Chris wrote:
"Nichiren established the principle of the Dai-Gohonzon early in his
practice, drawing from Kegon sources, painted the Daimoku on his first
piece of wood shortly before being deported to Sado Island, and
inscribed his first Dai-Honzon on Sado Island."
Actually, the words Dai Go Honzon do not appear on any of the known
mandalas. The words "Dai Honzon" appear on only one that is publushed
-- #16 dated "The twelfth [lunar] month of the eleventh year of Bun'ei
(1274) with the location in the mountains at Hakiri in the Province of
Kai, i.e., at Minobusan." .
On the majority of the Great Mandalas inscribed by Nichiren, there are
two side entries on the bottom. The entry on the lower right side
{facing} is usually a general dedication of sorts. This appears to be
the same on most of them,, and states that this "Dai Mandara" had never
before appeared in "Ichienbudai". The exact words are:
"Butsumetsugo ni-sen ni-hyaku san-ju yo nen no aida ichienbudai no uchi
mizou no daimandara nari"
Here are five translations:
"This Great Mandara was for the first time revealed in the Jambudvipa
2,220 and some years after the extinction of the Buddha." -- Ryuei
"The Mandala that has never been in Jambudvipa for the more than 2230
years after the Buddha's Extinction." -- Nichiren Shu
"Never in 2,230-some years since the passing of the Buddha has this
great mandala appeared in the world." -- SGI
"This is the Great Unprecedented Mandala [Japanese: Mandara], never yet
been in the whole of Jambudvipa for the more than 2220 years after the
Buddha's extinction. [Japanese: Enbudai (Jambudvipa); the world in
which we are living.]" -- Stephanie Maltz
"In the twenty-two hundred and thirty years since the Buddha's passing,
this all-embracing Great Mandala of Ichien Budai has never before been
revealed." -- Nichiren Shoshu
=========================================
The terms on all these are "Dai Mandara."
=========================================
This is seen on the Prayer Gohonzon issued to Nissho April 1276, the
Taisekiji Great Mandala/Dai Gohonzon dated October 12 1279, the Great
Mandala designated "Shutei Honzon" or the "Gohonzon Authorized by the
Nichiren Sect" dated the of the 3rd month of 1280, the Great Mandala
[For Transmitting the Dharma?] issued to Nissho in the 11th month of
1280, and dozens more.
Until recently, both SGI and Nichiren Shoshu claimed that this was only
found on the so-called Daigohonzon of 1279. They stated that Ichien
Budai meant"for all humanity." I trusted that was true for quite a few
years.
From: KathyRuby Date: Thu Jan 31, 2002 Soka Gakkai International: "...
the inscription "ichien budai soyo" for the sake of all living beings.
This is an extraordinary and wonderful thing to be inscribed on a
Gohonzon. It shows clearly the intent of this Buddhism: for the sake of
all living beings."
From: derekjuhl2001 Date: Thu Jan 31, 2002 Soka Gakkai International:
"What is meant by "the Gohonzon bestowed upon the entire world (ichien
budai soyo)?" "The Gohonzon bestowed upon the entire world" means "this
Gohonzon is the object of worship for all mankind, "signifying the
Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teachings."
Previously, I could find this same apparent error at many official
sites of SGI & Nichiren Shoshu. However, for some strange reason, I can
no longer find them with a google search.
Actually, Ichienbudai is a transliteration of Jambhudvipa. Buddhist
Cosmology divides the Universe into Three Realms: Kama-dhatu - the
Realm of Desire, Rupad-hatu - the Realm of Form, and Arupa-dhatu -the
Formless Realm. In Kamadhatu, or Realm of Desire, there is Mount
Semeru, which is surrounded by four islands. The southernmost of these
islands is called Jambudvipa, or Rose Apple Island. This is where
humans live.
At any rate, the general dedication on all Nichiren's later year Great
Mandalas appears to be the same. They are all for 'all humanity', and
were entrusted to various disciples. We are fortunate that many still
exist, many are even on the original paper or silk.
r
Link to an enhanced version of the 1910 photo of the Taisekiji" Dai
Gohonzon".
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