Robin Beck

Nissho's Denpo Honzon of 1280

Nissho's Daimandara of 1280
On Nichiren's Gohonzon for Practicing Kanjin

This is known as 伝法本尊 -- Denpo Honzon; the Honzon for Transmission of the Dharma.

Nissho's Daimandara of 1280, #101, is one of four {4} authentic Nichiren Mandala Gohonzon(s) for which we have a complete diagram or map.

With the exception the Lower Lower Left Side Memoranda, it has the exact same entries as the Great Mandala designated "Shutei Honzon". The Memoranda indicates that in the "Third Year of Koan {1280}" during the cyclical sign of "Taisai Kanoetatsu" "Eleventh Month " it was "Transmitted to the Son of Shakya, Nissho ."

釈 [Shaku; Shakyamuni] 子 [Ko; Child] 日昭 [Nissho] 伝 [Den; Dharma Transmission] 之 [of, this]

Nissho (1221-1323) was the senior most of Nichiren's Six {6} designated successors and the de facto head of the Hokke Shu movement after the founder's demise.

In 1253, Nichiren set up a small hermitage in Matsu-baga-yatsu Valley, of the developing Nagoe Hills area. Soon after Nichiren had settled in Kamakura, a Tendai priest came to visit him, and became his disciple. The name of the visitor was Jôben, a classmate of Nichiren at Hieizan. Nichiren named him Nisshô. In 1254, Nissho's youthful nephew, Nichiro, also became Nichiren's disciple.

For more on Nissho: Nissho Shonin by Ryuei Michael McCormick

I was told that the mandala became known as the Great Mandala for Transmitting the Dharma . Also, it is the most common Gohonzon issued by Kempon Hokke Shu in the USA. Links:

O'Mandalas by St. Nichiren

It is kept at Myohokkeji Temple Tamazawa, Mishima City, Izu, Shizuoka. Myohokkeji was originally Nissho's Hokkeji Temple at Hama, Kamakura. Nissho took up residence at Hama after Tatsunokuchi. Hokkeji was officially founded by Nissho in 1284 and transfered to a Nichiyu in 1317. The Temple was moved to Izu and renamed Myohokkeji by Oman-no-kata in 1621. Three other authentic Nichiren Mandala Gohonzon(s) are listed as housed there. These are:

Mandala #37 dated April 1276 {}, also conferred upon Nissho. The Nichiren Prayer Gohonzon aka Medicine Mandala (Kenji 2), Given out by the Independent Movement.

Mandala #62 dated April 8, 1279 (Koan 2). Mandala inscribed by Nichiren, formal style.

*Mandala #78. Mandala inscribed by Nichiren, abbreviated style.

See Also: Myohokkeji Nichiren Portrait 14th Century

弘安3年 仏滅度後二千二百三十余年之間一閻浮提之内未曽有大漫荼羅也
釈子日昭伝之 静岡県玉沢妙法華寺 伝法本尊 12紙 sheets 197.6 cm 108.8 cm

Dial Up Internet

Confession & Metta Cultivation

Brahma Vihara
Metta Cultivation
Zange
Silent Meditation

Most Buddhists know the term metta. It is the "Ji" of Jihi. Metta is the Pali term. The Sanskrit is "Maitri", as in Maitreya. Synonyms might be agape, amour, simpatico, kindness, amity, and good will. We can also define it in terms of opposites. The far opposite of metta/maitri is dosa/dvesa, translated as aversion, hatred & anger; while near 'opposites' would be excessive attachment, allurement, eros, avarice, or greed {lobha}, and lust {kama}.

Metta Bhavana {cultivation} is a practice to cultivate loving kindness. This is often done as a guided silent meditation. I worked the metta cultivation into the Zange and Mantra Powered Chakra Visualization Ritual. Here are two recorded guided metta meditations {Real Player needed}:

This one explains how the process works; how affection is expanded from a conditional & partial attachment to an unconditioned or universal loving kindness:

guided metta meditation2

This is an actual guided meditation session:

guided metta meditation1

))))))))))>mettawaves<((((((((((

Zange or Sange is the Buddhist form of Confession & Repentance. I suspect there is a basis in the Pali Canon. It is elaborated on in the Great Compassion Dharani Sutra and the Samantabhadra Meditation Sutra. There is also the Tiantai Meditation Manual Fa-Hua San-Mei Ch'an-I {Confessional Samadhi of the Lotus Sutra}. I plan to elaborate more on Zange in a future entry. It implies a practical method or methods to take responsibility for our own negative emotions.

