"SirMrTony", you've just described the same ol' creepy cult that I remember and encountered, ESPECIALLY down in the L.A. area.
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sirmrtony
It has come to my attention that I should be digging up information about the religion I’m part of. I’ve rejected organized religion ever since I can remember. I fought my parents when they signed me up for Sunday school; I was yelled at, hit, they were even ashamed of me. They didn’t want anyone to know, so in others’ eyes, I was enrolled in Sunday school. So you kind of get the idea of what I’m about.
Well, now you are "officially" a member of an organized pseudo-religious cult. I was "signed up" as a kid and actually grew up in it.
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sirmrtony
One day I just couldn't handle it so I Googled "Buddhism". I found out there was a "Friendship Center" a couple blocks from my house, so I walked. As soon as I entered, I was hit with tons of smiles (To the point where it got creepy). I've never met people so nice, I wanted to be like that, so I spoke to a worker there. (Deep down I thought these people were crazy. How can someone be this happy?)
WELCOME (!) to "Disney-Cult-Land: The Magical Chanting Kingdom!" where everything is fake and not as it appears. Fantasy fun for the entire family, but this is like a nightmare park that never ends, never goes away, becomes your daily life for as long as you remain a practicing "member" and wants you, your entire family and your future kids to join in, too.
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sirmrtony
When I told them my story, I kid you not, they thought I was some sort of reborn Buddhist. They rarely get random walk-ins by people, and especially not people this young. I was saddened when they told me about the chanting. I thought it was going to be like traditional Buddhism where you meditate and learn from monks. All the leaders look like uptight businessman. When they told me about chanting and how it is "GUARANTEED" to make you happy, I was instantly hooked. They took me into the chanting room and I quickly started chanting... I cried, I guess it was because I knew I was going to get saved from my depression. I seriously thought that destiny was what brought me to the SGI, and I thought that WAS the CORRECT religion. I was treated like a celebrity, people knew my name and they always complimented on my age. I felt like I belonged. A couple days after I shakubukued myself, I shakubukued my 15 year old brother. He was hooked too.
Acting like a sincere believer from the get-go is always a sure fire way to get them to instantly start gushing about you and fawning over you from the outset. Have seen it many times, it won't last and it is only a matter of time before the manipulation sets in (if it hasn't already). If you keep shakubuku'ing people, you'll quickly become a walking legendary member figure yourself.
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sirmrtony
It's now April and I want out. Although I met some very nice, sane people. I mostly encountered "not-so-sane" people. I was scared. I didn't want to end up like that.
Exact
same experience on my end. The L.A. area seems to be especially so. The weirdos are everywhere in the organization, though (U.S.A nationwide and also in Japan).
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sirmrtony
So I took everything they told me, and didn't do it how they told me to do it. I was doing it my way. Some of them weren't so happy of me doing this. The entire time I was there, I kept a close eye on the behavior of people in high ranks. One time, there was a lecture by a leader named Greg Martin. After the lecture we were encouraged to ask questions. This middle aged man got up and suggested that instead of just chanting, we actually do something for world peace. He was INSTANTLY shut up and kicked out of the auditorium. I was appalled by the way these "Buddhist" behaved. They called him names and booed him! After the meeting was over I went looking for this guy to listen to what he had to say and tell him that the people were assholes. I couldn't find him.
On a humorous note, I wish I had learned this easy method to get shown the door early on. I would have willingly used it to get myself ejected, pronto.
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sirmrtony
You guys will not believe this story: I would go to the friendship center every morning ( I was a local for a couple of months). Everyday I met someone new and one day I met this old man from Holland. He approached me with "You have the eyes of an actor".
This guy is definitely a predator and you must avoid at all costs. He should also be reported to the police.
This kind of stuff doesn't surprise me. I've seen my share of shady members and always knew instinctively to avoid. This is especially true if you are a young adult (~ early 20's, etc.), idealistic and naive.
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sirmrtony
I really want to believe that the SGI is a cult so I can contact my district leader and announce that I will be leaving.
Contacting your "leader" is definitely NOT the way to go. If you really want out, just leave, sever the ties and fade away. Take your brother with you and protect him from the same.
SirMrTony, whether you believe it or not, you and your brother are in a cult and need to get out.
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PS - A "chanting room"???? The image that that now conjures up in my mind, just leaves me shaking my head.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/2012 07:18AM by Hitch.