Talking to a Soka Gakkai truck driver

Miniature Schnauzer

It was good weather and still early enough at 4PM to hitchhike the 48 kilometers down route 16 from Noda to Chiba city. Noda is famous for its production of Soy Sauce, and Chiba is the Prefecture capital. I was on my way to see friends before they leave Japan, perhaps this time for good.

Though the distance involved was not so far, because it is the regular highway, I knew I was taking a risk in my race with the sun. I could wind up standing at some traffic light after dark if I had to wait too long, or if it took too many cars. The likelihood of going to Chiba in a single vehicle was slim — unless it happened to be truck. That’s exactly what God provided for me, a kind truck driver. And he had two little dogs, both Miniature Schnauzers for me to pet along the way! I love dogs. I’m also fond of cats and all animals as well.

The driver turned out to be a member of SGI – Soka Gakkai International – radical sect of Buddhism. It is related to two other sects of Buddhism, Nichirenshu and Nichirenshoshu. All three sects are considered by most other Buddhists to be heretical to the basic teachings of Buddha because the founder, Nichiren, was a man of war, not peace and tolerance as almost all Buddhist sects teach.

You may now be able to visualize my reaction when the driver told me he is a member of SGI. But he said it with a smile. 🙂 I always try to open the door to witness to people like these by asking them questions about their faith. In this case, he seemed to be more interested in hearing about my faith in God and Jesus Christ, and of course this made it even easier for him to talk to him. He told me that Buddhism doesn’t teach the concept of God as the Creator. I asked him if this fact didn’t make Buddhism more of a philosophy rather than a religion? This seemed to be food for thought for him.

I told him my God is Love and love is the main positive power of the universe. God the Father showed His love to us by sending His Son, Jesus, to die for us and pay the penalty of our crimes of not acknowledging or thanking Him for all He does for us. The driver remarked that he could see how quickly his dogs took to me. The female Miniature Schnauzer went to sleep on my lap.

The timing was perfect when I arrived in Chiba because my friend and his wife just happened to be in a gas station only a couple hundred meters from where the truck driver dropped me off!

Download a PDF file of this article.

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Thanks for removing that part about “hating Christians.” Please understand that the average Japanese person (including my wife and her family) don’t really understand that much about Buddhism or its history anymore than most Christians know about the history of Christianity or the founders of its different denominations. In fact, my wife’s family at first did not want her to marry me because they thought I was connected to Soka Gakkai. When they realized that I was Nichiren Shu and therefore had no connection with Soka Gakkai or the Nichiren Shoshu (the SGI used to be part of) then they were okay with me. So these things really do matter. Nichiren Shu should not be seen as guilty by association with SGI because the two groups are not associated.

Please let me try to explain that Soka Gakkai has no more connection with Nichiren Shu than say the Jehohvah’s Witnesses or the Mormons have to the Catholic Church. Sure to outsiders they both seem Christian but to a Catholic (and I am a former Catholic) it would be absurd to say that Catholics and Mormons are basically the same thing (no offense to either side intended here). So if you would be comfortable saying that between the Christianity of the Apostle’s Creed and the Bible and that of the Mormons is basically the same because there are some historical connections and they both revere Jesus, then I guess you can say what you wish about Nichiren Shu and SGI. However, if you want to know the truth, I have condensed it below:

To try to make it short – Nichiren left six major disciples who continued to spread his teachings. These were consolidated forcibly by the Meiji government in the late 19th century. Eventually some lineages were allowed to split off and form their own group. One of these sub-lineages became Nichiren Shoshu in 1912. This lineage, based at Taisekiji temple at the base of Mt. Fuji, held to some ideas that no other Nichiren lineages accept (such as replacing Shakyamuni Buddha with Nichiren). The Nichiren Shoshu is very separate and very distinct from Nichiren Shu and other Nichiren schools. It is in fact seen as holding non-Buddhist beliefs that are not in accord with either Nichiren’s writings or the Lotus Sutra – even though it started off as a sub-linage of Nichiren Buddhism. The Soka Gakkai (which was formed as a teaching reform association in the 1930s and then reconstituted as a mass movement in the 1950s) was originally a lay association connected with Nichiren Shoshu (NOT Nichiren Shu). In 1991 the Shoshu excommunicated the Soka Gakkai. The Shoshu and Gakkai are now separate. Neither of them should be confused with Nichiren Shu which is a much more mainstream Mahayana Japanese school of Buddhism.

Ryuei

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Comments

Talking to a Soka Gakkai truck driver — 6 Comments

Brian and Mieko Morris on March 26, 2009 at 11:16 pm said:

James,

We follow your “journey” around japan with “total interest”.

Have to say though, “not from a religous” point of view, if that dosn`t offend!

The effort you put into this website is a great insite to travel and the way of life in Japan.

We live – not so far from you – in Kita karuizawa,(close to Asama Bokujo) Gunma,

We are in Japan (from uk) May till September) each year – good luck with all that you do and “perhaps” one day we might meet up!!