The metta cultivation is one of the ways HOW I pray for people and about situations that make me feel hurt, angry, anxious, etc. It is effective because it starts with healing our own deleterous thoughts, feelings & perceptions. Then it gradually radiates outward in clockwise, circular waves; like a prayer wheel.

More on Metta Bhavana:

On Chanting Meditation

Chant of Metta Bhavana

Chanting the Metta Sutta

On Guided Meditation

Video Meditation

Mantra Powered Chakra Visualization

Chakra Chanting/Pix /Sounds

Mantra Powered Visualization/Amazing Grace

Dial Up Internet

Sorting it Out

The Succession Issue Controversy

Nichiren Shoshu is a small, fairly new sect that broke off from the Nikko lineage about 100 years ago. They seem to primarily base their teachings on those of two Chief Priests of Taisekiji; Nichiu {1402-1482} and Nichikan {1665-1726}. The teachings of those two were aberrations within the Nikko Lineage, even within Taisekiji Temple, that were almost universally rejected.

In 1899, the "Komon Ha" {Nikko Faction} of Nichiren Shu, based at Kitayama Honmonji officially became Honmon Shu. In 1900, Taisekiji Temple withdrew from the Honmon Shu and became the Nichiren Shu Fuji-ha. Then, in 1912, Nichiren Shu Fuji-ha became Nichiren Shoshu. That is when Nichiren Shoshu's history began.

Unfortunately, as I have mentioned previously, most of our information about Nichiren Buddhism has come from Nichiren Shoshu. Meanwhile, one of the primary sources of alternative information, in English, has been another small
School, one known as Kempon Hokke International. The latter has been basically anti-NST/SGI, and includes as much, if not more, misinformation as NST.

There have also been some truly honest efforts to sort out either the history and teachings, or both; each doing it in their own unique way. Some do/did research and wrote, others had the courage to speak out in support and challenge the powers that be. There are/were Reverend Ryuei, Dr. Stone, the late Bishop Murano, Peter Johnson, HG Lamont, Reverend Tarabini, Charles Atklins, the Maltzes, and Daniel Montgomery. Also, Don Ross, Chris Holte, David Johnson, Brian Holly, Andy Hanlen, Dharmajim Wilson, Chikusan, Tai Chi Dee, John Petry, Myokei & Engyo, Byrd, the Ankers, Ernesto, the Millars, John Nicks, P. Jones, Richard Torgerson, Carmen, Chanter/Betty, Taidancer, Lotuslover, Mark, Joe, Chris M., Kazuo, Mick, Norm, Jerry N., Peter K., Patty, Mulcogi, Greg, Eddy, Jim W., Rocky, Pam, Jeff, Marc Strumpf, and many others {in no particular order}.

Some of these good works have had significant errors, some that became urban myths in Independent & SGI Reform circles. I want to stress that these errors were honest ones, based on the best information available at the time. I am talking with some of those who are still active on line. I have even had friendly private conversations with a few Hokkeko Members, but I best not mention names. We all have differences, but there is little or no acrimony with all of the above, unlike the mostly hostile reaction from the Party Line Nichiren Shoshu & Hokkeko folks. Most are interested in honestly sorting it out too. And we have to know that there are no 100% right answers. We can determine that some are wrong answers, and others are extremely unlikely.

I do not wish to pick on Taisejiki/NST/Hokkeko, but that is the main source of hostility I presently encounter.

"I concur Robin that you have not set out to attack Taisekiji but simply to report the truth. In fact you even undermined a couple assertions I made about the disposition of Nichiren's belongings that I made based on info that was not up to date. So you are not forwarding any particular sectarian agenda. It just so happens that it is Taisekiji that has the most to lose when people start objectively investigating these things." -- Ryuei

I have recently gleaned a lot by patiently listening to the Honmon Shoshu perspective. While we may not agree, they are very nice, helpful, patient, and civil folks with some well documented sourcing. More recently, I got more of the real story about the Nikko lineage from the Kitayama Web site and some other sources. I am still trying to figure out how to present it. To sort it out, one has to use inference to reconcile a lot of conflicting data. And we have little or nothing from Hota, Koizumi, Nishiyama, and Yoho-Ji -- all important Nikko Lineage Temples.

In 100 years or so, we should have a clearer picture. But we shall never have it if there is no informed demand for better information that holds up to honest peer review.

