Definition of Justice

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) RECENT GUIDANCE ON SOKA SPIRIT

In 2002, SGI North America Bureau Director Norimasa Saito made a trip to 12 cities in the United States. The following are some of the points he made to encourage SGI-USA members.

JUSTICE IS ONLY JUSTICE WHEN IT PREVAILS OVER INJUSTICE

It is a historical fact that almost all people, whether they currently practice within the SGI or with Nichiren Shoshu, first encountered Nichiren Buddhism through people who grew up in faith with the SGI. In this respect, it is clear that the essence of the SGI embodies the Buddha's force or the functions of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. In contrast, the current Nichiren Shoshu, which is expounding its own new teachings, making absolute obedience to High Priest Nikken Abe the top priority over the power of faith in and practice to the Gohonzon, has taken every possible action to undermine Nichiren Buddhism.

If Nichiren Shoshu, instead of claiming that it represents the correct mainstream teaching of Nichiren Daishonin, admitted that what it teaches today is something different from what the Daishonin taught, then the temple issue would be a non-issue. However, as long as they proclaim they represent the correct teachings of the Daishonin, we need to continue to point out the difference between the current Nichiren Shoshu's doctrines and what the Daishonin really taught.

The more closely counterfeit money resembles real money the more dangerous it is. The relationship between the SGI and Nichiren Shoshu is just like that between genuine and counterfeit money. We need to continue to prove that what is counterfeit is counterfeit, n order to enable people to correctly practice Nichiren Buddhism.

In the final analysis, the essential nature and function of High Priest Nikken is none other than what Buddhism terms the devil king of the sixth heaven, the function that obstructs the flow of kosen-rufu. This perception is vital in carrying out correct faith today. And happily enough, many SGI-USA members have solidly mastered this awareness, thus forging on along the correct path of faith.

In the days of Shakyamuni, Devadatta attempted to do away with Shakyamuni's life and his Buddhist order. In the days of the Daishonin, Ryokan, the most highly regarded priest of the time, and Hei no Saemon, a military leader, loathed the Daishonin, attempting to kill him and end his efforts to propagate the Mystic Law.

In the days of the Soka Gakkai's first president Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, the military government upheld the state religion of Shinto and engaged itself in destroying his movement.

And during SGI President Ikeda's leadership, great obstacles appeared one time after another -- sometimes in the form of attacks from the media, sometimes in the form of political authority, and recently in the form of the religious authority of High Priest Nikken and the priesthood. But the SGI, under the leadership of President Ikeda, has defeated the onslaught of all of these destructive forces and, in the process, grown even stronger in its commitment to world kosen-rufu.

It was because Shakyamuni prevailed over the negative influence of Devadatta that he was able to expound the Devadatta chapter of the Lotus Sutra, in which he proclaimed that even evil people can attain Buddhahood. In other words, because he won over Devadatta, he was able to extend his compassion to such a person. Herein lies a significant Buddhist principle that addresses the issue of the Buddha's absolute compassion. When we say, Buddhism is win or lose, we are basing this upon the premise that only through our decisive victory does it become possible to extend our compassion even toward the enemies of Buddhism.

Along the same lines, the Daishonin revealed his enlightenment by defeating Ryokan and Hei no Saemon, who instigated various plots against his life. And because of his victory over them he could say, I pray that before anything else I can guide and lead the ruler and those others who persecuted me (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 402).

Conversely, if Shakyamuni had been defeated by the machinations of Devadatta, or if the Daishonin in his time had been killed by his enemies, there would be no correct mainstream of Nichiren Buddhism for the sake of people's happiness today. Because of their victory and the ensuing expression of their compassion as Buddhas, we can embrace the Mystic Law today. These enemies of Buddhism can therefore be viewed as ultimately functioning to assist them in revealing the correct teachings. In this respect, President Ikeda has said, Justice is justice only when it prevails over injustice.

It is vitally important for each SGI member to develop the ability to discern the influence that currently comes from the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood. The spirit to protect people from this influence should be the basis of all our efforts to promote every aspect of kosen-rufu. In other words, this is the time that we should indeed ponder the true meaning of, and put into action, the passage Rather than offering up ten thousand prayers for remedy, it would be better simply to outlaw this one evil (WND, 15).

More points from Mr. Saito can be found the in the May 10, 2002, World Tribune.

2) FROM MY DEAR FRIENDS IN AMERICA

This series contains excerpts of speeches SGI President Ikeda made in the United Statesÿ which relate to Soka Spirit and are contained in the book My Dear Friends in America.

This excerpt is from a speech given on Sept. 16, 1993, in Malibu, Calif.

THE DESIRE TO ACCOMPLISH KOSEN-RUFU

Nichikan Shonin strongly desired the realization of kosen-rufu. All of his writings, including the Six-Volume Writings and commentaries on various writings of Nichiren Daishonin, were written solely for the sake of kosen-rufu. That is why he fiercely attacked the many aberrant teachings rampant throughout the land at the time and proclaimed the truth of the Daishonin's teachings. It was all an expression of his desire to accomplish kosen-rufu.

For example, in his introduction to the Interpretations Based on the Law, one of the six treatises that comprise his Six-Volume Writings, he wrote: I have examined the passages [of the Lotus Sutra] that clearly indicate the Three Great Secret Laws, and, using them as proof that these principles represent the truth hidden in the depths of the Lotus Sutra, I humbly present this treatise to the disciples of later ages. It is entirely for the sake of accomplishing kosen-rufu.

Nichikan also criticized as slanderers of the Law those people who do not face the Gohonzon nor wish in their hearts to share Buddhism nor spread the teachings with their mouths.

In his Commentary on On Practicing the Buddha's Teaching, Nichikan wrote: The minds of those who forget shakubuku and are not always mindful of the four dictums are identical to the minds of slanderers of the Law. If they are not practicing shakubuku with their mouths, it is the same as if their mouths are slandering the Law. If their bodies are not facing toward the Gohonzon with prayer beads in their hands, it is equal to their bodies slandering the Law (The Commentaries of Nichikan, p. 767).

No one can compare to SGI members when it comes to practicing the Buddha's teachings as Nichiren Daishonin instructs in his writings, for it is we who face the Gohonzon, recite the sutra, chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, pray for the achievement of kosen-rufu and teach others of this Buddhism.

We have prayed, worked, taught others with all our might, faced and overcome one great persecution after another, and through it all, introduced many people to the Gohonzon. As a result, we have seen kosen-rufu develop on an unprecedented scale throughout the globe.

Nichiren Shoshu does not do gongyo as it should; it does not do shakubuku. It excommunicated the SGI, which is faithfully practicing in accord with the Buddha's teachings; it obstructs kosen-rufu. It is in total and direct violation of the aforementioned injunction of Nichikan.

Nikken and his followers are committing great slander of the Law in all three categories of action -- words, thoughts and deeds. To carry out Nichikan's teachings properly, we must strictly rebuke their slander of the Law.

The SGI will henceforth confer upon members okatagi Gohonzon produced from a Gohonzon transcribed by Nichikan, who clarified the correct way of faith and practice and who embraced a strong desire to accomplish kosen-rufu. This marks the start of a new phase in the advancement of kosen-rufu and is, I believe, a development in complete accord with the wishes of Nichiren Daishonin, Nikko Shonin and Nichikan Shonin. I am also confident that it would give them all the greatest joy. (My Dear Friends in America, pp. 298-300)

Nineteen in a series.