Radioactive wild boar-pig hybrid emerges in nuclear wasteland of Fukushima

 

Danielle Demetriou

Wed, June 30, 2021, 11:58 AM

Spotted wild boar are indicative of the interbreeding with domestic pigs following the 2011 Fukushima disaster - Hiroko Ishiniwa

A hybrid species of wild boar and domestic pigs is marauding around Fukushima, Japanese scientists have discovered by surprise after investigating the effects of radiation on animals.

A genetic study found that wild boar cross-bred with domestic pigs escaped from local farms in areas deserted by humans after a tsunami and an earthquake triggered the 2011 crisis at Fukushima nuclear power plant and displaced 160,000 people.

For years, hunters have been tracking down radioactive boar, which number in their hundreds and registered levels of the radioactive element caesium-137 300 times higher than is safe.

Scientists at Fukushima University used genetic testing to track the impact of the radiation on wildlife in a regional DNA investigation.

The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, found that there were no genetic mutations, but instead made the unexpected discovery that the boar had been mating with pigs.

Sourcing the ‘biological invasion’

The “biological invasion” started after wild boar from surrounding mountains gradually moved into depopulated towns, meeting domestic pigs which ran wild after farmers were forced to flee the area.

The exclusion zone was lifted in 2018, but officials have struggled to reclaim some areas from the boar, which have become unafraid of humans.

The genetic sequences of 338 wild boar collected between 2006 and 2018 from across the region were analysed, with scientists discovering that at least 18 boar displayed a so-called biological invasion of domestic pig genes.

“Eighteen boar, phenotypically identified as wild boar, had a European domesticated pig haplotype,” the report explained. “Frequencies of this haplotype have remained stable since first detection in 2015. This result infers ongoing genetic pollution in wild boar populations from released domesticated pigs.”

Wild boar from surrounding mountains moved into the areas left abandoned after the 2011 tsunami - D Anderson

The study also found that more wild boar-pig hybrids had since been discovered beyond the confines of the radiation-hit areas of Fukushima, with domestic pig genes apparently migrating into the general boar population.

“The present findings suggest a need for additional genetic monitoring to document the dispersal of domestic genes within wild boar stock,” the report said.

However, Donovan Anderson, a research scientist involved in the study, said the pig genes wuld most likely be diluted with each future generation.

“There was a hybridisation event that caused changes in native wild boar genome,” Mr Anderson told The Telegraph.

“The changes are at low frequencies, and diluting with time. Therefore, we may not see any changes to boar as a result of hybrids. The current behavioural changes we see are from the absence of people as boar quickly took over the abandoned areas.”

“I think the pigs were not able to survive in the wild, but the boar thrived in the abandoned towns because they’re so robust,” he told the BBC.

New life blooming in ghost towns

Human evacuation of the area resulted in a unique rewilding of swathes of the region.

A native blue flower that had previously disappeared from the landscape after being declared endangered by the government returned two years after the disaster.

Scientists have recorded similar natural renaissances in the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine. Numbers of bears, deer, bison, wolves, lynxes and horses have multiplied after the area was abandoned in 1986.

However, scientists noticed that frogs living inside the exclusion zone were much darker than those outside, suggesting that higher melanin levels may help them better cope with the radiation."

If the boars and pigs are 300 x more radioactive then safe, how much more radiactive any people who might eat them? Would the Japanese Government report that the pig farmer's pigs were also radiactive before sale? They are allowing the sale of tainted rice and sake. What do you think?

Death Valley

 

Holy Crustacean Batman! Highest Temperature ever recorded in Canada.

The temperature soared to an almost unimaginable 121°F in Lytton British Columbia. on Tuesday.

Regarding SGI's assertion that "Attaining Buddhahood in this Lifetime is an important writing" (Expanded).

It was an early writing of Nichiren (1258 or 1259) and Nichiren stated and I paraphrase, "Consider my writings before Sado as my provisional writings". This writing reflects Nichiren's training as a Tientai priest with Chuko (Medieval) Tendai Original Enlightenment principles. Nichiren's latter major and authenticated writings, on the other hand stress, "receiving" from the Eternal Buddha and "keeping".

For example, from his most important writing, The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind, we read:

"Having profound compassion for those unable to comprehend the gem of the doctrine of three thousand realms in a single moment of life, the Buddha wrapped it within the five characters [of Myoho-renge-kyo], with which he then adorned the necks of the ignorant people of the latter age. The four great bodhisattvas will protect anyone who embraces the five characters as faithfully as T’ai-kung Wang and the Duke of Chou supported King Wen, and as devotedly as the Four White-Haired Elders served Emperor Hui." 

