From the Kempon Hokke Archives

Thanks for your thorough reply:

A few things... You could say that ("imitao dei"). St Francis was quite
successful with this methodology although his movement became corrupted
because only he could follow to the letter the Christian precepts. As far as
Nichiren Daishonin, following his manner of reading the Sutra, it too has become
corrupted because it too is difficult to practice as Nichiren did.

Everyone wishes to be liked and believes his way is the best and only
way. Nichiren states,

"It is said that good medicine tastes bitter. Similarly, this sutra dispels
attachments to the five vehicles and establishes the one supreme teaching. It
reproaches common mortals and censures saints, denies Mahayana and refutes
Hinayana... All those who are repudiated persecute the believers in the Lotus
Sutra."

We only care that that his teachings are maintained and transmitted perfectly
which is not easy for imperfect beings. The more we model ourselves on Nichiren
rather than Daisaku Ikeda, Nichinyo, Nissei, Nichidatsu, Nichiki and Nissatsu,
the more Nichiren's life is reflected in our own lives and the more perfectly we can
maintain and transmit his teachings.

The transmission in the Latter Day is chanting Namu Myoho renge kyo to an
authentic Gohonzon. Nichiren doesn't advocate a model based on "The Patriarchal
Transmissions", "The Patriarchal Transmission of the Golden Mouthed Ones" or "
The Patriarchal Transmission Through Current Masters." What does the Nirvana
Sutra say about the Transmission of the Buddha's teachings in the Latter Day:
"In the Latter Dharma there is a group of 120,000 great bodhisattvas who keep
the Dharma, ensuring that it will not perish." If we are numbered among these
Bodhisattvas, the Law will long endure

"More on the Transmission. 'One should consider the fact that, if the Buddha had
not attained enlightenement in the distant past, there could not have been so
many people converted to his teachings......'"(Kaimoku Sho)

Thus the Buddha is the source of both the Specific and the General transmission.
The Gohonzon, though a text, is the the reality of the Buddha.. The Gohonzon is
the entity of Ninpo-ika. Those who look upon it merely as a text lack faith. The
Maka Shikan says: "If one lacks faith in the Lotus sutra he will object that it
pertains to the lofty realm of the sages, something far beyond the capacity of
his own wisdom to comprehend. If one lacks wisdom, he will become puffed up with
his own arrogance and will claim to be the equal of the Buddha."(Kaimoku Sho).

In Shakyamuni's and Nichiren's True Buddhism, there is neither an oral nor a
patriarchal transmission of the teachings. This is why the Succession through
the Scrolls of the Sutra reigns supreme and is the true meaning of exoteric
Mahayana Buddhism. Nichiren writes:

"Are persons who receive instruction orally from their teacher invariably free
from error, while those who appear in later ages and who seek and investigate to
be regarded as worthless? If so, then should we throw away the sutras and
instead follow traditions handed down from the four ranks of bodhisattvas?
Should a man throw away the deed of transfer received from his father and mother
and instead rely upon oral transmissions? Are the written commentaries of the
Great Teacher Dengyo so much trash, and the oral traditions handed down from the
Great Teacher Jikaku the only guide to truth?" (Gosho Zenshu, p.1258)

"Putting all this aside, I will point out the truth for the sake of my
followers. Because others do not choose to believe it now, they are persons who
thereby form a reverse relation. By tasting a single drop, one can tell the
flavor of the great ocean, and by observing a single flower in bloom, one can
predict the advent of spring. One does not have to cross the water to faroff
Sung China, spend three years traveling to Eagle Peak in India, enter the palace
of the dragon king the way Nagarjuna did, visit Bodhisattva Maitreya [in the
Tushita heaven] the way Bodhisattva Asanga did, or be present at the two places
and three assemblies when Shakyamuni preached the Lotus Sutra, in order to judge
the relative merits of the Buddha’s lifetime teachings. It is said that snakes
can tell seven days in advance when a flood is going to occur. This is because
they are akin to dragons [who make the rain fall]. Crows can tell what lucky or
unlucky events are going to take place throughout the course of a year. This is
because in a past existence they were diviners. Birds are better at flying than
human beings. And I, Nichiren, am better at judging the relative merits of sutras
than Ch’eng-kuan of the Flower Garland school, Chia-hsiang of the Three Treatises
school, Tz’u-en of the Dharma Characteristics school, and Kobo of the True Word
school. That is because I follow in the footsteps of the teachers T’ien-t’ai and Dengyo.
If Ch’eng-kuan and the others had not accepted the teachings of T’ien-t’ai and
Dengyo, how could they have expected to escape the sin of slandering the Law?

I, Nichiren, am the richest man in all of present-day Japan. I have dedicated my
life to the Lotus Sutra, and my name will be handed down in ages to come. If one
is lord of the great ocean, then all the gods of the various rivers will obey
one. If one is king of Mount Sumeru, then the gods of the various other
mountains cannot help but serve one. If a person fulfills the teaching of “the
six difficult and nine easy acts” of the Lotus Sutra, then, even though he may
not have read the entire body of sutras, all should follow him." (Opening of the
Eyes)

Nichiren is also a more accomplished master than the men I cited above.

"The Great Teacher Dengyo was disparaged by the priests of Nara, who said,
“Saicho has never been to the capital of T’ang China!” (ibid.)

"The Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai trusted and obeyed Shakyamuni and worked to uphold
the Lotus school, spreading its teachings throughout China." (On the Buddha's
Prophecy).

"In the Tendai school, however, there appeared a priest known as the Great
Teacher Miao-lo. Though he lived more than two hundred years after the time of
the Great Teacher T'ien-t'ai, he was extremely wise and had a clear
understanding of the teachings of T'ien-t'ai..." (Repaying Debts of Gratitude).

Who credentialed or certified Tientai, Miao-lo, or Nichiren? Nichiren gave
himself the Buddhist name Nichi-Ren. Who ordained Shakyamuni Buddha? The
nonsense of seeking a living master stifles growth and development as a direct
disciple of the Original Buddha. It is the evil priestly and monastic agenda to
coerce you into accepting them as teachers and offering them alms, rather than
the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin. This is not True
Mahayana (exoteric Buddhism) which is based on the Succession Through the
Scrolls of the Sutra and the Authentic writings of Nichiren. The Lotus Sutra and
Nichiren Daishonin teach that we are direct disciples of the Original Eternal
Buddha Shakyamuni. Buddhism is accessible to all with or without a "face to
face" transmission. Nichiren states:

"While the Great Teacher Jikaku was in Japan, he made a thorough study of the
teachings of both Dengyo and Kobo, and he spent a period of ten years in China
studying under the eight distinguished priests, including the Tripitaka Master
Pao-yüeh of southern India, learning all the loftiest and most secret doctrines.
On this basis, he completed his commentaries on the two sutras. In addition, he
prayed to the image of the Buddha, and awoke from dreaming that he had seen the
arrow of wisdom strike the sun of the Middle Way. So great was his joy that he
requested Emperor Nimmyo to issue an edict acknowledging Mount Hiei as a center
of the True Word practice.

Though he was the chief priest of the Tendai school, he virtually became a True
Word prelate, declaring that the three True Word sutras were the works that
would ensure peace and protection of the nation. It has now been more than four
hundred years since he spread these doctrines. The eminent leaders who have
accepted them are as numerous as rice and hemp seedlings, and the fervent
believers who have embraced them are as plentiful as bamboo plants and rushes.

