The four phrases of criticism of the other sects.

Nichiren shonin didn't criticize their practice or dependent sutras, but their wrong doctrines.

The Jodo Sect will go to hell. They worship only Amitabha Buddha, expedient Buddha, ignoring the Buddha Shakyamuni. And they discard, close, seal and abandon all other sutras except the three Sutras of the Pure Land.

The Zen Sect is made by devils. They insist on the transmission of doctrines without dependence upon sutras. And They meditate on to realize that they are already a Buddha.

The Singon Sect will ruin the state. They worship Mahavairocana Tathagata (Dainichi) as an idealization of the truth of the universe. Dainichi is the same as Vairocana Buddha. Vairocana Buddha is different name of the eternal Buddha Shakyamuni. But they don't know the truth, and look down on the Buddha Shakyamuni. They are Brahmanism assimilated to Buddhism, which prefers to perform magic charm.

The Ritsu Sect is traitorous. The Ritsu Sect means Ryokan of Gokuraku-ji (temple) who was a priest of the Ritsu. He was very hypocrite, speaking ill of Nichiren shonin. He appealed to the government to suppress Nichiren shonin.

Difference between other sects of Nichiren

Like Happon-ha such as Hokke shu Honmon ryu and Honmon Butsuryu shu, not only Nichiren sho-shu and SGI, many priests of Nichiren shu say that the Buddha Sakyamuni written in the Gohonzon is an attendant of Namu Myoho renge kyo. Then they say that the principal image in the center of Gohonzon, five characters of Myoho, is the true Lord Buddha Sakyamuni of Honmon, namely the Tathagata Namu Myoho renge kyo. Rev.Udana Nikki and Rev.Simizu Ryuzan that were leading priests of former Nichiren shu had been insisting on those wrong doctrines before uniting with Kempon Hokke-shu in 1941, so many priests of Nichiren Shu are not going to correct the above wrong doctrine. They worship Daimoku first of all, not the eternal Buddha Shakyamuni.

This wrong doctrine has arisen because they don't understand the teachings of Nichiren shonin correctly. First of all, Nichiren shonin has never mentioned such the Tathagata Namu Myoho renge kyo. Nichiren shonin taught about Namu Myoho renge kyo; The world of Buddha in your mind, a scene of the Eagle peak where Buddha Sakyamuni preaches the lotus sutra and gives you Daimoku, would be emerged by keeping Daimoku.

In the teachings of Nichiren shonin; The eternal Buddha Shakyamuni is the principal image as the person. Daimoku, Namu Myoho renge kyo, is the principal image as the dharma. Therefore, Mandara Gohonzon which Daimoku has been written in the center is the principal image of the dharma. Through Mandara Gohonzon as the principal image of the dharma, you will be able to have an audience with the eternal Buddha Shakyamuni and emerge the world of Buddha over your mind. We, Kempon Hokke, have to worship the eternal Buddha in the same way Nichiren shonin did. We, Kempon Hokke, have to correct their mistake as true disciples of Nichiren shonin.

You must not forget Nichiren's criticism against other sects worshipping other imaginary Buddhas and depreciating the founder Buddha Sakyamuni. You must not forget Nichiren's criticism against other sects that don't identify the Buddha Shakyamuni emerged in India with the eternal Buddha Shakyamuni in the Lotus sutra. Nichiren shonin said in Kaimoku sho, " Those Buddhist schools that do not know of The Life Span of the Buddha chapter in the Lotus sutra are the same as beasts and birds; they do not know the debt they owe to the eternal Buddha."

In Shakumon of the Lotus sutra, the Buddha Shakyamuni preached for people that he practiced the Lotus sutra at the remote past life. But in Honmon, the Buddha Shakyamini revealed that he was the eternal Buddha from the beginning. Therefore, there can not be the time when the eternal Buddha Sakyamuni attained enlightenment.

The true dharma preached in the chapter 16 is the activity of the eternal Buddha Shakyamuni. Daimoku, Myoho renge kyo, is the condensation of it. Therefore, Nichiren shonin says in his Kanjin Honzon-sho, "Shakyamuni Buddha's merit of practicing the bodhisattva way leading to Buddhahood, as well as that of preaching and saving all living beings since His attainment of Buddhahood are altogether contained in the five words of myo, ho, ren, ge and kyo."

