Great post, SGBye!

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SGBye
He then asked, "Just out of curiosity, why do you want to return your Gohonzon?" I told him that there were many reasons but one was "the whole mentor and disciple thing being shoved down my throat." To my surprise, he nodded in agreement and said, "I know what you mean. A lot of people don't like it." I was pretty taken aback to be told this by someone doing toban desk duty. We started talking and what he basically told me was that he only attends his local neighborhood meetings where the discussions stay on Buddhism (the bigger the meeting, the more of an Ikeda love-fest it becomes I guess). He also said that as far as publications go, he can tell which articles are "of substance" and which ones are “BS.”

That's hilarious! The men's div. have always kind of been like that. They take the good with the bad and bad with the good, occasionally bumping heads with others who don't see things the same way (either their hardcore spouses or the more anal senior leaders). Unlike them, however, I don't see any "good" in any of it (having grown up in the pseudo-buddhist cult).

That's a very interesting comment that he made above. I probably would have responded with, "why not just save a step and declare it all BS?"

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SGBye
If I had tried to return my Gohonzon there, I have a strong feeling that things would have gone much less smoothly. But to be honest, a part of me was kind of looking forward to going head-to-head with an Ikeda-bot. The whole thing turned out to be somewhat anti-climactic in that sense!

I've found going head-to-head with them to be anticlimactic anyway. Basically, the word "mental midgets" comes to mind.

************

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The Anticult
Freedom of religion, and freedom FROM religion of course need to go together.

AMEN to that.

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The Anticult
And the right to criticize these religions and cults openly is essential.

Believe it, if this forum was not a proven protected space, as many cults have failed to shut it down [www.culteducation.com]
SGI-USA would move to censor it and take it down, like SGI has done with other websites.

SGI-USA would have this thread removed if they could, they just know they can't.

Agreed. And much thanks to The Rick Ross Forum and all who contribute their time here, putting the world out.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2012 12:01PM by Hitch.

More $oka Gakkai cult stalking in Japan:

[www.youtube.com] Literally, big "Man In Black."

[www.youtube.com] Special Valentine's Day Chocolate for Dai$aku Ikeda, delivered in person at his house near the $oka Gakkai HQ. Later in the clip, the delivery group is threatened by gakkai cult members itching for a physical confronation. The special handmade chocolate [ameblo.jp].

[www.youtube.com] Turning the tables on the gakkai cult stalker. (This group of protesters had, earlier in the day, submitted a written protest, dressed as Santa Claus, to the Gakkai's Shinanomachi HQ. Later that evening, after distributing and posting flyers around the main train station, the "MIB" appeared.)

Dai$aku Omamori Gohonzon (Cult Gakkai Object Of Worship) - [f.hatena.ne.jp]

Like I said, the International membership needs to be made aware of these kinds of things. The Gakkai org. is, without a doubt, a cult.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/2012 06:54AM by Hitch.

SGI-Japan has their SGI-Blackshirts.

Blackshirts [en.wikipedia.org]

Brownshirts [en.wikipedia.org]

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The Anticult
SGI-Japan has their SGI-Blackshirts.

Blackshirts [en.wikipedia.org]

Brownshirts [en.wikipedia.org]

Also, TV stations/news rarely report on the Gakkai cult: [www.dailymotion.com] (This clip will also probably be removed at some point.) The announcer starts a report on the Komeito & the $oka Gakkai, before being quickly stopped, exclaiming "Excuse Me" and moving on to a typhoon weather report. The manner in which she is stopped, implies something more than just a reporting "error", but everyone should take a look and judge for themselves.

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Hitch

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The Anticult
SGI-Japan has their SGI-Blackshirts.

Blackshirts [en.wikipedia.org]

Brownshirts [en.wikipedia.org]

Also, TV stations/news rarely report on the Gakkai cult: [www.dailymotion.com] (This clip will also probably be removed at some point.) The announcer starts a report on the Komeito & the $oka Gakkai, before being quickly stopped, exclaiming "Excuse Me" and moving on to a typhoon weather report. The manner in which she is stopped, implies something more than just a reporting "error", but everyone should take a look and judge for themselves.

