TheGreatDirectWaytoBuddhahoodintheLatterDharma

withProofsfromtheSutraandtheWritingsofNichirenShnin

OrthodoxTeacherNichij

WrittenbyH.G.Lamont

FOREWORD
Thefollowingstatementwasoriginallywrittenoutintheformoftheeightprincipalassertionsin
responsetoapolitequestionbyamemberoftheNichirenSh;laterI
decidedtotakeuptheseassertionswithslightemendationsandtoaddproofstowhatI
hadstatedtobethetruedoctrineoftheHokeky(LotusSutra)sothatthereadermightseethatthis
statementis,indeed,inaccordwithwhathasbeenpreachedintheSutraandthegenuinewritingsof
thehistoricalNichirenShnin.

PREFACE

AttheendofhislifetheOrthodoxTeacherNichijissuedaninstructiontohisdisciples,
anadmonitionwhichshowshimtobeuniqueamongthevariouspatriarchswhofoundedsubsects
orlineagesoftheNichirenMovement:

"Ifanything,eventhoughrecordedinNichij'srecord,goesagainstthefundamentalintentionofthe
worksoftheGreatSaint,oneoughtnottakeitasabasis;bynomeansshoulditgoagainsttheSutra,
theworks[ofNichirenShnin]andtheCommentarieswhicharethefundamentalintentionofthe
GreatTeachers[Tendai,Dengy]"(Nichiunki,p.58,citedatKemponHokkeSeiten,p.639).

ThisdemonstratedNichij'sutterdevotiontoNichirenandhisoriginalteachings
andhisselfabnegationbeforeNichirenShnin'sauthority.Unlikeotherpatriarchs,
whoformulatedelaboratedoctrinalsystemsandexpectedpeopletofollowthem,Nichij
clearlytriedtoreadwhateverworksofNichirenShninwereavailableandconsultwithknown
scholarstodeterminethecorrectdoctrineandpractice.Atthattimetheavailability
oftheSaint'sworksandletterswasseverelylimitedandtempleswouldoftenrestrictaccesstotheir
collectionsoftheseworks.AlthoughNichijwasabletoseethecorrect
faithandcarryoutthecorrectpracticeandthusrestoreNichirenShnin'sreligion,theunderstanding
ofthecanonofNichirenShnin'satthatperiodwasnotveryadvanced
and,infact,evenbeforeNichij'stimeforgeriesofvarioustypeshadbeenintroducedunderNichiren
Shnin'sname.Unfortunately,itappearsthatevenNichijdidnot
recognizethatsomeworkswereforgeries.AlthoughduringtheEdoPeriod(16001867)therewere
somescholarswhorecognizedthatcertainworksweredubious,itisonly
nowinthelasthalfofthetwentiethcenturythatscholarlytextualresearchhasgiven
usahighdecreeofcertaintyinexposingsuchforgeriesandascertainingthereligion
ofthehistoricalNichirenShnin.Toputitsimply,thosewhowouldfollowNichiren
Shnin'sauthenticteachingshouldtakeastheirmodeltheworksofNichirenShnin
thatstillexistinhisownhandwritingorweredocumentedassuchatMinobusanor
incopiesbythefirstgenerationaftertheSaint'sExtinctionandthoseworkswhichin
styleanddoctrineorconsonantwiththeaboveworks;allotherworksshouldbetreatedwithgreat
circumspectionanddefinitelynotusedtoestablishanydefinitivedoctrine
orpractice.

TheGREATDIRECTWAYTOBUDDHAHOOD

ThosewhowishtoquicklyattainBuddhahoodinthisdegenerateandpollutedage
ofthe"LatterDharma"shouldenterintotheGreatDirectWaytoBuddhahood:

1)THERIGHTTEACHINGANDFAITH

HaveexclusivefaithintheHokeky(LotusSutra)asthesupremeandabsoluteteaching
oftheBuddhaandbelieveintheauthenticwordsoftheBuddha'sMessenger,NichirenShnin,the
ReincarnationoftheBodhisattvaJgy,whoistheEternalBuddhaShakya'sDisciple.Thereisno
otherwaytoBuddhahood.

PROOFS:

(OnlytheHokekyistheTruth,theRealTeaching;all[othersutrasare]expedient
andprovisional)'Iknowthatthevariousmultitudesofbeings'naturesanddesires
arenotthesame;theirnaturesanddesiresnotbeingthesame,IvariouslypreachtheDharma;
variouslypreachingtheDharmabythepowerofexpedience,formorethan
fortyyearsIhaveneveryetrevealedtheTruth;forthisreasonbeings'attainmentof
theWayhasbeenvaried:theyhavenotyetbeenabletorapidlyattainSupremeBodhi.'(Murygiky
"ChapterofthePreachingtheDharma"2:T.9.386ab)****Changed[else]to[othersutrasare]

'IftherearebeingswhoareabletohearthisSutra,thenitistheGreatBenefitfor
them.Whatisthereason?Iftheycanpracticeit,theywillnecessarilybeablerapidly
toattainSupremeBodhi.Whentherearethosebeingswhoarenotabletohearit,
oneshouldknowthatfortheseitislosingtheGreatBenefit.Havingpassedthroughimmeasurable,
boundlessinconceivableasamkheyakalpas,intheendtheywerenotable
toattainSupremeBodhi.Whatisthereason?ItwasbecausetheydidnotknowtheGreatDirectWay
ofBodhi,becausetheyproceededonthetreacherouswaywithmanyhinderingdifficulties''Ipreach
thisSutra,mostprofound,mostprofound;trueandmostprofound.Whatisthereason?Becauseit
causesthemultitudesofbeingsrapidlytoattainSupremeBodhi,becausehavingonceheardtheycan
keepallDharmas,becausetothemultitudes
ofbeingsitistheGreatBenefit,becausetheyproceedon[or,practice]theGreatDirectWaywithout
hinderingdifficulties'(Murygiky"ChapteroftheTenMerits"3:T.9.387ab)(Faithisthemeansto
Buddhahood).

