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1. Our Current Focus |
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Shin Yatomi
SGI-USA
Vice Study Department Leader
The Priesthood Issue and
the Soka Spirit
Today, the Soka Spirit refers most specifically to the
SGI-USA’s current efforts with regard to Nichiren
Shoshu, a school of Nichiren Buddhism based in Shizuoka,
Japan, with six branch temples in the United States. Nichiren
Shoshu is the Buddhist school with which the Soka Gakkai
and SGI were originally affiliated. Under the leadership
of its current high priest Nikken Abe, however, Nichiren
Shoshu committed two major transgressions against Buddhism
and its practitioners.
In 1991, the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood demanded that
the Soka Gakkai, then its lay organization, be disbanded
and later officially excommunicated it. Buddhism describes
disrupting the harmony among believers as one of the most
serious offenses in Buddhism. Furthermore, in an attempt
to justify its arbitrary action toward the SGI and silence
believers’ criticism, the priesthood has been propounding
the erroneous doctrine of the “absolute faith in
and strict obedience to the High Priest.”
Since the priesthood has used its assumed authority and
role as clergy to condemn the SGI, and actively aims to
confound and intimidate believers, we have seen the urgent
necessity to address the issue. In addition, addressing
and correcting such abuse by religious authority accords
exactly with the teachings and spirit of Buddhism. Beyond
these specific issues, however, we consider the priesthood
issue as an excellent opportunity to deepen our understanding
of the Soka Spirit and reflect upon ourselves and the
future of our movement to spread Nichiren Buddhism.
The priesthood issue is an experience of historic importance
from which future generations of Buddhists will learn
how to apply the core spirit of Buddhism to their changing
circumstances.
The five most serious offences in Buddhism are called
the “five cardinal sins.” Explanations vary
according to the sutras and treatises. The most common
is (1) killing one’s father, (2) killing one’s
mother, (3) killing an arhat, (4) injuring a Buddha, and
(5) causing disunity in the Buddhist Order. It is said
that those who commit any of the five cardinal sins invariably
fall into the hell of incessant suffering. The last three
offences are collectively referred to as the three cardinal
sins. Devadatta is well known for committing these three.
(The Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism, p. 181-82) Dai-Nichiren,
Special Edition II, “The Correct Way of Faith in
Nichiren Shoshu,” published by the Nichiren Shoshu
Bureau of Religious Affairs, p. 13.
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