Nearly everyone makes a conscious effort to change the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin except the very new believer and the brainwashed (by SGI, for example). You can not read the writings of Nichiren Daishonin or the passages of the Lotus Sutra that adcocate exclusive practice of the Lotus Sutra and come to any other conclusion.
These people would put a pink tutu on Nichiren and make the Lotus Sutra into a Universal Universalist teaching, watering down its very clear messages.
Nichiren had the compassion and empathy of a mother towards his disciples and humanity, in general, but he also demonstrated the strictness of a father when confronting evil doctrines and authorities implementing inhumane practices.
To change the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren's teachings as the wind (mind) blows is an act of betrayel against the Eternal Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin. Nichiren Daishonin says our sufferings will later change to delight by strictly following the Lotus Sutra. The converse is also true. The joy we feel know, pigeonholing the teachings that derive from the mind of the Buddha, into the minds of the unenlightened worldling will later to turn to misery. A correct faith and practice can not be based on the whim or fancy of expediency or short term gain.
Most people want to live like Orlando Bloom, traversing the globe in luxury while chanting for ever more great oppulent material benefits. I think we should rather lead our lives like Shijo Kingo of the Hokke sect, putting our lives on the line for the Law every day. Part of this practice is having the guts and discipline to not change the teachings that derive from the mind of the Eternal Buddha to fit in with some preconceived notion of what we believe the teachings to be. This is my battle with the SGI and the Nichiren Shu and whomever would act to distort the true flavor of the teachings. I expect great criticism but no one yet has been able to prove that what I'm expousing is not the flavor of the teachings. If you want Buddhism lite go the SGI or the Nichiren Shu. If you want the bold taste of fine Czechoslavakian beer, come to the Kempon Hokke.
Posted by markrogow at May 6, 2008 02:12 PM