholars and scientists but when talking to commoners, his “dear” SGI members, he sometimes says, “The Original Buddha is Nichiren”, and at other times he says that "ordinary people are the original Buddha". Why would anyone follow someone who speaks out of both sides of their mouth, especially when one side of his mouth goes against the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin? 

In his lecture on the Opening of the Eyes for SGI members, Ikeda states:

“This sentence implies that the Daishonin is the original Buddha, the master of all other buddhas. Because of this, all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas follow him and all good fortune is contained within the original life The Daishonin used analogies most easily understood by the people of his day. Water gods were thought to live in rivers and followed the lord of the ocean, and the mountain gods were all subservient to Mount Sumeru, the king of mountains. In his analogy, the Daishonin likened these lesser gods to all the buddhas and Bodhisattvas; and the lord of the ocean and king of Mount Sumeru to the votary of the Lotus Sutra.”

But his public stance can be summarized in this article:

“Space and Eternal Life”, with the astronomer, Dr. Weiramisinghe, 1998:

“Buddha is in its simplest interpretation, means a person who is incomparably wise and fully enlightened. Sakyamuni was portrayed as a real human being who reached a state of enlightenment and eventually entered Nirvana. He was a royal prince born to a society torn with strife – poverty, caste and race discrimination were everywhere. His own early life was one of absolute luxury. He renounced this life to seek enlightenment. The fruit of his untiring efforts over the years was the realization of the true nature of things and the discovery of a path that could lead to freedom from suffering. The Buddha held that the cause of suffering is the result of wrong attitudes; it is our craving or desire that makes us suffer. Although Sakyamuni Buddha set out the Eightfold path that could free us from suffering, he often exhorted his monks to discover the way for themselves as for instance in his last words to his disciple Ananda in the Mahaparinirvana Sutra.

“Self is the lord of self, for who else could lord be? Be ye lamps unto yourselves. Look not for refuge to any beside yourself.” In response to Ananda’s entreaty to preach one last time, Sakyamuni speaks about being a beacon of self and of being a beacon of the Law. Sakyamuni taught that it is none other than one’s self and the Law that are the guiding lights that illuminate the darkness of life and death. And the true self referred to by Sakyamuni is the self realized in the course of one’s actions in accordance with the Law of the Universe and of life.

Sakyamuni also said, in a statement made just before his death, that since all phenomena are transient, one should diligently apply oneself to the perfection of one’s practice. His leaving behind such a statement perfectly demonstrates the special character of Buddhism, which points to the path of endeavour and diligence to perfect oneself as a human being and to achieve self-realization.

One calls one who has awakened to the truth of life and the universe a “Buddha”. It is thought that many Buddhas have appeared in this universe, expounded the Law and saved human lives. Mahayana Buddhism teaches that many Buddhas have made their advent.

Here I would like to follow the currents of Buddhist history from the death of Sakyamuni Buddha to the rise of Mahayana Buddhism. Buddhist records indicate that following Sakyamuni’s death, people’s respect and admiration for him deepened and questions arose about the meaning of his death, and from this developed the theory of the Buddha’s three bodies.

At first it was said that the Buddha , as the eternal and indestructible “body of the law” who is one with the law of life and the universe appeared in this world to save people in the physical form of Sakyamuni – in other words, as the “manifested” body. Later when the Buddha who jointly possessed the two kinds of body – “the body of the Law” and the “manifested body” – became widely revered, the idea of the “bliss body” or spiritual strength to perceive the truth, developed. And along with the theory of the bodies, or aspects of Buddhas, a theory evolved concerning the appearance of Buddhas. First the concept of past Buddhas developed, in which it was held that Sakyamuni and various other Buddhas also appeared in the past. Then the concept of future Buddhas developed, in which it is said that Bodhisattva Maitreya will be reborn in this world as a Buddha in the future. The concepts of Buddhas in other worlds and of becoming a Buddha in the next life also arose. For instance, Amitabha Buddha is said to dwell in the western region of the universe. Akshobya Buddha, in the eastern region of the universe, and bodhisattvas, to be reborn in the Tushita heaven before attaining Buddhahood. Finally a concept of present lifetime Buddhas took shape in which it is taught that Buddhas exist throughout the ten directions of the universe.

The Lotus Sutra is the scripture that incorporates and unites the theories of the three bodies of the Buddha and of the appearance of the Buddhas. This scripture is respected as a pivotal text in Japanese Buddhism and has many followers.

In the 16th and most important chapter, entitled “The Life Span of the Thus Come One”, Sakyamuni reveals that he has been a Buddha since the infinite past, that he has all along been preaching in this mundane world and leading people to enlightenment, and that he has appeared as various Buddhas in order to save all living beings and preached the Law in accord with his listener’s capacity. He states that the reason he is now about to leave this world is that, although the life span he has attained by practicing the bodhisattva way is of infinite duration, through the means of his death he can teach and instruct people.

Here, principally in the 16th chapter, the concept of the original Buddha of the remotest past is revealed. In connection with this concept, Tien-tai of China commented that because it is shown in the “Life Span” chapter that Sakyamuni has appeared as various Buddhas in response to the capacity of the people he will teach and enlighten, all the Buddhas who appear in Mahayana Buddhism are united in the one Buddha, Sakyamuni.

Based upon this Tien-tai called the Sakyamuni revealed in the “Life Span” chapter, the Original Buddha and stated that he simultaneously embodies the Law Body, the manifested body and the bliss body, and that he is the Buddha whose true nature lies in the bliss body aspect. In other words, the “Life Span” chapter identifies the historical personage of Sakyamuni as the Original Buddha, presenting him as the manifestation in historical reality of the suprahistorical or Original Buddha.

Accordingly it {the 16th chapter] teaches that the Buddha’s life span is infinite. This is the concept of the Original Buddha of the remotest past. The distinguishing characteristic of the Lotus is the fact that it unites all Buddhas in the Original Buddha and perceives eternal life or an infinite life span, in the person of the historical figure Sakyamuni.

In this way, the concept of the original Buddha of the remotest past revealed in the “Life Span” chapter incorporates and unifies the Mahayana concepts of the three bodies and of the appearance of Buddhas; this new concept clearly reveals the outstanding personality of Sakyamuni, who is endowed with both eternity and reality, and filled with great compassion to save the people.

Private Stance [for SGI Consumption]:

April 17 WT (1998), speech by Daisaku Ikeda delivered March 13, 1998:

“In contrast, this Gosho passage states that Shakyamuni Buddha resides in the hearts of those with sincere faith. Read in terms of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism, “Shakyamuni’ here refers to the original Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin himself.” p. 12, right hand column.

