The Heritage of Honmon Butsuryushu

BUDDHA (SHAKYAMUNI)

As revealed in the Primordial portion of the Lotus Sûtra, the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, was the manifestation in this world of the Primordial Buddha who had attained enlightenment in the remotest past. The Buddha Shakyamuni saved a great number of living beings during his lifetime. In his last years before he passed into Nirvana he revealed the Sacred Formula, Namu Myôhôrengekyô, the Dharma of enlightenment for future mankind, and he entrusted the duty of salvation of all living beings to the Bodhisattva Visistacaritra (Jôgyô, Jap.), his first disciple.



MASTER NICHIREN (1222 ~ 1282)

In order to propagate the Fine Dharma, Bodhisattva Visistacaritra appeared as the human figure of Master Nichiren in this world. Master Nichiren was born at the beginning of age of the last Dharma during the Kamakura era. He taught that the Lotus Sûtra is the consummation of all the Buddha's teachings, its primordial eight chapters (15 through 22) being the quintessence. He was arrested by the Kamakura Shogunate and banished to the desolate island of Sado, in the Sea of Japan. He suffered many other persecutions but he persistently asserted that faith in the Sacred Formula, Namu Myôhôrengekyô, is the true teaching of Bodhisattva Visistacaritra and attacked the other branches of Buddhism, denouncing them as evil. He is looked up to as the highest religious ancestor of Honmon Butsuryushu.



MASTER NICHIRYU (1385 ~ 1464)

Master Nichiryu was born in the Muramachi era, about 100 years after the demise of Master Nichiren. He is the second greatest leader of Honmon Butsuryushu. Many years after the passing of Master Nichiren, who had carried out radical reforms in Buddhism, in compliance with the Buddha's true teachings, there was a movement for his disciples to return to conventional old-time Buddhism. In his numerous literary writings, Master Nichiryu expounded the doctrine in order to point out the falsehoods of conventional Buddhism and to clarify the true teachings of Master Nichiren. He also made a remarkable promulgation of the teaching in many districts throughout Japan. Master Nichiryu is looked up to as the great religious ancestor of Honmon Butsuryushu.



MASTER NISSEN (1817 ~ 1890)

For Honmon Butsuryu Shu, Master Nissen is the most prominent religious reformer in the modern age. Honmon Butsuryu Shu, as well as other branches of Buddhism, was again emasculated by the religious policy of the Tokugawa Shogunate, even though Master Nichiryu had carried out reforms about 350 years before Master Nissen's appearance. Even our branch of Buddhism began to take too much interest in the management of the temple instead of paying attention to the happiness of people or of devoting itself to helping their suffering. Having reformed our school of Buddhism from such a corrupt situation, Master Nissen established, in 1859, a new religious organization, Honmon Butsuryuko, the predecessor of the Honmon Butsuryushu of today, for the purpose of propagating our religion. He restored the true teachings. Encountering perils and dangers, as well as suffering persecution, he expounded the teachings in plain language so that the general public could easily understand. The Honmon Butsuryushu is one of the many branches of Buddhism. Its teachings are the actual teachings of the Buddha. He expounded these teachings in order to liberate people from all forms of suffering. The Honmon Butsuryushu is a sect that is faithful to the true teachings of the Buddha, a faith based on the Lotus Sûtra, the Buddha's ultimate doctrine. The name Honmon Butsuryushu itself loosely translates into "Religion based on Buddha's Honmon (the last 14 chapters of the Lotus Sûtra)". Butsuryushu is literally translated as Butsu (Buddha), ryu (founded), shu (religion).

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