A breakdown of the USA Gakkai Cult Retreat.
The Florida $GI Cult Retreat Center - Published on YouTube January 13, 2013.
From The Men's Division (MD) Conference, Dec. 7-10, 2012.
I always remember the MD falling asleep, too (0:37 - 0:41 min. mark).
Meaningless Cult Presentation Certificates = "I completed the brainwashing course." (0:50 sec. mark). Many will probably have it professionally framed and either hang it next to their bustudan (altar) or set it next to their framed Ikeda photo, near the altar.
Getting ready to enter "Ikeda Hall." Everyone put shoe covers over your feet and "NO, NO! YOUR'E SUPPOSED TO TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF!! SHOES OFF!!" Someone replies, "Oh really?!" (The Dear Leader Museum is sacred, after all.) From 1:24 min. mark.
Post-propaganda mandatory movie viewing interviews (1:35 min. mark). "Did you like the movie?" "Did you cry?"
Response, "Yes, I did. I always do."
"It's touching, isn't it?"
Response, "Yes, it's incredible." "To think of the sincerity of the 'pioneer members', to think of the adversity they faced."
(
Hitch's comment: Cult Org. 'pioneer' members are the most ignorant, intolerant and abusive members in the gakkai USA cult branch. I speak from first hand experience. The cult org. seems to be cultivating a myth, propping such "Soka Spirit" members up on a pedestal and rewriting gakkai history - again.)
Another respondent, "It's the most amazing video. I cried. I cried. I cried probably about 12 times."
Brief post-brainwashing affirmations / testemonials (2:55 min. mark). Paraphrased, "I understood the concept of 'many in body, one in mind.' From this place, you really let me feel it. Thank You.", "I learned a lot. There's some sort of 'human revolution' that is beginning deep inside me."
(
Hitch's comment: This is implanting the master-disciple relationship mindset into cult members. It is also planting the seed for the cult member to begin reading Ikeda's Hubbard-esque novel.)
"Congratulations!" Behind the scenes (awards and presents) recognition to the cult retreat nurse and dish washers (volunteers? or minimum wage?). 3:26 min. mark.
(
Hitch's comment: It's an old cult tactic to "recognize" your slave labors with some cheap trinkets and abundant cult member obligatory applause. For those that eat it up, it keeps them coming back for more. Oh, and btw, the cult org. loves the phrase "Congratulations!" for everything.)
Next on the agenda, ridiculous amateur cult member performances. This is bonding time for the retreat attendees, where everyone makes a fool of themselves in order to regress (control) your behavior and influence your emotions. Perform, be silly and be mindlessly obedient. From the 3:36 min. mark.
(
Hitch's comment: IMO, this kind of stuff also serves to stomp down your ego and higher thinking abilities. Don't analyze anything, just have fun and, above all, don't think. It also puts you in a state to become more receptive and open to your fellow culties and the indoctrination.)
The most interesting part is the last portion (4:32 min mark). Salaried cult "leader" Tariq Hasan is up. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for making this journey." "You might think, 'what is the one essential thing that I can take back with me?'" "When in doubt, always trust and take sensei's message back with you." "It's ALL contained in there." "Especially, I hope, that you will read again, sensei's message which was to all of us, in the October 2012 men's conference, which was published in the 'world tribune', it's also in your book."
(
Hitch's comment: This next part is a well-worn cult org. tactic, to close meetings with. It always has to be about The Dear Leader, his "special" concern for *YOU* and what *YOU* have to do for him and the cult org., wrapped up in the deceiving packaging that it is really about *your* life, and not the cult org..)
"In there, which is *so* unusual, he shared four guidelines for the men. I've never ever seen him share guidelines, within a message, to the FNCC." "You can forget everything else, just take the message back, and with that, you can create tremendous victory in your life! Thank you so much for coming."
Applause, then "2013, The Year of Victory for a Youthful SGI."
(
Hitch's comment: I can't tell you how many old cliches these "leaders" are still parroting. None of them have changed. "From the bottom of my heart", "it's *SO* unusual that sensei does this for us", "congratulations!', "the essential thing to take back is sensei's words, his "special" message specifically to *you*", and of course, "create tremendous "victory!" in your life!"
It's
all still the same.
The $oka Gakkai Cult Org. Retreat, FNCC [
www.youtube.com]
Thought reform in action.
- Hitch