As a result, of all the temples established throughout Japan by Emperor Kammu
and the Great Teacher Dengyo, there is not one that has not become a propagator
of the True Word doctrine. Both courtiers and warriors alike invite True Word
priests to attend to their religious needs, look up to them as their teachers,
confer offices upon them, and place them in charge of temples. And in the
eye-opening ceremony carried out at the consecration of wooden and painted
Buddhist images, the priests of all the eight schools of Buddhism now use the
mudras and mantras of the Thus Come One Mahavairochana and the honored one
Buddha Eye! (Repaying Debts of Gratitude)

Look what happened to Buddhism. Jikaku studied under, "the Eight Distinguished
Teachers", every one of them certified, credentialed, ordained, honored,
or distinguished. Also, adopting a priestly or living mentor diminishes one
faith in the Supreme Law affirmed by all Buddhas (Myoho renge kyo).

Question: When it comes to those who maintain that the Lotus Sutra is superior
to the True Word teachings, should they try to make use of these commentaries by
Jikaku, or should they reject them?
Answer: Shakyamuni Buddha laid down a rule for future conduct when he said that
we should “rely on the Law and not upon persons.” Bodhisattva Nagarjuna says
that one should rely on treatises that are faithful to the sutras, but not rely
on those that distort the sutras. T’ien-t’ai states, “That which accords with
the sutras is to be written down and made available. But put no faith in
anything that in word or meaning fails to do so.” And the Great Teacher Dengyo
says, “Depend upon the preachings of the Buddha, and do not put faith in
traditions handed down orally.”(The Selection of the Time)

"Instead of wasting all those supplies and making work for other people by
insisting upon traveling all the way to China, they should have made a more
careful and thorough study of the doctrines of the Great Teacher Dengyo, who was
their own teacher!. " (Repaying Debts of Gratitude)

"But after he went to China at the age of forty, though he continued to call
himself a disciple of Dengyo and went through the motions of carrying on
Dengyo’s line, he taught a kind of Buddhism that was wholly unworthy of a true
disciple of Dengyo." (ibid.)

Although I am merely an ignorant layman, I think that those like Makiguchi,
Toda, Daisaku Ikeda, High Priest Nichinyo and Nittsu, should have made a more
careful and thorough study of the doctrines of Nichiren. Then they wouldn't be
teaching a kind of Buddhism that is wholly unworthy of true disciples of
Nichiren. Daisaku Ikeda, in particular, has shackled his disciples to himself
like a sick siamese twin and will eventually end up killing both himself and his
sibling.

"At that time, after the great assembly had heard the Buddha speak of the
great length of his life-span, incalculable, limitless asamkhyeyas of
living beings gained a great advantage. At that time, the World-Honored
One declared to the bodhisattva-mahasattva Maitreya: "O Ajita!
When I preached on the great length of the life-span of the Thus Come
One, living beings to the number of sands in six hundred and eighty
myriads of millions of nayutas of Ganges rivers gained acceptance of
[the doctrine of] the unborn dharmas. Again, a thousand times this
number of bodhisattva-mahsattvas heard and were enabled to take hold
of the gateway of the dharanis. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas equal
to the number of the atoms in one world-sphere gained joy in preaching
and unimpeded eloquence. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas equal in
number to the atoms in one world-sphere gained the dharani that can
be turned to a hundred thousand myriads of millions of incalculable
[uses]. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas equal in number to the atoms
in the thousand-millionfold world were enabled to turn the unreceding
Wheel of the Dharma. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas equal in number
to the atoms in two thousand middle lands were enabled to turn the
pure Wheel of the Dharma. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas equal in
number to the atoms in a minor thousand of lands were destined
after eight rebirths to gain anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Again, bodhi­
sattva-mahasattvas equal to four times the number of atoms under
four heavens were destined after four rebirths to gain anuttarasamvak­
sambodhi. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas equal in number to three
times the number of atoms under four heavens were destined after three
rebirths to gain anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Again, bodhisattva-maha-
sattvas equal in number to twice the atoms under four heavens
were destined after two rebirths to gain anuttarasamyaksambodhi."
(Lotus Sutra Chapter 17, Leon Hurvitz)

Nan-yueh:

"The Daigo shojin Sutra says: ‘Ordinary beings and the Thus Come One share a
single Dharma body. Being pure and mystic beyond comparison, it is called
Myoho-renge-kyo.’"(Entity of the Mystic Law)

Nan-yueh:

"Those who practice the Lotus Sutra are pursuing through this single act of
devotion the mind that is endowed with all manner of fortunate results. These
are present simultaneously and are not acquired gradually over a long period of
time. This is like the blossom of the lotus which, when it opens, already
possesses a large number of seeds or results. Hence such persons are called the
people of the one vehicle."(ibid)

Nichiren:

"In essence, the entity of Myoho-renge-kyo is the physical body that the
disciples and followers of Nichiren who believe in the Lotus Sutra received from
their fathers and mothers at birth. Such persons, who honestly discard expedient
means, put faith in the Lotus Sutra alone and chant Namu myoho renge kyo, will
transform the three paths of earthly desires, karma and suffering into the three
virtues of the Dharma body, wisdom and emancipation. The threefold contemplation
and the three truths will immediately become manifest in their minds, and the
place where they live will become the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light. The
Buddha who is the entity of Myoho-renge-kyo, of the Juryo chapter of the
essential teaching, who is both inhabiting subject and inhabited realm, life and
environment, body and mind, entity and function, the Buddha eternally endowed
with the three bodies--he is to be found in the disciples and followers of Nichiren.
Such persons embody the true entity of Myoho-renge-kyo; these are the meritorious
workings that the spontaneous transcendental powers inherent in it display. Could
anyone venture to doubt it? Indeed it cannot be doubted! (ibid. Entity)

"Thereupon Shakyamuni Buddha rose from the seat of the Dharma, and by great
supernatural powers, put his right hand on the heads of the innumerable
Bodhisattva-mahasattvas, and said: "For many hundreds of thousands of billions
of asamkhyas of kalpas, I studied and practiced the Dharma difficult to obtain,
and [finally attained] Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Now I will transmit the Dharma
to you. Propagate it with all your hearts, and make it known far and wide."
[Lotus Sutra, Chapter 22 Transmission]

The merit of the Buddha comes from the Buddha. After the close of Chapter 22,
the replicas of Shakyamuni Buddha never appear. They went back to their home
worlds at the end of this chapter. So where does the transmission of Buddhahood
come from? The Original Buddha Shakyamuni. Here are the words of Nichiren, from
the "Ho'on Jo", enumerating the three great secret dharmas ("san dai hi ho"):

"The first is the object of worship (honzon). All the people in Japan as well
as the rest of the whole world should revere the Lord Buddha Shakyamuni
(Original and Eternal Buddha) revealed in the essential section (honmon) of the
Lotus Sutra as the object of worship (honzon)..." Then again in the "Kanji
Honzon Sho", Nichiren says: "Shakyamuni Buddha, the Lord preacher of this pure
land, has never died in the past, nor will He be born in the future. He exists
forever throughout the past present and future." In the "Senji Sho", Nichiren
says, regarding his ability to make the prediction about the forthcoming Mongol
invasion: "It was not I, Nichiren, who made these three important predications.
I believe it was solely the spirit of Shakyamuni Buddha, entering my body, who
made them."

Within these chapters of transmission, the four stages of faith and five stages
of practice expounded in the in Fumbetsu Kudoku chapter represent the most
important essential in the practice of the Lotus Sutra, a mirror to persons
living in the time of the Buddha and after his passing.

Ching-hsi writes: "'To produce even a single moment's faith and understanding'
represents the beginning in the practice of the essential teaching." Of these
various stages, the four stages of faith are intended for those living in the
Buddha's lifetime, and the five stages of practice for those living after his
passing. Among these, the first of the four stages of faith is that of
producing even a single moment's faith and understanding, and the first of the
five stages of practice is that of rejoicing on first hearing the Lotus Sutra.
These two stages together form a casket containing the treasures of the
"hundred worlds and thousand factors" and the "three thousand realms in a
single life-moment"; they are the gate from which all Buddhas of the ten
directions and the three existences emerge.

