Re: Former SGI members, chanting for hours
Posted by:
tsukimoto
()
Date: July 13, 2009 06:50AM
Quote
The Anticult
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?[/quote/
The subject of the SGI Code of Conduct is discussed extensively in the Fraught With Peril website, a collection of blogs about Nichiren Buddhism.
www.fraughtwithperil.com
1. "The Diary of a Chapter Leader" blog, November 14, 2008, and March 26, 2009
2. The "Joe Isuzu" blog, April 5, 2008
3. The "A Byrd's Eye View," blog, July 10, 2008
The Code of Conduct itself is on the "Diary of a Chapter Leader," the November 14, 2008 entry -- bottom of the page. I don't know if this link will work:
[www.fraughtwithperil.com]
It contains this gem. DO NOT:
"... engage in any other behavior that disrupts the harmonious unity of the SGI or disturbs the faith and practice of its members. "
A little bit broad, eh? This can be ANYTHING that your senior leaders interpret it to be --- questioning a leader at a meeting, reading or posting on the Rick Ross website, criticizing SGI, saying that you don't like President Ikeda's writings...anything.
If you want to see an example of how this was actually used against an SGI member, read the "Byrd's Eye View" blog. The woman who wrote it actually loved SGI -- God knows why, the way SGI leaders treated her. She loved SGI, and felt that it could and should be improved -- and she wrote about this in her blog on Fraught With Peril. Her leaders came down very hard on her, berating her and telling her that she couldn't come to meetings. Last summer, she died very suddenly. Apparently she had some kind of heart condition. While that wasn't SGI's fault per se, the stress that the SGI leaders in her area put her through surely didn't help. I never met her, but in her writing, I saw a very thoughtful, witty and intelligent woman. I was sorry to hear of her death, and angry...but not surprised...at how SGI treated her in her last days. Their rationale was probably that she "disrupted the harmonious unity of the SGI" by having the nerve to suggest that it could be improved.
Re: Former SGI members
Posted by:
tsukimoto
()
Date: July 13, 2009 08:25AM
Quote
obsidian
From my point of view and what I've seen of SGI, my biggest problem is their "mentor-disciple" method of teaching. You don't get to choose your mentor and the mentors don't need to have any qualifications or training as far as I know. On top of that, there is no regulation on what the mentors can and cannot do. My ex's mentor for example is using SGI to back up her claims of having psychic powers and is using it to control my ex.
As well, I'm not sure how much of what she is teaching is actual Nichiren Buddhism and how much of it is her own interpretation or her own beliefs. For example, she told my ex that I had bad family karma and that if he continued to associate with me, my family karma would drag him down. As far as I know, your karma is your own and is not related to others. What really drove me nuts the first time I met her was she wrote "nam myoho renge kyo" WRONG. Then she started asking for rides to the local SGI centre. It was literally 50km out of the way for my ex, but he would drive her EVERYDAY. He said it was good for his karma. On top of that, she had him drive her to a local casino, so she could use her "abilities" to win spending money. I'm not kidding. Her husband has been laid off. One of her kids is deathly ill in the hospital and her other kid is going to court and might even end up with jail time and she is currently not working. She refuses to do small odds and ends jobs to make money, so she has to resort to exploiting her "abilities" at casinos to make money. I don't understand how someone like that can be a district leader and a respected member in SGI.
Obsidian, I'm sorry about what's happened with your former fiance. Some of what you describe is very familiar to me: unqualified leaders giving bad advice, new members getting totally drawn into SGI and spending all their time there to the detriment of families, relationships and jobs, the idea that you can just chant for whatever you want, and that all you need is SGI.
The psychic angle, though, is something that I have never heard of! I spent eighteen years in SGI, and never heard of anything like that. Psychics definitely are not part of Nichiren Buddhism. This woman sounds like a total fruitcake...but a very conniving, manipulative and clever fruitcake. Unfortunately for your ex. She sounds like a cult unto herself, a cult within a cult. She's using SGI to hunt for people she can use. I can't understand why the SGI leaders in that area are allowing her to do this. Is "mentor" the word that she uses? When I was in SGI, we were told that President Ikeda was our mentor. The word was never applied to anyone else. Certainly, we were to respect our leaders and ask for their "guidance'' on a variety of issues. But nobody referred to them as mentors.