And today, if you view the July 6, 2015 Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra lecture, 

http://www.sgi-usa.org/memberresources/video/iwa/2015/jun_2/v=jun2_15

Ikeda is teaching that the ordinary person is the Original Buddha.

As an aside, the SGI teachings on members surpassing the mentor is too ridiculous to even address.

Soka Gakkai resents the Supreme Votary of the Lotus Sutra

"As the ten demon daughters pledged to protect the votaries of the Lotus Sutra in general, one may think they should protect all those who embrace the sutra. But even among people who embrace the Lotus Sutra, some are True Word teachers who read and recite it while asserting the superiority of the Mahāvairochan Sutra. Such people are actually slandering the Lotus Sutra. And the same principle applies as well to any other school [whose followers practice the Lotus Sutra while believing in the superiority of their own sutras].

Even among those who embrace the Lotus Sutra according to its words, there are some who resent the votary of the Lotus Sutra either because of their greed, anger, and foolishness, because of worldly matters, or because of his various actions. Although such people believe in the Lotus Sutra, they will not obtain the benefit of faith, but will instead incur retribution. To explain, if a son disobeys his father and mother, he will be acting in an unfilial manner, except in a case where his parents are plotting a rebellion. Though a father may take his own son’s beloved wife, or a mother may steal her own beloved husband, if the son or daughter should deviate even in the slightest from the path of filial piety, they will create causes that will lead them to be abandoned by the heavenly gods in this life and to fall into the Avīchi hell in the next. Graver still is the act of going against a worthy ruler, who is superior to a father or mother. And even graver is that of going against a secular teacher, who is a hundred, thousand, ten thousand, million times superior to one’s parents or sovereign. How grave a matter must it be, then, to go against a Buddhist teacher who has forsaken the secular world; and even more so, the teacher of the Lotus Sutra!"

If Soka Gakkai did not resent Nichiren they wouldn't alter his teachings

"One should only treasure the passages in the scriptures and treatises…”

“The Buddha says determining the future, 'Depend upon the teaching, not upon the people.' Bodhisattva Nagarjuna says, 'If one depends upon the scripture it is a correct argument; if one does not depend upon the scripture it is an incorrect argument.' T’ien-t’ai says, 'Again, if it conforms to the scripture, quote and use it. If there is no corresponding sentence or corresponding meaning, then one should not believe and accept.' Dengyo says, 'Depend upon what the Buddha taught, not upon the oral tradition.' If one follows these scriptures, treatises and commentaries, then one should not base oneself on dreams. One should only treasure the passages in the scriptures and treatises…” -- Nichiren

Do not depend on such fictions as Daisaku Ikeda's Human Revolution and  daily guidance.

The crooked trees of the Taisekeji teachings

"Innumerable meanings derive from one Law", doesn't mean that any base or mistaken concept is Buddhism. "Draw your own conclusions from what I said above. Those among my followers who fail to carry through their faith to the end will incur punishment even more severe. Even so, they should not harbor a grudge against me. Remember what fate Sho-bo, Notobo, and others met." -- The Hero of the World "Yet, for all that, [some people associated with Ota Jomyo distort the teaching]. I cannot fathom what could be in their minds." -- The Four Bodhisattvas as Object of Devotion "The priest Nichigyo’s (Sammibo) death was indeed pitiful. I recited the Lotus Sutra and chanted Namu-myoho-renge-kyo for him here in Minobu, sincerely praying to Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, and the Buddhas of the ten directions to receive him on Eagle Peak. I have not yet recovered from my illness, so I have written only briefly. I will write to you again." -- Four Bodhisattvas as the Object of Devotion "Even those who are free from illness cannot escape the transience of life, but you are not yet old, and because you are a votary of the Lotus Sutra, you will not meet an untimely death." -- The Bow and Arrow “Those who do not understand their obligations will in many cases meet with an untimely death." -- On Consecrating an Image of Shakyamuni Buddha Made by Shijo Kingo "There is one thing to be thankful for. Kagenobu, Enchi, and Jitsujo all died before Dozen-bo did, and that was something of a help. These men all met an untimely death because of the chastisement of the ten demon daughters who protect the Lotus Sutra. After they died, Dozen-bo began to have some faith in the Lotus Sutra. But it was rather like obtaining a stick after the fight is over, or lighting a lantern at midday— the proper time had already passed." -- Repaying Debts of Gratitude "The deaths of Ota Chikamasa, Nagasaki Jiro Hyoe-no-jo Tokitsuna, and Daishin-bo, who were all thrown from their horses, can be seen as punishment for their treachery against the Lotus Sutra." -- On Persecutions Befalling the Sage "There was something very strange about Sammi-bo. Nevertheless, I was concerned that any admonition would be taken by the ignorant as mere jealousy of his wisdom, and so I refrained from speaking out. In time his wicked ambition led to treachery and, finally, to his doom. If I had scolded him more strictly, he might have been saved. I have not mentioned this before because no one would have understood it. Even now the ignorant will say that I am speaking ill of the deceased. Nevertheless, I mention it so that others can use it as their mirror. I am sure that our opponents and the renegades are frightened by the fate of Sammi-bo." -- Ibid. "Some people criticize me, saying, 'Nichiren does not understand the capacities of the people of the time, but goes around preaching in a harsh manner—that is why he meets with difficulties.' Other people say, 'The practices described in the "Encouraging Devotion" chapter are for bodhisattvas who are far advanced in practice; [Nichiren ought to follow the practices of] the "Peaceful Practices" chapter, yet he fails to do so.' Others say, 'I, too, know the Lotus Sutra is supreme, but I say nothing about it.' Still others complain that I give all my attention to doctrinal teachings. I am well aware of all these criticisms against me. But I recall the case of Pien Ho, who had his legs cut off at the knee, and of Kiyomaro (Pure Man), who was dubbed Kegaremaro (Filthy Man) and almost put to death. All the people of the time laughed at them with scorn, but unlike those two men, those who laughed left no good name behind them. And all the people who level unjust criticisms at me will meet with a similar fate. The 'Encouraging Devotion' chapter says, 'There will be many ignorant people who will curse and speak ill of us.' I observe my own situation in this passage. Why should it not apply to all of you as well? 'They will attack us with swords and staves,' the passage continues. I have experienced this passage from the sutra with my own body. Why do you, my disciples, not do likewise?" (pg. 209) The SGI teaches "Lesser doctrines", ie: Value creationism; human revolution; shoju in the degenerate age and towards those who would destroy the Lotus Sutra; mentor-disciple as the prime point of the Lotus Sutra; the inequality of those who chant the Daimoku; the purpose of the Juryo-hon is to smash the Hoben-pon and the purpose of Daimoku is to smash the Juryo-hon; Nichiren is True Buddha; Namu Myoho renge kyo is true Buddha; Nam Myoho renge kyo rather than Namu Myoho renge kyo; the Lotus Sutra has lost it's efficacy in Mappo; the common man can not understand the Lotus Sutra or Gosho in Mappo; prayers repaying one's debt of gratitude to the Three Presidents rather than that owed Shakyamuni Buddha; the Nichikan Gohonzon; personal guidance; the list goes on and on. The concept, "innumerable meanings derive from one Law", doesn't mean that any base or mistaken concept is Buddhism. The One Vehicle is Myoho renge kyo: "Thus it was that the eight-year-old dragon girl was able to come out of the vast sea and in an instant give proof of the power of this sutra, and Superior Practices, a bodhisattva of the essential teaching, emerged from beneath the great earth and thereby demonstrated the unfathomably long life span of the Buddha. This is the king of sutras, defying description in words, the wonderful Law that is beyond the mind’s power to comprehend." (Embracing the Lotus Sutra) Nichiren does indeed teach, "Never seek this Gohonzon outside yourself. The Gohonzon exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who embrace the Lotus Sutra and chant Namu-myoho-renge-kyo." but he also teaches that the mandala Gohonzon (the life and land of Original Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni) is the teacher of the Buddhas throughout the Three Existences: "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 Hommon [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." (The True Object of Worship) and "If one doubts the strength of the Buddha when he says, “I am the only person who can rescue and protect others”; if one is suspicious of the rope held out by the Lotus Sutra when its teachings declare that one can “gain entrance through faith alone”; if one fails to chant the Mystic Law which guarantees that “such a person assuredly and without doubt [will attain the Buddha way],” then the Buddha’s power cannot reach one, and it will be impossible to scale the embankment of enlightenment." (Embracing the Lotus Sutra) and again, it is not enough merely to believe in and chant the Mystic Law: "Only when one understands all this clearly and believes in it can the Law manifest its power and the Buddhas and bodhisattvas bring benefit to the people. To illustrate, in kindling a fire, three things are needed: a good piece of steel, a good flint, and good tinder. The same is true of prayer. Three things are required— a good teacher, a good believer, and a good teaching— before prayers can be effective and disasters banished from the land. A good teacher is a priest who is free from any fault in secular affairs, who never fawns upon others even in the slightest, who desires and is satisfied with little, and who is compassionate; a priest who reads and upholds the Lotus Sutra precisely as it teaches and also encourages and leads others to embrace it. Such a priest the Buddha has praised among all priests as the finest teacher of the Law. A good believer is one who does not depend upon persons of eminence or despise those of humble station; who does not rely on the backing of superiors or look down on inferiors; who, not relying upon the opinions of others, upholds the Lotus Sutra among all the sutras. Such a person the Buddha has called the best of all people. As for a good teaching, the Buddha has told us that this sutra, the Lotus, represents the foremost among all doctrines. Among all the sutras the Buddha “has preached,” among those he “now preaches,” and among those he “will preach,” this sutra is designated as foremost, and therefore it is a good teaching." (How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood). Even a good believer is insufficient if the teacher and teachings are mistaken and SGI's "great good" of planting seeds too is unfounded. Their seeds are damaged seeds because their Object of Worship and teacher is damaged [mistaken]. They may sprout and look like beautiful saplings but as they mature, they grow into the crooked trees of the Taisekeji teachings.

