Gakkai cult (mis)fortune baby here. As a recipient of mystical gakkai nepotism, I was born into and grew up in the N$A-$GI cult. I started out in the "Junior Pioneers" and was even mumbling the magic chant in diapers (so I was told). It's now called "The Future Division" or "Elementary School Division." I think I've done just about every (almost) whacky gakkai cult "YOUTH!" activity that has existed ($oka-han, gajokai, pseudo-secret service high leader bodyguard duty when I was older, tozan, culture festivals, Dear Leader events & garden parties all over the U.S. & Japan, training meetings, brass band (playing at hundreds of meetings big and small, marching in all kinds of parades), gymnastics (no roller skating though!), and on and on and on. (I'm sure I'm still leaving something out, too.) The '70 & 80's were my time in, with the latter coinciding with the height of it all (for me). My whole time was basically in the "YOUTH!" division. I've written about it before, but I was handed a "YOUTH!" leadership position that I promptly handed right back - I wanted no party to any of it. Have also had lots and lots of dealings with all the divisions (Men's and WD, yessiree, especially the Japanese WD, mmm-hmmm ....)
There are always new gimmicks in the gakkai cult org. (e.g., Liberty Bells, giant chairs, this-n-that convention, world record flag marching numbers, world record rolling human pyramids, Rock The Era, Rock The District, I *am* Shinichi, etc. - just
half-joking on that last one HAHA!)
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sleepy skunk
How is it they don't realize how creepy this comes off? If I were on the street walking past this guy I'd have crossed to the other side just to avoid him. This isn't the effect I think they want, or is it? To me it's just more of the same: all talk, no action. Imagine what could be done with that energy and creativity better spent. Also, I'm sure the local Japanese people are just thrilled with this happening over there in their midst.
That's completely normal for The Gakkai Cult Zombie Club Looney-Tunes Cult Org. show, especially in vicinity around the mothership nucleus in cult town, Japan.
Local non-member Japanese are creeped out by the area and YouTube has many expose videos up with people going undercover to reveal what it's like to walk around or venture into some of the cult-catering shops (you can buy cult candies, snacks, cakes, flags, lapel pins, cell phone straps, stationary, bustudan and practicing accessories (all tri-colored and logo'ed), toys and stuffed chanting bears for the kids and, of course, a wide selection of Dear Leader literature and fan books). I kid you not. I'm not making one world of this up, either.
The gakkai cult org. is all talk and no action for anyone who doesn't buy into the delusion. For those that do (like "Robert's Poem"), it's all happening in an alternative universe of their mind, like "world peace spilling out like blood from an abstract ideal into reality" (paraphrased from his poem). That's all the "leaders" are too, nice talkers with all of them competing amongst each other to see who can drop the biggest golden BS turd for all the membership to inhale and get high off of. (Apologies for my bluntness, but that's how I see it.)
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Richard's poem video got me thinking about all the cult-speak I've heard. Some more that I remember (in no particular order or significance) -
"Challenge yourself!"
"Repay my debt of gratitude."
"Be victorious!"
"Make a determination."
"Golden memory."
"Change your karma."
"Create fortune."
"Make a cause."
"From the bottom of my heart ..."
"Thank you so much!"
And the ubiquitous "CONGRATULATIONS!" for
everything, especially any of the above. You made it to a mtg., "CONGRATULATIONS!", you got a benefit, "CONGRATULATIONS!", you gave an experience, "CONGRATULATIONS!", you did one hour daimoku today, "CONGRATULATIONS!", "I'm forcing myself to read The Human Revolution", "CONGRATULATIONS!", the Dear Leader is now in my heart, "CONGRATULATIONS!", I shakubuku'ed somebody, "CONGRATULATIONS!", the cult org. gave you a promotion, "CONGRATULATIONS!", I shakubuku'ed even more people, "CONGRATULATIONS!", the Dear Leader sends you a message, "CONGRATULATIONS!", I'm practicing harder and giving more zaimu in appreciation, "CONGRATULATIONS!", I'm still shakubuku'ing many people, "CONGRATULATIONS!", and then repeat from the top all over again with new members, "CONGRATULATIONS!", "CONGRATULATIONS!", "CONGRATULATIONS!". (This is no exaggeration either.)
I'm sure there are many, many more examples, too. If anybody cares to share theirs, I'd love to hear them for a good laugh.
- Hitch