Fred:
From "The Difference between Exoteric and Esoteric Buddhism" by Kukai(Kobo Daishi)
"Question: The fact that the Nirmanakaya Buddha (Shakyamuni Buddha) preached is agreed upon by all schools. As to the Dharmakaya Buddha, however, we understand that he is formless and imageless, that he is totally beyond verbalization and conceptualization, and that therefore there is no way of explaining him or showing him. Sutras and commentaries describe him in this way. Why do you now assert that the Dharmakaya Buddha (Mahavairocana Buddha) preaches? What is your evidence for this?
Answer: Now and again the sutras and commentaries refer to this preaching.
Misled by their biased preconceptions, people overlook these pertinent
passages. Indeed, their meanings will be revealed only in accordance with the capacity of the reader: the same water may be seen as emerald by heavenly beings and as burning fire by hungry ghosts; the same darkness may be seen as light by nocturnal birds and as darkness by men....The masters of Dharma who transmitted the Exoteric Buddhist teachings INTERPRETED THE [PASSAGES OF] PROFOUND SIGNIFICANCE [APPEARING IN THE EXOTERIC BUDDHIST TEXTS] IN LIGHT OF THEIR SHALLOW DOCTRINES AND FAILED TO FIND ANY ESOTERIC IMPORT IN THEM. (emphasis mine) Faithfully transmitting the Exoteric Buddhist teachings from master to disciple, they discussed Buddhism according to the tenets of their particular schools. THEY SO EAGERLY SUPPORTED THEIR BELIEFS THAT THEY FOUND NO TIME TO MEDITATE ON THOSE [PASSAGES' WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN DISADVANTAGEOUS TO THEIR DOCTRINES."
Joe:
As anyone can clearly see, there is absolutely no Sutra passages to back up
Kobo's absurd pronouncements. If that is evidence, that is some of the poorest
evidence I have ever seen. Kobo thought more highly of himself than even the current more ignorant crop of esotericists.
There is not one iota of documentary, theoretical or actual proof that the Lama system(and teachings) was taught by the Buddha, is reasonable in the light of the Buddha's teachings, or actually is capable of leading people to Buddhahood.
Fred:
Kukai (who did regard the "Sad-dhar-ma-pun-da-ri-ki suu-tram" as a mantra and as a Dharma Mandala") elsewhere says: "The eyes of the King of Medicine never allow a medicinal herb on the roadside to pass unnoticed. An expert on gems detects a gem in ore. Who is to be blamed if one fails to see [the herb or the gem]?"
Joe
False praise, flattery and duplicity was Kobo's modus operandi. Here are some
other things he had to say about the Lotus Sutra and the Buddha Shakyamuni:
"Though the Lord Shakyamuni was a buddha, in comparison to the Buddha Dainichi or Mahavairochana, he was still in the region of darkness. The latter is as exhalted as an emporer; the former by comparison, is as lowly as a subjugated barbarian." (Hizo Hoyaku).
"The Great teacher Tientai is a thief, He stole the ghee of the Shingon and
claimed that the Lotus Sutra is ghee."(ibid.)
The Dainichi Sutra can not even compare with the Nirvana or Kegon Sutras let
alone with the Lotus Sutra. The doctrines of Kobo are so full of errors that even his own disciples would not accept them and Shingon influence has declined to the point of disapearing. It is practically not even worth mentioning or wasting one's time to debate.
In the he fifth volume of the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha states:
"Monjushiri, this Lotus Sutra is the secret storehouse of Buddhas. Among
the sutras, it hiolds the highest place."
Nichiren Daishonin states:
"If this passage of the scripture is to be believed, then the Lotus sutra must
represent the True Law that dwells supreme above the Dainichi and all the
numerous other sutras. How then one wonders, would Shan-wu-wei,
Chin-kang-chih, Pu-kung, Kobo, Jikaku, and chisho interpret this passage and
reconcile it with their beliefs."(Hoon Sho [Repaying Debts of Gratitude] ).
Fred:
As one who believes that Kukai did achieve "sokushin jobutsu" or "the attainment of true buddha-hood in this existence," I am dubious regarding the exclusivist claims you make for the practice in accordance with the tenets of the Nichiren sect. I do not doubt that the Lotus Sutra is an effective vehicle. But I do doubt that your limited commentarial tradition is all-encompassing.
Many people *have* found the lineages of Tibetan Buddhism to be effective means, and their realizations have been authenticated by their own testimony
and by the testimony of masters in other lineages.
I am sorry that you are unable to see the medicinal herbs that grow by the
roadside. Perhaps a large dosage of dandelion greens would do you some
good.
Joe:
You must have read the Kujakukyo no Ongi which states:
"Kobo Daishi thereupon formed his hands in the wisdom mudra and faced south. Suddenly his mouth opened and he turned into the golden-colored Buddha Mahavairochana."
Nichiren Daishonin asks:
" Now in what year of the reign of what ruler did this happen? In China from
the time of the Chien-yuan era (140-134 B.C.), and in Japan from the time of
the Taiho era (701-704), among the records of events kept by priests and the
laity, those of important occurrences have always been accompanied by the name of the era in which they took place. With an event as important as that described, why then is there no mention of who the ruler was, who his high ministers were, what the name of the era was, or what day and hour the event took place?"(On Repaying Debts of Gratitude)
And, ss far as testimonials go, we can find testimonials in all the "great" religions of the world. I have a friend a very sympathetic catholic woman who developed metastatic breast cancer over 24 years ago! However, such wonders are miniscule compared to the wonder of chanting Namu Myoho renge kyo and believing in the Lord of Teachings, the Buddha Shakyamuni of the Original Doctrine.