[General Guideline of HBS]
Rev. Nisso Fukuoka
The Eternal Buddha
Q: Nichiren Shonin proclaimed: “Itai Doshin" (United in mind although separated in body) is an important element. If so, why are there so many different sects in Buddhism? Why aren't they consolidated into one sect?
A: It is a regrettable situation, but HBS cannot be united with sects that display icons of various Buddhas and Guardian Kings of Heaven and which do not preach the true principles of Nichiren Shonin.
Q: What is the biggest difference between HBS and Soka Gakkai (SGI)?
A: Soka Gakkai revers Nichiren Shonin as the Eternal Buddha. HBS does not proclaim Nichiren Shonin as the Eternal Buddha. It was Jyogo Boddhisattava, the first disciple of the Eternal Buddha, who appeared in this world of the Mappo Period in the form of Nichiren Shonin and who acted as a messenger of the Eternal Buddha. Thus, HBS revers Nichiren Shonin as the Great Master, Teacher and Parent.
Q: What is the relationship between the Eternal Buddha and the Odaimoku?
A: The Eternal Buddha, who attained enlightenment and the Odaimoku, the true Dharma, are identical.
Q: The true Dharma is fundamentally an eternal existence with no beginning and no end, isn't it?
A: That is correct.
Q: The Dharma has no beginning, but a Buddha to be called a Buddha must engage in religious acitivities to attain enlightenment isn't that so? If so, isn't there a beginning for such practices? Isn't there an inconsistency that they be referred to as identical?
A: The Odaimoku Scripture is not a mere law of the universe. It is a special characteristic embodied in the Eternal Buddha — a Cause and Effect rule. The engagement in religious activities by the Eternal Buddha is Cause. The attainment of enlightenment to become a Buddha is an Effect. The Cause and Effect rule is similar to that of a chain linkage. Therefore, in Cause there is a beginning, but the Effect possessed by the Eternal Buddha is an infinite cycle.
For example. flowers bloom — an Effect. The flower is the result of a seed — a Cause. But, was the seed the starting point? The seed was obtained from the flower. There is a Cause (a “In") before the Effect (a “Ka") and vice versa. The Cause and Effect Law is a repeating cycle. The Eternal Buddha is referred to as eternal in that sense. He had continuously engaged in the escetic religious practices and constantly trained and guided the people. Within those deeds we find eternity in the Eternal Buddha.
Q: We have been born in a nation under Christian influence. What is the difference between Christianity's God and the Eternal Buddha in Buddhism?
A: Christianity elucidates that God created human beings—the Creator and the Created, and they are considered to be two separate entities.
In Buddhism, the Eternal Buddha embraces all existences, including human beings. We are a part of him. The principle of “Ichinen Sanzen", the three thousand realms contained in one mind as noumenon, is originally imbedded in our body and soul. Thus, whether one is a follower of HBS or not, we are all wrapped in the soul of the Eternal Buddha. Being awakened to it, one can communicate with the spirit of the Eternal Buddha by chanting the Odaimoku and to filter and purify our soul. This is the religion of HBS.
Q: What is the figure of the Eternal Buddha like?
A: We tend to imagine the figure of the Eternal Buddha by its icons, but those statues are a provisional figure of him when he appeared in this world. Since the Eternal Buddha embraces all existences, his true figure cannot be captured in visual concept. A two—fascicle work by Nikko Shonin who was one of the 6 main diciples of Nichiren Shonin containing Nichiren Shonin's lecture on the Lotus Sutra given at Mount Minobu in 1278 (The Ongi Kuden) stated: “The figure of the Eternal Buddha does not look like the statues which portray him as he appeared in this world."
The World After Death
Q: A friend of mine had experienced a “near death" experience.What is your opinion about such experiences?
A: I do believe in it. Many papers on “near death" expriences have been published by researchers and doctors. They show similarities in what those people exprienced; such as seeing a very bright light, a large field of beautiful flowers and they felt extreme tranquility. A “near death" experience is a temporary phenomenon.
Q: What happens to spirits separated from the body after death?
A: According to Buddhism, spirits which left the body after death drifts in space for several weeks or months. Thereafter, it enters into another existence and is reborn. This cycle is known as “Life between Life". What type of existence it chooses depends on the karma one created during their lifetime.
Q: What creates good and bad karma?
A: Bad karma is created by violating the principles of the Lotus Sutra, such as making derogatory remarks about its teachings, cursing others or causing misfortunes to one's soul. Good karma is built on faithful practices of the Lotus Sutra, revering the Odaimoku Scripture and spreading its teachings to others.
Q: Are there any differences in their circumstancese after death between people who had practiced the faith of HBS and those who did not?
A: Yes, of course. Buddhism separates realms of existences into ten stages. From top to bottom they are: The World of Buddhas; Bodhisattvas; Lay Buddhas‐people who have listened to Buddhist teachings; Disciples; Heaven; Mankind; Angry Demons; Animals; Hungry Spirits, and Hell. Persons who have practiced our religion will enter into one of the two top realms. A nonpractitioner will enter into one of the other realms based on the karma they created during their life‐time.
