On self made men and SGI company bureaucrats

Mr. Sudo was a humble guy who had a joju Gohonzon but never lauded it over the members. I remember being at his apartment on Riverside Drive and he asked me to lead Daimoku though I was only practicing two months. He treated everyone equally and only taught the Gosho and not President Ikeda's writings. He also taught people who were neglecting their livliehood and their families futures, for the organization, to concentrate on their personal lives. Mr.Kudamatsu and Mr. Kasahara didn't get along well with him or Finas Jung who also lived on Riverside Drive, Jung and Sudo were accomplished self made men, Sudo a successful business man and Jung a world class dancer, ballet instructor and artist while Kudamatsu and Kasahara were company employees with no marketable skills outside of the SGI. They were hardly accomplished at anything except the SGI bureaucracy.

Your [SGI's] Buddha is too inexpensive by maltz

The so-called Buddhist Sects that proclaim, "I'm a Buddha, you're a
Buddha, we are all Buddhas" are in for a rude awakening.  It is like,
"Barack Obama is president, Barack Obama is a human, I'm a human,

I am President."  We have the potential for becoming president. 

Shakyamuni Buddha cultivated all manner of  practices in former
lives and all kinds of Dhyana samadhis. He practiced giving, morality,
patience, vigor, and  wisdom, too. In his life as Shakyamuni Buddha,
however, he still had to undertake ascetic practices in the Himalayas
and sit beneath the Bodhi Tree where, finally one night, he saw a
bright star and awoke to the Way. To say nothing of six years, you
haven't even sat in the Himalayas for six days or six hours. And you
claim to be a Buddha? That's too much of a bargain. Your Buddha is
really too inexpensive. So those who say that they are buddhas are
shameless, brazen, and outrageously impudent. 

"Never-slighting Bodhisattva" never looked down on anyone. When

he saw the Buddhas, he bowed. When he saw Bodhisattvas, Arhats,

Bhikshus, Bhikshunis, he also bowed, and he said, "I dare not slight

you, for you "WILL" all become Buddhas. To slight you would be to

slight the Buddha." He was completely genuine, without the slightest

trace of falsehood. As a result, he was reviled by Bhikshus of over-

whelming arrogance. "You don't understand anything about Buddha-

dharma," they said, "and yet you go about makingfalse predictions".

They screamed at him and they beat him. 

When he bowed, they kicked him. They even kicked his teeth out! Under
these circumstances, most people would have certainly discontinued the
practice of bowing, but instead of giving up, Never-slighting Bodhisattva

began bowing at a distance. He bowed and, without waiting for the person

to come near him, he quickly ran off. Such was the practice of Shakyamuni

Buddha in a former incarnation as Never-slighting Bodhisattva. 

Shakyamuni Buddha did not become a Buddha overnight. He practiced

the six perfections and the ten thousand conducts through many lifetimes

to.arrive at the teaching for quickly becoming a Buddha, Namu Myoho

renge kyo.The sons and grandsons of demons are now the members of 

the various so-Called Buddhist Sects who shamelessly say, "Everyone is

a Buddha." 

Their speech is deviant and their practice is crooked. People who think
they are the Buddha do not recognize the Buddha. This is like declaring
yourself Emperor or electing yourself President. Without an election or
loyal supporters, no one will recognize you. 

In Buddhism, people like this are certain to fall into the hells, because they
think that they are Buddhas. Instead of cultivating, they create offenses.
They use the Buddha's name to cheat and swindle people. "I am Buddha,
and so are you," they say, "now follow me." They devise schemes to cheat
the world.

Don't take it lightly; it's no game. It's more dangerous than sleeping while
embracing a land mine. People who act this way are destined for the hells.

There are roads to the heavens,
but you don't walk them;
Hell has no gate,
but you barge right in 

Another verse goes: 

One confused transmits that confusion;
In one transmission, two misunderstand. 

The teacher plummets into the hells;
His disciples follow. 

When the disciples of our current Buddhist teachers arrive, their teacher
asks, "What are you doing here?" "We're your students", they say, "and of

course we want to follow you." "But you've made a terrible mistake. This

is hell". "Oh no" the students cry. "Why have you led us here?" "I don't

even know how I got here", he cries. "But now it's too late now. I can't get

out." 