The Story of Your Enslavement

Kansai, Soka Gakkai's stronghold, pummeled by typhoon Trami

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45698950

With all the calamities befalling Japan how can the Soka Gakkai remain haughty?

OTO GOZEN GO-SHOSOKU (A Letter to Lady Oto)

"Prior to the introduction of Buddhism into China, books written by the Three Emperors, Five Rulers, Three Kings, T'ai Kung-wand, Tan (The Duke of Chou), Lao-tzu and Confucius were called "sutras" or "classics", through which people learned the proprieties: children's indebtedness to their parents, and the relationship between rulers and the ruled. The teachings of these books were observed by the people, and heaven has accepted them. When one didn't follow these dharma, he was punished as a disobedient child or an outlaw. When Buddhism was introduced from India, there arose a dispute between the two sides. One insisted that it should be accepted while the other argued that it should be rejected. The emperor summoned the two sides to debate the issue. The supporters of Buddhism refuted the anti-Buddhists. Since then whenever they debated, anti-Buddhists were defeated just as the sun melts ice, or water puts fire out. Eventually they no longer argued against Buddhism.

As Buddhism was thus introduced into China, it became clear that some scriptures were superior or more profound in content than others. That is to say, they could be divided into Hinayana and Mahayana, exoteric and esoteric, or provisional and true sutras. For example, all rocks are inferior to any gold, and gold can be graded variously. No gold in the human world, however, equals the gold mined from the Jambu River. Even the gold from the Jambu River can never match the gold in the Brahma Heaven. Likewise, all scriptures of Buddhism are like gold: some are superior to or more profound than others.

Hinayana sutras are like small boats, which can accommodate a few people but not hundreds or thousands. Moreover, they must stay close to this shore and can't cross over to the other shore. They can only carry a small amount of cargo. Mahayana sutras are like larger vessels, which can carry easily ten to twenty people. Loaded with a large amount of cargo, they can sail from Kamakura to as far as Kyushu or Mutsu Province (Aomori and Iwate Prefectures) in northern Honshu.

The true sutra is beyond comparison to the other Mahayana sutras. It is like an enormous ship which, loaded with hundreds or thousands of people and a great amount of treasures, is able to sail as far as Korea. This is the one-vehicle teaching of the Lotus Sutra.

Devadatta once was a most evil man, but he became a Buddha called Heavenly King Tathagatha by putting faith in the Lotus Sutra. King Ajatasatru was a wicked king who killed his father, but he later was saved by listening to the Lotus Sutra. Dragon Lady, a woman with a reptilian body, attained Buddhahood after listening to Manjursri's lecture on the Lotus Sutra. Besides, the Buddha declared that it was a gift of the Buddha to each man and woman of the Latter Age of the Decadent Dharma. The Lotus Sutra is the one-vehicle ship as great as Chinese ships.

Consequently, it can be said that all Buddhist scriptures in comparison to non-Buddhist scriptures are like gold against rock. When we compare all Mahayana sutras such as the Flower Garland Sutra, Great Sun Buddha Sutra, Meditation on the Buddha of Infinite Life Sutra, Amitabha Sutra, and Wisdom Sutras to the Lotus Sutra, they are like the glow of fireflies in front of the sun and moon, or ants' nests against the great mountain of Hua-shan.

