Monday, January 10, 2011

Why does HBS respect eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra?


Recently, I receive the question "Why does HBS respect eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra?".
This question is related to widespread of Nichiren Buddhism.
Recently, a lot of people came to learn Nichiren Buddhism.
However, those sources are like due to Nichiren Shoshu and SGI.
And, after noticing contradiction, they question me.
The especially wise people know that there is a powerful doctrine that respects Honmon Happon (8 Chapter: From 15 chapters to 22 chapters of the Lotus Sutra) in Nichiren Buddhism.
They seem to compare the doctrine of Nichiren Shoshu and SGI with us, and to be questioning me.
We also are similarly respecting Jyuryo hon(16 chapter).
However, we respect eight chapters any more.
It is why.
The answer is extremely simple.
It is because only eight chapters are "primordial".
The Odaimoku appears only from this Chapter 8.
And, if eight chapters are not correctly respected, Buddha will be made neglectful.
It has been historically proven.
The eternal Buddha, Jyogyo bodhisattva, and the Odaimoku come out when primordial chapter of Honmon (Chapter 8) is correctly respected.
However, you might still fail to understand.
I explain a little more for you.

Nichiren Shonin described in the Kaimoku Sho as follows.
"A principle of law of Ichirnen sanzen is sunk in bottoms of sentences of Nyorai Jyuryo hon of the Lotus Sutra. "  The Fuji faction thinks these sentences to be an origin of the Odaimoku.
They add sentences of the following Kanjin Honzon Sho to this.
"Namu Myoho Renge Kyo of Myo/Tai/Shu/Yu/Kyo that is pivot of Jyuryo hon"
However, it is important before and behind these sentences of Kanjin Honzon Sho.
Nichiren Shonin was explaining the reason.
Nyorai Jyuryo hon (Ippon nihan) crystallized all buddhisms to one.
The foundation of the doctrine was a principle of law of "Ichirnen sanzen".
This is not a dualism.
However, we proceed from this answer to the next step.
This is an ultimate doctrine.

In a sense, "Ichirnen sanzen" and "Ippon nihan" are conclusions on "Kyoso (teaching)".
Next, we should learn the conclusion on the side of "Kanjin (practicing)".
To begin with, reason why Nichiren Shonin had written Kanjin Honzon Sho was for this conclusion
Nichiren Shonin provided that "Kanjin (practicing)" was "Shu (seed : cause)" and "Kyoso (teaching)" was "Datsu (result)".

Nichiren Shonin's mission was to adjust "Kyoso (teaching)" and "Kanjin (practicing)", and to give the Odaimoku as an ultimate Dharma.
A related age for Jyogyo bodhisattva is only Mappo era.
Buddha send Jyogyo bodhisattva for initiating this Odaimoku into people of Mappo era.

This was a mission to Jyogyo bodhisattva from Buddha who had been shown in Honmon Happon of the Lotus Sutra.
However, Jyogyo bodhisattva had to arrange and unite completely "father", "Child", and "Dharma" for this mission.
Zhi-yi of a great scholar pointed it out like that.
Nichiren Shonin who had been studying under Zhi-yi strongly considered this.
"Father", "Child" and "Dharma" are called "3 Myo (San Myo)".
"Ichirnen sanzen" and "Dharma" unite into one for the first time based on this San Myo.

Nichiren Shonin taught "Kanjin (practice)" as follows at the conclusion of Kanjin Honzon Sho.
"Buddha who caused great compassion wrapped Gem into Myoho for the person who doesn't know Ichirnen sanzen, and he hung it to necks of childish people in Mappo era. "
Therefore, gem wrapped by Myoho Goji is Ichirnen sanzen.
Why did I wrap it?
Please think about this.
"Ichirnen sanzen" is not an Odaimoku.
"Ichirnen sanzen" is a principle of law.
"Ichirnen sanzen" becomes "Odaimoku" through "wrapping" and "giving".
This "wrapping" and "giving" are "Jyogyo Shoden (It is given by Jyogyo). "
That is, "A principle of law" is "Ichirnen sanzen (gem)" of "Ippon nihan".
The person who gives the "Gem (gem of Jyuryo montei)" to the human race of Mappo is Jyogyo Bosatsu.
Buddha recalled Jyogyo bodhisattva in Chapter 15 from primordial time-space.
Jyogyo bodhisattva kept the gem in Chapter 16.
And, he kept hearing the pious act, the guidance method, and the method of the practice etc. from Buddha up to Chapter 22.
This all periods were the processes of generating the Odaimoku.
This fact was shown by Nichiren Shonin in the Kanjin Honzon Sho.
"Such a Gohonson had never been revealed by the Buddha Sakyamuni during the more than 50 years of his life as a preacher before the teaching of the Lotus Sutra, and even during the eight years when he taught the Lotus Sutra it was only in the primordial eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra that this was revealed."
This is Nichiren Shonin's ultimate a principle of law.
The Odaimoku was generated by the Lotus Sutra, the a principle of law, and Chapter's 8 being integrated.
In a word, it is that "Kyoso (teach)" and "Kanjin (practice)" becomes one, too.
Same "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo" comes off from Nichiren Shonin's true intention when this is removed and it makes a mistake in understanding.
And, they make Buddha neglectful, and they become aggressive.
This is because they are not obtaining Namu Myoho Renge Kyo from Honmon Happon.
We should understand correctly, and recite Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.
It is a reason why we respect Chapter 8.
If we make it like that, we correctly respect Buddha.
We will correctly follow Nichiren Shonin's teaching.


The present state of many people chanting "Namu Myoho Ren Ge Kyo" are wonderful things.
However, it is one side, and they have a wrong doctrine such as "Nichiren eternal Buddha theory".
Our Gohonzon harmonizes perfectly and completely.
It has never been biased.
Then, we chant as follows before chanting the Odaimoku.
「Honmon Happon Shoken Jyogyo Shoden Honnin Gesyu no Namu Myoho Ren Ge Kyo,,,」
I explain meaning easily.
Namu Myoho Ren Ge Kyo,,,”
Why do we chant ahead of the Odaimoku?
It explains by the exercise "Nara pickle of Nara".
"Nara pickle" is famous pickles of Japan.
It was produced in the prefecture named Nara.
In a word, it is "Made in Nara of pickles."
Originally, it was not necessary that all Japanese explain "Nara pickle of Nara".
It was called "Nara pickle" from ancient times.
However, Nara pickle became famous too much, and a lot of people were made and produced also in Tokyo and Kyoto.
Therefore, it was necessary to put "Nara" ahead of "Nara pickle".
Similarly, the explanation was needed ahead of extremely honorable "Namu Myoho Ren Ge Kyo".
Originally, this explanation was not necessary.
However, it needed it.
"Namu Myoho Ren Ge Kyo" should be a true intention of Nichiren Shonin and primordial Buddhism.
We will steadily tell the true intention of the Nichiren Shonin.

2 comments:

Fred Wolff said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Fred Wolff said...

This is a great explanation of why HBS does not chant the 2nd and 16th chapters, as do most Nichiren schools. I love chanting the Myoko Ichiza, and I especially love the opening prayer, Mushiirai No Mon.