(kuon ganjo久远元初or kuon ganshi,久远元始)
Although these terms have had some success as a propagation tool, to pass off crazy ideas you can not find them in any authentic text that exists in Nichiren own hand. For those of you that know me, I went to the wall trying to learn about the authenticity of the different sects, and the Fuji School kept using the "Hyakurokka-sho [the One Hundred and Six Articles]" in their reason that Nichiren is the Buddha, and for the DaiGohonzon. Outside of Taisekiji, these writings are not recognized by scholars or other sects, simply because the only versions of these writings exist in the temples of Taisekiji, not elsewhere at all. Also, these writings post-date the lifetime of Nichiren and his immediate disciples. No originals exist, and no copies from the days of Nikko and others exist at all. All of the quotes from the "Hyakurokka-Sho" are simply fantasy. Bear in mind that "truth" is not so important to these old conservative Japanese clergy...it is the "upholding of tradition". In this light, Taisekiji has validated itself because it has been around for 700 years and that is just ridiculous.
The religion of Nichiren Shoshu is really the religion of Nichikan. He rewrote the entire doctrine, and he codified the idea of "Nichiren as True Buddha". As for the Taisekiji ideas of "master/disciple" relationship, the "blood transmission", etc. It's all pure Zen, which deeply influenced the later Taisekiji priests. Even the terminology of "I grasped the Lotus Sutra through serving my master by cutting firewood, gathering greens and drawing water" is from the Zen poems, so popular among the samurai of the day. Of course, the original phrase is from the Lotus sutra, wherein Shakyamuni says that he learned the Law from Devadatta in a previous existence by serving him (Devadatta was called Asita in that incarnation), "gathering herbs, drawing water" for a thousand years. But this phrase simply shows the karmic relationship between Shakyamuni and Devadatta.
What happens if you "discard" the underlying continuity to the Eternal Buddha? When you recite, "Ji ga toku burrai" in the Lotus Sutra, the "ga" (or "I") is Shakyamuni Buddha, in his eternal form. Nichiren Shoshu says that this "ga" (I) is Nichiren himself. You have to decide if the original text warrants such a "jump" in interpretation. Since Nichiren himself never makes such a claim, do you want to put all your trust in the notions of the later priests of Taisekiji? Nikko never said such a thing .
Do you really want to trust the idea of the truth of the Lotus Sutra being transmitted from one human being to another, in the guise of high priest of Taisekiji or SGI leader? No need to study the Lotus Sutra if you like the idea of human succession and having Ikeda as your savior and mentor....just remain a Catholic. In essence, the transcendent truth of Buddhism has been turned into Catholic Buddhism by Taisekiji and and the Soka Gakkai.
Maltz