"...Ordinary people in this latter age cannot depend upon others just because they are said to be wise. The people of our present age can hardly hope to compare to the wise persons of long ago. And thus, even the words of someone who is looked on as ignorant, if they are supported by clear passages of proof in the sutras and treatises, are by no means to be scorned." -- Nichiren
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Still waiting
It should be an easy matter for SGI to come here to refute my assertion that the oneness of SGI mentor and disciple is hardly the prime point of the Lotus Sutra. It is not even an inconsequential point. They have devoted literally thousands of pages to explaining this concept. One need only do a Google search, "oneness of mentor and disciple, for example:
http://www.sgiaust.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/1280893669705-6032.pdf
The SGI All Surpassing Greed and the Greatness of the Disciples and Believers of Nichiren.
Value Creating Society
Here's how you do it. Get tens of thousands of people to work for free, either in leadership positions or as laborers to renovate real estate holdings. Not only do these people work for free but they donate huge amount of monies to the cult. This is the true meaning of the Value Creation Society. They squeeze out every ounce of the value of a human being to create value for themselves. This is what they do to the poor members and leaders who they always "encourage" to do more for the Soka Gakkai. Then when they complain that they can't develop themselves because of all the activities, they are told it is not all the activities, it is not doing enough activities or weak faith. Then after ten or twenty years when they have accomplished little, they are ostracized, ignored and discarded. Once they have squeezed out the juice they throw away the rind. But there are exceptions. The favored few like Herbie Hancock and the sons and daughters of top leaders who are told, " Its ok not to do so many activities, your studies and accomplishments are for the Soka Gakkai." The SGI All Surpassing Greed and the Greatness of the Disciples and Believers of Nichiren. "Greed here is the investment in one’s own comfort at the expense of others." -- SGI member And cleaning and fixing up SGI community centers, including several historic buildings while the SGI and their leaders get rich on these real estate holdings, what do you call that? A sane person would call that greed. But through the SGI brainwashing process, they are taught the meaning of greed to mask greed. How could anyone who teaches about the great evil of greed be greedy? This is the oldest con man diversion in history. Look at the reality. The bologna sandwiches with mayo offered the SGI crews after a full 12 hour day of work cleaning and refurbishing the community centers, and of course, lots of smiles and pats on the back from the salaried leaders. Are they different than the bankers? YES. The bankers will offer the marks filet mignon and lobster for their worthless investments. Therefore, I would say, the SGI leaders are even greedier than the bankers. What does Nichiren offer? You do the work, you buy the land, you build the temple, you own the land. You become the patron of the priest. As the priest (and you) build the membership and the donations come in you make improvements to the temple, the priests living quarters, and your own living quarters. If you lease out the land for grazing of cattle, you make further improvements to the temple and the temple grounds, your home. In the Sangha of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, you really are the Sangha. This is but one scenario. |
"...all are emanations of the one Buddha"
"In the case of the Lotus Sutra, however, all the sutras preached in the first forty and more years are included within this one sutra. The Buddhas of the worlds in the ten directions, who are all endowed with the three bodies, are one and all gathered there, for, as it is explained, all are emanations of the one Buddha, Shakyamuni. Therefore, this one Buddha is none other than all Buddhas, and all Buddhas are thus brought together within the two characters of myōhō."
When SGI members laugh at us
Ahaha, Atata, Arara
I have often been derided by SGI members. Sometimes, they state, "I am laughing at you." I then teach them about Ahaha, Atata, Arara which few of them have ever heard of. I tell them they are confusing laughter with Ahaha, Atata, and Arara. I would like to share with you this concept.
"Two different kinds of hell exist beneath the earth.
The first is a hell of flame; the fire of this hell is like
molten iron, which ignites charcoal, burns fields, and
consumes all things. To burn sinners in such a fire is
simple, exactly like throwing paper or wood chips into
a bonfire. Those who commit arson-robbery, who attack
their enemies with fire, or women whose hearts burn
with jealousy fall into this flaming hell and must suffer
the intense heat.
a bonfire. Those who commit arson-robbery, who attack
their enemies with fire, or women whose hearts burn
with jealousy fall into this flaming hell and must suffer
the intense heat.
