Quote
rattyboy
Awkward moment at 6:02 of video 1: One of those "Wow, that was great" moments reminiscient of someone reading the Daily Guidance and being not really impressed by it but saying "That was great" anyway. Daily Guidance always made me cringe, especially when the reader was asked to read it again. I guess that was to build consensus with more sh*t eating grins.
I can relate fully, rattyboy. The "reading" of "Daily Guidance" was treated like a sacred and honored opportunity for the person reading it. It would also be read in BOTH Japanese & English. It was almost never re-read in Japanese, but commonly re-read in English --> translation: the lack of reaction and applause was unacceptable, so it had to be repeated with a mandatory over-the-top response. Many of The Dear Leader's lame writings and especially so-called "poetry" was often met with such uncomfortable lackluster emotions, much to the offense of the more brainwashed members and leaders present.
The "poem" in question in this instance, in full:
"Springing from the Earth" [From The Human Revolution, by The Dear Phantom Leader]
"Traveler,
From whence do you come?
And where do you go?
The moon has set,
But the sun has not yet risen.
In the chaos of darkness before the dawn
Seeking the light,
I advance
To dispel the dark clouds from my mind
To find a great tree unbowed by the tempest
I emerge from the Earth."
*********
Yawn. Zzzzzzzzz.
The "emerge from the Earth" bit is a classic canned gakkai cult-speak slogan that is often heard parroted by members.
I always found The Dear Leader's "poetry" to be lame, pedestrian and ignorant.
Oh, I forgot to add, I also often got a kick out of the way the person reading the "guidance" or gosho was "trained" to hold the book or paper: with both hands, using all their fingers, as if holding a precious jewel. Again, this kind of behavior is emulating the Japanese formalities used for ceremonies, etc.. Being good with these kinds of small details (not being told), would translate into you being viewed as a "stronger" member, with the "correct" attitude and "proper" faith ---> which meant promotion up the cult ladder and more manipulation opportunities (or translated back into cult-speak: "more responsibility, a chance to change your karma, gain benefit, a chance to save / help people and respond to President Ikeda").
Sorry for all the cult-speak, but I mention it specifically so that people reading this mb can hopefully begin to see the cult org. for what it is. For anyone who doesn't believe it, I recommend trying to question or, better yet, criticize President Ikeda. You will swiftly feel the wrath of members around you and have to deal with the repercussions of your behavior for weeks or months to come, until you either leave or start singing a different tune and come back into the automaton fold / way of thinking.