“With all my heart, I raise a vow. I vow that in the last moment of my life, my spirit will not be disordered and that with proper presence of mind, I will go straight into my next life of service, reverently facing Amitabha, cherishing all that is noble, cultivating the practices of the Ten Groundings, and attaining Eternal Bliss.” (Tientai)

Now go pray to Amida...... uggh

Mark

Sectarians are never an issue when a Buddhist had a correct understanding of Buddhism. One of a many good recommendations is the Art of Living.
- method or expediency or doors are plentiful and is based on individual aptitude.

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/artliv12.pdf

Referring to Dengyo, Nichiren Daishonin writes: "...but I am convinced that in
calling upon all Buddhist believers to adhere to a single doctrine, he showed himself to be superior To Nagarjuna and Vasubandhu and surpassed even Nan-yueh and Tientai."(ibid).

If even, Saicho surpassed Tientai, why are you in awe of him? Kasyapa and Shariputra are on the Gohonzon too, both preceded by Namu. They however, are not the Gohonzon itself. It is impossible to practice the teachings of Tientai in this day and age and show any proof whatsoever. For the time period in which he lived he was the votary of the Lotus Sutra. Namu Tientai. Namu Sariputra, Namu Mike P.

Nichiren said over and over and over, practicing the teachings of Tientai are fruitless today. It is not necessary to understand the 3,000 in one doctrine because the 3,000 in one doctrine is all contained in Namu Myoho renge kyo. Nichiren states, "Namu Myoho renge kyo is the Actual One Thought is Three Thousand Realms".

Mark

Tolerance in the Realm of Buddha is another name for ignorance. No one was more intolerant than Shakyamuni Buddha [for ignorance]. If you destroy the devils in the mind of a person you are acting as a father to him. The Buddha abandoned all expedients in the Lotus Sutra. Now is the time for revealing the teaching that best fits the capacities of all beings, Namu Myoho renge kyo. In fact , there is a teaching in the Lotus Sutra that the more depraved a person [like we living in this degenerate age] the more powerful the teaching required to save them [lead them to Buddhahood].

Certainly Mudras is not that teaching.

Mark

That could be translated as "[one] mindfulness of 3000 {realms}."



That would correspond to mindfulness of body, the mystery of body, the training of ethics, the Secret Dharma of the Ordination Platform of the Source Gate.

I think the first thing is to "destroy" our inner devils first - to achieve the fruit of Lotus Sutra. Lotus Sutra is the fruition of inner nature and is the inner nature of all sectarians, but ones' should have the basic in place before attaining this stage.

There is no seperation of cause and effect. Simultaneously we destroy the devils in ourselves and others. If you see someone on the road with an arrow in his chest, do you first take care of your needs and then attend to the victim? No you rush over to the victim and remove the arrow, the source of their suffering. This thing about stages is nonsence. One moment of faith and understanding is the teaching of the Lotus Sutra. That is the power of the Daimoku.

Mark

ESTABLISHING THE RIGHT LAW AND SAVE THE COUNTRY
DIALOGUE IV
THE ONE SIDED TEACHING


Traveler, (more angrily)
"A wise king leads the people by the Law based on universal principles. He rules his country knowing right from wrong. The priests of today are trusted by the governement and by the people of this country. A wise king does not believe bad priests. Wise men do not respect unsaintly priests. I think that the priests of todayare good and saintly because they are respected not only by the wise emeror but also by the wise men of this country. Yet you speak ill of them. Whom do you call bad priests? Tell me about them in detail!"

Master:
"(I will tell you about them later, Here I must speak about Honen. Honen wrote the Senchakushu in the reign of the Regent Ex-Emperor Gotoba. He misinterpreted the teachings of the Buddha and misled all the people of this country by this writing. He says:

"Doshaku (Tao-cho) Zenji says that there are two kinds of teaching
of the Buddha: the teaching for saints and the teaching for the Pure
World, and that we should give up the the teaching for saints and
take refuge in the teaching for the Pure World....

There are two types of teaching for saints: Hinayana and Mahayana.
There are two sets of divisions of Mahayana: Esoteric Mahayana and
Exoteric Mahayana on one hand, and True Mahayana and Provisional
Mahayana on the other. Doshaku excludes Esoteric Mahayana and
True Mahayana from the teaching for saints. I think that Esoteric
Mahayana and True Mahayana also should be included (in the
teaching for saints). Therefore, all the eight schools: The Shingon,
Busshin, Tendai, Kegon, Sanron, Hosso, Jiron, and Shoran Schools
should be included in the teaching for saints.....

Donran (Tan-luan) Hosshi says in his Ojoronchu (wang-sheng-lunchu),
"Judging from the contents of Nagarjuna's Jujubibasharon (Dasabhuni-
vibhasa-sastra), I can say that a bodhisattva can attain avivartika
(stage of irrevocability) by either of the two ways: the difficult way
or the easy way.

The difficult way is by practicing the teaching for saints while the easy
way is by practicing the teaching for the Pure World.... Those who are
studying the Jodo School should know this. Those who are studying the
teaching for saints should give up that study and take refuge in the
teaching of the Pure World if they wish to be reborn in the Pure World
of Amitabha Buddha....

Zendo Osho says that there are two types of practices: right
practices and vain practices, and that we should give up vain
practices and perform right practices.... There are five main
vain practices. The first vain practice is to keep, read, and recite
the Hinayana sutras, Esoteric Mahayana sutras excluding the
Kammuryojukyo and two other sutras in which rebirth in the Pure
World of Amitabha Buddha is recommended.... The third vain
practice is to bow and pay respect to all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas
and gods except Amitabha Buddha.

It says in the Ojoraisin 9wang-shen-li-tsan) that a hundred out of
a hundred persons who perform the right practices exclusively will
be rebornin the Pure World of Amitabha Buddha, but that even one
out of a thousand persons who perform the vain practiceswill not be
reborn there.

From this I can say that we should give up the vain practices and
perform the right practices exclusively. How can we give up the
exclusive performance of the right practices leading a hundred out
of a hundred persons to the Pure World? How can we cling to the
vain practices which do not lead even one out of a thousand persons
to the Pure World? Those that practice at all should think over this.

"He also says:

A list of Mahayana sutras, including those of Esoteric Mahayana
and Exoteric Mahayana, is given in the Fogennyuszoroku (Chen-
yuan-ju-ts'ang-lu). The list begins with the Dai-hannya-haramitsu-
kyo compiled in 600 volumes and ends with the Hojojukyo. These
Mahyana sutras are 637 in number, compiled in 2,883 volumes.
The practice of reading and reciting these Mahayana sutras should
be reguarded as one of the good deeds which can be practiced with
a distracted mind.... Know this! when the Buddha expounds the Law
according to the capacities of the hearers, he opens the gate to the
teaching that there are two kinds of good deeds.: The good deeds
which can be practiced with a distracted mind, and the good deeds
which can not be practiced without a concentrated mind. But when
he expounds the Law on his own accord without taking the capacities
of the hearersinto consideration, he shuts the gate to the teaching
that there are the two kinds of good deeds. The teaching in which
the gate, once opened, will never be sut in any case, is that we
should call the name of Amitabha Buddha.

He also says:

Those who call the name of Amitabha Buddha should have the three
states of mind. (It says in the Kammuryojukyo...)