SGI Code of Conduct
Posted by:
tsukimoto
()
Date: July 13, 2009 09:58AM
SGI Code Of Conduct
BACKGROUND: Because of the organization’s endorsement of appointed leaders, the members place their trust in them. Therefore, the SGI-USA has an ongoing responsibility to ensure that the members’ trust in the organization is never violated and always protected. In the past, the code of conduct existed as generally accepted standards for leadership but was not formally documented. Today, as we continue to grow, a written set of standards is an important and necessary progression in the development of our organization to ensure that we maintain the eternal spirit of leadership as exemplified by our three founding presidents—Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, Josei Toda and Daisaku Ikeda. For this reason, the SGI-USA Code of Conduct for Leaders was developed.
The SGI-USA asks that all district through national leaders, including activity/special interest group leaders, sign the Code of Conduct for Leaders Signature Form, demonstrating their understanding and acceptance of the SGI-USA Code of Conduct for Leaders. Not signing, therefore not accepting the Code of Conduct for Leaders, disqualifies one from leadership in the SGI-USA.
SGI-USA Code of Conduct for Leaders
In recognition of our shared commitment to spread the Mystic Law throughout the world for the sake of peace and the happiness of all humankind; to proudly carry out kosen-rufu activities based on the spirit of the oneness of mentor and disciple exemplified by the three founding presidents of the Soka Gakkai; and to resolutely protect the harmonious unity of the SGI; in recognition of the great opportunity and responsibility to serve the precious Bodhisattvas of the Earth in the SGI-USA; in recognition of my mission to nurture the faith of those entrusted to my care on behalf of SGI President Ikeda; in recognition of the impact, both positive and negative, that my behavior can have on the faith and unity of my fellow practitioners; I am determined to live up to the standards of leadership and highest standards of conduct as described in the 2008 Leadership Manual, and agree specifically to:
Contribute to harmonious unity based on dialogue and respecting the opinions of others and, in particular, men respecting the opinions of women;
Abide by the guidance and activity guidelines of the SGI and participate in and promote the kosen-rufu activities of the SGI, including, but not limited to, propagation, publications and contributions;
Study and apply the writings of Nichiren Daishonin and the guidance of SGI President Ikeda to deepen my faith and understanding of Nichiren Buddhism;
Respect the dignity of each person, neither condoning nor engaging in discriminatory language and/or behavior toward any member based on age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, political views or any other distinction;
Refrain from using religious activities to involve the organization or its members in political activities, recognizing that I, as an individual, may freely engage in political activities;
Restrict my leadership role to my assigned organizational responsibility—not giving direction in organizational matters to members in other organizational units—and connect members to their direct organizational leaders and never promote exclusive relationships between members and any leader, including myself;
Not use my organizational relationships to promote any personal business interests or engage in the borrowing or lending of money among members;*
Not engage in or condone sexual misconduct;*
Not violate the privacy and confidentiality of members;* and
Not engage in any other behavior that disrupts the harmonious unity of the SGI or disturbs the faith and practice of its members.*
*Refer to Chapter 5 “Guidelines and Procedures for Addressing Misconduct” for more details."
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2009 10:00AM by tsukimoto.
BACKGROUND: Because of the organization’s endorsement of appointed leaders, the members place their trust in them. Therefore, the SGI-USA has an ongoing responsibility to ensure that the members’ trust in the organization is never violated and always protected. In the past, the code of conduct existed as generally accepted standards for leadership but was not formally documented. Today, as we continue to grow, a written set of standards is an important and necessary progression in the development of our organization to ensure that we maintain the eternal spirit of leadership as exemplified by our three founding presidents—Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, Josei Toda and Daisaku Ikeda. For this reason, the SGI-USA Code of Conduct for Leaders was developed.
The SGI-USA asks that all district through national leaders, including activity/special interest group leaders, sign the Code of Conduct for Leaders Signature Form, demonstrating their understanding and acceptance of the SGI-USA Code of Conduct for Leaders. Not signing, therefore not accepting the Code of Conduct for Leaders, disqualifies one from leadership in the SGI-USA.