'Byfaithyouareabletoenter.'(Hokeky,"ChapteroftheParable"3(T.9.15b))
'Itisnotbytheportionoftheirownwisdom'(Hokeky,"ChapteroftheParable"
3(T.9.15b)).

'Thebodhisattvaisalsolikethis:ifhehasnotyetheard,hasnotyetunderstood
andcannotyetperformyoushouldknowthispersonisstillfarremovedfromAnuttarasamyak
sambodhi.Ifheisabletohear,understand,ponderandpracticeit,youmust
knowhehasbeenabletoapproachAnuttarasamyaksambodhi.Whatisthereason?TheAnuttara
samyaksambodhiofallbodhisattvasallbelongstothisSutra.ThisSutraopensthedoorof
expedienceandshowstheappearanceoftheReal.BecausetheStoreofthisDharmaFlowerSutrais
profoundlyfirmandhiddenanddistant,nopersoncanreachit'(Hokeky,"ChapteroftheDharma
Teacher"10(T.9.31c)).

"AstotheTitleoftheLotusSutrathepersonswhohavingmettenmyriadsoften
millionsofBuddhasintheirLivingBodiesinthepastandachievedmerit,whenthey
heartheFiveCharacters'Myhrengeky'forthefirsttime,formfaithforthefirsttime."
(DaimokuMidaMygshretsuji,STN,v.1,294)(ExclusivePracticeoftheHokeky)'Forthrightly
abandoningexpedience.'(Hokeky,"ChapteroftheExpedience"2,(T.9.10a))'Onlydesiringto
receivetheGreatVehicleSutraCanon,notreceiving
evenoneverseofothersutras'(Hokeky,"ChapteroftheParable"3(T.9.16a)).

"Inafutureeraiftherearegoodsonsorgooddaughterswhohearthe'ChapterofDevadata'ofthe
SublimeDharmaFlowerSutra(Myhokeky)andwithapuremindbelieveandreverence,not
producingdoubtsandconfusion,theyshallnotfalltothehells,hungryghosts,orbeastsbutbeborn
beforetheBuddhasoftheTenDirectionsandintheplacewheretheyareborntheyshallconstantly
hearthisSutra;iftheyarebornamonghumansorgodstheyshallreceivesuperiorandsublimejoy.If
beforeaBuddha,they
shallbebornbytransformationinalotusflower"(Hokeky,"ChapterofDevastate"
12(T.9.35a)).

"....whenthepersonwhopracticestheHokekysaysinonebreath"NamuMyh
rengeky"andinanothersays"NamuAmidaButsu"andsoon[,it]islikemixing
excrementorputtingsandandrocksintorice.WheninthetextoftheHokekyit
preaches,"OnlydesiringtoreceiveandkeeptheGreatVehicleSutraCanon"andso
onto"donotreceiveevenoneverseoftheothersutras"andsoon,itreferstothis.
ThescholarsoftheworldthinkthatitisnotwrongeventomixotherpracticesintotheHokeky.
AlthoughI,Nichiren,alsothinkthatitis,indeed,so,theSutratextisnot
thus"(Akimotodonogosho,STN,v.2,1730).***added[,it]??

"EventhoughoneisapersonwhocommitstheTenEvilsandFiveRebelliousSins,whenonehasnot
turnedagainsttheHokeky,itisafactthatthereisnodoubtofRebirth[inthePureLand]and
Buddhahood.Eventhoughoneisapreceptkeepingpersonwhokeepsallthesutrasandbelievesin
thevariousBuddhasandBodhisattvas,ifoneneveremploystheHokeky,thereisnodoubtofones
fallingtotheEvilWays[ofRebirth]"(Gassuigosho,STN,v.1,290).

"TheattainmentofBuddhahoodornonattainmentofBuddhahoodbytheevilpeople
oftheLatterAgedoesnotdependuponthelightnessorgravityoftheirsinsbutisjustaccordingto
theirbelieforunbeliefinthisSutra"(HakiiSaburdonogohenji,STN,v.1,749).:"ThisObjectof
Worshipisalsocontainedinthetwocharacters,'faithful(believing)mind'(shinjin);'byfaithyouare
abletoenter'referstothis.ThedisciplesandlaydonorsofNichirenbybelievingundividedlyin
'forthrightlyabandoningexpedience'and'notreceivingevenoneverseofothersutras'shallenter
intotheJeweledStupaofthisObjectofWorship"(Nichinyogozengohenji,STN,v.2,1376).

"Majushrsaid,'InthemidstoftheseaIhaveonlyconstantlyproclaimedandpreachedtheSublime
DharmaFlowerSutra(Myhokeky)'(Hokeky,"ChapterofDevadatta"12(T.9.35b)).

