There is no Kosen-rufu or attaining enlightenment in this lifetime (issho jobutsu) apart from Nichiren Shoshu. Nichiren Shoshu has correctly inherited the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin and it is the only religious body that actually puts them into practice. Along with protecting the Daishonin's teachings, it has propagated them in the midst of the realities of daily life and in actuality has endeavored to save all people. In the final analysis, this is only because Nichiren Shoshu has made the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teachings the nucleus of its doctrines and faith.
While Nichiren Shoshu is entitled to their traditions. Many of their traditions are oral traditions, and cannot be verified with literal proof dating all the way back to Nichiren Daishonin. Rather what we have is a developing tradition that has evolved over time, from the early days of the Nikko school, through the innovations of Nichiu Shonin and his teachings, through Nichikan Shonin and his teachings. In short these teachings don't necessarilly come from Nichiren himself but are instead the living legacy of the founder, at times reinvented or revised over time. These are traditions of the sect. And if he sect is distorting it's traditions, then to follow those teachings would be even more an error. See lineage.html
Moreover the Gakkai can reasonably claim that, since it was the group that was able to grow from a handful of members during World War II to about 9 million members now, that it has also endeavered to save all people. In the world of actual proof the fact that SGI members are still getting benefits despite not having access to the physical Dai-Gohonzon shows that there is merit to be had in practicing Nichiren's Buddhism, even in the "heterodox" manner proscribed by these priests.
This Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary is enshrined at Fuji Taisekiji, and the essence of this Dai-Gohonzon is transmitted to each of the successive High Priests of Taisekiji. Accordingly, through the Nichiren Shoshu faith, which is endowed with the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary and the bequeathal of the lifeblood, one can pursue the attainment of Buddhahood for the first time. No matter how much people might say that their practice is "based on the Gohonzon," to part from Taisekiji and Nichiren Shoshu would never be consistent with the Daishonin's spirit.
[Refuting the Soka Gakkai's "Counterfeit Object of Worship," c. 1996, Nichiren Shoshu Temple]
When you read such an authoritarian statement as the above one, do you see the "exclusivist" quality of Nichiren Shoshu teachings?
If Taisekiji, as is indicated by the translations of the "Untold History of the Fuji School" has had periods of darkness, and periods of light (such as when the priests came from Yobo-ji, or when there were child priests or episodes of nasty politics), then what is the justification for saying that people must obey the priests (as indicated in the above?)
It would seem that the exclusivist approach of Taisekiji, that "it is my way or the highway" is rather anachronistic in the face of marrying priests and various unresolved issues about NST's doctrines.
The following text of a Sermon (Oko) By reverend Shoshin Kawabe of Myozenji Temple was posted to ARBN by Reginald Carpenter (AKA "Stoneeagle") a rather angry Hokkeko member. It defines a doctrine and defends that doctrine. Here is the text:
Nichiren Daishonin states in "Reply to Lord Soya":
"To wish to attain Buddhahood without remonstrating slanders of Buddhism is like trying to find water in the midst of fire, or fire in the midst of water. It is useless, it is useless. No matter how much one believes the Lotus Sutra, if he commits slander of Buddhism, he will certainly fall into hell."("Soya Dono Gohenji" Gosho, p. 1040; Ref. "Admonitions against Slander" MWND Vol. I p. 165)
Good morning, everyone. It is respect-worthy that you Hokkeko believers attend today's Oko ceremony to repay our debts of gratitude to Nichiren Daishonin. I have respectfully offered your Gokuyo to the Gohonzon.
Today, I would like to talk about refuting other religions through Shakubuku. I sometimes hear Hokkeko members say, "When we do Shakubuku, we don't have to refute other religions. We should talk about the Daishonin's Buddhism without complaining about other religions." Actually, I see many Hokkeko members hesitate to refute other religions when they do Shakubuku. We can list the reasons why they hesitate to do that, and I will consider some of those reasons.
They have a fundamental confusion about religion. People believe that religion grants people's desires and wishes. However, this is an erroneous idea of religion. Religion indicates the correct way of humanity and shows them how to practice it. Therefore, the religion which professes the granting of people's wishes is nothing but false.
People cannot fulfill their wishes in their daily lives because they have made grave mistakes since their distant past. However, they are completely unaware of this. This is a grave source of their misfortune. Actually, wrong religions gave them this delusion.
Shakubuku is the precious conduct of human beings to save those unfortunate people from this kind of delusion for their future. Therefore, refuting other religions is not criticizing other religions. This is respectful compassionate behavior to define the right and wrong of religion and save them from their delusion.
