Reverend Greg

Yet another rant about the Daigohonzon

There are those Nichiren Shoshu believers that believe that if something happened to the Daigohonzon, the actual physical plank Gohonzon possessed by Nichiren Shoshu at the head temple Taisekiji, that true Buddhism would be destroyed. Soka Gakkai still seems determined to uphold faith in the object, though we deny now that it is the central focus point of our faith, rather considering it merely the advent of Nichiren’s life.

Shakyamuni is the lord of our universe. He is the Buddha who, appearing in this world, is tasked with teaching the Lotus Sutra, the true teaching of life in our known world. Nichiren understood this and his advent was to re-clarify this truth, re-market it if you will, for us who live in the evil latter day of the law.

In “old school" datacommunications Nichiren would be the DCE, not the DTE. DTE stands for Data Terminal Equipment, or the originating computer or end terminal device. What is a terminal? Well, yeah – just go with me on this… Data Communications Equipment includes the modem and other pieces of communication that help transmit the data over a distance. In the case of long-haul transmission – in the old old days – the transmitted signal, the data, would degenerate as it traveled over copper wire and so a datacomm path would employ the use of a “repeater” to read, clarify, repackage and transmit the signal over another length of copper. When I first began my faith in Nichiren’s Buddhism, I was actively working with these principles. If that doesn’t date me, I don’t know what would….

The distance in my analogy of course, is time. Time measured in hundreds of years. Nichiren clarified the true teaching of the universe which Shakyamuni himself transmitted (not invented) for the next distance throughout the future.

As seen through this example we must realize that the Fuji School, with their Daigohonzon, claim that Nichiren embodied this process of the transmission of the true law by creating, or causing to be created, a physical object which – according to Nichiren Shoshu - would embody his very life. Wars have been fought, whole peoples have been destroyed over less of an issue of a holy relic. Belief in holy objects are, in my opinion, not Buddhist in principle or practice.

Never mind for the moment that there is no historical support for the authenticity of the Daigohonzon (perhaps a mass historical conspiracy on behalf of the entire Nichiren world against the poor little backwater sect, Nichiren Shoshu) or that Nichiren does not make any mention of this advent (maybe his Gosho “On Inscribing the Daigohonzon" was lost, stolen, or purposely destroyed, again by other jealous Nichiren sects). The fact is, a holy relic intended to embody the actually true teaching of our known universe….

It just doesn’t make sense. Not to me anyway.

I do not mean to be overly sarcastic. I, as an individual Nichiren believer was there in that very moment that Alt.religion.buddhism.nichiren was created on usenet. I, in my naïve Nichiren Shoshu of America bliss got personally pounded by Bruce Maltz as I tried hopelessly to defend the authenticity of the Daigohonzon, something I had never heard questioned prior. I have traveled a long road of gradual and painful understanding.

There was a moment in the mid-90’s when, in a state of sincere confusion, I realized I had no idea – in that moment anyway – what Buddhism was for. What was the whole point anyway? Buddhism is a system, I finally decided, a system of living ones life on this Earth, as brief as it is, with understanding and fulfillment. We hope also that through our practice of Buddhism we can determine, or at least have an influence on, the circumstances of our next life, if there is in fact to be one at all.

For those who still uphold faith in the super-Gohonzon of Nichiren Shoshu I say, it’s alright. The very nature of religion is such that it is virtually made-up out of thin air. History and theological doctrine will never stand up to the force of human imagination. By that I mean there is no historical fact that can’t be discounted, or religious documentation that cannot be re-interpreted. In the end we will believe what we wish to believe and rearrange reality to fit that belief.

All I wish to advocate is – make sure from time to time that your beliefs are working for you and if what you believe does in fact fulfill you. If it does then “go you in peace”.

Just don’t ask me to support your delusion….

Rev. Greg Dilley, Shidoshi

Posted by revgreg at March 30, 2004 09:28 AM