It says in the commentary on this sutra:

"Question: What will you say when you are asked by men of wrong
views who study and pratice differently from you (as to whether
your calling the name of Amitabha Buddha will lead you to his Pure
World)?"

"Answer: I will tell them the following parable in order to correct
their wrong views. Suppose a man travels to the west. He comes
to a river a hundred feet wide. The river is divided into two parts
by a white road four or five inches wide. There is fire in the river
south of the white road; and water in the river north of the white
road. The white road is constantly washed by waves, and burnt by
flames. A voice is heard from the east, telling him to proceed. A
man on the west bank of the river tells him to come. Bandits live
on the east bank of the river. They want to catch him. When the
traveller proceeds a step or two along the white road, the bandits
tell him to come back. He does not listen to thembut proceeds single-
mindedly, and reaches his destination. In this parable the teaching
of Sakyamuni Buddha is likened to the voice heard from the east.
Men of wrong views who study and practice differently....are likened
to the bandits who tell the traveller to come back when he proceeds
a step or two along the white road. Amitabha Buddha is likened to the
man on the west bank of the river."

Men of wrong views who study and practice differently are those who
practice the teaching for saints.
"He says in conclusion:

Those who wish to leave the world of birth and death quickly should
desert the teaching for saints and take refuge in tre teaching for the
Pure World. Those who wish to take refuge in the teaching for the
Pure World should abandon the vain practices and perform the right
practices.

It was Doshaku's mistake to say that there are two kinds of teaching of the Buddha: The teaching for saints and the teaching for the Pure World. It was Donran's mistake to say that there are two ways: the difficult way and the easy way. It was zendo's mistake that there are to two kinds of practices; right practices and vain practices. Honen followed them and said that reading and reciting the 637 Mahayana sutras compiled in 2,883 volumes expounded by Sakyamuni Buddha, including the hokekyo and the sutras of the Shingon School, and worshipping the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and gods except Amitabha Buddha are vain practices performed by those who study the teaching for saints, that is the teaching which is also called the difficult way. Honen said that we should give upthe teaching for saints, shut the gate to the sutras, desert the teaching for saints, and abandon the vain practices. Thus he misled people. Worse still , he blamed all the saintly priests of the three countries, the disciples of Sakyamuni Buddhaof all the countries, by comparing them to the bandits.

'According to the three canonical sutras of the Jodo School, Amitabha Buddha vows in his Bodhisattvahood, "when I attain Buddhahood, I will cause those who call my name to be reborn in my world except those who have committed the five sins or slandered the Right Law.

Hone was against this vow of Amitabha Buddha because that Buddha excluded the slanderers of the Right Law from those who he vowed to save.

The sutras expounded in one of the five periods of the of the teaching of Sakyamuni Buddha are different from those expounded in another. The hokekyo is the most important of allthe sutras expounded throughout the five periods. Honen ignored the warning of Sakyamuni Buddhawho says in the Hokekyo, Vol. II, "Those who do not believe this sutrabut slander it...will fall into the Avici Hell when their present life ends."

Now is the age of degeneration. There is no saint. All people are led to a blind alley. They have forgotten the direct way to Buddhahood. Alas! No one awakens them. What a pity! wrong teachings have become more and more popular. Therefore, not only the emperorbut also the people of this country think that there is no other sutra than the three canonical sutras of the Jodo School, and there is no other Buddha than Amitabha accompanied by the two Bodhisattvas.

Dengyo, Gishin, Jikaku, and Chisho crossed the sea of ten thousand waves, and traveled all over the mountains and valleys of China. They brought back Buddhist images and sutras to this country and founded temples on mountains and in valleys to enshrine them. Sakyamuni and the Medicine King Buddha emitted light, illuminating the people during and after their life of this world. The sky-Store Bodhisattva and the Earth-Store Bodhisattva taught and benefitted them also during and after their life in this world. Therefore, emerors and local lords donated lands to the local temples and offered lights to the buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

"But since Honen's Senchakushu was published, our Original Teacher has been forgotten, and the Buddha of the Western world has been homoured instead. The Tathagata of the east, whom Dengyo had requested us to worship, has been deserted. Only the four volumes of the three sutras of the Jodo school are read and recited, and all the other sutras expounded through the five periods of the teaching odf Sakyamuni Buddha have been abandoned. No one makes offerings to the temples other than those enshrining Amitabha Buddha, or to the priests other than those who call the name of Amitabha Buddha. Therefore, other than the temples enshring amitabha Buddha are dilapidated. Grass grows on the roofs, and weeds cover the gardens, but no one wished to support or rebuild those temples. Theefore, no saintly priests live there; no gurdian gods stay there. This was caused simply by the publication of honen's Senchakushu. Alas! For the past several decades many people have been deceived. They have misunderstood the teaching of Sakyamuni Buddha. They have forgotten the Right Law, and preferred the teaching which is by no means orthodoz. How can the gods refrain from anger? Many people have given up the perfect teaching and preferred the one-sided teaching. Will devils miss the chance to take advantage of their mistake? We should rather eliminate this one sided teaching than perform ten thousand prayers.

In response to a qustion about the state of the SGI, here is my response.

Because of my daily, ongoing and unrelenting refutation of and debates with SGI members on E-sangha and elsewhere and through my understanding of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren, though limited, here are my observations.

I am sorry to report, not much has changed, in reguard to their appearance, nature and entity from the 70's and 80's. Their doctrines have been somewhat modified thanks to their monumental split with the Nichiren Shoshu. Contrary to the 90's and early part of this decade, they are making a resurgence [on american soil at least]. Their youth movement is in the forefront of this resurgence. The old timers are relegated to their "rocking chairs" except for the senior leaders like Bill Aiken, Guy MCclowsky, Kasahara, Danny Nagashma, Greg Martin, Monte Jafee, Edgar Titus and the like. They are a youth oriented movement.

American youth, as seen by the new political awareness and activism, are desperate for a new direction and spirituality. The SGI is adept at filling this void through the shear power of the leaders will and personalities and their proven methods for psychological manipulation and brainwashing. Also, let us not forget, that the mercy and compassion of the Buddha is infinite. Initially, everyone gains tremendous benefit, both materially and spiritually from chanting the Daimoku. After the new initiate begins to absorb and propagate the distorted doctrines and brainwashing techniques of the SGI, they become enemies of the Lotus Sutra and Buddha. Their benefits, wither and dry up and what will happen is that, in five, ten, or twenty years, there will again be five Gohonzons in the trash or sock drawers for every one that remains enshrined. The former members will become so disillusioned and scarred that 90% of them will become life long enemies of the Lotus Sutra, Buddha Shakyamuni, and Nichiren Daishonin. The SGI is a factory for slander. History does indeed repeat itself.

Illarraza disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin


Renchobo writes in response to my post above:

>>>>>Illarraza, if it wasn't because of the natural human propensity for identifying dysfunctional wierdness, and therefore a compassionate reaction to the presence of internal suffering and confusion, I would have reported you to the authorities here for your spit in your face blatently offensive manner bordering on violence.>>>>>

And, several posts back, Renchobo accused me of having a mental disorder.

Here Renchobu proves my assertions about the SGI's psychological manipulation and brainwashing techniques of threats and demonizing their adversaries while totally ignoring the issues. And, in another post, if it wasn't true that in the 70's and 80's, over 500,000 Gohonzons were sold indiscriminantly while the World Tribune circulation remained less than 35,000 well in to this inconceived campaign, why wasn't the issue of 450,000 people who abandoned the SGI faith and practice addressed?