SGI-USA Code of Conduct for Leaders
In recognition of our shared commitment to spread the Mystic Law throughout the world for the sake of peace and the happiness of all humankind; to proudly carry out kosen-rufu activities based on the spirit of the oneness of mentor and disciple exemplified by the three founding presidents of the Soka Gakkai; and to resolutely protect the harmonious unity of the SGI; in recognition of the great opportunity and responsibility to serve the precious Bodhisattvas of the Earth in the SGI-USA; in recognition of my mission to nurture the faith of those entrusted to my care on behalf of SGI President Ikeda; in recognition of the impact, both positive and negative, that my behavior can have on the faith and unity of my fellow practitioners; I am determined to live up to the standards of leadership and highest standards of conduct as described in the 2008 Leadership Manual, and agree specifically to:
Contribute to harmonious unity based on dialogue and respecting the opinions of others and, in particular, men respecting the opinions of women;
Abide by the guidance and activity guidelines of the SGI and participate in and promote the kosen-rufu activities of the SGI, including, but not limited to, propagation, publications and contributions;
Study and apply the writings of Nichiren Daishonin and the guidance of SGI President Ikeda to deepen my faith and understanding of Nichiren Buddhism;
Respect the dignity of each person, neither condoning nor engaging in discriminatory language and/or behavior toward any member based on age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, political views or any other distinction;
Refrain from using religious activities to involve the organization or its members in political activities, recognizing that I, as an individual, may freely engage in political activities;
Restrict my leadership role to my assigned organizational responsibility—not giving direction in organizational matters to members in other organizational units—and connect members to their direct organizational leaders and never promote exclusive relationships between members and any leader, including myself;
Not use my organizational relationships to promote any personal business interests or engage in the borrowing or lending of money among members;*
Not engage in or condone sexual misconduct;*
Not violate the privacy and confidentiality of members;* and
Not engage in any other behavior that disrupts the harmonious unity of the SGI or disturbs the faith and practice of its members.*
*Refer to Chapter 5 “Guidelines and Procedures for Addressing Misconduct” for more details."
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2009 10:00AM by tsukimoto.
Re: SGI Code of Conduct
Posted by:
tsukimoto
()
Date: July 13, 2009 10:35AM
Certainly, a lot of it makes sense. Studying the writings of Nichiren Daishonin, having respect for all members, protecting the privacy and confidentiality of members, not engaging in or condoning sexual misconduct, not borrowing/lending money from members, not using SGI to promote your own business...that's all good.
Others, like not using SGI to promote political activities, come on! Does this mean that President Ikeda and SGI-Japan will stop supporting the New Komeito Party? "Contribute to harmonious unity with dialogue?" When has the SGI EVER done that? If you have a different opinion, they don't want to talk to you.
Study President Ikeda's writings to "deepen my faith and understanding of Nichiren Buddhism." Well, frankly, I've never found that reading Ikeda's writings deepened my understanding of anything except how to use a lot of words and say very little. English teachers should use him as an example of how not to write. Well, here nothing's changed either, no surprises. According to the Code of Conduct, good conduct is unquestioningly following the words of Ikeda.
It's that last one that is dangerous. "Not engage in any other behavior that disrupts the harmonious unity of the SGI, or disturbs the faith and practice of its members." That can be used as grounds to get rid of ANY leader or member who displeases someone senior to them. It can mean whatever you want it to. You ask too many questions. You have a friend who asks too many questions. You will not denounce, or stop seeing the friend who asks the questions. You complained about having to watch the President Ikeda video this month. You disagreed with a leader. You made suggestions about how SGI could improve. You wrote a blog that criticized SGI. You read the Rick Ross website. You put your statues of the Virgin Mary and Buddha on the same shelf! God knows what the members are supposed to think when they come to your house for a toso and see that! The GOOD members don't do that! So sorry, you are disrupting the harmonious unity of the SGI. You're disturbing the faith and practice of your fellow members. Goodbye, we don't need your kind around here.
"Harmonious unity," indeed. Life would be perfect in SGI-Land if we could just all be of one mind and all have the same opinions about everything when we have our dialogues.
Others, like not using SGI to promote political activities, come on! Does this mean that President Ikeda and SGI-Japan will stop supporting the New Komeito Party? "Contribute to harmonious unity with dialogue?" When has the SGI EVER done that? If you have a different opinion, they don't want to talk to you.
Study President Ikeda's writings to "deepen my faith and understanding of Nichiren Buddhism." Well, frankly, I've never found that reading Ikeda's writings deepened my understanding of anything except how to use a lot of words and say very little. English teachers should use him as an example of how not to write. Well, here nothing's changed either, no surprises. According to the Code of Conduct, good conduct is unquestioningly following the words of Ikeda.
