“Many such examples of slander are also found among Nichiren’s disciples and lay believers.” - Nichiren
YES, they who chant the Daimoku can slander. Nichiren teaches:
"When a person’s offense is minor, admonishment is sometimes called for, but at other times it may be unnecessary, for there are those who may correct themselves without being told. Reprove a person for slander when necessary, so that you can forestall for both of you the consequences of an offense. Then, you should forgive that person. The point is that even minor slanders may lead to serious ones, and then the effects one must suffer would be far worse. This is [what Chang-an means when he writes], “One who rids the offender of evil is acting as his parent.”
and
"There are many degrees of slander: shallow and profound, slight and heavy. Even among those who embrace the Lotus Sutra, very few uphold it steadfastly both in mind and in deed. Few are the practitioners who are able to uphold this sutra. But those who do will not suffer serious retribution even if they have committed minor offenses against the sutra. Their strong faith expiates their offenses as surely as a flood extinguishes tiny fires.
The Nirvana Sutra states: “If even a good monk sees someone destroying the teaching and disregards him, failing to reproach him, to oust him, or to punish him for his offense, then you should realize that that monk is betraying the Buddha’s teaching. But if he ousts the destroyer of the Law, reproaches him, or punishes him, then he is my disciple and a true voice-hearer.”
"Slander can be either minor or serious, however, and sometimes we should overlook it rather than attack it. The True Word and Tendai schools slander the Lotus Sutra and should be severely rebuked. But without great wisdom it is hard to differentiate correctly between their doctrines and the teachings that Nichiren spreads. Therefore, at times we refrain from attacking them, just as I did in Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land
After Nichiren Daishonin's Hosshaku Kempon at Tatsunokushi, revealing his true identity as Bodhisattva Superior Practices (Eminent Conduct or Viśiṣṭacāritra), he had the great wisdom necessary to refute the True Word (Shingon) and Tientai schools. We can develop the same wisdom as he with a profound faith in the Lotus Sutra (Myoho renge kyo). It took Nichiren 18 years to reveal his true identity. So please do not be impatient.
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