[A Guide to HBS -part2-] The Teachings and Practices of HBS

20. Honmon Butsuryu Shu (HBS)

A short biography of Nissen Shonin written by MURAKAMI Shigeyoshi, Lecturer on Buddhism, Tokyo University, recorded in the Japan Religion Encyclopedia. Publisher: Kodansha

NAGAMATSU NISSEN

The Honmon Butsuryu Ko (later known as HBS) was established in Kyoto by its followers in the last days of the Tokugawa regime. HBS was a pioneer of the new Buddhist religious movements which made remarkable progress during the Meiji era.
Nagamatsu Seifu Nissen (Nissen Shonin), the founder of HBS, was born in 1817 in Kyoto to a merchant family. Nissen was a student of MATSUZAKI Kodo, a renowned scholar of Japanese classical literature in Tokyo. Nissen was recognized as a brilliant, extraordinary scholar, a poet, an artist and a teacher of calligraphy before he reached the age of 30. Having doubts about the deep meaning of life, Nissen Shonin researched the teachings of Shingon, Tendai, Zen, and Hokke sects. Concluding that the "Homon" teachings (the essential chapters—11 to 22—of the Lotus Sutra) were superior to the other sutras, Nissen Shonin entered Ryusenji Temple of the Honmon Hokke Shu on Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture, in 1848 and vowed to become a priest, his long—cherished desire.
Although Nissen, who was burning with an inspiration to further his studies on Buddhism to save the people from the miseries of this world in the Mappo Period, he was prevented from entering the most prestigious school of Buddhism, located in the Honkoji Temple compound, by the stagnant and spiritless Honmon Hokke Sect. Denied entrance into the school and the road to become an educated priest, Nissen Shonin, in despair, left Amagasaki and returned to Kyoto, where he engaged himself in spreading the teachings of the Lotus Sutra as a lay priest.
About the same time, a controversy existed among the priests of Hokke Shu regarding the methods for attainment of Buddhahood. One group favored the "Sanzu Jobutsu" (the three realms to attain Buddhahood) theory and the other, the Sanzu Fu—Jobutsu" (the three realms were not necessary) group.

Reverend Fukuoka's clarification of Sanz Fu—Jobutsu and Sanzu Jobutsu:

Sanzu Fu—Jobutsu—Only through the chanting of the Odaimoku can one attain Buddhahood, favored by the reformist group.

Sanzu Jobutsu—Through praying for the deceased one can attain Buddhahood, favored by the conservative group.

This controversy was an extremely important aspect for the teaching principles of Hokke Shu, and Nissen Shonin supported the "Sanzu Fu—Jobutsu" reformist group.
Nissen became a lay priest in 1855 and began spreading the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. On January 1, 1857, Nissen Shonin founded HBS with TANIGAWA Asahichi, a merchant, and six other close friends at his home.
After the fall of the Tokugawa feudalistic government in Kyoto, the people were experiencing hardships from the political reform of the Meiji Restoration. Although Nissen Shonin, as a lay priest, continued his teachings of Nichiren Shonin to the disenchanted people, he met repeated oppressions and obstructions from various priests of other sects and government officials. Nonetheless, Nissen Shonin did not deviate from his stance of "possessing a genuine spirit to save the people, one should not be dispirited by interferences".
Two years after HBS was founded in Kyoto, it branched out to the Otsu (Shiga Prefecture) and Osaka areas. A Head Priest, Nichiben, a disciple of Nichiren Shonin built the Yuseiji Temple in Kitano, Kyoto (now the main temple of HBS) and used it as a training school for HBS's priests. It was also used as the headquarters from where the teachings of the Lotus Sutra were spread.

20. Honmon Butsuryu Shu (HBS)

PHENOMENON MERITS AND DANKA PRINCIPLES

Nissen is referred to as the "founder" or "organizer" of HBS, which was founded under the laws of the Lotus Sutra. HBS's teachings are primarily based on the principle of it's followers receiving phenomenal religious merits in this world by chanting the Odaimoku and spreading it to others in the Mappo Period. Nissen Shonin organized the followers into various small groups in areas of their respective homes and taught them the teachings of Nichiren Shonin after "Oko" praying sessions. Nissen Shonin stated: "My real intention is to preach the teachings of Nichiren Shonin to the followers in their homes so that they can receive phenomenal merits through the chanting of the Odaimoku". The teachings were taught by simple "Gokyoka" (verses). The followers were also taught to hold praying sessions for the ill, "Ojogyo", and the water, "Okozui", offered at the altar, which contains the merits of the Odaimoku, should be drunk by the followers for their well—being and taken by the sick to cure their illness.

20. Honmon Butsuryu Shu (HBS)

NISSEN SHONIN'S ACTIVITIES TO SPREAD HBS

Nissen Shonin's efforts to spread the teachings to denounce and suppress evil and embrace the good were met with repeated oppressions from the priests of the other sects and by the government. He was imprisoned 3 times and purged 8 times before and after the Meiji Restoration, but being a person of strong determination, he utilized the powers of the officials of the Tokugawa Shogunates as well as the officials of the government to enhance the position of HBS.
Nissen Shonin's biting criticism and bold conviction to bring about reform within the Buddhist world brought about intense animosity, antipathy and a whirlpool of hostilities from his opponents within his own sect as well as from outside. Nissen Shonin was an intuitive, shrewd person endowed with strong and individualistic character. Nissen Shonin also had a self—conceited pride of being the successor to Saint Nichiryu and Nichiren Shonin, a messenger of Buddha. Harassment against Nissen Shonin incessantly increased during his lifetime and he was even labeled an evil priest.
Nissen Shonin was an intelligent and understanding person, who was interested in creating civil advancements, and even after passing the age of 70, he did not lose his free and open—minded trait which was usually exhibited by literary scholars. Nissen Shonin protrayed himself as a man—about—town by claiming, "I am an ignorant snob", a statement he often used. Nissen Shonin considered the spreading of the teachings of Nichiren Shonin as his first priority in everything he did. His natural talents were useful in developing new approaches to preach the teachings in simple and easy comprehensible language. He used many parables and illustrations to explain how one can live in the Mappo Period.

20. Honmon Butsuryu Shu (HBS)

IMPROVING THE TEACHINGS OF HBS

Nissen Shonin wrote approximately 3,380 kyokas (instructive verses) and (17—syllable poems). He also utilized various ancient Japanese classics and songs, such as imayo (essays), shi (poems), yokyo—ku (ballads), komori—uta (lullabies), karuta (a card game), nagauta, jiuta, yoshikono, dodoitsu, as formats to expound the teachings.
Nissen Shonin, as a lay priest, enthusiastically continued to exert his efforts in reforming HBS's doctrines to keep pace with the changing times and to maintain its permanency.
Through his training, experiences and chanting the Odaimoku as well as spreading its teachings, Nissen attained a state of "true faith". Nissen died in July 1890 at the age of 74 on his way to Osaka to preside at an "Oko" service.

20. Honmon Butsuryu Shu (HBS)