Hitch, unfortunately the computer I use doesn't allow for viewing clips at the moment--(I know I've been missing some good ones)...Without being able to view this particular one, I find it interesting that the media over there does not give much time to the SGI, considering all the controversy that follows them.

It could very well be that the tentacles of the SGI Squash-all-Slanderers machine has gotten to the media?

Or is Japan just so over the SGI that it's not worth it?

Hi Shavoy. The libel laws are different in Japan where it is much easier to win a lawsuit than in the US where fortunately, free speech reigns. Compounding the problem is that they have hundreds of millions of dollars to spend on a battery of Lawyers and they have many people in high places. Who wants to deal with that? Only someone with lots of courage and conviction.

Nichijew



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2012 03:54AM by Nichijew.

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Shavoy
Hitch, unfortunately the computer I use doesn't allow for viewing clips at the moment--(I know I've been missing some good ones)...Without being able to view this particular one, I find it interesting that the media over there does not give much time to the SGI, considering all the controversy that follows them.

It could very well be that the tentacles of the SGI Squash-all-Slanderers machine has gotten to the media?

Or is Japan just so over the SGI that it's not worth it?

For the time being, it is basically (again) a cultural thing. Authority wields power everywhere, all the time, practically without question for the most part in Japan. The people (in general of course) have a reflexive (i.e., automatic, without thinking) deferential attitude to those in authority. The gakkai cult also has boatloads of money to curry favor, buy silence and become litigious if necessary. There are also gakkai members in key places of authority throughout society, who can be called upon to carry out various forms of pressure and influence. It's a combination of factors: money, power and (in the special case of Japan) the psychological make up of the Japanese character/mindset. That said, Japan is, ever so slowly, changing (hence, many of the clips being shared on this thread).

********

For Shavoy -

Since you cannot view those earlier clips, I can explain them a little bit.

In the first one, the group of protestors is walking down the street, happens to pass a gakkai cult building that has a large soka-han dressed all in black on a cold winter's day, including a neck warmer that is pulled up all the way past his nose, covering half of his face, making him look like some kind of a sinister thief or thug. The group is not intimidated, but is in fact amused, smiling and getting a kick out of the blatant stalker. They turn the camera on him, at which point he basically eventually stops following them. The guy is pretty large by Japanese standards and towers over the much smaller protestors.

The second clip has the protest group assembled outside of Dai$aku's Shinanomachi house (right around the corner from the infamous cult HQ), where they say "Good Morning Ikeda Sensei" and read out loud a Valentine's Day protest letter facing his house from across the street. All the while, they are being filmed by gakkai MIB on one end of the street and watched over by another on the other end of the street. They finish reading their message to a very uncomfortable caretaker of the cult leader's home and then offer the letter to him, very politely requesting that he really deliver that message to Ikeda. They then tell him that they have also made some very delicious chocolates that he is also welcome to take (which he declines). The groups then leaves. As they turn the corner, they are being intimidated by the same cult member who was watching them earlier. One of the protestors notices him, faces him holding a protest poster and says "CULT!" Their plainclothes police escort has to keep the protestors and the whacked out gakkai member (who is now egging them on with his chest thrust forward) physically apart. There the clip ends. (These protestors, btw, seem to have a special police escort for their protection during their visits to the Gakkai HQ area, to ensure their right to protest, their safety and as a precaution to keep things from getting out of hand.)

The third clip takes place at night as they are being tailed by a not so smart $oka $$-thug. They let him pass and then turn the camera on him. At first, he just keeps walking like nothing is happening. Later, he starts to abruptly change directions and walk faster to get away from the camera. Eventually, he is seen literally running away across the street while the protestors are yelling out "No $oka Gakkai in Japan."

These clips speak volumes as to how threatening the so-called religious (Peace) organization behaves in its own country. Split personality and two-faces on display for those (on the outside) who seek to further investigate the true nature of this cult. Having grown up on the inside, none of this is surprising to me, though.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2012 05:21AM by Hitch.

