Questions and Answers on the Temple Issue
6. WHY DID THE SGI DECIDE TO ISSUE THE
GOHONZON?
In 1991, Nichiren Shoshu announced its refusal
to confer the Gohonzon to any person belonging to the SGI. From
this point on, all new SGI members throughout the world were forced
to practice without it.
Clearly, the temple's intention was to entice
SGI members to leave the organization and become direct followers
of the temple. While most SGI members waiting to receive the Gohonzon
saw through this ploy, their seeking spirit to receive the Gohonzon
remained. Soka Gakkai leaders grappled with how to respond to
the members.
Then, in 1993, the SGI agreed to a proposal from
Sendo Narita, the chief priest of Joen-ji, a temple in Tochigi
Prefecture, Japan, which had severed its ties to Nikken and Taiseki-ji.
The SGI, in conjunction with Mr. Narita, announced it would start
issuing Gohonzon to its membership worldwide. These would be reproduced
from a Gohonzon at Joen-ji transcribed in 1720 by Nichikan, the
twenty-sixth high priest of Taiseki-ji. Those who had practiced
without the Gohonzon were overjoyed at the news.
The significance of the SGIs decision can be
seen from two perspectives: First, Nichiren Daishonin inscribed
the Gohonzon for the enlightenment of all people. His fundamental
desire was to make the Gohonzon available to all who seek to practice
his teachings, thus enabling them to establish indestructible
happiness.
Second, with the development of the priesthood
issue, Nikken Abe abused his position as high priest by arbitrarily
stopping the granting of Gohonzon to SGI members with the express
purpose of undermining the SGI. Nikken's use of the Gohonzon in
this way runs completely counter to the Daishonin's fundamental
intent and spirit behind inscribing the Gohonzon.
In light of these circumstances - and based on
its responsibility as the body of believers harmoniously practicing
the Daishonin's Buddhism in modern times - the SGI took responsibility
to make the Gohonzon available to its membership. This decision
was made solely to protect Buddhism, to reply to the sincerity
of those seeking the Gohonzon, and to further promote kosen-rufu.
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