Thus we receive. Regarding "keeping", we read from On Practicing the Buddha's Teachings:

"Life flashes by in but a moment. No matter how many terrible enemies you may encounter, banish all fears and never think of backsliding. Even if someone were to cut off our heads with a saw, impale our bodies with lances, or shackle our feet and bore them through with a gimlet, as long as we are alive, we must keep chanting Namu-myoho-renge-kyo, Namu-myoho-renge-kyo. Then, if we chant until the very moment of death, Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, and the Buddhas of the ten directions will come to us instantly, exactly as they promised during the ceremony at Eagle Peak. Taking our hands and bearing us on their shoulders, they will carry us to Eagle Peak. The two sages, the two heavenly kings, and the ten demon daughters will guard us, while all the heavenly gods and benevolent deities will raise a canopy over our heads and unfurl banners on high. They will escort us under their protection to the treasure land of Tranquil Light. How can such joy possibly be described!"

The Duplicitous Soka Gakkai Mentor: "The Soka Gakkai is the Jewel of Buddhist Democracy" with commentary by Blanche and conclusion by me

 "I had members and fellow "leaders" try to gaslight me to make me think that simply "speaking up" about issue was equivalent to actually voting for making a change made." - PantoJack

Blanche:

Well, that was apparently how Toda explained that the Soka Gakkai was a "democracy" - because they had the discussion meetings where everybody could talk and say whatever.

Mr Toda explained it as the meetings were important so the people may talk. This is what democracy is. Source

However, there's also a culture that, while the leaders listen to the members' opinions and perspectives, they don't feel obligated to do what they say. So because everybody can talk and leaders listen, that supposedly makes it a "democracy", even though the leaders don't have to do what the members want.

The fact that the SGI states that "Leaders exist for the sake of the people; leaders should respect and serve the people, making the people's welfare their first priority" yet dictates everything TO the members, instead of asking them what THEY would like to study, for example, shows a huge disconnect between what the SGI says is important and what the SGI actually demonstrates is important through the way that organization is run.

How is it "democracy" when there is only ONE acceptable candidate for "mentor for life" - Ikeda? Isn't "mentor FOR LIFE" an incredibly personal decision?? How can we acknowledge the sovereignty of the people while dictating whom they must revere? The SGI says things like, "We choose the mentor, not the other way round.", yet all the top leaders talk about "our mentor in life, President Ikeda".

So "our mentor", which is always and only Ikeda, can never be wrong? How is it that WE might be wrong, but "the mentor" - never? Why does the SGI have a song, "I Seek Sensei"??

Ikeda says, "This is an age of democracy, an age where the people are sovereign. Those in even the most powerful positions of authority are there solely to serve the people. It must never be the other way round." But what we see is the SGI dictating to the membership and even attacking and punishing those members who suggest change. Source

Ikeda apparently doesn't have the slightest idea what "democracy" means - he sees it as benefitting himself:

Rather than having a great number of irresponsible men gather and noisily criticize, there are times when a single leader who thinks about the people from his heart, taking responsibility and acting decisively, saves the nation from danger and brings happiness to the people. Moreover, if the leader is trusted and supported by all the people, one may call this an excellent democracy. - Ikeda, quoted in The Sokagakkai and the Mass Model, p. 238. Source

Ikeda actually disdains democracy:

"When democracy is put into practice by the unthinking masses, liberty will be misinterpreted as license; rights will be claimed while duties remain unfulfilled; and the loss of order will allow evil to become rampant." - Complete Works of Daisaku Ikeda, page 176 Source

This is the classic Ikeda mixed message. Yes, democracy is a great thing, but Ikeda fails to mention that there is nothing even remotely approaching democracy in SGI. Leaders are not elected, and leadership appointments are not reviewed by the membership. There are no term limits. The membership is not polled or consulted regarding organizational policies. SGI finances are kept secret. Ikeda pays lip service to democracy and rails against authoritarianism -- yet he himself is not accountable to the membership. Say one thing, do another. Source

[T]hese were stalwart, well-intentioned members, some of whom were heart-broken with the response they received. They believed what they'd been told when they had voiced concerns - like so many of us, they were begged to stay in the org and work for positive change.