As some sutras are superior to others, practicers of certain sutras are superior to those of other sutras. Comparison between Shingon esoterists, who have faith in the Great Sun Buddha Sutra, and practicers of the Lotus Sutra is as meaningless as matching fire against water or morning dew against wind. It is said that if a dog barks at a lion, his intestines will be torn out; and if an asura demon shoots an arrow at the sun, his head will be broken into seven pieces. All the esoterists are like the dog or asura, while the practicers of the Lotus Sutra are like the sun or the lion.

Ice, before the sun rises, is as hard as gold. Fire, when there is no water, is as hot as iron in a furnace. However, hard ice can easily be melted by the sun in summer and fire can be extinguished by water. In the same fashion, although esoterists appear to be noble and wise, they are like those who rely on the hardness of ice, without seeing the potential of the sun, or fire without considering water.

You remember how arrogant people today were before the Mongol invasion of Japan, but ever since last October, no one has been haughty. As you heard, I, Nichiren, was the only one who predicted the foreign invasion. If they attack this country again, no one will have the courage to face them. They will act as a monkey facing a dog, or a frog running into a snake.

This is solely because this nation let the priests of Shingon, Pure Land, and Ritsu Sects criticize me, who is the messenger of Sakyamuni Buddha and the practicer of the Lotus Sutra. As a result, this nation has hurt itself, has been disliked by heaven, and all its people have become utter cowards. They are like fire afraid of water, a tree scared of metal (a saw), a pheasant losing courage at a glance of a hawk, or a mouse frozen in front of a cat. No one will be safe. What shall we do?

In a battlefield the Grand General represents the spirit of the whole army. If the Grand General is a coward, then all his soldiers turn to be nothing but cowards. Likewise, a husband is the spirit of his wife. Without him, she will be spiritless. Even married women seem to have difficulties living in this world, but you, without a husband, have never lost your spirit and do better than married women. Moreover, you, who keep faith in gods and revere Buddhas, are a woman superior to all others.

In Kamakura, setting aside Pure Land Buddhists, I could not see how deep the faith of individuals was among followers of the Lotus Sutra. When I was exiled to Sado as a prisoner of the Kamakura shogunate, I hardly had any visitors. However, you proved to be an exceptional woman by not only sending many offerings but also personally visiting me over there. I thought that I was dreaming or seeing an illusion when you appeared; and this time you visited me here. I have no words to express my gratitude. I am certain that the gods will protect you and the ten female raksasa demons will have compassion on you. The Buddha promised that the Lotus Sutra would serve woman as a lantern in the darkness, a ship in the sea, and a guardian in dangerous places.

When Tripitaka Master Kumarajiva brought the Lotus Sutra to China, the Heavenly King Vaisravana dispatched countless soldiers to escort him safely over the Pamirs. When Priest Dosho read the Lotus Sutra in a waste land, innumerable tigers came together to protect him. You will also be protected in the same way; the thirty-six earthly deities and the twenty-eight heavenly gods will protect you. Moreover, two heavenly gods always accompany each person just as a shadow follows the body. One is called God Dosho, and another is God Domyo. Both protect a person by accompanying him on both his shoulders, so that Heaven will not punish the innocent by mistake, not to speak of a lady with virtue like you. Grand Master Miao-le has stated: "As long as one has strong faith, he certainly will receive greater protection." It means that the stronger one's faith is, the greater the gods protection.

Let me say this for your sake. I am aware of your long-standing faith, but you must strengthen it. Then you will find the greater protection of the ten female raksasa demons. You need not look afar for an example; although all the people in Japan, from the ruler to common people, tried to harm me, I have survived until today due to my firm faith.

If a steersman handled his boat carelessly, everybody in the boat could be killed. No matter how strong a man physically is, he is unable to use his abilities effectively if he lacks faith.

Even though there are many wisemen in Japan, they can't utilize their wisdom because the shogunate cannot steer a true course. We do not know how many tens of millions of warriors and civilians in Iki, Tsushima, and Kyushu were killed, captured, drowned or thrown off cliffs by Mongols. If they come to attack again, it will be worse, with Kyoto and Kamakura experiencing the tragedy of Iki and Tsushima. You had better get ready to escape somewhere. Thence, those who never wanted to see or listen to me will put their hands together in gassho and take faith in the Lotus Sutra. Even the adherents of Pure Land and Zen Buddhism will chant "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo."

According to the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha carries on His shoulders and back men and women who have firm faith in the sutra. Tripitaka Master Kumarayana is said to have been carried on the back of a wooden statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. As for myself, the Buddha took my place to save my life at Tatsunokuchi. This has always been true, today as in the past. You are my followers. How can you each fail to attain Buddhahood? No matter whom you remarry, do not follow him if he does not believe in the Lotus Sutra. Have a stronger affirmation than ever.

Ice is made of water, but it is colder than water. Blue colored cloth is colored by indigo, but it will be bluer than indigo when dyed repeatedly. In the same fashion, if you pile up your faith in the Lotus Sutra, you will be filled with more vitality and blessings than other people.

A tree can be burnt by fire, but a margoso tree will not be. Fire can be extinguished by water, but the fire of Buddha's cremation will not. Flowers can be scattered by wind, but the flowers in the Heaven of Pure Inhabitants will not. Water can evaporate in a severe drought, but not when it enters the Yellow River. A wicked King named Dammira did not receive any punishment when he beheaded Indian monks. When he beheaded Venerable Aryasimha, however, the king's sword and hand fell to the ground at the same time. When King Pusyamitara burnt the Kukkutarama Temple, his head was broken by the sticks of the twelve heavenly generals. Now, the people of Japan have become enemies of the Lotus Sutra, destroying themselves as well as their country.

Some people, who do not understand me, may call me self-conceited for what I say.  I am not self-conceited. As a practicer of the Lotus Sutra, I must speak out. When what I say is proven to be true in the future, people will believe me. I write this now because I am certain that people in the future will recognize my wisdom.

It is said in the Nirvana Sutra that the dharma is more important than our lives, so we should propagate the dharma at the cost of our lives. My life is insignificant; I have been struck and hated by the people. Nevertheless, because the dharma is important, it will inevitably spread. With the Lotus Sutra spreading I should be more revered after I die than when I am alive. If my remains should be revered, then they should be beneficial to the people. If my remains should be beneficial, I should be revered just as Great Bodhisattva Hachiman. You should know that all men and women who support me will then be respected just as Ta-kenouchi-no-Sukune, who served Great Bodhisattva Hachiman, or his young prince.

The merit of opening the eyes of a blind man is beyond description. How much more does it take to open the eyes of all sentient beings in Japan? Moreover, what does it take to open the eyes of all blind people throughout the world?

