More than this, there are many
followers who don't belong to any group and who prefer to study and say
Nembutsu alone. Among them there are many who are orthodox, too! The
religious phenomenon of Jodo Shinshu is so vast that nobody can actually say
they alone represent the orthodoxy of Jodo Shinshu. I know
that the Japanese in Hongwanji want to keep the label of Jodo Shinshu for
themselves but old age is not always an argument for authenticity. We clearly
see how many scholars and priests inside the two Hongwanji (the most numerous
branches) teach wrong views that are clearly in contradiction with the Larger
Sutra or Shinran and Rennyo while being supported and promoted by the
leadership. Thus, we cannot possibly say anymore that these institutions act as
guardians of Jodo Shinshu or Buddhism in general. They lost their spiritual authority in the very
moment they allowed and even encouraged their priests to call Amida a myth, symbol or fictional character and denied that the Pure Land is to be attained after death in clear contradiction with the Larger Sutra (whose authenticity they also deny), the works of Shinran, Rennyo and all the Patriarchs.
They started to support various worldly ideologies and used some of their
temples and the Jodo Shinshu itself as platform for the justification and
institutionalization of immoral acts and degenerated
organizations like LGBTQ whose goal is to impose on society the unnatural
so-called marriage between people of the same sex in clear contradiction with
Shakyamuni Buddha's couple advice addressed exclusively to men and women and
His moral teachings. What authority can the leaders of these two decayed
institutions of Hongwanji claim on the teaching and priest ordination when they
departed so much from the general Buddhist teaching and the essentials of the
Jodo Shinshu faith? Who are they to say that me or other organizations and
individuals without any official affiliation do not represent orthodox Jodo
Shinshu? On what doctrinal basis do they have the right of ordaining priests
and opening centers and temples and we don't? Old age does not necessary make
one wiser as some grow in years like oxen in weight and some others may become
senile, incapable to distinguish right views from wrong views.
Shakyamuni Buddha never said that
birth makes one wise or capable of spiritual leadership, so tell me what is the
doctrinal basis for the Monshu institution in Hongwanji and that only he can
give tokudo ordination? Also why is the Monshu title exclusively reserved for men only? Where did Shinran Shonin said that we should be guided
by one of his own bloodline? Did he ever linked shinjin (faith) with birth
right and bloodline? Is the Monshu infallible, as to me is clear that he
ordained some very bad priests who openly teach and
share wrong views and he never reprimands them. How many books the present Monshu (Shaku Sennyo) wrote? How much missionary
work he did in Rennyo's style outside of Japan? Here I do not mean courtesy
visits where he just ate good meals at restaurants and made some protocol
speeches? How many times did he address the various modern wrong views related
with Amida Buddha and His Pure Land? I am telling you - NEVER! So again, what gives him the spiritual
authority to ordain others and approve the opening of new temples in comparison
with me who wrote more than nine books (English, Romanian, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese,
French) and many articles, guided many people from various countries, answered
hundreds of questions, built a temple from scratch while poor and having zero fees for my members? Probably the
present Monshu has faith but I also received faith from the same Amida Buddha
and in matters of faith we are all equal. Is it the fact that he is Japanese
and I am not? When did Shakyamuni Buddha or Shinran ever said that nationality,
birth and bloodline is a criteria for spiritual leadership or ordination? You
all know the answer: NEVER!
More than this, the grandfather of
the present Monshu, Kosho Ohtani[1]
clearly said and encouraged Europeans to organize themselves independently from
Hongwanji and Japanese. He also allowed Rev Harry Pieper[2]
(the first Shinshu priest in Europe) to ordain Rev Jean Earacle[3]
outside of Hongwanji and Rev Earacle also ordained others, too! He was clearly
for non-Japanese priest ordination as he realized that Japanese and Hongwanji
cannot have a monopoly over the Jodo Shinshu teaching and ordination. He understood the
historical truth that when the Dharma is spread from one continent to another
is normal that the new converts know better how to organize themselves. It
happened when the various Buddhist schools were brought from China to Japan -
Chinese could no longer claim authority and lead forever the Japanese
Buddhists. Nowadays too, Japanese can no longer claim to rule all Jodo Shinshu
Buddhists from their office in Japan especially when their very institution is so much affected by
wrong views as well as specific Japanese
problems and behavior without any connection with the teaching and faith
of Jodo Shinshu.
Also, why the Japanese tokudo
(priest) examination system of a few days that allows so many people with wrong
views to become priests is better than the Amidaji system of 71 (and growing) doctrinal questions? I have never heard anybody fail the Japanese
examination so I wonder how those heretical priests who deny the very existence
of Amida and His Pure Land appeared? Or should the Japanese admit that nowadays
they are more interested in the number of priests than quality?
These being said, I think is clear for everyone with little dust in their eyes that there is absolutely no argument for the Japanese to hold any monopoly over the Jodo Shinshu teaching, ordination, organization, founding of new temples and branches.
Everyone can claim and prove their
orthodoxy by their own deeds and I think that Amidaji is a legitimate and
authentic branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and that I as a priest can, in
accordance with Kosho Ohtani's urge and my own loyalty to Shakyamuni and
Shinran’s teaching, ordain others and organize the Dharma teaching and
activities for the benefit of all sentient beings. We live in difficult times
surrounded from all parts by wrong views, worldly ideologies
and false teachers and a clear Path is absolutely needed. Amidaji is willing to
show this Path. We are not the only ones with faith and right views, but we are
doing our best to faithfully transmit this precious Dharma Gate to future
generations. I sincerely encourage others who are dissatisfied with the way the
Jodo Shinshu is presented nowadays by the two Hongwanji to have the courage to create
their own orthodox groups and branches. If you consider yourselves orthodox Jodo Shinshu but you don't like everything about Amidaji then start your own group! I really don't mind that!
Namo Amida Bu
[1] Shōnyo Shōnin (Kosho Ohtani) lived between 1911-2002 and introduced Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in Europe.
[2] Rev Harry Pieper (Shaku Shōgon Hōshi) lived between 1907-1978. He was the first Jodo Shinshu priest in Europe.
[3] Rev Jean Earacle (Shaku Jôan) lived between 1930 – 2005. He received priest ordination from Rev Harry Pieper and also ordained others.
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