Stupid other sects say that "There is the first time when the eternal Buddha Sakyamuni attained enlightenment. The eternal Buddha Shakyamuni also attained enlightenment by worshipping the great dharma, Namu myoho renge kyo. Therefore, Namu myoho renge kyo is the master of the eternal Buddha Shakyamuni." It is a made-up doctrine by other stupid sects. There is no such stupid doctrine in Nichiren's authentic writings. Of course, any other Buddhas attained enlightenment with the true dharma, the Lotus sutra, given by the eternal Buddha Shakyamuni. We also attain enlightenment with the Lotus sutra. It is the same way.

Nichiren shonin says; The Lotus sutra is identical to Shakyamuni Buddha, who would enter Nirvana and never appear in front of those who do not believe in the Lotus sutra but would always appear in front of those who believe in the Lotus sutra as if he were alive in this world even after death.( Shugo Kokka-ron)

In polytheism they worship many deities and in bestowing divine favors they divide their labor. So, They are not able to understand what is the true faith. When they worship one deity, they forget other deities. Although Nichiren shu puts statues or pictures of those such as Hariti or Mahakala on both sides of Gohonzon, Kempon Hokke forbids that kind of altar. Also, Although many priests of Nichiren Shu recite Dharani, saying that they can perform magic of Hariti, Kempo Hokke doesn't. Because magic charm and fortune-telling are improper means of livelihood for monks. Since Nichiren Shu doesn't want to correct their wrong doctrines, a lot of priests are devoting themselves to the fortune-telling and the curse nowadays. So-called Reidan-shi Kai which performs doubtful prayers and divination has become influential in Nichiren-shu at last.

Rissho Kosei-kai is a new religion which established about seventy years ago. They worship the eternal Buddha Shakyamuni, but don't respect the teachings of Nichiren shonin. They criticize the doctrine of Nichiren shonin and revere Niwano Nikkyo as the founder. Therefore, they don't use Gohonzon of Nichiren shonin.


About Honzon Modo Sho

Many priests of Nichiren shu that misunderstand Nichiren's doctrine, Nichiren-shoshu, Happon-ha such as Hokke shu Honmon-ryu and HBS insist stupidly that the Lotus Sutra, Daimoku, is the master of the Buddha Sakyanuni, by using unauthentic writings against the authentic writings such as Kamoku-sho and Kanjin Honzon-sho.

One of unauthentic writings, Honzon Mondo sho copied by Nikko, is an example.

In the first sentence of Hozon Mondo-sho, you should pay attention to Nichiren's guidance, "We should regard the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra as the Honzon." and quotes "where this sutra is expounded,~it is because this sutra contains My perfect body" from Hosshi-hon as a reason. It means, if you set up the Gononzon, there would be Buddha Sakyamuni surely in there.

Next sentence of Honzon Mondo sho has been changed by Nichuren shu. Because, Nichiren shu insists strangely that Buddha Sakyamuni(Accommodative Body) is not the Lord Buddha Shakyamuni of the Lotus Sutra, that Daimoku is the Eternal Lord Buddha Shakyamuni of the Lotus Sutra. NOPPA translated it; The Lotus Sutra Wisdom of Insight Manual by Tripitaka Master Amoghavajra is based on the “Appearance of the Stupa of Treasures” chapter of the Lotus Sutra, and it regards Sakyamuni Buddha and the Buddha of the Many Treasures of the Lotus Sutra as the Honzon. But original sentence is “ it regards the Lord Buddha of the Lotus Sutra as the Honzon.” Please don’t overlook that Nichiren shonin says “Buddha Sakyamuni is the Lord Buddha of the Lotus Sutra” by way of introduction.

That is to say, “This is because the Lotus Sutra is both father and mother to Sakyamuni Buddha and it is also the true intention of all Buddha. Sakyamuni Buddha and the Great Sun Buddha and each and every Buddha in the worlds throughout the universe are all born from the Lotus Sutra.” means that Buddha Sakyamuni, the Lord of the Lotus Sutra, would emerge in front of you, if you can regard the Lotus Sutra as the Honzon without regarding the image of Buddha Sakyamuni as the Honzon.

To understand Honzon Mondo sho, you should also refer to Shijo Kingo-dono Gohenji in 1272 copied by Nikko. It says; There is difference between the Buddha Sakyamuni and the characters of the Lotus Sutra, but those mind are the same. Therefore, you should think if you see the character of the Lotus Sutra, you are able to see the alive and well Buddha Sakyamuni.

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