The second kind of hell is a hell of ice. There are eight
hells of ice as explained by the Nirvana Sutra: "Eight
hells of ice and cold exist. They are the Ahaha Hell, the
Atata Hell, the Arara Hell, the Ababa Hell, the Ubara Hell,
the Hazuma Hell, the Kumozu Hell, and the Fundara Hell."
The names of the eight hells of ice and cold arise from
sinners' different screams of pain and their different skin
colors caused by the cold. The bitter cold of these hells
is like the north wind of Lake Suwa in Shinano Province
(Nagano Prefecture) or on Mount Tateyama in Etchu Province
(Toyama Prefecture). Imagine the intense cold which causes
the birds atop Mount Hakusan of Kaga Province (Ishikawa
Prefecture) to huddle with their wings folded. Imagine the
lonely cold of the widow's feet. Imagine the desperate cold
of the pheasant, forced down and surrounded by snow. Having
to endure the cold, the sinners shiver with their chins
chattering, and they say, "ahaha, atata, arara." The cold
causes the sinners' skins to turn red, a condition called
"red lotus" or "great red lotus."
Those who fall into this hell are those who steal clothes,
or who warm themselves while their parents or teachers
suffer from the cold in this life. (A Response to the Wife of
Lord Ota).
Lord Ota).
Those who make offerings to the Lotus Sutra and the votaries avoid falling into such hells. Those who trouble the votaries and slander the Lotus Sutra fall into such hells.
President Ikeda and the Leaders of the SGI who trample on the dignity of the Lotus Sutra and the true disciples of Nichiren Daishonin are already in the two cold hells. "I Seek Sensei" is Ahaha. "Buddhahood is only found in the SGI" is Atata. "The Lotus Sutra has lost its validity in Mappo" is Arara.
The Transmission in the Latter Day
The Transmission in the Latter Day
The transmission in the Latter Day is chanting Namu Myoho renge kyo to an authentic Gohonzon. Nichiren Daishonin and we, unlike the SGI and the Nichiren Shoshu, don't advocate a model based on "The Patriarchal Transmissions", "The Patriarchal Transmission of the Golden Mouthed Ones", or "The Patriarchal Transmission Through Current Masters."
"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." -- The Opening of the Eyes
Thus the Buddha is the source of both the Specific and the General transmission. The Gohonzon, though a text, is the reality of the Buddha.
"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." - The Opening of the Eyes
In Shakyamuni's and Nichiren's Buddhism, there is neither an oral nor a patriarchal transmission of the teachings. The Succession Through the Scrolls of the Sutra is the true meaning of exoteric Mahayana Buddhism.
Nichiren Daishonin 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)
To disabuse those who would take to heart the teachings of Buddhist elites, conmen, and posseurs, I would like to further cite Nichiren Daishonin and the Lotus Sutra:
"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." -The Opening of the Eyes
Nichiren Daishonin is a far more accomplished Master than any past or present priest or layman.
"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 Daishonin gave himself the Buddhist name Nichi-Ren. Who ordained Shakyamuni Buddha? This nonsense about seeking a living master will stifle your 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. Their's 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 Daishonin 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 with men like Jikaku who studied under, "the Eight Distinguished Teachers", every one of them certified, credentialed and ordained. Also, the priestly shackle that some advocate, diminishes one's faith in the Supreme Law affirmed by all Buddhas (Myoho renge kyo). Others studied under men who were heretics or traitors to Nichiren and still others were trained, ordained and/or, certified by modern day disciples of these shameful men. Nichiren continues:
"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 some of our present day priests and so-called mentors should have made a more careful and thorough study of the doctrines of Nichiren Daishonin who they claim as their Buddhist Master. Then they wouldn't be teaching a type of Buddhism that is wholly unworthy of a true disciple of Nichiren. One mentor in particular has shackled his disciples to himself like a sick siamese twin who 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
Nichiren Shonin quotes 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
and again:
"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." -- The Entity of the Mystic Law
"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 directly from the Buddha. After the close of Chapter 22, the replicas of Shakyamuni Buddha never again appear. They went back to their home worlds at the end of this chapter because the Buddha had entrusted Bodhisattva Jogyo and the Bodhisattvas of the Earth with carrying out the transmission of the Dharma in this Latter Age. The transmission of Buddhahood come from the Original Buddha Shakyamuni and nowhere else.
