Published by Soka Spirit Editor
Posted on August 11, 2009
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).