Even so, members who express criticism of the organization are demoted, marginalized, ridiculed, insulted or defamed. Simply, SGI’s stated goals and values are not its functional goals and values. - Lisa Jones

There are many possible solutions to improve the conditions in SGI-USA, but most leaders are completely unwilling to listen to any criticism or alternatives. Source"

Conclusion:

SGI members twist their minds into a grotesque pretzel...

"SGI is the bastion of anti-authoritarianism" -- Daisaku Ikeda  

and

"SGI is the jewel of Buddhist democracy"-- Daisaku Ikeda

The reality is that not one leader has ever been elected in the Soka Gakkai. Whenever SGI members, like the IRG group or other individuals, bring up elections, the higher level leaders, questions their faith or spin it that, “the SGI is already a Buddhist democracy, of what use are elections.” A leaders term is indefinite and the higher level leaders serve at the whim of the unelected “President”. Some leaders have been Vice General Directors, General Directors, or Vice Presidents for decades.

Yet, the members assert that Daisaku Ikeda speaks honest words, truthful words. They have to twist their minds into a grotesque pretzel to come to that conclusion. Is it brainwashing, wishful thinking, or something else?

 

Nichiren on the TRIPLE BODIED Eternal Buddha and the TRIPLE BODIED Bodhisattvas of the Earth (us)

Manjushri on Dharma Wheel wrote me:

"Could we not say that the eternal buddha is the same as that of buddha nature ?

Not according to Nichiren...

The Shingon principle of Eternal Buddha as Dharma Body [single bodied eternal truth principle], rather than the triple bodied flesh and blood Buddha, permeates some so-called Nichiren sects...

Another person wrote me:

“I think that it is silly to view the Eternal Shayamuni Buddha as a personage that exists somewhere in the universe. Watson writes of the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha in his Introduction chapter in his translation of the LS: “as an ever-abiding principle of truth and compassion that exists everywhere and within all beings.” – Soka Gakkai “Nichiren" Buddhist

Nichiren:

"But once the principle of three thousand realms in a single moment of life had been expounded, then the way was opened for all to attain ) Buddhahood, so what more could be lacking? Among those who have attained Buddhahood, there are none whose mouths are mute or whose limbs are paralyzed [and their words and gestures already manifest Buddhahood], so why would they need mudras or mantras?

Furthermore, most of the sutras speak of the Buddha as having gained correct enlightenment for the first time in India, and do not make clear that there is the eternal Buddha since time without beginning who is endowed with the THREE BODIES. If this erroneous view, that originally there was no Buddha but that now he exists, is accepted, then the Thus Come One Mahāvairochana becomes a mere name that has no reality. But in the “Life Span” chapter of the Lotus Sutra, the truth of the matter is clearly explained. Thus we see that Shakyamuni Buddha is like the single moon in the sky, while the other Buddhas and bodhisattvas are like the reflection of the moon floating in ten thousand different bodies of water. But I will not go into the details of the matter here." -- On the Relative Superiority of the Lotus Sutra and the True Word Teachings

Then, Nichiren teaches that, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the eternal Buddha possesses a body and mind:

"Finally, we come to the Nembutsu, which represents the doctrine in use by the Pure Land school. This doctrine is among the most provisional of all the provisional teachings, comparable to a dream seen within a dream. It is a name without a reality. And because there is no reality to it, it could not possibly fulfill the wishes of all living beings for rebirth in the Pure Land. The Buddha of which it speaks is Amida Buddha, who is conditioned in nature and impermanent. How, then, could he surpass a principle that is eternal and imperishable?

Therefore the Great Teacher Kompon [Dengyō] of our country states in his commentary, “The Buddha of the reward body, which exists depending on causes and conditions, represents a provisional result obtained in a dream, while the Buddha eternally endowed with the THREE BODIES represents the true Buddha from the time before enlightenment.” Thus with these words he warns against belief in Amida Buddha, a Buddha who is conditioned and impermanent, and rejects him.

