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obsidian
...If anyone has studied human psychology, you know that if you chant for hours on end, the critical thinking part of your brain shuts off and you’ll listen or believe anything anyone tells you afterwards...
It would interesting to try and find some references about increased suggestibility in people after chanting. It does make sense.
For example in "hypnosis", one goes into a state of focussed attention directed inward, and then Suggestions are more powerful and effective.
So it would make sense that chanting creates the same type of inward-focussed attention, and then the SGI suggestions and beliefs would take hold more effectively.
After group chanting, are there then readings from SGI literature, or videos, etc?
Also, just on a technical point.
If someone even paid $1 for a Gohonzon, then they would legally own it.
It really is quite clear that SGI uses the Gohonzon as yet another way to try and make people stay in SGI.
The fact they are actively promoting such superstitions that if it gets damaged, your Karma goes bad, tells a lot. Frankly, that is very abusive to manipulate superstitious people using FEAR.
It seems they are using the Gohonzon as yet another tool to try to create more of a permanent bond with SGI, and to create more control by FEAR. One assumes if one did damage the Gohonzon and their Karma went bad, then there is a way to make the Karma better, by doing MORE things for SGI... ;-)
Firings:
Its interesting about those SGI firings. Is that happening in other locations too?
Maybe they are having trouble, and want to clean house. Or maybe they just purge the ranks once in a while.
Very interesting SGI talks about "not taking money" in the Code Of Conduct. Seems SGI fears some local leaders are scooping up some money?
And the part about not taking sexual advantage, also points to abuses at the local level.
Maybe someone can post that new SGI Code Of Conduct in the thread?