The fourth scroll of the Lotus Sutra states: "Anyone who understands the meaning of this sutra after My death will be the eyes of the world of gods and men." It means that those who have firm faith in the Lotus Sutra are the eyes of all gods and men; wherefore those in Japan who are hostile to me are picking the eyes of all heavenly and human beings. Hence, it is natural for heavenly gods to get angry and cause disasters day after day, while earthly deities cause calamities month after month.

Indra in heaven, who respected a fox and learned the dharma from him, was reborn as Sakyamuni Buddha. Sessen Doji, who honored a demon as his teacher, has become the lord of the threefold world. Sages in the past were not concerned about their form, and they never abandoned the dharma. I, Nichiren, today may be stupid, but I am not inferior to either a fox or a demon. People today may be noble, but they are not superior to Indra or Sessen Doji. Because of my humble position in society, however, they simply reject my good words, so this country is about to be destroyed. How sad it is! I am also sad as I am unable to save my disciples who express sympathy to me.

Should any calamity befall you, you must come to this place promptly. I will welcome you. Let us starve together on this mountain.

I suppose Oto Gozen has become matured and wise. I will write you again.

Nichiren

4th of the 8th month

To My Lady Oto

Soka Gakkai follows Nichiren in name only.

A TRACT REVEALING THE GIST OF THE RISHO ANKOKU RON

"Aside from these people, some of my disciples might not be spared from this calamity of falling into the Hell of Incessant Suffering upon death. Those who disdained and hurt the Never -Despising (Fukyo) Bodhisattva fell into the Hell of Incessant Suffering upon death for as long as 1,000 kalpa. It was due to their great sin of slandering the bodhisattva that they were paid such a hard fate, although they had believed in, respected, followed, and obeyed the bodhisattva while in this life.

Now, the same could be said of disciples of Nichiren. If they believe in, respect, follow, and obey me in name only without heart, they will no doubt suffer in the Hell of Incessant Suffering for the period of one, two, ten, or one hundred, if not one thousand, kalpa. If you wish to be saved from this, you should each practice just as the Medicine-King Bodhisattva did; he set his arm afire to offer it as a light to the Buddha; or Gyobo Bonji, who skinned himself to write the dharma on his own skin. Just as Sessen Doji and Suzu Danno did, you should sacrifice your own life or serve your masters from the bottom of your heart in search of the dharma. Otherwise, you should beseech the Buddha for help, bowing to Him with your four limbs and face touching the ground, dripping with sweat. Otherwise, you should pile up rare treasures in front of the Buddha as an offering to Him. If that is not possible, you must become servants to the upholders of the dharma. Or you should practice some other ways according to the principle of the four ways of teaching. Among my disciples those whose faith is shallow will show at the moment of death the sign of falling into the Hell of Incessant Suffering. Do not blame me for it then!"

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BACKGROUND

The addressee of this letter is Oto Gozen, but in reality it is believed to have been written to her mother, Nun Nichimyo. When the nun took her daughter, Oto Gozen, to Sado to see Nichiren Daishonin in exile in the 5th month of the 9th year in the Bun'ei Era (1272), her daughter was still an infant. It is assumed, therefore, that she was still a child when this letter was written three years later, in the first year of the Kenji Era (1275). Judging from a statement in this letter, "I would imagine Oto Gozen has become matured and wise," it is only natural to assume that it was addressed to her mother. Commending Nun Nichimyo, who had visited Nichiren on Sado Island earlier all the way from Kamakura, for coming to see him again on Mt. Minobu, Nichiren Daishonin explained the comparative superiority between Mahayana and Hinayana sutras and provisional and true sutras, comparing them with small and large ships and rocks and gold.

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$GI

Causes and conditions: The Four Powers

There are Four Powers, the Power of Faith, the Power of Practice, the Power of the Buddha and the Power of the Law. The first two are cause generated. The latter two are condition generated, eternal and unchanging. All Four Powers, both causes and conditions must be correct. The SGI has two cause generated shortfalls and two condition generated shortfalls: Their warped faith and practice is their cause generated shortfall and their Object of Worship and mentor is their condition generated shortfall. In the Soka Gakkai, the Power of the Buddha is de-emphasized. At one time, it was taught in the SGI that we needed Gohonzon to obtain Buddhahood because it is the source of the Power of the Law and the Power of the Buddha and we do not have the strength nor wisdom to accomplish Buddhahood on our own. Now they erroneously teach that faith and practice alone is sufficient to attain Buddhahood.

"Suppose that a person is burning with fever. If he sits down beside a large body of cold water and stays there for a while, his fever will abate, but if he lies down beside a little body of water, he will continue to suffer as before. In the same way, if an icchantika, or person of incorrigible disbelief, who has committed the five cardinal sins and has slandered the Law, should try to cool himself beside the little bodies of water that are the Āgama, Flower Garland, Meditation, and Mahāvairochana sutras, the raging fever caused by his great offenses would never be dispelled. But if he should lie down on the great snowy mountain that is the Lotus Sutra, then the raging fever caused by the five cardinal sins, his slander of the Law, and his incorrigible disbelief would be dispelled instantly.

Therefore, ignorant people should by all means have faith in the Lotus Sutra. For although one may think that all the titles of the sutras are the same in effect and that it is as easy to chant one as another, in fact the merit acquired even by an ignorant person who chants the title of the Lotus Sutra is as far superior to that acquired by a wise person who chants some other title as heaven is to earth.

To illustrate, even a person with great strength cannot break a strong rope with his bare hands. But if one has a little knife, then even a person of meager strength can sever the rope with ease. Even a person with great strength cannot cut through a piece of hard stone with a dull sword. But if one has a sharp sword, then even a person of meager strength can cut the stone in two." -- Repaying Debts of Gratitude

"To illustrate, suppose that a person is standing at the foot of a tall embankment and is unable to ascend. And suppose that there is someone on top of the embankment who lowers a rope and says, “If you take hold of this rope, I will pull you up to the top of the embankment.” If the person at the bottom begins to doubt that the other has the strength to pull him up, or wonders if the rope is not too weak and therefore refuses to put forth his hand and grasp it, then how is he ever to get to the top of the embankment? But if he follows the instructions, puts out his hand, and takes hold of the rope, then he can climb up.

If one doubts the strength of the Buddha when he says, “I am the only person who can rescue and protect others”; if one is suspicious of the rope held out by the Lotus Sutra when its teachings declare that one can “gain entrance through faith alone”; if one fails to chant the Mystic Law which guarantees that “such a person assuredly and without doubt [will attain the Buddha way],” then the Buddha’s power cannot reach one, and it will be impossible to scale the embankment of enlightenment.

