[A Guide to HBS -part2-]
The Teachings and Practices of HBS
Rev. Nisso Fukuoka
In this period of Mappo (the period of the Last Dharma), Nichiren Shonin is the greatest master for us who as the immediate disciple of the Buddha (Jyogyo Bodhisattva or Visistacaritra), appeared in this world to spread the Lotus Sutra.
Shakamuni Buddha stated in Chapter 16, "The Lifespan of the Tathagata", of the Lotus Sutra that:"My original state is the Primordial Eternal Buddha", and in Chapter 21, "The Supernatural Power of the Tathagata", he claimed:"I will temporarily disappear from this world, but I will send Jyogyo Bodhisattva on my behalf to spread the teachings of the Lotus Sutra in the Mappo Period.
In the early part of the 13th century, Nichiren Shonin studied Buddhism for 20 years and he concluded the Lotus Sutra was the most supreme sutra among the sutras.
In 1253, at age of 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, at age of 51, Nichiren Shonin convinced himself that he had been a messenger of the Eternal Buddha based on the many catastrophic experiences 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, and face attempts of execution but would be protected by the various Guardian Kings of Heaven (Shoten Zenjin). There is no other human being who fits those 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 and the beautiful practice of chanting the Odaimoku. Thus, HBS considers him as its Great Master.
Because, Nichiren Shonin is also a good, noble model as a practitioner, we display the statue of Nichiren Shonin in front of the Gohonzon to worship him as our greatest master and noble model.
Then why do we not display the figure of Shakamuni Buddha?
In Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra Shakamuni Buddha revealed himself to be Primordial Buddha whose span of life is eternal and immeasurable. This Buddha has no figure, he is the existence whose body is the universe itself, so it is impossible to express himself in the form of a statue or picture, so Nichiren Shonin expressed him as the Gohonzon with the sacred characters, NamuMyohoRengeKyo, so that the Gohonzon and the soul of the Primordial Shakamuni Buddha are identical. That is why we do not enshrine the statue of Buddha.