Nichiren Daishonin in the "Ho'on Jo" [Repaying Debts of Gratitude], enumerates the Three Great Secret Laws ("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)..."; Second, there is the high sanctuary of true Buddhism; Third, in Japan, China, India and all the other countries of the world, every person, regardless of whether he is wise or foolish, shall set aside other practices and join in the chanting of Namu-myoho-renge-kyo."
In the "Kanjin Honzon Sho" [True Object of Worship], he 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 [Selection of the Time] we read, "It was not I, Nichiren, who made these three important predictions. I believe it was solely the spirit of Shakyamuni Buddha, entering my body, who made them."
On the Four Stages of Faith and The Five Stages of Practice Reads,
"Within these chapters of transmission, the four stages of faith and the five stages of practice expounded in the "Distinctions in Benefits" chapter refer to what is most important in the practice of the Lotus Sutra, and are a standard for those 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 Daishonin 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 Namu-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."
Nichiren Daishonin writes:
"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 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 Object of Devotion For Observing the Mind:
"...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 a high priest or SGI president.
Nichiren on who is not to be trusted
“If anyone preaches doctrines other than these, then even though he may be a Buddha, he is not to be trusted. Thus one puts one’s faith in the Buddha who appears in the Lotus Sutra. Hence this is what I mean when I speak of basing one’s faith on a Buddha." -- Nichiren
Daisaku Ikeda, above all, is not to be trusted. He preaches many doctrines other than those of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren.
It's the lying stupid
An SGI member rebuts criticism of the SGI leader appointment process:
"That's interesting. In America, no religion I know of democratically elects their leaders. Episcopal, Lutheran, Religious Science Unity Agape, all leaders chosen through seminary or leadership appointments. But thanks for the perspective. Very interesting." -- Gary P.
Gary, these religious organizations don't proclaim themselves, jewels of Democracy but Daisaku Ikeda states,"The Soka Gakkai is the jewel of Buddhist Democracy".
The 7 characteristics of the Soka Gakkai cult by Wisetaiten
- Authority without accountability. Soka Gakkai claims to have absolute authority with regard to Nichiren Buddhism; Nichiren Buddhism can only be correctly practiced if one is a member of SGI. Daisaku Ikeda is promoted by SGI to be the foremost authority on Nichiren Buddhism for the modern age. But SGI provides no accountability — members have no control over their leaders and have no mechanism by which to affect the policies and procedures of their organization.
- No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry. There are no opportunities to publicly question or critique the teachings of SGI in organizational publications. Critiquing SGI at small discussion meetings may be tolerated to a degree, but this behavior is called “negativity” and is discouraged.No meaningful financial disclosure and no independently audited financial statement. Media reports and property tax records confirm that Soka Gakkai is a multi-billion dollar religious corporation. SGI refuses to disclose its finances even to members and donors who request this information. SGI has publicly maligned members who have pressed for financial disclosure.
The belief that former members are always wrong in leaving SGI. Former members often relate similar stories of being pressured to embrace certain beliefs, to say only positive things about SGI and to participate in fund raising, recruitment and public relations campaigns. Former members have similar grievances regarding SGI: too much emphasis on the “evil” of Nichiren Shoshu, too much adulation of Daisaku Ikeda, and too little emphasis on the teachings of Nichiren Buddhism. SGI leaders tell members that former members are deluded, cannot be trusted and should be avoided.
