April 25, 2007

Nichiji - A True Stand-Alone Pioneer

Most SGI members do not know that one of Nichiren's six major disciples was the first overseas missionary of the Daimoku. Nichiji Shonin actually left Japan after Nichiren's death and headed to China to spread the Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, hoping to fulfill Nichiren's dream of spreading Buddhism from East to West.

For years, I have felt ashamed of Nichiren Shoshu's (and by extension the SGI's) mean-spirited misrepresentation of the so-called "five senior priests." We in the SGI have consistently and slavishly followed the Temple's teaching that all Nichiren's disciples other than Nikko somehow "betrayed Nichiren's intent", and that as a result, the SGI alone is the true inheritor of the Law. We have missed opportunities to make friends with other denominations, and have instead chosen to make ourselves feel big by putting down others who chant. A very poor cause for world peace, in my opinion.

I remember reading years ago that some evidence had been found of Nichiji's presence in China. I was glad to know that he had made it safely across the Sea of Japan, but wondered how he had fared once he got there. How happy I was to find a documentary on youtube that shows the archeological find as well as its return to Japan.

Part One:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIZU7c62ycY

Part Two

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3Ze7-ajmRk&mode=related&search=

Part Three

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQXrF8S0kKA&mode=related&search=

If the links don't work, you can go to youtube and search for "Treasures of Senka"

One of the speakers in this documentary characterizes Nichiji as being a pioneer and an adventurer. I think it must have taken a tremendous amount of guts and faith for Nichiji to go to a foreign country where he didn't speak the language and where the Daimoku was unknown. No automobiles, no telephones, no members meeting him at the airport. I am not at all ashamed to say that I admire Nichiji and his courage very much, and I sincerely hope the SGI will cease and desist in its slander of him. I would be very interested to hear what others here think about this.

Be brave, be faithful, be cool

Byrd in LA

Posted by wahzoh at April 25, 2007 06:25 PM
Comments

Thanks for this. It never made sense to me that 5 of Nichiren's 6 closest followers were betrayers. Such an idea does not speak well of their teacher.

At one point, a few years ago, I began to think it was Nikko who betrayed Nichiren. Then I realized that Nikko's views are actually misrepresented by Taisekiji.

This is not to say there weren't differences of opinion on how to proceed. There were, and some harsh words were written by Nikko. At one piont he confessed to feeling that he was all alone as the only one who had it right. I have often wondered if Nikko regretted that later on? It does seem most of the issues were resolved many years before Nikko passed away.

gassho

robin

Posted by: robek at April 25, 2007 08:33 PM

The problem is that after Nikko's death his lineage split in to several factions, six I believe is the official number. The Fuji school was one of the least connected to Nikko of these break-offs.

This is something I plan on writing about - SGI's need for "marketing" themselves as the only right sect. It's never really been necessary and will doom us later on as the years roll by.

Football teams need to advertise as #1, not Buddhist lay organizations.

If we are not able to grow up, I fear SGI will "top out" on the number of members that are predisposed to be able to practice in SGI, and we will be eternally labeled a "cult".

Rev. Greg

Posted by: Rev. Greg at April 27, 2007 09:49 AM

My recollection (from Dr. Stone's material) is that Nikko appointed six disciples from Omosu and six from Taiseki-ji. He seems to have wanted some "branching out" to take place.

Greg, I will be interested to read what you have to say about our "one true sect" rhetoric - even if the SGI has to alter history to make it so. It's sort of like Cinderella's sisters shaving off part of their feet so they can fit into the magic glass slipper (gross analogy, I know, but somehow it makes sense to me). This is a discussion which desperately needs to take place, but it won't take place among those who are appointed by Japan - it's something the American members will have to undertake for themelves.

I hope that the American Gakkai is able to stand up for itself and start incorporating American values like honesty, flexibility and religious tolerance. I think we will either take that route or you're right, Greg - the culties will take over and the growth will stall. Oh, well- this little site here (FWP) is a step in the right direction. Thanks for writing and thanks fot FWP. Yer pal, Byrd

Posted by: Byrd at April 27, 2007 10:33 AM

I agree with Greg, that the SGI-USA is in danger of "topping out," as he puts it. I think it's pretty much a done deal, actually. You see a bit of a growth spurt here and there, but you also see folks who have been around a year or two or three, getting a real look at the exclusivity claims, coupled with the insistence on the importance of "mentor-disciple" as an essential part of faith, and fading out.

Those things are not going to change, and the SGI is not ever really going to grow again. In Japan, everyone knows about the Gakkai, and nobody new is joining.

Well, you can figure it out. Nichiren Buddhists need to step beyond, and outside of the SGI, if we are to really grow.

Nice piece, Byrd!

Cheers!

Andy

Posted by: Andy Hanlen at April 27, 2007 03:28 PM