Who is more important: The Buddha or the Emperor?

Nichiren Shoshu Priesthood decided to support the military authorities during the II W W in their demand to accept the “Emperor” as superior to the “Buddha”.

The Administrative Office of Nichiren Shoshu issued a notice (#2177), dated August 24, 1941, stating that:

“because the Daishonin’s works were written more than 700 years ago in accordance with the social conditions of the Kamakura period, people of the present age in reading his writings might “doubt the Daishonin’s desire to respect the emperor and protect his empire.”

Furthermore, on September 29, Nichiren Shoshu Study Department issued a notice (Gaku dai 8 go) that instructed the deletion of the 14 passages from the Daishonin’s writings especially where the Buddha is described as superior to the Sun Goddess (believed by the authorities to be the origin of the emperor).

The priesthood deleted the passage where the Daishonin states:

“I, Nichiren, am the foremost sage in Jambudvipa”

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because it conflicted with the supremacy of the Emperor over the Buddha.

August 24, 1941, Notice #2177 Regarding banning the publication of Gosho Zenshu:

“Nichiren Daishonin, the founder of our denomination, wrote his letters and treaties during the Kamakura period. In view of the state of affairs in those days, his writings could possibly lead to a misunderstanding of his spirit of revering the Emperor. Therefore, the priesthood has decided to stop new publication of the Gosho Zenshu (Collected Works of the Daishonin) and to publish a collection of the essential works of the Daishonin upon which Nichiren Shoshu can rely”.

Deleting passages from the Gosho to please the authorities by Nichiren Shoshu is a documented fact, traceable and well known in the relatively recent history.

Karma of submission to Authority

Nichiren Shoshu High Priest Nikkyo on 8 December 1941 offered the following statement:

“Today His Majesty [Emperor Hirohito] declared war…. I can hardly suppress my awe and joy at this….”

a statement, which expresses the motivation of submission and even praise to the authorities. The mentality of the Priesthood is exactly in opposition to and conflict with the Daishonin’s long history of refusal to compromise, not fearing persecutions and exiles.

That official announcement of the Priesthood was followed by many activities aimed at aiding Emperor Worship and war efforts, including:

  • Altering the First Silent Prayer to include prayer “to the Founder of the Empire”, and “to Emperor Jimmu, the Founder of the Imperial Family. Source: August 22, 1941, Notice # 2176 issued by Nichien Shoshu Administration Office regarding the Alteration of the Silent Prayers
  • Opening of the temples ground to train soldiers, and donating brass and metal items from temples to melt for making ammunition Source: https://nichiren.com/eng/index.php/2017warresponsibility/

Nichiren Shoshu and the Buddhist teaching of Karma

The Latent Effect of Past Actions:

According to Nichiren Buddhism, every action we make is automatically recorded within one’s Karma. The Karmic debt that applies to individuals applies to also institutions supported by those individuals sharing its teachings and its Karma.

Consequences of past actions do not vanish. Nichiren Shoshu Karma of Concession before the authorities and disregard to the Daishonin’s teachings and his letters to please authorities - this karma gets subconsciously inherited by all individuals who practice under current Nichiren Shoshu Administration, agreeing with its history without objection.

There is no reason why Nichiren Shoshu refuses apology (Zange) for its past mistakes. Sincere apology can alter its Karma of betrayal of Nichiren’s spirit, making of him inferior to the emperor.

This karma will attract misfortune among followers of Nichiren Shoshu as being supportive to making concession on their beliefs fearing external opinion or whatever “authority” in their daily life.

Instead of supporting such karmic history, the Association of Reformist Priests demands open apology of past and current mistakes.