 |
Niko (1253-1314) propounded
that “When those upholding the Lotus Sutra visit
[a Shinto shrine], the Buddhist deities as well will come
to that shrine” (The chronological compilation of
Nichiren Daishonin’s Writings, p. 1732). However,
in his treatise “On Establishing the Correct Teaching
for the Peace of the Land,” the Daishonin states
that when people ignore the Law, all the Buddhist deities
(i.e., the protective forces in the universe that protect
life) will abandon the land so that people’s misery
and suffering will increase.
Based on the Daishonin’s teaching, Nikko Shonin
(1246-1333) discouraged believers from visiting a Shinto
shrine. But Niko allowed believers to visit them and criticized
Nikko Shonin, stating that “Byakuren Ajari [Nikko]
reads only non-Buddhist scriptures and is ignorant of
the ultimate teaching of Buddhism” (ibid., p.1732).
Niko deviated both in his understanding of Buddhism and
in his behavior. In “Reply to Lord Hara,”
Nikko Shonin describes Niko’s aberrant behavior:
Niko invited a painter to the estate of lay priest Moro’oka
and had him paint a mandala. To consecrate the painted
mandala, he gave a sermon for one day and one night and
then got drunk on sake while holding fast to the offering
he received for performing the consecration. Furthermore,
heavily drunk, he sang vulgar songs and made a laughingstock
of himself. Regarding Niko’s disgraceful behavior,
Nikko Shonin writes: “What could possibly bring
more shame upon Nichiren than this?”(ibid., p.1734).
Commenting on this statement, Nichiko Hori (1867-1957)
states: “We priests and lay believers of the modern
day must deeply understand his statement and regard it
as golden words with which to admonish ourselves.We must
not take these words lightly, thinking of them as empty
words from six-hundred some years ago” (February
1956, Daibyakurenge, p. 3).
|
|