Nichiren Goes on to say,

Answer: This is a very important question, and so I will be referring to the
text of the sutra in answering you.. In describing the first, second and third
of the five stages of practice, the Buddha restricts those at these stages from
practicing precepts and meditation, and places all emphasis upon the single
factor of wisdom.. And because our wisdom is inadequate, he teaches us to
substitute faith, making this single word "faith" the foundation. Disbelief is
the cause for becoming an icchantika and for slander of the True Law, while
faith is the cause for wisdom and corresponds to the stage of myoji-soku.

And again,

Answer: Such persons are restricted from practicing almsgiving, the keeping
of the precepts, and the others of the five paramitas, and are directed to chant
Namu-myoho-renge-kyo exclusively. This practice corresponds to the capacity
of persons at the stages of "producing even a single moment's faith and
understanding" and "rejoicing on first hearing the Lotus Sutra." It represents
the true intention of the Lotus Sutra. "

And further along:

Question: When your disciples, without any understanding, simply recite with
their mouths the words Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, what level of attainment do
they reach?
Answer: Not only do they go beyond the highest level of the four tastes or the
three teachings as well as that attained by practitioners of the perfect teaching
set forth in the sutras that precede the Lotus Sutra, but they surpass by millions
and billions of times the founders of the Shingon and various other schools of
Buddhism--men such as Shan-wu-wei, Chih-yen, T'zu-en, Chi-tsang, Tao-hsuan,
Bodhidharma and Shan-tao."

This can be said about the learned priests and laymen of the Kempon Hokke.

KUDEN HOMON
Nichiren departed from the tradition of kuden homon, or oral transmission.
Tendai emphasized the idea of Dharma transmission passed in a direct lineage
from master to disciple. Kechimayku literally means -- blood vessel -- and is
used to indicate the transmission from master to disciple, and also the content
of the transmission. Nichiren viewed _kechimayku_ as the transmission of the
Dharma that makes it possible to escape the suffering of birth and death.
At times the notion of kechimyaku, with the image of the flow of blood, was
taken so literally that priests endeavored to pass on their lineage only to
their own sons (jisshi sojo). Nichiren, on the other hand departed from this
concept of the master and disciple relationship. Nichiren had no one person
contemporary to himself that he looked up to throughout his life as "master".
(Nichiren: sono kodo to shiso, p.32)

Nichiren, according to his writings, did retain lifelong feelings of gratitude
and affection for Dozen-bo in Awa, where Nichiren had taken the tonsure at
sixteen. But, Nichiren left Dozen-bo's mode of Amida Buddhist practice and
understanding. Nichiren also showed no special allegiance to anyone at Mount
Hiei or any of the other major Buddhist centers where he studied from 1238-1253.
It is obvious that Nichiren, based on his own writings, saw himself as standing
in a line that begun with the Historical Shakyamuni and passed to Chih-I, Saicho
and himself. We can conclude from Nichiren's writings that he believed that he
had received a spiritual transmission directly from the Eternal Shakyamuni.

"Although Nichiren dwells in such a remote and forlorn retreat [Minobu], within
the heart of his fleshly body he holds concealed the secret Dharma of the sole
great matter (ichidaiji) transmitted by the Eternal Shakyamuni, master of
teachings, on Vulture Peak." (Nanjo Hyoe Shichiro-dono gohenji)

The Dharma is not something handed down from a master to a disciple, but
directly accessible to anyone at any moment via a personal relationship formed
with the Buddha and the Lotus Sutra by chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo."

From the "Kanjin no-honzon sho":

"..the Eternal Lord Shakyamuni's practices undertaken as the cause (for
attaining Buddhahood), and his virtues acquired as their effect, are completely
contained within the five characters of Myoho-Renge-Kyo. When we receive and
hold these five characters, he will spontaneously transfer to us the merit of
his causes and effects."

To conclude, when we chant Namu Myoho renge kyo with faith and reverence
for the Gohonzon, the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni, the Daimoku, and spread
the teachings to the best of our abilities, we are Bodhisattvas of the earth, requiring
no intercession by either priest or layman. Of course, since we may not have
trained ourselves to do shakabuku (break and subdue practice) and certainly not
to inscribe or eye-open Gohonzon, then we can support the priest that has been
trained in these facets of Lotus Sutra Buddhism. This is the phenomenological
concept of the division of labor found in the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren's teachings,
and the world at large. The SGI doesn't teach this, lumping all priests, except
Nikko and Nichiren, as evil and demonic.

Chris, not taking the Lotus Sutra literally, living the Lotus Sutra literally.
Becoming Medicine King Bodhisattva, becoming Bodhisattva Fukyo, becoming
Superior Practices, becoming the Eternal Buddha.

As far as persecutions for the sake of the Lotus Sutra, citing Honen, proves you
aren't reading for content. Many people suffer persecutions, even for political
or socio-economic positions. But only votaries of the Lotus Sutra suffer
persecutions on behalf of the Lotus Sutra. If you adopt Nichiren's manner of
reading the Lotus Sutra you will have no doubts about the origin of your
obstacles and perseutions.

We may have been arguing for ten years or more but for most of those years,
I was arguing exclusively from the standpoint of myself. Now I argue from
the standpoint of Nichiren. Logic is important but the Atsuhara martyrs did
more for Buddhism than a thousand logicians.

Regarding arrogance, Nichiren writes:

"The eighth volume of The Annotations on “The Words and Phrases of the Lotus
Sutra” comments as follows: “In this passage, three types of arrogance are
cited. First, there is a section that exposes people of mistaken views. This
represents [the arrogance and presumption of] lay people. Next, there is a
section that exposes the arrogance and presumption of members of the Buddhist
clergy. Third is a section that exposes the arrogance and presumption of those
who pretend to be sages. Of these three, the first can be endured.. The second
exceeds the first, and the third is the most formidable of all.. This is because
the second and third ones are increasingly harder to recognize for what they
really are.” Opening of the Eyes)

If arrrogance is so difficult to to recognize, how much more so Buddhahood?

As far as customs, current times, and reality, you put too much emphasis on the
country and capacity while failingy to realize the true nature of the Latter
Day which hasn't changed since the times of Nichiren: Earthquakes, wars,
pestilence, famines, tsunamis, global warming, inflation, deflation, misleading
religions and philosophies, Pure Land, Soka Gakkai...

As far as more than one view being worth exploring, lets start by exploring
Nichiren's view before we jump to the Rabbis' views. Everyone has a different
view than Nichiren except me and a handful of other adherents, as

I ask those having an SGI view, a Nichiren Shu view, an HBS view
an independent view, to try and have a Nichiren view, to put yourself in
Nichiren's shoes, refute misleading religions and philosophies and promote the
exclusive faith and practice of the Lotus Sutra. Instead of little Ikedas
running around lets see what happens with little Nichirens. It will shake up the
world. We will be banished again and again, we will be exiled, we will be put to
death. The Lotus Sutra will spread like never before. Nichiren says by suffering
relatively minor hardships, such as exile, death and banishements, the True Law
will spread.

Shakyamuni in his "dhuta" form is one aspect of the Eternal Buddha. Throwing out
the Manifestation Body Buddha is throwing out the Dharma Body Buddha and the
Reward Body Buddha. Throwing out the Eternal Buddha is throwing out all Three
Bodies. No one property (of the Three Properties) of the Buddha is independent
of the others. Nichiren corrected those who saw the "dhuta" body, the
Manifestation Buddha, as the sole property of the Buddha.

