The question of Actual Proof is a tricky one by Stephanie Maltz

"The question of "actual proof" is a tricky one, because SGI/NST has spread it's version of Nichiren Buddhism, with an emphasis on "actual proof". This really means "personal experience" and "tangible benefit" in their terms. While this is something that most human beings would take as "proof", it is not what Nichiren meant when he said "actual proof". To Nichiren, actual proof meant that the predictions in the Lotus Sutra where being actualized in his very life. Without Nichiren, there is no spreading of the daimoku in the first five-hundred years, there is no persecution of the preacher, no establishment of the object of worship (the gohonzon), no fulfillment of the prophesies that are made in the Lotus Sutra.

If the definition of "actual proof" was validated by personal benefit, then one only has to look at Nichiren's life to see that he lived in extreme poverty, under very harsh conditions, and he gave the appearance of not being "protected" as a votary of the Lotus Sutra. In fact, many disciples gave up their faith when Nichiren was banished to Sado, claiming that Nichiren himself could not find a peaceful life, so how could his followers expect to benefit?

TO this, Nichiren answered that the benefit is to escape the "burning house" of this world and to end the cycle of birth-and-death as a deluded human. By definition, only slanderers of the Lotus Sutra are born in Mappo, so to take faith is so hard, since the consequences of slander are then suffered in the practice. However, this is the way of retribution of past slander against the Dharma. Nichiren himself said that his sufferings were because of past lives, and he rejoiced that he could actually resolve aeons of retribution in this single lifetime, thereby being assured of Buddhahood in the future. Nichiren makes this point over and over again in many authenticated writings. (Here is the danger in relying on forgeries like the Ongi Kuden and about 55 other well known "gosho" that are not in Nichiren's hand and do not reflect the doctrine of the Lotus Sutra, but some other "later medieval Tendai" doctrines of the "hongaku shiso" craze that actually state the opposite of what Nichiren actually wrote.)

It' s obvious that there are "miracle "stories in every religion. In fact, if this were a criteria of correct doctrine, then we'd have to abandon the Lotus Sutra and follow any number of spectacularly successful religions in the mundane world. However, this world is illusions, so what good is the manipulation of illusions? It's like a dream world. If a religion can turn the nightmare into a pleasant dream, has that solved the problem of falling to hell for slander, after you die?)

According to Nichiren SGI members have missed the time for practicing the Lotus Sutra

"In spite of this, suppose we perform four peaceful practices today with body, mouth, mind, and vows as preached in the "Peaceful Practices" chapter of the Lotus Sutra, is it not like trying to harvest crops in spring by planting seeds in winter? Roosters crow at dawn; if they crow in the evening, they are ghosts. At the time when true and provisional teachings are mixed up, are not those who seclude themselves in mountain forests and try to practice the persuasive way, without attacking the enemies of the Lotus Sutra, ghosts who have missed the time for practicing the Lotus Sutra?"(On practicing the Buddha's Teachings [Nyosetsu Shugyo Sho])

Soka Gakkai China detente and nuclear disarmament initiatives a rousing success

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/china-tests-its-most-dangerous-nuclear-weapon-all-time-13626

Buddhist "embryology"

There is a saying in embryology, "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny". What this means is, the stages of human embryo development are closely mimicked by the evolutionary development of animals from a single cell organism (fusion of egg and sperm), to invertebrates such as jelly fish, to higher invertebrates such as worms, to vertebrates such as amphibians, fish, mammals, and then man.

Likewise, there are stages in the development of the Buddhist Law which are reflected in the enlightenment of the practitioner who embrace the Law at a particular stage of its development. Thus, for example, the enlightenment of the Theravadin practitioner reflects the Theravadin Law. Since the pinnacle of development of the Buddhist Law is the Scripture of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law, the enlightenment of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra surpasses that of the practitioner at any other stage of development of the Buddhist Law. The most important matter is always the Law one embraces, not the priests, leaders, or body of believers.

The lifeblood and transmission of the Law is the Law itself [Sutra scrolls and Gohonzon]. Believing that the lifeblood is transmitted through priests or living [or dead] masters [mentors] is to arrest one's development in a stage so far from Supreme Enlightenment (fully realized man) that it is barely recognizable from the deluded state. This is akin to an embryo arrested in  the early stages of embryologic development. A few days or weeks practice to a correct object of worship is all that is needed to bear out my assertion.