"TheBodhisattvaMajushrsays.'Ihaveonlyconstantlyproclaimedandpreached
theSublimeDharmaFlowerSutra.'Theessenceamongtheeightcharacters[ofthis
phraseintheChinesetext]thetwocharacters'Onlyconstantly'(yuij).....Inthe
SutraofImmeasurableMeaningsitsays,'FormorethanfortyyearsIhavenotyetrevealedthe
Truth.'IntheHokeky(DharmaFlowerSutra)itsays,'AstotheWorldHonoredOne'sDharmaaftera
longtimeHecertainlyisgoingtospeaktheTruth.'
TheBuddhaTahsays,'ItisalltheTruth'andsodeterminesthatonlyintheHokeky
isthereAttainmentofBuddhahoodinthisVeryBody.Nomatterhowmuchtheypreachthatthereis
attainmentofBuddhahoodinthePreviousSutras,orhowthepeopleoftheProvisionalSectsmadly
rave,itwillbe'onehammertoathousandearthenpans'"
(Uenodonogohenji(ReplytoLordUeno),STN,v.2,1634).

'Forthatreasonyou,aftertheTathagata'sExtinction,shouldsinglemindedlyreceiveandkeep,read
andrecite,explainandpreach,copyandwrite,andpracticeinaccordancewiththepreaching.'(The
LordBuddhaShakyamuniaddressingtheBodhisattvasWhoSprangForthfromtheEarthLedbythe
BodhisattvaJgywithrespecttotheEntrustmentoftheEssenceoftheSutra,theDaimoku'Namu
Myhrengeky',inthe"ChapteroftheDivinePowersoftheTathagatas"21T.9.52a).

"NichirenShnin,ifitisaccordingtotheSutra,istheSaintwhoistheMessengerof
theTathagata[Buddha]WhoAttainedintheLongPast,theDescent(suijaku)oftheBodhisattva
Jgy,thePracticeroftheDoctrineoftheOriginaloftheHokeky,and
theGreatTeacheroftheFifthFiveHundredYears[sincetheExtinctionoftheHistoricalBuddha]...
"(Yorimotochinj,STN,v.2,1352).

"...theFiveCharacters'Myhrengeky'...[theBuddha]summoningforththeGreatMastersWho
SprangfromtheEarthandcausedtheEssencetobeformedandassigned
[tothem].This,onecallstheDoctrineEntrustedtotheThoseConvertedbytheOriginal[Buddha].
Moreover,itappearsthattheBodhisattvaJgyandsoonwillcomeforth
andborninthebeginningfivehundredyearsoftheLatterDharmaandcausetheseFiveCharacters
whicharetheObjectandtheWisdom[RealityandwhatRealizesReality].
TheSutratextsareobvious,[and]clear."(Soyadonogohenji,STN,v.2,1253)***changedareto
[and]pleaserereadthispassage??

"Forthosewhodonotunderstand'onethoughtisthreethousand[realms]'theBuddhagivesriseto
GreatCompassion,wrappingthisjewelwithintheFiveCharacters,and
has[him]tohangitaroundthenecksoftheyoungchildrenoftheLatterAge.TheFourBodhisattvas
shallguardthispersonastheGrandsire(TaiGong)andtheDukeofZhouassistedKingChengorthe
FourHoaryOneswaitedupontheEmperorHui"
(Kanjinhonzonsh,STN,v.1,720).

"Furthermore,nowmatterhowmuchtheychant,everyonewhohasenmitytowardsNichirenfirst
mustnecessarilyfalltotheUnremittingHellandafterimmeasurablekalpas(eons)becomeNichiren's
disciplesandshouldattainBuddhahood"(Kygozengosho,STN,v.1,687).

2)THESUPERIORITYOFTHEDOCTRINEOFTHEORIGINALBUDDHA

BelievethatwithintheLotusSutratheHommonorDoctrineoftheOriginal(Chs.
1528),whichrevealstheEternalLifeSpanoftheBuddhaShakyamuniandtheDaimokutransmitted
totheBodhisattvaJgyandsoon,issuperiortotheShakumonorDoctrine
oftheManifestation(Chs.114),whichrevealstheabstractrealityofexistence.(Honjakushretsu)

PROOFS:

"'TheChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan'istheessenceoftheDoctrineoftheOriginal
(hommon).Furtherthischapteristheessenceofthewholework.Itisnotonly
theessenceofthesacredteachingsofthe[Buddha's]wholelifetime;itisthegreatessentialofthe
riteofpreachingtheDharmaoftheBuddhas.TheMasterofTeachingsLordShakya'srealizingand
obtainingthedoctrineofOneThoughtisThreeThousandRealms(ichinensanzen)ofthe'Chapterof
theMeasureoftheLifeSpan'isbecausetheBuddhasoftheThreeErasandInnerRealizationare
equal.ButthisdoctrineisnotonlywhattheoneBuddhaLordShakyahasHimselfrealized;the
variousBuddhaslikewise
doso"(taSaemonjgohenji,STN,v.2,1497).

"ThedoctrineofOneThoughtisThreeThousandRealms(ichinensanzen)issubmergedonlyatthe
bottomofthetextofthe'ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan'oftheDoctrineoftheOriginalof
theHokeky"(Kaimokush(OnOpeningtheEyes),STN,
v.1,539).

