Two Peas in a Pod(SGI and Nichiren Shoshu only)
"Shakyamuni and the written words of the Lotus Sutra are two different things, but their heart is one. Therefore, when you cast your eyes upon the words of the Lotus Sutra, you should consider that you are beholding the living body of the Buddha Shakyamuni."(The Pure And Far Reaching Voice).
Nikken: When you chant to the DaiGohonzon you should put your faith in the Three Treasures. Here Nichiren says Shakyamuni but means Nichiren. The Gosho is so difficult to fathom that only I can fathom it.
Ikeda: And me too.
Nikken:Yes. This passage is so profound. It points directly to the DaiGohonzon as the Great One-Vehicle. Shakyamuni is a provisional Buddha and the Lotus Sutra is a provisional teaching, so the Daishonin is really advocating that we abandon both the Lotus Sutra and Shakyamuni Buddha and embrace the One-Vehicle of the DaiGohonzon.
Ikeda: Yes. All that the Daishonin says is true and not false. The third of Three Treasures constitute the body of sincere believers who share the same mind as the Daishonin. We revere the Daishonin as the True Buddha of Mappo and reject the teachings of the Original Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni. Shakyamuni was Original but not True, as this Gosho passage clearly illustrates. Jogyo who was Nichiren Daishonin received the five characters from the True Buddha at the Ceremony In The Air. So what the Daishonin really means is, he received Myoho renge kyo from himself. This teaching can only be understood among Buddhas.
Nikken: You are absolutely correct. In fact the original wording of this particular passage was left intact demonstrating how only the Nichiren Shoshu correctly preserves the Daishonin's teachings. We only changed a few passages in the Kanjin Honzon Sho, the Ho'on Sho and the Kaimoku Sho because these are the Daishonin's most important writings.
Ikeda: Yes, that is correct. The wording was changed to make the Gosho more readily understandable by the members. Our changes demonstrate only perceived inconsistences when in fact none exist. This way we can point out the errors in the heretical sects who changed none of the passages. We also decided to lump all the Gosho together as if there was no controversy as to the authorship of any particular Gosho because who really knows anyway?
Nikken: You are absolutely right. The Nichiren Shoshu Archival Committee has determined that all the disputed Gosho are authored by the Daishonin. We do not discriminate as to authenticity because the disputed Gosho, not in Nichiren's hand, were all copied by reliable priests of either our sect or other sects. And besides, some of the disputed Gosho support our contentions. The Lotus Sutra is not in Shakyamuni's hand but the Daishonin taught that Shakyamuni preached the Lotus Sutra, so when Nichiu, Nichikan, me or you state that the disputed Gosho or passages are Nichiren's writings, who is there that cannot believe? The DaiGohonzon is this way also.
Ikeda: It is so good that we have been able to reunite. We have so much in common, the Mystic Law, the Gosho, the understanding of the teachings and our hatred for the orthodox sects who have begun to vociferously challenge our beliefs, motives etc. The precious children of the Buddha must be protected at all costs. Who cares if we change the word "Hombutsu" in one or two places. We are spreading the Mystic Law, in perfect accord with the spirit of our late master Toda. Besides gain is what's important, not truth. Truth is what is.
Nikken: You are very wise. Nittatsu, my late teacher, almost always said what a great guy you were.
Ikeda: 2nd President Toda always had such a high reguard for you and just yesterday, Mr. Akiya, told me he missed you so much.
Nikken: Reguards to Mrs. Ikeda.
Ikeda: Reguards to Mrs. Abe.
Posted by markrogow at March 27, 2008 02:09 AM