Gain & Loss Inscriptions on Nikko's Mandalas

On Nichiren's Gohonzon for Practicing Kanjin
The Ita-Dai-Go-Honzon Issue
The Gain & Loss, Benefit & Punishment,
or Blessing & Curse Inscriptions

The "Gain & Loss Inscriptions" appear on transcriptions of Great Mandalas from Taisekiji, such as the SGI Nichikan, the Nittatsu, and the Nikken. They are located in the top row, on either side of the Daimoku, outside of {flanking}, the two Buddhas and four Bodhisattvas. These are also often said to appear on the Camphor Wood Yashiro Kunishige Dai-Mandara, aka Taisekiji Daigohonzon, aka Ita Mandala.

According to a Kempon Hokke web site:

"Even the five gohonzons inscribed by Nikko at Hon-mon-ji do not have these phrases. ... (These are the phrases referring to "gain" and "loss", on either side of the SGI/NST honzons) -- From Sokashoshu.com "Nichiren Shoshu's Honzons" and "Let's recap the so-called dai-gohonzon"

I have recently examined pictures of four early transcriptions which do appear to have the Blessing/Curse entries. These are the Nikko-Jinshiro Memorial Daimandara of 1308, as well as apparent transcriptions of a Nichiren Great Mandala by Nichidai of Kitayama & Nishiyama and Nichimyo of Kitayama. The entries are in a prominent position, in the top row, on either side of the Daimoku, outside of {flanking}, the two Buddhas and four Bodhisattvas, as seen on the recent Taisekiji transcriptions. However, these are hard to see, so I am not 100% certain that they are the gain & loss phrases. But I would bet on it.

Thumbnails, click to 'enlarge':

The Great Mandala on the left, above, (facing) is the Jinshiro Memorial Daimandara of 1308. Nikko inscribed this Daimandara at Omosu Temple in April of 1308. The Jinshiro here is the peasant who was attacked and injured in April of 1279, and was later executed by Hei-no-Saemon-no-jo-Yoritsuna. [Some sources indicate Shiro was actually killed in April 1280]. Note that as a peasant, Jinshiro lacked a surname.

Hei-no-Saemon himself was executed by the Hojo Clan at Atsuhara, in April of 1293. The Jinhsiro Memorial Daimandara was inscribed by Nikko Shonin on the anniversary of that event. The others were transcribed by Nichidai & Nichimyo; who were the second and third Chief Priests of Omosu Temple, now Nichiren Shu Kitayama Honmonji. Nichidai was also the founder of Honmon Shu Nishiyama Honmonji.
************************************************************************************************************************************
From: Sokashoshu.com Nichiren Shoshu's Honzons

"On all the Gohonzons issued by Taisekiji and SGI, we find:

These phrases only appear in Gosho's p.869 "Haku-roko-sho" (Kechimyaku-sho) which means that this part of the Gosho is also a fake. "

From Let's recap:

"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)."

Their contention that, "Even the five gohonzons inscribed by Nikko at Hon-mon-ji do not have these phrases " might be erroneous.

Gain & Loss Inscriptions on Nichiren Mandalas

On Nichiren's Gohonzon for Practicing Kanjin
The Ita-Dai-Go-Honzon Issue
The Gain & Loss, Benefit & Punishment,
or Blessing & Curse Inscriptions

The "Gain & Loss Inscriptions" appear on transcriptions of Great Mandalas from Taisekiji, such as the SGI Nichikan, the Nittatsu, and the Nikken. They are located in the top row, on either side of the Daimoku, outside of {flanking}, the two Buddhas and four Bodhisattvas. These are also often said to appear on the Camphor Wood Yashiro Kunishige Dai-Mandara, aka Taisekiji Daigohonzon, aka Ita Mandala.

Question:

Is it true that no authentic Gohonzon inscribed by Nichiren bears these admonitions?

That is incorrect. These inscriptions 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. The six are:

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Mandala # 053: inscribed in August 1278 and housed at Kaicho-ji, Kyoto. Gohonzon inscribed by Nichiren, formal style.

conferral: 日頂上人: Nitcho Shonin; One of the 6 Senior Ministers
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Mandala # 054: inscribed in August 1278 and housed at Honno-ji, Kyoto. Gohonzon inscribed by Nichiren, formal style.
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Mandala # 057 inscribed on November 21, 1278 and housed at Kocho-ji, Okamiya. Mandala inscribed by Nichiren, formal style.

Another Nitcho?
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Mandala #059 inscribed on February 2, 1279 and housed at Joko-in, Nakayama. Mandala inscribed by Nichiren, formal style. See Also: 13th Century Mizukagami Portrait at Nakayama Joko-in.

