Nichiren Shū

Nichiren Shū (日蓮宗: "Nichiren School") is the name of a confederation of several Nichiren Buddhist schools that go back to Nichiren's original disciples. Nichiren Shu is a confederation of four of the original Nichiren Schools: Minobu [founded by Niko], Hama [founded by Nissho], Ikegami [founded by Nichiro], and Nakayama [founded by Nichijo (Toki Jonin)]. The Nichiren Shū first spread overseas with Japanese immigrants to the United States, the then Kingdom of Hawaii, Brazil and other locations in the latter half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. Nichiren Shu's Head Temple is called Kuon-ji, located on Mount Minobu where Nichiren lived in seclusion and where he asked to be buried). Ikegami Honmon-ji (where Nichiren died)is another important temple of Nichiren Shu. Its temples have many of Nichiren’s most important personal artifacts and writings (which are considered national treasures in Japan) in their safekeeping.

Overview of Nichiren Shū

Nichiren Shu do not believe Nichiren designated a single successor, but that He designated Six Senior Disciples to succeed Him. The Six Senior Disciples designated by Nichiren were: Nissho (1221-1323); Nichiro (1245-1320; Nikko (1246-1333); Niko (1253-1314); Nitcho (1252-1317); and Nichiji (1250-unknown).

Nichiren Shū states that the Buddha to take refuge in is the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha of the 16th chapter of the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren is regarded as the appearance in this world of Superior Practice Bodhisattva who is given the mission in chapter 21 of the Lotus Sutra to uphold the true Dharma in the Latter Day of the Law.

Nichiren is seen as the votary of the Lotus Sutra fulfilling its prophecy in acting as the appearance of Bodhisattva Jōgyō ("Superior Practice"), who leads all bodhisattvas in propagating the Lotus Sutra. Shakyamuni Buddha is regarded as the Eternal Buddha as preached in the 16th chapter of the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren Shū places Nichiren in a high position as the messenger of the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha or Original Buddha, but does not regard him as more important than Shakyamuni. The Original Buddha occupies the central role in Nichiren Shū; Nichiren—referred to as Nichiren Shōnin ("Saint Nichiren")—is the saint who refocused attention on Shakyamuni by rebuking other Buddhist schools for solely emphasizing other buddhas or esoteric practices or for neglecting or deriding the Lotus Sutra.

This can be seen in the emphasis of training in Nichiren Shū. The Lotus Sutra is paramount in study and in practice, and Nichiren's writings—called Gosho (御書) or Goibun (御遺文)—are seen as commentaries or guides to the doctrines of Buddhism. They include the Five Major Writings of Nichiren in which he establishes doctrine, belief, and practice, as well as many pastoral letters he wrote to his followers. The Nichiren Shū is currently in the process of translating many of the writings of Nichiren Shonin into English using the extant documents from Nichiren's life or copies known to have been made by his original disciples. In total there will be 7 volumes published through the University of Hawaii Press.

Nichiren wrote frequently, and readers can verify or correct their understanding of the doctrines of Nichiren Buddhism through his surviving works. Unlike Nichiren Shōshū, Nichiren Shū is far more selective about which Gosho it deems authentic. Many Gosho that are accepted by the Nichiren Shoshu are not accepted as genuine by Nichiren Shū on grounds that scholars have not verified their authenticity. The primary reason for this dispute arises over an inability to verify those various disputed writings as actually having been authored by Nichiren Shonin. This does not mean those gosho or alleged oral transmissions (like the Ongi Kuden) are rejected, but it does mean that they are viewed as secondary to authenticated materials and it is admitted that while they might have pastoral value they can not be definitively asserted as Nichiren's own teaching.

Nichiren Shu Practice and Beliefs

The Primary Practice in Nichiren Shu is chanting Odaimoku to the Gohonzon. The Secondary Practice is to chant Chapter 2 (Expedient Means) and Chapter 16 (Life Span of the Thus Come One) of the Lotus Sutra, called Gongyo. Nichiren Shu regard the Odaimoku (the mantra Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō) and the mandala or Gohonzon as the summit of the Dharma, but does not ignore other Buddhist practices. Forms of silent meditation (shōdai-gyō), artistic copying of the Odaimoku (shakyō), and the study of fundamental Buddhist concepts such as the Four Noble Truths and Taking Refuge are used as supporting practices in Nichiren Shū.

Gohonzon in Nichiren Shu

Nichiren Shu issue Calligraphic Gohonzons to its members, but statue arrangements may also be used to represent the Gohonzon. In Nichiren Shu, the following may be used as the Gohonzon:

1) A statue of the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha.

2) A Statue of the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha, flanked by the Four Bodhisattvas of the Earth.

3) A stupa with Namu-myoho-renge-kyo inscribed on it, flanked by the Buddhas Shakyamuni and Many Treasures.

4) An inscription of the Odaimoku alone.

5) The Calligraphic Mandala inscribed by Nichiren.

All fully ordained Nichiren-shū ministers are able to inscribe and consecrate mandalas, but in practice few of them do. They usually bestow a copy of a Nichiren inscribed mandala, called the Shutei Gohonzon, upon their members.

Nichiren Shu Today

Nichiren Shu maintains relations with non-Nichiren Schools. Nichiren Shū has ordained non-Japanese people, and also non-Japanese speaking people, and continues to expand its presence overseas. Presently, there are Nichiren Shū temples and Sanghas in the United States, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, much of South America, India, Korea, Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan), and Europe.

Differences and Similarities with other Nichiren Schools

Nichiren Shu, like Kempon Hokke, do not believe the Dai-Gohonzon, which is revered in Nichiren Shoshu, to be superior to other Gohonzons. Nichiren Shu is also more selective than Nichiren Shoshu of which Gosho it believes are authentic. Unlike Nichiren Shoshu, Nichiren Shu do not believe Nichiren designated Nikko His successor.

External links

• Nichiren Buddhist International Center
• Nichiren-shū Yahoo group moderated by one of the North American Nichiren-shū ministers
• Copy of a Gohonzon inscribed by Nichiren
• Website of one of Nichiren-shū's North American ministers
• Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of Greater New England
• Nichiren-shū in Italy and Europe, website in Italian, English, French and Spanish
• Nichiren-shū in the UK
• Templo Nichiren Shu do Brasil
• Nichiren Shu In Indonesia
• Namu Myoho Renge Kyo