Volume 4, No. 2 (Part 3)
June 13, 1994
The Myosetsu-ji Chief Priest Responds – April 13, 1994
To SGI-USA New York Youth Division
IN 1977, the Soka Gakkai deviated from Nichiren Daishonin’s teachings that have been correctly upheld for 700 years by Nichiren Shoshu. and they declared and put into action their doctrine. based on their own point of view and way. Nichiren Shoshu called attention to this matter, and urged for a serious reflection.
Then, in 1979, President Ikeda at that time reflected on this series of mistakes, and taking the whole responsibility for himself, resigned the presidency. A group of about 200 priests (Shoshinkai) was founded during the course of this three-year conflict between Nichiren Shoshu and the Soka Gakkai.
At first, they were a group critical of President Ikeda’s mistakes. Later, they made objection to High Priest Nikken Shonin’s guidance which forgave the Soka Gakkai for having reflected upon their mistake. It came to a point that they no longer listened to the high priest’s decisions, thus they denied the Face to Face Bestowal of the Essence of the True Law from one high priest to another up until the 67th high priest, Nikken Shonin. Therefore, these more than 200 priests were excommunicated, for their insistence on this deviation involving a fundamental aspect of true Buddhism.
As time progressed, they made their own counterfeit Honzon, and became a totally heretical religion — committing great slander against the Law by issuing them. In the heretical teaching asserted by Kubokawa, the president of Shoshinkai, it stated that the Face to Face Bestowal of the Essence of True Buddhism that was kept at Taiseki-ji for 700 years has been broken.
This mistaken thought belongs not only to Kubokawa’s Shoshinkai; now it also belongs to you Soka Gakkai. The reason for this can be clearly seen at question 7, first chapter of your questionnaire. Also, President Kubokawa later issued the counterfeit Honzon ignoring the high priest as the only legitimate authority for transcribing the Gohonzon. This mistaken deed was made not only by Kubokawa’s Shoshinkai; it is now made by the Soka Gakkai as well. The reason for this can be clearly seen at question 2, third chapter of your questionnaire.It is an unmistakable fact that the Soka Gakkai disrespectfully erased the name of Honshobo Nissho, the Chief Priest of Joen-ji temple, from the Gohonzon. That Gohonzon was issued exclusively to Chief Priest Honshobo by the 26th High Priest Nichikan Shonin. Now the Soka Gakkai is replicating this Gohonzon, making its own counterfeit Honzon and issuing it to its members. All Gohonzon are the Daishonin’s mind and body itself. Erasing Honshobo Nissho’s name from the Gohonzon is injuring the heart and body of the Buddha himself.
Furthermore, if one selfishly erased David Kasahara’s name from a Gohonzon that was issued to him exclusively and issued it widely to Gakkai members, it is clear that this would be a great slander against the Law.
Now that all of you Gakkai members have abandoned the creed that the Soka Gakkai had believed for 60 years and deny the Face to Face Bestowal of the Essence of the True Law between successive High Priests, and issued counterfeit Honzon, you should know that you have become a heretical religion identical to Kubokawa’s Shoshinkai group.
I have enclosed a copy of a thesis published in 1981 in which Nichiren Shoshu refuted the heretical teaching of Shoshinkai President Kubokawa. This book not only refutes his heretical teachings but also most of the very similar mistakes which the Soka Gakkai is now committing and which are reiterated in your questionnaire.
I truly hope that you will change your mistaken point of view as soon as possible, and deeply reflect upon the great slander against the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary being perpetuated by the Soka Gakkai.
Rev. Jisei Nagasaka
Chief Priest, Myosetsu-ji temple
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Chapter 1
Question l
Answer: All successive high priests possess the Face to Face Bestowal of the Essence of True Law. What this means is the high priest possesses in his heart the essence of the Daishonin’s teaching, and this is why he can transcribe the Gohonzon. This is the unchangeable creed of Nichiren Shoshu for 700 years.
Question 2
Answer: All successive high priests are the Treasure of the Priesthood. 25th High Priest Nichikan Shonin stated in Chapter 6 of Rokkan Sho, “The Three Robes of This Sect,” “We should offer our prayer of gratitude toward the Three Treasures which are Nikko Shonin, (omission) Nichimoku Shonin, and all successive high priests who have handed down the Heritage of the True Law.??
