[A Guide to HBS -part2-]
The Teachings and Practices of HBS
Rev. Nisso Fukuoka
Question and Answer
Q: People in general tend to have the idea that chanting Odaimoku, NamuMyohoRengeKyo is a practice which SGI's (Soka Gakkai) members are devoted to. So, once I introduce the HBS religion to a friend of mine, she asked me "It's almost the same as SGI isn't it? How does it differ from SGI?" I was at a loss for an answer to explain the differences. What are the differences between SGI and HBS?
A: First of all, I would like to explain about the differences of the origins of the two. Nichiren Shonin, in his later years, nominated six priests among his many disciples as leaders of his Sangha.
Later, these six priests were called "RokuRouSou", (six senior priests). HBS is descended from Nichiro Shonin who was one of the RokuRouSou.
Nichiro Shonin made great efforts to spread the teachings of Nichiren Shonin in the Kanto area (now known as Tokyo, Chiba and Kamakura), but Kyoto where was a capital city of Japan was still not introduced to Nichiren Shonin's religion.
The pioneer who brought and spread the Nichiren Shonin's teachings in Kyoto was Nichizo Shonin who was the youngest disciple of Nichiren Shoin. After Nichiren Shonin's death, he became a disciple of Nichiro Shonin and in 1294, he moved to Kyoto from Kamakura and devoted himself to spreading the teaching and its practices. Gradually he was welcomed by the citizens of Kyoto who were engaged in commerce and industry.
About 150 years later, spreading of the teachings was passed down from Nichizo Shonin to Nichiryu Shonin. However, gradually, Nichiren Shonin's true intentions deviated in the missionary work and interpretation of doctrines. Under these circumstances, Nichiryu Shonin set out to clearly correct the meaning of what Nichiren Shonin had expounded. So, HBS looks up to him as a great reformer of Nichiren Buddhism. Nissen Shonin (1817—1890) later founded HBS (Honmon Butsuryu Shu) Buddhism based on the teachings of Nichiren Shonin and the guidance of Nichiryu Shonin.
On the other hand, Soka Gakai (SGI) was founded during the Taisho era (1910's) by MAKIGUCHI Tunesaburo as an independent lay organization of the Nichiren Shoshu sect. Nichiren Shoshu is one of the Nichiren Buddhist sects which is also called the Komon Ha or Fuji Monryu descending from Nikko Shonin who was also one of the RokurouSou.
Soka Gakkai was an organization of the lay followers which once followed the way of the Nichiren Shoshu sect. As the number of the members of Soka Gakkai gradually increased, Soka Gakkai tried to control the Nichiren Shoshu. This is a fundamental difference from HBS.
Nichiren Shoshu and SGI shared the common idea that Nichiren Shonin is the Primordial Buddha (Honbutsu).
However, Soka Gakkai began to hint that IKEDA Daisaku is Buddha in the present era. Priests of Nichiren Shoshu severely opposed such a movement. Then, some years later, relations between Soka Gakkai and Nichiren Shoshu deteriorated and Soka Gakkai was excommunicated from the sect. Even now, they are strongly opposed to each other.
The Main Difference between SGI and HBS
There are two big differences in doctrine between SGI and HBS.
One is the different standpoint with regard to the Lotus Sutra. The other is the different standpoint on Nichiren Shonin.
SGI expounds Juryou Ippon Nihan (the latter half of Chapter 15, the entire Chapter 16 (Thelifespan of the Tathagata) and on the first half of Chapter 17) among the 28 Chapters of the Lotus Sutra. On the other hand, HBS regards the primordial eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra including Chapter 16 as the most important part of the Lotus Sutra.
Chapter 16 is entitled “The Lifespan of the Thathagata" because it shows how immeasurable the lifespan of the Buddha is. It is only in Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra that the historical Shakamuni Buddha revealed himself to be the Primordial Buddha whose span of life is eternal and immeasurable. So, there is no doubt that Chapter 16 is a very important chapter within the 28 chapters of the Lotus Sutra. However, Chapter 16 is not always a beneficial teaching for the people of the Mappo Period (The last Dharma Period).
Chapter 16 elucidates the Eternal Buddha's law of "Ichinen Sanzen" (All Phenomena in The world Contained in One Thought). For example, it is similar to an excellent ingredient for nourishing food.
However, common people of the Mappo Period are unable to grasp even a small portion of enlightenment on their own. In other words, we are infants from the standpoint of religion, unable to take nourishment by ourselves. Therefore, the Buddha, like an excellent cook, prepared the food that even a child can digest. That is the teachings of the Primordial eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra.
A brief summary of what is elucidated in these eight chapters is as follows.
Chapter 15 illustrates dramatically the burden placed on Jyogyo Bodhisattva and other Bodhisattvas to circulate and spread its teachings to the people of the Mappo Period.
Chapter 16 reveals Shakamuni Buddha to be the Eternal Buddha, and the Odaimoku he preached to contain the merits of enlightenment of the Eternal Buddha.
Chapter 17, 18 and 19 elucidate that practitioners should place faith in the religion and abide by the methods of practices to gain virtuous deeds and good fortunes.
Chapter 20 elucidates that Never Disparaging Bodhisattva (Fukyo Bosatsu) should be a model for Lotus Sutra practitioners in the Mappo Period.
Chapter 21 and 22 elucidate that the Eternal Buddha entrusted Jyogyo Bodhisattva and other Bodhisattvas to circulate the Odaimoku and spread its teachings to the minds of the people of Mappo Period.
Thus, NamuMyohoRengeKyo, as the most sacred object of worship and the primordial practice, is not revealed only in Chapter 16 but in the primordial eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra.
Nichiren Shonin stated, "Such a sublime Sacred Object, NamuMyoho‐RengeKyo, was never revealed by Buddha Shakamuni during the forty plus years of his life as a preacher, and even during the eight years he taught the Lotus Sutra. However, his teachings of the primordial eight chapters are essential for the Mappo Period." (Kanjin Honzon Sho)
In 1253, at age 32, Nichiren Shonin conjectured that he may have been given the mission to spread the teachings of the Lotus Sutra by the Eternal Buddha. Approximately 20 years later, ate age 51, Nichiren Shonin convinced himself that he had been a messenger of the Eternal Buddha based on the many catastrophic evidence of persecutions he had experienced. It was predicted in the Lotus Sutra that a person who engaged in spreading its teachings in the Mappo Period will encounter many calamities, such as being exiled to a remote island, attempts of execution by swords and other persecutions. But, in every instance, he will be protected by the various Guardian Kings of Heaven. There is no other human being who fits these prophecies other than Nichiren Shonin. Had not Nichiren Shonin appeared in this world in the Mappo Period we would not have been exposed to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. Thus, HBS considers him as their Great Master Jyogyo Bodhisattva, messenger of the Primordial Buddha.
