Nichiren Shu (日蓮宗, lit. "Nichiren Faith") is the oldest of Nichiren Buddhist sects. It is smaller and less well known internationally than the Nichiren Shoshu or the Soka Gakkai movement.

Nichiren Shu does not accept Nichiren Shoshu's claim that Nikko was the designated successor of Nichiren. Doctrinally, Nichiren Shu states that Sakyamuni is the Buddha and Nichiren is merely his priest, not his divine reincarnation.

A short Overview of Nichiren Shu

The Nichiren Shu does not regard Nichiren Shonin as a Buddha like Soka Gakkai or Nichiren Shoshu does. Instead, Nichiren is seen as the votary of the Lotus Sutra fulfilling its prophecy acting as the incarnation of Jogyo or Superior Practice Bodhisattva who will lead all Bodhisattvas in propagating the Lotus Sutra. Shakyamuni Buddha is regarded as the Eternal Buddha as preached in the 16th chapter of Lotus Sutra. Nichiren Shu places Nichiren Shonin in a high position as the messenger of the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni, but does not regard him as more important than Shakyamuni. Shakyamuni Buddha occupies the center of Nichiren Shu; Nichiren Shonin is the Saint who refocused attention back onto him-rebuking other Buddhist schools for solely emphasizing other Buddhas or esoteric practices.

This can be seen in the emphasis of the Nichiren Shu's education. The Lotus Sutra is paramount to study and to practice. Nichiren's wirtings, the Gosho or Goibun, are seen as commentaries or guides to the doctrines of Buddhism. There are the Five Major Writings of Nichiren Shonin which establish doctrine, belief, and practice. In addition to these, there are many pastoral letters to his followers.

Nichiren Shonin wrote frequently and much of the doctrine of Nichiren Buddhism can be verified or corrected through his surviving works. Unlike the Nichiren Shoshu or SGI, Nichiren Shu is far more selective with what Gosho it deems authentic. Many Gosho that are accepted by the latter organizations are not accepted by Nichiren Shu due to lack verification or authentication by scholars.

Another difference of the Nichiren Shu is place of the Odaimoku (the title of the Lotus Sutra) and of the Omandala or Gohonzon. Nichiren Shu views these practices and methods as the summit of the Dharma, but does not ignore other Buddhist practices. Forms of silent meditation or Sho Daigyo, artistic copying of the Odaimoku or Shakyo, and the study of foundational Buddhist concepts such as the Four Noble Truths and Taking Refuge are still present in the Nichiren Shu.

The Omandalas used by the Nichiren Shu are often inscribed or based on Nichiren's own works, not by the high priest as is the case in Nichiren Shoshu. The Nichiren Shu also does not accept the Dai-Gohonzon of the Nichiren Shoshu, as there is no evidence that Nichiren Shonin created any type of wooden Omandala or asked any one to do so in his stead.

Finally, the Nichiren Shu is certainly more mainstream than Nichiren Shoshu or the SGI as it continues to have relationships with non-Nichiren Buddhist traditions. It also is the oldest of the traditions and has access to Mt. Minobu (where he lived in seclusion and where he requested to be buried) and many of Nichiren Shonin’s most important items. Though Soka Gakkai’s energetic evangelization allowed it to become the largest Nichiren Buddhist group in North America- the Nichiren Shu has recently begun to order non-Japanese speaking priests and to expand its temples in the western world.

External link

• Nichiren-Shu (http://www.nichiren-shu.org/)