Pathetic, isn't it? Not only the teacher but all of his disciples are like fish

trapped in a net. When will they get out? No one knows. No one has a

solution for their problem. This is what happens when you claim to be a

Buddha without recognizing the Buddha or understanding the Dharma.

Such is the retribution incurred.

Daisaku Ikeda's slanderous opinion that he states as fact

"The five senior priests disregarded many Gosho, including most of Nichiren Daishonin's letters on account of their being written in a mix of Chinese Characters and Japanese phonetic syllabary. They also slandered Nikko Shonin for revering the Daishonin's writings as "Gosho" and for delivering lectures on them.They went so far as to bleach the paper on which the Daishonin had written certain Gosho (so that it could be reused for other purposes), or  else consigned them to flames. Further they labeled as forged writings and repudiated those Gosho that showed their own ideas in a disadvantageous light." -- Daisaku Ikeda

No one has saved and preserved more Gosho, including disputed ones, than the five  senior priests,Toki Jonin, their disciples, and the schools they founded. Without the efforts of the Five Senior Priests and the "orthodox" sects, there would be no writings, no Major Works, no Gosho Zenshu, no nothing. All the theoretical and documentary proof in the world, let alone the lies and hearsay of Taisekiji and the Soka Gakkai, can not touch the truth of actual fact. 

Nichiren's reasoning versus SGI's and NST's back asswards reasoning

"Question: The sutra passages you have cited clearly prove your point. But are there any prophecies in the writings of T’ien-t’ai, Miao-lo or Dengyo that would support your argument? 

Answer: Your process of questioning is backwards! If I had cited passages from the commentaries of men such as T’ien-t’ai and the others and you had then asked whether there were sutra passages to support them, that I could understand. But since I have already cited passages from the sutras that clearly prove the argument, it is hardly necessary to ask if there are similar passages in the commentaries. If by chance you found that the sutras and the commentaries disagreed, would you then discard the sutras and follow the commentaries?" -- Nichiren

Nichiren Shoshu's false view of Enlightenment

"Nichiren Shoshu Priests have studied the Gosho in depth--in its original language. Their formal training lasts for years." -- Nichiren Shoshu member

Nichiren Daishonin never studied the Sanskrit and Pali texts of the Buddha. Does that mean his enlightenment was inferior to Bhikshu Bodhi's? The Daimoku contains all the merits and virtues of the Eternal Buddha. When we chant Namu Myoho renge kyo with strong faith we enjoy the very same enlightenment as He.

SGI leader giving guidance to Nichiren

"Because I chant Namu-myoho-renge-kyo, I have for over twenty years been driven from place to place." -- Nichiren

"You have to make sensei's heart your own if you want to overcome your difficulties." -- SGI leader 

The Nichiren Shoshu faith is inferior to the Nichiren faith.

The Nichiren Shoshu has changed the principle of Montei in order to change the doctrines of Buddha and theTransmission. Montei, according to Nichiren Daishonin, are the teachings hidden in the depth of the Lotus Sutra that were revealed by 
Nichiren himself. The Nichiren Shoshu have extrapolated Montei to mean the 
teachings of Nichiren Daishonin hidden in the depths of his writings. Nichiren stated, "Now everything has been revealed." The Nichiren Shoshu's use of the of Montei is false and self serving. All the Montei teachings have been revealed by Nichiren Daishonin and there is nothing left for the successive High Priests but the gleanings. Just as the Nirvana Sutra is inferior to the Lotus Sutra, the Nichiren Shoshu faith is inferior to the Nichiren faith. 

Superior are they?

It's not enough for SGI and Nichiren Shoshu leaders, priests, and members to be superior to provisional Bodhisattvas "as the god Taishaku is superior to monkeys and apes" but they have a need to be superior to the Master of Teachings Lord Shakya of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra.

No SGI or Nichiren Shoshu mental gymnastics necessary.

Only a willingness to believe.

Three believers perspectives

Dave NST: I am going on vacation, when I get back I expect this arbn to be the Buddhas land 

Jim SGI: Then make it one. 

Mark: It is one. 

Can any SGI member change my mind?

I forcefully maintain that Shakyamuni and Nichiren lived in humble simplicity their entire lives and both the wealthy man Sudatta and Shijo Kingo never took even fifty yen in donations. The SGI top leaders' salaries are disgraceful and grossly offensive for religious leaders supposedly dedicated to the Great Law. 