"Eventhoughitisso,becausetheyhavenotyetopenedouttheManifestationto
revealtheOriginal(hosshakukempon)neitherdotheyrevealthetrueonethought
isthreethousand[realms]noristheAttainmentofBuddhahoodbytheTwoVehiclesdeterminate..
Theyarelikeseeingthemooninthemidstofthewater;theyresemblerootlessgrassfloatingontop
ofthewaves.WhenonearrivesattheDoctrineoftheOriginal(Hommon),whenitdestroystheFirst
TimeAttainmentofTrueEnlightenment,
itdestroystheEffects[Buddhahood]oftheFourTeachings.Whenitdestroysthe
Effects[Buddhahood]oftheFourTeachings,itdestroystheCausesoftheFourTeachings.Striking
downtheCausesandEffectsoftheTenRealmsofthePrevious[Sutras]andtheManifestation
Doctrine,itpreachesandrevealstheCausesandEffectsoftheTenRealmsoftheDoctrineofthe
Original.Thisistheverydoctrine(hmon)oftheOriginalCauseandtheOriginalEffect.TheNine
RealmsarepossessedintheBeginninglessBuddhaRealmandtheBuddhaRealmisprovidedwiththe
BeginninglessNineRealmsanditshouldbe
theTrueMutualPossessionoftheTenRealms(jikkaigogu),theHundredRealmsandThousand
Thusnesses(hyakkaisennyo)andOneThoughtisThreeThousandRealms(ichinensanzen).

"Whenwelookitoverthusly,the[Buddhasofthe]TenDirectionsonthe{Lotus]
PlatformoftheKegongy,theLesserShakyaoftheAgamaSutras,theProvisionalBuddhasandsoon
oftheKonkmyky,oftheAmidaky,theDainichikyandothers[are]theHeavenlyMoonofthe
Buddhaofthe'ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan'temporarily(shibaraku)floatingHis
reflectioningreaterorlesservessels(utsuwa)butthescholarsandsoonofthevarioussectsnearby
aredeludedabouttheirsectsandfaroffdonotknowthe'ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan'
oftheHokekyandformtheideaof[i.e.,thatitis]therealmoonaboutthemooninthewaterand
eithergoinandthinktheywilltake[it]orelseattacharopeandtrytosnagandstopit.Tendaisays,
'Notrecognizingtheheavenlymoon,theyonlygazeat(contemplate)themooninthepond'andso
on...[Hokkegengi7A.46aT.33.766b](Kaimokush(OnOpeningtheEyes),STN,v.1,552553).

"SoiftheBuddhadoesnotclearawaythesedoubts[aboutHisOriginalDisciplesandtheMeasureof
HisLife,thesacredteachingsofthe[Buddha's]WholeLifetimeislikebubbleandfoam,andallbeings
wouldbecaughtinthenetofdoubt.Thattheone'ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan'is
importantliesinthis"(Kaimokush(OnOpeningtheEyes),STN,v.1,576).

"Whenweseeitintermsofthe'ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan'oftheDoctrineofthe
Original,apartfromtheWisdomofthe'ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan'
thevarioussutras'attainmentoftheWay[Buddhahood],bothspanningthesegmentsandwithin
theirowndivisionarenameswithoutreality"(ShjDaijfumbetsush,STN,v.1,773774).

"The'ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan'islikenedtoatreeandthePreviousSutrasandthe
DoctrineoftheManifestation[Buddha]toitsshadow..."(Tokinyuddo
nogohenji,STN,v.2,1589).

"TheFivePeriodsandEightTeachings,[theteachings]withintheirowndivisionsandspanningthe
segmentsandthebenefitsoftheGreaterandLesser[Vehicles]areliketheshadow;thedoctrineof
the'DoctrineoftheOriginal[Buddha]'(hommon)islikethetreeandsoon.Furthermore,the
benefitsofthe[timewhenthemanifestBuddha]wasintheworldaretheshadowofthetreeinthe
dark"(Tokinyuddonogohenji,STN,v.2,1589).
"Stop!Goodsons.ThereisnoneedforyoutoguardandkeepthisSutra.Whatisthereason?My
SahaWorldofitselfhasBodhisattvasMahasattvasequaltothesandsofsixtythousandGanges
RiversandeachandeveryoneoftheBodhisattvashasanentouragelikethesandsofsixtythousand
GangesRivers.ThesepeoplecanafterMyExtinctionguardandkeep,readandrecite,andwidely
preachthisSutra"(Hokeky"ChapterofSpringingForthfromtheEarth"15(T.9.39c)).

"Whatismeantis'Icannottakeandbestowthe"ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan"ofMy
InnerRealizationontheGreatBodhisattvasandsoonWhoWereConvertedBytheManifestation
[Buddha]orthosefromOtherDirections'"(Kanjinhonzonsh,STN,v.1,715).

'InowshallpreachTrueWords;
You,singlemindedlybelievethem:
Ifromthemostdistantpast
Havetaughtandconvertedtheseassemblies.'
(Hokeky"ChapterofSpringingForthfromtheEarth"15(T.9.41b))
'IftherearethosewhoinregardtothisSutra
Producedoubtsanddonotbelieve,
TheywillthereuponfalltotheEvilWaysofRebirth'
(Hokeky"ChapterofSpringingForthfromtheEarth"15(T.9.42a)).

