Honda Nissho Shonin

"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."

JFK's mind was not of militant nationalism. Also, Rev.Honda's mind was not of militant nationalism. Rev.Honda is my spiritual teacher.

During the Meiji era, the basis of Government was Shintoism. They worshiped the emperor as a son of a Japanese Deity and were trying relentlessly to suppress Buddhism. There was a crisis of Buddhism in Japan. Rev. Honda removed superstition from Buddhism and preached Buddhism philosophically. Thanks to Rev. Honda, almost every Kempon priest began studying, not only religion, but philosophy in the university. Rev.Honda saved Buddhism in Japan through the support of alot of Japanese leaders including the Imperial family, statesmen, businessmen and military generals. He preached Nichirenism which promotes morals and justice, despite adversity, to all people. He preached for everyone to do his and her civic duty and cooperate together as a disciple of the Buddha to establish the peace and the prosperity of the nation. He also preached right thoughts and the benevolence of Buddhism to the servicemen because they had to sacrifice their life for the nation and might have to kill their enemies. His was a fight with the nationalists of Shinto. He made efforts to unite all the Nichiren sects and spread Nichirenism throughout Japan. Also, thanks to his efforts, the emperor became proud of Nichiren Shonin and gave him the supreme title of Saint to Nichiren Shonin.

While Rev.Honda was making these efforts, some Nichiren shu adherents flattered the government and said that the emperor is the principal image of Buddhism or a reincarnation of Bodhisattva Jyogyo. The nationalists that came to believe this then said that Japan should govern Asia. Rev.Honda criticized them and asserted that the Buddha Shakamuni and his teachings comes first and the emperor must manage the nation according to the teachings of the eternal Buddha. Rev. Honda died 10 years before the world war. His disciples and believers, including military generals, opposed the war against the USA.

After the war, Prof Shigemoto Tokoro, a communist who graduated from Rissho (Nichiren Shu) University, denounced Nichirenism as militant nationalism. He said that Nichiren's ideal was communism and that Nichiren fought against state power. He insisted that Nichiren shu only supported militarism through the influence of Rev. Honda who cooperated with Japanese state power. Although Shigemoto Tokoro had no knowledge of the teachings of Rev. Honda, he censured Rev.Honda because he was the famous leader of all the Nichiren sects before the war. Many hypocrites in the Nichiren shu sided with him and shifted responsibility to Rev.Honda. They spread rumors that Rev.Honda was a militant nationalist and criticized the Kempon Hokke. So a lot of people believe Tokoro's opinion without knowing that he was a communist. As you know, Nichiren shu behaves pacifically without criticizing other sects such as the SGI and the Nichiren Shoshu.

Rev.Honda was a real Hokke practicer and his teachings are superior than any other priests' in modern times. Old name of Kempon Hokke shu was Myomanji-sect of Nichiren. Old name of Nichiren shu was Minobu-sect of Nichiren. In 1876, Minobu-sect of Nichiren changed its name to Nichiren shu officially. So, other sects had to change their name. Before uniting with Kempon Hokke shu, the doctrine of Nichiren shu was that the true Buddha is Namu Myoho renge kyo, and that Shakyamuni Buddha is a provisional Buddha. However, many priests of Nichiren shu have been opened their eyes to the true teachings of Nichiren shonin and the Lotus Sutra by Rev.Honda. In 1941, Kempon Hokke shu and Nichiren shu was united. Therefore, the first head priest of New Nichiren shu was the head priest of Kempon Hokke. Half of Kempon Hokke temples still remain in Nichiren shu. Kempon Hokke shu is always the most important sect to protect the true teachings of Nichiren who is a leading disciple of the eternal Buddha Shakyamuni.

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