REPUDIATING THE ERRORS OF THE NICHIREN SHOSHU PRIESTHOOD UNDER NIKKEN
Who are “enemies of the Lotus Sutra,” and what sorts of acts do they commit?
Those who encourage people to abandon the Lotus Sutra and thereby close off the path to Buddhahood for all people.
They oppress or harm practitioners of the sutra and oppose the ideals of respect for the dignity of life, the equality of all people, and the primacy of ordinary people.
The truth or reality of all things that Buddhas, through their vast and profound wisdom, are able to perceive is called the ___________________.
True aspect of all phenomena.
13. Bodhisattva Never Disparaging consistently venerates everyone he encounters, no matter who they are, including those who attack or persecute him, bowing in respect and reciting to each a phrase known as______________. (See Basics, 141)
The twenty-four-character Lotus Sutra
Regarding the principle of “three thousand realms in a single moment of life,” Ikeda Sensei expresses this principle in describing the theme of his novel The Human Revolution: “A great human revolution in just a single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and, further, will enable a change in the destiny of all humankind.” How does his statement relate to this principle?
(See Basics, 150)
Life at each moment contains limitless potential. When one transforms the state of one’s life at this moment, the environment that surrounds it also changes, which can even result in a change in the entire world. Thus, the doctrine of three thousand realms in a single moment of life is a teaching of hope and transformation.
Nichiren Daishonin cites the analogy of bird in a cage singing, attracting birds in the sky who gather around, causing the caged bird to strive to get out. Explain what this symbolizes.
When with our mouths we chant the Mystic Law, our Buddha nature, being summoned, will invariably emerge. The Buddha nature of Brahma and Shakra, being called, will protect us, and the Buddha nature of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, being summoned, will rejoice.
What did Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, teach is the noblest and most admirable way for people to live with true dignity?
The Buddha’s teaching in this regard amounted to what might be called a restoration of the value of the human being. It stressed how important it is for people to regain the supreme dignity of their lives and realize their infinite potential by bringing forth their inherent wisdom
Of the “five cardinal sins,” _______ or actions that create disruption and division among the body of Buddhist practitioners, is extremely serious as it destroys the Buddha’s teachings and deludes people, causing them to fall into unhappiness. This is the gravest offense that Nikken committed.
Causing disunity in the Buddhist Order.
What does the Lotus Sutra’s “Life Span of the Thus Come One” chapter reveal about Shakyamuni’s enlightenment?
“Life Span,” the sixteenth chapter, offers a description of a period known as “numberless major world system dust particle kalpas” to explain the vastness of the time that has passed since Shakyamuni originally attained Buddhahood. This overturned the accepted view that Shakyamuni had attained enlightenment for the first time during his lifetime in India and revealed him to be the eternal Buddha who had been enlightened since the remote past.
Nichiren Daishonin states: “The heart of the Buddha’s lifetime of teachings is the Lotus Sutra, and the heart of the practice of the Lotus Sutra is found in the ‘Never Disparaging’ chapter. What does Bodhisattva Never Disparaging’s profound respect for people signify? The purpose of the appearance in this world of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, lies in his ___________________” (WND-1, 851–52). (See Basics, 142)
Behavior as a human being. (“The Three Kinds of Treasure,” WND-1, 851–52)
What does the principle of the mutual possession of the Ten Worlds say about the potential of anyone in any of the Ten Worlds?
The principle of the mutual possession of the Ten Worlds, then, explains that one can elevate one’s state of life to that of bodhisattvas and even to Buddhahood in the course of this lifetime.
The Gohonzon reflects the world of Buddhahood within ordinary people and allows them to observe it and bring it forth. This is why it is often viewed as a ______________.
Clear mirror that reflects the world of Buddhahood within ordinary people and allows them to observe it and bring it forth.
After examining various Buddhist sutras and finding the answer in the Lotus Sutra,____________________ vowed to identify and carry on the Buddhist teachings capable of realizing genuine happiness for all people and took action in exact accord with its teachings, even at the risk of his life.
Nichiren Daishonin
A doctrine of the Nikken sect regards the high priest as infallible and an object of worship or veneration. What is correct faith in Nichiren Buddhism based on?
Correct faith has been defined as faith based upon the Gohonzon.
After Shakyamuni’s passing, when will the Bodhisattvas of the Earth actually appear, and what exactly is the great Law they will spread when they do?
Nichiren Daishonin makes it clear that the time when the Bodhisattvas of the Earth will appear is in the Latter Day of the Law, and the great Law they will spread is the Mystic Law, or Nam-myohorenge-kyo.
“Emergence of the Treasure Tower,” the Lotus Sutra’s 11th chapter, describes six difficult and nine easy acts, which emphasize the great difficulty of accepting and spreading the sutra in the time after Shakyamuni Buddha’s passing. The Buddha calls on bodhisattvas to make a great vow to propagate the sutra in the Latter Day of the Law. Why is it so difficult to propagate the Lotus Sutra?