I also maintain that, in the true secular sector (versus the phoney baloney secular sector of the SGI), these men would demonstrate no marketable skills. I mean really!!!! Giving guidance and rallying the troops around sensei is hardly a CEO requirement. 

Kings and queens of Soka [or archbishops and cardinals]

Either way, you support them to the tune of many millions of dollars in salaries each year. You should demand that they tell the truth about the teachings and that they do it for modest compensation, for a robe or a sack of taro [like Nichiren].

Nichiren says the Buddha is the source of the Transmission

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

      

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.

Then and now

"The false doctrines propagated by the three Great Teachers are in general disseminated from three places: To-ji, Soji-in on Mount Hiei, and Onjo-ji. If measures are not taken to prohibit the activities of these three temples, then without a doubt the nation will be destroyed and its people will fall into the evil paths. Although I generally discerned the nature of the situation and informed the ruler, no one has ventured to make the slightest use of my advice. How pitiable! (On the four Stages of Faith and Five Stages of Practice)

Today it is the Three Temples of Taisekeji, the Nichiren Shoshu, Soka Gakkai, and Kenshokai who will destroy the nation of Japan

"If it is stated clearly in the sutra, one should not doubt it." (Thus I Heard)

Since both SGI mentor-disciple and Nichiren Shoshu transmission through successive High Priests is not clearly stated in the Sutra, they must be doubted.

Julian and the entire SGI is puffed up with arrogance

"Demonstrating ten great mystic powers the Buddha  transferred Namu Myoho renge 

Kyo to the four great bodhisattvas" (Ibid pg 77) 

   
Somebody transferred something to you Julian. As much as you wish to think 
it is the power of your own efforts, there is one cause and one effect that 
only Shakyamuni Buddha was capable of extracting through his own efforts..... 
Myoho renge kyo. 

 "People can attain Buddhahood in two ways: By meeting the Buddha and hearing 
the Lotus Sutra, or by believing in the sutra even 
though they do not  meet the Buddha." 

    
You don't really believe the Lotus Sutra Julian. You defer to the 
commentaries rather than to the Sutra itself. 
         . 
 "The Juryo chapter reads: "The time is limitless and boundless -- a hundred 
thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand nayuta aeons since I in fact attained 
Buddhahood." Present within our lives is the Lord Shakyamuni who 
obtained the three enlightened properties of life before gohyaku-jintengo, the 
original Buddha since time without beginning." 

   
 Sorry Julian, not you or Ikeda or your members or your leaders are this 
buddha. you can continue to announce it till you are blue in the face or 
continue to deprecate the messengers of the Nichiren faith on these boards but 
you are just fashioning the shackles that will prevent you from receiving the 
fruit of the Buddha's teachings. 

"You who are my disciples, take this to heart! The Bodhisattvas of the Earth 
were the first disciples of Lord Shakyamuni when he attained enlightenment in 
the remotest past, yet they were not faithful to him in India" 

    
 Why are we disciples of the Original Buddha Shakyamuni and no one else and 
not the other way around? Why don't you think about it?  If we were Perfectly 
Enlightened, of what use would we have for a master? Of what use did Nichiren 
have for a master if he were Perfectly Enlightened? 

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

"Shakyamuni is the father, soverign 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 Horen, this Senchaku Shu, the Lord Buddha 
Shakyamuni is forgotten." (MW vol 2, Rissho Ankoku Ron, pg 23) 

"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) 

   We are emanations and disciples of Lord Shakyamuni. Why? Think about it. 

"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) 

   Ditto. 

"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) 

       J
ulian would like to think that he grants himself these many benefits. 
This is what the SGI teaches. Unfortunately it is not what is taught in the 
Nichiren faith. The Nichiren faith is superior to the SGI faith? Why? Because 
it is founded on reality and not pie in the sky wishful thinking as exhibited 
by Julian, Ikeda, Jim, Kathy and others. 

    
Note also, "bestowing on us", not what we have realized for ourselves. 
Sorry that Julian has more faith in the SGI and the Nichiren Shoshu and even 
the Zen teachings than the teachings of the Nichiren faith. 

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

     
But Julian and the SGI want so bad to be the father they are willing to trash 
the Nichiren faith do so. This is what is frightening about Harsh, ikeda, 
Julian and the rest. 

