Volume 3, No. 4 (Part 2) –
May 10, 1993
THE DISPARITY BETWEEN NIKKO SHONIN’S ADMONITIONS AND THE NIKKEN SECT
The following chart is based on SGI President Ikeda’s address at the Kansai Executive Conference, at the Kinugasa Ikeda Hall, Kyoto, Oct. 24, 1992. The address appeared in the Nov. 16 and Nov. 23, 1992, issues of the World Tribune.
Twenty-six Admonitions
Article 1: The doctrines of the Fuji school must not differ in the least from the teachings spread by the late master.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
The Nikken sect teaches that ‘one must not differ from Nikken’ not that ‘one must not differ from the Daishonin.’ The basis of its doctrines is erroneous. Far from ‘not differing in the least,’ the Nikken sect acts completely contrary to the Daishonin’s teachings. Examples: the high priest and many other senior priests’ extravagant lifestyles, allowing slanderous conduct by Hokkeko members over the centuries; the high priest’s own slander in building a family tomb in a Zen temple; the sect’s acceptance of the Shinto talisman during World War II; etc.
Notes
We can sense Nikko Shonin’s profound spirit in this first warning article. To ‘not differ in the least’ from the Daishonin’s teachings this is the most basic essential of the correct school. This passage is documentary proof of what it means to have a direct connection with the Daishonin. It is the foundation of the correct school. Today, only the SGI practices and abides by this admonition.
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Article 2: The doctrines of the five senior priests differ in every regard from the teachings of the late master.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
The true nature of the five senior priests is revealed by their betrayal of the master. Each doctrine established by the Nikken sect in recent times, including their alteration of the doctrine of the three treasures, differs in every regard from the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin and Nikko Shonin. Members of the Nikken sect are the latter-day followers of the five senior priests.
Notes
The five senior priests denounced Nikko Shonin’s correct teachings, claiming he was ‘establishing a different teaching and had lost the Way.’ Nikken sect priests, while deeply immersed in their own slander of the Law, vilify the correct practice of the SGI. On this point as well, the priesthood’s actions perfectly mirror those of the five senior priests.
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Article 3: There will [in the future] appear persons who slander our school, saying that the Gosho are forged writings. You must not associate with such evil priests.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
The priesthood is so determined to establish the high priest as the foundation that it has distorted the true path. It has even gone so far as to advance the claim that ‘To make the Gosho the foundation is egotistic.’ Making whoever is the current high priest the foundation itself betrays Nikko Shonin’s articles of warning.
Notes
The Soka Gakkai has published the Nichiren Daishonin Gosho Zenshu (Collected Writings of Nichiren Daishonin) with editorial supervision by Nichiko Shonin, the 59th high priest, and has applied itself to strict Buddhist study with discipline like that of master swordsmen. We take pride in that, inheriting Nikko Shonin’s true legacy, we have made the Gosho our foundation.
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Article 4: Those who produce forged writings and say that they are Gosho, or who practice with the view that the essential and theoretical teachings [of the Lotus Sutra] are the same, are parasites in the lion’s body.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
Before and during World War II, a Nichiren Shoshu priest advocated the false doctrine of shimpon busshaku, which asserts that the Buddha of absolute freedom is a manifestation of the Shinto Sun Goddess. After the war, the priesthood, rather than taking this evil priest to task, punished the Gakkai for confronting him. Today, many priests and lay believers subscribe to the idea of kempon busshaku, placing Nikken above the original Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin. Today, Nikken sect members, while claiming they have inherited the tradition of Nikko Shonin, base themselves on Nikken rather than the Daishonin.
Notes
Nikko Shonin says that there will appear evil priests who use forged writings to suit their needs, who fail to distinguish between the theoretical and essential teachings and who practice false teachings.
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Article 5: You should refrain from indulging in poetry or non-Buddhist works, or from engaging in idleness and chatter without [having the aim of] rebuking slander.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
Many priests, freely using lay followers’ offerings and failing to carry out the practice of propagation, have succumbed to sensual pleasures. Living in the lap of luxury, they wile away their time in ‘idleness and chatter’ and indulge in the crass amusements of the nouveau riche. The Daishonin says that while donning the garments of teachers of the Law, inwardly such priests are animals.