妙心寺境 Myoshinji
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Mandala #60: inscribed on February 2, 1279 and housed at Juryo-ji, Kuwana. Mandala inscribed by Nichiren for Nichimoku. See Also: Nichimoku's Omandala of 1279.
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Mandala # 65: inscribed in July 1279 and housed at Kocho-ji, Okamiya. Mandala inscribed by Nichiren, formal style.
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Unlike on the Taisekiji transcriptions, these inscriptions are NOT in a prominent position. They are NOT located in the top row, on either side of the Daimoku, outside of {flanking}, the two Buddhas and four Bodhisattvas. They appear to be side inscriptions or notes.
************************************************************************************************************************************
A Kempon Hokke Hit Piece

From: Sokashoshu.com Nichiren Shoshu's Honzons

"On all the Gohonzons issued by Taisekiji and SGI, we find:

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.
************************************************************************************************************************************
From Refuting Kempon Hokke's Claims Against the Authenticity of The "Wooden Gohonzon for All Humanity (Dai-Gohonzon)":

Other Allegations 1: In none of the Daishonin's original Gohonzon there are such descriptions {sic}as "One who makes offerings will gain good fortune surpassing the [Buddha's] ten honorable titles" and "One who slanders will have his head broken into seven pieces."

6) Gohonzon inscribed in July 1279 (housed at Kocho-ji, Okamiya) {65}
Posted by Cody Message 3978 of 4990 Gohonzon Forum

Esoteric Ichinen Sanzen Mandala

Life and legends of Nichiren
On Nichiren's Gohonzon for Practicing Kanjin
Revised & Updated 02-09-2006

As of April of 1272, Nichiren, then in exile on Sado Island, had been transferred from Tsukahara (eastern central Sado), to the residence of Kondo Kiyohisa at Ichinosawa (modern Sawata, west central Sado, near Mano Bay).

The Esoteric Ichinen Sanzen Honzon or Amulet is one of about 8 early honzon that are not dated. It is thouht that it was written in June of 1272 at Ichino-no-sawa. There are 3 Nichiren Temples that I know of in the Sawata area. These are Abutsubo Myosenji, Sado Jisso-ji, and Sado Myoshoji. Sado Myoshoji was likely the site of the residence of Kondo Kiyohisa.

What makes the Ichinen Sanzen Mandara unique, is the inclusion of the siddham, or two esoteric sanskrit seed symbols, for the Buddha Mahavairochana (Dainichi). In Nichiren’s time, the eclectic-syncretic Jimon-Tendai and Shingon Schools, who ran the Buddhist temples at Kamakura Tsurugaoka Hachimaguji, viewed Shinto Kami as manifestations of Buddhist Divinities. The most important of these was the syntheses of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu Omikami or Tensho Daijin with Dainichi. This also relates to the Siddham symbols for Aizen and Fudo, which are on many of Nichiren’s Mandala Gohonzon.

Partial Tentative Transliteration:
IF YOU CAN CORRECT ERRORS; OR ADD SOMETHING; PLEASE DO!

On your left, facing, reading right to left: Namu Shakamuni Butsu - Namu Monju-Fugen Bosastsu - Namu Kishimojin Jurasetsunyo

Down the center: Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo

On your right, facing, reading from left to right: Namu Taho Nyorai - Namu Chigi Bosatsu - Namu Ichinen Sanzen Kyo

Sanskrit Seed Symbols: On the top, each side: Mahavairochana (Dainchi) On the right your left, facing: Aizen On your right, facing: Fudo

Inscriptions: On your left, facing: This is a quote from the Maka Shikan. On your right, facing: Appears to be "Maka Shikan" and maybe Chihi's (Grand Master Tient T'ai, Tendai Daishi) name?

Bottom: Nichiren's Signature and Seal.

Images of the Ichinen Sanzen Mandala may be viewed by clicking on these links.
@ Nichiren's Coffeehouse Gohonzon Shu
@ lbis japanese gohonzon shu
@ GohonzonForum (Membership Required) / home page
@ GohonzonInfo (Membership Required) / home page

See Also: Lucia DOLCE Nichiren’s Attitude toward Esoteric Buddhism .PDF

The Ichinen Sanzen Honzon is now kept at the Hiraga Hondo-ji (Ajisaidera) Temple {Home Page} in Matsudo, of the old Shimousa Province on Boso Hanto. I believe this temple is affiliated with the Kamakura based Nichiro-Hikigayatsu lineage headquartered at Kamakura Myohonji .

In addition to the Ichinen Sanzen Mandala, Hondo-ji at Hiraga also houses two other original Nichiren Mandalas. These are #17 and #18, both undated. The Temple appears to be closely connected with the conversion of Nichiro's half brother Nichizo (1269-1342).

Link

Link

Dial Up Internet

Nikko's comments on Images of Nichiren

See: Nichiren Image at Taisekiji

Dial Up Internet