Dai Gohonzon - Overview of The Dai-Gohonzon

Overview of The Dai-Gohonzon

The Gohonzon is the Object of Devotion in Nichiren Buddhism. Nichiren inscribed the first Gohonzon during His Exile to Sado. Nichiren Shoshu, and also Soka Gakkai, believe that Nichiren inscribed the Dai-Gohonzon on the twelfth day of the tenth month, 1279. Nichiren Shoshu and Soka Gakkai believe a passage in Nichiren's 'On Persecutions Befalling the Sage' proves the authenticity of the Dai-Gohonzon. The passage reads:

"The Buddha fulfilled the purpose of his advent in a little over forty years, the Great Teacher T'ient'ai took about thirty years, and the Great Teacher Dengyo, some twenty years. I have spoken repeatedly of the indescribable persecutions they suffered during those years. For me it took twenty-seven years, and the great persecutions I faced during this period are well known to you all."

Other than Nichiren ShoShu sect of Buddhism, other schools including the Soka Gakkai, Nichiren Shu and Kempon Hokke do not believe that the Dai-Gohonzon is superior to other Gohonzons. According to SGI teachings, home enshrined Gohonzon is equal in its significance and spiritual value as the Dai-Gohonzon. SGI state:

"The Gohonzon enshrined at our home carries the same significance as the Dai- Gohonzon. They are as beneficial as the Dai-Gohonzon, in accord with the Buddhist principle of 'dispersing the body of the original in different forms' (Jpn funjin santai )."

According to SGI teachings, the power of the Object of Devotion is not found in an external mandala, but through one's inner faith:

"First, the power of any Gohonzon, including the Dai-Gohonzon, can be tapped only through the power of faith. In other words, we should be clear that it is wrong to think that the Dai-Gohonzon alone has some kind of unique mystic power that no other Gohonzon possesses. The Dai-Gohonzon and our own Gohonzon are equal".