Nichikan, Nichiki, Nissatsu, Makiguchi, Toda, and Ikeda

“The founders who first established these sects failed to discern the true meaning of the sutras upon which they based their teachings. They proceeded only in a shallow manner, employing the sutras in a way that fitted with their own ideas. In doing so, they went against the Lotus Sutra, which means that their teachings were not in accord with the true intention of the Buddha. They were unaware of this, however, and as they proceeded to propagate their doctrines, both the rulers of the nation and the common people came to believe in them. In addition, these doctrines spread to other countries, and many years have gone by since they were first propagated. As a result, the scholars of this latter age, unaware that the founders of these sects were in error, look up to those who practice and propagate their teachings as men of wisdom. If the source is muddy, the stream will not flow clear; if the body is bent, the shadow will not stand upright.” — Letter to Ichinosawa Nyudo Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 6, p. 95.

"Nichiren's" Problematic Works

http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/publications/jjrs/pdf/548.pdf

Ikeda SGI Thinks They Are Better and Wiser Than Nichiren

http://www.google.com/search?pq=soka+gakkai&hl=en&ds=yt&cp=22&gs_id=18&xhr=t&q=soka+gakkai+interfaith&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4LENN_en___US469&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&ion=1&biw=1058&bih=496&wrapid=tljp1328672171729020&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=vi&ei=sO0xT6WxKMSKsQLwgPXYBg

The Identity of the Original Eternal Buddha According to Nichiren

The Identity of the Original Eternal Buddha

The following passages of proof demonstrate the identity of the Original Buddha as the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni; Nichiren’s reverence for this Buddha; and by believing in the Three Bodied Tathagata Shakyamuni as the Original Buddha and our original teacher, we become equal to Shakyamuni Buddha.

“Now , when the Eternal Buddha was revealed in the essential section of the Lotus Sutra, this world of endurance (Saha-world) became the Eternal Pure Land, indestructible even by the three calamities of conflagration, flooding, and strong winds, which are said to destroy the world. It transcends the four periods of cosmic change: the kalpa of construction, continuance, destruction and emptiness. Sakyamuni Buddha, the Lord-preacher of this pure land, has never died in the past, nor will He be born in the future. He exists forever throughout the past present and future. All those who receive His GUIDANCE are one with this Eternal Buddha.” -- The True Object of Worship

“Since Sakyamuni Buddha is eternal and all other Buddhas in the universe are his manifestations, then those great bodhisattvas converted by manifested Buddhas are also disciples of Lord Sakyamuni Buddha. If the “Life Span of the Buddha” chapter had not been expounded, it would be like the sky without the sun and moon, a country without a king, mountains and rivers without gems, or a man without a soul. nevertheless, seemingly knowledgeable men of such provisional schools of Buddhism as Ch’eng-kuan of the Hua-yen, Chia-hsiang of the San-lun, Tz’u-en of the Fa-hsiang, and Kobo of the shingon tried to extoltheir own canons by stating: “The Lord of the Flower Garland Sutra represents the reward-body (hojin) of the Buddha wheras that of the Lotus Sutra the accomodative body (ojin);” or “the Buddha in the sixteenth chapter of the Lotus is an Illusion; it is the great Sun Buddha who is enlightened.” clouds cover the moon and slanderers hide wise men. When people slander, ordinary yellow rocks appear to be of gold and slanderers seem to be wise. Scholars in this age of decay, blinded by slanderous words, do not see the value of a gold in the “Lifespan of the Buddha” chapter. Even among men of the Tendai school some are fooled into taking a yellow rock for gold. They should know that if Sakyamuni had not been the Eternal Buddha, there could not have been so many who received GUIDANCE from Him.” -- The Opening of the Eyes

“Thus it was revealed that Shakyamuni had long been the Buddha since the eternal past and it became clear that various Buddhas in other worlds were all manifestations of Shakyamuni Buddha. Now, however, as Shakyamuni was proved to be the Eternal Buddha, those Buddhas in the Flower Garland Sutra, or Buddhas in the Hodo, Hannya, or Great Sun Buddha sutras all became subordinates of Shakyamuni Buddha.” (Kaimoku Sho, p. 174, translated byKyotsu Hori, 1987)

BTW, here’s the same quote, as translated by NSIC. Please note the subtle differences:

“When Shakyamuni Buddha revealed that he had gained enlightenment in the far distant past and had since then been constantly in the world, it became apparent that all the other Buddhas were emanations of Shakyamuni… now it becomes apparent that Vairocana Buddha of the Kegon Sutra and various Buddhas of the Hodo, Hannya and Dainichi sutras are in fact all followers of Shakyamuni Buddha.” (MW V.2, p.149)

And again, Nichiren says:

“Since Shakyamuni Buddha is eternal and all other Buddhas in the universe are His manifestations…” (Kaimoku Sho, translated by Kyotsu Hori, p.176).

NSIC translates this as :

“Since the Buddha of the Juryo chapter is revealed as the eternal Buddha…” (the part about the manifestation Buddhas is left out altogether!) [MW V. 2, p.150]

Once again, from the Kaimoku Sho, translated by Kyotsu Hori, p.180:

“But now since it has been revealed that Shakyamuni is the Eternal Buddha…”

“But now that it has become apparent that Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment countless aeons ago,…etc. (MW V.2, p. 151)

“Since Sakyamuni Buddha is eternal and all other Buddhas in the universe are His manifestations, then those great bodhisattvas converted by manifested Buddhas are also disciples of Lord Sakyamuni Buddha. If the'Life Span of the Buddha' chapter had not been expounded, it would be like the sky without the sun and moon, a country without a king, mountains and rivers without gems, or a man without a soul.” -- The Opening of the Eyes

In the Kanjin Honzon Sho, (translated by Kyotsu Hori) there is not a single sentence where Nichiren even suggests that he is somehow this Eternal Buddha that is found in the Juryo Chapter. Instead, Nichiren says:

“…Shakyamuni Buddha, within our minds, is an ancient Buddha without beginning, manifesting Himself in three bodies and attained Buddhahood in the eternal past.. (ibid. P.94)

“…the Bodhisattvas (who sprang from underneath the ground), as described in the 15th chapter, are followers of the Original Buddha Shakaymuni who resides within our minds.” (p.94)

“Shakyamuni Buddha, the Lord-preacher of this pure land, has never died in the past, nor will he be born in the future. He exists forever, throughout the past, present and future.” (P.100)

“The “honzon” at the scene of this transmission of “Namu Myo Ho Renge Kyo” from the Eternal Buddha to His Original Disciples is… suspended in the sky above the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni’s Saha-world is a stupa of treasures, in which Shakyamuni Buddha and Taho sit to the left and right of “Myo Ho Renge Kyo”. (P.102)

“Many wooden statues and portraits were made of Shakyamuni Buddha as He preached Hinayana and quasi-Mahayana sutras, but statues and portraits of the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha revealed in the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra were never made. Now, in the beginning of Mappo, is it not the time that such statues and portraits are made?” (P.104)

And, from the Ho’on Jo (translated by Taikyo Yajima):

“All the people in Japan as well as the rest of the whole world should revere the Lord Buddha Shakyamuni (Original and Eternal Buddha) revealed in the essential section (honmon) of the Lotus Sutra as the object of worship (honzon).” [P. 198]

Kanjin Honzon-Sho (NOPPA) page 56:

“In fact Sakyamuni began to preach, planting the seed of Buddhahood in the eternal past… Sakyamuni Buddha continued to guide His disciples until they were all sure to attain Buddhahood during the preaching of the Lotus Sutra in His present life, completing the series of His preaching which began in the eternal past.”

