Lain on "is disrupting the unity the worst slander in Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism?" - edited by me

"Some argue that leaders/priests (rather than correct faith) hold a sangha together."

Some also claim that disrupting the sangha is one of the big no, no's in Buddhism (well, of course, unless it's one's organisation, his leaders/priests and his erroneous teachers who are doing the disrupting, in which case it's OK). They use use this theme a lot in his attempts to frighten and scare members who might be reading this forum, into compliance. 

Is this correct in terms of Nichiren's teaching? And also, consider the use of of the term "Buddhist Order" which is used as an alternative for sangha. 

The "Buddhist Order" was found In the Major Writings series which SGI used up until just after it's excommunication, we find in On Repaying Debts of Gratitude, the phrase "treasure of the priesthood". 

In the new translation (WND), "priesthood" was replaced by "Buddhist Order", suggesting that SGI WND translation committee saw an equivalence between the term "Priesthood" and the phrase "Buddhist Order". 

In the Gosho, "What It Means to Slander the Law", the term "Buddhist Order" is again used. In the NOPPA translation, this term is also used and later , "samgha" (sangha) is used as an alternative term for Buddhist Order. 

Here is what Nichiren tells us about sangha (buddhist order)... 

"As to the causes that condemn one to this hell, it may be said that those who commit any of the five cardinal sins will fall into this hell. The five cardinal sins are killing one’s father, killing one’s mother, killing an arhat, causing a Buddha to shed blood, and causing disharmony among the members of the Buddhist Order. In our present age, however, since there is no Buddha now living, it is impossible to cause a Buddha to shed blood. [b]Likewise, since there is no Buddhist Order, it is impossible to cause disharmony among its members.[/b]" 

He goes on to say... (Ibid) 

"Thus the only offenses possible are those of killing one’s father or killing one’s mother. And since the laws of the sovereign are so strict in their prohibition of the killing of a parent, it is rare to find anyone who commits such an offense. Hence in our present age, one would expect that very few people would fall into the Avīchi hell." 

"However, there are offenses that are similar in gravity to the five cardinal sins. There are many persons who burn the wooden or painted images of Buddhas or Buddhist halls and pagodas, who appropriate the lands donated to such Buddhist images, who hack down or burn the stupas, or who kill wise men. Such persons will fall into the sixteen separate places that are attached to the Avīchi hell. Thus we may be certain that many of those living in the world today will fall into these sixteen separate places, and those who slander the Law will also fall into this hell." 

He is explicit. "Disrupting the Buddhist Order is not possible in this age", at least according to Nichiren. 

The point of this Gosho, is to focus on the offenses that will cause one to fall into Avici Hell, that of slandering the True Law Dharma. It's all about faith. 

So disrupting the mind of faith, leading believers down an erroneous path away from Gohonzon and a belief in the power of faith in the Daimoku alone as the only way to attain Buddhahood, is a grave offense. Disrupting the Buddhist Order per se, is not, especially since Nichiren states that this offense is impossible in the Latter Day. 

Nichiren clearly spoke out and challenged all the Buddhist sects of his time. He left his teacher and his school and went against their doctrines. The disciples and believers of Nichiren, predominantly ex-Soka Gakkai members who claim that the various sects have fallen into error and confusion, can also NOT be accused of breaking the disunity of the Buddhist order, since there is no Buddhist order.

But he didn't and wasn't able to because it was impossible to commit that sin in this age. And the same is equally true today with the SGI and its members, well, according to Nichiren. 

What is a sin is slandering the True Law?

It is not OK to teach people that there is a transmission through the "mystic bond of mentor-disciple" or "through Patriarchal Transmission Through Golden Mouth One" or through the master disciple relationship between priests and laymen. To assert, for example, that if one fails to "follow the way of mentor-disciple one cannot attain Buddhahood.", is slander of the Law. Entry is through faith in the Lotus Sutra alone and the attainment of Buddhahood through embracing and sustaining faith in the Daimoku. So says Nichiren.