Lack of faith is the basic failing that causes a person to fall into hell. Therefore, the sutra states, “If with regard to this sutra one should harbor doubt and fail to believe, one will fall at once into the evil paths." -- Embracing the Lotus Sutra

"Because what I practice is superior, the difficulties attending it are much greater."

“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.” -- Nichiren

The "pacifist" Makiguchi

"'Sacrifice your own skin to slash the opponent's flesh. Surrender your own flesh to saw off the opponent's bone.' With their faithful implementation of this well-known Japanese fencing (kendo) strategy into actual practice during the war, the Japanese military is able to achieve her glorious, ever-victorious invincibility in the Sino-Japan conflict and in the Pacific war, and thus, easing the minds of the Japanese people. This [strategy of sacrifice] should be held as an ideal lifestyle for those remaining on the home front and should be applied in every aspect of our daily life." --Tsunesaburo Makiguchi -- From: "The Instruction Manual Summarizing the Experiments and Testimonials of Life based on the Philosophy of Value of the Supreme Goodness."

Someone asked me, how is Mark doing

Mark is doing well, fighting the good fight (preserving Nichiren's teachings for posterity while refuting the revisionists: SGI; Nichiren Shoshu; Nichiren Shu; Kempon Hokke; Honmon Butsuryu Shu, Nipponzon Myohoji; and even secular Lotus Sutra Buddhism). Yes, I am a fundamentalist...Its Nichiren's way or the highway.

The Buddhist doctrine of Karma

The principle or doctrine of karma furnishes answers to the profound questions of being. 

Individual Karma...

One child is born sightless to poverty stricken parents in a drought and war ravaged region of Africa and another born to immensely wealthy parents in a penthouse in Zurich. One childis is born with an IQ of 60 and can barely feed himself and another is reading an encyclopedia by the age of two. A four year old girl who never took a music lesson can play several different instruments while another with cerebral palsy can not even hold a spoon. One child is born into the Brahman caste and another into an untouchable family. Still another overcomes her disability and goes on to develop a cure for AIDS while a perfectly healthy world class athlete suffers a career ending compound fracture of the femur. There are five billion examples of differences in fortune, wisdom, physical and mental drive and abilities. 

There are rarely encountered adults and even children who have a documented first hand knowledge of historical individuals, events, and locations and there are unmistakable shared physical and mental characteristics among certain deceased and living individuals with no associated shared heredity. Only the doctrine of Karma reasonably explains and answers this observable reality.

Collective Karma...

Examples of collective karma are those with cerebral palsy, those born white, those killed in the holocaust, doctors, lawyers, indian chiefs. Either there is individual and group responsibility or there is none. Weal and woe either happens by chance, the will of god, or through the thoughts, words, and actions of individuals and groups. Those who have faith in the Lotus Sutra believe in personal and group responsibility caused by the thoughts, words, and deeds of individuals and groups accumulated since the infinite past. Who is the agent of your weal or woe? I hit my thumb with a hammer. I would be a fool to blame someone else. Likewise, only fools blame God, others, the environment, or chance for their misfortune.

Nichiren Daishonin on Karma:

"Question: How can you be certain that the exiles and sentences of death imposed on you are the result of karma created in the past?

Answer: A bronze mirror will reflect color and form. The First Emperor of the Ch'in dynasty had a lie-detecting mirror that would reveal offenses committed in this present life. The mirror of the Buddha's Law makes clear the causal actions committed in the past. The Parinirvana Sutra states: "Good man, because people committed countless offenses and accumulated much evil karma in the past, they must expect to suffer retribution for everything they have done. They may be despised, cursed with an ugly appearance, be poorly clad and poorly fed, seek wealth in vain, be born to an impoverished and lowly family or one with erroneous views, or be persecuted by their sovereign. They may be subjected to various other sufferings and retributions. It is due to the blessings obtained by protecting the Law that they can diminish in this lifetime their suffering and retribution."

Namu Myoho renge kyo and Karma...

Karma can be the most comforting or the most disquieting belief. Everything depends on one's Buddhist faith and practice, true and correct or false and mistaken. Certitude of karmic reward is always comforting while certitude of karmic retribution may or may not be disquieting. You will have to repay your karmic debt. If you have accumulated much karmic reward, the debt seems insignificant. If you have accumulated little karmic reward, your debt seems oppressive. Chanting Namu Myoho renge kyo with a correct faith and teaching others to do the same, is the way to accumulate infinite karmic reward. Your travails will pale in significance. 

Satire based on receiving a swath of mentor's necktie

"It is hard not to write satire. For who is so tolerant of the unjust SGI, so steeled, that he can restrain himself..."-- Modified from Juvenal

Daisaku Ikeda's Relics: "Presented With a Piece of Mentor's Necktie"...

"After the dinner, Mineo-san presented every men attended the dinner with a piece of Sensei’s necktie. This necktie, which either Sensei used before, or being with Sensei before, had a deep significant to me. The moment I received it from Mineo-san hand, I pledge in my heart, I will give my life for the sake the Law, Gakkai and Sensei.

When I returned, I chanted an hour daimoku to thank Sensei for his great care and impartial love for a disciple like me." -- [onenessofmentoranddisciple.blogspot.com]

Mentor Stopped Smoking [a satire based on the above real life experience of an SGI Singapore member]

"How happy I was when I found out mentor had stopped smoking. When I went to Japan for the International Headquarters Meeting of Brainwashed Youth, I got the chance to congratulate Mentor. Mentor told me he stopped smoking completely but now he dips [chews tobacco]. Mentor said I was a true disciple and that he had a little present for me. He gave me a gift wrapped box and told me to open it when I got to my room. It was something to remember him for all eternity. After the meeting I rushed back to the room to open Mentor's present. I was so excited. Very carefully I undid the wrapping so I could preserve the wrapping for posterity. The small velvet jewelry box inside was as blue as a late afternoon sky. I opened it in anticipation and there it was, a well chewed wad of Mentor's chaw. How joyful I was, the pungent aroma of the chaw filling the room. When I returned home I carefully placed the well masticated chaw in a transparent glass water cup and presented it to the Gohonzon as a token of my deepest gratitude for Mentor."

Other Relics of the Mentor 

Pieces of the Mentors necktie are a favorite with the members but the most highly prized relics are those containing the mentors body fluids, secretions, and excretions. It is a well known fact that Mentor's high salaried senior leaders like David Kasahara, Guy McCloskey, Ian McIlraith, and Danny Nagashima, often receive New Years gifts of Mentor's unwashed underwear. I have heard that Gerry Hall and Bill Aiken are jealous, having only received pieces of Mentor's unwashed socks. Guy McCloskey once gave guidance to the leaders that, his mid six figure salary for being one of SGI's pit bull lawyers, paled in significance to receiving President Ikeda's unwashed underwear. David Kasahara burns small pieces of Mentor's excrement laden underwear as an offering to the Nichikan Gohonzon, calling it, "the finest Sandalwood in Jambudvipa". The disciples and believers of Nichiren just call it "dung".