Three poems by Nichiren Daishonin

"He Yet Liveth"

A mirage was the smoke of Shakya's pyre
That seemed at Kusinara* to arise:
Death could not bind him, nor might fire
Destroy the Teacher of such verities.
Hark, he yet liveth, and doth speak
Eternal wisdom from the Vulture Peak

*Kusinara, the city where Shakyamuni was cremated.

"False Appearances"

"That bamboo looks just like a boat"
Ponders the fool who sees it float.
'Twould be of less than no avail
In such a fragile bark to sail!

"Come, Wind of Truth"

The night wind drives aslant the rain:
Hark, how it strikes the window-pane!
So evil thwarts the will of heaven,
As raindrops from their course are driven.
The eagle cleaves the mountain wind;
So words from the Eternal Mind
Of Buddha fall athwart our strife,
And drive away the ills of life.
Masses of fog and thickening clouds
Wrap close about me like a shroud.
Eternal from the Vulture Peak*
Whence still the Buddha's voice doth speak
Come, Wind of Truth, drive error out,
As morning puts the night to rout.
Alas! We may not meet him face to face!
Yet is he with us all in everyplace.
Lo! In the mystic stillness of the dawn
where no man stirreth is vision born.

* Vulture or Eagle Peak or Ryojusen, where the Buddha preached the Lotus Sutra.

Nichiren on Sakyamuni Buddha

"In the third place, Sakyamuni Buddha is the supreme leader and excellent eyes for all people. He is the bridge that enables them to cross the river of evil passions; He is the skipper who guides them over the sea of life and death; and He is the fertile field in which they plant the seed of merits. The so called Four Sages of Confucianism and Three Hermits of Brahmanism, despite their worthy names, are actually unenlightened men unable to rid themselves of the Three Delusions (all delusions and evil passions). Although their names suggest they are wise men, in reality they are as ignorant as infants, who know nothing of cause and effect. How can we cross the sea of life and death aboard a ship steered by such men? How can we pass through the winding street in the Six Realms of delusion and evil passions over to the world of Nirvana by means of a bridge constructed by such men?" (Kaimoku Sho, Noppa Translation).

Daisaku Ikeda says the SGI way of master and disciple is the True Law

In the September 14, 1992 World Tribune, Mr. Ikeda stated:

"Today the only true inheritor of the Daishonin's way of master and disciple is the Soka Gakkai. I declare this unequivocally. That's why the Soka Gakkai is so important. Without our organization, the True Law would be utterly lost. There would be no way to save humanity. That is why supporting and defendiing the Soka Gakkai are the same as defending and advancing the Daishonin's Buddhism."

How much more difficult reciting a truncated Daimoku?

Nichiren teaches, "One may be letter-perfect in reciting the Lotus Sutra, but it is far more difficult to practice as it teaches." How much more difficult reciting a truncated Daimoku?

Thus I heard

The Nichiren Shoshu possesses an "original copy" of the Transfer Documents.

The world according to SGI

SGI general members and inferiors are responsible for their own actions but not leaders and not the organization.

The very best good fortune, according to the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren, is having a correct faith.

I had a patient Rosebud R. In 1977 she was diagnosed with colon cancer Dukes Stage C with 5 of 20 extracolonic lymph nodes sampled positive for metastatic disease. She shook it off like a bad cold. Then, 5 years ago, she was diagnosed with inoperable Stage IV bronchogenic carcinoma. She never missed a beat and hardly ever coughs. In december she was having belly pains and an endoscopy revealed cancer of the stomach. Within a week or two, all her symptoms disappeared. She has an appetite like a horse and is more clear of mind  then my SGI readers. She attributes all her good fortune "to the man upstairs". 

Her experience rivals that of any SGI, Kempon Hokke, or Nichiren Shoshu believer but that doesn't make her belief in God correct. From a Buddhist perspective, her good fortune is the result of the good karma she created for herself since time without beginning, particularly her faith and practice of the Lotus Sutra. Likewise, we must place the various experiences of Soka Gakkai members in perspective. Their belief in the DaiGohonzon, Nichiren as True Buddha, interfaith "based" on the Lotus Sutra, and Ikeda as "eternal mentor" are incorrect. Good fortune in this life doesn't guarantee good fortune throughout eternity, let alone the next lifetime. The very best good fortune, according to the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren, is having a correct faith.

"SGI mentor disciple is the very heart of the Lotus Sutra"

"...thus they poured out perverted words of their  own invention and took absolutely no cognizance of the explanations put forth in the Buddhist scriptures. Their's is the worst kind of baseless talk."-- Establishing The Peace Of The Country Through The Propagation Of The True Law.

What is the Daimoku?

