Both of his parents are buried in a Shingon cemetary. The first thing Nichiren Daishonin did upon attaining Supreme Enlightenment was shakabuku his mother and father. Daisaku Ikeda parents apparently, were unable to see either the greatness of Namu Myoho renge kyo nor their son's attainments. How could that be? Everyone from the newest SGI member to the acting president of the Soka Gakkai, see's Daisaku Ikeda's greatness.
Perhaps his parents knew the real Daisaku Ikeda, the power hungry seeker of worldly fame and profits. Either way, this is powerful actual proof of yet another of Daisaku Ikeda's unrealized dreams. Let's once again compare and contrast Nichiren Daishonin to Daisaku Ikeda, adding inability to shakabuku parents as another unrealized dream;
Nichiren:
1). Broken hand on attempt on his life
2). Sword cut on forehead during same attempt on his life
3). Released on reef several hundred yards from shore in middle of Japanese Sea
4). Presented with standing statue of Shakyamuni Buddha which he cherished until the last moment of his life
5). Clothed in skins of dead animals in forest
6). Running for life many times
7). Eating brachen and grass for months on end
8). Living in 8'x12' hut for years
9). Icing of beard, hair, and eyebrows while living in the frigid cold for months on end.
11). Living in hut in a cemetary with openings in roof and walls for almost three years
11). Hit in the face with the fifth scroll of the Lotus Sutra
12). Moments away from losing his head on Tatsunokuchi beach his life spared by a miraculous event.
13). Eating Taro and other root vegetables every day for months on end
14). Children spitting in his face, laughed at, and degraded on a daily basis.
15). Warming the frozen writing brush in his mouth every several seconds while writing the Opening of the Eyes by candlelight in his hut.
16). Betrayal by some of his closest disciples
17). His disciples beheaded, their lands confiscated, and others imprisoned.
18). Mother "resurrected" and living an additional 4 years
19) Offerings of rice, taro, robes, persimmons, and sake.
20). Disciples protecting and cherishing his Gohonzons and writings for posterity.
21). Millions chanting the Daimoku, worshipping Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra, and revering the Lotus Sutra.
Ikeda:
1). Several dozen luxurious houses all over the world situated on the finest land given to him for free.
2). Finest food, best medical care money can buy, thousand dollar suits and expensive shoes. People to carry his luggage, open his car doors, finest hotel accommodations, ghost writers, bodyguards, frequent travel to beautiful locals, maids, all for free.
3). Number one son dies in youth of eminently curable illness.
4). Accolades from slanderers, surrounded by sycophants.
5). Collection of fine art.
6). Conflicting doctrines
7). Statues, banners, stadiums, reliefs, culture festivals, photos on or near millions of Buddhist altars, in his honor.
9). Unrealized dreams: Sho Hondo; Komeito; Nobel peace prize; SGI USA and their > 500,000 Gohonzons bestowed and less than 40,000 practitioners; No access to a Nichiren Gohonzon despite the Soka Gakkai being worth more than the Sony Corp.
10). Disciples who hate Shakyamuni Buddha and deprecate the Lotus Sutra.
11). Letters of praise from the authorities
12). Useless honorariums bought and bestowed without converting a single rector, now numbering 269
13). Praise by dictators and tyrants.
Posted by markrogow at November 15, 2009 01:17 PMIf President Ikeda is stating that Mr. Devil 6 exists within oneself, it does seem as though he is contradicting himself by attacking others.
But if he is stating that Mr. D6 exists within individuals then he is not contradicting himself at all because Mr. D6 is basically a function that is existent in every human being. That's why D6 is in Gohonzon, which is the reflection of our life. This is precisely the reason why we need to always be careful about mine and other people's D6.
And by mentioning that Fundamental Darkness is something that is existent in human being, he is acknowledging his own D6 like everyone else and the importance of constantly keeping an eye on it. I think that's quite a fair thing to say.
Posted by: Sokalion at November 20, 2009 06:51 PMsokalion defends his mentor's statement:
"This is the very kind of situation to which my mentor, second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, was referring when he said, "It may appear that our enemies are outside, but the most insidious enemies are within." Therefore, we must take a firm stand against those who seek to spread poison inside the organization. If left unchallenged, their noxious influence will pervade the entire organization and end up destroying everyone's pure faith. That is why it is imperative that we remain vigilant against those who would betray the teachings of our mentors." -- Daisaku Ikeda
In other writings Ikeda has claimed the King Devil of the Sixth Heaven [fundamental darkness] only exists in the individual
"We could say that man's moral blindness poses an 'internal' threat, and flaws in government structure an 'external' one; but ultimately, both are problems of the human being himself…. Without grasping the reality of his 'internal threat', people wander helplessly in the mists of anxiety and confusion. That's what's happening today. Here lies the ultimate raison d'être of religion: as a beam of light, shot into the darkness of the future. Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism identifies the source of the 'internal threat' as Gampon-no Mumyo, or 'fundamental darkness', an essential ignorance of the true nature of life. The Daishonin's Buddhism is an universally applicable religion which shows anyone how to break through this darkness."