If people were truly happy and the world truly in peace, we would not have to propagate Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism in this country where Christianity has already been propagated. We believe and practice the Daishonin's Buddhism because we can never establish individual happiness and peace in this society without this Buddhism. Although we know this fact, if we don't teach others about this, we are truly merciless.
Nichiren Daishonin teaches in "Questions and Answers on the Gohonzon":
"There is no greater way of becoming Buddha which exceeds the Lotus Sutra." ("Honzon Mondo Sho" Gosho, p. 1282)
What is true happiness? It is nothing but becoming Buddha. It is the sole purpose of Buddhism that each individual person certainly becomes a Buddha by his or her Buddhist practice. It is impossible that we can accomplish world peace other than by having people in the entire world know the Daishonin's Buddhism, convert to it and attain Buddhahood because of our Shakubuku. This is what we call Kosen-rufu.
First, if we don't have conviction about this, we can never accomplish actual Shakubuku. Now, this is a huge Christian country. No one may consider that Christianity will disappear from this country in the future. However, we can clearly understand this when we look at history. People no longer believe the religions of ancient Egypt and Greece, which were in full flourish a long time ago. In reverse, small seeds will become big trees. Now, Nichiren Shoshu is like a small seed. However, this will surely grow to be a huge tree of Kosen-rufu when we take root in the earth of the Dai-Gohonzon by our indomitable faith and practice for the rest of our lives. To accomplish this, no matter what difficulties we encounter, we must overcome them by our Shodai, Shakubuku and ceaseless effort in our daily lives through our Buddhist practice of itai-doshin.
Nichiren Daishonin teaches in "Teaching, Practice and Proof":
"Nichiren's disciples must not be cowardly." ("Kyo Gyo Sho Gosho" Gosho, p. 1109; Ref. MWND Vol. IV, p.128)
It is a matter of course that in our Shakubuku, we priests and laity of Nichiren Shoshu must never be cowardly about anything. Cowards can never be Buddhas.
Nichiren Daishonin states in "Letter from Sado":
"Those who have the heart of a lion will certainly become Buddhas. This is like Nichiren. This is not arrogance, but I have a strong heart for devotion to True Buddhism. An arrogant man will reveal a heart of fear when he encounters powerful enemies." ("Sado Gosho" Gosho, p. 579; Ref. MWND Vol. I p. 35)
To take faith in the Dai-Gohonzon is to have the heart of a lion. The heart of a lion is that, no matter what the circumstances, we never lose conviction in our faith and practice as Nichiren Daishonin's disciples.
Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism is the religion of, "Strict Censure of Slandering of Buddhism." "Strict Censure of Slandering of Buddhism" is to never mix other religions into this. Many other wrong religions have been bringing misfortunes to people and getting the world confused. If we look at reality, we will be able to realize this, but many people are unaware of this.
Nichiren Daishonin explains about this in "The Petition to Secure the Nation by Upholding the True Religion":
"How pitiful! In the space of a few decades, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of people have been deluded by their relationship with evil, and so many people have been confused about Buddhism. They favor slanderous teachings and forget the truth. How can the benevolent deities be anything but angry? They throw away the perfect and favor the narrow view. How can devils fail to accept these tidings? Rather we must stem this one evil than offering up ten thousand prayers." ("Rissho Ankoku Ron" Gosho, p. 241; Ref. MWND Vol. II p. 24)
If we mix other faiths with the Daishonin's Buddhism, it is no longer Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. Therefore, the Daishonin indicates in "Reply to Lord Ueno":
Having now entered the Latter Day of the Law, neither the Lotus sutra nor other sutras have any meaning. There is only Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This is not my directive. This is the directive of Shakyamuni, Taho, all Buddhas of the ten directions, and the Bodhisattvas of the Earth among a thousand worlds. To mix other things with this Nam-myoho- renge-kyo is a grave error. A lamp will be useless after the sun rises. How can dewdrops be effective once the rain falls? Should one feed a newborn baby with anything other than its mother's milk? There is no need to add other medicine to good medicine." ("Ueno Dono Gohenji" "Hoyo Sho" Gosho, p. 1219: Ref."The Teaching for the Latter Day" MWND III p. 266)
The most important thing in Shakubuku is that we clearly talk about the right and wrong of religions in coherent speech with a bold spirit. If new people don't understand about this when they convert, then even though they convert to Nichiren Shoshu, they will mix other faiths into this faith. They will sometimes bring their own ideas into this temple and attempt to change the faith of Nichiren Shoshu to adjust things for their convenience and favor. Believers didn't teach them, "Strict Censure of Slandering of Buddhism," and they don't understand this.
