Category Archives: Featured

Dave Baldschun SGI-USA Vice Study Department Leader Unity is a primary concern in Buddhism. Among the five cardinal sins mentioned in various Buddhist texts, which include murdering one’s parents and injuring a Buddha, is causing disunity in the community of believers. Nichiren Daishonin wrote frankly about those believers who betrayed him and his followers. In “The Workings of Brahma and Shakra,” he writes: “Sho-bo, Noto-bo, and the lay nun…

On December 25, 1926, Japan’s Emperor Taisho died. A new emperor, Showa—known to the world outside Japan by his given name, Hirohito—took the throne, and the era was renamed Showa. During the early years of Hirohito’s reign, Japan grew increasingly nationalistic, with the military gaining a growing influence in politics. As the nation ran headlong toward war, the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood succumbed to pressure from the government and compromised…

With the leadership of SGI President Ikeda and courageous efforts of its members, the SGI gained spiritual liberation On Nov. 29, 1991, the Soka Gakkai received a notice of excommunication, dated Nov. 28, from the priesthood of Nichiren Shoshu. The following day, Nov. 30, at a Soka Gakkai leaders meeting, SGI President Ikeda referred to Nov. 28 as the Day of Spiritual Liberation, or spiritual independence day for the…

Ted Morino Vice General Director The two views of the meaning of “heritage of the Law” between the Soka Gakkai International and the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood are diametrically opposed. Heritage (Jap. kechimyaku, or literally, ‘blood – pulse’ that is often translated as ‘lifeblood’) is discussed in detail in Nichiren Daishonin’s writing, “The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life” (The Writings Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, pp. 216-218) While the SGI…

Dave Baldschun One of the misconceptions put forth by the Nichiren Shoshu Temple (NST) priesthood about the Soka Gakkai is the wartime stance of the first and second presidents, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda. It is well known that they were arrested during World War II, but the reasons for their incarceration given by the priesthood have been twisted to suit their purpose in discrediting the founders of the…

Ted Morino SGI-USA Study Department Senior Adviser Nichiren Buddhism is well characterized by the opening sentence of “On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime,” which appears at the very beginning of The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin. This writing is a letter the Daishonin wrote to his samurai believer, Toki Jonin, in 1255, only two years after establishing Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as the basis of his teaching. The first sentence of this writing…

In 1632, Nissei (1600-1683) became the seventeenth high priest of Taiseki-ji, where he enjoyed rare privileges in the shogun’s court through the patronage of Kyodai-in (1592-1666). Kyodai-in wielded influence as the widow of Hachisuka Yoshishige, an influential governor of Awa province on Shikoku Island. The high priest left Taiseki-ji abruptly, in fact, following an argument with the powerful patron. Taiseki-ji was without a high priest for three years from…

The history of the Fuji School, founded by Nikko Shonin (1246-1333), began when he departed from Kuon-ji temple at Mount Minobu in 1289. Because of his deep understanding of the Daishonin’s teachings and his courageous action to propagate it despite numerous persecutions, Nikko Shonin inherited the Daishonin’s spiritual legacy. In fact, the Daishonin had entrusted Nikko Shonin with “the Law that Nichiren propagated throughout his lifetime” and referred to…

There is a lot of talk about evil, enemies and devils–why? Dave Baldschun SGI-USA Vice Study Department Leader I’ve noticed that in Nichiren Buddhism there is a lot of talk about evil, enemies and devils. We are told that in propagating the correct teaching of Buddhism: “The three powerful enemies will arise without fail” (“On Practicing the Buddha’s Teachings,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 394); “This world is…

Censoring the Gosho and Changing the Silent Prayers to Support Militarists. On December 25, 1926, Japan’s Emperor Taisho died. A new emperor, Showa—known to the world outside Japan by his given name, Hirohito—took the throne, and the era was renamed Showa. During the early years of Hirohito’s reign, Japan grew increasingly nationalistic, with the military gaining a growing influence in politics. As the nation ran headlong toward war, the…