Notes
The Daishonin states, ‘Though one may have been fortunate enough to be born as a human being… if he fails to study Buddhism and to refute its slanderers but simply spends his time in idleness and chatter, then he is no better than an animal dressed in priestly robes’ (MW-3, 215).
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Article 6: Lay believers should be strictly prohibited from visiting [heretical] temples and shrines. Moreover, priests should not visit slanderous temples or shrines, which are inhabited by demons, even if only to have a look around. To do so would be a pitiful violation [of the Daishonin’s Buddhism]. This is not my own personal view; it wholly derives from the sutras [of Shakyamuni] and the writings [of Nichiren Daishonin].
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
As successive revelations have made clear, the priesthood has become mired in slander. The current high priest set up a family tombstone in the cemetery of a Zen temple, even conducting a ceremony to consecrate it there, and then left the temple grounds without refuting the mistaken views of the Zen priests, only to go on to a banquet. This shows just how erroneous the priesthood’s faith is.
Notes
The SGI has always strictly condemned slander, exactly as Nikko Shonin admonishes. President Makiguchi’s death in prison resulted from his refusal to compromise with slander. Even well after the war ended, Shinto talismans and other slanderous objects of worship were housed in Nichiren Shoshu templesfrom local branch temples to the head temple itself. Due to efforts by Soka Gakkai members, slanderous objects were discarded. Members from the early days can readily attest to this. The Gakkai requested that the priesthood discard slanderous objects of worship. Because of the Gakkai, Nichiren Shoshu was revived as the orthodox school of Nichiren Daishonin and Nikko Shonin.
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Article 7: Disciples of ability should be allowed to devote themselves to the study of the Gosho and other doctrines of Buddhism, without being pressed to perform miscellaneous services for their teachers.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
Acolytes are given no instruction in faith whatsoever, and are even regularly told such things as ‘Chanting too much daimoku will bring about ill effects.’ The earnest study of Buddhism is also entirely absent. Instead of warmly raising people, the priesthood forces them into submission. Capable people are systematically oppressed through harassment and violence reminiscent of the old Japanese army a fearful deviation from Nikko Shonin’s articles of warning.
Notes
This article reflects the spirit of selecting and raising capable people. The Daishonin’s way of training his disciples is not an authoritarian system of apprenticeship. What is important is that each person be enabled to fully and freely manifest his or her abilities and carry out activities for the sake of the Law and kosen-rufu.
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Article 8: Those of insufficient learning who are bent on obtaining fame and fortune are not qualified to call themselves my followers.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
Nichiko Shonin once decried conditions within the priesthood stating: ‘The passage at the end of the jigage (verse) section of the ‘Juryo,’ or 16th, chapter of the Lotus Sutra reads, ‘[This is my constant thought:] How I can cause all living beings to quickly attain Buddhahood.’ This refers to the immense compassion of the original Buddha who is continually active over the three existences. However, the desire that ceaselessly preoccupies the priests of these degenerate times over the three existences is, ‘How can I increase my wealth and quickly become rich?’ It is truly deplorable to hear such things.’ In view of this declaration that such priests ‘are not qualified to call themselves my followers,’ Nikko Shonin would certainly excommunicate the present priesthood. This is all too clear.
Notes
The Daishonin refers to priests who merely seek profit and others’ reverence, while not practicing properly themselves, as ‘priests with the hearts of dogs,’ or ‘Law-devouring hungry spirits’ (MW-4, 93).
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Article 9: Until they are well versed in the difference between the provisional and true teachings, followers of later generations should visit this temple, setting aside the debt of gratitude they owe to their parents and teachers, and undertake various studies in order to free themselves [from the sufferings of birth and death] and attain the Way.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
The purpose for visiting the head temple is to contemplate and gain freedom from the sufferings of birth and death and to attain the Way of the Buddha. It is so that, with earnest devotion to Buddhist practice, one may sever one’s attachments to the secular world and wholeheartedly devote oneself to ‘various studies.’ In essence, it is to learn correct faith. Yet the head temple today, much to the contrary, is even more occupied with secular concerns than lay persons in society. Priests marry and have families [although celibacy is the traditional practice of Buddhist priests, as is indicated in Article 25] and there is no serious Buddhist study at all. Pervaded by an air of discrimination and violence, it has become a place where the faith of acolytes is destroyed and corrupt priests are nurtured.