And since this Amida Buddha upon whom the Pure Land proponents rely is a name without a reality, something existing in name only, without any body, then though they may expound in great detail the doctrines that promise rebirth in the Pure Land, preaching them so that they sound as lofty as Mount Sumeru or as deep as the great ocean, such doctrines are all utterly useless." -- Questions and Answers on the Various Schools

and lastly and most importantly:

"The Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai Chih-che gave three reasons for Shakyamuni’s stopping the bodhisattvas, and three more for his summoning the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. Essentially, the great bodhisattvas taught by the Buddha in his transient status and the great bodhisattvas who gathered from the other worlds were not qualified toinherit the “Life Span” chapter that reveals the eternal Buddha’s inner truth. At the dawn of the Latter Day evil people who slander the correct teaching would fill the land, so Shakyamuni Buddha rejected the pledge of these bodhisattvas and instead summoned the multitude of great bodhisattvas from beneath the earth. He entrusted them with the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo, the heart of the “Life Span” chapter, for the enlightenment of all beings in the land of Jambudvīpa. The bodhisattvas taught by the Buddha in his transient status were also unqualified because they had not been the disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha since the time he had first set his mind on and attained enlightenment in the remote past. The Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai states, “[The Buddha said of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth,] ‘These are my disciples, destined to propagate my Law.’” Miao-lo says, “The children propagate the Law of the father, and this benefits the world.” The Supplement to “The Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra” states, “TheLaw embodied therein [in the Lotus Sutra] is the Law that was realized countless kalpas in the past, and therefore it was entrusted to persons who had been the Buddha’s disciples from countless kalpas in the past.” -- True Object of Worship

It is imperitive to know what Nichiren actually taught. "The Eternal Buddha is Buddha-nature", is an opinion not born out by what the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren actually teach. Likewise, "Eternity, True Self, Purity, and Joy", characterize the leaders of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth but they are not the flesh and blood Bodhisattvas of the Earth who are beings beyond compare in this degenerate age of the Latter Day of the Law.

In conclusion, Namu Myoho renge kyo is the Dharma Body of the Eternal Buddha and the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. It is not however, as SGI and others assert, the Eternal Triple Bodied Buddha and Bodhisattvas possessing both body and mind.

Nichiren on the third and most powerful of the Three Powerful Enemies with commentary

Nichiren writes,

"However, they do not look like those referred to in the sutra: “monks who wear robes and stay in tranquility.” People do not suppose that they are “revered by the people as though they were arhats with Six Super human Powers.” Or, should I say that they are those who are “more cunning and less likely to reveal their faults?”

It is very important to determine who are the cunning monks. Think carefully. Who could be more cunning than a monk who states, "I am not a monk, I am a layman." From the perspective of this age and time, we would have to conclude that it is the business suited lay vice presidents and President of the SGI who are these cunning monks. Those who are looked up to as living Buddhas or having Superhuman Powers ("He could read my thoughts.", "How could anyone but a living Buddha collect so many awards and honors?", "Who but Daisaku Ikeda could write three hundred books." -- discounting of course his dozens of ghost writers) - that is who is the most cunning of the cunning monks.

Nichiren goes on to reveal another way to determine who is in fact the third of the Three Powerful enemies. Here he uses the Zen monks as an example:

"Monks who study only the writings refer to those who are concerned only with the scholastic aspects without understanding the true meaning of the scriptures through wisdom; and Zen monks who are concerned only with

formality refer to those who are concerned with the conventions of meditation without firmly grasping the fundamentals. This is the same as the meditation of Brahmans, who will never gain complete freedom from delusions and evil passions. T'ien-t'ai's statement that some Zen monks concentrate only on meditation is an understatement sypathetic to them. In actuality, they lack both practice in meditation as well as wisdom to understand the doctrine. Those who practice Zen consider only the meditation important and pay little attention to the study of doctrines. They interpretate sutras from the viewpoint of meditation in such an absurd way as to say that the eight-fold Evil Path and the Eight Winds make the sixteen-feet tall Buddha, and the Five Elements of all existences and the Three Poisons of greed, anger, and stupidity make the Eight-fold Evil Path. They confuse the six sensory organs with the Six superhuman Powers, or confuste the basic elements of the material world (earth, water, fire, and wind) with the Four Noble Truths. That such interpretations of the sutras are the worst of all is beyond question, an absurdity not worthy of discussion."

If you have spoken to the top leaders of SGI, you will know that they are not much different than the Zen monks, confusing the very basic concepts of Buddhism with meaningless but sometimes ornate rhetoric. They are also like Sammibo, a former disciple of Nichiren Daishonin who became arrogant thus distorting his teachings. If you haven't spoken to the top leaders, here are some examples.