Kanjin Honzon-Sho (NOPPA) page 86:

“This means that Sakyamuni Buddha, Taho Buddha, and all the Buddhas in manifestation are in our minds, and that we, upholders of the Lotus Sutra, will follow in their steps and inherit all the merits of those Buddhas.”

and somewhat further along:

“In the same chapter, another passage reads: ‘The duration of My Life, which I obtained through the practice of the bodhisattva way, has not yet expired. It is twice as long as the length of time stated above: 500 dust-particle kalpa.’ This reveals the bodhisattva-realm within our minds. The bodhisattvas described in the fifteenth chapter, ‘Appearance of Bodhisattvas from Under- ground,’ who have sprung out of the great earth, as numerous as the number of dust-particles of 1,000 worlds, are followers of the Original Buddha Sakyamuni who resides within our minds.”

“How lucky I am to be able to go to the Pure Land of Mt. Sacred Eagle and extinguish within one life my sin of slandering the true dharma ever since the eternal past! How glad I feel to be able to go to the Pure Land of Mt. Sacred Eagle and wait on Lord Sakyamuni Buddha, whom I have never seen yet! May I guide first of all those rulers of this land who have persecuted me. May I tell Sakyamuni Buddha about my disciples who have assisted me. may I present this great merit to my parents, who gave birth to me, before I die.”

“Present within our lives is the Lord Shalyamuni who obtained the three enlightened properties of life before gohyaku-jintengo, the Original Buddha since time without begining.” (MW vol 1, The True Object of Worship, pg 65)

“Demonstrating ten great mystic powers the Buddha (Shakyamuni) transferred Namu Myoho renge Kyo to the four great bodhisattvas” (Ibid pg 77)

“Shakyamuni is the original teacher for all people as well as their sovereign and their parent” (MW vol 1, Admonitions Against Slander, pg 166)

“It is the object of worship which perfectly depicts Lord Shakyamuni in the Treasure Tower” (MW vol 1, The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon, pg 212)

“Shakyamuni is the father, sovereign and teacher of all other Buddhas and all gods, of the whole assembly of men and heavenly beings and of all sentient beings.” (MW vol 1, Letter to Nikke, pg 257)

“But because of this book by Honen, this Senchaku Shu, the Lord Buddha Shakyamuni is forgotten.” (MW vol 2, Rissho Ankoku Ron, pg 23)

“The Lord Shakyamuni who declared ‘I alone can save them,’ at a time even more distant than gohyaku-jintengo, is none other than each of us.” (MW vol 2, I2U Exile, pg 55)

“One should know that the Enlightened One, the Buddha, is a Great Teacher for all living beings, a Great Eye for them, a Great Pillar, a Great Helmsman, a Great Field of Plenty.” (MW vol 2, Opening of the Eyes, pg 77)

“The doctrines that the Buddha taught over a period of fifty years number eighty thousand…The eight years during which he preached the Lotus Sutra he called the time when he ‘now must reveal the truth’. Thus Taho Buddha came forth from the earth to testify that ‘All that you have expounded is the truth,’ and the Buddhas that are emanations of the Original Buddha gathered together and extended their tongues up to the Brahma-heaven in testimony.” (MW vol 2, Ibid, pg 79)

“The Buddhas of the ten directionss gathered in assembly, Shakyamuni Buddha announced that ‘all of these are emanations of my being.” (MW vol 2, Ibid, pg 141)

“When Shakyamuni Buddha revealed that he had gained enlightenment in the far distant past and had since then been constantly in the world, it became apparent that all the other Buddhas were emanations of Shakyamuni.” (MW vol 2, Ibid, pg 149)

“Since the Buddha of the Juryo chapter is revealed as the eternal Buddha, it follows that the great bodisattvas such as Monju and Miroku and the great bodisattvas from other realms are in fact disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha.” (MW vol 2, Ibid, pg 150)

“All these beings are discples of Shakyamuni Buddha. Since the various Buddhas themselves are emanations of Shakyamuni Buddha, it goes without saying that their disciples must be disciples of Shakyamuni. And of course the various decties of the sun, moon and stars, who have dwelt in the world from countless ages in the past must likewise be disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha.” (MW vol 2, Ibid, pg 152)

“The Lotus Sutra is nothing other than a scripture that reveals that Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment at a time even more distant than gohyaku-jintengo.” (MW vol 2, Letter to the Priests of Seicho-ji, pg 268)

“…but Shakyamuni [by bestowing upon us the character myo] has granted us as many benefits as if we ourselves had fulfilled all the practices of the six paramitas. This precisely accords with his statement, “Now this threefold world is all my domain, the living beings in it are all my children.” (MW vol 3, Letter to Nichimyo Shonin, pg 48-49)

“Now the votaries of the Lotus Sutra are the children of Shakyamuni Buddha.” (MW vol 3, Ibid, pg 49)

“All that you (Shakyamuni Buddha) have expounded is the truth.” (MW vol 3, Ibid pg 51)

“The Lord Shakyamuni assembled Taho Buddha as well as the other Buddhas, who were his own emanations, from throughout ten directions and left one great medicine, the five characters of Myoho renge Kyo-for the people of the Latter Day.” (MW vol 3, The Munadala of the Mystic Law, pg 58)

“Lord Shakyamuni treasured this Gohonzon in mind… He revealed it in the Juryo chapter…” (MW vol 3, Reply to Nii-Ama, pgs 64-65)

In the Selection of the Time, directly under the title, it is written:

“Nichiren, disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha”.

“Yet it was not I, Nichiren who made these important pronouncements. Rather it was in all cases the spirit of Shakyamuni Buddha that had entered into my body. And at having personally experienced this I am beside myself with joy.” (MW vol 3, Ibid, pg 171)

“Shakyamuni Buddha, the World Honored One, declared, ‘I am the foremost throughout the threefold world.’” (MW vol 3, Ibid, pg 176)

“When I was about to be beheaded, the Lord Buddha Shakyamuni took my place.” (MW vol 3, The Supremacy of the Law, pg 199).

“However, they are alike in that they all abandoned Shakyamuni Buddha,” and in the next paragraph it states, “If there is anyone among my followers who is weak in faith and goes against what I, Nichiren, say, he will meet the same fate as did the Soga family.” (MW vol 3, The Supreme Leader of the World, pg 237)

“I have been ceaselessly praying for your sake to the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha and the gods of the sun and moon.” (MW vol 3, Ibid)

“Our teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha.” (MW vol 4, The Learned Shan-wu-wei, pg 64)

“They are monks and nuns by virtue of the Lord Shakyamuni.” (Ibid, pg 65)

“There are three reasons why Shakyamuni Buddha rather than any of the other Buddhas has a relationship with all the people of the world of the saha world. First of all, he is the World Honored One, the soverign of all the people of this saha world…

The second reason is that Shakyamuni Buddha is the father and mother of all the persons in the saha world. It is proper that we should first of all pay filial respect to our own father and mother…

The third reason is that Shakyamuni is the original teacher of all persons in the saha world.” (Ibid, pgs 65-66)

“Yet Shakyamuni Buddha entered this saha world of ours with the title Nonin, ‘He Who Can Forbear.’ He is so called because he does not berate its people for the slanders they all commit but shows forbearance toward them.

