Robin Beck

The Hirahara Response to Ryuei (3)

Were Nissho & Nichiro Thieves? Hung Jury

In The Hirahara Response to Ryuei (2), Distribution of Momentos at Nichiren's Funeral: were Nissho & Nichiro thieves?, I wrote: At any rate, based on the preponderance of the evidence, specifically Nikko's record of the distribution of memontos; I hereby find Nissho and Nichiro "not guilty", on the charge of robbing Nichiren's grave. However, new evidence has been introduced, resulting in a hung jury.

To Review: Recently, Mr. Hirahara of SGI flat out accused Nissho of grave robbing. He wrote: "Nissho ... stole the Lotus Sutra scrolls from the grave and took them to Hamado in Kamakura."

Similar comments were made by Reverend Kawabe of Nichiren Shoshu. He translated from "Shuso Gosenge Kiroku, Complete Works of Successive High Priests of Nichiren Shoshu, Vol. I, pp. 84-85", as follows: "The standing statue of Shakyamuni Buddha must be set up by the side of the grave. `The Annotation of the Lotus Sutra,' my personal collection of the sutra with the most essential quotations, must be kept in the mausoleum, and the six disciples must check this in their turn. Other sacred teachings are not necessarily kept this way."
For further details, please see: The Hirahara Response to Ryuei (1) There, you may download the complete text of Mr. Hirahara'a & Reverend Kawabe's remarks.

Meanwhile, HG Lamont, in translating from the "Analects of Kempon Hokke" also allegedly cites Gosenge Kiroku to establish that Nissho & Nichiro were afforded the status of #1 and #2 disciples. Lamont then quotes from "Nikko's record" as follows: "Distribution of the mementos: The Lotus Sutra, (with notes in Nichiren's own hand), one set to Ben-ajari (Nissho) (This annotated Lotus Sutra is called the "Chu Hokekyo").Object of Worship, one figure, a statue of Shakyamuni, to Daikoku-ajari (Nichiro)"

I had assumed "Nikko's record" meant this was a quote from the Gosege Kiroku, which bears the seals of Nissho, Nichiro, Nikko and Nichiji. However, that last quote is actually from what might be a questionable document, "Go-ibutsu-haibun-cho", kept at Ikegami Honmonji. As it turns out, the Gosenge Kiroku apparently does not contain "The Distribution of Momentos" at all.

According to Nichiren Shu {click here}: Translation {Eddy Chai}: "In Heisei 4 [1992], November, the Gosenge Kiroku (in the archives of Nishiyama Hommonji) that was written by Nikko, was designated an important national property, and its [contents] made open to the public. Its contents are indeed valuable information with regards to the funeral arrangements of that time, especially the matter concerning rotation duty. It is written in Koan 5 [1282] Oct 16. Towards the end of the document, there is [Nichiren's] Last Will which mentions: "the standing statue of Shakya, is to be set up beside the grave." (end of translation)."

Just for fun, here is how Google auto-translated that passage: "The Nikko writing brush " saint ? conversion record " which is appointed to the compound sentence of the country to November of Heisei four (main gate temple warehouse of Nishiyama) was released. As for the contents funeral of that time and circumstance in the line as for especially being important thing of graveyard rotation is recorded with those which are truly important. Koan it is the writing brush October 16th of five. There is will on sentence end and " the French person, stand position thing has been written the explanation/releasing ? statue on the side of the graveyard."

This excerpt does not address the scrolls that Nissho stands accused of stealing, but I assume that part is there too. And it could be construed to confirm Nikko's lament that Nichiro made off with the Statue. "Nichiro destroyed the will of the Daishonin and walked off with the one [statue] that Nichiren had stated in his testament to have placed at his grave." -- Hara Dono Gohenji {Letter to Lord Hara [Hakiri]}-- translation offered by John Ayres at arbn

However, none of this precludes the strong possibility that Nichiren's oral or spoken 'will' was superceded by a later agreement, such as that allegedly recorded in the Distribution of Momentos. It is not like Nichiren wrote out a last will and testament. Moreover, Nichiren was in extremely poor health. His request for a unworkable rotation system at Minobu indicates his heart was good, but his reasoning was not sound.

I gather Nikko wrote down on what he heard and saw, and the others concurred that was what Nikko saw & heard. Other information from the "Ganso kedo-ki" of Nitcho {if it is reliable} does, indeed, imply that there were negotiations going on.

Personally, I get the impression that Nissho & Nichiro disagreed with some of what of what Nichiren wanted. They appear to have relented on some issues, and regretted this later on. Others may read it differently.