"In the November 9, 1992 World Tribune (WT) p. 5, the late Richard Causton, former general director of the SGI-UK, stated,

"We must deeply understand that the heritage of the Universal Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can only be transmitted through organizations joined in unity, based on faith in Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism and the principle of the oneness of master and disciple." (emphasis added). Mr. Causton also explains his reference to "the oneness of master and disciple" as follows: "All of us who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which our ultimate master, Nichiren Daishonin, taught us, can develop the eyes of the Buddha; but it is President Ikeda, our master in life, who guides us through the rocks and shoals of this life, with pride and gratitude. President Ikeda has taught me everything. "The article also states: "Hence, the master gives his guidance based on his interpretations of the Gosho in contemporary terms and his experience of action, both for his own human revolution and for guiding the movement for kosen-rufu. We as disciples, must then set out to prove its validity for ourselves . .

Please note the focus on President Ikeda and not on the Eternal Shakyamuni, Namu myoho Renge kyo, the Lotus Sutra, nor the Daishonin.

"An editorial in the WT of November 16, 1992, p. 2, stated:

"One way [of making 'sincerity' real in our lives] is to constantly renew our determination to live with sincerity by putting President Ikeda's guidance into action every day . . . It's important to study Nichiren Daishonin's writings and the guidance of President Ikeda, but unless we put all these words into action, they are meaningless."

In the September 12, 1994 WT, p. 5, Senior Vice General Director David Kasahara stated:

” . . . The more we strictly follow the Law, including, in my mind, President Ikeda’s guidance, the more capable we become at being flexible in our awareness of what others need for their happiness. . . .”

The Law is President Ikeda’s guidance according to SGI. SGI members chant Nam(u) Myoho renge kyo with their mouths but Nam(u) Daisaku Ikeda and Nam(u) Daisaku Ikeda’s guidance with their hearts. Next, he will have his guidance inscribed on the Gohonzon.

It is also implied that President Ikeda's guidance is superior to the guidance of the Gohonzon, Buddha Shakyamuni, and Nichiren Daishonin.

"In the January 11, 1993 WT, p. 4, Mr. Ikeda stated:

"Since the Buddhist way of mentor and disciple is the ultimate way for humanity, it is impossible to grasp even the tiniest fragment of it if your efforts are only half-hearted. How faithfully did Mr. Toda follow and protect Mr. Makiguchi? And how faithfully did I follow and protect Mr. Toda? To a degree nearly unimaginable by people today. I could not hope to serve that great leader of Buddhism, Mr. Toda, without a determination to give up my own life if necessary. In that fierce determination we find the very essence of what it is to be human."

The Daishonin's master was the Eternal Shakyamuni and the Lotus Sutra. Again, again and again he stated to rely on the Law and not on the person.

In the May 3, 1996 WT, p. 10, Mr. Ikeda stated:

"Ultimately, Buddhism comes down to the person. I did not wait to place my trust in President Toda until I had learned about the Daishonin's teachings. Rather, I came to trust Buddhism because I first believed in the person, Josei Toda."

Rely on the person and not on the Law is the teaching of the Soka Gakkai

while Nichiren teaches in On Repaying Debts of Gratitude: 

In a scripture called the Nirvana Sutra, the Buddha says, “Rely on the Law and not upon persons.” Relying on the Law here means relying on the various sutras. Not relying upon persons means not relying on persons other than the Buddha, such as the bodhisattvas Universal Worthy and Manjushrī or the various Buddhist teachers I have enumerated earlier.

In the SGI May study preparation lecture on Letter to Misawa by the head of the SGI study department, the jist of Greg Martin's lecture was that, through faith in the oneness of mentor and disciple, faith that the disciple is one with the Buddha, Daisaku Ikeda (specifically and our seniors in faith, generally), we can prevent the Devil of the Sixth Heaven from entering into our lives and organization. Don't drop "oneness" when entrusting yourself to President Ikeda or a senior or even when discussing the mentor disciple relationship. Obviously this was a very very important point because he made it several times).

Another "important" point he made, was not to succumb to the tantalizing temptation for power and authority [except in relation to the mentor, Daisaku Ikeda and your seniors in faith]. This was another example of double speak.

Select a mentor (someone like Ikeda and your seniors) who has defeated the Devil of the Sixth Heaven . Substitute wisdom for faith (faith in the mentor and your seniors). About the organization he said, one reed can't stand alone which is double talk because one moment earlier he discussed self reliant faith and practice and in the next moment, reliance on SGI.