Renchobo goes on to say:

>>>>>On the other hand, because this internet based interaction is just a pass time that is a poor substitute for real life challenges and the fruit of siccess in the real world out there, you will be basically ignored for your baseless commentary. You have rendered yourself a spiritually powerless individual. It is very sad to observe.>>>>>

Then why your feeble refutation? As to your comment on internet based interaction being a poor substitute for "real life challenges", that again proves my point about the SGI minimizing the humanity of their critics as another psychological brainwashingl cult technique and once again you avoid the issues. My successes are not a few, my joy and happiness is not negligeable. Trust me, I have done my part to eliminate the One Great Evil of the SGI and I have helped dozens of people escape the burning house of the SGI. More importantly, much more importantly, I have been instrumental in the SGI taking a look at their mistaken doctrines reguarding the Lotus Sutra and Shakyamuni Buddha. The internet is a tool, a powerful tool. That is why as early as 1990, the SGI was writing articles criticizing the internet. It never really occured to me until 1997 why? The internet has been indispensible in illuminating the truth of the SGI. They were afraid then and they are afraid now. Also, the SGI doctrine "of life to life" is a way to get around the thorny issue of the Succession Through the Scrolls of the Lotus Sutra and the writings of Nichiren Shonin.

If Nichiren Daishonin were alive today you would criticism him too for retiring to Mount Minobu instead of participating in SGI meetings.

Another technique of SGI "Buddhism" is to inflate their importance and so-called successes through phony statistics. They will state, 1,000 members came or are coming to their large meetings when perhaps, 150 show up.

Give my reguards to Edgar.

Illarraza disciple of Shakyamuni and Nichiren Daishonin.

I wouldn't become Kempon Hokke regardless because you guys still don't understand that everyone who chants the Daimoku is on the path and it is a major slander to mess with their faith. I will admit if I was wrong, however, I don't think I will have to do that because I believe any reference Nichiren made about T'ien-t'ai being wrong would have to do with the difference between theoretical and actual Ichinen Sanzen. I haven't seen anything about the Eternal Buddha since Nichiren used T'ien-t'ai's seminal works as the basis for the Gohonzon. It is possible though, because I haven't read every Gosho.

You make a funny request, you want to see proof, yet you want the polemic knob turned down. Of course I won't turn down the knob so I hope that what I provide you here will constitute proof.

The sixteenth chapter states, "gentle and upright." Reguarding the SGI I will center on these concepts of being "gentle and upright." I hope to prove through both new and old sources that they (the leaders of sGI are hardly gentle and upright. I will probably do this over five or six posts. Here is my first entry:

Only face to face dialogue is genuine life to life communication, according to the SGI. How many SGI members have really had a face to face dialogue with Ikeda? Anyway, we try to arrange a formal face to face debate and they refuse.

All top down autocratic organizations have multiple tiers of privileged autocrats with more and more priveleged information and policies as you ascend to the top. At the bottom, all that remains is watered down feel good generic information and policies to maintain the status quo. The perversity is that this is done under such banners as the "year of change", "year of advancement", or "year of the group or district"(basic units of the organization). The SGI has a political and not a religious structure and certainly not the organizational structure of absolute freedom propounded by the Lotus Sutra in chapters 15 through 22(anyone can choose anyone to follow or not to follow or remain alone as they please). Many in the SGI, in their heart of hearts don't want to follow Ikeda and would prefer to follow another leader or to remain on their own and become a leader or priest in their own right but through the guidances taught and repeated over and over and with every permutation immaginable, they are afraid they would be breaking the unity of the only group of true believers and therefore, committing the greatest sin in Buddhism. The fact is that all the Nichiren sects have their true believers with the greatest concentration in the Kempon Hokke and the Nichiren Shu.

It is very difficult to crack the veil of secrecy of the SGI and they enjoy this protection. It is not at all unlike the crooked CEOs who use the corporate veil to get away with their "murder". The arbitrary egotistical actions of the leaders is in stark contrast to what the members are taught about magnanimity and Bodhisattva compassion. Then they hound you with hell fire and brimstone if you challenge their ideas after they initially rope you in with love and kindness. It is psycholgical manipulation that Goibles or Jim Jones would be proud of, only the SGI is smarter, they want their members to thrive to bring in more members and more money even if what they are promoting is not Buddhism. "Protect the members at all cost!!!", is the motto but as soon as a member begins reading and studying for himself, and forcefully questioning the leaders or the organization, they are immediately marginalized or even expelled and in Japan, their names are read aloud in both big and small meetings. How different from the way Sakyamuni Buddha in the 2nd chapter of the Lotus Sutra treated the 5000 bhiksus who left the assembly!!!! He basically ignored them because he understood the Law of cause and effect. The hypocricy is astounding, the lack of Lotus Sutra Buddhism in a group that chants the daimoku is one of the greatest questions in the history of Buddhism, not unlike Maitreyas question in chapter 15 of the Lotus Sutra. I hope to one day be able to answer this question.

Illarraza disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin

"There is doubt that we should not read the provisional teaching because of my sentence in the 'True Object of Worship'. This is a wrong view. As a result, I sometimes wrote that you must discard the provisional gate. The provisional gate [I referred to] is not the provisional teaching [of the Hoben chapter] we now read. I refuted the provisional teaching of the Mt. Hiei Tendai sect as a teaching whose time is past. If you practice according to T'ien-t'ai and Dengyo in the Latter Day of the Law, it is like using last year's calendar." (Gosho Zenshu, p. 972)

In the final analysis, President Ikeda did not cheat, steal nor lie and he has won. Nothing you can say can over turn this fact of life and reality.

How sad for you.

An ex SGI member wrote:

I realize now that I was brain-washed, after all I joined NSA-SGI when I was
(seventeen years old) and was programmed very early on , and never knew there
were any other Nichiren Buddhists. SGI tells you they are the only exclusive
and true teaching. When I look through the MW , I see quotes that I never
noticed or understood before, for example "The nation of Japan today has
turned its back on the Lotus Sutra and cast aside Shakyamuni Buddha." (MW vol
6, Letter to Ichinosana Nyudo, pg 99) and there are many, many more.

And in regard to the Lectures on the Sutra done by Josei Toda, the
mis-translations abound. From chapter 4 , Faith Discernment, Toda says "From
now on stop your cunning lying, getting angry, being jealous of or revilings
others." (pg 41, paragraph 4) The real translation of this passage is "You
have never been deceitful, lazy, angry, or grumbling." (Three Fold Lotus
Sutra, pg 114, 1st paragraph) [Always putting you down or telling you your
arrogant, sound familiar?]

SGI members do not realize that they have been brain-washed and I didn't
either. "Ways to evaluate a group's control over personal freedom [From
Chapter Four of Combatting Cult Mind Control (Park Street Press, 1990) by
Steven Hassan] Destructive mind control can be understood in terms of four
basic components, which form the acronym BITE:

I. Behavior Control
II. Information Control
III.Thought Control
IV. Emotional Control

These four components are guidelines. Not all groups do every aspect or do them extremely. What matters most is the overall impact on a person's free will and ability to make real choices. A person's uniqueness, talents, skills, creativity, and free will should be encouraged, not suppressed. Destructive mind control seeks to "make people over"in the image of the cult leader. This process has been described as "cloning". This "cult identity"is the result of a systematic process to dissociate a person from his or her previous identity including important beliefs and values as well as significant relationships. The result is the creation of a dual identity, what I refer to "John-John"and "John cult-member".