Nlchiren on the fault of rejecting Shakyamuni Buddha

"Nowadays, those who seek the way no doubt hope for a better existence in their future lives. Yet they cast aside the Lotus Sutra and Shakyamuni Buddha, while never failing even for an instant to revere Amida Buddha and call upon his name. What kind of behavior is this? Though they may appear to the eye to be pious people, I do not see how they can escape the charge of rejecting their own parent and devoting themselves to a stranger. A completely evil person, on the other hand, has never given his allegiance to any Buddhist teaching at all, and so has not committed the fault of rejecting Shakyamuni Buddha. Therefore, if the proper circumstances should arise, he might very well in time come to take faith in Shakyamuni."

"I won't be joining SGI anytime soon"

From: Date: Tue Dec 12, 2000 10:19am Subject: NYC Arts Division 

"Last night I went to the Arts Division Meeting in NYC. The head of the division, Buster Williams, gave this speech about destroying the Nikken sect. He quoted from the reformed priest guidance which has been circulating amongst SGI members in the form of an e-mail (I think it has been posted here before). He specifically quoted the experience of the woman overcoming cancer after chanting for Nikken's defeat. He used this experience to show the benefits one can receive for chanting for the destruction of the Nikken sect. He went on saying that SGI cannot let the Nikken sect be because Nikken is like a cancer. A cancer will destroy the body if it's not destroyed first so SGI must destroy Nikken. He also warned people who think that they are not effected by this cancer: "If you think you are not effected, you are the most effected." I have to say I was very disturbed by this speech, not only for the content but because it came from a world famous artist such as Buster Williams. I won't be joining SGI anytime soon. After all, I am an artist in NY and I don't think I could endure much of this mentality should I belong to such an Arts Division." -- Marco 

"The mentor represents the function of the Buddha" -- SGI leader

If Daisaku Ikeda represents the function of the Buddha, what an error prone Buddha is he.

Why Josei Toda resides in the Avici Hell

“What, then, does Nichiren Daishonin say about this? He says that if we take faith in the Gohonzon, he will give us the cause for becoming rich even if we didn’t do anything for it in our past existence. Once we have this cause, we can naturally become wealthy in this lifetime. And the Daishonin will give those of us who made causes for being sickly in our past lives the causes for being perfectly healthy. This is what he will do as soon as we start to believe in the Gohonzon." -- Josei Toda

Toda's hatred of Nichiren Daishonin, the Supreme Votary of the Lotus Sutra, was only surpassed by his hatred and jealousy of Shakyamuni Buddha, the eternal Three Bodied Tathagata of Original Enlightenment. Toda might as well have accused Nichiren Daishonin of having weak faith for being poor, hungry and ill and Shakyamuni Buddha of great arrogance for stating, "I likewise am the father of this world." 

By denying Shakyamuni Buddha's Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin's life and teachings, Toda resides in the Avici Hell.

SGI dialogue is born from the Worlds of Animality and Anger

SGI member: And you should never forget that your teacher is Nichiren and that if you want to understand the teacher and the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, you should let him be your guide, which means that one should use the Gosho as the basis for understanding the Sutras rather than arrogantly approaching it from the other way around.

Me: The Sutra and Nichiren's commentaries are complementary because he lived the Sutra. You are correct that Nichiren is necessary to understand the Sutra but Soka Gakkai is not the teaching of Nichiren. You should let go of your attachment to the inferior and false teachings of SGI for you to understand.

SGI member: You are a person who picks and chooses which passages to believe, while ignoring the broadest sense of what is being said.

Me: I think you mean by "ignoring the broadest sense", I am one who refuses to read between the lines and who takes Nichiren at his word. There are many evil people in Mappo. There are those who have altered Nichiren's teachings, those who assert the Gosho supplants the Sutra, and those who tear off the first part of a Gosho and stick it on the end..... 

SGI member: For example, If you are attached to the Dhuta Shakyamuni you might as well turn to Theravada Buddhism and ignore the writings of the Mahayana Texts that Nagarjuna found in the "Iron Tower" beneath the sea.

Me: I'm not even attached to the Law of Namu Myoho renge kyo. There are times when one refrains from proclaiming the True Law. I merely believe in the Three Bodied Tathagata, possessing the Body of the Dhuta Shakyamuni, the Body of the Dharma, and the Body of Wisdom.

SGI member: You might as well disregard the teachings of Chi-i as he extrapolated three truths where Nagarjuna had only found two.

Me: Are you picking topics out of thin air because you have nothing to say about the identity of the Original Eternal Buddha? 

SGI member: And you might as well not call yourself a disciple of Nichiren. 

Me. For asserting and teaching the same as he? You had better take a good hard look at yourself and your mentor before admonishing me.

SGI member: You call your Shakyamuni the Eternal Shakyamuni, but that Shakyamuni is a Shakyamuni of teachings spoken by other men-- of the Law/ Dharma, just as many of the teachers of many of the Sutras were emanations of that same Shakyamuni. 

Me: You make no sense. You should leave the Soka Gakkai, forget most of what they have taught you, and chant for a clear mind. 

SGI member: It was Nichiren who put them to practice and brought T'ien Tai's teachings to life. Reductionism is applicable only so far. Nichiren was enlightened, and that makes him a Buddha, and his teachings were a teaching of attaining enlightenment in ones present form -- so his teachings were a teaching of Honnimmyo (principle of true cause), which is the basis of teaching that his is a teaching of the Buddhism of the Sowing.

Me: Even Arhats are Enlightened. Not all who are Enlightened are Buddhas. You have little idea of my view of Original Enlightenment because I have not written extensively on it. Original Enlightenment is not the teaching of Nichiren. Enlightenment is only possible with a strong and correct and relationship to Namu Myoho renge kyo and the Gohonzon. The Juryo-hon Chapter of the Lotus Sutra and in Nichiren's teachings are very clear. Enlightenment is established through causes (the power of faith and practice) AND conditions (the power of the Buddha and Law). Were we originally Enlightened there would be no need for namu Myoho renge kyo and Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter. Original Enlightenment is the teaching of Zen, not Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism. 