Q: What are the Realms of Buddha and Bodhisattvas like?
A: Those realms are not a place. It is a situation of the soul. It cannot be imagined by human.
Q: What happens to a good person who helped others, but who did not practice the faith of HBS?
A: A person who built good karmas during their life—time will, undoubtedly, be reborn in a fortunate circumstance.
Q: Can such people proceed to the Realm of Buddha?
A: No. Not unless they had sowed seeds of Buddhahood into their Arayashiki, the most fundamental eight level of consciousness, through practices of the true religion of HBS. Nichiren Shonin stated: “The common people of the Mappo Era can only plant seeds of Buddhahood into their Arayashiki by chanting the Odaimoku".
Q: My parents are not parishioners of HBS. Can their souls be redeemed after death?
A: Yes. Of course. The spirit of anyone can be redeemed by chanting the Odaimoku. But it should not be misconstrued with “Jobutsu", entering into Nirvana. “Jobutsu", an Effect, can only be attained by someone who had engaged in the practices of the Odaimoku religion and had accumulated merits during their life—time, a Cause.
A non—parishioner, after death, can be reborn into the realm of human being through the Odaimoku “Goeko" (transferrence of merit) service. The destiny tied to the Odaimoku will permit the deceased to engage in the true religion after rebirth.
Chanting the Odaimoku and Reciting the Lotus Sutra
Q: Possession of a true religion is Odaimoku chanting, isn't it? Can merits for enlightenment be received through recitation of the Lotus Sutra? Didn't Nichiren Shonin recite the Lotus Sutra?
A: There are two ways to recite the Lotus Sutra. One method is to recite the Lotus Sutra with the feeling that it is more edifying than chanting the Odaimoku, but this is a wrong method. The other is to recite the Sutra with feeling of reverence and gratefulness for the Odaimoku. This is the right way. Thus, HBS recites Chapter 21, “The Supernatural Powers of the Tathagta" of the Lotus Sutra. In any event, to attain enlightenment is to chant the Odaimoku and acquire its merits. Nichiren Shonin recited the Lotus Sutra, but, in his case, he thoroughly and accurately understood the meaning of the Lotus Sutra. It is entirely different from the way we would recite it without full knowledge of what we are reciting.
Q: What is the difference between the “Faith"of Buddhism and Christianity?
A: Christianity's “Faith", I believe, is to believe in existence of God. The “Faith" elucidated by Nichiren Shonin and which HBS practices is completely different from that of Christianity.
HBS expounds on the teachings of “Sanriki Wago" (The Three United Powers). 1. The power of the Buddha embodied in the Scripture. 2. The power of the Dharma contained in the Odaimoku, and 3. The power of faith contained in our soul. One must possess a strong reverence for the Scripture and a feeling of gratitude for the Odaimoku through chanting. A combination of the three powers are the only way to gain merits for enlightenment.
Q: Is it meaningless to chant the Odaimoku without having faith in it?
A: Not necessarily so. It is clearly better to chant the Odaimoku than not to. It is only normal that a person who chants the Odaimoku with gratitude within their soul will recieve more religious merits than those who do not.
Introspection Into One's Mind—Essence (Kanjin)
Q: What is the meaning of “Kanjin" described in the “Treatise on the Object of Worship" (Kanjin Honzon Sho)?
A: It means observation of one's soul. That is, polishing and purifying one's soul through the practices of Buddhism. There are two methods. One is to bank on your own ability, like that of Zen Buddhism. The other method is to seek outside aid. Most HBS members require outside assistance to observe their soul. It was Nichiren Shonin who showed us the way to do it in the “Treatise on the Object of Worship" by chanting the Odaimoku.
Let us chant the Odaimoku out loud and to listen to it by ear. By doing so, the Odaimoku will plant Buddha seeds into our soul. The Odaimoku is the seed which contains the merits of Buddha's enlightenment. The seeds of the Odaimoku and the power of faith will be united and it will polish and purify our soul.
Nichiren Shonin
Q: Why is Nichiren Shonin such an important person to us?
A: Shakyamuni Buddha stated in Chapter 16, “The Life Span of the Tathagata" of the Lotus Sutra that: “I am the Primodial Eternal Buddha", and in Chapter 21, “The Supernatural Powers of the Tathagata", he claimed: “I will temporarily disappear from this world, but I will instruct Jyogyo Bosatsu in my behalf to spread the teachings of the Lotus Sutra in the next world (The Mappo Era)."
In the early part of the 13th Century, Nichiren Shonin researched Buddhism for 20 years. Thereupon, he concluded that the Lotus Sutra was the supreme sutra among all sutras.
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. After approximately 20 years later, at age 51, Nichiren Shonin convinced him Self that he had been a messenger of the Eternal Buddha based on the many catastrophic evidences of persecutions he had experienced. It was predicted in the Lotus Sutra that a person who engaged in spreading its teachings in the Mappo Era 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 those prophecies other than Nichiren Shonin. Had not Nichiren Shonin appeared in this world in the Mappo Era we would not have been exposed to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. Thus, HBS considers him as their Great Master.