Is the organization open or closed? Are there organizational secrets? Are
there "in" groups and "out" groups? Are there restricted teachings for
initiates only? Are there secret texts and publications, "for your eyes only?
Is there real financial accountability? If a group says that you can look
at its accounting records, does it actually provide access? The only way to
know is to ask to see the records. If you are afraid to ask, what does this
say about the atmosphere of the group? What structural checks and balances
exist within the organization to prevent abuse of power? Are there divisive
sectarian biases, even in the name of interdenominational ecumenicism and
universality? Is there an independent "ethics" committee to challenge and
change policies of the group? If there are abuses or injustices, what
structure exists to correct them? Can anyone legitimately question the
actions of the leader without threat of emotional withdraw or fear of
expulsion to "hell"?

Do the rich and powerful get preferential treatment? Are "indulgences"(spiritual pardons) sold? Is there a "Sicilian"code of silence against unethical behavior of leaders?

I. Behavior Control

1. Regulation of individual's physical reality
a. Where, how and with whom the member lives and associates with
b. What clothes, colors, hairstyles the person wears
c. What food the person eats, drinks, adopts, and rejects
d. How much sleep the person is able to have e. Financial dependence
f. Little or no time spent on leisure, entertainment, vacations

2. Major time commitment required for indoctrination sessions and group rituals

3. Need to ask permission for major decisions

4. Need to report thoughts, feelings and activities to superiors

5. Rewards and punishments (behavior modification techniques- positive and negative).

6. Individualism discouraged; group think prevails

7. Rigid rules and regulations

8. Need for obedience and dependency

II. Information Control
1. Use of deception
a. Deliberately holding back information
b. Distorting information to make it acceptable
c. Outright lying "

III. Thought control
1. Use of catch phrases which only members understand (group speak).
2. Deftly deflecting questions and making it seem the questioner is harming himself for asking the question
3. Banding together to promote an idea if a member is noted to have an idea outside that of the teachings of the leader of the group.

IV. Emotional control
1. Activities to create a hyperemotional state, long hours, constant repetition of teaching and group philosophy.
2. Lack of water and food for long periods and then lavishing food and delicacies.
3. Immediate and "deep" bonds of friendship promoting reliance on others in the group rather than oneself and withdrawing such support the moment the person questions the party line.
4. Defining states of being as either godlike or hell like

The Eternal life of Shakyamuni!

Chapter 17, pg 263, (Three Fold) "Yet any good son or daughter Who, hearing
me declare my [eternal] life, believes it with but a single thought this ones reward surpasses his. If anyone be entirly free from all doubts and misgivings And in his deepest heart believes it but a moment, Such shall be his reward. If there be bodhisattvas Who have followed

It further states in this chapter "This mans merit will be infinite and boundless and able to bring forth perfect knowledge."

Since its still the Latter Day of the Law I hope people in the SGI/NST will look for themselves and read the Lotus Sutra. To take out the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni is to take out any possiblity of attaining enlightenment in this lifetime. The teaching of Kempon Hokke Kai is "Kuon-Jitsujo" - Attaining enlightenment from the life of the Buddha-(from the Kaimoku-Sho)

Kempon Hokke Kai is in perfect accord with the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren's Teachings. I have read all five major works and have read the Sutra over and
over and I am not lost in the forest of the Lotus Sutra, on the contrary I have achievied more from upholding the Sutra and chanting the seven characters Namu-myohorengekyo to a real Gohonzon than I ever did in SGI....

Our enlightenment is through the "Succession of the Scrolls of the Sutra"
not from any succession of priests or any persons. Hence the three treasures: The Buddha (Eternal Shakyamuni) The Law Namu-myorengekyo and the Samgha led by Nichiren Daishonin.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *
I think most if not all ex-SGI members would say yes to every assertion posed above about what constitutes a cult. To a greater or lesser extent the SGI may be defined a cult by every parameter listed above. I have some recent letters from this week of experiences of ex SGI members during the Sho Hondo ceremonies. Fascinating.

Illarraza diciple of Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin

Three posts dated 3/3/08 and 3/04/08; these are letters from two former YMD [young men's division] leaders and TCD [traffic control division leaders] or Soka-hon, "the revolutiionary guard" of SGI and Ikeda's body guards:

"Well Gerry that one scores a 10 in the Bonowitz scale for Paranoia!
Unquestionable use of Manipulation and Cognitive Dissonance in a pattern
that is abuse!

I still find it amazing that people would/will accept what ever is said
to them by an SGI leader. I recall members in Italy being told how they
were to be so happy that PI was going to visit Italy due to the danger
of assassination. Folks being told that he had hundreds of body guards -
that extra security would be in place - Book early to get your place
where you can sit in the same room as PI or else security checks will
stop you - and even that every plane that he flew on was swept for bombs
before he was allowed to get on it. They took it hook, line and sinker.
Any one who has experience of venue security, crowd management or basic
security provisions was most conspicuous by their absence

This of course contrasted markedly with the security in Milan at both
kaikan and The Teatro Lirrico where the SGI World Peace Festival took
place. No security - anyone able to walk in off the street and then the
appearance of PI and him on stage with everyone back stage bar me on
stage with him and the Audience with extra few hundred folks specially
snuck in to fill isles, block fire exits, break all regulations, fire
codes and basic security provisions... well there was one big difference
between what was being publicly peddled and reality ! I found it odd
that only I questioned the fact that the claims as to security were
rubbish and even the folks who were supposedly responsible for security
abandoned their posts and ran on stage to adulate this little Japanese
man who they didn't know and had never met! Anyone could have just
thrown in a match and the resultant fire would have killed hundreds
through panic. One of the most disturbing things was to watch someone on
stage being trampled under foot whilst they smiled and cheered and kept
on adulating PI. I managed to drag them out from under the surging crowd
- and thier response was to get up and run straight back in! Odd how the
protection of SGI members was supposedly so high and all were told to
care for each other - yet they were willing to trample each other under
foot just to get a better view of this little Japanese chap!

I've seen better security and protection at a Women's Institute meeting!

I still have to wonder at where the claims as to security - danger and
protection come from - are they centrally sanctioned - are such actions
just the conduct of some one who wants to toady and will do anything to
make it look better for themselves - or is there simply a problem with
those who get on the slide and splash into SGI and love it there!

It's like the old adage - " Man Does Not Drown By In A Well - Man Drowns
By Staying There."

The Unofficial SGI survey is quite interesting - and I wonder if
another survey using Bonewits’ work would be more revealing/neutral/less
revealing! How do folks who are within SGI score SGI on the Bonewits’
scale and how do folks outside of SGI score them? It could be an
interesting way of creating seeds of reform! But then again the SGI ia
already so heavily defended against any questioning of their conduct -
behaviour - internal processes and will just call any such information
an attack of demons to stop the faithful! Castles of Kosen Rufu - folks
living in cloud Cuckoo Land!

I also have to wonder if that is what SGI were grring up to in the
1970's have they become more or less sophisticated in the claims they
make to manipulate ?

TTFN

G. wrote:

This is a true story.