"When the Person who forthrightly abandons the expedient and only believes in the Dharma Flower Sutra (Hokekyo) and chants 'Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, he has the Three Ways of Delusion, Karma, and Suffering turn into the Three Virtues of the Dharma Body, Prajna (wisdom), and Liberation…, the place where that Person abides is the Land of Eternal Quiescent Light." Totai Gi Sho, pg. 759-760 (KHK Seiten) 

SGI member: So in general we are all potentially Buddhas. Therefore, those later disciples who taught teachings based on their own enlightenment only erred in that they were not wise enough to let go of claims to absolute orthodoxy and instead concentrate on advancing and getting to the truth without putting it into the words of others or interpreting it to death.

Me: Again, your mind is clouded. I have read this last statement a dozen times and it too makes no sense. You are a sectarian whose mind is closed to even the truths of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren if they are not taught in the SGI. A far as the teachings of the so-called masters of the Nichiren Shoshu and SGI, except for the very earliest teachings and teachers such as Nikko and Nichimoku, all I see is a revision of the teachings of the Master Nichiren and even in the case of Nikko and Nichimoku, I always return to the Sutra and Nichiren. 

SGI member: Whatever distortions the priests of Nichiren Shoshu are guilty of, they have not trampled on Nichiren's teachings half so much as the so-called "orthodox" sects -- although what they have done is pitiful enough.

Me: Idle chatter is cheap but apparently not beneath you. 

SGI member: Nichiren relied on the three proofs; Literal, actual and theoretical. He stressed actual proof. My Gakkai friends assert and demonstrate actual proof every time we have a meeting because they are basing their lives on the Gosho. 

Me: If you need to believe this, go right ahead but don't expect me to believe it just because YOU say so. I see them basing their lives on Daisaku Ikeda and the Human Revolution, not on the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren. The oneness of SGI mentor and disciple, interfaith, Nichiren as True, Eternal, Original Buddha, and the primacy of the DaiGohonzon, is hardly basing their lives on the Gosho. You [they] are the first of the Three Powerful Enemies [because you follow the Third Powerful Enemy, Daisaku Ikeda]. All your assertions mean about as much to me as the assertions of the followers of Honen, Jikaku, or Jesus. 

SGI member: I would hope that you are doing the same thing -- and you will if you are a votary of the Lotus Sutra and not a slanderer.

Me: Hold SGI meetings? LOL. 

SGI member: Nichiren relied on the Lotus Sutra primarily, but it was his Lotus Sutra, just as the Maka Shikan was Tientai's Lotus Sutra -- he made it his by his efforts -- and by not possessing it. 

Me: When I want to read a World Tribune, I will ask you to forward one to me. I read and study the Lotus Sutra and the Gosho. Shakyamuni Buddha's Lotus Sutra, according to Nichiren, is far superior than Tientai's Great Concentration and insight and Nichiren's Lotus Sutra [Daimoku and Gohonzon] IS Shakyamuni Buddha's Lotus Sutra. For every altered quote or passage you might be able to find to support your false assertions, I will supply ten or twenty quotes to support mine from Nichiren. There is only one Lotus Sutra and a myriad of practices depending on the time.

SGI member: Tientai didn't throw away Shakyamuni's Lotus Sutra or the other sutras, he simply illuminated it with his life. Likewise Nichiren illuminated the Lotus Sutra with his life. 

Me: You have it all topsy turvy because you are still inextricably connected to the topsy turvy Gakkai world and the doctrines of the Nichiren Shoshu. According to Nichiren, Tientai and even Nichiren Daishonin is enlightened through the Lotus Sutra of the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni. The Lotus Sutra and Nichiren teach, since the Law is Supreme the person is worthy of respect [not since the person is supreme, the Law is worthy of respect]. For you to assert differently is a clear sign of the need to reevaluate your associations, be they doctrinal or social. 

SGI member: That is the role of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas, these arguments over who is a Buddha are the sophistry of people who would seek to confuse people from their practice so that they can attract a few followers.  The reason that this is so, is that the Lotus Sutra teaches that we are all Buddhas to be, and Nichiren teaches the principle of "attaining Buddhahood in ones present form".

Me: Honmon is based on monism. As long as we are chanting Daimoku with a correct faith, there is nothing to be attained. 

SGI member: I am studying the principle of insubstantiability (in the Vimilakirti Sutra), and now I have to go back to read what Nichiren says about it -- because I think I'm starting to understand it and that is a dangerous thing. Fundamentally when we grasp the insubstantiality of these disagreements and let go of our egoistic notions then we naturally see through our attachments to heresies and the heresies themselves! Nichiren did not reject Shakyamuni, nor did he establish the worship of Shakyamuni. 

Me: Nichiren established the worship of Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra and the Daimoku in the form of the Great Mandala. 

SGI member: Nichiren placed the Law at the center of Buddhism seeing that that was the aim of Buddhism, and correctly saw that the center of Buddhist Law is the Lotus Sutra. He established the Nam Myoho Renge Kyo as the invocation, and the Gohonzon as the Banner of the Law, and ourselves as the Bodhisattvas of the Earth potentially and essentially displaying the power and wisdom of that law, and he directed us to center our worship around those three things, because grasping those great secrets automatically made it possible for us to understand the insubstantiality of phenomena and set our aspirations on realizing the highest state -- without consciously being aware of it!

Me: But SGI places the mentor at the center of Buddhism. Good by the inch invites evil by the yard. SGI, by rejecting so much of what Nichiren actually taught and adding to it the teachings of the Three Presidents, has rendered Nichiren's Lotus Sutra Buddhism nearly unrecognizable. Besides, you are confusing the Three Treasures with the Three Great Secret Laws. Lastly, it is faith not understanding that is the key to wisdom.

SGI member: There appear to be many vehicles but there is indeed one, and our goal in debating Buddhism is not to win debating points with sophistry or to convince rubes that we are wise and venerable, but to help others let go of their false attachments and see the diamond hard body of the Buddha for what it is. That is why we must use the clear mirror of the Gohonzon. If we see even one person as a "rube" then we are not practicing Buddhism, but betraying it. But if we see the potential that is there and draw it out then maybe we are practicing Buddhism. You say that Nichiren repudiated expedient means, but you don't even understand what expedient means are. I may not myself, but I can tell you that lies and deceptions are not what the Buddha is referring to as Expedient means except in the broadest sense.

Me: Not even in the broadest sense may lies and deceptions be equated with Expedient Means. It is better to stick to the Lotus Sutra and Gosho when attempting to explain difficult Buddhist concepts. One thing I don't do is go around telling people they can not possibly understand such difficult concepts without the help of a mentor or without receiving guidance. This is nothing but Gakkai modus operandi to assert one's superiority over the members and gain control over them. It is born from the Worlds of Animality and Anger.