It's that last one that is dangerous. "Not engage in any other behavior that disrupts the harmonious unity of the SGI, or disturbs the faith and practice of its members." That can be used as grounds to get rid of ANY leader or member who displeases someone senior to them. It can mean whatever you want it to. You ask too many questions. You have a friend who asks too many questions. You will not denounce, or stop seeing the friend who asks the questions. You complained about having to watch the President Ikeda video this month. You disagreed with a leader. You made suggestions about how SGI could improve. You wrote a blog that criticized SGI. You read the Rick Ross website. You put your statues of the Virgin Mary and Buddha on the same shelf! God knows what the members are supposed to think when they come to your house for a toso and see that! The GOOD members don't do that! So sorry, you are disrupting the harmonious unity of the SGI. You're disturbing the faith and practice of your fellow members. Goodbye, we don't need your kind around here.
"Harmonious unity," indeed. Life would be perfect in SGI-Land if we could just all be of one mind and all have the same opinions about everything when we have our dialogues.
Re: Former SGI members
Posted by:
Yzak
()
Date: July 13, 2009 10:50AM
Before start writing again, I want to apologize if sometimes I write something wrong(grammatically) for I'm still working on improving my English!
MMMMM Yes, that bothered me a lot too. A good experience I had, in the process of leaving SGI, I talked to the guy who did shakubuku(introduced me into this buddhism) that I was not feeling right within the organization so I quit. Then he told me an experience he had with people whom also he did shakubuku and were interested in Buddhism, but they stopped going somehow. Then, this person goes personally to ask them POLITELY why they didn't want to continue practicing (It wouldn't be a surprise if they didn't like SGI's freaking meetings) and they told him they didn't like to do daimoku(I thought that was kind of lame). Anyway, these people actually ask this member IS IT CHANTING THE ONLY WAY TO BECOME HAPPY? and he answered NO. Even I was surprised, I didn't expect such an answer for someone who has been dedicating since his 20's on this Buddhism. Luckily enough, I still consider him as my friend, the only Buddhist friend who really listened to what I thought, and we had REAL DIALOGUES about life. I bet if I had the choice to choose a personal mentor, instead of adoring Pres. Ikeda unconditionally, I would have definitely chosen this person.
That really reinforced my theory that the issue here is not about the ideology itself, but rather the organization that sells this sort of "SPIRITUALITY DELIVERED TO YOUR HOUSE".
That really shocked me, because how do they plan to make world peace without a solid philosophical argument that could say how to make the world better. But it seemed to me that they don't care or don't even bother to think about it, like contributing to SGI itself is enough for world peace. Must of the time I though that was kind of lame, but I tried to think that maybe I'm thinking too much or being too critical.
Well, it came out that the TOO MUCH THINKING really saved me from keep contributing to this cult. Or maybe like an SGI member may interpret, TO SATISFY MY EGO RATHER THAN DOING PHILANTHROPIC CAUSES FOR EVERYONE.
Quote
obsidian
From my point of view and what I've seen of SGI, my biggest problem is their "mentor-disciple" method of teaching. You don't get to choose your mentor and the mentors don't need to have any qualifications or training as far as I know. On top of that, there is no regulation on what the mentors can and cannot do. I don't understand how someone like that can be a district leader and a respected member in SGI.
MMMMM Yes, that bothered me a lot too. A good experience I had, in the process of leaving SGI, I talked to the guy who did shakubuku(introduced me into this buddhism) that I was not feeling right within the organization so I quit. Then he told me an experience he had with people whom also he did shakubuku and were interested in Buddhism, but they stopped going somehow. Then, this person goes personally to ask them POLITELY why they didn't want to continue practicing (It wouldn't be a surprise if they didn't like SGI's freaking meetings) and they told him they didn't like to do daimoku(I thought that was kind of lame). Anyway, these people actually ask this member IS IT CHANTING THE ONLY WAY TO BECOME HAPPY? and he answered NO. Even I was surprised, I didn't expect such an answer for someone who has been dedicating since his 20's on this Buddhism. Luckily enough, I still consider him as my friend, the only Buddhist friend who really listened to what I thought, and we had REAL DIALOGUES about life. I bet if I had the choice to choose a personal mentor, instead of adoring Pres. Ikeda unconditionally, I would have definitely chosen this person.
