August 27, 2006
Clarification: Gain & Loss or Benefit & Curse Inscriptions
Based on replies, some miscontrued my last post on this topic at GohonzonInfo.
According to a Kempon Hokke group , "None of the known gohonzons inscribed by Nichiren has those phrases" and, "Such phrases never appeared in any other Nichiren gohonzon, and are incongruous with the nature of the gohonzon. (These are the phrases referring to "gain" and "loss", on either side of the SGI/NST honzons)."
This erroneous claim was made by a "Kempon Hokke" web site, not by me. The evidence indicates that they were mistaken. If understand correctly, these phrases are not at all incongruous with the nature of the Gohonzon, Buddhism in general, the Lotus Sutra, nor the Gosho.
The phrases themselves are indirectly from the Lotus Sutra and are based on the Dharani of Kishimonjin and the Jurasetsunyo.
From the Dharani chapter [26] of The Lotus Sutra:
"If there are those who fail to heed our spells
and trouble and disrupt the preachers of the Law,
their heads will split into seven pieces
like the branches of the arjaka."
Note that if one touches the Arjaka or Basil shrub, the blossom falls off, with its stem, and breaks apart.
From the Gosho:
"Some people may be perplexed at this point and object that, although those who do harm to a votary of the Lotus Sutra are supposed to have their heads split into seven pieces, there are men who slander Nichiren and yet do not have broken heads. Are we to conclude, they may ask, that Nichiren is not a true votary of the Lotus Sutra?" -- Nichiren: On the Buddha's Behaviour
According to "Stoney" the direct source [of the exact phrases] is the Hokke Mongu Ki", Or "Annotations on the Hokke Mongu" by Tiantai Patriarch Mialo. And, actually, the concept goes back to the Buddha's debates with Brahmins.
From the Ambattha Sutta aka "Pride Humbled"
"And at that moment Vajrapani the Yaksha, holding up a huge iron club, flaming, ablaze and glowing, up in the sky just above Ambattha was thinking, "If this young man does not answer a proper question put to him by the Blessed Lord by the third time of asking, I’ll split his head into seven pieces!" The Lord saw Vajrapani, and so did Ambattha. And at the sight, Ambattha was terrified and unnerved, his hairs stood on end, and he sought protection, shelter, and safety from the Lord. Crouching down close to the Lord, he said, "What did the Reverend Gotama say? May the Reverend Gotama repeat what he said!"
Also, in fact, these do appear to be on at least six authenticated and published Nichiren Mandalas. In his rebuttal of Kempon Hokke's claims, Nittatsu asserted that there are six {6] Nichiren originals with these inscriptions. I am fairly certain I have confirmed this.
A Kempon Hokke Hit Piece
From: Sokashoshu.com Nichiren Shoshu's Honzons
"On all the Gohonzons issued by Taisekiji and SGI, we find:
1) Facing it, on the upper right-hand side, a phrase "Jiyaku-Nou-ran-sha, Zu-ha-shichi-bu", [which] means that to those slander will have their head broken in seven places.
2)Facing it, on the upper left-hand side, a phrase "Yuu-ku-you-sha fuku-ka-juugo", [which] means that to those who worship, 100% benefit. None of the known gohonzons inscribed by Nichiren has those phrases. "
And, "Such phrases never appeared in any other Nichiren gohonzon, and are incongruous with the nature of the gohonzon. (These are the phrases referring to "gain" and "loss", on either side of the SGI/NST honzons) " -- Let's recap the so-called dai-gohonzon
Their contentions that "None of the known gohonzons inscribed by Nichiren has those phrases" and Such phrases never appeared in any other Nichiren gohonzon, and "are incongruous with the nature of the gohonzon. " appear to be erroneous.
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Candima Sutta
Thus have I heard:
On one occasion the Blessed One was living near Savatthi, at Jetavana at Anathpindika's monastery. At that time Candima, the moon deity, was seized by Rahu, lord of Asura. Thereupon calling to mind the Blessed One, Candima, the moon deity, recited this stanza:
i. "O Buddha, the Hero, thou art wholly free from all evil. My adoration to thee. I have fallen into distress. Be thou my refuge."
Thereupon the Blessed One addressed a stanza to Rahu, Lord of Asuras, on behalf of Candima, thus:
ii. "O Rahu, Candima has gone for refuge to the Tathagata, the Consummate One. Release Candima. The Buddhas radiate compassion on the world (of beings)."
Thereupon Rahu, Lord of Asuras, released Candima, the deity, and immediately came to the presence of Vepacitta, Lord of Asuras, and stood beside him trembling with fear and with hair standing on end. Then Vepacitta addressed Rahu in this stanza.
iii. "Rahu. Why did you suddenly release Candima? Why have you come trembling, and why are you standing here terrified?"
"I have been spoken to by the Buddha in a stanza (requesting me to release Candima). If I had not released Candima my head would have split into seven pieces. While yet I live, I should have had no happiness. (Therefore I released Candima)."
From DN 32: the Atanatiya Sutta
"If any monk or nun, layman or laywoman learns by heart this Atanata protection, and be word-perfect in repeating it, and if any non-human male or female Yakkha, youth or maiden Yakkha, Yakkha Minister or any Yakkha, or Yakkha attendant; male or female Gandhabba... (as before); male or female Kumbhanda... male or female Naga... were to walk with him or her, or stand or sit or lie down with him or her with malevolent intent, such a non-human, Happy One, will not obtain hospitality from any town or township, will not obtain a place to dwell, nor could live in the Kingdom of Alakamanda. He will not be able to attend the meetings of the Yakkhas. Further he would not be accepted or given in marriage, he would be reproached (by casting remarks on his deformed teeth or eyes or any part of the body), and the non-humans would put an empty bowl over his head and split it (head) in seven pieces." -- The Buddha