(TheLordBuddhaShakyamuniaddressingtheBodhisattvasConvertedbytheManifestation[Buddha]
(shakke)inthe"ChapterofThoseSpringingForthFrom
theEarth"15)[Shakke]isthisatypo****

"TheprincipalmeaningoftheDoctrineoftheManifestationliesinrevealingReality;Theprincipal
meaningrevealstheLengthoftheLife[oftheBuddha]"(Hokkegengishakushin(TheExplanatory
Lotsonthe'MysteriousPrinciplesoftheLotusSutra''Fascicle1A)ofMyrakuDaishiT.33.820a).

"ThePreviousSutrasarelikethestars;theDoctrineoftheManifestationislikethe
moon;the'ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan'islikethesun.Atthetimeofthe'Chapterofthe
MeasureoftheLifeSpan'theDoctrineoftheManifestationisnotupto
it.HowmuchmorethePreviousSutras....WiththePreviousSutrasandtheDoctrineof
theManifestationitisstilldifficulttoleaveBirthandDeath.Arrivingatthe'ChapteroftheMeasure
oftheLifeSpan'oftheDoctrineoftheOriginal[Buddha]onenecessarilyleavesBirthandDeath"
('Yakuhon'tokuish,STN,v.1,340).

"Whenonelooksatitintermsofthe'ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan'oftheDoctrineofthe
Original,apartfromtheWisdomofthe'ChapteroftheMeasureofthe
LifeSpan',theattainmentofthe[Buddha]Way,bothspanningthedivisionsandwithin
theirspheres,ofthevariousSutrashavethenamewithoutthereality"(ShjDaijfumbetsush,
STN,v.1,773774).

"....intheSutraofImmeasurableMeaningsandtheDoctrineoftheManifestationof
theLotusSutraitispreached,'IformerlyatthePlaceofEnlightenment'and'Iforthe
firsttimesatonthePlaceofEnlightenment.'AstotheseSutratexts,whenoneconsidersandsees
themfromthetext'However[...]sinceItrulyattainedBuddhahoodithasbeenimmeasurable,
limitless'ofthe'ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan',howcanthey
notbegreatlies?"(ShjDaijfumbetsush,STN,v.1,773)

"WhenonesaysthattheLotusSutraisexcellentsurpassingthesacredteachingsofthe[Buddha's]
WholeLifetime,itisindeed,becauseofthe'ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan.'Thoughone
weretheforemostcrownprinceofJambudvpa,whenoneisshortlivedoneisslighterthangrass.
Thoughonewereawiseonelikethesundisk,whenonediesyoung,oneisinferiortoalivingdog"
(Kaenjggosho,STN,v.1,862863).

"IntheHokekytherearelikewisetwosutras:thatistosay,theDoctrineoftheManifestationand
theDoctrineoftheOriginal.ThedifferenceoftheManifestation
andtheOriginalisthedifferencebetweenwaterandfireandHeavenandEarth.Forexample,there
ismoredifferencethanthedifferencebetweenthePreviousSutras
andtheHokeky.AlthoughthereisadifferencebetweenthePreviousSutrasandtheDoctrineofthe
Manifestationthereoughtalsotobeasidewheretheyresembleeachother.Amongwhatwas
preachedtherearetheEightTeachings.ThePerfect[Teaching]
ofthePreviousSutrasandthePerfect[Teaching]oftheDoctrineoftheManifestationresembleeach
other.TheBuddhaofthePreviousSutrasandtheBuddhaoftheDoctrine
oftheManifestationhavedifferencesoftheInferiorResponse,SuperiorResponse,Recompense
BodyandDharmaBodyintheaspectofFirstAttainmentthereare,indeed,thesame.Nowwiththe
DoctrineoftheOriginalandtheDoctrineoftheManifestation
theMasterofTeachingsdifferinbeingtheDistantPastandtheFirstTime,likeaanoldmanof
hundredyearsandachildofoneyear.Thediscipleslikewisearewaterandfire.
Nottospeakofthepriorityandposteriorityoftheirlands.Sowhentheyintermingle(kong)the
OriginalandtheManifestationtheyarethosewhocannotdistinguishwater
andfire"(Tokinyuddonogohenji(Jibydaishgonjitsuimoku),STN,v.2,15181519).

"NowenteringtheLatterDharmawhentheDoctrineoftheOriginalshouldspread,
thepeopleoftheLesserVehicle,theProvisionalGreatVehicle,andtheDoctrineof
theManifestation,eventhoughtheyarewithoutfault,theycannotwiththeirDharma[Teachingsor
Rites]haveassigns(results)"(Tokinyuddonogohenji(Jibydaishgonjitsuimoku),STN,v.2,1519).

"TherearetwomethodsofcontemplationofOneThoughtisThreeThousandRealms(ichinensanzen
nokamp):one,theabstract(ri);two,theactual(ji).InthetimeofTendaiandDengyitwasthe
abstract;nowitistheactual.Sincethecontemplation(kannen)
isalreadysuperiorthegreatdifficulties(persecutions)arelikewisemoreintense.That
wastheOneThoughtisThreeThousandRealmsoftheDoctrineoftheManifestation(shakumonno
ichinensanzen);thisisOneThoughtisThreeThousandRealmsoftheDoctrineoftheOriginal
(hommonnoichinensanzen).Whenyouapproachyourendyououghttounderstandthatthey
differ,differasfarapartasHeavenandEarth"(Toki
nyuddonogohenji(Jibydaishgonjitsuimoku),STN,v.2,1522).