Dependence upon SGI guidance and activities for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought. When SGI members are confronted with a problem, they are urged to seek “guidance” from local SGI leaders or to read guidance from Ikeda. Members are urged to recruit more members and participate in more SGI activities in order to have a “breakthrough” and solve their problems. If the problem is resolved, leaders are quick to claim that participation in SGI activities provides mystical benefits. If the problem is not resolved the member is often advised to make a greater commitment to SGI and “connect” with Ikeda’s heart.- Anything that SGI does can be justified, no matter how questionable or harmful. SGI members are good at making excuses for the shortcomings of their organization. “We’re still in our infancy — we’ve only been in America for a little over 30 years — mistakes are to be expected,” they say. “We are only human. Of course we make mistakes.” “We are fulfilling an important mission, so even if people are hurt by our activities, it will all work out for the best in the end.” “If people are hurt by our organization it is due to their karma, not ours.” “People are afraid of SGI not because we are deceptive and manipulative, but because we represent a real challenge to the status quo. People can’t handle the truth and justice we represent.” The list of excuses for bad behavior goes on and on.
- SGI members are afraid. SGI members have been indoctrinated with a litany of fears: fear of visiting temples or investigating other forms of Buddhism, fear of not chanting enough or skipping gongyo, fear of contradicting the SGI, fear of listening to or entertaining criticism of the SGI, fear of chanting to the “wrong” Gohonzon, fear of leaving the SGI. SGI members fear that these things will invite severe “mystical” punishment such as financial hardship, illness, family strife, loss of a romantic relationship, getting fired from a job or a horrible, agonizing death.
- Unreasonable fear about evil conspiracies and persecutions. Ikeda and his followers have denounced as “evil” a rival group called Nichiren Shoshu, and urged SGI members to fight this so-called devilish influence. SGI has sponsored prayer vigils focused on the destruction of Nichiren Shoshu and the demise of its leader, Nikken. SGI has also assigned at least one paid staff member to follow and spy on Nichiren Shoshu priests. Why? SGI claims that Nichiren Shoshu is out to destroy SGI.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
The greatest shame
"One who has not conceived a desire for the way can never free oneself from the sufferings of birth and death. Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, was cursed by all the followers of non-Buddhist teachings and labeled as a man of great evil. The Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai was regarded with intense enmity by the three schools of the south and seven schools of the north, and Tokuitsu of Japan criticized him for using his three-inch tongue to try to destroy the five-foot body of the Buddha. The Great Teacher Dengyō was disparaged by the priests of Nara, who said, “Saichō has never been to the capital of T’ang China!” But all of these abuses were incurred because of the Lotus Sutra, and they are therefore no shame to the men who suffered them. To be praised by fools—that is the greatest shame. Now that I, Nichiren, have incurred the wrath of the authorities, the priests of the Tendai and True Word schools are no doubt delighted. They are strange and shameless men."
From Manly P. Hall: The Lotus Sutra and Its Mandala (New Post)
The most important of the religious writings of Northern Buddhism is the Saddharma-Pundarika-Sutra (Japanese: Hokkekyo) or the Lotus of the True Law. Generally referred to in the Orient as the Lotus sutra, it has been described as the most precious jewel among all Buddhist sacred writings.
The Lotus Sutra has influenced all the Buddhist sects of Japan and has been especially venerated by the followers of the Tendai and Nichiren schools. The principle mandara devised by the Nichiren sect glorifies the Lotus sutra. The design composed of written characters is called the Daimoku. The sacred words "Namu Myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo" (Hail to the Sutra of the Good Law) are placed vertically in the center and dominate the design. At the four corners are written the names of the guardian kings who preside over the four directions of space. On either side of the central inscription are the names of two Buddhas described in the apocalyptical vision the Lotus Sutra. The Daimoku is the Lotus Sutra, the ten regions of the world, and the body of moral precepts.
