Outbreak of Internal Strife in Indonesia

In Indonesia, Nichiren Shoshu Hokkeko has been divided into three groups. The largest of them is BDI (Buddha Dharma Indonesia) and it is often called the Seno group. The rest are Jyogyo Bosatsu [Bodhisattvas of the Earth] group and New Nichiren Shoshu Indonesia.

New Nichiren Shoshu Indonesia is a group split off from NSI, a Shoshinkai group. NSI was a backlash against the Seno group sometime ago, and it was thus ex-communicated from Taiseki-ji. Now, they are led by Shoshinkai priest Kaido Kasamatsu. Although it is not a temple, they called their assembly place Nichiren Shoshu Myoho-ji temple.

In Indonesia, there is a priest-run corporation, which controls the member organization where both Myogan-ji temple and Hosei-ji temple belong. The corporation's supposed president is Ms. Aiko Seno, a lay member. Although she is not a priest, she is considered to be a priest under the Indonesian corporation law. Because Shojo Sakabe, chief priest of Myogan-ji temple, is a foreigner, he cannot be president of the corporation. If Aiko Seno wanted to kick Sakabe out, she could do so anytime, therefore, Taiseki-ji cannot take a strong attitude toward her. She has such enormous power that Indonesian members cannot go on tozan pilgrimage without her permission. Seno has literally put other Hokkeko groups and even priests under her control.

The Jyogo Bosatsu [Bodhisattva of the Earth] group hates the Seno group, but had been followed Seno's direction for the sake of going on pilgrimage to Taiseki-ji. However, things are not going smoothly and the Jyogo Bosatsu group are saying that they would like to be under the guidance of Jisei Hibino, a priest whom they met through the connection of late Jitoku Kawabe. Kawabe was once in charge of Indonesia. This is how the internal strife started.

Nichiren Shoshu overseas bureau has received a report on this infighting. While Gyoyu Urushibata, Nichiren Shoshu Overseas Bureau Chief, was away on his visit to South America, Shinsho Abe, the General Affairs Chief, visited Indonesia for three days from August 21. It seems that he tried to get the Senos (mother and daughter) under his control. In fact, in May, when earthquake hit Yogyakarta, Indonesia, there was a dispute over relief aid between Nichiren Shoshu head temple and the Senos. Nichiren Shoshu ordered them to donate under the name of Shojo Sakabe, the chief priest at Myogan-ji, but the Seno family insisted on using name of BDI (Buddha Dahrma Indonesia). The issue still rankles even now.

Shinsho Abe is upset that Ms. Seno is not obeying what the head temple is ordering. He would really like to control the Seno family this time. This could also viewed as a battle between Seno vs. Taiseki-ji, and lay vs. priest. While Ms. Seno's honest concern lies in getting funding for the organization, this power struggle will continue for a while.