3)THETRUEOBJECTOFWORSHIP

WorshiponlythisEternalBuddhaShakyamunioftheSixteenthChapterofthe
Hokeky.(OnthealtarthiscanberepresentedbythestatueofLordShakyamuniwith
theHokekyinfront,LordShakyamuniwiththeFourBodhisattvas(Jgyandsoon),
theBuddhasShakyamuniandTahoneithersideoftheDaimokuwithorwithoutthe
FourBodhisattvas,ascrolloftheDaimoku,oramandalacopiedfromormodeledon
thoserevealedbyNichirenShnin.Howeveritmustbeproperlyconsecratedwith
theEyeopeningCeremony(kaigenkuy).

PROOFS:

"Ifitisnottherightobject,eventhoughthereisnolyingfalsehooditlikewisedoes
notformaseed[ofBuddhahood]"(Shikanbugyguketsu14(T.46.170c)citedinChHokeky)(The
FormsoftheObjectofWorship).

"WithinthewholeofJambudvpahallsandstupasforwhichtheformandimageoftheBuddha
Shakyaofthe'ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan'havebeenmadedo
notyetexist.Howshalltheynotappear?"(Hkyhjji,STN,v.2,11791180)
(LordShakyamuniwiththeFourBodhisattvas)

"Atthistimethesethousandrealmsof[theBodhisattvas]WhoSprangForthfromtheEarthwill
appearandbecomethesideattendantsofLordShakyaoftheOriginalDoctrine(Hommon),andthe
foremostObjectofWorshipofthewholeofJambudvpashallbeestablishedinthiscountry"(Kanjin
honzonsh,STN,v.1,720).

(KnichiamapraysforherdepartedsonbeforeLordShakya)"SothatlateLordYashir,thoughhe
wasanevilperson,ifthemotherwhoborehimlamentsandmournsdayandnightbeforethe
BuddhaShakya,howcouldthatpersonnotbeatpeace[orbesaved]?"(Knichibgosho,STN,v.2,
1160)

"JapanandsoontothewholeofJambudvpashoulduniformlytaketheMasterofTeachingsLord
ShakyaoftheDoctrineoftheOriginalastheObjectofWorship.Whichistosay,ShakyaandTah
withintheJeweledStupa,thevariousBuddhasoutsideaswellastheFourBodhisattvas,Jgyand
theothers,aretobecomethesideattendants"(Honsh,STN,v.2,1248).

"Ihavewrittenaprotectiveamuletforyou.ThewomanNichigen,thelaydonorwho
hasmadeanderectedonethreeinchwoodenstatueoftheLordoftheThreeWorlds
theMasterofTeachingsLordShakya......Forexample,LordShakyaistheonemoonofHeavenand
thevariousBuddhasandBodhisattvasandsoonarereflectionsfloatinginthemyriadwaters.The
personwhomakesanderectsonestatueofLordShakyamakestheBuddhasoftheworldsoftheTen
Directions"(NichigennyoShakaButsukuyji,STN,v.2,1623).[ThislettershowsthatNichirenShnin
praisedthecreationsandworshipofstatuesofLordShakyaastheoneuniversalBuddhabutdidnot
seethisascontradictingthebestowalofmandalas,hereasanamulet].

"TheSutraistheHokekyo[ocirc];theForemostGreatDharmaofExotericandEsoteric.TheBuddhais
theBuddhaShakyatheForemostSupremeBuddha.ThePracticer(gyja)resemblesthePracticerof
theHokeky.Thethreematters(sanji)havingcorrespondedthesinglevowofthelaydonorwill
surelybeachieved,willitnot?"(Niitadonogosho,STN,v.2,1752)***[ocirc;]???[bracketsadded]

[PraisingthemonkMasterJibutohisgrandmother]"WhatheworshipsistheBuddhaShakya;the
DharmahebelievesistheHokeky"(Urabongosho,STN,v.2,1776).

"IshouldcertainlymakeappealbeforetheMasterofTeachingLordShakya[concerningtheinaction
oftheSunandMoonGods]"(Myichiamagohenji,STN,v.2,1783).

"Question:...WhatistheformoftheDharma?

"Answer:...TheObjectofWorshiperectedinthe'ChapteroftheMeasureofthe
LifeSpan',theMasterofTeachingsLordShakyaoftheInherentUncreateBodies
Whosincethetimepastkalpasasmanyasthedustofcountriestouchedornotbythe
dustoffivehundredofmyriadsofkotisofnayutasofasamkheyasofgreattrichiliocosms(gohyaku
jindeng)hashadaprofoundandcloselinkwiththisSahaLand,isthis"
(Sandaihihsh,STN,v.2,1864).???Pleaselookattheend[isthis]??

{Thistextmaybeaforgery;however,itshowsthat,evenifitisaforgery,theearlygenerationsof
NichirenShnin'sdisciplesacknowledgedtheEternalLordShakyaas
thespecificBuddhalinkedtoourworld].

"....theEyeopeningOfferingofpaintedimageandwoodenimageBuddhasshouldbelimitedtothe
HokekyandtheTendaiSect"(ShijKingoShakaButuskuyji,STN,
v.2,1183).

ItistheTendaiSectalonethatacknowledgesLordShakyamuniastheTrueObject
ofWorship(526527,2342).