Like many apocalyptical writings, the Lotus Sutra, is strongly theatrical in the presentation of its pageantry. The curtain rises to reveal the Buddhist universe reminiscent of the elaborate ritualism of the Greek Mystery dramas. Guatama Buddha (Shakyamuni) is presented as an ideal - a personification of cosmic truth.
The Buddha of this Sutra is passionless, revealing no evidence of human emotions. As the personification of the immutability of Universal Law, this detachment is perfectly consistent with Buddhist Teachings; but what the non-Buddhist does not realize is that to the devotees of the Lotus sutra, Law itself is the perfect expression not only of truth but of divine love.
The Lotus sutra begins with the simple statement, "Thus I have heard." The great discourse took place in India at Vulture Peak, located in Rajagriha. The scene is so magnificent that it transcends imagination, and it takes the first ten chapters to describe this pageantry to the reader. Gautama Buddha is seated upon the throne of teaching. Suddenly, a ray of light streams from the white curl on his forehead and illumines all the innumerable cosmic systems which make up the Buddha Worlds. After the Buddha declares his intention by permitting the luminous rays to shine from his forehead, all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas from the myriads of Buddha Worlds assemble at Vulture's Peak. They fly with the speed of light, each with hosts of followers, until myriads upon myriads seem to fill all the parts of the universe. Each of the Buddhas is seated on a lion throne and shaded by a tree of jewels.
The Buddhas of the Ten Regions of Space have assembled to hear the perfect revelation of the Eternal Law. The great bodhisattvas in their splendid garments wait breathlessly for the words of the Perfectly Awakened One. The arhats have gathered from all the countries, continents, and abodes where they dwell, each bringing with him a retinue of saints. The monks and nuns of the monastic orders, including the wife of Buddha and the aunt who raised him after his mother's death, are present. In addition to these are creatures of the invisible worlds. The gods of India are in attendance, with the great rajas who guard the four corners of the world. There are multitudes of the pious, extending to the very limits of space. The universe is breathless with expectation.
Manjusri tells Maitreya that Gautama is about to preach the Great Discourse, the final revelation of all revelations; and the name of this discourse is "The Lotus of the True Law."
In the midst of this celestial assembly the earth seems to open, and there rises up from the ground a stupa (pagoda or relic tower) of stupendous size, decorated with garlands, and fashioned from precious stones. The stupa is suspended in the midst of the sky, and from the innermost part of this sanctuary a voice as mighty as the rumble of thunder exclaims: "Excellent! Excellent! World-Honored Shakyamuni!" The assembly is filled with great wonder and delight, for the voice is that of Prabhutaratna (Taho Buddha), a famous Buddha of long ago.
Prabhutaratna invites Gautama to enter the stupa and share his throne. The scene is so splendid that the Buddhas appear like meteors in a star-strewn sky. At this point, Gautama, by his perfect insight and absolute power of consciousness, draws the entire assembly up into the sky with him and then delivers his discourse.
The presence of the "Extinct Buddha" seems to suggest that the wisdom of past ages supports and sponsors the revelation. All that still exists and all that has ceased in the mystery of time gone by is invoked to bear witness to the eternality of the Law. Vast periods of time are dissolved in the vision, as are all dimensions of space. The cosmos is suspended for one dramatic instant, which may properly be termed the "eternal now."
In the Lotus Sutra Buddha is caused to unfold the deepest mysteries of the heart doctrine. He does this most skillfully with the aid of parables and persuasive discourse. In this Sutra Buddha is presented as a concrete manifestation of the Infinite Mind. He embraces within his own nature all the mental phenomena of existence and transcends them. There is a strange undercurrent that seems to imply that this magnificent spectacle is curiously, even divinely, unsubstantial. It is the production of a cosmic dreaming, but it is a dreaming as near to truth as dreams can ever come. It is the ultimate expansion of the power to think, to know, or to reason. The spectacle is suspended in the midst of "no mind," for beyond it there is only that which transcends and defies even the highest conceivable aspects of the human consciousness.
