Robin Beck

Hawk {alt.religion.buddhism.nichiren} wrote {in part}:

"I hereby determine that the following six disciples: Renge Ajari Nichiji, Iyo-ko Nitcho, Sado-ko Niko, Byakuren Ajari Nikko, Daikoku Ajari Nichiro, Ben Ajari Nissho, in no order, are my major disciples. Accordingly, I have selected them to carry out my matters into the future. ("Shuso gosenka kiroku," Seiten, p.581)

“...The first disciple designated by the
Daishonin was Nichiji, who had most recently entered the priesthood and whose position as priest was the lowest in the group." - Nichiren Shoshu Monthly, May 2000/20-21

"In order of conversion, those six priests are: Nissho, Nichiro, Nikko, Niko, Nitcho and Nichiji. The order of the six names of the priests indicates the order in which they entered the priesthood. However, the title reads, "Decision. Six Senior Priests. This is not [a true] ranking."

These words concerning rank were added for specific reasons. Eventhough Nikko Shonin's rank was third according to his date of tonsure, he was first as successor to Nichiren Daishonin, having received the transmission document at Mt. Minobu. - NS Monthly, Nov 97/14

"..having received the transmission document at Mt. Minobu": "The order of the Heritage of the Law is from Nichiren to Nikko." - The Entrustment of the Law that Nichiren Propagated Throughout His Life, Gosho, p.1675, *SEPTEMBER* 1282 (the ninth month of the fifth year of Koan); Ref.: Chp 6/29/30, D&P of NS, http://www.nsglobalnet.jp

Thus, from [NSS's] standpoint, the words "not a ranking/ not in order" substantiate the Transfer Documents (Nikko Shonin as sole heir).
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Circular reasoning. But you likely know that. Was it: "Decision Regarding Six Senior Disciples at random." or Decision. "Six Senior Priests. This is not [a true] ranking."?

The Kiroku is re-interpteted in light of the
"Minobu Sojo" and the "Ikegami Sojo."
Unfortunately, the latter two dox did not exist until circa 1480. Therefore, The Kiroku was read at face value. That must be why Nissho acted as the "Archbishop"?

http://www.fraughtwithperil.com/blogs/holte/archives/000711.html

Robin, I think you are partly right here. In all probability Nichiren intended an organization headed by consensus of the six elder priests. Nissho being senior would have been the intended "lead."

**Nikko was intended to facilitate a rotation at Minobu which would enable this "federation" to function as a unit.**
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That appears to have been the agreement, but that
is not un the Will.

**Nikko's claim to being the "lead" arose initially from their failure to keep their promise to Nichiren and work together with consensus.**
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There is no evidence he made such a claim.

**I also think he felt that Nissho's efforts to rewrite the Rissho Ankoku Ron was rash and his retreat when it resulted in persecution was cowardly.**
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If so, he waited 20 years to complain. Ge expressed support for Nissho in late 1284.

**I don't think he trusted Nissho or Niko's judgement.**
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Clearly

**And on that he might have been following the lead of others including Nichiren himself.**
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Definitely not "Nichiren himself."

**Whatever their excuses, the intent and the appearance matter. It looked bad that they didn't tend Nichiren's grave.**
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House arrest is not a lame excuse.

**And it was bad that they were not able to bring about a debate. I do believe that Nikko may even have taken a portion of Nichiren's ashes, because he definately left Minobu in disgust at this and other points.**
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Nikko failed ro keep his turn, citing illness. In 1284, October, he shows up and is shocked at conditions.

**Later, after all the other senior priests were dead, and the unity was not re-established, Nikko and his disciples came to the opinion that their school should be number one because Nikko was the last of the first tier still alive.**
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So they forge proof, while fighting with one another?

**But by then each of the other 3 remaining disciples had disciples who were actively disputing this assertion.**
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4, counting Nakayama.

r

Robin, I think you are partly right here. In all probability Nichiren intended an organization headed by consensus of the six elder priests. Nissho being senior would have been the intended "lead." Nikko was intended to facilitate a rotation at Minobu which would enable this "federation" to function as a unit.

The last will and testament ordered the senior disciples to tend his grave as a way of preserving unity and giving them time to think and meditate between their efforts at prosyletizing and wandering.

Nikko's claim to being the "lead" arose initially from their failure to keep their promise to Nichiren and work together with consensus. I also think he felt that Nissho's efforts to rewrite the Rissho Ankoku Ron was rash and his retreat when it resulted in persecution was cowardly. I don't think he trusted Nissho or Niko's judgement. And on that he might have been following the lead of others including Nichiren himself.

Whatever their excuses, the intent and the appearance matter. It looked bad that they didn't tend Nichiren's grave. And it was bad that they were not able to bring about a debate. I do believe that Nikko may even have taken a portion of Nichiren's ashes, because he definately left Minobu in disgust at this and other points.

Later, after all the other senior priests were dead, and the unity was not re-established, Nikko and his disciples came to the opinion that their school should be number one because Nikko was the last of the first tier still alive. But by then each of the other 3 remaining disciples had disciples who were actively disputing this assertion.

Then disaster intervened. The wars of 1332 on disrupted the communications and transmissions of all the schools, but expecially that of the Fuji Schools. It is difficult to back up a logical case when one's buildings are destroyed and papers lost. Oral transmissions tend to become unreliable under such circumstances.