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Article 10: Unless you have a thorough understanding of and first faith in the teachings [of this school], you should not study T’ien-t’ai’s doctrines.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
This admonition notwithstanding, at the head temple, priests who have not yet made a thorough study of the Gosho lecture haphazardly on T’ien-t’ai’s doctrine. Moreover, priests’ lack of earnestness in studying the Gosho itself runs counter to this article. Most years, the study material for the annual teachers training course for priests held at the head temple has been taken from the three major works of the T’ien-t’ai school. The lectures given on such occasions, however, have a reputation for being largely unintelligible.
Notes
While the Daishonin’s Buddhism is concerned with ‘actuality,’ T’ien-t’ai’s doctrine is concerned with ‘theory.’ The five senior priests failing to realize the monumental difference between the actual teaching and the theoretical, a difference comparable to that between heaven and earth called themselves ‘disciples of T’ien-t’ai’ [when pressured by the Kamakura government after the Daishonin’s death]. If we delve into the doctrines of T’ien-t’ai before we have a profound grasp of the Daishonin’s Buddhism, we may lose our bearings and deviate from the path of correct faith.
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Article 11: Followers of this school should engrave the teachings of the Gosho in their lives and thereby inherit the ultimate principles expounded by the master. Then, if they have any leisure time, they should inquire into the doctrine of the T’ien-t’ai school.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
One young priest revealed that, as an acolyte he was instructed on the Gosho only about eight hours a year, not even an hour per month far from the Gosho being made the foundation. With such a dearth of study, priests have only a crude grasp of the Gosho, and it is said that the majority of chief priests could not pass even the Soka Gakkai Study Department’s Entrance Exam. Many chief priests are said to be unable to read the Gosho correctly. In addition, Nikken is notorious for needlessly difficult Gosho lectures that fail completely to convey the Daishonin’s spirit. In short, he uses the Gosho merely to flaunt his authority as high priest. Members of the Nikken sect have completely desecrated the path of mentor and disciple between themselves and Nichiren Daishonin and Nikko Shonin as well as the path of mentor and disciple between themselves and preceding high priests. Their actions epitomize the betrayal of the mentor.
Notes
The 65th high priest, Nichijun Shonin, clarified that this article is an admonishment of the tendency then prevalent to consider the Daishonin’s teachings from the standpoint of T’ien-t’ai’s doctrine. He made the point as follows, ‘The Daishonin’s teachings are determined in every respect by the Daishonin’s Gosho.’ Here, Nichijun Shonin stresses the importance of basing ourselves on the Gosho.
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Article 12: You should be inclined to engage in discussion or deliver lectures [on Buddhism], and you should refrain from pursuing secular concerns.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
According to the testimony of priests who have severed ties with the head temple, conversation among priests is limited to exchanging information about pleasurable pursuits or how to make money. Still worse, priests spend their time conspiring behind the scenes about ways to harass and exploit lay people. Neither spreading the teachings to others nor talking about Buddhism among themselves, they are a gathering of ‘Law-devouring hungry spirits.’ The priesthood has completely turned its back on Nikko Shonin’s admonitions.
Notes
We can interpret this as an admonition to continually seek the Buddhist Way, persevere in our practice and study of Buddhism and advance toward kosen-rufu.
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Article 13: Until kosen-rufu is achieved, propagate the Law to the full extent of your ability without begrudging your life.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
While the SGI has always put kosen-rufu first, the priesthood has always placed its own preservation above all else, thereby hindering the progress of kosen-rufu. Where in the priesthood can one find people spreading the teachings ‘without begrudging their lives’? In contrast, not only do its members lead indulgent lives, but they are even seeking to destroy the SGI and to bring the flow of kosen-rufu to a halt. Such priests are enemies of the True Law and enemies of Nikko Shonin.