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

      
Not what Mark or Julian or Nikken or Ikeda expound. 

"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) 

     
You are at best an emanation or disciple of Shakyamuni Julian. I am 
satisfied with my status,. You are attatched to your ego and the ego of Ikeda 
and the rest of the SGI. 

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

MW vol 3, pg 79.  The selection of the Time-directly under the title 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) 

     
You and I may one day be as fortunate as Nichiren. Until then, a bit of 
humility and a touch of reality would be in order. 

"Shakyamuni Buddha, the World Honored One, declared, 'I am the foremost 
throughout the threefold world." (MW vol 3, Ibid, pg 176) 

    
 Not you Julian. 

"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) 

     
Will you meet the same fate as they? Will I? 

"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) 

      
Not praying to,Ikeda and the SGI. 

"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) 

   
 Not by virtue of their own power. 

"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) 

   
Why is Nichiren making a distinction here between Shakyamuni and the people 
or do you think that he is not making a distinction here? Do you think you are 
equal to the Gohonzon while slandering the Lotus Sutra and the teachings of 
nichiren by replacing them with an inferior teaching? 

"I alone can save them." (Ibid, pg 69) 

    
So said Shakyamuni Buddha in the Lotus Sutra. Did Nichiren try to refute 
this point? Then why do you? 

"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) 

     
You Julian are so stingy and arrogant you can only muster thanks for 
yourself. 

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

"First, in Japan and in the entire world, the object of worship should 
uniformly take the Master of Teachings Lord Shakyamuni of the Original Doctrine 
as the Object of Worship"( Repaying Debts of Gratitude) 

"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) 

     
No need to do as Nichiren did according to the SGI and Julian. 

"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) 

     
But Julian thinks he is equal or above Shakyamuni and is therefore stingy 
with his praise to the World Honored One. He rather praise his own achievments 
while downplaying those of the Buddha. Why? Becuase this is the SGI way. 

"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) 

      
But Julian's Enlightenment is Perfect. What need does he have to gaze at 
the living body of Shakyamuni Buddha? According to him, he is the perfect 
manifestation of the living body of the Law? The root cause of his arrogance 
and stupidity is that he gazes not at the living body of Shakyamuni but the 
living body of the greatest slanderer(to date) in Mappo. Is there any doubt why 
he has developed the delusions he has? 

"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) 

      
Those with distorted views are the SGI and the Nichiren Shoshu 

"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 ThisLife, pg 185) 

       
That is why Nichiren never said about Shakyamuni's Lotus Sutra, 
Shakyamuni said this but meant that. That is why the Kempn Hokke never says 
either Shakyamuni(in the Lotus Sutra) or Nichiren says this but meant that. 

"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) 

     
We too will be perfectly endowed but for the moment, we are imperfectly 
endowed. That is why we practice the Buddhism of the sowing so we can become 
perfectly endowed(not that we already are). 

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

     
But Julian says Mark is mistaken not to think that he is the foremost 
sage. Julian is not even the foremost sage in Devonshire let alone the Saha 
world. 

"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) 

     
Here, is not Shakyamuni predicting the advent of the Nichiren Shoshu and 
the SGI who distort and misrepresent the teachings? 

"Shakyamuni summoned the four bodhisattvas and entrusted them with the five 
characters of Myoho renge Kyo." (MW vol 6, Rebuking Slander ofthe 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) 

    
Because Original is first, the Four Great Bodhisattvas are the disciples of 
Shakyamuni. And then Julian and then Mark and then Ikeda, and then...... 

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

     
Julian and the SGI is like Ajatashatru who would displace their own 
father. The difference is that Ajatashatru has already renounced his earlier 
erroneous beliefs while Julian believes ever more and even attempts to 
propagate them further. 

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

    
Why depict or praise Gohonzon, "I am Gohonzon", according to Julian and the 
SGI. 

"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) 

      
No one more so than Ikeda and the SGI. 

"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) 

     
Not owing to ourselves and our less than Perfect Enlightenment. 

"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) 

     
How prophetic!!!! 

"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."(ibid) 

     
Julian, Ikeda and the SGI, all puffed up, thinks we bestow these blessings 
on ourselves. 

