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Many can't seem to develop much insight into their delusions and commitment to myth-making about (Nichiren pseudoBuddhism), beyond identifying the crudest and most obviously "cultic" level of it.

This is why some of the group's beliefs and assumptions are retained indefinitely by many people, even long after they leave.

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Hitch wrote

When I first heard about it, I think as a teenager, the first thing I did was ask some hardcore pioneer Japanese members about it. They were shocked I knew about it (this was way before the internet and I learned about it from a local university library that I was digging around in, in the process of informing myself, beyond the usual gakkai propaganda materials the cult org. proffered)

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The guardians of the inner circle were thus the only ones who knew the full picture of what was going on. This gave them an incredible feeling of power and responsibility.

Lying to both sides of the community was taken to be a kind of sacred puja of service to God. Of course, the people became very twisted up and perverted inside by this life of lying, but they generally took pride in being able to "handle it".

Most devotees couldn't handle it.

I've had many conversations with inner circle people about this issue of lying, and it's kind of fascinating to hear people rationalize it. You would literally think that it was some kind of spiritual path to enlightenment to hear them describe it. To them it was almost the epitome of devotion to their Guru, because of the sacrifice it required on their part.

To them, telling the truth would have been the easy way out, and they even looked down on me when I advocated telling the truth, as if I were just not advanced enough to understand the subtleties of the art of devotional lying.

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Nammy
Believe it or not, I went back to the SGI. I missed chanting with others and it is really the only thing around here. There are no temples in this area. Since I have come back, I have been rather outspoken. I do not regret having left. I do not regret coming back. Does it still irritate the crap out of me sometimes? Yes. Yes, some people are zealots. There are zealots in any religion. I decided to use my SGI experiences to become stronger and better able to speak up for myself and others. It has gone well, but I have to be strong. As for the mentor disciple stuff, I am also outspoken about that as well. Then there is the Soka Spirit thing. I actually told a "leader" that the sign we had up about the priesthood was very negative and that as Buddhists we should be wishing them well and concentrating on our own issues. She had clearly heard it before. The next time I was at the center, the sign was gone and I have not seen it since. I think many of the problems with the SGI stem from the Post-War Japanese influence. What works in their society r, does not work in ours. It needs to be Americanized. Americans are very individualistic. We are finally discussing this at meetings. Yahoo. I can definitely see how people have been damaged by this organization, and I do not regret leaving. I am back now though speaking my mind on a regular basis. If someone want to kick me out for speaking my mind, I won't be crushed. That has not (yet) happened, though. I am not sure that it will. I have hope that the organization will continue to mature even if it is not at the pace I would like to see. I, though, have to learn to deal with people I do not agree with. This is a great training ground for me as I am becoming an attorney. Once you stop acting like a sheep you will stop being treated like one.

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Nammy
Believe it or not, I went back to the SGI. I missed chanting with others and it is really the only thing around here.


Nammy, I was a member for 40 years, so I speak from experience, and I believe I understand where you are coming from, as I returned several times after leaving as well.

There are no temples in this area. Since I have come back, I have been rather outspoken. I do not regret having left. I do not regret coming back. Does it still irritate the crap out of me sometimes? Yes.

Why return to a cult in order to practice Buddhism with an organization/membership that irritates the crap out of you? Sounds more like someone in an abusive relationship.

and Yes, some people are zealots. There are zealots in any religion.

Yes, but you don't have to avoid associating with zealots when you stay away from religious cults like SGI.

I decided to use my SGI experiences to become stronger and better able to speak up for myself and others. It has gone well, but I have to be strong.

Been there, done that. Didn't work out so well. "Stand alone" sounds real courageous, but we are only human. They will eventually wear you down or catch you during a weak moment, and spring a cult trap upon your worn down mind. Like vampires, they quietly await a chance to suck your lifeblood away.

As for the mentor disciple stuff, I am also outspoken about that as well. Then there is the Soka Spirit thing.

Ikeda and his ex-communicated SG organization rates right up there with Rev. Moon and his cabal. A deeper examination of either of those two issues should be enough to awaken you to the true nature of the cult beast, and send any sensible person running for cover.

I actually told a "leader" that the sign we had up about the priesthood was very negative and that as Buddhists we should be wishing them well and concentrating on our own issues. She had clearly heard it before. The next time I was at the center, the sign was gone and I have not seen it since.

Don't take it as a significant victory - you have not changed or made any fundamental difference in the SGI wealth machine, nor will you. Next, ask for copies of the cult.org financial records. See how far you get.

I think many of the problems with the SGI stem from the Post-War Japanese influence. What works in their society, does not work in ours. It needs to be Americanized. Americans are very individualistic. We are finally discussing this at meetings. Yahoo.

Listen Nammy, we heard the same thing over and over again, all the way back to 1976. Sorry, but it ain't gonna change. In the SGIcult its the Japanese way or the highway. Go ahead and try reforming the (Japanese) leadership appointment system to an even slightly more democratic system. Good luck!

I can definitely see how people have been damaged by this organization, and I do not regret leaving. I am back now though speaking my mind on a regular basis. If someone want to kick me out for speaking my mind, I won't be crushed. That has not (yet) happened, though. I am not sure that it will.

Supporting an organization that damages people is not a good cause for your own karma! Again, I was once where you are now. You may not be kicked out for speaking your mind, but you will be marginalized, censored, slandered, reported on, probed for any weakness, and have your friends or members attacked and persecuted if they can't get to you directly. You may not get crushed, but others around you that dare to support your cause will. Now ask yourself, is that any way to join with others to practice Buddhism?

I have hope that the organization will continue to mature even if it is not at the pace I would like to see.

Having lived through four decades of NSA/SGI history, I can assure you that the cult.org is not moving forward. In fact, the opposite is true - the SGIcult is moving backward - becoming more and more a cult of personality, while regressing further and further from anything remotely resembling the time-honored traditional teachings of Guatama Buddha, all while preying ever deeper on the remaining members that have not been totally used up until there is nothing left but hollow emptiness.

I, though, have to learn to deal with people I do not agree with. This is a great training ground for me as I am becoming an attorney.

Please forgive me, but I hope you have a more realistic view of the (in)justice system than you do of religious cults. Perhaps you should study some of the posts in this forum more closely. You may eventually discover that the corruption of our judicial system is as deep as the corruption of the SGI organization and its illgotten billions.

Once you stop acting like a sheep you will stop being treated like one.

Unfortunately, the bad sheep that refuse to go along are cut out of the herd by the wolves, and singled out for slaughter. In Japanese culture, the nail that sticks up is the one that gets the hammer.