Question 3
Answer: The content of the Face to Face Bestowal of the Essence of the True Law is a matter that is of concern between one high priest to another. Therefore, it is better that we avoid making comments about the content of the Face to Face Bestowal of the Essence of the True Law since neither of us are high priests. However, one thing is certain; the essence of Buddhism has been maintained by successive high priests up to this day. Owing to their efforts, Soka Gakkai members were able to encounter the true teaching of Nichiren Daishonin.
Question 4
Answer: In his essay, deeply reflecting on the mistake made in 1977, Mr. Daisaku Ikeda stated:
Needless to say, Nichiren Daishonin is the one and only Original Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law, and the successive high priests, as his emissaries, alone form the orthodox lineage through which the Entity of the Law is passed on. This is a vital point which we believers must not forget even for a moment. To do so is to deviate from the correct path of faith. (published in the May 1980 Seikyo Times under the title “Reconfirming Our Fundamental Mission??)
In this statement, Mr. Ikeda correctly reveres the orthodox Face to Face Bestowal Of the Essence of the True Law between high priests. In the “Juryo” chapter, the person who sent the emissary with great medicine is the doctor for all living beings.
Question 5
Answer: Nichiren Daishonin transmitted the essence of his teaching to Nikko Shonin with two transfer documents at Mount Minobu and at Ikegami. Likewise, each successive high priest also received the correct teaching of Nichiren Daishonin from their master. This is an unchangeable creed that has been handed down for 700 years at Head Temple Taiseki-ji.
Question 6
Answer: We should practice Nichiren Daishonin’s teaching through the instruction of High Priest.
This is the 700-year-old traditional faith and practice of Nichiren Shoshu.
Question 7
Answer: We should appreciate the fact that head temple has made its best effort to protect the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary and the orthodox lineage of the Law, observing the changing circumstances of different ages. We cannot allow ourselves to slander high priests merely from the standpoint of modern ages; we must investigate the historical backgrounds and circumstances of each age. All of you were able to start practicing Nichiren Daishonin’s teaching because it was protected and maintained to our present day.
Chapter 2
Question 1
Answer: The creed of Nichiren Shoshu is stated as: “The essence of the Daishonin’s teaching must be handed down from master to disciple” (Twenty-Six Admonitions of Nikko). The correct interpretation can only be made by learning the Gosho from master to disciple. This is called the Path of Master and Disciple.
This Master is each successive high priest We cannot correctly interpret the Gosho while disregarding the successive high priests. It is that difficult to believe in or understand the Daishonin’s teaching.
Question 2
Answer: The significance of memorial services are mentioned in various parts of the Daishonin’s Gosho.
The importance of toba memorial service is taught in “Letter to Nakaoki Nyudo” (MW-5, 291). The temple is the practicing hall (dojo) for practice of our faith, and it is also the place where the teaching of Nichiren Shoshu (Formalities and Doctrine) are being transmitted.
Chapter 3
Question 1
Answer: For 700 years Nichiren Shoshu has protected its correct doctrine at the foot of Mount Fuji. Presently, the Soka Gakkai has become a slanderous organization committing all of the Fourteen Slanders.
Taiseki-ji, the dwelling place of the Dai-Gohonzon, is the Eagle Peak of our day. When we go to this Eagle Peak and chant to the Dai-Gohonzon, we can eradicate our negative karma and attain enlightenment in our present lifetime. Thus, Sho-Hondo is the High Sanctuary of True Buddhism at this era.
Question 2
Answer: Successive high priests transcribe the Gohonzon, the Inner Enlightenment (Naisho) of the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary, through the orthodox lineage of the Law, and bestow it to believers. The one and only authority for the transcription of the Gohonzon is the high priest. Thus in revolting against the high priest, the honzon (object of worship) that the Soka Gakkai self-centeredly made is a counterfeit honzon. There is no greater slander than this. Furthermore, the act of erasing the applicant’s name, Honshobo, from 26th High Priest Nichikan Shonin’s noble Gohonzon and giving it out to Soka Gakkai members is inflicting injury upon the Buddha, and it is the great slander making cause for falling into the Hell of Incessant Suffering.