Published by Soka Spirit Editor
Posted on August 11, 2009
Nikken wondered whether another priest had received the heritage also from Nittatsu.
In November 1980, Nikken is said to have given the following remarks to the young priests in head temple:
“Even though I did receive the heritage from Nittatsu Shonin, I also suspected that somebody else might have also received it. So I asked the other priests if any one of them had received something from the former high priest. When no one else responded, I decided to disclose the fact that I had privately received the heritage from Nittatsu Shonin.”
If Nikken had truly received the heritage from Nittatsu, he wouldn’t have wondered whether another priest had received it also from Nittatsu. The fact that Nikken was deeply concerned about somebody else shows that Nikken’s story was a fabrication.
A senior priest of Nichiren Shoshu comments:
“One thing that has been bothering me is the fact that if Nikken had received the heritage from Nittatsu Shonin on April 15, 1978, Nittatsu Shonin’s attitude toward Nikken would have been looked upon as insensitive. At a party, Nittatsu Shonin would often speak casually to Nikken, saying, for instance, ‘Oh, Josen-ji (Nikken), sing a song’ or ‘Hey, you.’ If Nittatsu Shonin had designated him as his successor, he would not have spoken to Nikken in such a disrespectful manner.”
Certainly, in those days, as Hayase Nichiji (current high priest Nichinyo’s father) was no longer general administrator and Nikken had succeeded him in that capacity, there was an atmosphere prevalent within Nichiren Shoshu that the era of Shinno Abe (Nikken) had come. At the same time, Nittatsu was said to have been indecisive about the nomination of his successor.
It is recorded in the December 7, 1984, entry of the memo taken by Jitoku Kawabe (whose notes are said to be more precise than tape-recording), that Jiun Sugano mentioned, “When Nikken was chosen to be general administrator, Nittatsu Shonin chose him hesitatingly. So at that time, I thought Nittatsu Shonin had not yet transferred the heritage to him.”
Nikken became general administrator on May 7, 1979. If Nikken had received the heritage on the alleged April 15, 1978, Nittatsu would not have been hesitant in choosing Nikken as general administrator. But because Nittatsu was hesitant in selecting Nikken for that position, Jiun Sugano thought that Nittatsu could not have transferred the heritage to Nikken as of May 7, 1979.
On one occasion, Nittatsu stated, “Honestly speaking, I would like to transfer the heritage to Abe, but Abe is no good, because he is Hayase’s man.” On another occasion, Nittatsu stated, “I would like to let Taiken Mitsuhisa have the heritage. But Mitsuhisa says he does not want to have it.”
Another priest of the head temple states, “Nittatsu Shonin actually said to several priests, ‘You will be the next.’ Saying such a thing to them, he must have been trying to awaken their sense of responsibility. However, he did not specify what he meant by ‘the next.’ Did he mean ‘high priest’ or ‘general administrator’ or what? Nittatsu Shonin was the type of person who gives encouragement in such a manner.”
Assailed by words of distrust and disbelief, Nikken defended himself by making the following statement at his quarters to the non-teachers residing at the head temple in the midst of the Shoshinkai group incident:
“If Nittatsu Shonin had not transferred the heritage to anyone, it would mean that he did not give any consideration to the selection of his successor. If so, that would mean that he was an inadequate high priest. Naturally, while he was alive, he transferred the heritage, and he transferred it to me.”
Then, how did Nikken become high priest?
Just before the recitation of the sutra and the chanting of daimoku started on the day of Nittatsu’s death, Jiun Sugano asked, “Aren’t you, Mr. General Administrator, succeeding?” So hearing, Nikken murmured, “Oh, is that right? Yes, you’re right…” Nikken’s response to Sugano’s question was indeed strange.
This article is based on Hossu Sasho (Self-Appointed High Priest) by Nichiren Shoshu Yushu Goho Domei (League of Concerned Priests for Protecting the Law) published in 2003.