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Peter joanson on August 7, 2009 at 8:06 am said:

Hey nice post …. Keep up the great work

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Ryuei Michael McCormick on November 7, 2011 at 2:40 pm said:

Hi James.

I am actually an ordained priest in the Nichiren Shu (I assist at the San Jose Nichiren Buddhist Temple in California) and I want to let you know that Soka Gakkai has no connection with Nichiren Shu and never has. Also, Nichiren Shu is no more intolerant of Christianity than any other form of Japanese Mahayana Buddhism. I don’t know what may have given you that idea. Certainly we do not accept the Christian worldview or beliefs (though we do share many values such as selfless compassion and loving-kindness and basic morality), but this is also true of Zen, Pure Land, Tendai, Shingon and other Buddhists who, if they are honest, will also have to state that their worldview and beliefs are not the same as Christianity. But this does not mean that we hate Christians or harbor grudges or intolerance. I was really shocked to see you connect SGI with Nichiren Shu and then to say that we are intolerant and hate Christians. That is far far far from my personal experience with both Nichiren Shu members in North American and in Japan. And again, I am not casual lay member but an ordained priest in the tradition. If Nichiren Shu were intolerant or hated Christianity I would certainly know by now.

Ryuei

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- James Arendt on November 7, 2011 at 4:28 pm said:
  
  Hello Ryuei,
  Thank you for sharing your comments. Please know I do not intend to offend you or any member of your religion. I just express my perceptions on my blog, right or wrong.
  
  You wrote, “I want to let you know that Soka Gakkai has no connection with Nichiren Shu and never has” but this is not exactly what I have heard. I’ve been living in Japan now for 34 years and have met many Sokkagakkai people and Nichiren people. Both of them recognize Nichiren as the source of their basic teachings. Just last month two Nichiren ladies I met hitchhiking confirmed that Sokkagakai came from Nichiren. Both groups have the same matra, the one you used. Certainly sounds like there was at least a historical connection. I’m not saying there is one at present.
  
  It could be that you followers of Nichiren and his teachings have mellowed out in recent years. 40 years ago my impression was that Nichiren people were antagonistic toward Christians, but I could be wrong. After living in Japan for so long and meeting so many Buddhist people including priests, I can say that the vast majority have been courteous toward me, even friendly, not antagonistic. I enjoyed conversing with them.
  
  Reply ↓
- James Arendt on November 7, 2011 at 4:32 pm said:
  
  I removed sentence about hatred for Christians. I don’t want to dwell on such things anyway. My message is one of love for others. Everyone must take responsibility for their own actions and attitudes. It shouldn’t really matter to me what attitudes others may have. I can only control my own attitudes.
  
  Reply ↓
Ryuei Michael McCormick on November 10, 2011 at 3:00 am said:

Thanks for removing that part about “hating Christians.” Please understand that the average Japanese person (including my wife and her family) don’t really understand that much about Buddhism or its history anymore than most Christians know about the history of Christianity or the founders of its different denominations. In fact, my wife’s family at first did not want her to marry me because they thought I was connected to Soka Gakkai. When they realized that I was Nichiren Shu and therefore had no connection with Soka Gakkai or the Nichiren Shoshu (the SGI used to be part of) then they were okay with me. So these things really do matter. Nichiren Shu should not be seen as guilty by association with SGI because the two groups are not associated.

Please let me try to explain that Soka Gakkai has no more connection with Nichiren Shu than say the Jehohvah’s Witnesses or the Mormons have to the Catholic Church. Sure to outsiders they both seem Christian but to a Catholic (and I am a former Catholic) it would be absurd to say that Catholics and Mormons are basically the same thing (no offense to either side intended here). So if you would be comfortable saying that between the Christianity of the Apostle’s Creed and the Bible and that of the Mormons is basically the same because there are some historical connections and they both revere Jesus, then I guess you can say what you wish about Nichiren Shu and SGI. However, if you want to know the truth, I have condensed it below:

To try to make it short – Nichiren left six major disciples who continued to spread his teachings. These were consolidated forcibly by the Meiji government in the late 19th century. Eventually some lineages were allowed to split off and form their own group. One of these sub-lineages became Nichiren Shoshu in 1912. This lineage, based at Taisekiji temple at the base of Mt. Fuji, held to some ideas that no other Nichiren lineages accept (such as replacing Shakyamuni Buddha with Nichiren). The Nichiren Shoshu is very separate and very distinct from Nichiren Shu and other Nichiren schools. It is in fact seen as holding non-Buddhist beliefs that are not in accord with either Nichiren’s writings or the Lotus Sutra – even though it started off as a sub-linage of Nichiren Buddhism. The Soka Gakkai (which was formed as a teaching reform association in the 1930s and then reconstituted as a mass movement in the 1950s) was originally a lay association connected with Nichiren Shoshu (NOT Nichiren Shu). In 1991 the Shoshu excommunicated the Soka Gakkai. The Shoshu and Gakkai are now separate. Neither of them should be confused with Nichiren Shu which is a much more mainstream Mahayana Japanese school of Buddhism.

Ryuei

Reply ↓

James Japan

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