Nichiren Shōshū

Nichiren Shoshu - ( jap日 莲 正宗, dt "True Nichiren School" ) refers to one of the schools of Nichiren Buddhism, based on the reformer Nichiren (日 莲, "Sun Lotus "; 1222-1282 ) and refers to as Fuji - line or Fuji - school is known.

Affiliation and teaching

The Nichiren Shoshu - (translated: True Nichiren school) considers that its own self-understanding as the orthodox Nichiren school. For a long time it was one of the smallest Nichiren schools, which also in their interpretation of the teachings of Nichiren has its cause. Your foundation, it leads to only one of the six students Nichiren, Nikko, back of the temple left due to disputes on the mountain Minobu in 1290 and the Taiseki -ji temple founded. Nikko threw the other students at times before, too much to lean to the tradition of Tendai, yet there was little difference in content or to other Nichiren school.

Nichiren Shoshu The Dai- Gohonzon possesses the, a mandala Nichiren which is said to represent life in himself and his Buddhahood and that he should have left the whole of humanity. On the part consist of the authenticity of this Mandala other Nichiren schools doubt and scientific knowledge to its authenticity are not available to the public. The first mention of this Dai- Gohonzon in a document of the ninth high priest Nichu ( 1409-1482 ). Here, however, is a much more profound difference to other schools. Closely related to the possession of the Dai- Gohonzon and whose existence is also the faith of the Nichiren Shoshu - linked Nichiren to worship as a Buddha, while all the followers of Nichiren Nichiren shū as the incarnation of a Bodhisattva and as a reformer of Buddhism.

Contemplative forms of Buddhist meditation found in the Nichiren Shoshu - in contrast to Nichiren shū not apply.

As a totally autonomous school of Buddhism, the Nichiren Shoshu was formed in 1912. At this time broke the Taiseki -ji Temple, with its subordinate temples of other so-called Nikko temples, which were also referred to as Honmon shū. Previously, the attempt had been made ​​to establish all Nikko Temple as an independent school of Nichiren Buddhism. In contrast to Nichiren Shoshu shū the Nichiren Nichiren venerated as a Buddha.

Although the formation of priests of Nichiren Shoshu - partially carried out up to the 1970s and at the to Nichiren shū belonging Rissho University, so no significant intellectual exchange with other Buddhist traditions takes place due to the self-imposed Orthodoxität. The lay faithful are organized primarily in the Hokkekō Rengo Kai.

In the center of Nichiren's teachings is the worship of the Lotus Sutra ( Sanskrit: Saddharmapundarîkasutra, Japanese: Myo - Renge - kyō ). The corresponding mantra: Namu Myoho Renge Kyo ( daimoku title of the Lotus Sutra ).

Current High Priest of Nichiren Shoshu is Nichinyo - Hayase (* 1935).

Religious exercise

In addition to the recitation of the daimoku belong in the morning and in the evening reciting portions of the Lotus Sutra for daily exercise, and is also called Gongyo. Components thereof are:

• The second chapter of the Lotus Sutra ( Hoben -pon )
• The 16th chapter of the Lotus Sutra ( juryo -hon; Chogyo and Jiga - ge)
• Five silent prayers including Adoration of the Three Treasures ( Three Jewels ), according to the interpretation of Nichiren Shoshu - are the three treasures: The Buddha: Nichiren Daishonin
• The Dharma: The Dai- Gohonzon
• The Sangha: The High Priest of Nichiren Shoshu -.

Nichiren Shoshu and Soka Gakkai -

The constant conflict between the Soka Gakkai and the Nichiren Shoshu - has already led in 1975 to the exclusion of Kenshōkai and in 1980 establishing the Shoshinkai.

In the course of confrontations occurred in 1991 and 1997 to a separation between the Soka Gakkai and Nichiren Shoshu -. The Soka Gakkai had previously been considered the largest lay organization of the Nichiren Shoshu within. It is assumed that a majority of the lay faithful decided to remain at the Soka Gakkai. On the other hand, this separation, however, led in the 1990s and to a growth in membership of another lay movement of Nichiren Shoshu -, the so-called Hokkekō Rengo Kai.

In 2002, the Nichiren Shoshu to have had claims to some 350,000 supporters in Japan and about 600,000 followers in other countries. How many lay people felt neither of the two groups belonging or moved to other Nichiren schools has not been officially recorded.

Swell

• Margareta von Borsig ( Übs ): Lotus Sutra - The great enlightenment book of Buddhism. Verlag Herder, new edition 2009. ISBN 978-3-451-30156-8
• A Dictionary of Buddhist Terms and Concepts, Nichiren Shoshu International Center ( NSIC ), Tokyo, 1983. ISBN 4-88872-014-2
• The Doctrines and Practice of Nichiren Shoshu. Nichiren Shoshu Overseas Bureau, 2002
• Richard Causton: Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, Rider & Co, London 1988, ISBN 0712622691.
• Basic Terminology of Nichiren Shoshu, Vol 1, Nichiren Shoshu Shumuin, eds. Dainichiren Publishing Co., 2009. ISBN 4-904429-28-1, ISBN 978-4-904429-28-0
• The Gosho of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol 1, Nichiren Shoshu Overseas Bureau, trans. Dainichiren Publishing Co., 2005. ISBN 4-904429-26-5, ISBN 978-4-904429-26-6
• The Gosho of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol 2: Rissho Ankoku Ron, Nichiren Shoshu Shumuin, trans. Dainichiren Publishing Co., 2009. ISBN 4-904429-26-5, ISBN 978-4-904429-26-6