Here's another clip (all in Japanese) demonstrating the persistent proselytizing techinques by some members of the gakkai cult in Japan (cult lingo = shakubuku = "break and subdue"):

[www.youtube.com]

Clip begins with the target asking the gakkai member to repeat what he was saying (for the camera). The target made the mistake of being receptive to the gakkai's initial attempt to lure him in and this visit appears to be a follow up pressure visit to come to another meeting (if already a member, it's classified as a "home visitation"). The guy being visited tells him straight out that he doesn't want to join or continue any more.

Names are bleeped out, but the gist of the conversation is that the gakkai member is extremely pushy and (later) rude in his language toward the target. Normal common sense boundaries of decency and courtesy are easily and quite often overstepped by the gakkai cult when somebody is not towing the line or bending to their desires. This is a perfect example of such behavior. The poor target basically tells the gakkai member to not order him around because "this is my house, not yours." (I've seen this type of behavior and attitude MANY times by sgi members/leaders in other people's homes).

Long story, short, the guy gets on his cell phone and calls the cult attack dog's leader (elder) to tell him to essentially back off. This is also pretty typical behavior in the gakkai cult, where some overzealous lower level power hungry mini-leader or member manipulates other members (or soon-to-be-members) to do things that they need to be done (attendance, activities, subscriptions, zaimu or money donations, etc.). The gakkai member (based on the conversation in the clip), then proceeds to twist and distort things on the phone with his "leader", to the vocal protestations of the guy being targeted. (Again, I've encountered this technique MANY times as well, from my time in. Basically, the member feigns ignorance - or lies - to deflect responsibility onto others, or back to you, by claiming to have been "out-of-the-loop" and just doing what they are supposed to do. This kind of stuff can be so frustrating so as to make you want to either pull your own hair out or punch the person doing it.)

The gakkai cult member eventually leaves, after being told to do so by his "leader" over the cellphone, stating "we'll talk again." To which the target replies "I'm not talking to you."

Must say, this kind of stuff was pretty typical when I was on the inside. You have to be rude back and equally forceful to get the message thru clearly to some of these people, for them to leave you alone.

************

And, finally, one related cult clip from the "Moonies." In this one, you can see the son of Rev. Moon (Hyung Jin Moon), abusing a follower in Brazil. The reason I post it, is to share an example of the exact same kind of behavior that I was witness to while in the "young men's division" in America. If there were hidden cameras readily available back in those days, this is the same mistreatment that some ymd were subjected to and could have potentially been caught on camera for all the world to see. I want to stress that this is not a gakkai clip, but it easily could have been.

[www.youtube.com]

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To anyone who says or doesn't believe that the gakkai and its International affiliates are not a cult, I say that you are either currently a member or willfully ignorant.

To Hitch and Nichijew...thank you for answering my queries in such depth! I really appreciate the breakdown of what I've missed with the videos. It blows the mind.

I wonder what was really in those chocolates?

All this pressure, pressure, pressure, ensuing in inconsiderate, rude, and totally anti-"dialogue" behavior. What for?
I'll say it again: The Proverbial Happiness/Karma Power-Busting Carrot. All the yes-men and women behaving badly for the sake of Kosen-Rufu. And to please their Mentor. The more credit you open up, the bigger the ultimate pay-out!

I mean, are they truly happy doing this mess?

@Nichijew, you are right. It takes tremendous conviction and courage. And that's what Sensei always talks about: Courage. Members are feeling the courage to tout the SGI. Well, folks who have a (naturally, because that's the human race) different viewpoint feel their courage, too, and rightly so.

Like Anticult said, a religion needs to take the heat as well.

Hi. I've not posted in a while, but I thought you might find this Youtube video intersting. The speaker is a little hard to understand, but he basically talks about the causes for the rift between Nichiren Shoshu and SGI in Ghana. The Ghana Constitution allows Ghanians to elect their own leaders, but SGI tried to place their own leaders within the Ghana organization.

[www.youtube.com]

I found another video featuring Joseph Asomani, but he has a very thick accent and there background noise, so it's harder to understand.