Monday, October 5, 2020

Regarding those who possess differing ideas concerning the Three Treasures of Buddhism

“...If there are those who possess differing ideas concerning the three treasures, then truly you should know that these people can no longer hope to take refuge in, or rely upon, the three pure treasures. They will never gain benefit from any of the precepts, and in the end, they will fail to obtain the fruits of the voicehearer, the cause-awakened one, or the bodhisattva.” This passage is clearly referring to [the essential point of ] the “Life Span” chapter of the Lotus Sutra..." (The Third Doctrine)

All the various Nichiren sect members have different ideas and practices concerning the Three Treasures. 

Nichiren Daishonin's Three Treasures are: 
  1.  Treasure of the Law: Namu Myoho renge kyo
  2. Treasure of Buddha: Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra
  3. Treasure of the Sangha or Priesthood: Nichiren Daishonin/Jogyo Bodhisattva (leading all the priests, nuns and believers). 
Nichiren Shu's Three Treasures (theory):                                                 
  1. Treasure of the Law: Namu Myoho renge kyo
  2. Treasure of Buddha: Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra
  3. Treasure of the Sangha or Priesthood: Nichiren Daishonin/Jogyo Bodhisattva (leading all the priests, nuns and believers).  
Nichiren Shu's Three Treasures (in practice):
  1. Treasure of the Law: Namu Myoho renge kyo
  2. Treasure of Buddha: Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra
  3. Treasure of the Sangha or Priesthood: The priests of  Nichiren Shu, Nissatsu and Nichiki in particular                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
Nichiren Shoshu's Three Treasures (in practice and theory):

1. Treasure of the Law: Nam Myoho renge kyo 
2. Treasure of the Buddha: Nichiren Daishonin 
3. Treasure of the Sangha or Priesthood: Nikko Shonin Soka Gakkai's Three Treasures (in theory):

Soka Gakkai's Three Treasures in theory:

1. Treasure of the Law: Nam Myoho renge kyo 
2.Treasure of the Buddha: Nichiren Daishonin 
3. Treasure of the Sangha or Priesthood: Nikko Shonin

Soka Gakkai's Three Treasures (in practice old) 

1. Treasure of the Law: Nam myoho renge kyo 
2. Treasure of the Buddha: Daisaku Ikeda 
3.Treasure of the Sangha (no priesthood):
                                                                                                                                        
Soka Gakkai's latest "Three Treasures" (in practice new)                                          
 1.Treasure of the Law: Nam Myoho renge kyo                                                          
 2.Treasure of the Buddha/Sangha: SGI-Buddha                                                          
(For all intents and purposes, SGI has conflated the Three Treasures into two treasures and sometimes they teach Nam Myoho renge kyo is the Buddha as well as the Law).

As we see, all three sects' Three Treasures differ in practice to Nichiren Daishonin's Three Treasures and therefore, according to Nichiren, "they will never gain benefit" and "they will fail to obtain the fruits" (of the Noble Four Worlds). Nichiren only mentions three of the Noble Four Worlds but since they fail to obtain the fruits of the voicehearers, the cause awakened ones, and the bodhisattvas, of course they will fail to obtain the fruits of Buddhahood (at least, in this very life).                           

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