 |
|
 |
|
|
June 13, 1994
Volume 4, No. 2 (Part 3)
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
************************
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.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