The Daimoku is the seed of Buddhahood. Having chanted the Daimoku but once, even SGI members with their warped faith will eventually attain Buddhahood. Merely hearing the Daimoku one time assures Buddhahood in the future. Even slandering the Daimoku one will without doubt attain Buddhahood. Chanting Daimoku with a correct faith, one will quickly attain Buddhahood.

Could it be that by actually believing in and following the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren is the reason that I enjoy good fortune from ten thousand miles afar?

"The object of devotion as set forth in the “Life Span” chapter is Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, eternally endowed with the three bodies, who since the beginning of numberless major world system dust particle kalpas in the past has had deep and abiding affinities with this land of ours." [1282]

Could it be that failing to believe and follow the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren is the reason that Daisaku Ikeda, David Kasahara, Guy McCloskey, Jamie Lee Silver and a host of other SGI leaders have suffered such conspicuous loss?  Could it be that by actually believing in and following the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren is the reason that I enjoy good fortune from ten thousand miles afar? Only Shakyamuni and Many Treasures Buddha as well as Indra, Brahma, and Shakra know for sure.

Has the SGI cult fundamentally changed

Typical top SGI gaijin senior leader

I contend that there is no dialogue only debate

Nichiren Daishonin states, "seeds without peer". Dialogue is a discourse between equals. Since the Lotus Sutra and its votaries are superior to other faiths and their practitioners by virtue of the standards of ethics, morality, non-violence, insight, compassion,, empathy, rationality, and mercy, there can be no dialogue. There is only debate.

SGI wants it both ways

SGI supports freedom of religion and, at the same time, they support curtailing free speech. SGI's UN NGO supported the UN resolution banning criticism of Islam. What's next, banning criticism of the Soka Gakkai? They want it both ways: Freedom to practice a twisted perverse version of the Daishonin's Buddhism and freedom from anyone pointing out their errors.

"...The serious and strict practice of orthodox Buddhism fosters a more free and enjoyable practice (therefore happier people) than can be found in the religiously-slack but organizationally-strict Gakkai."

Joe Bunik responds:

"I would second this motion!

Having had an opportunity to practice under both SGI/NSA/... I had been disappointed by the lack of opportunity to have a practice which helped me personally grow as an individual rather than being submerged by the overwhelming "personalities and campaigns" of these groups. This led me to several years of inconsistent practice. Over time, I began to encounter the advocates of the more orthodox forms of practice and immediately found an inner benefit unlike any before. After a lot of discussions regarding this more serious practice, I became a member of Hokke Kai and find an ever continuing source of community, group and personal support which, while more geographically separated than the typical NSA practice and number of members, provides something I never encountered before. I have found that rare combination of practice which is based upon the bedrock of truth from Nichiren himself and not the interpretaions of others. The freedom from having to continue to recruit members but rather letting people think, evaluate and choose an orthodox practice provides a very supportive community to discuss and grow both as individuals and as a samgha.

I don't think it necessarily matters if you choose Hokke Kai or another orthodox practice (although personally I can not conceive of another) but I would recommend serious consideration of the values of such a practice. At this time I can not get my lips to consider chanting other than the true words Namu Myho Renge Kyo. Any other phrase seems empty. The key words in my conversion were that you can be sincere and still slander the Lotus Sutra by incorrect practice. I was sincere but sincerely wrong. Sincerity is not enough - it is what you chant as well as how you chant; it is believing what is truly passed down from time immemorial rather than what you are told to believe."

SGI commits mutiny. Throws Shakyamuni Buddha overboard

"A passage from the Lotus Sutra reads, '...as though one had found a ship to make the crossing.' This 'ship' might be described as follows: The Lord Buddha, a shipbuilder of infinitely profound wisdom, gathered the lumber of the four tastes and eight teachings, planed it by honestly discarding the provisional teachings, cut and assembled the planks, using both right and wrong, and completed the craft by driving home the spikes of the one, supreme teaching. Thus he launched the ship upon the sea of suffering. Unfurling the sails of the three thousand conditions on the mast of the Middle Way doctrine, driven by the fair wind of 'all phenomena reveal the true entity', the vessel surges ahead, carrying all believers who can enter Buddhahood by their pure faith. Shakyamuni is the helmsman, Taho Buddha mans the sails, and the Four Bodhisattvas led by Jogyo strain in unison at the creaking oars. This is the ship in "a ship to make the crossing", the vessel of Myoho-renge-kyo. Those who board it are the disciples and followers of Nichiren. Believe this whole heartedly."-- MW V1 p.10 A Ship to Cross the Sea Of Suffering