The reason that propagating the Lotus Sutra is so difficult is that doing so invites very real hardships in the form of opposition and persecution.
Among the “ten factors of life,” the tenth and final factor, “consistency from beginning to end,” means that all the other factors are consistent from the beginning to end, from the first factor, ___________________, to the ninth factor, ______________________________________.
For example, a life presently in the world of Buddhahood will have the _________________of Buddhahood, the nature of Buddhahood, all the way through the ________________________
of Buddhahood, and the same principle applies to each of the Ten Worlds.
(See Basics, 152–55)
Finally, “consistency from beginning to end” means that all the other factors are consistent from the beginning—the first factor, appearance—to the end—the ninth factor, manifest effect.
For example, a life presently in the world of Buddhahood will have the appearance of Buddhahood, the nature of Buddhahood, all the way through the manifest effect of Buddhahood, and the same principle applies to each of the Ten Worlds.
Nichiren called the Gohonzon the “______________________” because it exemplifies the intent of the Buddha to spread the Mystic Law in the evil age after his passing and the spirit to open the way for kosen-rufu.
“banner of propagation of the Lotus Sutra” (“The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon,” WND-1, 831)
The____________________ rediscovered the tradition of humanistic philosophy and practice originating with Shakyamuni and inherited by Nichiren Daishonin, recognizing it and treasuring it as the very essences of Buddhism.
Soka Gakkai
The Nikken Sect claims that the high priest is an infallible object of worship or veneration. In Twenty-six Admonitions of Nikko, what does Nikko Shonin say about following those who go against the Buddha’s Law and propound their own views?
He writes, “Do not follow even the high priest if he goes against the Buddha’s Law and propounds his own views”
In “The True Aspect of All Phenomena,” Nichiren Daishonin writes: “Now, no matter what, strive in faith and be known as a votary of the Lotus Sutra, and remain my disciple for the rest of your life. If you are of the same mind as Nichiren, you must be a _________. And if you are _______________there is not the slightest doubt that you have been a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha from the remote past” (WND-1, 385).
Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva
“Encouraging Devotion,” the Lotus Sutra’s 13th chapter, contains a passage known as the twenty-line verse describing the “three powerful enemies.” Among the three powerful enemies, what is the third powerful enemy and what do they do?
The third powerful enemy, arrogant false sages, refers to high-ranking Buddhist priests who pass themselves off as sages or saints and use their status and influence to persecute the practitioners of the Lotus Sutra.
What does the principle of the “three realms of existence” teach us?
The “three realms of existence” are “the realm of the five components,” “the realm of living beings,” and “the realm of the environment.” Each of the Ten Worlds distinctly expresses itself in these three realms.
From the principle of the three realms of existence, we can see that when the state of the five components changes, that of living beings and their environments also changes. A change in the state of one’s heart and mind will effect a change in every aspect of one’s own life and one’s environment.
The Daishonin writes: “Shakyamuni’s practices and the virtues he consequently attained are all contained within the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo. If we_____________these five characters, we will naturally be granted the same ______________as he was” (WND-1, 365).
If we believe in these five characters, we will naturally be granted the same benefits as he was. (WND-1, 365)
What are the three treasures of Buddhism?
The Buddha, the Law (the Buddha’s teachings), and the practitioners of the Law
Nikken and his followers hold an erroneous view that there is a mysterious and exclusive heritage passed on only from one high priest to the next and that the high priest is the single entity that embodies the oneness of the Person and the Law. In contrast, what is this heritage as described by Nichiren Daishonin?
Heritage, or lineage, in Nichiren Buddhism has always been something open to all people, not the exclusive possession of an elite few.
In “The True Aspect of All Phenomena,” Nichiren Daishonin writes: “Now, no matter what, strive in faith and be known as a votary of the Lotus Sutra, and remain my disciple for the rest of your life. If you are of the same mind as Nichiren, you must be a ___________ And if you are a _______________there is not the slightest doubt that you have been a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha from the remote past” (WND-1, 385).
Answer: Bodhisattva of the Earth
How did Nichiren Daishonin prove the validity of Shakyamuni’s words in the Lotus Sutra?
The Lotus Sutra is the Buddhist scripture that predicts the Daishonin’s appearance and behavior in the Latter Day of the Law, and by reading the Lotus Sutra with his very life (by fulfilling the predictions made in the sutra), the Daishonin proved that the sutra itself was in no way false, attesting to the validity of Shakyamuni’s words.
Buddhism has always taught the mutual possession of the Ten Worlds. (True/False)
False
The Object of Devotion for Observing One’s Mind is another name for which Mandala?
The Gohonzon
What does the treasure of the Buddhist Order refer to?
The gathering of people who believe in and practice that teaching