40 or 50 "selected" YMD with TCD experience were awakened in the
middle of the night with no warring and told that they had to guard
the transfer of the Dai Gohozon as radical members of the Hokeyko
Society (NS members not part of SGI) were opposed and may attack with
small arms to stop the transfer.

We were expected to give our lives to defend the Dai Gohonzon.

I doubt any such attack was planned, but rather this was an extreme
example of SGI psychological conditioning to get us to hate those not
associated with the SGI and to make us pliable young men who followed
orders.

This method is common in totalitarian groups all over the world.
North Korea tell their people that the US wants to destroy their
country. During WWII the Japanese military convinced thousands of
Japanese women and children to commit suicide during the battle for
Okinawa or Iwo Jima by jumping off 1,000 foot high cliffs into the
sea, by telling the women that the Americans would rape them, then
kill them and cannibalize their dead bodies. Lies are very powerful
psychological conditioning agents.

I was personally so dedicated to defending the Dai Gohonzon that my
constant visual inspection of any SGI member that looked a
little "off" caused the members to get nervous. A leader had to come
by and tell me to cool it. How was I to know if what appeared to be
an SGI member was not instead a Hokeyko suicide bomber or someone
ready to pull out an AK-47 and start shooting? I was only trying to
make sure I could jump them in time.

Jerry




G. wrote:

It was a pretty intense gathering at the Head Temple in 72. We
got woken up at 3:30 AM on the day the Dai-Gohonzon was transferred
into the building to act a guards for the transfer. We were told to
be ready to die as a group of Nichiren Shoshu members not associated
with SGI was opposed to the move and may attack the ceremony with
small arms and machine gun. The thing was we weren't given any
firearms. We were supposed to just stop the bullets with our bodies,
I guess.

Is this for real G. or are you just pulling our Juzus?

It would appear that the roots of Soka Spirit and the KR Ninja
storming Taisekiji to reclaim the DG were well set back in the 1970's!<LOL>

This is the SGI you won't hear much about. They must spend more on PR and suppression of bad press and criticisms[I guess, because nobody knows where the money goes] than the church of scientology and more than the moonies combined. They are certainly more effective. Many things counter or embarrassing to the SGI just disappears from the net for instance.

Their problems they will tell you derive from jealosy and Three Obstacles and Four Devils but since they promote SGI and Ikeda, so much more than the Lotus Sutra, the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni, and Nichiren, their problems are Botsu [punishemnts]

The most radical cultlike elements of the SGI is their Soka Spirit Group, which completely goes against their charter to respect all other religions but really serves their purposes to destroy and demolish those who dare criticize the SGI. Recently it became such an embarassment that the Soka Spirit group went "unofficial" to deflect criticism. Soon I will have alot about Soka Spirit Group, maybe even some inside info about how un-Buddhist the SGI really is.

Illarraza, disciple of Shakyamuni Buddhism

Now, if SGI were to take down their anti-Kempon Hokke web site, I might tone down my rhetoric a bit.

Mark

Uhhh, Renchobo, what does Ikeda have to do with this post. You my friend are the one who is losing it.

Mark

You're literally wasting your time and energy on phantoms produced by your own mind. Last week we witnessed PI recieve a Cogressional Commendation from the US Congress. The Congressmen flew to Japan to deliver it in person at PI"s monthly leaders meeting. These meetings are seen at culture centers all over the world. Daisaku Ikeda always appears quite normal and down to earth. The Congressmen also seemed quite comfortable and secure at the event. He was most gracious and gave PI a big hug. Nothing untoward there. No neferous agendas there.

I hope you can see clear to reason and stop with all this diatribe.

ARBN = alt.religion.buddhism.nichiren

All apologies if this question was already answered. Some of the posts here are rather long so I might have missed it.

Since I have the best Gosho search engine on the net and I was challenged by Illarraza on T'ien-t'ai's classification of the Eternal Buddha, I thought I would post just what Nichiren thought of his teachings.

"In the Hokke Mongu, T'ien-t'ai explains all the various words and
phrases in the Lotus Sutra, from the opening words, 'Thus have I heard,' to
the final words, '...they bowed and departed.' He explains them in terms
of four categories, namely, causes and circumstances, correlated
teachings, the theoretical and essential teachings, and the observation of
the mind.
"Next, in the Maka Shikan, he expounds the meditation on the region
of the unfathomable, namely on the three thousand realms within a single
mind, based on his thorough understanding of the Lotus Sutra. This is a
practice that derives from the Buddha's original enlightenment and
represents a principle of truth inherent in one's being. I shall not go
into it in detail here.
Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man (II)

I think that I have nothing to fear about being shown that I'm wrong, but of course it is possible. I'm still waiting for the answer though.

Anything from an authentic Gosho?: Besides, if you go to the Pure Land forum, there they have alot of Tientai's teachings on Amida. Grand Master Tientai did not advocate the exclusive practice of the Lotus Sutra. What he taught about the Lotus Sutra was correct. His teachings were effective for the Middle Day. If you follow Tientai's teachings today, except as interpretated by Nichiren, you will fall into hell.
Here is a list of all the authenticated Gosho. Conversations Between a Sage and an Enlightened Man is not one of them:

On establishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land

The postscripts to "on establishing the correct teaching for the
Peace of the land

Encouragement to a sick person

Opening the eyes of wooden and painted image

The essence of the "medicine king" chapter

The Odaimoku of the lotus sutra

The rationale for writing "on establishing the correct teaching for
The peace of the land

Letter from Echi

Lessening one's karmic retribution

Letter to priest nichiro in prison

Letter from teradomari

The opening of the eyes part one and part two

The pure and far-reaching voice

On prayer

The object for observing the mind established in the fifth five-
Hundred-year period after the thus come one's passing

On practice the Buddha’s teaching

On the Buddha’s prophecy

Reply to kakiri saburo

A comparison of the lotus an other sutras

The treasure of a filial child

Reply to the mother of ueno

Reply to the nun nichigon

Great bodhisattva hachiman

The wealthy man sudatta

Reply to onichi-nyo

The gift of clear sake

Wu-lung and I-lung

Roots of good fortune

The proof of the lotus sutra

The treatment of illness

Great evil and great good

The votary of the lotus sutra will meet persecution

The unity of husband and wife

Reply to niiama

Reply to the lay priest soya

Reply other lay priest KO

Letter to the brothers

Letter to horen

Letter to the lay priest ichinosawa

The offering of the unlined robe

Winter always turns to spring

The selection of the time

Letter to the lay nun of KO

Three tripitaka masters pray for rain

Reply to the lay priest takahashi

The problem to be pondered night and day

On upholding faith in the Gohonzon

On curing karmic disease

The three obstacles and four devils

A sage perceives and three existences of life

On omens

Letter to the priests of seicho-ji

Good fortune in this life

The bow and arrow

Letter to konichi-bo

The story of ohashi no taro

On consecrating as image of Shakyamuni Buddha made by shiigo kingo

On repaying debts of gratitude

On the four stages of faith and the five stages of practice

The eight winds

The workings of Brahma and shakra

The letter of petition from yorimoto

An offering for deceased ancestors

A warning against begrudging one's fief

A father takes faith

The three kinds of treasures

No safety in the three-fold world

Letter to misawa

The two kinds of faith

The teaching for the latter day

Reply to a believer

Unseen virtue and visible reward

Flowering and bearing grain

An outline of the "entrustment" and other chapters of the Lotus Sutra

The two kinds of illness

Reply to tokimitsu

The sutra of true requital

The good medicine for all ills

The unmatched blessings of the law

Reply to the wife of matsuno

On persecutions befalling the sage

The dragon gate

The third day of the year


Listing of Authenticated Goshos (Goibun) of Nichiren Daishonin

This is a strict list of all authentic writings by Nichiren Shonin upon which scholars and the many Nichiren Schools can agree. It is based on the Showa teihon Nichiren Shonin I bun published by Minobusan Kuonji in 1982. Nichiren Shu Buddhists call Nichiren Shonin's writings "Goibun" although the term "Gosho" was coined by Nikko Shonin and so such is the more common term in the Nikko lineages. This list contains 267 Gosho with links to those, which have been translated into Western languages. If you know of an online translation of one of the Gosho listed below, please send me the address!

