Today's post will convey a few of my thoughts on Nichiren. These are meant to stand in stark contrast to the views held by the Soka Gakkai International (SGI).
General Introduction
Today's post is the eighth installment in my "TO: SGI" series, which is primarily addressed to current and former members of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI). Of course, anyone else is invited to read and ponder this post, but please keep in mind that it would be helpful if you are familiar with the details of SGI Buddhism's practices and terminology. This link will connect you to the homepage of my Lotus Sutra Champions blog so you can access links to other essays I've posted and so you can read a general introduction to this new site:
http://lotussutrachampions.blogspot.com/2013/07/lotus-sutra-champions.html
About Nichiren Daishonin
Comparing Two Teachings:
It would be useful to compare the circumstances surrounding the revelations of these two teachers' highest teachings - Nichiren Who-Was-Not-A-Buddha and Shakyamuni Buddha. When Shakyamuni revealed the Lotus Sutra, there was a great deal of pomp and circumstance, to say the least. Shakyamuni gave demonstrations of his supernatural powers, which started (as mentioned in the Lotus Sutra itself)* with him emitting "...a ray of light from the tuft of white hair between his eyebrows...lighting up 18,000 worlds in the eastern direction." In addition, the Lotus Sutra mentions a great assembly containing untold trillions of great bodhisattvas who listened to his preaching of the Lotus Sutra. Not to mention, Many Treasures Buddha put in an appearance in order to bear witness to the profundity of the Lotus as preached by Shakyamuni.
In sharp contrast, we have this:
When Nichiren delivered his first sermon in which he advocated his doctrine that Nam Myoho Renge Kyo contains the essence of Buddhism and is in fact its fundamental law, nothing special happened. There wasn't any Great Assembly in attendance, Many Treasures Buddha was absent, and there were no auspicious signs or portents - and certainly no manifestations of any supernatural powers which Nichiren might have possessed. In spite of this, the Soka Gakkai considers the daimoku to be superior to the Lotus Sutra, and Nichiren to be superior to Shakyamuni.
To call the Lotus Sutra "Shakyamuni's Buddhism" (as does the SGI) would be inaccurate, since he did not write this sutra - nobody did. It ended up in written form and for that reason it might be logical to assume that someone had to have written it. My own view is that it ended up being manifested in written form but is, essentially, the product of the collective enlightened "mind" of the universe itself. The Lotus Sutra itself claims to have been the cause whereby Shakyamuni and all other Buddhas of the universe attained their enlightenments. And it will be the means by which all future buddhas will attain their enlightenments.
Nichiren's unique claim is that the diamoku (the secret and mysterious law of the universe) is hidden within the Lotus Sutra and is to be considered its essence and driving force.
The Supreme Object of Worship:
This whole business of "hidden within the Lotus Sutra" has always bothered me, since I certainly haven't been able to find this "hidden" truth. And I've recited the Lotus Sutra over 150 times over the past seven years. Moreover, Shakyamuni stated that all of his doctrines had been clearly revealed during his lifetime. So I'm forced to conclude that there is no hidden truth. And that applies to something else Nichiren claimed was hidden deep within the Lotus Sutra - the Gohonzon, also known as the supreme object of worship.
Within the pages of The Threefold Lotus Sutra**, the term "supreme object of worship is mentioned exactly once (on page 364):
QUOTE:
These three kinds of the Buddha's bodies are the blessing-field for gods and men, and the supreme object of worship.
:UNQUOTE.
When the Buddha was in the world, he himself was the supreme object of worship. The Lotus speaks of bodhisattvas not taking their eyes off of him for even an instant. But now that the Buddha is no longer in the world, we're supposed to believe that a scroll of paper (the gohonzon) can stand in his place. And we're supposed to direct our practice toward this scroll. But that makes no sense. If we practice as the Lotus Sutra directs us, then our eyes should be on the Lotus Sutra's pages as we recite from the text of those pages. In the Buddha's absence, his highest sutra should be the supreme object of worship.
Bodhisattva Superior Practices (BSP) vs. Bodhisattva Universal Worthy (BUW):
I have read that the Soka Gakkai considers Nichiren to have been a reincarnation of BSP. But I've also heard SGI claim that Nichiren is a Buddha. So which is it - was he a Buddha when he lived in 13th century Japan or was he a Bodhisattva?
If any claims are to be made on behalf of Nichiren's secret identity, it would make more sense to advocate that he was BUW instead of BSP. There is precious little mention in the Lotus Sutra of BSP, but a great deal is said of BUW. The latter has the entire 28th chapter dedicated to him. Not to mention the entire closing sutra, which immediately follows the Lotus's last chapter,The Sutra on how to Practice Meditation on Bodhisattva Universal Worthy.
Chapter 28 includes this statement by BUW:
QUOTE:
"World Honored One...If when the Lotus Sutra is propagated throughout Jambudvipa there are those who accept and uphold it, they should think to themselves: This is all due to the authority and supernatural power of Universal Worthy!"
[and]
"And after the thus come one has entered extinction, I will cause it [the Lotus Sutra] to be widely propagated throughout Jambudvipa and will see that it never comes to an end."
At that time Shakyamuni Buddha spoke these words of praise: "Excellent, excellent, Universal Worthy!"
:UNQUOTE.