[NoteNichirenShninusestheexpression"TendaiSect"tomeantheorthodox
doctrinecenteredontheHokeky;heisnotendorsingeitherthedegenerateform
ofTendaicenteredonEsotericandotherpracticesafterthetimeofSaich(Dengy
Daishi)norisheevenpromotingareturntotheShakumonorienteddoctrinesoftheoldorthodox
TendaiteachersuptoDengyDaishi'stimes,fortheTendaischolars'arelike"lastyear'salmanac"
(kozonokoyomi)and"yesterday'sfood"(kinnojiki)(Ueno
donogohenji,STN,v.2,1634);thepreceptsestablishedbyDengyDaishiatHieizanarelikewise
useless:"ThePerfectSuddenPrecepts(endonkai)of[Hi]eizanare,furthermore,pervertedbyJikaku's
blasphemyagainsttheDharma;becausethosePerfectSuddenpreceptsarealsotheGreat[Vehicle]
PreceptsoftheDoctrineoftheManifestation,theyarenotforthecapacitiesofthepresenttime;by
nomeansaretheysomethingthatwouldbesuccessful"(Shimoyamagoshsoku,STN,v.2,1344)].

4)THEPRINCIPALPRACTICE

ThecentralpracticeisreceivingandkeepingtheDaimoku(literallythe'Title'),NamuMyhrenge
ky,withutmostfaithexpressedbychanting.TheDaimokuisexpressedbyoralchantingbecause
thisworldinwhichweliveisdominatedbythefacultyofhearing(thephenomenonofsound).We
shoulddothisbecausetheDaimoku('Myhrengeky')fullycontainsallthemeritsandqualitiesof
theEternalBuddhaShakyamuni,whichHegrantstous.Weshouldunderstandthatwhenwereceive
andkeepthisDaimoku,weareboundtobepersecuted.

PROOFS:

"...theTwoDharmasoftheCausalPracticesandEffectVirtuesofLordShakyaarefullypossessedin
theFiveCharacters'Myhrengeky';whenwereceiveandkeeptheseFiveCharactersHe
spontaneouslyyieldsandassigns[tous]themeritsofthoseCausesandEffect"(Kanjinhonsonsh,
STN,v.1,711).

"Onereceivesbecauseoffaith;onekeepsbecauseofrecalling"(Hokkemongu(TextCommentaryon
theLotusSutra)T.34.107c).

"ThepeoplewhohearandreceivethisSutraaremany;thepeoplewho,asthey
havetrulyheardandreceivedit,thoughgreatpersecutionscome,keepitinmemory
anddonotforgetitarefew.Toreceiveitiseasy;tokeepitisdifficult.Therefore,
attainingBuddhahoodliesinkeeping.ThepersonswhowouldkeepthisSutrakeep
itwiththeunderstandingthattheyshallencounterpersecution.[Thereisnodoubtthat]
'AndsowillquicklyobtainTheSupremeBuddhaWay'["ChapteroftheJeweledStupa"
11(T.9.34b)].Torecall'NamuMyhrengeky'whichistheGreatMatterofthe
BuddhasoftheThreeEras[Past,Present,andFuture]wecall'keeping.'IntheSutra
itsays,'[We]shallguardandkeepwhattheBuddhahasentrusted.'["ChapterofthePracticesof
PeacefulJoy"(T.9.36c)]TendaiDaishisays,'Onereceivesbecauseof
faith;onekeepsbecauseofrecalling.'[seeabove].Italsosays,****[Thereisnodoubtthat]???

'ThisSutraisdifficulttokeep;
Ifthereisonewhokeepsitevenforshortwhile,
Ishallatoncerejoice
AndtheBuddhasshalllikewisedoso'"
["ChapteroftheJeweledStupa"11(T.9.34b)]
(Shijdonogohenji,STN,v.1,894).

"EachpersonofJapanandsoontotheLandofHan,theYuezhi[India],andthewhole
ofJambudvpa[thecontinentwherehumansdwell],regardlessofwhethertheyhavewisdomor
havenowisdom,shoulduniformlyabandonothermattersandchant'NamuMyhrengeky'"
(Honsh,STN,v.2,1248).

5)THEAUXILIARYORSUPPLEMENTALPRACTICES

TheauxiliarypracticetoincreasefaithisreadingandrecitingtheHokeky,especially
allorpartsofChaptersTwoandSixteenandstudytothebestofone'scapability.

PROOFS:

"Especiallyamongthetwentyeightchapterstheexcellentandauspiciousonesarethe'Chapterof
Expedience'andthe'ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan.'Theremainingchaptersarebranches
andleaves.Soamongyourconstantworksistoreadtheproselinesofthe'ChapterofExpedience'
andtheproselinesofthe'ChapteroftheMeasureoftheLifeSpan'"(Gassuigosho,STN,v.1,290).

"Ihavewrittenandpresentedtoyouthe'ChapterofExpedience'"(Soyanyuddonogohenji,STN,v.
1,912).

6)PROPAGATIONANDDEFENSEOFTHETRUEDHARMA

Themeritofthistrueteachingisnotforoneselfalone:trytospreadthedoctrineto
thebestofyourability,especiallythroughshakubukuagainstwrongdoctrines.(This
isprimarilythedutyofpriestsbutlaypeopleshoulddoittotheextentthattheycan).Anyonewho
properlyspreadsthisSutraevenalittlebecomestherebya"Messenger
oftheBuddha."

