[A Guide to HBS -part2-]
The Teachings and Practices of HBS
Rev. Nisso Fukuoka
Various religious sects have their own independent precepts, but the priests and members of HBS apparently do not have any precepts.
Actually, there are no precepts for HBS priests and members, such as "Do not drink any liquor." "Do not marry." or "Do not eat any meat." etc.
Why does HBS not lay down such precepts?
One of the reasons is HBS is originally Buddhism for lay people. Since Shakamuni Buddha's time, priests who had to devote themselves to Buddhist practices for enlightenment had to keep various precepts as so not to lead a debauched life.
However, precepts that priests had to keep gradually became too detailed and Buddhism became a religion for the priests who could keep such a strict precepts.
If the priests who were only captured in personal searching for enlightenment and personal salvation, the common people would have had an existence irrelevant to Buddhism and would have been eternally exposed to sufferings. Thus a new Buddhist movement, Mahayana (The Great Vehicle) evolved with the aim of the popularization of Buddhism. Accordingly, Great Vehicle Buddhism, instead of protecting precepts, placed emphasis on saving common people from suffering and guiding them to the Bodhisattva path.
Since HBS is based on the basic principle of the Lotus Sutra which is called the King Sutra of Great Vehicle Buddhism, it does not place much emphasis on precepts.
Of course, Great Vehicle Buddhism has its own moral commandments. Its teachings were adjusted in accordance with the ability of the common people to understand them in different periods. So, precepts should be changed with time and the ability of the people to comprehend them.
After the death of Shakamuni Buddha, the time was divided into three periods; they are the Period of Shobo (Righteous Law), the Period of Zobo (Imitative Law), and the Period of Mappo (Last law).
The period of the Righteous Law (lasting 1,000 years) is the period when Buddhist doctrines, practices, and enlightenment all existed. The period of the Imitative Law (lasting 1,000 years) is the period when both doctrine and practices still exist, but there was no longer any enlightenment. The period of the Last Law (lasting 10,000 years) means the period when doctrine alone is still alive, but there is neither practice nor enlightenment.
We live in the Period of Mappo. Even if we believe in Buddhism and want to engage in the practice of it, our capability has declined with the passing of time. Therefore, precepts should be changed accordingly. During this period, the Mappo Period, severe precepts could not be performed by common people precepts can be perfomed in words only without action. For that reason, Nichiren Shonin who appeared in this world of Mappo as a messenger of the Buddha did not impose such restrictions upon us, though Nichiren Shonin himself did not marry and did not eat any meat.
As stated above, HBS does not particularly impose precepts but, instead, emphasizes the chanting the Odaimoku earnestly from the bottom of one's heart for the sake of eradicating our sins, for the well—being of others, and to mutually advise each another on the importance of upholding the practice of the Odaimoku with pure faith. These are the most important precepts of HBS.
Nissen Shonin, the founder of HBS stated;
"We are people lacking in ability, we are human beings full of sins. Therefore, by chanting the Odaimoku and upholding it wholeheartedly as elucidated in the primordial eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra, we are protecting the highest and the most important precept". (Butsuryu Seiten, p857)
HBS's precepts are to realize that when one's religion is neglected, one should admonish oneself and offer a prayer of repentance. Likewise, we should engage in the practice of converting others to the religion of HBS as bodhisattva. Nissen Shonin stated that; "Since we are in position to spread the teachings of the Lotus Sutra to others, we should not become a target for criticism by our lack of common sense. We should refrain from saying and doing things that lack common sense. As a member of HBS, we should bear in mind not to lead a shameful life".