Why does Ikeda assign blame to "noxious individuals"? Because of his inability to perceive the fundamental darkness within.
Posted by: Mark Rogow at November 19, 2009 09:51 PM
Sokalion,
Mark is basically Nichiren Shoshu still in true beliefs, but uses the Tourist Temple Myomanji as a cover-up.
Posted by: sansho the bailiff at November 19, 2009 08:35 AMSokalion: I don't see how that quote shows President Ikeda being being confused at all. In fact, I think it's so true!!
There are people who talk behind people's back, trying to create confusions, incapable of constructive dialogues, spread personal hatred and lies rather than reason. It's a part of human nature. Those are the exactly the things that he is telling us to fight. That goes with Nikken and Ogasawara as well.
And high priests like Nikken and Ogasawara are the liars with twisted minds.
Ogasawara, who held the rank of chief instructer of priests, who taught that Nichiren was inferior to the Sun Goddess. He was responsible for receiving Shinto Talisman and taking Nichiren buddhism into wrong direction, which Makiguchi opposed. And obviously many were angry. Makiguchi opposed the militaristic government and Ogasawara and died in prison. Makiguchi was the true Martyr who dedicated his life for the sake of Nichiren Buddhism.
Probably the way the youth handled the situation back then was wrong, but at least Toda apologized later. Nevertheless, I admire their passion to correct the wrong.
In terms of Toda's quotes, today, Soka Gakkai Gohonzon, which is the Nichikan Gohonzon is giving members wonderful benefits. And again, we broke up with "High Priests" who wrongly claim that you need both Dai Gohonzon and priests to attain enlightenment (violation of human rights).
Nichikan Shonin worked tirelessly to clarify the Daishonin's teachings because of the number of errors and misconceptions that were spread from the doctrines of the five senior priests who had turned against Nikko Shonin after the Daishonin passed away.
In terms of the quote you just wrote:
"Hit them, especially Nikken. Tie him up with a wire, and beat his head with a hammer."
There has been many occasions in which high priests put the quotes that don't even exist so I doubt this quote has existed at all. I have seen too many lies and misquotations. Perhaps you want to show me the script of the entire speech.
Sokalion:
one of the fundamentals behind the spirit of mentor and disciple is about respecting the dignity of all lives, which is definitely what the Lotus Sutra incorporates. So I apparently do not contradict anything.
Mark:
"This is the very kind of situation to which my mentor, second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, was referring when he said, "It may appear that our enemies are outside, but the most insidious enemies are within." Therefore, we must take a firm stand against those who seek to spread poison inside the organization. If left unchallenged, their noxious influence will pervade the entire organization and end up destroying everyone's pure faith. That is why it is imperative that we remain vigilant against those who would betray the teachings of our mentors." -- Daisaku Ikeda
Your mentor is very confused.
"Members of the Minobu school of the Nichiren sect chant daimoku. They have the Gosho. Their recitation of the sutra also includes the Hoben
and Juryo chapters. And, in the Shoshinkai, which consists of ex-priests of Nichiren Shoshu, the portions of the sutra they recite and the daimoku that they chant are identical to the practice we observe. Though their religion may seem the same as ours, they lack the single, unbroken Heritage of the Law recieved directly from Nichiren Daishonin. If one's faith is not based on this line of inheritance, it is worthless to embrace any Gohonzon, for no benefit will be forthcoming.
That is to say, 'Without the lifeblood of faith, it would be useless to embrace the Lotus Sutra.'" Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhism in Action, vol. 3, p. 254
"We, ourselves, cannot produce the Gohonzon. Since it's the enlightened entity of Nichiren Daishonin no one has the authority other than the
successive High Priests who have been the sole heirs to the Heritage of the True Law. We take no part in this. Therefore, the objects of worship inscribed by those in the Butsuryu and Minobu factions [of the Nichiren sect] are absolutely powerless. They are worthless because they are fake. In fact, they contain the power of evil spirits. That is why they are dangerous."
Josei Toda, Daibyaku Renge, 98, p. 98
"Hit them, especially Nikken. Tie him up with a wire, and beat his head with a hammer." �( All Japan Top YMD members' Meeting, Dec. 13 1992 )
The Ogusawara incident, you know when Ikeda roughed up that elderly priest.
This is sanctity for the lives of others? You have got to be kidding.
The Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and great deities of the universe will never follow and manifest in the life of a slanderer or in a slanderer's "gohonzon". Nichikan was the greatest slanderer in the history of True Buddhism and you devote yourself to his "gohonzon". How could they ever follow or manifest before you or in your life?
Mark
Posted by: Mark Rogow at November 18, 2009 08:14 PMMark: I have the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin, Brahma, Shakra, and the gods of the sun and the moon. If you can not see them, perhaps you should reflect on your faith.
Sokalion: Fantastic! We have them too!
Posted by: Sokalion at November 18, 2009 02:44 PMMark: Out of one side of your [SGI] mouth, you say the heart of the Lotus Sutra is the dignity of the life while out of the other side, you say the heart is the oneness of Mentor and Disciple. We always say the heart of the Lotus Sutra is Myoho renge kyo.
Sokalion: one of the fundamentals behind the spirit of mentor and disciple is about respecting the dignity of all lives, which is definitely what the Lotus Sutra incorporates. So I apparently do not contradict anything.
Posted by: Sokalion at November 18, 2009 02:42 PMMark:
The actual SGI doctrine is reflected by the following statement made on the SGI anti-Kempon Hokke Shu (KHS) web site which, thanks to our prayers has been shut down on AOL. On a page concerning the original Japanese KHS, it is stated:
"Although LS and Gosho are great teachings, they are limited to certain countries (Asian countries) and certain era (India 6 centuries
BC, or 13th century Japan). It may need some explanations and interpretations in applying their principles to modern times and to other countries, such as Western countries and Africa. The person who is doing this unprecedented task is SGI President Ikeda. With his Ichinen and wisdom, Nichiren Daishonin's teachings has spread
to 14 million people in 128 countries. President Ikeda is the mentor for our Buddhist practice. There is no other person in the world who
can do this. . . . KHS members assert that LS and Gosho can be understood clearly by reading and interpreting as they are. This is an
arrogant attitude. When someone falls into arrogance that he/she can understand everything by him/herself, the individual eill eventually stop practicing and he/she will fail to attain enlightenment. Buddhism is profound. No matter how many years we practice, still we always
make new discoveries when we read Sensei's lectures and speeches."
You apparently don't even know your own teachings.
Sokalion:
Soka Gakkai is the one which spread this Buddhism around the world. This is not "arrogance" but "FACT."
Posted by: Sokalion at November 18, 2009 02:38 PMSokalion:
Nichiren Daishonin made it clear in his writings that Lotus Sutra is the king of all the sutras. That's why SGI put its emphasis on the Lotus Sutra.
Mark:
The actual SGI doctrine is reflected by the following statement made on the SGI anti-Kempon Hokke Shu (KHS) web site which, thanks to our prayers has been shut down on AOL. On a page concerning the original Japanese KHS, it is stated:
"Although LS and Gosho are great teachings, they are limited to certain countries (Asian countries) and certain era (India 6 centuries
BC, or 13th century Japan). It may need some explanations and interpretations in applying their principles to modern times and to other countries, such as Western countries and Africa. The person who is doing this unprecedented task is SGI President Ikeda. With his Ichinen and wisdom, Nichiren Daishonin's teachings has spread
to 14 million people in 128 countries. President Ikeda is the mentor for our Buddhist practice. There is no other person in the world who
can do this. . . . KHS members assert that LS and Gosho can be understood clearly by reading and interpreting as they are. This is an
arrogant attitude. When someone falls into arrogance that he/she can understand everything by him/herself, the individual eill eventually stop practicing and he/she will fail to attain enlightenment. Buddhism is profound. No matter how many years we practice, still we always
make new discoveries when we read Sensei's lectures and speeches."
You apparently don't even know your own teachings.
Sokalion:
The heart of the Lotus Sutra is the dignity of all life, meaning the ability for each person to believe in his/her own Buddhahood. Not dependent upon anyone else.
Mark:
Out of one side of your [SGI] mouth, you say the heart of the Lotus Sutra is the dignity of the life while out of the other side, you say the heart is the oneness of Mentor and Disciple. We always say the heart of the Lotus Sutra is Myoho renge kyo.
Sokalion, from Singapore?
So I believe in everything I have said thus far.
Go ahead and show whatever you got.
Mark:
I have the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin, Brahma, Shakra, and the gods of the sun and the moon. If you can not see them, perhaps you should reflect on your faith.
Posted by: Mark Rogow at November 17, 2009 11:21 PMNichiren Daishonin made it clear in his writings that Lotus Sutra is the king of all the sutras. That's why SGI put its emphasis on the Lotus Sutra.
The heart of the Lotus Sutra is the dignity of all life, meaning the ability for each person to believe in his/her own Buddhahood. Not dependent upon anyone else.
So I believe in everything I have said thus far.