Buddha as the personification of the Eternal Mind is an eternal being. The author of the Lotus sutra causes him to declare that he has existed for countless eternities and that he will continue for the duration of infinity. His original enlightenment was not under the bo tree at Buddh
Gaya but occurred in a remote time beyond the power of man to calculate.
The Lotus Sutra projects the moral philosophy of Buddha into all the dimensions and regions of space. Creation itself is an inconceivable ethical mechanism, splendid with the beauties of wisdom. Throughout space the Buddhas and bodhisattvas fulfill the eternal mystery of redemption. It is no longer assumed that they will retire into Parinirvana and vanish utterly from the world of suffering. The great teachers, although ever appearing to be born, are never born in the cycle of mortality. Although they may appear to suffer, they only voluntarily assume suffering as part of the labor of salvation; and, though in the end they seem to vanish into the mystery of the void, in reality they never cease to exist.
A new dimension is added to the teaching of the older Buddhist schools. The Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats are fulfilling vows they made before the beginning of mortal history. The vows always include labors of salvation, for the Great Ones can never rest until the tiniest molecule floating in a sunbeam has attained the true enlightenment.
If we assume that this apparently extravagant pageantry refers to the infinite manifestation of the unfolding universal consciousness, it is comprehensible at least in theory. If each of the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats personifies an aspect of Infinite Mind, the Sutra becomes more meaningful.
Buddhist philosophy does not admit the existence of a principle of evil or of any power or being seeking to frustrate man's search for truth. The only hindrance is the weakness of human nature, which man must overcome by self-discipline.
The real message of the Lotus Sutra is not conveyed by the words of the speaker, for it is obvious that its deeper meaning cannot be verbalized. The real message was the impact of the total scene, which takes on the dimensions of the ultimate mandala. The words of Buddha merely state the essential structure of the concept. The rest must be experienced. The whole scene suggests a cosmic version of Buddha's own enlightenment under the bo tree. There is an incredible burst of light, as though a psychic atom had been split. The cosmos is revealed, like the unfolding lotus, forever evolving, forever maturing, and forever fruitful. Lives are bound together in an infinite pattern of mutual benevolence. The cosmos is revealed as the eternal teacher of all that lives.
The vision scene as unfolded in the Lotus sutra sets forth the physical world as revealed to the perfectly enlightened seer or sage. Physical forms disappear, boundaries of time and space fade away, and all that is seen is the radiance of causation on its various levels of manifestation. Every flower in the field becomes a radiant light. Even the physical earth is vibrant with an eternal energy. Instead of a star-lit heaven, there is a star-lit earth. As in a lantern, every existing creature in all kingdoms is a form enclosing a light. The power that administers the clouded world seen by the limited sensory perceptions suddenly reveals the mystery of itself. Many unseen and unknown types of beings shepherd the several kingdoms of physical nature. No living thing is without protector and enlightener. A hierarchy lies behind every veil, and in the Lotus Sutra the psychic mechanism is revealed in its fullest splendor. It is true indeed that even the fall of a sparrow is noted, and the little soul finds its eternal refuge in the heart of a loving and protecting friend and teacher. We see only shadows, and space seems empty except for a few sidereal bodies. Actually, we are in the midst of a life which surrounds and penetrates every physical unit of eternal energy.
As the psychological aspects of the Lotus Sutra are examined sympathetically, it becomes evident that it is one of the most extraordinary revelations of Will-Consciousness-Mind to be found in the religious literature of the world.
Soka University of America is "very diverse"?