"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) 

        
This is exactly what Julian does either out of ignorance or becuase he 
hates the votaries. 

"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) 

     
Perfect time to cite the High Priests but all Nichiren mentions is "the 
others". We are all potentially others as long as we don't distort the message 
as the SGI and the Nichiren Shoshu 

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

      
Julian thinks the messenger is the originator of the message. Nichiren is 
absolutely not mincing words here. No secret teaching is being inferred and his 
position as well as ours in relation to Shakyamuni is layed down clearly. 

"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) 

   
This is perfectly clear and infinitely more clear than the mistranslated 
words of the Nichiren Shoshu and SGI translation of Reply to Kyo'o. 

"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) 

"The Shakyamuni Buddha who lived in a past even more distant than 
gohyaku-jintengo-became enlightened to the Lotus that is the entity of the 
Mystic Law.  Thereafter, in age after age and lifetime after lifetime, he 
declared that he had attained the way and he revealed the fundamental 
principle of wisdom and reality." (MW vol 7, The Entity of the Mystic Law, pg 
67) 

"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) 

     
Since the Nichiren Shoshu, the SGI and Julian do not understand this 
passage they are not the envoys of the Thus Come One. 

"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) 

"But he revears 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) 

     
"It is not their own strength that allows them to do these things." 

The line and the sphere

Nichiren Shoshu teaches the specific and general transmission as a vertical [specific] line from high priest to high priest and a horizontal [general] line from high priest to believer.

The Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin teach that the specific transmission is a point [Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra to Nichiren Daishonin] and the general transmission is a sphere [infinite lines emanating in all directions from the single point]

The specific and general transmission of the Nichiren Shoshu is two dimensional. The specific and general transmission of the Nichiren faith is three dimensional. 

That was then

                 ACTIVITES OF THE SOKA GAKKAI 

                 THE BASICS OF BUDDHIST STUDY
                 Soka Gakkai Seikyo Times
                 No. 218
                 Pages 16-17 

         

          The Lay Organization of Nichiren Shoshu 

           

         The entirety of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism
         was correctly inherited solely by Nikko Shonin.
         Since then up until the present day, for seven
         centuries, the pure lineage of true Buddhism has
         been maintained through the successive high
         priests of the Nichiren Shoshu Head Temple,
         Taiseki-ji, just as water from one glass is trans-
         ferred in its entirety into another.  The Soka
         Gakkai, which is the lay organization of Nichiren
         Shoshu, has promoted the movement for kosen-rufu
         which Nichiren Daishonin willed that his followers
         attain. 

           

           I have repeatedly emphasized the importance of
           harmony between the clergy and the laity. It
           is my firm belief that we can never achieve
           k6sen-rufi~ without it. Therefore, let us confirm
           that the Soka Gakkai's eternal guiding principle
           is to protect, support and advance hand in hand
           with the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood. Not only
           within our Buddhist circles, but in society as a
           whole, the greatest challenges lie in the ques-
           tions of how to harmonize forces of tradition
           and modernization, history and progress, as
           well as standards and social development.
           Development without norms, progress without
           respect for tradition are all rooted shallowly
           and cannot last.  Therefore, in promoting
           Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism with respect to
           our time, in our society and throughout the
           world, we must resolve to advance our activities
           with full consideration of the traditions of
           Nichiren Shoshu and the orthodoxy of its
           doctrine. 

           

          In order to realize this spirit of Nichiren Dai-
         shonin, the Soka Gakkai observes the doctrines
         of Nichiren Shoshu and carries on a religious
         movement for the salvation of mankind.  The
         essential meaning of Buddhism lies in solving
         fundamental human sufferings of birth, old age,
         sickness and death, which can never be dealt 

         with through such external approaches as 

         politics, economics or college education. 

[1979]

Eagle Peak Challenge

Chant and study hard without the commentaries of Daisaku Ikeda, your priests, and your leaders and see if you come to the same conclusions as they.

Upcoming FNCC Conferences

"Upcoming  FNCC Conferences:

April 30-May 3 Practicing Buddhism As followers of sensei
May 7-10 President Ikeda and Health
May 14-17 President Ikeda and Love
June 4-7 Soka Spirit
June 11-14 Engaged Soka: Accepting President Ikeda's heart
June 18-21 Women and President Ikeda
June 25-28 Young Men and President Ikeda