Sometimes this kind of thing has actually happened in this temple. It is easy to say that this is an evil habit from the Soka Gakkai, but we have to strictly face this kind of situation.
Nichiren Daishonin states in "Letter to Akimoto":
"A person who practices the Lotus Sutra and chants Nam-myoho-renge- kyo in one breath but Namu-Amida-Butsu in the next, is like one who mixes excrement, sand and pebbles into rice." ("Akimoto Gosho" Gosho, p. 1447; Ref. MWND Vol. VII p. 193)
He also states in "Letter to Niike":
In "Reply to Shijo Kingo's Wife," Nichiren Daishonin states:"For instance, you will be like a patient who takes a good medicine that his physician prescribes and still eats poison on his own accord. It never occurs to him that it is his own fault, and he bears a grudge against the physician when he does not recover." ("Niike Gosho" Gosho, p. 1456 Ref. MWND Vol. I p. 255)
"Even a secret, powerful medicine will have small effect if poison is added to it." ("Shijo Kingo Nyobo Gosho" Gosho, p. 464; Ref, "Easy Delivery of a Fortune Baby" MWND Vol. IV p. 87)
To not know "Strict Censure of Slandering of Buddhism" is to not know what poison is in our faith. Even if someone gives us wonderful food, if poison is added to it, we cannot eat it. Even if one doesn't know it, if he eats the poisoned food, he will die, even though he says he didn't know it. To not know fear of slander of Buddhism is the same as to not know fear of poison. Slander of Buddhism means not only to criticize Buddhism but also includes not believing Buddhism. To not make refutation is the same thing as to not teach fear of poison. This is actually merciless.
The Juryo Chapter says:
"They think this medicine of good color and fragrance is tasteless because poison has deeply penetrated and they have lost their sanity." ("Myoho-renge-kyo" Taisekiji Edition, p.436)
We must never allow this kind of person to develop through our Shakubuku efforts. There are various types of people in society.
Therefore, we should have various types of approaches in our Shakubuku, depending on the person. However, we must talk about, "Strict Censure of Slandering of Buddhism" with them and make them understand it by the time of their Gojukai. If we don't, it will not be the propagation of Nichiren Shoshu.
Therefore, in August of last year, on the occasion of the Audience with the High Priest at the 7th Overseas Study Tozan, High Priest Nikken Shonin instructed us as follows:
"There are many dogmatic religions in the world today, including Shakyamuni's Buddhism, that violate reason in many aspects of society. None of them are true. The True Teachings will lead people to enlightenment. The propagation of Nichiren Shoshu accurately makes this distinction. We teach others with the conviction that, "The teaching you believe is incorrect, so you cannot be absolutely happy. It is a false religion." This is Nichiren Shoshu's spirit of propagation to reveal the correct path. In society, many things exist that go against the truth and are counterfeit." (NSM Sept. 2000, p. 5)
This is strict guidance for the Hokkeko members of other countries. We should understand this meaning very well. Also, this strict guidance is the deep compassion of the High Priest.
Nichiren Daishonin states in the Gosho, "Banishment to Sado":
I conjecture that on the path of attaining Buddhahood, there will be certain matters that may cost us our lives; then we will become Buddhas. (Gosho, p. 482; Ref. "Banishment to Sado" MWND Vol. V p. 123)
Also, in "Letter from Sado," he states:
"Needless to say, it is pitiful that not only those who may have believed in Nichiren began doubting after he has been in circumstances like this and abandoned the Lotus Sutra, but also perverse people who instruct Nichiren and think themselves wise will be in hell longer than Nembutsu believers."
Saying,
"Although, Rev. Nichiren is our master, he is too strict. We should mildly propagate the Lotus Sutra," is like fireflies laughing at the sun and moon, an anthill belittling Mount Hua*, well and inlet despising river and sea, or a magpie mocking a luan** and a phoenix.sado"Achieving Kosen-rufu is a rugged way. However, we must continuously walk generation after generation. Sometimes, we cannot avoid risking our lives in our practice. However, we must believe in the Buddhist divinities' protection. This is the only course to become Buddha. Moreover, we must not become arrogant people, saying, "Although, Rev. Nichiren is our master, he is too strict. We should mildly propagate the Lotus Sutra." If we say this, we will never be disciples of the Daishonin.
I would like to conclude my sermon by reciting a sentence of the Gosho, "The Petition to Secure the Nation by Upholding the True Religion":
"Rather, we must stem this one evil than offer up ten thousand prayers."
("Rissho Ankoku Ron" Gosho, p. 241; Ref. MWND Vol. II p. 24)
I sincerely pray for your peace, happiness, true faith and good health. Thank you for your kind attention