“These, then, are the special qualities possesed by Shakyamuni Buddha, qualities that the other Buddhas lack,” (Ibid, pg 68)

“I [Shakyamuni] alone can save them.” (Ibid, pg 69)

“For this reason, all the persons in this saha world of ours, if they detest the sufferings of birth and death and wish to have an object of veneration to which they can pay respect, should first of all fashion images of Shakyamuni Buddha… and make these their object of worship.” (Ibid, pg 69)

“Shakyamuni Buddha our father and mother, who is endowed with the three virtues of soverign, teacher and parent, is the very one who encourages us, the people driven out by all the other Buddhas, saying, ‘I alone can save them’. The debt of gratitude we owe him is deeper than the ocean, weightier than the earth, vaster than the sky. Though we were to pluck out our two eyes and place them before him as an offering until there were more eyes there than stars in the sky, though we were to strip off our skins and spread them out by the hundreds of ten thousands until they blanketed the ceiling of heaven, though we were to give him our tears as offerings of water and present him with flowers for the space of a hundred billion kalpas, though we were to offer him our flesh and blood for innumerable kalpas, until our flesh piled up like mountains and our blood overflowed like vast seas, we could never repay a fraction of the debt we owe to this Buddha!” (Ibid, pg 71-72)

“I, Nichiren have indeed written it by letting my soul (tamashii) dipped in ink flow forth. The very intention (heart) of the Buddha is the Lotus Sutra; the soul of Nichiren is nothing other than Namu Myoho renge kyo. Chan-jan explains, ‘It takes [the Buddha] of Far-reaching Lifespan revealed as the Original Buddha to be its life’ For Lady kyoo, misfortunes will into fortune. By all meansput forth your mind of faith and pray to and think on this Gohonzon. What can not be accomplished? There can be no doubt that ‘fulfilling those vows will be like a clear, cool pond satisfying the thirsty’ and there will be ‘peace and security in the present world and a good place in the next.” — Reply to Kyoo [KHK Translation]

“All that you [Shakyamuni Buddha] have expounded is the truth.” (MW vol 4, Teaching, Practice and Proof, pg 120)

“Answer: One: Japan and so on to the whole of Jambudvipa should uniformly take the Master of Teachings Lord Shakya of the Original Doctrine as the Object of Worship.” — Repaying Debts of Gratitude [KHK Translation]

“Our merciful father, Lord Shakyamuni, said ‘Rely on the Law and not upon persons.” (MW vol 5, A Sage and an Unenlightened Man, pg 65)

“In the same volume in the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha says, ‘for the sake of the Buddha way I have in countless different lands from the begining until now widely preached various sutras, but among them this Sutra is foremost.’ This passage means that Shakyamuni Buddha has appeared in countless lands, taking different names and assuming varying life spans.” (Ibid, pg 77)

“I have dedicated my life to Shakyamuni Buddha and the Lotus Sutra, extending compassion to all living beings and rebuking slanders of the Law.” (MW vol 5, A Sage and an Unenlightened Man, pg 107)

“When Shakyamuni Buddha in the clouds above the Sacred Mountain, in the mists of Eagle peak, summed up the essence of the doctrine and entrusted it to the bodhisattvas of the earth, what do you suppose that teaching was? It was nothing other than these five characters, the essential law;” (Ibid, pg 110)

“I Nichiren, humble person though I am, have recieved Lord Shakyamuni’s royal command and come to this country of Japan.” (MW vol 5, The Pure and Far Reaching Voice, pg 143)

“Shakyamuni Buddha is the lord of all buddhist teachings, the leader and teacher of all human beings.” (Ibid, pg 143)

“And among the Sutras, the Lotus Sutra is a manifestation in writing of Shakyamuni Buddha’s intent; it is his voice set down in written word.” (Ibid, pg 147)

“Shakyamuni Buddha and the written words of the Lotus Sutra are two different things but their heart is one. Therefore, when you cast your eyes upon the words of the Lotus Sutra you should consider that you are beholding the living body of the Buddha Shakyamuni.” (Ibid, pg 147)

“However the Buddha recognizes each character as a golden Lord Shakyamuni. This is the meaning of the statement that ‘[one who is able to hold this Sutra] thereby holds the Buddha’s body’. Those who practice Buddhism but adhere to distorted views destroy this loftiest of Sutras.” (MW vol 5, Reply to Soya Nyudo, pg 164)

“‘The Son of Heaven utters not a single word in vain’ and ‘the words of the Dharma King contain no falsehood’. A wise ruler will never lie, even if it should bring about his ruin. How much less would Shakyamuni Buddha ever speak falsely!” (MW vol 5, Good Fortune in This Life, pg 185)

“Only the Lotus Sutra represents the wonderful teaching preached directly from the golden mouth of Shakyamuni Buddha, who is perfectly endowed with the three bodies.” (MW vol 5, Letter to Myomitsu Shonin, pg 196)

“Shakyamuni, the Lord of Teachings, is the foremost sage in the saha world.” (Ibid, pg 199)

“As we see from these passages of scripture, Shakyamuni, with his Buddha eye, observed the situation that would prevail at the begining of the Latter Day of the Law. If, when the age has arrived, there were to be no persons of the type the Buddha describes then the World-Honored One would be guilty of false and baseless talk. [And if that were to be the case, then] who would put faith in the theoretical and essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra, and in the doctrine of the eternally inherent Buddha Nature.” (MW vol 6, Reply to Lord Hakiri Saburo, pg 40)

“In this way, Shakyamuni Buddha cited his own practice in the past to encourage and hearten (The Votary of the Lotus Sutra).” [Ibid pg 42]

“Shakyamuni summoned the four bodhisattvas and entrusted them with the five characters of Myoho renge Kyo.” (MW vol 6, Rebuking Slander of the Law, pg 60)

“We see from the Sutra that only these four bodhisattvas had been the disciples of Shakyamuni, the Lord of Teachings, since the remote past.” (Ibid, pg 62)

Nichiren quotes Miao-lo, referring to the relationship of the bodhisattvas of the Earth to Shakyamuni as follows;

“The sons will disseminate the Law of the Father.” (Ibid, pg 62)

“The Shakyamuni of the Juryo Chapter has never been depicted in any mountain temple or monastery anywhere.” (Ibid, pg 63)

“The nation of Japan today has turned its back on the Lotus Sutra and cast aside Shakyamuni Buddha.”

 (MW vol 6, Letter To Ichinosana Nyudo, pg 99)

“Shakyamuni Buddha is the Parent of all living beings in this world.” (Ibid, pg 100)

“The Lord Buddha Shakyamuni is the enlightened teacher for all living beings in the country of ours. It is thanks to our teacher that we can understand who our parents are. It is owing to Shayamuni that we can distinguish black from white.” (Ibid, pg 100)

“It will be hard indeed to find anyone who can preach the Lotus Sutra just as it teaches in the Latter Day of the Law of Shakyamuni Buddha.” (MW vol 6, Three Tripitaka Masters, pg 118)

“The Tathagata Shakyamuni, seated in the tower adorned with seven kinds of precious gems, entrusted the five characters of Myoho renge Kyo to Takahashi Nyudo.” (MW vol 6, Reply to Takashi Nyudo, pg 124)

“Were it not for Shakyamuni, the lord of teachings, how could such blessings as these be bestowed.”

“The Hokke [Lotus] sect is the sect founded by Shakyamuni.” (MW vol 6, How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood, pg 175)

“Therefore [the sect based on] the Lotus Sutra is known as the Buddha-founded sect and is also called the Hokke Sect.” (Ibid, pg 175)

“The various other sects were founded by bodhisattvas or teachers in the period after the Buddha had entered Nirvana. Should we now turn our backs upon the Buddha’s decree and follow the sects established by the bodhisattvas and teachers? Or should we ignore the words of the bodhisattvas and teachers and follow the sect established by the Buddha.” (Ibid, pg 176)

“Now the Latter Day of the Law, is the time when the seven characters of Namu Myoho renge kyo-the heart of the twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra that Shakyamuni Buddha who had achieved enlightenment in the remote past, along with the bodhisattvas Jogyo, Muhengyo and the others is to propogate-will alone spread throughout the country.” (Ibid, pg 187-188)

“The messenger of the Lord Buddha Shakyamuni has twice been paraded through the street.” (MW vol 6, A Father Takes Faith, pg 242).