Notes
The 66th high priest, Nittatsu Shonin, once remarked: ‘It is Soka Gakkai members who, embodying the spirit of spreading the teachings even at the cost of their lives, are safeguarding Buddhism, protecting the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary and carrying out the practice of propagation for the sake of the eternal transmission of the Law. At the same time, by overcoming all manner of persecutions by slanderous people, Soka Gakkai members are carrying on the practice of the ‘six difficult and nine easy acts’ with their lives, and accomplishing kosen-rufu in the Latter Day of the Law.’ The SGI’s history is a golden record of our efforts to put this admonition into practice.
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Article 14: As for practitioners who treasure the Law more highly than their own lives, even if they are but humble teachers of the Law, you must hold them in great esteem, revering them as you would the Buddha.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
The phrase ‘practitioners who treasure the Law more highly than their own lives’ refers to SGI members. Who apart from SGI members could it possibly indicate? The offense of evil priests who disdain and seek to plunge praiseworthy SGI members into difficulties far exceeds that of Devadatta.
Notes
Articles 14-16 concern faith, practice and study, respectively. With these admonitions, Nikko Shonin teaches that faith is concerned with the individual’s practice and ability. Not those of outward status or position, but those who actually spread the teachings and advance kosen-rufu should be respected. Article 14 admonishes us to revere as Buddhas those who spread the teachings without begrudging their lives.
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Article 15: You should revere a teacher of the Law who engages in its propagation as a sacred priest, even though he may be your junior.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
As the testimony of priests who have severed ties with the head temple makes clear, discrimination along hierarchical lines pervades the priesthood to an extreme degree. The current priesthood is totally out of accord with Nikko Shonin’s admonition that persons excelling in faith and practice should be respected, even though they may be of low rank or junior in age or position.
Notes
The SGI treasures those who practice in earnest, even though they may have joined only recently, prays for their growth and seeks to give them guidance and training in faith. For precisely this reason, we have created a steady stream of capable people for kosen-rufu and have raised many young successors. The appellation ‘a teacher of the Law who engages in its propagation’ refers to the SGI. However, inspired by contempt for the SGI, the priesthood excommunicated us.
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Article 16: Even though they may be lowly, you should deeply respect and regard as your teachers those whose understanding of Buddhism surpasses your own.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
Sessen Doji learned the Law from a lowly demon. Herein lies the Buddhist spirit of seeking the Law. This spirit, too, is entirely lacking in the priesthood, which is dominated by authoritarian and discriminatory attitudes.
Notes
The SGI is a world where people study together and support one another in seeking the Law irrespective of social standing, profession or age as members of the Soka family. Further, it is a realm where seniors apply themselves to raising their juniors, burning with a sense of responsibility to help them become more capable than they are themselves. It is a world of equality; a world where one’s real ability counts; a world based on the Law.
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Article 17: Do not follow even the high priest if he goes against the Buddha’s Law and propounds his own views.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
President Toda felt personally responsible for kosen-rufu. He stood up alone in the vanguard and took direct leadership of the propagation campaign. However, far from cooperating with the Soka Gakkai, the priesthood at the time refused to show any understanding whatsoever. In addition, some priests, succumbing to irrational feelings of jealousy, actively obstructed efforts to propagate this Buddhism. For President Makiguchi, too, the lack of understanding and obstructive actions of priests had been a constant source of irritation. And, in the end, he died in prison as a result of the priesthood’s betrayal.
Notes
Nikko Shonin’s inclusion of this among the admonitions clearly demonstrates that he did not think the high priest was infallible. On the contrary, we can infer that he was concerned about the emergence of high priests who should not be followed. For this reason, we have refused to follow Nikken, who propounds his own views, and we have strictly taken him to task for his slander of the Law; in so doing, we carry out a practice that exactly accords with Nikko Shonin’s admonitions.