Greg Martin went on in his lecture on the Letter to Misawa to say that we can transform ourselves through reading and putting president Ikeda's guidance into practice but he never touched upon those enemies of the Lotus Sutra, such as the Shingon priests and their teachings nor did he discuss the principle of not begrudging one's life for the Lotus Sutra. Neither did he mention Nichiren having contrasted strong faith with the weak faith of the Nun Usabusa. He also talked very little about the Supreme Votary of the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren Daishonin. However, he did mention the Daimoku and teaching others to the best of their ability but his conclusion was that the one vehicle to realize the widespread propagation of the Law (Kosen Rufu) is the teaching of mentor and disciple. The reality is, this important writing of Nichiren Daishonin has nothing to say about anything that remotely resembles the SGI teachings on mentor and disciple.

In general the SGI maintains, like the zen school,

"The Lotus Sutra is a finger pointing to the moon while the Zen School is the moon itself. After grasping the moon there is no need for the finger to point at it. Zen is the heart of the Buddha while the Lotus Sutra is merely His words. Having finished preaching all the sutras, including the Lotus, the Buddha picked up a bunch of flowers and gave it to Kasyapa because he alone understood what the Buddha meant. As proof the Buddha entrusted him with His kesa (vestment), which had been handed down through twenty-eight patriarchs of Buddhism in India to six patriarchs of Buddhism in China."

They assert either that the Lotus Sutra has lost its power or it is too difficult to understand without the instruction of their mentor Daisaku Ikeda.

Depreciating the Daishonin, the Lotus Sutra, and especially the Gohonzon, (the representation of the Law and Eternal Buddha),  Daisaku Ikeda and the top SGI leaders prove themselves, the Third of the Three Powerful Enemies of this present age. In fact, Daisaku Ikeda, attempting to usurp the rightful position of Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin, is worse than Devedatta.

Short experience

While I was playing poker (which I do semi-professionally), my wife had been reading Chapter 7 of the Lotus Sutra, The Parable of the Phantom City and Chapter 16, The Lifespan of the Tathagata. I found this out after playing and calling her with the good news. Never had I completed so many flushes and full houses in my more than 50 years of playing poker and I won the second most I ever won in the low stakes game I usually play, close to $1500 dollars. Usually, I average about $400 dollars a session x 3-4 sessions a week. Speaking to Nancy, she had been deeply moved by the message in Chapter 7 which recounts all the major themes of the Buddhism that came before the Lotus Sutra was preached and the common misconceptions (even among Arhats and Pratyekkabuddhas) of the nature of Nirvana. 

Nancy too was moved at the compassion of the Excellent Physician, Shakyamuni Buddha of the 16th Chapter of the Lotus Sutra who cured his children gone mad from ingesting poison by composing an expedient that he had died. The children refused to take the excellent medicine that would have cured them because of their insanity. The Excellent Physician sent a "messenger" to tell the maddened children that their father had died. In their grief, they awoke and finally took the excellent medicine. I mentioned to her that the "messenger" of the Excellent Physician is Nichiren Daishonin and when I have any questions about the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, I go to the Buddha's messenger... for example, explaining further the Twelve Linked Chain of Causation taught in Chapter 7. Anyway, I was sure my good fortune last night was my wife chanting Namu Myoho renge kyo and reading the Lotus Sutra while I went to "work".

Almost every day I shed tears of joy.

Some one sent me the following today::

"Oh hello Dr. Rogow,

I did not realize this was you. I am honored. I’m sure you don’t remember me but I had some debates with you in the late 90’s before I became educated on the history of Nichiren’s Buddhism. I want to thank you for planting that seed, it may have taken 20 years but I was finally able to understand the truth of what you were trying to share with me then. It’s been a few years now since I cut ties with the SGI and I can say with all honesty that I really feel I am now practicing correctly."

This person sent me two pictures of his outstandingly beautiful White Lotus Gohonzon, laser printed on faux marble and his elegant altar:

Nichiren on the Bodhisattvas of the Earth and why SGI and NST are NOT Bodhisattvas of the Earth

"The countless Bodhisattvas of the Earth were the disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, from the time he first set his mind on and attained enlightenment in the remote past.." -- Nichiren

SGI and NST both deny Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra as the Eternal Buddha despite having received the seed of Enlightenment from him.

Wikipedia is no better than the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) by Anonymous

Wikipedia (and IAEA) BS on Fukushima:

"While there has been ongoing controversy over the health effects of the disaster, a 2014 report by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) [19] and World Health Organization projected no increase in miscarriages, stillbirths or physical and mental disorders in babies born after the accident.[20] Evacuation and sheltering to protect the public significantly reduced potential radiation exposures by a factor of 10, according to UNSCEAR.[21] An ongoing intensive cleanup program to both decontaminate affected areas and decommission the plant will take 30 to 40 years from the disaster, plant management estimated."[2

The reality:

1. There are massive increases in birth defects, miscarriages, cancer, wipeouts, heart disease, radionuclide dementia and heart disease in Japan. This is all lies.