“Because Shakyamuni expounded the Lotus Sutra in order to repay the debt of gratitude he owed to his father and mother, Taho Buddha, who had come from the land of treasure purity, praised him as a Buddha of true filial piety. And the Buddhas of the ten directions assembled and declared him to be the most filial among all the Buddhas.” (MW vol 6, On Filial and Unfilial Conduct, pg 290)

“Therefore, the words of this Sutra are indeed the very soul of Shakyamuni Buddha. And since every single word constitutes the soul of the Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha will protect persons who practice this Sutra as though he were protecting his very own eyes. He will accompany such persons just as a shadow accompanies a body. How then could the prayers of such persons not be answered.” (MW vol 7, On Prayer, pg 34)

“The various Buddhas [other than Shakyamuni], since they are known as World Honored One, may be regarded as Sovereigns. But since they do not make their appearance in this saha world, they are not teachers. Nor do they declare that ‘…the living beings in it (this threefold world) are all my children’. Thus, Shakyamuni Buddha alone fulfills the three functions of sovereign, teacher and parent.” (Ibid, pg 43)

“Answer: Shakyamuni Buddha became enlightened to this lotus that is the entity of the Mystic Law numberless major world system dust particle kalpas in the past, and in age after age and lifetime after lifetime, declared that he had attained the way and revealed the fundamental principle he had realized with his enlightened wisdom.” (MW vol 7, The Entity of the Mystic Law)

“In this passage, Shakyamuni Buddha explains that he is entrusting to the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, his original disciples, the five characters of Myoho renge Kyo which is the essence of the Lotus Sutra. Shakyamuni, who attained enlightenment countless Kalpas in the past, says elsewhere, ‘By now the original vows that I made have already been fulfilled. I have converted all living beings and caused them to enter the Buddha way’…This passage represents the ultimate purpose for which Shakyamuni appeared in the world, the secret Law that he attained in the place of meditation.” (Ibid, pg 70)

“In the Latter Day of the Law, other than the envoy of the Thus Come One, there can be no one who understands and produces this passage as proof of the Lotus of the Entity.” (Ibid, pg 70)

“The way in which the Lotus emerges from the muddy water is used as a metaphor to explain that when the Thus Come One joins the multitude of listeners, seats himself on a lotus in the same manner as the various bodhisattvas and expounds on the unsurpassed wisdom of the Thus Come One and on the enlightened state of purity, the various voice heavens, hearing this, are able to obtain the secret storehouse of the Thus Come One. Second, the words Myoho renge signify the lotus opening up. (This is a metaphor explaining that) ordinary beings, though exposed to the Mahayana teachings, are timid and fearful in mind and incapable of taking faith in them. Therefore the Thus Come One ‘opens’ or reveals his Dharma body in its purity and wonder, awakening in them the mind of faith.” (Ibid, pg 71-72)

“In the entire land of Jambuduipa, there has never before been a hall or pagoda that produced the image of Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra. How could such an image fail to appear now.” (MW vol 7, The Unmatched Fortune of the Law, pg 160)

“However, later seeking and entering the deep cave, you see a single hermitage. The voices of the reading and reciting of the Hokekyo echo against blue heaven and the words of discussing the doctrine of the One Vehicle are heard in the midst of the mountains. Informing [them, of your presence and requesting] admittance, you enter the chamber, place your mother’s bones before the Master of Teachings Lord Shakya, cast your five limbs to the ground, press your palms together, and opening your two eyes, look up to the Holy Face: joy overflows your body and the pain of your heart suddenly ceases.”(On forgetting Ones Copy Of The Lotus Sutra, NOPPA Translation)

“But he reveres Shakyamuni Buddha and puts his faith in the teaching of the Lotus Sutra. Hence he is like a snake that grips a jewel in its mouth, or a dragon that bears sacred relics on its head. A wisteria vine by Twining around a pine, may climb a thousand meters into the air and a crane, because it has wings to rely upon, can travel ten thousand miles. It is not their own strength that allows them to do these things.” (MW vol 7, On The Urobon, pg 172-173)

These passages from the Gosho are crystal clear. Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha is our original teacher to whom Nichiren’s reverence knows no bounds. Why do the Taisekaji sects fail to embrace the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren’s words? Could it be that the Devil of the Sixth Heaven has replaced Shakyamuni Buddha in their minds? This delusion, in the minds of these men, can be demonstrated by their behaviors:

“They will tear off the first part of the Sutra and stick it on the end, tear off the end and put it at the begining, put the end and the begining in the middle and the begining at the middle or end. You must understand that these evil monks are the companions of the devil.” (MW vol 2, Opening Of The Eyes, pg 1 180)

Their causes are revealed:

“There is a difference if one chants the daimoku while acting against the intent of this Sutra.” (MW vol 3, The Fourteen Slanders, pg 207)

“Those who practice buddhism but adhere to distorted views destroy this loftiest of Sutras.” (MW vol 5, Reply to Soya Nyudo, pg 164).

and their effects:

“Unfilial children however are not allowed to succeed their parents.” (MW vol 3, Letter to Nichinyo, pg 49);

How can this be remedied?:

“In the same way, one who chants the daimoku as the Lotus Sutra teaches will never have a twisted mind.” (MW vol 5, Letter to Myomitsu Shonin, pg 196)

“Those who seek the truth of buddhism, however, should reject one sided views whether they are of their own sects or other sects and should not treat others with contempt.” (MW vol 2, Opening Of The Eyes, pg 167)

“One should use the Sutras as his eyes and give precedence to the wisdom of the Buddha. Surely however, if this standard is made clear people will become enraged and harbor indignation in their minds. Let them do as they will. What matters most is that we honor the Buddha’s command. As a rule people in the world value what is distant and despise what is near, but this is the conduct of the ignorant. Even the distant should be repudiated if it is wrong, while that which is near should not be discarded if it accords with the truth. Even though people may revere (their predecessors doctrines), if those doctrines are in error, how can we employ them today”. (MW vol 4, Reply to Hoshina Goro Taro, pg 42-43)

These passages constitute a Buddhist doctrine, the second most important Buddhist doctrine of Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism.

May The Rain of Dharma Universally Pour Down

(Recitation Text for Nichiju's young disciple, Nichimyo, who died at the age of eighteen)

Here I reverently state.

A Matter of requesting to recite [the following text]:

Various offerings have been prepared for the Three Jewels and for the priests:

I faintly hear that the Wonderful Law of the One Vehicle has a strong fragrance which permeates the Ancient Garden of the Three Lands, and that the moon of Clear Light of Original Enlightenment shines brightly in the blue sky of Tranquil Light.  But, the profound meaning of the Real Teaching, can it be measured?

As I contemplate it now, it is already one year since the death of Reverend Nichimyo;  in spite of this, our mournful tears have not yet ceased to flow. Stopping our sorrowful tears, we hereby perform some small religious rites for the nourishment of his Bodhi [Buddhahood].  That is to say, we respectfully make a copy of the Precious Stupa Dai-mandala respectfully recite the entire Lotus Sutra once, the Chapter of Expedient Means twelve times, the Chapter of the Measure of Life of the Tathagata one hundred and twenty times, the Ten Suchnesses twelve hundred times, the JI-ga Verses twelve thousand times, the Daimoku one hundred and twenty thousand times; we respectfully write "Namu-Myoho-Renge-Kyo" twelve thousand times, and we respectfully erect one Tablet Stupa.  In this case, the Dai-mandala is the one that was respectfully transcribed before his death.  We offer it here to perform some small rites as a memorial service for him.

