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Nichijew
...what would the Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin think of them?...

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[url=http://oaks.nvg.org/kalama.html
http://oaks.nvg.org/kalama.html[/url]]THE PEOPLE of the small town Kalama complained that they were confused by contradictions they discovered in what they heard from various teachers who praised their own doctrines. They asked Buddha, who was staying in the town then, who to believe out of all who, like himself, passed through their town:

"Venerable Sir, some recluses and brahmins visited this town and praised only their own doctrines, but condemned and despised those of others. And it is common that they do so. Sir, who among them told the truth and who told falsehood?"

Buddha advised them, saying, "Kalama people, it is proper for you to doubt and to have perplexity [under such circumstances,] when [great] doubt has arisen in a doubtful matter."

He went on to instruct that it is wise to make a proper examination before committing. He said this was to be applied to his own teachings as well. The benefit is: not being too bound by unverifiable propositions, hopefully.

In Pali, Buddha's reply is recorded thus:

Ma anussavena.
Do not believe something just because it has been passed along and retold for many generations. [Simpler: Do not be led by what you are told.]

Ma paramparaya.
Do not believe something merely because it has become a traditional practice. [Do not be led by whatever has been handed down from past generations.]

Ma itikiraya.
Do not believe something simply because it is well-known everywhere. [Do not be led by hearsay or common opinion.]

Ma Pitakasampadanena.
Do not believe something just because it is cited in a text. [Do not be led by what the scriptures say]

Ma takkahetu.
Do not believe something solely on the grounds of logical reasoning. [Do not be led by mere logic.]

Ma nayahetu.
Do not believe something merely because it accords with your philosophy. [Do not be led by mere deduction or inference.]

Ma akaraparivitakkena.
Do not believe something because it appeals to "common sense". [Do not be led by considering only outward appearance.]

Ma ditthinijjhanakkhantiya.
Do not believe something just because you like the idea. [Do not be led by preconceived notions (and the theory reflected as an approval)]

Ma bhabbarupataya.
Do not believe something because the speaker seems trustworthy. [Do not be led by what seems acceptable; do not be led by what some seeming believable one says.]

Ma samano no garu ti.
Do not believe something thinking, "This is what our teacher says". [Do not be led by what your teacher tells you is so.]

Kalamas, when you yourselves directly know, "This is [these things are] unwholesome, this is blameworthy, this is condemned or censured by the wise, these things when accepted and practised lead to poverty and harm and suffering," then you should give them up.

Kalamas, when you yourselves directly know, "These things are wholesome, blameless, praised by the wise; when adopted and carried out they lead to well-being, prosperity and happiness," then you should accept and practise them."

Gautama Buddha, Kesaputti Sutta, 5th sutta (sutra) in the Book of Threes (Mahavagga) in the Gradual Sayings (Tika Nipata).

The Pali text runs like this: "Etha tumhe Kalama. Ma anussavena, ma paramparaya, ma itikiraya, ma pitasampadanena, ma takkahetu, ma nayahetu, ma akaraparivitakkena, nid ditthinijjhanakkhantiya, ma bhabbarupataya, ma samanro no garu ti." [Bht 284]
Yet Another Translation

Do not accept anything on mere hearsay (ie, thinking that thus have we heard it for a long time).
Do not accept anything by mere tradition (ie, thinking that it has been handed down thus through many generations).
Do not accept anything on account of rumours (ie, by believing what others say without any investigation).
Do not accept anything just because it accords with your scriptures.
Do not accept anything by mere supposition.
Do not accept anything by mere inference.
Do not accept anything by merely considering the appearances.
Do not accept anything merely because it agrees with your preconceived notions.
Do not accept anything merely because it seems acceptable (ie, should be accepted).
Do not accept anything thinking that the ascetic is respected by us (and that therefore it is right to accept his word.)

But when you know for yourselves - these things are immoral, these things are blameworthy, these things are censured by the wise, these things, when performed and undertaken, conduce to ruin and sorrow - then reject them.

When you know for yourselves - these things are moral, these things are blameless, these things are praised by the wise, these things, when performed and undertaken, conduce to well-being and happiness - then live and act accordingly." [This section: Bht 284-85]

The bracketed explanations above accord with the interpretations of the commentary and subcommentary. [Bht 284]

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Freeheartandmind

Tsukimoto: "This is vintage SGI mindfucking! If you don't like something about SGI, it's your own shallowness and negativity. SGI DOES tell people that they can chant for cars, money, drugs, whatever-- but then when someone questions this -- SGI says that this is maybe not exactly what they meant, although it's really okay if they did. Amazing how they dance around the question!"


On Mindfucking: (lengthy but very interesting) [www.culteducation.com], "Heidegger for Fun and Profit", here is an excerpt:

"He is the ideal bluffer's philosopher. Armed with a volume of Heidegger you can prattle away with apparent profundity and it will be very hard for anybody to prove that you have misunderstood Heidegger or said something obviously false. Heidegger invented a new language: immensely loquacious, ponderous, repetitive, heavy and Teutonic - a sort of Bruckner without the music - which Herbert Spiegelberg, an acute historian of philosophy, described in 1965 as ' 'apt to create a twilight of uncritical semi-understanding among the gullible.''

I totally reject illogical double speak mumbo-jumbo such as Tskimoto described coming out of the mouths of SGI "leaders". Such crap does does not sound deep, but foolish.

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Freeheartandmind
"And the leader telling Paul that if he robbed a bank, maybe he'd get away with it and live in riches? Typical of SGI's amoral view of morality, where nothing is really wrong -- oh, except criticizing SGI!"

NSA was amoral too. A known abuser was promoted and his wife was never given "guidance" to take her kids and leave although she sought help from the "leaders". Using "karma" as an excuse for doing nothing, both the abuser and his victim were "working out their issues", according to the org. Eventually he almost killed her. There were children involved! This lack of compassion in refusing to address clearly wrong, criminal behavior said a lot about the org, and nothing good.

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Upgrayed
Remember, Kosen Rufu needs a steady hand to guide it for the sake of success. Nothing is more steady than Attorneys, CEO's, Real Estate executives and other financial and business management types.

It's not because it's a business disguised as a religion.......


Ikeda the Billionare, who is benevolent and sacrifices for us.......excuse me I had to throw up.