Some have asked for a more concise list of Gosho from the SGI's latest translation published in 1999, The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, which are considered to be authentic by Nichiren Shu and the other Nichiren Schools. So here is a list of the goshos included below, by their number in the WND's Table of Contents: 2, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 22, 24, 26, 27, 30, 37, 38, 39, 42, 43, 44, 49, 54, 55, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 72, 73, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 87, 88, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 105, 106, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 119, 120, 122, 123, 124, 133, 135, 138, 140, 143, 148, 149, 154, 156, 157, 158, 159, 162, 163, 165, 166, 168.

Illarraza, disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha and nichiren Daishonin.

OK, so using that list, prove your point that Nichiren said T'ien-t'ai was wrong.



I agree. I don't practice Tendai as it was corrupted, but T'ien-t'ai's works are still relevant when you look at them from the perspective of True Buddhism. He was a Master beyond comparison, and only Dengyo and Nichiren do compare.

Please be reminded that personal attacks and sect-bashing are not allowed. Even when discussing controversial issues, all members are expected to follow E-sangha's Terms of Services - members that do not will face suspension.

DS

It wasn't my intention to slander Tendai in the least. Without the Great Masters of the Tendai tradition we wouldn't be here today and there would be no Mahayana Ordination platform. The only problem with Tendai is that T'ien-t'ai stopped short, never finishing his work because the time wasn't right. That left Tendai without a practice that the people could do, so they incorporated Shingon practices. It was the Shingon practices that Nichiren was against, not the Tendai tradition.

My suggestion is some humility, confession of ignorance, and honest seeking. All we can really do is give our own take. Sometimes we tend to state things with too much assurance that our limited understanding is correct. I have some rather strong opinions, but those are still opinions.

Thank you for a ray of light in this discussion.

I would have to say that Master T'ien-t'ai's words are the ray of light in this discussion. The fact that they cannot be refuted by anyone to this day, and lets remember that T'ien-t'ai defeated everyone in National Debate almost 1500 years ago. T'ien-t'ai towered over his predecessor's, and this is not my opinion, but the opinion of scholars today as well as in the past. The mans intellect was unparralleled in Buddhist history except for the Buddha himself, and Nichiren said as much.

That is the ray of light, not someone calling for political correctness. To ignore Master T'ien-t'ai is to ignore the Buddha himself. Where are we when we ignore the Great Masters?

Nichiren is controversial, but T'ien-t'ai is not. Everyone called him Master in his day.

Mark, I must have missed the part where anyone suggested ignoring great masters. Also, I am not a politically correct person. I simply try to know what I know, and what I do not know. and what are my opinions. I see no need to dismiss that as a call to be pc. I express my opinions strongly. I see no need to belittle anyone simply because they have a different view. A strong need for agreement from others might even be seen as lack of security. I know when I feel a need for confirmation, I can trace that to my own egoistic tendencies.

gassho

robin

You didn't miss anything Robby. I was just ranting.

Since I was challenged on this statement being that it comes from an unauthenticated Gosho, I decided to take a look myself, and guess what? T'ien-t'ai does start with the following in the Hokke Mongu.



Unfortunately the narrative on the 27th chapter is not online yet, but it appears to be true based on the fact that it begins just as the Gosho says, and the title in english is "The Prose & Verse of the Lotus Sutra".

On the part that says that the practice that T'ien-t'ai implemented based on Ichinen Sanzen derives from the Buddha's original enlightenment, you'll have to make up your own mind. I don't have to question it myself.

So, a further point would have to be made that this Gosho is unauthenticated only because no part of the original is extant. Probably a "B" Gosho.

Nichiren Shu treats most of the B category Goibun / Gosho as if they were authentic. Maybe someday, we will get English translations with background notes that go into any authenticity issues.

iirc, some think "Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man" was composed by Nichiji Shonin and Nichiren signed off on it.

I hope that is true becuase I like this Gosho alot. I expecially like the refutation of Patriarchal Zen (Nichiren Shoshu). A Nichiren Shu Priest got on my case for citing it. I will ask a Kempon Hokke priest what he knows and if you are interested I will let you know what he says.

Mark

I would be very interested!

Almost certainly a later forgery; its style is not typical of Nichiren Shonin. It may have some uses but beware. Later commentators invented a story that it was written by Nichiji and then given a stamp of approval by Nichiren Shonin but this was because Nichiji disappeared on the Asian mainland apparently and he left no permanent lineage so it was easy to attribute various works to him.

Gassjo,
H.G. Lamont

Even so, in all of the Gosho that I've checked I find the citations of the sutras and the Great Masters to all be true. Every citation I've been able to check, and some I haven't been able due to lack of the main resource, has checked out.

These citations are generally made in the form of a statement that support a conclusion, and while you may dispute the conclusion, the statements have a truth value and cannot be taken out of context. So even though the Gosho is disputed, the statements that can be shown to be true cannot.

And then theres the Gosho in my sig. That is even on the Rokunai list but is called a forgery because people don't like the Hongaku content of it. Of course these same people don't even realize that Hongaku thought has its basis in Ichinen Sanzen and the works of T'ien-t'ai.

And, BTW, since we now have the famed H. G. Lamont participating on this board. Do you have a list of the Gosho in regards to their category, eg; A. B, or C? I would like to add this field to my database.

iirc, there a couple Goibun that, in translation, have the same sort of sarcastic feel to them as "Conversation." One I am thinking of, the SGI titles "The Royal Palace." That is evidently a "B" also, iirc, because Nichiren appears to cite a kuden tsxt attributed to Saicho that could post date Nichiren. So often; these things swing back & forth, such as the Nattier take on the Heart Sutra; or who wrote "The Awakening of Faith" when & where.



The heavily hongaku Gosho are a whole other ball of wax. The issue seems to be style here. The poetic voice in those seems much different than the playfully witty, sarcastic Nichiren of 'Palace" and "Conversation."

The voice I hear in the Major Writings is very rational and rather rigorously academic; mixed with a sense of urgency to act, and a strong conviction he is right. I also see a very strong, underlying grasp of Dharma 101 too, even though he does not elaborate, he seems to take it for granted. On the glib cocksuredness, this is a quality I see in modern Nichirenists that I find annoying.

I am only looking at translations, and the really authenticated Goibun cause my eyes to glaze over. So my observations are very tentative.

gassho

robin

Part of the reason for that is probably the fact that Nichiren had his disciples write some of the Gosho and then approved them. This is common in Buddhist traditions, as well in modern business. The CEO just doesn't have time to write everything, but he does have a pen with red ink.