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Article 18: Even if a view is set forth unanimously by a conference [of believers], the high priest should repudiate it if it goes against the Buddha’s Law.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
This admonition is paired with Article 17. The phrase ‘if it goes against the Buddha’s Law’ is found in both. The basic point is that truth or falsity should be determined neither by authority (i.e., by the high priest) nor by the weight of the view of the multitude (i.e., by a conference of believers). What counts most is whether something accords with the correct Buddhist teaching. And it goes without saying that the Daishonin’s golden words are the standard for making any such determination. In using his authority to attempt to crush the correct views of the believers, which are based on the Gosho, Nikken completely goes against this admonition.
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Article 19: Black robes should not be worn [by priests].
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
By admonishing priests to wear garments different in color from those of the priests of other sects, Nikko Shonin taught that they should always conduct themselves in a manner befitting followers of Nichiren Daishonin. Being immediately recognizable as priests of the Fuji school, they would have to conduct themselves properly and in an upright manner. The spirit of this warning article is that those of the Fuji school, as the Daishonin’s followers, should be careful to ensure that their conduct and their faith are unblemished. However, Nikken sect priests change their robes to be less conspicuous in their immoral pursuits, with some going so far as to use pseudonyms to further conceal their identity. The conduct of Nichiren Shoshu priests has become so deplorable that light-gray robes now symbolize the height of priestly decadence.
Notes
Since the time of Nichiren Daishonin, it has been part of the code of the Fuji school that priests should wear robes of a light-gray color [contrary to the black robes worn by priests of other sects]. The reason for this was to protect the correct teaching.
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Article 20: Jikitotsu [festive robes] should not be worn [by priests].
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
Nikko Shonin admonishes priests not to wear ornate robes but be simple in attire. Thus, even though he may not be wearing a jikitotsu per se, a priest who wears such costly and luxurious robes as Nikken does completely goes against the spirit of this admonition. A typical outfit of Nikken’s is said to cost tens of thousands of U.S. dollars.
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Article 21: You should not sit together with slanderers of the Law at religious ceremonies for fear of suffering the same punishment as they.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
In October 1922, the 57th high priest, Nissho Shonin, sat with high priests of the Minobu school, the Kempon Hokke sect and other Nichiren sects and read the ‘Juryo’ chapter and chanted daimoku in a ceremony led by the Minobu school high priest. After this, a high-ranking priest (the 60th high priest, Nichikai, Nikken’s father) drafted a memorandum stating that the Daishonin’s sacred tomb was at Minobu and submitted it to the government authorities. Trampling on the sublime spirit of Nikko Shonin, who departed from Minobu because of slander, these high priests aligned themselves with the slanderers. By acting in such a manner, they incurred the same offense as the Minobu school, committing grave slander.
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Article 22: You must not accept offerings from slanderers of the Law.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
Priests who do not refute the mistaken views of lay followers who enshrine slanderous objects of worship and who accept offerings from such followers, turn their backs on this admonition. In light of this warning article, the priesthood’s contradictory actions accusing the Soka Gakkai of slander while at the same time accepting Gakkai members’ donations and living in temples donated by the Gakkai become apparent. Their true motive is not to abide by Nikko Shonin’s admonitions but to amass wealth; they care not about the distinction between correct and erroneous Buddhist teachings.
Notes
After the war, to increase the revenues of the impoverished head temple, the priesthood at one time planned to follow the example of other slanderous temples and turn Taiseki-ji into a tourist site. It was President Toda who stopped them from doing this. Thus the Soka Gakkai saved the priesthood from accepting the offerings of non-believers.
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Article 23: Carrying a sword or staff in order to protect the Buddhist Law is permissible. However, [weapons] should not be worn when presiding over religious services, though other participants may be permitted to carry them [to protect themselves and others].
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
The members of the priesthood, having completely relied on the SGI’s efforts to protect Buddhism and Nichiren Shoshu, have grown decadent. They know nothing of the spirit to protect the Buddhist Law. All that concerns them is their own base self-preservation.
Notes
Nichiko Shonin comments, ‘This article applied to weapons of self-defense during certain periods of social unrest and turmoil in feudal times.’ We should ponder Nikko Shonin’s solemn spirit, conveyed by the clause ‘In order to protect the Buddhist Law.’ No matter the danger, to protect the Buddhist Law, we must not begrudge our lives. The SGI has persevered in protecting the Law while undergoing great persecutions to pioneer kosen-rufu among the harsh realities of society. In this sense, we truly practice the spirit of this admonition.
