Soka Gakkai Wins Another Libel Suit

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) NEWS

SOKA GAKKAI WINS ANOTHER LIBEL SUIT AGAINST SHINCHOSHA

On Nov. 22, the Supreme Court of Japan dismissed an appeal filed by freelance writer Masao Okkotsu, tabloid weekly Shukan Shincho and its publisher, Shinchosha. The court upheld two lower court decisions that found the three parties guilty of libel. The Soka Gakkai had filed suit against the publisher and Okkotsu over two Shukan Shincho articles claiming that the Soka Gakkai had conspired with the New Komeito political party to manipulate land prices and reap a windfall for itself. In justifying the dismissal of the defendants' appeal, the Supreme Court noted that the articles in question were insufficiently researched to the extreme and key elements as to the factual truth [of the allegations] could not be corroborated.

The court ordered the defendants to pay damages and for the tabloid to publish an apology and retraction.


2) FROM MY DEAR FRIENDS IN AMERICA

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

This excerpted speech was given on Sept. 16, 1993, in Malibu, Calif.

FAITH IS CHANTING AND TAKING ACTION FOR KOSEN-RUFU

As you may know, the SGI will henceforth confer upon members okatagi [woodblock print] Gohonzon based on a Gohonzon 26th high priest Nichikan transcribed in June 1720.

This has been made possible by the sincere offer of Chief Priest Sendo Narita of Joen-ji temple [in Tochigi Prefecture and founded in 1303] upon which this Gohonzon was originally bestowed.
Congratulations!

Okatagi Gohonzon based on a Nichikan-transcribed Gohonzon were also conferred on new members in the early days of the Soka Gakkai. It was a result of this Gohonzon being made widely available to members in those days that the kosen-rufu movement advanced so rapidly in Japan.


The conferral of Nichikan's Gohonzon by the SGI at this time indisputably marks the start of a new era for worldwide kosen-rufu. Nichikan is regarded as one of the restorers of Nichiren Shoshu. He was a high priest known for his outstanding accomplishment in faith, practice and study.

Nichiko, the 59th high priest, discussing the reasons why Nichikan is so respected, said: High Priest Nichikan's great achievement was in his practice even more than his scholarly attainment.... He was extremely conscientious. No doubt that is why his faith was so thoroughly communicated to the people in general.

Nichiko went on to say that Nichikan perfectly and completely revealed the true teachings of Nichiren Daishonin in his writings, chiefly in his Six-Volume Writings.

Faith is revealed and demonstrated in the believer's life and actions. It is also evident in the believer's superior humanity, character and integrity. Precisely because Nichikan's everyday actions and his character were so excellent that they commanded universal respect, people could understand, accept and sincerely believe the doctrinal teachings he expounded.

In sharp contrast is someone like High Priest Nikken Abe, whose base character and ignoble acts only destroy people's belief in Buddhism as a whole. His very existence is a threat to Buddhism.

The Daishonin wrote, Another name for a devil is a robber of benefit...and because they [people] revere devils, they will fall into the hell of incessant suffering in [their next lifetime] (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 87). High Priest Nikken destroys faith, robs others of benefit and depletes their life force. Just as the Daishonin instructs us, those who do not recognize this high priest for the devilish force he is, and who foolishly and uncritically revere him simply because he is the high priest, will in the end taste the terrible pains and punishments of the hell of incessant suffering.

Nichikan strongly upheld the Daishonin's teaching that we should base ourselves on the Gohonzon in all things. This is evident in many of his writings, including the Six-Volume Writings and his Commentary on 'The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind.'

In this commentary, Nichikan wrote: The blessings of the myriads of Buddhas and sutras of the ten directions and three existences, without a single exception, all return to this Gohonzon, which provides the seed of Buddhahood and is hidden in the sutra, just as a tree's hundreds and thousands of branches and leaves all return to the same root. This Gohonzon provides great and boundless benefits. Its mystic functions are vast and profound.... This [object of devotion] is the true purpose for which Nichiren Daishonin appeared in the world, the supreme and unsurpassed among the Three Great Secret Laws of true Buddhism, the true object of worship of the Buddhism of sowing in the Latter Day of the Law, and the brilliant mirror of Buddhist practitioners (The Commentaries of Nichikan, p. 443).

The object of devotion for observing the mind contains the infinite benefit of all Buddhas. Nichikan wrote this in November 1721, just a year after he transcribed the Gohonzon that has been preserved at Joen-ji temple.

While making it clear that we should base ourselves on the Gohonzon, Nichikan also insisted that strong faith and practice are necessary to tap the infinite powers of the Buddha and the Law. He wrote in the same commentary: One should understand that when one believes in the object of devotion [that is the embodiment of the Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo] hidden in the depths of the Lotus Sutra, and chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, one can, through the powers of the Buddha and the Law, perfect the practice of observing the mind and attain enlightenment. But if one is lacking in faith, the power of the object of devotion will not enable one to attain enlightenment (The Commentaries of Nichikan, p. 456).

Faith is crucial. Only with the actual practice of chanting and taking action for kosen-rufu does one's faith become true and correct and can one reap infinite benefit and blessings. (My Dear Friends in America, pp. 295-96)

Seventeen in a series.