The Hongaku texts go in depth into Ichinen Sanzen and are not refutation texts or defining texts. I think this is the main difference. In a defining text such as Kanjin Honzon Sho, Nichiren has a different tone because it defines the basis for the Gohonzon. The same goes for other defining texts. However, the refutation texts such as Opening of the Eyes have a different tone altogether, and the Hongaku texts are written on an intelligent level having to do with an unfathomable subject.

The major difference has to do with Nichirens awakening after Tasunokuchi though. Gosho written prior to 1271 receive much less weight than after, and IMO the Rissho An Kokuron receives much more weight than it merits.

From what I gather, Nichiren Shu teaches Hosshaku Kenpon too. There is a different reading though. The Nichirenshu take as I understand it:

1. In Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni discards his provisional identity as the Buddha of this Age, who awoke for the first time in this world. He reveals his true identity as the Original Buddha who awoke in the remote past -- a symbol for Eternity or Constancy.

2. At Tatsunokuchi, Nichiren discarded his provisional identity as a reform Tendai Monk, and revealed his True Identity as Bodhisattva Superior Practices; Jogyo Bosatsu [上行菩薩], or Bodhisattva Vishishtacharitra.

This seems consistent with the time line. After Tatsonokuchi, he starts referring to himself as the messenger, envoy, or emissary of Shakyamuni. Sometimes he says he is not literally Jogyo, but is fulfilling that function. In one case, Nichiren states that he is suijakushin or transient form of Jogyo; the honjishin or original form being the Jogyo in the Lotus Sutra [hold that thought]. Then, in a few Goibun, Nichiren flat out says he was Jogyo.

Now, the Gosho on the Three Great Hidden Dharmas is controversial. However, I think up to Tatsunokuchi, Nichiren wanted to reform Tendai. Specifically, that was refuting the exclusive Nembutsu of Honen. Tendai had adopted contemplative Nembutsu, and was adopting exclusive Nembutsu. As such, Amida was displacing Shakyamuni. Initially, Nichiren tried to put Shakyamuni back in the center of Shikan.

I think that, after Tatsunokuchi, Nichiren decided that was not possible, and wanted a new Kaidan, to supersede the Mahayana Plarform at Mt. Hiei. Another change was he began to refute Jikaku Daishi's notion that the Lotus Sutra and Mikkyo Texts were equal, with the Lotus superior in doctrine, and Mikkyo superior in practice. Nichiren gave a popular form to the practices implicit in the Lotus Sutra; which had previously been reserved to monks. This called for a new platform, enshrining the Shakyamuni
of the Lotus Sutra flanked by the 4 attendants.

BTW; Mt. Hiei evidently did enshrine the Four Bodhisattva from Underground at their kaidan, late in the Kamakura Era.

Good analysis and I agree, but I would add a quote from Dengyo on the Eternal Buddha.

"The Great Teacher Dengyo wrote, "The entity of ichinen sanzen is the Buddha who obtained enlightenment for himself, and that Buddha assumes no august attributes."
Reply to Nichinyo Gozen
Nichinyo gozen gohenji
Authenticated!

I can also say with a good deal of certainty based on my own awakening to Ichinen Sanzen that Nichiren did write the Gosho "Sanze shobutsu sokanmon kyoso hairyu". The reason is that none of his disciples could have written it. They didn't have the basis of understanding to do so. Awakening to Ichinen Sanzen takes years, a lot of study, and foremost you have to seek it. It doesn't come naturally just because you chant. Most people just take it for granted that they will never understand it, both priest and laity alike.

This is the problem I have with sects that yell forgery at the drop of a hat just because they don't agree with the content. For one thing, most believe in inherent Buddha nature but they just don't like people saying "We are all Buddha's", and I agree with this. However, in order to dispute Hongaku Shiso you would have to eliminate Ichinen Sanzen and some quotes from the Lotus Sutra also. The dog bites his own tail.

I disagree with anyone who does that too. I just do not know of any. There are sound philological and forensic reasons why texts are regarded as "C" -- known 'forgeries' or attributions, and "A" or authentic. That leaves some in a "B" category.

I have no idea on the status of Reply to Nichinyo Gozen. The phrase you cited is intriguing. I think it goes with concepts like musa, or uncreated. Even in Theravada, there is the concept of the unborn. This can be taken as being devoid of having no attributes at all. It can also be taken as having no assumed, attained, or acquired attributes. Either way, this concept is not all unique to Tendai or Nichiren Buddhism, it is standard Dharma 101, the concept of Emptiness. So, I doubt anyone would dispute that Gosho because of the meaning of that phrase. There would be other reasons, if it is indeed contested.

The problem with medieval Tendai hongaku is at you noted. It interprets hongaku in a way that antinomian or amoral. All kinds of despicable actions were seen as acts of original enlightenment. It is the attitude that I am Buddha as I am, so anything I do is just fine.

gassho

robin

Nichinyo Gozen Gohenji is an authenticated Gosho, and I'm glad for that because there is no way I would be able to look that quote up. Not a lot of Dengyo on the internet.

But anyway, I read that quote as the common man. A person with no august qualities.



I think we all disagree with that concept, but it appears to be mostly confined to Japan.

... would be my reading. The august qualities are innate. Another, maybe more standard East Asian reading would be that the Eternal Buddha is empty, without attributes, or quality-less.

r

I could agree with that.

I have been reading your conversation, and just wanted to say, it is simply wonderful to read two people talking about something without arguing and because they are happy in discussion, not trying to tear each other to shreds!!
You both will definitely will be Buddha in the future!!
Maltz

List of definitely authentic Gosho:

On establishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land

The postscripts to "on establishing the correct teaching for the
Peace of the land

Encouragement to a sick person

Opening the eyes of wooden and painted image

The essence of the "medicine king" chapter

The Odaimoku of the lotus sutra

The rationale for writing "on establishing the correct teaching for
The peace of the land

Letter from Echi

Lessening one's karmic retribution

Letter to priest nichiro in prison

Letter from teradomari

The opening of the eyes part one and part two

The pure and far-reaching voice

On prayer

The object for observing the mind established in the fifth five-
Hundred-year period after the thus come one's passing

On practice the Buddha’s teaching

On the Buddha’s prophecy

Reply to kakiri saburo

A comparison of the lotus an other sutras

The treasure of a filial child

Reply to the mother of ueno

Reply to the nun nichigon

Great bodhisattva hachiman

The wealthy man sudatta

Reply to onichi-nyo

The gift of clear sake

Wu-lung and I-lung

Roots of good fortune

The proof of the lotus sutra

The treatment of illness

Great evil and great good

The votary of the lotus sutra will meet persecution

The unity of husband and wife

Reply to niiama

Reply to the lay priest soya

Reply other lay priest KO

Letter to the brothers

Letter to horen

Letter to the lay priest ichinosawa

The offering of the unlined robe

Winter always turns to spring

The selection of the time

Letter to the lay nun of KO

Three tripitaka masters pray for rain

Reply to the lay priest takahashi

The problem to be pondered night and day

On upholding faith in the Gohonzon

On curing karmic disease

The three obstacles and four devils

A sage perceives and three existences of life

On omens

Letter to the priests of seicho-ji

Good fortune in this life

The bow and arrow

Letter to konichi-bo

The story of ohashi no taro

On consecrating as image of Shakyamuni Buddha made by shiigo kingo

On repaying debts of gratitude

On the four stages of faith and the five stages of practice

The eight winds

The workings of Brahma and shakra

The letter of petition from yorimoto

An offering for deceased ancestors

A warning against begrudging one's fief

A father takes faith

The three kinds of treasures

No safety in the three-fold world

Letter to misawa

The two kinds of faith

The teaching for the latter day

Reply to a believer

Unseen virtue and visible reward

Flowering and bearing grain

An outline of the "entrustment" and other chapters of the Lotus Sutra

The two kinds of illness

Reply to tokimitsu

The sutra of true requital

The good medicine for all ills

The unmatched blessings of the law

Reply to the wife of matsuno

On persecutions befalling the sage

The dragon gate

The third day of the year


Mark

Yeah, we've seen that. Got a list of "B" Gosho? Thats what I want to see.