To teach otherwise is to teach that embracing and sustaining faith alone is insufficient, is a direct slander to the True Law, totally inconsistent with Nichiren's teaching.

Nichiren goes on... 

"Question: I understand now that the sin of slandering the Law is even graver than the five cardinal sins. But just what does it mean to slander the Law?" 

Answer: The Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai Chih-che in his commentary on the Brahmā Net Sutra says, “‘To slander’ means to turn against.” Thus one who turns against the Law is slandering the Law. Vasubandhu in his Treatise on the Buddha Nature says, “To hate a thing is to turn against it.” The meaning of this passage is that one who hates the Law and causes others to reject it is slandering the Law." 

Do you not hate the Law with you words and actions when you teach that embracing and sustaining faith alone is insufficient to inherit the Law? 

Do you not hate the Law, when you falsely assert that the only way to attain Buddhahood is by following the way of "oneness of mentor and disciple", "through the Patriarchal Transmission Through the Golden Mouth Ones", or "through your relationship with your local priest"?

Do you not hate the Law, when you promote an unclear teaching based on unclear and ill defined labelling, which you know is unnecessary and is confusing (as a means to further your organisation and promote your brand), and which results in people turning their backs on the very clear and very simple principle that entry is through faith alone and that this is all they is need to attain Buddhahood? 

If I'm to fall into Avinci Hell, it won't be because I didn't follow your "Mentor", or follow current sect teachings, it will be solely because I didn't have enough faith in the Law or was unable to sustain that faith. 

I have repeatedly drawn attention to the priority that Nichiren set. 1) Sutra, 2) latter commentators. 

Nichiren tells us that this priority should always be used. He also tells us that it is unacceptable to use latter commentary when the meaning of the Sutra is clear and that if there is a conflict between commentary and Sutra, the commentary should be rejected and the Sutra accepted. 

Applying this principle to Nichiren's own work, is it acceptable to publish lectures and guidance when Nichiren's meaning is clear? For sure, bringing in relevant context, for example when the writing's timeline and relationship to other related Gosho or main themes is unclear is not only permissible but mandated. It is helpful, so long as it's aim is to elucidate understanding, if necessary and if accurate . 

Inventing an Teaching and reinterpreting the Gosho to support the new "sutra" you have invented is not. 

Make no mistake, the various sects teachings not based on Nichiren's teachings is, at best, tertiary commentary on Nichiren's Gosho and the Sutra. 

The priority is clear, Sutra, Nichiren's commentary, and lastly, anyone else. 

Current teachings on mentor-disciple, Patriarchal Transmission, the primacy of shoju, interfaith, the equality of the Theoretical and Essential Sections of the Lotus Sutra, their lectures and guidance, value creation pedagogy, Human Revolution, the writings of the High Priests, and the writings of the so-called reformers of the sects are collectively, the various sect's "sutra" or teaching. 

As far as these accord with Nichiren's teaching and to the extent they lead to correct faith and do not block the path to correct faith, they are to be judged good/ bad, erroneous/accurate. 

What is not appropriate is that the various sect's tertiary teachings are used to refute the True Law. When this occurs, one has slandered the True Law. 

As Nichiren puts it... 

"If we consider this fact, then we can see that, although one may simply be following the teachings of the sutra that one believes in, if one attempts to use that sutra to refute a sutra that is superior to it, then one will be slandering the Law. And if this is the case, then those persons who put their faith in provisional Mahayana sutras such as the Meditation Sutra and the Flower Garland Sutra, though they may carry out the practices prescribed in the text of the sutra, if they fail to set aside such sutras and put their faith in the sutras that are superior to them, or if they dare to assert that their own sutras are superior, then they will in effect be slandering the Law. Thus, for example, though one may understand the teachings as they are taught in the Meditation and the other sutras, if a sutra appears that refutes those teachings and yet one fails to accept that sutra, then one is slandering the Law. The principle here is the same as in the case of the Hinayana sutras discussed above." 

