It is taught [not necessarily practiced], that one can only be a a true disciple of Nichiren by following his Gosho. The SGI calls the Gosho, "the Lotus Sutra of modern times." I present Gosho to prove my arguments. Most Nichiren sects adopt the viewpoint that Nichiren said this but meant that while the Kempon Hokke believes in a more literal reading of the Gosho. When Nichiren states, "Lotus Sutra", he means the twenty-eight Chapter Lotus Sutra (usually), when he states Gohonzon he means the scroll mandala (usually), and when he says heart of the Lotus Sutra or Daimoku, he means Namu Myoho renge kyo. Many times when he says Myoho renge kyo he means either the Daimoku or the twenty-eight chapter Lotus Sutra.
Context is important. To whom was Nichiren writing? Is the Gosho meant for all disciples or just a group, just one person, or for the government? Is it a treatise or merely a personal letter? When was the letter or treatise written? From where was the letter or treatise written? What was happening at the time of the letter, invasion, comet, internicine strife, epidemics, personal hardhips of Nichiren or the believer to whom the letter is addressed? What is the meaning of the writing in context of the Lotus Sutra or the entire body of his writings? What was Nichiren thinking? This is the concept of "originalism" that legal scholars in the United States use to determine the import of the authors of the constitution.
One thing the Taisekaji sects never take into account and which is of utmost importance, is the letter or Gohonzon authentic or a forgery? Is it a pious forgery? Is it a a letter created by a Tendai priest, Zen scholar, or someone else, to confound and discredit the teachings? Was it written by someone to win a debate? At one time, these issues were not taken into consideration. One reason is that extreme evil, according to Nichiren, is very difficult to perceive because it is so extemely cunning. Another reason is that most disciples and believers are pure and trusting. Modern scholarship and technological advancements have allowed answers to some of these questions and a few honest priests have admitted the indiscretions of their predecessors.
The Kalama Sutra preaches, "only when you know for yourselves" can you exhaustively penetrate the dharmas and the Lotus Sutra teaches, "Only a Buddha together with a Buddha can fathom the Reality of all Existence". Therefore, the most important question of all arises, how does one become a Buddha? No one was more of a scriptural Buddhist and literalist than Nichiren Daishonin: "Every character of the Lotus Sutra is a golden Buddha."; “Not relying upon persons” means that when persons of the first, second, third, and fourth ranks preach, even though they are bodhisattvas such as Universal Worthy and Manjushri who have attained the stage of near-perfect enlightenment, if they do not preach with the sutra in hand, then they are not to be accepted."; "I alone have read the sutra with my entire being. This is the meaning of the passage that says, 'We care nothing for our bodies or lives but are anxious only for the unsurpassed way.' I am therefore the foremost votary of the Lotus Sutra in Japan."; "Nichiren has now read [and lived] the entirety of the Lotus Sutra. Even a single phrase or verse assures one’s enlightenment; since I have read the entire sutra, how much more certain is my enlightenment." and, for example,
"We know that Bodhisattva Never Disparaging was attacked with staves, as is written in the sutra, “Some among the group would take sticks of wood or tiles and stones [and beat and pelt him],” but he was not persecuted by the sword. T’ien-t’ai, Miao-lo, and Dengyo also escaped persecution by sword and staff, as the sutra states, “Swords and staves will not touch him.” I, Nichiren, have met with persecution by both sword and staff. As I mentioned before, I was attacked with a sword at Matsubara in Tojo and later at Tatsunokuchi. No one else has met with such persecution [for the sake of the Lotus Sutra] even once, but I have met with it twice. As for being attacked with staves, I have already been struck in the face by Sho-bo with the fifth scroll of the Lotus Sutra. The fifth scroll was used as a staff to strike me, and it is this very scroll that carries the passage that [votaries of the Lotus Sutra] will be attacked with staves. What a mysterious passage of prediction! Sho bo hit me before dozens of people, and, though I knew it was for the sake of the Lotus Sutra, being an ordinary person, I felt miserable and ashamed. Had I had the strength, I would have wrested it from him, trampled on and broken it, and thrown it away. However, it was in fact the fifth scroll of the Lotus Sutra."
One can not get any more literal than this and one can not believe any in the scripture of the Lotus Blossom of the Wonderful Dharma than Nichiren Daishonin. The SGI is an extremely evil organization that tells us the Lotus Sutra has lost its significance and its power. My second Plea and Exhortation to the SGI is to take Nichiren at his word:
"The Great Teacher Chia-hsiang wrote the ten-volume Hokke Genron, and that would under ordinary circumstances have condemned him to fall into the hell of incessent suffering. But he set aside his own manner of reading the Lotus Sutra and served the Great Teacher Tientai, and thus was able to escape the pains of hell." (Akimoto Gosho)
As Nichiju of the Kempon Hokke boldly proclaims, "Lets go back to Nichiren". What he means by this, lets adopt Nichiren's manner of reading the Lotus Sutra. An integral part of Nichiren's manner of reading the Lotus Sutra is having faith in the Original Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni of the Sixteenth Chapter of the Lotus Sutra [admitting that Nichiren was both a literalist and scriptural Buddhist]. Only through this practice of adopting Nichiren's manner will we "know for ourselves" and only through adopting his faith and practice will be able to attain Buddhahood.
Posted by markrogow at November 8, 2009 02:46 AM