Lets compare the "very diverse" [lying SUA recruiter] Soka University of
America to the Lehman College of the City of New York
Soka University of America:
60% asian or mixed asian
15% caucasian
10% hispanic
4% african american
11% others or unknown
90+% Soka Gakkai religion
Please compare to Lehman College of the CCNY
25% caucasian
25% hispanic
25% black
15% asian
10% others or unknown
25% Catholic
20% Protestant
15% Jewish
15% Muslim
7% Hindu
5% Buddhist
13% other or none
America to the Lehman College of the City of New York
Soka University of America:
60% asian or mixed asian
15% caucasian
10% hispanic
4% african american
11% others or unknown
90+% Soka Gakkai religion
Please compare to Lehman College of the CCNY
25% caucasian
25% hispanic
25% black
15% asian
10% others or unknown
25% Catholic
20% Protestant
15% Jewish
15% Muslim
7% Hindu
5% Buddhist
13% other or none
SGI tells you what it thinks you want to hear
"In an article, Greg Martin recalls being asked on a TV show what Buddhists think about the resurrection of Jesus. He said that when first asked the question, his first thought was that we don't think about it much at all. That would have been the correct and honest answer. But, believing in interfaith dialog, of course, he decided to make up an answer that they would like. So he instead replied, "The key point is that as we walk through this life we should strive to emulate his behavior, to be Jesus ourselves, not to worship his power. Therefore, we would regard Jesus as a teacher." The Christian interviewer said, "That's absolutely correct. How did you do that?" I'll tell you how he did it. Rather than explaining Buddhism correctly and with honesty, he instead told you what he thought you wanted to hear. Duh. And the thing is that Greg Martin was so proud of himself for lying about his beliefs to win accolades from a non-Buddhist that he actually wrote a story about it later to let everyone know how ingenious his response was. This is SGI." -- Shannon Heimburg
Why I don't abide together with Soka Gakkai members
"If there are bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasikas, upasikas, who put forth coarse, evil words and blaspheme the True Dharma, and creating this grave karma, never repent and have no penitence in their minds.... in that True Dharma they never have the mind to guard, spare, erect or establish but disparage, attack, slight and belittle and have many errors and faults in their words.... these also one names, 'heading towards the way of the icchantikas.' Only excluding classes of icchantikas such as these, if one donates to the remaining ones, it is to be praised" (Great Parinirvana Sutra 10: T.12.425a-b).
"If they are blasphemers, one ought not to abide together with them and likewise not approach and be intimate with them; if one approaches and is intimate and abides together with them, at once one heads toward the Avici Hell" (Jurinkyo (Sutra of Ten Wheels), "Chapter of the Multitude of Good Appearances" (T.13.704b, cited at Nambu Rokuro dono gosho, STN, v. 1, 487; Chu Hokekyo, v. jo, 2-79).
Has the Lotus Sutra lost its effectiveness in this Age as taught by the Soka Gakkai?
"I have accordingly quoted the passages from the Lotus Sutra that read, 'In the evil age of the Latter Day of the Law if there is someone who can uphold this sutra . . . ,' 'in the latter age hereafter, when the Law is about to perish . . . ,' and 'they [the Buddhas] make certain that the Law will long endure' in order to demonstrate the error [of believing that the Lotus Sutra has lost its effectiveness]. " -- Nichiren
But in order to assert that the Lotus Sutra has lost its effectiveness, the SGI often cites the following passage from Reply to Lord Ueno:
"Now, in the Latter Day of the Law, neither the Lotus Sutra nor the other sutras lead to enlightenment. Only Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can do so. This is not my own judgment. Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, the Buddhas of the ten directions, and the bodhisattvas who emerged from the earth as numerous as the dust particles of a thousand worlds have so determined it. To mix other practices with this Namu-myoho-renge-kyo is a grave error. A lantern is useless when the sun rises. How can dewdrops be beneficial when the rain falls? Should one feed a newborn baby anything other than its mother's milk? No addition of other medicines is needed with a good medicine. Somehow this woman remained true to this principle, and continued to uphold her faith until the last moment of her life. How admirable, how worthy!
With my deep respect,
Nichiren
The first day of the fourth month in the first year of Koan (1278)
The Soka Gakkai takes the Gosho out of context in order to debase the Lotus Sutra. What this does to their believers, their minds of faith, and to the teachings, is unpardonable.