2. It goes all the way to and past Tokyo

3. I would not go to Tokyo w the amounts of cesium 137 and plutonium in the environment there

4. They continue to be nuclear .

5. Fukushima will not be cleaned up in thirty or forty years it will never be cleanup many have perished trying

6. It is not level 7 it is a level 10 . The worst st possible

7. Almost a trillion dollar spent. An ongoing process.

8. Hundreds of thousands of refugees. Many still displaced

9. Whole species wiped out in the fukushima area especially insects

10. Dogs left in the evacuation area lived to be 2 to 4 years old

11. Ongoing catastrophic wildfires annually and perennially in and around to the Fukushima evacuation area which is large

12. Very few of the tepco executives have been held accountable

And much more

13 Japanese continue to incinerate nuclear waste from the Fukushima area all over Japan reirradiating the whole

On the Eye Opening Ceremony

First I wish to say that there is a controversy regarding the necessity (or not) of performing an Eye Opening Ceremony, particularly in regards to a copy of a Nichiren inscribed Gohonzon. Nichiren teaches:

"Unless one who has grasped the essence of the Lotus Sutra conducts the eye-opening ceremony for a wooden or painted image, it will be as if a masterless house were to be occupied by a thief, or as if, upon death, a demon were to take possession of one’s body." - Opening the Eyesof Wooden and Painted Images

Since there is no doubt that Nichiren Daishonin has grasped the essence of the Lotus Sutra, there are those who assert that regarding a copy of a Nichiren Gohonzon, an Eye Opening Ceremony has already been performed by Nichiren himself, the Supreme Votary of the Lotus Sutra. Nevertheless, the Nichiren Shu and Kempon Hokke priests perform the Eye Opening Ceremonym when bestowing their copies of a Nichiren Gohonzon (the beautiful Shutei and Denpo Gohonzons respectively). I am unsure of their rational.

Either Way, here is the Eye Opening Ceremony From the Manual of Nichiren Buddhism. I recommend to perform the Ceremony, especially for a new believer in order to appreciate the greatness of the Gohonzon and especially if one chooses a Gohonzon inscribed and eye opened by someone other than Nichiren Daishonin (one who may or may not have grasped the essence of the Lotus Sutra).

1. Dojoge (Verse, Place of Enlightenment)

This place of enlightenment is as luminous as the gems of the net of King Sakra,

All the Three Treasures of the worlds of the ten directions manifest themselves here. Now we are before them. We bow to the Buddhas and worship their feet with our heads.

2. Samborai (Bow to the Three Treasures)

With our whole hearts,

We bow to the Eternal Buddha emanating the Buddhas of the worlds of the ten directions.

With our whole hearts,

We bow to the Eternal Dharma establishing the teachings of the Buddhas of the worlds of the ten directions.

With our whole hearts,

We bow to the Eternal Samgha comprising the devotees of the Buddhas of the worlds of the ten directions.

3. Kanjo (Invitation)

With reverence we adore the Great Mandala of the Most Venerable One, the Perfect Circle having never been revealed before the Age of Degeneration.

With reverence we adore Sakyamuni Buddha, the Great Benefactor, the Original Teacher who attained Buddhahood in the remotest past.

With reverence we adore Prabhutaratna Tathagata, who appeared in this world to bear witness to the truthfulness of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.

With reverence to adore the Buddhas of the worlds of the ten directions in the past, present and future, the emanations of the Original Sakyamuni Buddha.

With reverence we venerate Visistacarita, Anantacarita, Visuddhacarita, Supratisthitacarita, and the other great Bodhisattvas who appeared from underground, the disciples of the Original Sakyamuni Buddha.

With reverence we venerate Manjusri, Samantabhadra, Maitreya, Bhaisajyaraja, Bhaisajyassmudgata, Pradanasura, Gadgadasvara, Avoliketsvara and the other Bodhisattvas, the disciples either of the Historical Sakyamuni Buddha or of the Buddhas who have come from other worlds.

With reverence we venerate Mahabrahman, Sakra, the Kings of the Four Quarters and the other gods who protect the practicers of the One Vehicle.