give that man a cigar , despite 10 years away from any form of sangha , i still cant understand the need to constantly bicker , i like the idea of not following a wise man ,,, just do as he did !!!! :-) why cant we all practice the way we feel ok with and develop from there !!!! really does preplex me .
or i am i just simple .
give

Sorry Adet. things are not that simple when it comes to "defending what the Buddha has entrusted to us." If the faith and practice of the "Lottus Sutra" as practiced by the SGI is allowed to continue unabated, without the people being aware of the true teachings of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin, Buddhism will be lost for posterity.

Although I have also put the following on my blog, I must widely make known the arguments that refute the claims and assertions of the SGI in the other Forum heading, "SGI".

A Mr. John Petry writes:

1. The accuracy of Soka Gakkai translations of Gosho has been
criticized since its inception. At least three people involved in the
initial translation efforts ultimately disassociated themselves from
it and have publicly criticized the manner in which it was done as
being contrary to accepted translation protocol. Even Burton Watson
acknowledged that his translations were not done from originals but
rather from modernized Japanese language versions with no attempt made
to compare the accuracy of the modernized Japanese version with the
original. Indeed in most cases the originals could not be referred to
as they were not in the possession of the Nichiren Shu or other
Nichiren sects. In addition where in the Japanese language versions,
some interpolations were present in the margin in accord with accepted
practice in Japanese publishing, in the English language version these
interpolations were incorporated into the main text as though they
were originally a part of the original text. Given this action, any
reference to a translation done by the Soka Gakkai must be taken with
extreme caution as the accuracy of the translation is at doubt.

2. There has been some reference made to the actual numbers of
practicing Buddhists in Japan. This is a subject of some dispute and
again the reality does not always follow the claims made by the Soka
Gakkai. The Annual Register or Religions published by the Ministry of
Education in the Department of Cultural Affairs in Japan shows that in
2003 there were 57 million registered Buddhists. Of these 17.5
million were members of the Nichiren Shu or its constituent members.
Another 19.5 million were members of one of the Jodo sects. An
additional 3.5 million were members of one of the Zen sects. The
remainder were split up among the Tendai, Shingon, and other Buddhist
denominations. An additional 6.5 million are members of the "new
religions" which includes the Soka Gakkai. Those are hard numbers
from an official source, not Soka Gakkai puffery.

3. Our friends in the Soka Gakkai always enjoy making the claim that
they were the first to attempt to spread Buddhism in North America,
ignoring the thousands of Buddhists who came here long before they
did. Nichiren Buddhism established itself in the United States about
100 years ago and the Soka Gakkai came well afterward. To denigrate
the efforts of those earlier pioneers is to ignore the prejudice and
violence they endured when they first arrived here and which they
continued to suffer right through WWII when they were put into camps,
losing their properties and livelihoods. It is the worst form of
arrogance.

4. The Soka Gakkai, particularly in the USA is well known for
publishing articles in their publication as well as booklets
criticizing other Buddhists including the Nichiren Shu and the
Nichiren Shoshu. Often these publications contain complete lies and
fabrications. Yet when they are challenged concerning this behaviour
they respond by claiming that they are being persecuted by people who
"hate" them or who have some hidden agenda. Apparently it is
perfectly alright for them to pass around rumours that one sect or the
other engages in violent behaviour despite no evidence of this type of
activity or to claim that the members of one sect or the other are
mentally deranged or have suffered great misfortune by becoming a
member of the Nichiren Shu or Nichiren Shoshu. However if one should
challenge this reprehensible form of rumour mongering, then one is
engaging in hate crimes against the Soka Gakkai.

5. The Soka Gakkai alway attempts to portray itself as an institution
which supports democratic values. In fact it is notorious for the
fact that it is run from the top down with the membership having no
say at all in the appointment of leaders. Additionally there is no
accountability to the rank and file over financial matters. One must
toe the party line or face the real possibility of expulsion with the
attendant smearing of one's reputation. There is no democratic
accountability for the leadership which serves at the pleasure of
their superiors. This is not true in other Nichiren sects where the
lay leaders are duly elected and accountable to the rank and file.
Equally in other Nichiren sects the finances are duly disclosed to the
membership and the leadership is accountable to the members for the
proper use of the funds entrusted to them.

6. While it is true that many people in North America first heard of
Nichiren Buddhism via the Soka Gakkai, it is not true that all member
of the other Nichiren sects did so. Many did not. Further, the fact
is that many people might have first heard about Nichiren Shonin via
the Soka Gakkai but quickly came to realize that very little actual
Nichiren Buddhism was being taught by the Soka Gakkai. Despite claims
of hundreds of thousands of members, the reality is that the majority
of those "members" are names on paper only. People come into the Soka
Gakkai, realize that it is not what it has been held out to be and
leave. Some join the Nichiren Shu and others join the Nichiren
Shoshu, while still others go "independent" or stop practicing
altogether. Active membership in the Soka Gakkai in the USA has
typically hovered in the 25,000 to 35,000 range with occasional peaks
and valleys.

In conclusion it is simple fact that the Soka Gakkai is perpetually in
the hot seat due to its own behaviour. It is a highly authoritarian
sect, rigidly controlled by a central cadre. It repeated attempts to
explain away excesses of the past by claiming that that was then and
now it is better but the root causes of those failure are rooted in
its culture. It is hypocritical in its usage of smear tactics against
others while claiming to be persecuted when others protest its usage
of such tactics. It consistently misstates facts, changes
inconvenient doctrines and rewrites entire sections of its own history
in a manner that would make George Orwell blush.

Also, Renchobo writes in the SGI Forum:

"PS: But there is one more thing you should understand. It is we in the SGI who are practicing in a state of independence and freedom of action, free from authoritarianism and egocentric ancestral wranglings, free from self centeredness. This is the path of the three Presidents of the SGI. They are the ones who have manifested a great freedom of conscience consistent with the path blazed by Nichiren Daishonin. This is the legacy that is passed on from mentor to disciple. The leaders that I admire the most are the leaders that stuck with Sensei Ikeda to the very end of his life just like he stuck with Sensei Toda and Toda with Makiguchi before him. This is what it means to achieve victory. This is what it means to attain Buddhahood. This what it means to take your place on Eagle Peak. This process will now be repeated everywhere all over the world. It simply requires courage, faith and inner confidence."

My only comment is, could Renchobu please cite the Lotus Sutra and Gosho to back up this gibberish? I would be happy to cite 100 passages of proof from the Gosho refuting this and dozens more from the Lotus Sutra. Follow the Law and not the person, Adet. The true succession is through the scrolls of the Sutra.

Mark