Nichiren Shonin's Successor
Q: According to Nichiren Shoshu Sect and Soka Gakkai, the only person who can succeed Nichiren Shonin is Nichiko Shonin. Is that a correct viewpoint?
A: No. Just prior to his death, Nichiren Shonin nominated the following six disciples among many others to become leaders. They were: Nissho Shonin, Nichiro Shonin, Nichiko Shonin, Nichiji Shonin, Niko Shonin, and Nitcho Shonin.
Nichiren Shoshu Sect and Soka Gakkai's selection of Nichiko Shonin stems from the fact that he was their founder and for public appeal.
Nichiren Shonin divided his keep Sake among his disciples. Nisso Shonin was given a personal Lotus Sutra Scroll. Nichiro Shonin received a hand—written Scripture Scroll of Nichiren Shonin which was displayed in his altar. On the other hand, Nichiko Shonin was granted a horse that Nichiren Shonin kept. It is extremely doubtful that a person who was given a horse can be considered to be Nichiren Shonin's successor. I doubt it.
Invocation of the Buddha and Saints
Q: The “Myoko lchiza" cites the names of Boddhisattva Nichizo and other priests, such as Daikaku Daisojo. Do they belong to the family of HBS? Please explain briefly about them.
A: Boddhisattva Nichiro or Nichizo Shonin was one of six main disciples of Nichiren Shonin. He was the most faithful disciple who served Nichiren Shonin. Nichizo Shonin was only 14 years of age when Nichiren Shonin died. Prior to his death, Nichiren Shonin had instructed Nichizo Shonin to go to Kyoto (then the capital city) to study and to spread the teachings of the Lotus Sutra for the future.
Nichizo Shonin became a disciple of Nichiro Shonin at age 16, and he spent the rest of his life spreading the teachings of the Lotus Sutra in Kyoto. In compliance with Nichiren Shonin's will. He died at the age of 74. HBS has taken over Nichizo Shonin and Nichizo Shonin's tradition.
Priest Daikaku was a priest of Daikakuji Temple, a Shingon Shu Sect, in Kyoto, until he was converted to Nichiren Buddhism by Nichizo Shonin's “Kyoke" (converting others to the true teachings of HBS through education and guidance). Priest Daikaku then spread the teachings of HBS in the Kyoto area; followed by Rogen Shonin, Nissai Shonin, Nichizon Shonin and Nichido Shonin. Nichiryu Shonin's uncles are Nichizon Shonin and Nichido Shonin.
Accomplishments of Nichiryu Shonin
Q: It is stated in the “Myoko lchiza" that Nichiryu Shonin was the revivor of Nichiren Shonin's teachings. What did he actually do?
A: 150 years after since the death of Nichiren Shonin, Nichiryu Shonin played an active role in reviving the teachings of Nichiren Shonin. At that time, Nichiren Shonin's teachings were greatly misinterpreted because his religion was not officially recognized and sanctioned as a true religious sect by the Government. Consequently, the priests were compelled to place themselves in the officially Government sanctioned Tendai Shu Sect. Placed in this predicament, the priests, naturally, were exposed to the misinterpreted teachings that the “Shakumon" (Provisional Sections) and “Hommon" (The Essential Sections) were equal in nature‐“Honjaku Itchi" (the same). Since there were no printed materials available of Nichiren Shonin's writings (due to lack of printing techniques during that period), nor access to his hand written manuscripts, the priest had no way to learn of the differences in teachings.
Nichiryu Shonin, therefore, visited many temples throughout the nation where Nichiren Shonin's manuscripts were kept and preserved, and he transcribed them. Upon examining and researching Nichiren Shonin's manuscripts, Nichiryu Shonin concluded that his teachings were fundamentally based on the teachings of “Hommon" of the Lotus Sutra, and the chanting of the Odaimoku is its basic principle.
Due to Nichiryu Shonin's revival of Nichiren Shonin's true teachings, the former is regarded an an invaluable person of HBS.
Q: What portion of the Lotus Sutra was being taught to the people of the Mappo Era?
A: Various Bodhisattvas, led by Jogyo Bosatsu, came welling up from the opening in the earth to spread the teachings of the Lotus Sutra for the Mappo Era. These Bodhisattvas were exposed only to the portions of Chapter 15 through Chapter 22 of the Lotus Sutra, and not in its entirety. This means the only important eight chapters of “Honmon Happon" were taught.
Nichiren Shonin stated in the “Kanjin Honzon Sho" (A Treatise on the Object of Worship) that “Such a sublime Sacred Object (Myohorengekyo) had never been revealed by the Buddha Shakyamuni during the more than forty years of his life as a preacher before the teachings 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".
05. HBS Chapter in Italy and the United Kingdom
- [TOP]
- The Eternal Buddha
- The World After Death
- Chanting the Odaimoku and Reciting the Lotus Sutra
- Introspection Into One's Mind-Essence (Kanjin)
- Nichiren Shonin
- Nichiren Shonin's Successor
- Invocation of the Buddha and Saints
- Accomplishments of Nichiryu Shonin
