Reading the Yahoo group's SokaGakkaiUnofficial website, I found this thread. As I read it, I didn't know whether to laugh or curse! The audacity and greed of SGI -- and the gullibility of some members, is just unbelievable!
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From SokaGakkaiUnofficial:
[
groups.yahoo.com]
Message from August 19, 2011
"Members are not contributing enough financially to help run the
organization and open new community centers. SGI needs money to operate;
so I suggest that the organization open a thrift stores around the
country with volunteers to help operate it. SGI bookstores have
volunteers; so why not give more opportunity to more members to
participate? SGI can advertise to the community to bring in their tax
deductable contributions that can be sold in the SGI thrift stores."
Message from August 22, 2011
"Sadly,there will come a time when President Ikeda t-shirts and bumper
stickers are for sale in the not so distant future."
Message from August 24, 2011
"And a recent one this month in Melbourne Victoria...heck, who says SGI is down financially. Thats as far as my experience...Even Japan members come to our country with so many freebies with them to give to members... :p
Last July Festival we had free notebooks from Ikeda, free dinners and breakfast, and who spent our spectacular venue at the largest mall in Asia?? "
Message from August 26, 2011
"We need thrift stores?
Regarding the May Contribution, I don't know where you're from, but here in the
Pacific Northwest, we far surpassed last year's contributions. We're probably
not the only ones.
For 50 years, the prosperity of SGI has only grown. It's a grass roots thing.
Remember right after Ikeda stepped down as President of Nichiren Shoshu Soka Gakkai? At the first meeting in his new position in 1979, one elderly woman walked up onto the stage and gave President Ikeda a check for $1,000,000 and told him that money was "For you only, to use as you feel. Then another woman approached the stage and offered President Ikeda a $500,000 check, assuring him, "The next half is being prepared."That was 32 years ago - the beginning of the "new times." "
Message from September 14, 2011
"The Area that I just transfered from still doesn't have its own community center
and the Area that they just split from got a small meeting building. Smaller
that when the two area were together. This is over 10 years and their in a
large metropolitain city.
The prices of SGI books have gone up considerably
over the years; so someone is getting the money. Maybe you guys are getting it
in your Area.
Possibly the money is going for SGI's super large structures like
the Makiguchi Hall in Japan instead of for the local Areas where the money is
contributed. So why can't the loyal members who contribute see the
organizations budget and spending policies? What's the politics of how the
money is spent?"
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A multi-billion dollar organization -- and they need your child's outgrown playpen, the gently-used clothes that you no longer wear, the lamp that's been in Grandma's attic since 1977? Really. And volunteering in the SGI Thrift Shop is a great "opportunity for members to participate?" Yes, SGI members really don't have enough to do. And is that thrift shop going to sell the Brooklyn Bridge, too?
Well, if Sensei is going to keep offering notebooks and cookies to members, he's going to need some change. Million dollar check doesn't go as far as it used to, and the poor man's even had to raise the price of his books. Damn ghostwriters are bleeding him dry.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2011 08:37AM by tsukimoto.