Contrasting Obedience to the HIgh Priest

The Justice Chronicle, provided by Soka Gakkai International-USA, is a free monthly e-mail in support of the Soka Spirit movement. Soka Spirit is the SGI's educational effort to create value and deepen our understanding of Nichiren Buddhism through increased awareness of issues surrounding the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood and the spiritual foundation of the SGI movement.

1) VIEWPOINT: MENTOR-DISCIPLE VS. OBEDIENCE TO THE HIGH PRIEST, PART 1

By Fred Friedland
San Rafael, Calif.

A Nichiren Shoshu temple member expressed to me his feelings of the righteousness of Nichiren Shoshu and its high priest, Nikken Abe. I brought up Nichiren Shoshu's claim that one must have absolute and strict obedience to the high priest in order to attain Buddhahood. His reply was that SGI members claim that a person won't attain Buddhahood unless one follows SGI President Ikeda, so we were doing the same thing that we were accusing them of, and that without the orthodoxy of the high priest, one's faith couldn't possibly be correct.

This gave me the opportunity to think about the differences between these two relationships. Here are some of my thoughts on the matter:

In the SGI, we often hear that the essence of Nichiren Buddhism can be found in the mentor (teacher)-disciple (student) relationship, based upon the wisdom of equality that is expressed in the Lotus Sutra.

This spirit of equality is found repeatedly in the writings of Nichiren Daishonin, such as in the passage: Shakyamuni Buddha who attained enlightenment countless kalpas ago, the Lotus Sutra that leads all people to Buddhahood, and we ordinary human beings are in no way different or separate from one another. To chant Myoho-renge-kyo with this realization is to inherit the ultimate Law of life and death (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 216).

It is exactly this spirit that the founders of the Soka Gakkai have upheld. The successive presidents have made this spirit the foundation of propagation in order to achieve, as the Daishonin explains, peace and security in the land based upon the correct teaching (see WND, 6).

SGI members have been sometimes perceived as worshipping President Ikeda due to their expression of confidence or enthusiasm in his leadership. This was reflected in the Nichiren Shoshu member's statement to which I alluded. But certainly, President Ikeda has never taught or encouraged any form of obedience to him for any reason, and especially as a form of Buddhist practice.

On the contrary, he has pointed out the error of relying on the person instead of the Law. He states: Whether engaging in his own practice or instructing his followers in faith, Nichiren Daishonin himself always placed great weight on the admonition, 'Rely on the Law and not upon persons' (WND, 476). He also said that we should 'seek out the votary of the Lotus Sutra and make him our teacher' (see WND, 278) (October Living Buddhism, p. 17).

President Ikeda also states: It should be pointed out that the 'Law,' not the 'person,' is to be regarded as the proper standard in all things. Putting the person first gives you an uncertain standard; it is to let that person's mind become your master. In contrast, if you establish the Law as your standard, you will become the master of your mind (Faith Into Action, p. 233).

Encouraging faith in the Law as our focus gives equal access to enlightenment for all, as opposed to Nichiren Shoshu's assertion that only those with the status of priest have direct access: The original True Master was the True Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin, and through the Bestowal of the Living Essence of the Law upon [second high priest] Nikko Shonin, that lineage has continued with each of the successive High Priests, who are unquestionably the only individuals upon whom and within whom the living soul of the Law can be transferred (Nichiren Shoshu publication Dai-Nichiren, special edition, p. 8).

The Daishonin says, The Gohonzon is found only in the two characters of faith. This is what the sutra means when it states that one can 'gain entrance through faith alone' (WND, 832). To make the high priest -- or any person -- an intermediary amounts to nothing less than slavery of the spirit.

Part 2 will appear in Justice Chronicle 157.

2) LET'S STRIVE TO FULFILL OUR ORIGINAL VOW

This is an excerpt from a speech by SGI President Ikeda, given at a conference for representatives of the Kansai Region, held in Osaka, Japan, Jan. 24, 1994. It originally appeared in the March 21, 1994, issue of the World Tribune.

PROMOTE RELIGIOUS REFORM WITH PRIDE AND CONFIDENCE

Second high priest Nikko Shonin admonishes that one must practice in accord with Nichiren Daishonin's golden words. And that one must throroughly rebuke and condemn the slander of anyone -- even the high priest -- who turns against the Daishonin's teaching. This is the Daishonin's spirit.

As I have discussed previously [at a meeting in Kandai on Oct. 24, 1992], the present priesthood has violated every one of Nikko Shonin's 26 admonitions.

When we practice faith exactly as the Daishonin teaches, we can establish a state of life of good fortune and benefit over the three existences, and the great wish of kosen-rufu will be accomplished. This is the Daishonin's promise. The fact that we have realized great development and are spreading Nichiren Buddhism throughout the world proves the justice of the SGI.

Scholars and intellectuals highly praise the SGI's movement for peace and religious reform. For example, Professor Emeritus Kin'ichi Higuchi of the University of Kyoto remarks: The Soka Gakkai is promoting a movement for peace on a global scale. It emphasizes the interests of the world over national interests. This is an extremely important feature of the Soka Gakkai.

He is right on the mark. This is why people of sound judgment throughout the world have high regard for the SGI. The narrow-mindedness that is prevalent among the Japanese is one reason why the Soka Gakkai is not well understood in Japan.

Professor Higuchi also says: In the case of Japan, Buddhism devolved into 'funeral Buddhism' and died. As a result of the Soka Gakkai's movement, Buddhism has been revitalized in the present age, and the Buddhist view of human dignity and of equality have been restored in people's daily lives. It seems to me that this may be the basis for the creation of a network linking human beings that transcends national sovereignty.

It is the SGI that has revitalized Buddhism. And the
evitalization of Buddhism is the
evitalization of the human being in the present age.

He continues: A very ugly side of Buddhism had come to the fore at funerals. This was arguably a result of the danka system [one in which Buddhist temples were effectively turned into part of the government bureaucracy] that was instituted during the Edo period (1600-1898). In this respect, I have very high expectations for the funerals that fellow Soka Gakkai members are conducting [without the officiation of priests].

We base ourselves on the original teachings of Buddhism dating back 700 years to the time of Nichiren Daishonin and 3,000 years [to the time of Shakyamuni]. At the same time, we are leading the way toward the 21st century. Please continue to promote hope-filled religious reform with ever more pride and confidence.

Three in a series.