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SGBye
After I left the SGI I continued to do Gongyo and chant as a form of meditation for a brief time. However, I couldn’t disassociate the chanting from the organization and all the negative connotations that went with that. So I stopped doing it and that eventually led to me returning my Gohonzon (which I’ll write about in another post). Plus, quite honestly, I can’t really say that chanting ever did much of anything for me. Some people claim they “felt something” upon hearing NMRK for the first time. Having grown up in the practice, chanting was never anything special or exotic to me. It was just something I did without giving it any thought, like breathing. That’s really the only explanation I have for being able to give it up so effortlessly, even after doing it for 30+ years. But everyone’s different, and I found that listening to music had a much more calming and relaxing effect on me than chanting ever did. An added bonus is that it doesn’t conjure up visions of rollerskating human pyramids! (not usually anyway)
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SGByeQuote
Hitch
PS, Couldn't resist adding this Cousin Rufus Workout [www.youtube.com]. This is actually the kind of really stupid crap that most often took place, especially at youth meetings.
I love the look on the face of that young guy at 0:29. It screams “What the hell are these people doing?” That look was plastered on my face quite often at many meetings.
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Findingmywaytoday
I do get calls from my sponsor, and we talk about other things that are interesting. I don't mind if she wants to stay friends, but I will get annoyed if her reason for calling me is to chant. She does say at the end of our phonecall that she wants to chant with me. I feel very strongly that I don't want to do that. I am so happy about being in counseling. I am making strides in ways that wouldn't have been possible with the SGI.
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Findingmywaytoday
Also, after I started chanting, I got into a car accident. No one was hurt, but it made me terrified to drive since it was handled by the insurance companies in a terrible way. It made me phobic to drive. Perhaps someone might argue that this would be my karma without Gohonzon, but I have to tell you that my life was better before Gohonzon.
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dragon14
I've got to think that people who have become employees of the SGI started out as the same kinds of "believers" as the rest of us. What happens: do they get "turned" when offered a salary and possibly another piece of the action? Is it made *that* clear that there's a scam going on that they can profit from? Did anyone who is on the payroll start as a crook from the get-go?
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Tibbs
I'm almost starting to wonder if anyone ever actually wants to be a leader in the SGI. I suppose there must be some people who do.
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Freeheartandmind
Spartacus, I so enjoyed your latest Texas Buddhist chapter, thank you and keep it coming.
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Freeheartandmind
Spartacus, that tozan picture of you is precious! I don ' t think I kept any pictures. Did you know any of the other people in the photo? We were so young, and well-intentioned, but foolish. As the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
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Findingmywaytoday
I am wondering if you think it is okay to call my district up, and tell them that I am not going to get the subscriptions, and I am not contributing to the May Contribution, etc? I would also like to tell them that I am chanting on my own, and in my own way. Because I may not have as much experience as you do, and you might know more the trends of SGI leaders, would you think it is good for me to call them, or should I just not contact them?