Questions and Answers on the Temple Issue
8. WHY ARE MEMBERS EXCHANGING THEIR NIKKEN-TRANSCRIBED
GOHONZON FOR ONE TRANSCRIBED BY NICHIKAN?
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE GOHONZON?
We should first examine Nichiren Daishonin's intent in inscribing
the Gohonzon. Regarding one he inscribed for the family of the
believer Shijo Kingo, he states in "Reply
to Kyo'o":
The
lion, king of beasts, is said to advance three steps, then gather
himself to spring, unleashing the same power whether he traps
a tiny ant or attacks a fierce animal. In inscribing this Gohonzon
for her protection, Nichiren is equal to the lion king. This
is what the sutra means by "the power of an attacking lion."
(mw-I, 119)
Through this passage, we can sense the intensity
and depth with which Nichiren Daishonin poured his heart and soul
into inscribing a Gohonzon for the family. Such profound compassion
for his believers is vibrantly apparent in each of his letters.
In contrast, however, as is clarified in the
answer to question 3 in this pamphlet, Nikken's
behavior runs completely counter to the intent and compassion
of Nichiren Daishonin. Instead, Nikken has been a driving force
behind attempts to destroy the SGI's kosen-rufu movement for people's
happiness. In terms of his state of life, Nikken has become the
least qualified person to act on behalf of Nichiren Daishonin
in transcribing the Gohonzon.
It is quite natural, then, that many members,
in reaction to Nikken's conduct, have chosen to exchange the Gohonzon
he transcribed for one transcribed by the twenty-sixth high priest,
Nichikan, who struggled to restore the Daishonin's spirit and
intent within the priesthood during the eighteenth century after
it had been compromised by previous high priests.
On one level, we can state that any properly
transcribed Gohonzon embodies the life of Nichiren Daishonin,
and Nikken's transcription of the Gohonzon is technically correct.
Yet knowing now that Nikken's intent and behavior are at complete
odds with the profound compassion of the Daishonin himself, many
have opted to receive the Gohonzon transcribed by Nichikan. This
way they can chant to the Gohonzon without being reminded of Nikken's
misdeeds.
An additional motivation for some exists in the
fact, detailed in a previous answer, that the teaching Nikken
is trying to dissemminate about the Gohonzon - that he personally
empowers the Gohonzon, and that only through his sanction can
one derive benefit from chanting to it - is a clear perversion
and slander of the Daishonin's teachings.
By chanting to the Gohonzon transcribed by Nichikan
and showing benefit and actual proof as a result, many feel they
are refuting both this erroneous claim as well as Nikken's false
contention that the Gohonzon of Nichikan is counterfeit. Buddhism
teaches that refuting what is erroneous and unjust in terms of
the Buddhist Law is a profoundly good cause. Since the Gohonzon
is the essential crystallization of that Law, this may in part
explain the tremendous joy and progress reported by many who have
exchanged Gohonzon.
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