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Article 24: [At religious ceremonies] young acolytes should not occupy seats lower than those of high-ranking lay followers.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
Not only have the members of the Nikken sect gone money-mad, but taking advantage of the respect and reverence that SGI members showed them, they discriminated against and looked down on lay followers. Furthermore, they have denigrated and persecuted the SGI a most praiseworthy organization of faith made up of ordinary people who have no particular standing in society. They are going completely against Nikko Shonin’s admonition to make Buddhism the standard and not to fawn upon people of high standing.
Notes
Nikko Shonin instructs priests not to curry favor with lay followers who lack faith, even those of high social standing. To do so is to degrade the Law. Nichiko Shonin once explained: ‘During times of strife, the warrior was all-powerful. In religious circles, ordinary non-ranking priests faced poverty and hardships in their daily lives; therefore they tended to show the powerful feudal clans special treatment, which led the warrior to grow arrogant.’ Nichiko Shonin stressed that priests must truly strive to become respectworthy, remarking, ‘For priests to promote self-reflection, effort and dignity, this admonition must be put into practice.’ Simply put, even if impoverished, priests must not court money. Placing Buddhism above the mundane concerns of their daily lives, priests must possess the dignity to win the respect of lay followers. They should respect not high standing or power but those of faith.
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Article 25: My disciples should conduct themselves as holy priests, patterning their behavior after that of the late master. However, even if a high priest or a priest of profound practice and understanding deviates from [the principle of] sexual abstinence, he may still be allowed to remain in the priesthood [as a common priest without rank].
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
Based on the premise that a priest who has relations with a woman should by rights be defrocked and made to return to secular life, Nikko Shonin here stipulates that, in the event that a high priest temporarily deviates from the principle of sexual abstinence, his rank should be reduced to that of common priest. Nichiko Shonin comments on this admonition, ‘It can only be interpreted as meaning that the person should lose the position of high priest and descend to a low status.’ Far from ‘temporarily deviating,’ Nikken, by his repeated shameless conduct and the fact that he is married, has long continued to defile the character of the school and bring disgrace upon the chair of the high priest. Nikko Shonin clearly directs that such a person should be removed from his post and stripped of his rank.
Notes
This is clear documentary proof that Nichiren Daishonin and Nikko Shonin absolutely prohibited priests from marrying. The term holy priests denotes those who refrain from marrying and eating meat. That the Daishonin himself had neither wife nor children, nor ate meat, is clear from the Gosho passage, ‘I, Nichiren, have neither wife nor children, nor do I eat fish or fowl’ (MW-5, 6). Nichiko Shonin once remarked about on this admonition: ‘I see the present situation as a temporary anomaly…. Eventually and as a natural development, I pray, we will reform ourselves and return to the conditions that prevailed during the time of our founder, Nichiren Daishonin, and Nikko Shonin, who succeeded him and established the head temple.’ [Nichiko Shonin observed the precept of celibacy.]
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Article 26: You should treasure those practitioners who are skillful in difficult debate, just as the late master did.
The Reality of the ‘Nikken’ Sect
Without people who spread the Law, kosen-rufu would be nothing but an empty dream. In this final admonition, Nikko Shonin reiterates the point that those who spread the Law should be treasured. The Nikken sect, however, looked down on, used and ultimately excommunicated the Soka Gakkai an order of emissaries of the original Buddha and practitioners of propagation.
The priesthood had recovered its legitimacy thanks to the Gakkai. The Gakkai had made Nichiren Shoshu the correct school (shoshu) again. However, by excommunicating the Soka Gakkai, the priesthood has of its own accord completely cut itself off from the world of correct faith. Without the Gakkai, it has become a heretical school.
Notes
There are many masters of propagation in the SGI who have developed formidable skill in difficult debate. All along we have highly praised, respected and honored the courageous practitioners of kosen-rufu who refute false teachings and spread the true teaching, thereby leading people to take faith in the Gohonzon. This is the tradition of the SGI. For this reason, while spreading the True Law throughout the world, we have prospered along with the Law.