With reverence we venerate the four kinds of devotees who joined the congregations of the Lotus Sutra.

With reverence we venerate the Great Bodhisattva Nichiren, the Founder of our Order, the Great Leader of us who live in the Age of Degeneration.

With reverence we venerate the Six Senior Disciples, the Nine Senior Disciples and the other disciples of Nichiren as well as the priests who contribued much to our Order.

May all Venerable Ones come to this place of enlightenment, see us with their eyes of wisdom, and receive the savor of the Dharma out of their compassion towards us.

4. Kaikyoge (Sutra Opening Verse)

This sutra of the Supreme, Most Profound and Wonderful Dharma is difficult to meet in thousands of millions of kalpas. Now we have been able to see, hear, receive and keep it. May we understand the ultimate import of the teachings of the Tathagata. The Ultimate Truth of the Great Vehicle is, however, very difficult for us to understand. All who see, hear or touch this sutra shall come closer to Bodhi.

The expounder of this sutra is the Sambhogakaya aspect of the Buddha. What is expounded in this sutra is the Dharmakaya as of the Buddha. The characters of this sutra are the Nirmanakaya aspect of the Buddha.

Since innumerable merits are contained in this sutra, all living beings are benefited by this sutra without hindrance as implicitly as incense is perceived by a thing put nearby.

By merits of this sutra, anyone will be able to expiate his sin, do good deeds, and attain the enlightenment of the Buddha, whether he is wise or not, whether he believes or slanders this sutra.

The Dharma attained by the past, present and future Buddhas is expounded in this most profound and wonderful sutra. May our posterity, generation after generation, meet and receive this sutra with reverence.

5. Dokyo (Sutra Chanting, Gongyo)

6. Shodai (Daimoku Chanting)

7. Kaigen (Consecration): Traditionally utilizing sparks from a mechanical spark generator (flint) but one may use clackers while chanting the Daimoku and offering the sparks or sound of the clackers to the Gohonzon.

8. Sokun (Nichiren's Instructions regarding Gohonzon, faith and/or practice)...Choosing one or several pertinent passages from the Gosho to recite outloud, for example such passages as:

"Though this mandala has but five or seven characters, it is the teacher of all Buddhas throughout the three existences"

9. Eko (Dedication)

The present Buddhas as well as the past Buddhas have appeared in the worlds for the purpose of expounding the Wonderful Dharma. So will the future Buddhas. Lord Teacher Sakyamuni Buddha, the World-Honored One, and the Great Bodhisattva Nichiren, the Founder of our Order, are nothing without the Wonderful Dharma. When we chant the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, all the Buddhas will immediately manifest themselves before us. When we chant the sutra before the Great Mandala inscribed on paper, the paper will instantly bear mind of its innate Buddha-nature, and the Great Mandala will reveal the Pure World of the Original Sakyamuni Buddha.

Now as we chant the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma and the Daimoku before this Great Mandala, the Great Mandala is consecrated. It will benefit us boundlessly.

May the Great Mandala do the work of the Buddha by releasing its brillant light so that we may be able to keep our faith firm and strong, serve the Great Mandala with sincerity, and fulfill our goals for our present and future lives.

10. Shisei (The Four Vows)

We vow to save all living beings however countless they may be.

We vow to eliminate all illusions however numberless they may be. We vow to study all teachings however limitless they may be. We vow to attain the supreme enlightenment of the Buddha.

11. Sanki (The Three Refuges)

With most reverence, we take refuge in the Buddha.

May all living beings understand the Great Way and aspire to supreme enlightenment.

We take refuge in the Dharma.

May all living beings enter deep into the storehouse of sutras and their wisdom be as vast as the sea.

We take refuge in the Samgha.

May all living beings forge one great congregation without hindrance.

12. Buso (Farewell)

Venerable Ones!

Remember us, be where you like, and come again out of your great compassion toward us!

Highest resolution Image of The Gohonzon for the Transmission of the Dharma (Denpo Gohonzon 1280) on the Internet with diagram

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/150dpi.jpg

Feel Free to print this Gohonzon on parchment paper, the finest acid free paper, or the finest rice paper. Then you may frame it, mount it on a blank wall scroll, or send it to a professional to mount it on a blank wall scroll. Contact me if interested and if you have any questions. Please don't forget to perform the Eye Opening Ceremony soon after placing it before your altar. You and Gohonzon WILL change your life by revealing the state of Buddhahood through a strong faith, practice for yourself and others, and diligent study.