Go ahead and show whatever you got.
Posted by: Sokalion at November 17, 2009 10:42 PMSokalion:
well, what SGI spread is the spirit of Lotus Sutra. It's not whatever "ism" you call.
we embody the spirit of Lotus Sutra into daily practice in this wonderful community, constantly learning from each other about how to become better people.
Mark:
Really?
cl:
"The Lotus Sutra is everything, no? It is the entire life of all sentient and insentient beings and their environment and the rhythm of cause and effect as it relates to everything, including the entire life of all sentient and insentient beings and their environment. This is the very definition of interfaith understanding in this time. The Lotus Sutra is the very core of all faiths and practices so, therefore, how could any one faith or practice not be in accordance with the Lotus Sutra?"
Nichiren Daishonin:
Answer: The Japanese people of this age are one in their opinion of what practice accords with the Buddha’s teachings. THEY BELIEVE THAT, SINCE ALL VEHICLES ARE OPENED UP AND INCORPORATED IN THE ONE VEHICLE OF BUDDHAHOOD, NO TEACHING IS SUPERIOR OR INFERIOR, SHALLOW OR PROFOUND, BUT ALL ARE EQUAL TO THE LOTUS SUTRA. Hence the belief that chanting the Nembutsu, embracing the True Word teaching, practicing Zen meditation, or professing and reciting any sutra or the name of any Buddha or bodhisattva equals following the Lotus Sutra.
But I insist that this is wrong..." -- On Practicing According to the Teachings.
Believing themselves wise enough to instruct Nichiren, the SGI leaders bring ruin upon themselves and the sincere members who believe these foolish men wise. I have tons of guidances from your leaders and even mentor that is even more contrary to the spirit of the Lotus Sutra. Care to see them?
well, what SGI spread is the spirit of Lotus Sutra. It's not whatever "ism" you call.
we embody the spirit of Lotus Sutra into daily practice in this wonderful community, constantly learning from each other about how to become better people.
Posted by: sokalion at November 17, 2009 04:34 PMDear Sokalion:
We, the followers of Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin observe the Three Proofs not the opinions of others. Daisaku Ikeda and the Soka Gakkai have spread Nichikanism, Ikedaism, and the Soka philosophy, not Buddhism, the teachings of the Lotus Sutra nor the authentic teachings of Nichiren Daishonin.
Posted by: Mark Rogow at November 17, 2009 08:47 AMwell, in my humble opinion, Daisaku Ikeda did more than anyone else to spread this Buddhism around the world.
if he has spread Lotus Sutra more than anyone else and you are making a case that he is a slanderer is a very nice try but you are failing pretty badly thus far.
Posted by: sokalion at November 17, 2009 08:00 AMSokalion:
Born into a Shingon family and having corrupted the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin, I quote Nichiren on the fate of your mentor, his ancestors, and his descendents.
"As for the families of slanderers, the family members may pass their entire lives without slandering the Lotus Sutra. But even though they practice it every hour of the day and night, the fact that they were born into the family of a slanderer means that they will invariably be reborn in the hell of incessant suffering..."
Were I to accede even a little to the remote possibility that Daisaku Ikeda was not a slanderer of the magnitude of Mahadeva or the Great Arrogant Brahman, nevertheless, he was not equal to the Buddha or Nichiren Daishonin [who converted their parents]. These are the men you should follow and defend.
Posted by: Mark Rogow at November 16, 2009 09:23 PMNichiren makes it clear that even if parents are not chanting, your prayer will reach them. So you are basically making insignificant fact significant.
Posted by: sokalion at November 16, 2009 10:42 AMblind leading the blind
Posted by: cl at November 16, 2009 10:07 AMDear Jason:
There are no more than a handful of true disciples who have kept Nichiren's teachings pure and have risked their lives to do so. I take solace from the shakabuku martyrs of the Nichiren faith, many of whom have been followers of Nichiju:
http://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/jjrs/pdf/421.pdf
Nikkyo was one such martyr who had his nose and ears cut off. Nichinin and Nichijitsu were others. The "potheaded" monk, Nisshen, although not a disciple of Nichiju, was yet another true disciple and now we have Jason Joaquin. This is truly remarkable.
Mark
Posted by: Mark Rogow at November 15, 2009 11:11 PMEvery time that I feel alone and depressed in this world because so few people follow, let alone have heard of, the essential doctrine of the Lotus Sutra and the three great secret dharmas, you post these lists and then I regain the strength to sacrifice even my own two arms for the sake of the Lotus Sutra.
The comparison between those who have attained the way and those who have not is like the dirt under one's fingernails compared to the dirt in the three-thousand-great-thousandfold world.
Posted by: Jason at November 15, 2009 06:46 PM