The One Great Secret Law is Namu Myoho renge kyo. This is the teachings of Soka Gakkai, the Nichiren Shu, and the Kempon Hokke. The Nichiren Shoshu teaches that the One Great Secret Law is the DaiGohonzon. I will leave aside for the moment who is correct about the One Great Secret Law. Every last Nichiren Buddhist, from the newest member to the most experienced knows that there is no practice in the Latter Day other than chanting Namu Myoho renge kyo. SGI's oft repeated argument implying that the Nichiren Shu, the Honmon Butsuryu Shu, and the other Nichiren practitioners, neither practice nor understand the import of Namu myoho renge, is nothing but a straw man argument. It is a logical fallacy.
Lord Ueno is none other the young samurai, Nanjo Tokimitsu. This writing is from 1278 in response to offerings he received from Lord Ueno and in memorium for the death of Lord Ueno's niece. Here the Daishonin is stating that Namu Myoho renge kyo is the practice for the Latter Day. We read in an earlier part of this letter [which SGI members never cite] :
"After Many Treasures Buddha had closed the door of the treasure tower and the other Buddhas had returned to their original lands, not even Shakyamuni Buddha himself could have denied the Lotus Sutra, whatever other sutras he might have expounded in an effort to do so, because the other Buddhas had all joined in affirming its truth. That is why in the Universal Worthy and Nirvana sutras, which follow the Lotus Sutra, the Lotus Sutra is praised but never disparaged. Nonetheless, priests like Shan-wu- wei of the True Word school and the founders of the Zen school have repudiated the Lotus Sutra, and the entire Japanese nation has now taken faith in their teachings, just like those who were deceived by the rebels Masakado and Sadato. Japan is now on the brink of ruin because it has for many years been the archenemy of Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, and the Buddhas of the ten directions, and in addition, the person who denounces these errors is persecuted. Because such offenses thus accumulate one atop another, our nation will soon incur the wrath of heaven."
On the one hand we see that repudiating the Lotus Sutra is a cause for falling into hell and on the other hand we read that, "neither the Lotus Sutra nor the other sutras lead to enlightenment". How does one resolve this seeming paradox? Nichiren Daishonin writes in the True Object of Worship (Kanjin No Honzon Sho):
"Answer: This is a matter that is difficult to believe and difficult to understand. T’ien-t’ai defined two points that are “difficult to believe and difficult to understand.” One lies in the realm of doctrinal teachings and the other in the realm of meditative practice. With regard to the former, in the sutras preached before the Lotus Sutra we read that persons of the two vehicles and icchantikas, or persons of incorrigible disbelief, are forever barred from attaining Buddhahood, and that Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, attained enlightenment for the first time in this world. Nevertheless, we find that the theoretical and the essential teachings of the Lotus Sutra repudiate both these statements. One Buddha who says two things as opposite as fire and water— who could believe him? This is the point that is “difficult to believe and difficult to understand” in the realm of doctrinal teachings.
The point that is “difficult to believe and difficult to understand” in the realm of meditative practice, concerns the principle of the hundred worlds and thousand factors and that of three thousand realms in a single moment of life, which explains that even insentient beings are endowed with the ten factors of life, and that they are endowed with both material and spiritual aspects.":
Thus we see that Nanjo Tokimitsu was confused by the Tientai practice of the Lotus Sutra that was prevalent in Nichiren Daishonin's day. The Lotus Sutra is practiced differently according to the time. Here Nichiren is talking about Tientai's Lotus Sutra teachings and practice. The Lotus Sutra itself must never be disparaged, contrary to the slanderous Soka Gakkai teachings. Disparaging the Lotus Sutra is why their members suffer in the Great Citadel of Hell, why Japan is on the verge of ruin, and why their teachings lead people into the Lower Three Worlds.
One can not read the entirety of the writings, especially the Five Major Writings, and perceive that Nichiren Daishonin disparaged the Lotus Sutra. Soka Gakkai practitioners are evil people, according to Nichiren Daishonin.
Spreading the Law protects the people
The Fukushima disaster is proof that what the SGI is spreading is not the Law. Were it the Law, in no way would it have arisen and in no way would the people of Japan have been abandoned.
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