Do the various sects "...dare to assert that their own sutras are superior..."? 

If they do, "then they will in effect be slandering the Law." 

By accepting, promoting and defending a teaching and fallacious intellectual framework, that states, "if one forgets the way of mentor-disciple, etc. one cannot attain Buddhahood", they dare to suggest that faith in the Daimoku alone is insufficient for the attainment of Buddhahood. 

They assert the superiority of their "sutra" over the Lotus Sutra and use the teaching of the former to refute the latter. That is direct slander, no good can come of it, for you, for the SGI, the HBS, The Nichiren Shoshu, the Nichiren Shu, from wherever, for it's leaders, for it's mentors, for the priests, reverends, or for it's members or supporters. 

Can't you understand the problem, the confusion the sects are creating by mislabeling the teachings? Rather, it should be directing it's members back to Lotus Sutra and Gosho and set a clear and consistent priority between their guidance and Gosho. This would ensure that its members always understand the latter is superior and encouraging them to reject and challenge erroneous guidance. 

It can change its tack, focussing less on its leaders and priests and their supposed glories and achievements. Idolatry of the person, except in the case of the Eternal Buddha, is always wrong. This stance is entirely consistent with the Lotus Sutra and Gosho's teaching on this matter. Nichiren argues repeatedly that the tendency to idolize, idealize and mythologize spiritual leaders is characteristic of false religions, The results of doing this is that people end up existing to serve the religion rather than the religion existing to serve the people. 

Given the various sects utterances on this matter, it should be quite a simple matter for them to make the changes and actively work against their followers developing unhealthy and counter productive ideations. 

That strategy too, will protect the believers from any corrupt leaders or priests which would be beneficial to the sects and it's followers. 

One doesn't want corruption in such a religious organisation. The major sects power and wealth make it a very attractive target for people who have a veneer in promoting an incorrect faith and understanding of Nichiren's Buddhism, with little care for its members and every care for using the organisation for their own selfish gain. These people will fight and typically they will do so using guile. The defense against such tactics? Clarity, openness, transparency, challenge and accountability. 

The question is, have the various sects, for all their rhetoric about religion in the 21st Century and Buddhist Humanism, built organisations that reflects enlightened values in its structure, culture, and care for past and present members? Gratitude for the many who built it, past and present and enlightened conduct towards those it disagrees with, and an openness to outside scrutiny? 

I leave others to consider how much say they had in the decision to change the prayers and doctrines. How much say have they in the building of yet another Culture Centre or temple despite having significant drop in membership in Japan, the United States, and in the world? At a time when the world, it's leaders and corporations should be doing everything possible to eradicate the virus, reduce carbon emissions, pollution and environmental impact in an effort to mitigate the risks to future generations, a "Correct Law is imperative. Is investing money and organisational focus the best way to do this? Has that debate even been started by the the various priests, leaders and members? 

In Rissho Ankoku Ron, Nichiren argued that embracing erroneous teachings and slandering the True Law leads to internal strife and external attack. The calamities that result from the three poisons of Greed, Anger and Stupidity naturally play out in a nation so wrongly based. And so with organisations that are likewise wrongly based. Can the various sects find their way back? Part of me hopes so but the other part says that it has gone too far down the wrong path. 

For the life of me I don't understand how the likes of the leaders and priests were able to turn their pure seeking members who were firm and crystal clear about The Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin [and who created such glorious effective organisations, into gushing, incoherent promoters, willing to teach something other than faith in the Daimoku as the sole route to Buddhahood. 

If it wasn't buddhism, it could easily be the plot line from Star Wars as members are turned from the light side to the dark, through trickery and by stoking their anger in a perceived and widely promoted external enemy. 

The result is the same, authoritarianism, tight central control, propaganda and indoctrination of its faithful "storm troopers" and the loss of their individuality for the "greater good" and the glory of their "supreme leaders nad priests"... come back Luke, the world needs you... ;)