PROOFS:

"Ifthesegoodsons,gooddaughterscanafterMyExtinctionsecretlyevenforone
personpreachevenasmuchasonelinetheDharmaFlowerSutra,youshouldknowthesepersons
thenaretheMessengersoftheTathagata,sentbytheTathagata,performingtheTathagata'swork"
(Hokeky,"ChapteroftheDharmaTeacher"10(T.30c).

"IfthereisagoodbhikshuwhoseesthosedestroyingtheDharma,butsetsitasideanddoesnot
upbraid,driveout,andaccuseanddealwiththem,youshouldknowthisperson
isahatefulenemyinthemidstoftheBuddhaDharma"(GreatParinirvanaSutra3(T.12.381a)).

"Thosewhohaveobtainedahumanbody,whichisdifficulttoreceive,andwhohappen
tohaveleftthehouseholdlife,whohavestudiedtheBuddhaDharmabutwhodonot
attackthosewhoblasphemeagainsttheDharmabutvainlyspendtheirnightsanddays
indisportingandplayingandidletalkarebeastswhohaveputontheskinofDharmateachers.
Thoughtheyborrowthenameof'Dharmateachers'tomaketheirwaythroughtheworldand
nourishthemselves,thereisnotoneinstanceoftheirturningouttobeDharmateachers.Theyare
thieveswhostealthenameof'Dharmateachers.'They
shouldbeashamed.Theyshouldbeafraid"(Matsunodonogohenji,STN,v.2,1272).

"Butforyourpersonasahouseholdertheessenceisforyoutochant'NamuMyh
rengeky'withnootherthoughtandalsotomakeofferingtothemonks.Andalso,ifit
isaccordingtotheSutratext,oneshouldalso'expounditaccordingtotheirstrength',shouldn't
one?"(1273)

7)AVOIDANCEOFCOMPLICITY

Toavoidcomplicity(yodzai),donotgivereligiousofferingstoothersectsorreligionsorreceivethe
religiousofferingsfromthosewhodonotaccepttheabovedoctrineanddonotattendtheservices
ofothersects.

PROOFS:

"Iftherearebhikshus,bhikshuns,upaskas,upasks,whoputforthcoarse,evilwords
andblasphemetheTrueDharma,andcreatingthisgravekarma,neverrepentandhavenopenitence
intheirminds....inthatTrueDharmatheyneverhavethemindtoguard,spare,erectorestablishbut
disparage,attack,slightandbelittleandhavemanyerrorsandfaultsintheirwords....thesealsoone
names,'headingtowardsthewayoftheicchantikas.'Onlyexcludingclassesoficchantikassuchas
these,ifonedonatestotheremainingones,itistobepraised"(GreatParinirvanaSutra10:
T.12.425ab).

"Iftheyareblasphemers,oneoughtnottoabidetogetherwiththemandlikewise
notapproachandbeintimatewiththem;ifoneapproachesandisintimateandabidestogetherwith
them,atonceoneheadstowardtheAviciHell"(Jrinky(SutraofTenWheels),"Chapterofthe
MultitudeofGoodAppearances"(T.13.704b,citedatNambuRokurdonogosho,STN,v.1,487;Ch
Hokeky,v.j,279).

"Althoughnourishing(yashinau)themonksofthevarioussectsoftheTendai,
Shingon,andothersofthepresentageoutwardlyappears,indeed,tobegood[karmic]roots,
inwardlyitisagreatevilsurpassingeventheTenEvilsandFiveRebellious[Sins]"
(Chiebkokugosho,STN,v.2,1130).

"OnlyoneshouldexcludeandputawaytheblasphemousofferingsofthoseoftheShingon,ZenSect,
Nembutsuandsoon.Forexample,theyarelikeadheringtoandreverencingtheEmperorShakra
[KingoftheDevasorGods]whileexaltingandesteemingtheasuras[theenemiesofthe
Gods]"(Jmyshningohenji,STN,v.2,1300).

8)ASSOCIATIONWITHORTHODOXFRIENDSANDTEACHERS

Associatewithandstudythedoctrineonlywithpriestswhoupholdthesecorrectteachings.

PROOFS:

"Abandonevil[spiritual]acquaintances;beintimatewithanddrawclosetogood[spiritual]
friends"(Hokeky"ChapteroftheParable"3:T.9.16a).

"Ifthereisabodhisattvaprotectingevilpeople,unabletocorrectandpunishthem,
causingthemtoincreasetheirevilsothattheytroubleandconfusegoodpeopleand
defeatanddestroytheTrueDharma,thispersoninrealityisnotabodhisattva.Outwardlyhe
manifestsafalsedisdain,alwayssayingthesewords,'Iampracticingforbearance.'
Thatperson,whenlifeends,togetherwiththevariousevilpeople,shallfalltohell"(TheHokeky
anrakugygi(T.46.701c702a)ofthesecondTendaipatriarchNangakuDaishi(EshiorHuissu:
514/515577),citedbyNichirenShninintheNambuRokurdonogosho(STN,v.1,487)).

ThisfaithisthebasicteachingandpracticepreachedbyNichirenShnin,restoredbyNichjShshi
andupheldbytheoldMymanji(KemponHokke)teachersandmartyrs.Thosewhoupholdthis
doctrinetodayaretheirsuccessorsfortheyhavereceivedthe"SuccessionthroughtheScrollsofthe
Sutra"(kygansj).

(CompiledbyH.G.Lamont)AlltextsandtranslationscopyrightHamiltonGrahamLamont
19972002)