The meaning of guidance in the American Kempon Hokke sect

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illarraza
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Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2011 4:30 am

The meaning of guidance in the American Kempon Hokke sect

Post by illarraza »

Nichiren states in the Offering of Prayers to the Mandala of the Mystic Law:

"The Gohonzon is the teacher of all Buddhas throughout the Three Existences."

The meaning of Gohonzon in the The Kempon Hokke, is the embodiment of the Law and the Eternal Buddha.

The Lotus Sutra Chapter 15, Emerging from the Earth (one of the three most important chapters of the Lotus Sutra) states:

"At that time the world-honored one, having spoken these verses, said to the bodhisattva Maitreya: “With regard to this great multitude I now say this to you. Ajita, these bodhisattvas mahasattva who in immeasurable and countless asamkhyas have emerged from the earth and whom you have never seen before in the past—after I attained supreme perfect enlightenment in this saha world, I converted and guided these bodhisattvas, trained their minds, and caused them to develop a longing for the way. These bodhisattvas have all been dwelling in the world of empty space underneath the saha world. They read, recite, understand the various scriptures, ponder them, make distinctions, and keep them correctly in mind."

Nichiren highlights this passage:

“The Buddha, replying to Maitreya’s doubts, said: “Ajita, these bodhisattvas . . . whom you have never seen before in the past—when I had attained supreme perfect enlightenment in this saha world, I converted and guided these bodhisattvas, trained their minds, and caused them to develop a longing for the way.” - Opening of the Eyes

The Bodhisattvas of the Earth have been trained by the Original Buddha and reminded of his guidance by the venerable Daishonin:

“Now , when the Eternal Buddha was revealed in the essential section of the Lotus Sutra, this world of endurance (Saha-world) became the Eternal Pure Land, indestructible even by the three calamities of conflagration, flooding, and strong winds, which are said to destroy the world. It transcends the four periods of cosmic change: the kalpa of construction, continuance, destruction and emptiness. Sakyamuni Buddha, the Lord-preacher of this pure land, has never died in the past, nor will He be born in the future. He exists forever throughout the past present and future. All those who receive His GUIDANCE are one with this Eternal Buddha.” — The True Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind

The people (common worldlings) perceive this world to be beset by all sorts of calamities, disasters, and travails but the Buddha and his Original Disciples (the Bodhisattvas of the Earth) see this world as the eternal, peaceful, and secure Buddha's Land thanks to the Eternal Buddha's guidance.

Nichiren also teaches that the proof that Shakyamuni Buddha of the Original Doctrine and not another Buddha is the Original Eternal Buddha is the fact that so many Bodhisattvas emerge who have received his guidance::

“Since Sakyamuni Buddha is eternal and all other Buddhas in the universe are his manifestations, then those great bodhisattvas converted by manifested Buddhas are also disciples of Lord Sakyamuni Buddha. If the “Life Span of the Buddha” chapter had not been expounded, it would be like the sky without the sun and moon, a country without a king, mountains and rivers without gems, or a man without a soul. nevertheless, seemingly knowledgeable men of such provisional schools of Buddhism as Ch’eng-kuan of the Hua-yen, Chia-hsiang of the San-lun, Tz’u-en of the Fa-hsiang, and Kobo of the shingon tried to extol their own canons by stating: “The Lord of the Flower Garland Sutra represents the reward-body (hojin) of the Buddha whereas that of the Lotus Sutra the accomodative body (ojin);” or “the Buddha in the sixteenth chapter of the Lotus is an Illusion; it is the great Sun Buddha who is enlightened.” Clouds cover the moon and slanderers hide wise men. When people slander, ordinary yellow rocks appear to be of gold and slanderers seem to be wise. Scholars in this age of decay, blinded by slanderous words, do not see the value of a gold in the “Lifespan of the Buddha” chapter. Even among men of the Tendai school some are fooled into taking a yellow rock for gold. They should know that if Sakyamuni had not been the Eternal Buddha, there could not have been so many who received GUIDANCE from Him. ” — The Opening of the Eyes

And finally, Nichiren Daishonin writes in the One Essential Phrase:

“Even though one neither reads nor studies the sutra, chanting the title alone is the source of tremendous good fortune. The sutra teaches that women, evil men, and those in the realms of animals and hell— in fact, all the beings of the Ten Worlds— can attain Buddhahood in their present form. [This is an incomparably greater wonder than] fire being produced by a stone taken from the bottom of a river, or a lantern lighting up a place that has been dark for a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand years. If even the most ordinary things of this world are such wonders, then how much more wondrous is the power of the Buddhist Law! We ordinary beings are fettered by evil karma, earthly desires, and the sufferings of birth and death. But due to the three inherent potentials of the Buddha nature— innate Buddhahood, the wisdom to perceive it, and the actions to manifest it— we can without doubt reveal the Buddha’s three bodies— the Dharma Body, the Reward Body, and the Manifested Body. The Great Teacher Dengyo states, “Through the power of the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law they can do so in their present form.” He is referring to the example of the dragon king’s daughter, who achieved Buddhahood in her reptilian form through the power of the Lotus Sutra. Do not doubt this in the least. Please tell your husband that I will explain this in detail when I see him.”

Please note that Nichiren doesn't say, “by the power of a living or deceased mentor, teacher, or priest.” He says, “through the power of the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law.” The Kempon Hokke teaches that the True Succession is Through the Scrolls of the Lotus Sutra and the authentic writings of Nichiren and not through a Patriarchal Succession Through Golden Mouth Ones or through a "guru" or a succession of gurus. The Kempon Hokke is the teaching of true equality among the faithful and one reason is that we all receive guidance from the Eternal Buddha and Nichiren ONLY. Also, Nichiju, the founder of the Kempon Hokke, in his Will and Testament, proclaims the equality of all Kempon Hokke believers since: ANYONE who propagates the Law, especially in the summer months; teaches that the Zen, Shingon, Pure Land, and Ritsu(Hinayana) sects are evil and the cause for of falling into hell; and teach that only the Kempon Hokke makes us enter Nirvana, are all heir disciples. It makes perfect sense that all those who go to the very source of the teachings are equal without a single exception. This is what i like about the Kempon Hokke. There are no condescending leaders or priests. We are all good friends who encourage eachother to go to the Gohonzon, Eternal Buddha (Lotus Sutra), and the Supreme Votary of the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren Daishonin. Of course, we point out to our fellow believers who have questions (if we know) where and which Chapter of the Lotus Sutra and writings of Nichiren one can find the answer to their questions.
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