Although this Dai-mandala generally represents the phases of teachings of  "the Three Meetings at the Two Places", it particularly represents,  "the One Ceremony of the Meeting in the Sky." Actually, the "Precious Stupa" means the palace where the Wonderful Law lies, the castle in the heart where the Buddhas abide eternally, the location where the Bodhisattvas assemble, the whole original aspect of the five constituent elements (earth, water, fire, wind and the void).

Taho (Tathagata Abundant Treasures) within the Stupa bears witness [to the Lotus Sutra];  Shakyamuni Buddha assembles the Buddhas who have emanated from Him and he opens the door of the Stupa- Sitting side by side [with Taho] within the Stupa,  He [Shakyamuni Buddha] declares that He desires to bequeath the Lotus Sutra in order to make it remain existing. Then He invites the Guiding Teacher in the Age of the Latter Dharma, enumerating the Six Hard [Tasks] and the Nine Easy Tasks. Shakyamuni Buddha encourages the propagation of the Wonderful Law of the One Vehicle, showing that even Devadatta and the Dragon King's Daughter obtained Buddhahood.  The Bodhisattvas who were cultivated by the Manifestation Buddhas earnestly volunteer to propagate, expressing how they will cope in the Evil Age.

Manjusri asks a question of how to propagate the Law, then the World-honored One, preaching the Four Methods, recommends to start the practice.  These are exactly relating to the circulation of the Shakumon (Manifestation Doctrine). Then, Shakyamuni Buddha turns down the offer of these bodhisattva-mahasattvas, in numbers of the sands of eight Ganges rivers, to propagate, and [instead] invites the tranquilly beaming bodhisattva-mahasattvas welling up out of the Earth, who were converted by the Original Buddha.

Upon the question of Maitreya, Shakyamuni Buddha reveals the Distant Origin of His Attainment of Enlightenment in the Eternal Past. Preaching the responding activities of the Three-Bodies-in-One, Shakyamuni Buddha reveals His Great Compassion from the Eternal Past; [this Eternal Past] is compared to dust-motes of innumerable atoms. Measuring the merits of A Single Moment of Faith and Understanding, Shakyamuni Buddha praises the excellent merits of the Chain of Acceptance with Joy.  Then, He reveals the excellent merits of the versatile use of the Six Organs. And, referring to an old anecdote about Bodhisattva Never Despise (Fukyo), He shows how one should dare to forcedly infuse the Hokekyo into those beings who have a Rebellious Attitude, and Shakyamuni Buddha reveals the circular meaning that a Rebellious Attitude (Gyaku-en) toward the Hokekyo is, ultimately, nothing but an Obedient Attitude (Jun-en).

Demonstrating the Ten Kinds of Miraculous Powers, Shakyamuni Buddha entrust [to these Originally Converted Bodhisattvas who had welled up out of the earth] the Essential Dharma which should be propagated in the Age of the Latter Dharma, and that is the great Dharma in the Honmon (Original Doctrine), which is to be circulated.  This Essential Dharma is embodied in the Five Characters of the Daimoku.  Therefore, this "Myoho-Renge-Kyo" is the Dharma-body of circular harmonization of the Three Truths (emptiness, provisional existence and the Middle Way);  [it is the] inner enlightenment of the Ocean of Dharma Nature, in the phase of fruition; the general term of all practices of the various virtues; the most profound treasure in the Original Land.  This is the substance of the Honzon (Object of Worship). Then, with regard to the [significance] of the two Buddhas,  Shakya and Taho; first, in the meaning of Shakumon, the presence of the two Buddhas within the one Stupa signifies the non-duality of objective things and subjective perception.  And the emanated Buddhas, seated under the jeweled trees signify the universality of compassion [benevolence].  So, the revelation of the virtuous bodies of these three Buddhas (Shakya, Taho and the emanated Buddhas) stands for the state of Buddhahood attained by the Manifestation Buddha.

Next, the meaning of Honmon is the clearing away of the Shigaku (attainment of enlightenment for the first time) and the revelation of the Hongaku (original enlightenment); the tearing down of the Manifestation Buddha and the establishment of the Original Buddha, [in other words] the objective entity, subjective perception and activity of the imponderable original state; that is, the body, spirit and conduct of the natural triple bodies [of the Tathagata].  Staying in the empty sky stands for the equality of the Saha-world and the Pure Land, which is called the Land of Eternal Tranquil Light.  Revealing the origin in the distant past stands, for the self-enjoyment-and exercise of the body possessing the Three-Bodies-in-One.  The activity spreads vertically and widely over the three time periods, and the benefit spreads horizontally and widely throughout the ten directions. Then, the four leaders of Jogyo, etc. are the disciples from the time of [Shakya's] Actual Attainment of Enlightenment in the measureless past.  They are the Bodhisattvas who attained enlightenment at that time in the infinite past; they are the Bodhisattvas who were entrusted with the quintessence of the Hokekyo, and they are the leaders of its propagation.  Basically,  this Great Mandala is the mandala that represents non-duality of the subject and its surroundings; unity of the Buddha and the Dharma, oneness of all living beings and the Buddha, and the inter-possession of each of the Ten Realms; Therefore, since those who reverently listen to its name will eradicate the three persistent delusions (Kenji, Jinja and Mumyo) in an instant, and those who reverently gaze upon it, even once, will attain Sambodhi (perfect enlightenment); then this Great Mandala is a secret means of immediate enlightenment and a model of attaining Buddhahood in this very body. And, this sutra is the real Purpose for the advent of the Buddhas, and the direct way to Buddhahood for all living beings.  Reading or reciting [this sutra] is the practice that is suitable for the organ of hearing, and these are the roots of goodness that have a connection with this [Saha] world.  Copying [this sutra] is the root of making the life of the teachings ever-abiding, and is the great goodness of committing them to memory or keeping them in mind.

Next, the Daimoku is the real name (essence) of the Realms (ten realms), the Suchnesses (ten suchnesses) and the Three Thousand (the universe), and it is the inner comprehension of the triple-bodied Tathagata of complete enlightenment; it is the Heart of the two Doctrines of Manifestation (Shakumon] and Original [Honmon], and it is the genuine sutra that our teacher (Nichiren) propagated.

Hence, the Tablet Stupa is a manifestation of the all-sided transcendent power of the ultimate Dharma Body, and it is a symbol of the omnipresence of the triple-bodied Tathagata. With the power of the Buddha, the power of the Dharma and the uniting power of our faith, the noble soul [of Nichimyo] must enhance its Bodhi without doubt.  If this is the case, in reward for the blessed karma of his having practiced the One Vehicle, Nichimyo's soul will open the flower of enlightenment of the Bodhi of the one sole Truth.  Also, as a reward for the excellent karma of having practiced the Five characters of the Daimoku, his soul will enjoy the moon of enlightenment of the integrated Five Wisdoms (wisdom of the nature and the essence of the Dharma Realm, wisdom of the great circle mirror, wisdom of the nature of equality, wisdom of wonderful observation, and wisdom of concrete [actual] conduct).

May the rain of the Dharma universally pour down on the teachers of generation after generation to whom we are indebted, on the mothers and fathers of life after life, on the people who are interconnected, irrespective of closeness or not, and the danapati of the past and the present, so that they can accomplish the Wonderful cause, and that [all beings of] the Dharma Realm be equally benefitted.

Now, ringing a small bell three times, I reverently make the sound heard by the triple-bodied Tathagata.  And, what I have requested to be recited is as stated above.  This I respectfully stated.

The twenty-first day of the eighth month, in the second year of Kakei (1388)

Reverently, 

Chief Head Priest Nichiju