I mean, really! Who am I? Why am here?

I do know that there is much more to this story.

At any rate, It DOES call into question the other evidence published on line by Kempon Hokke. It also makes me wonder why some SGI members chose smear campaigns, which were full of errors, to refute Kempon Hokke's claims. In one case, they cited a traditional painting of Nichiren, inscribing The Great Mandala of July 8 1273, as evidence of the Taisekiji Dai Gohonzon.

In that anti-Kempon Hokke hit piece, they wrote:

It was titled, "Inscription of Dai-Mandala." From the picture, the size of the Dai-Mandala can be estimated as 3 feet by 10 feet. Photo F: The Inscription of the Dai-Mandala . This was not in Sado Island, because several priests, all well dressed, were watching Nichiren Daishonin who was writing the special Dai-Mandala with sumi-ink and a brush.

Needless to say, this is the illustration of the inscription of the Dai-Gohonzon. (This is particularly important, because Bruce and other KHS members have been writing that the Dai-Gohonzon in Taisekiji is a fake.)"

Needless to say, they had not studied much history. At the time, Nichiji, Hoki-bo Nikko, Sado-bo Niko, Shijo Kingo, and Nichiro had arranged for Nichiren to be moved from the hut at Tsukuhara, to more comfortable lodging; Kondo Kiyohisa's residence at Ichinosawato, near Mano Bay, on the Sea of Japan. The former three were likely present for the inscription itself. In addition, Lady Nichimyo had visited, bringing gifts of silk, hemp paper, ink, and brushes. Also, by that time, a number of Sado residents had converted. See also: Authentic Nichiren Mandara Part VII: Dai Mandara of July 08 1273

It seems to me reasoned discussion is more effective. I am not saying Lamont and others tried to deceive. I am saying there were and are errors in that body of excellent research. This appears to me to be a good time to 'suspend judgement' and try to comprehend what is being stated, while neither rejecting nor accepting.

Now, I do find all this discussion of past events interesting. But I do not see how it has a great deal of direct bearing on the proper relationship between the various schools of today. Nikko's views of his fellow successor's actions tells us nothing about people who are alive and practicing today, in those same lineages, in 2005.

We have the Gohonzon, and with faith, we can have direct insight. We do not need to try to figure out what pushed Nikko's buttons in the 1280's, to figure it is a good idea to get along with other Buddists in 2005. On the other hand, it does have academic value. And if we can glean parts of Nichiren's intention, it helps clarify what our own ought to be, in a non-Buddhist world Nichiren could hardly have imagined. So this kind of study is helpful.

Calling out others who also practice, though perhaps a tad difference from us, and accusing them of being heretical, or committing slander, is not at all helpful. My feeling is we can hang together; in the spirit of Unity, as apposed to uniformity, or hang alone.

See Also:
Rebuttal to Eugene Hirahara's Hit Piece in Living Buddhism: Link by Rev. Ryuei
Eugene Hirahara's Response to Ryuei: : Download File
The Hirahara Response to Ryuei (1): Link
The Hirahara Response to Ryuei (2}: Link Distribution of Momentos at Nichiren's Funeral: were Nissho & Nichiro thieves?
Koshi-e February 8th 2004 Myosenji Temple: Download file by Rev. Shoshin Kawabe
On The Reply to Mimasaka: Link A 1995 Sermon by Reverend Jiho Takahashi on "The Reply to Mimasaka, written by the Second High Priest, Nikko Shonin in 1284
Mimasaka-bo Gohenji {Excerpts}: Download file Reply to Mimasaka-bo by Nikko Shonin (1246-1333)

Hara Dono Gohenji {Excerpts}: Download file Reply to Lord Hara {Hakiri} by Nikko Shonin (1246-1333)

Goibutsu-haibun-cho {Excerpts}: Download file The Distribution of Memos attributed to Nikko Shonin (1246-1333)
Shuso Gosenge Kiroku {Excerpts}: Download file Record of the Passing of the
Founder by Nikko Shonin (1246-1333)
Fuji Isseki Monto Zonchi {Excerpts}: Download file Guidelines for Believers of the Fuji School by Nikko Shonin (1246-1333) and recorded by Nitcho the Younger (1262-1310)
Ganso kedo-ki {Excerpts}: Download file by Nitcho Shonin (1252-1317)
Hakasho Mamorubeki Bancho no Koto {Excerpts}: Download file The Shift for Protecting His Mausoleum by Nikko Shonin (1246-1333)

Posted by rbeck at May 19, 2005 04:55 PM