Given the prominent role the Lotus Sutra describes for BUW, I'm surprised the Soka Gakkai would advance the idea that BSP would have any even remotely comparable role to play. There is one faint reference in the Lotus Sutra (p. 252) upon which the SGI might base any claim of BSP's importance (note my highlight):
QUOTE:
After I [Shakyamuni Buddha] have entered extinction these people [the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, led by BSP] will be able to protect, embrace, read, recite, and widely preach this sutra.
:UNQUOTE.
Maybe saying they "will be able to" is not the same as saying they "will protect, embrace...this sutra."
In any event, nobody has yet "widely preach[ed] this [Lotus] sutra." Nichiren did not do so, the SGI has not done so, and neither has BUW nor BSP. And the very numerous Bodhisattvas of the Earth have yet to make their presence known. As long as the Soka Gakkai and other pro-Nichiren sects continue to disregard the Lotus Sutra, relegating it to the status of a mere historical curiosity, the world will have to wait for the dawn of the Age of Worldwide Enlightenment.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com
NOTES:
(as mentioned in the Lotus Sutra itself)* - Unless I say otherwise, I am referring to Burton Watson's English-language translation of the following source which was copyrighted in 2009 by the Soka Gakkai: The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening and Closing Sutras.
The Threefold Lotus Sutra** - Published by Kosei Publishing Company, first edition in 1975, 22nd printing in 2005, by a team of translators which didn't include Burton Watson.
Since you have recited the Lotus Sutra 175 + times, how can you fail to realize that ONLY Nichiren Daishonin has realized more than 90% of the teachings. I suggest that when you reread Chapters 13 and 25, you read them with Nichiren in mind.
ReplyDeleteMark,
DeleteFor some esoteric reason or another, you seem fixated on Nichiren. I know it’s common for people to form attachments, but I can only hope that these are reasonable. You posted your comment on this particular essay, but I’m left wondering if you’d actually read it. In this and other essays I’ve posted on this blog, I make clear where I felt Nichiren falls short. I cite chapter and verse. However, you make no such effort - instead urging that I reread Chapters 13 & 25 “with Nichiren in mind.”
You could have better served your cause by quoting the parts of Chapters 13 & 25, pointing out how you feel I misunderstood Nichiren’s importance. BTW, when I read the Lotus, I keep Shakyamuni Buddha in mind. He is my sensei since he spells out in the closing verse-section of Chapter 16 (beginning with line #9):
“In order to save living beings,
as an expedient means I appear to enter nirvana
but in truth I do not pass into extinction.
I am always here, preaching the Law.
I am always here,
but through my transcendental powers
I make it so that living beings in their befuddlement
do not see me even when close by.”
I take this to mean that Shakyamuni did not die in ancient India more than 2,000 years ago, but still walks among us. With that in mind, I listen very carefully to the voices of the wind and breezes, just in case he is trying to talk to me. But of course the Buddha does more than just talk in order to convey his teachings.
Nichiren never made any such claim as I’ve quoted above. So, faced with Shakyamuni’s promise that “I am always here” and Nichiren’s silence on this matter, how could I do other than follow Shakyamuni?
As for Nichiren, he’s pretty much only an historical curiosity. The SGI and the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood pretty much destroyed any relevance NIchiren might have had in today’s world. There’s an old saying which I feel applies: “With friends like these, who needs enemies?”
"All the buddhas, saviors of the world,
ReplyDeleteDwelling in mighty divine penetration,
In order to gladden all creatures
Reveal their infinite powers divine.
lotus sutraTheir tongues extend to the Brahma heavens,
Their bodies emit countless rays of light;
For those who seek the Way of the Buddha
They show this rare phenomenon.
The sound when the buddhas cough
And that of the snap of their fingers
Are heard throughout the whole universe,
And the earth in six ways shakes.
Because, after the Buddha's extinction,
It is possible to possess this sutra,
The buddhas all rejoice
And show infinite powers divine.
Now that this sutra is entailed
To him who keeps it, let praise,
Through kalpas infinite,
Be inexhaustible.
The merits of this man
Shall be boundless and without end
As space in every direction,
Which cannot find a limit.
He who can keep this sutra
Is one who already beholds me
And also the Buddha Abundant Treasures,
And all buddhas emanated [from me],
And sees besides the bodhisattvas
Whom I have instructed until now.
He who can keep this sutra
Will cause me and the [buddhas] emanated from me,
And the Buddha Abundant Treasures in nirvana,
All of us entirely to rejoice;
And the buddhas now in the universe,
And those of the past and the future,
He shall also see and serve
And cause to rejoice.
The mysterious laws that have been attained
By the buddhas each on his wisdom throne,
He who can keep this sutra
Must surely gain ere long.
He who can keep this sutra
Shall the meaning of the laws,
With their terms and expressions,
Delightedly expound without end,
Like the wind in the sky,
Which never has impediment.
After the Tathagata is extinct [such a one],
Knowing [this] sutra that the Buddha has taught,
[Together with] its reasoning and process,
Shall expound it according to its true meaning.
Just as the light of the sun and moon
Can dispel the darkness,
So this man, working in the world,
Can disperse the gloom of the living
And cause numberless bodhisattvas
Finally to abide in the One-vehicle.
Therefore he who has wisdom,
Hearing the benefits of this merit,
After I am extinct,
Should receive and keep this sutra.
This man shall in the Way of the Buddha
Be fixed and have no doubts."