That really reinforced my theory that the issue here is not about the ideology itself, but rather the organization that sells this sort of "SPIRITUALITY DELIVERED TO YOUR HOUSE".
That is so truth, it would be perfect if everyone could agree in a good cause, but the reality is we are human beings with different experiences, so I think it is very normal to think critically, instead of letting others do the thinking for you and just obeying. Whenever I wanted to talk to a member about something else regarding SGI, they went either UH?! or WHY DO YOU BOTHER THINKING THAT?!. One time, when I was organizing a SGI club in my college, I meet this Japanese girl who is a "Fortune Baby" (being born and raised in this Buddhism) to talk about how to organize the club. I suggested for the final meeting we were going to have, that we should discuss about how this Buddhism thinks about problems in society in general. Example: Poverty, Violence, Race, Sexuality, Abortion, Discrimination, Abuse, Justice, etc, and how SGI Buddhism think they will address these issues for the betterment of the world. She went like, NO WAY, THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT! WE ARE HERE TO SHOW THIS BUDDHISM, TO DO SHAKUBUKU AND TO SUPPORT SGI, WHO CARES ABOUT THOSE THINGS, OR DETAILS!!!Quote
tsukimoto
"Harmonious unity," indeed. Life would be perfect in SGI-Land if we could just all be of one mind and all have the same opinions about everything when we have our dialogues.
That really shocked me, because how do they plan to make world peace without a solid philosophical argument that could say how to make the world better. But it seemed to me that they don't care or don't even bother to think about it, like contributing to SGI itself is enough for world peace. Must of the time I though that was kind of lame, but I tried to think that maybe I'm thinking too much or being too critical.
Well, it came out that the TOO MUCH THINKING really saved me from keep contributing to this cult. Or maybe like an SGI member may interpret, TO SATISFY MY EGO RATHER THAN DOING PHILANTHROPIC CAUSES FOR EVERYONE.
Re: Former SGI members
Posted by:
obsidian
()
Date: July 13, 2009 11:51AM
Quote
tsukimoto
Obsidian, I'm sorry about what's happened with your former fiance. Some of what you describe is very familiar to me: unqualified leaders giving bad advice, new members getting totally drawn into SGI and spending all their time there to the detriment of families, relationships and jobs, the idea that you can just chant for whatever you want, and that all you need is SGI.
The psychic angle, though, is something that I have never heard of! I spent eighteen years in SGI, and never heard of anything like that. Psychics definitely are not part of Nichiren Buddhism. This woman sounds like a total fruitcake...but a very conniving, manipulative and clever fruitcake. Unfortunately for your ex. She sounds like a cult unto herself, a cult within a cult. She's using SGI to hunt for people she can use. I can't understand why the SGI leaders in that area are allowing her to do this. Is "mentor" the word that she uses? When I was in SGI, we were told that President Ikeda was our mentor. The word was never applied to anyone else. Certainly, we were to respect our leaders and ask for their "guidance'' on a variety of issues. But nobody referred to them as mentors.
Honestly speaking, I never considered SGI a cult per say, but I would definitely call it a cult the way that crazy woman is running her district. She is a leader. The psychic angle is what she uses to entice certain people. That's how she drew my b/f in. She is a fruitcake. She did a reading for me and it turned out to be mostly wrong or general stuff that you could apply to anyone. For instance, she said I had a family member or someone close to me had a gambling problem. That can be taken as someone who plays the lottery often, or someone who plays a lot of online poker. I'm sure you can think of at least one person you know that that statement would apply to. She also said she converses with spirits and sees dark energy or bad karma radiating off of people. You're right. She is very manipulative and conniving. She tells people to keep her gift a "secret", because she doesn't want people bothering her and she will only see people she deems "fit". As well, she's starting to charge people for her "services", but ONLY because she has no other way to make money. It's all a bunch of baloney to me.
As for the term "mentor". That is not the word they use- it's just what I use to refer to her, because I cannot think of a better word. I really hate the fact that leaders give guidance on issues that they know NOTHING about. As well, they're often times contradicting themselves or being hypocritical. For instance, she told my b/f to find a job- ANY job after he graduated from University, yet she wouldn't take jobs that she deemed beneath her, though she was running out of money faster than he was. I'm sorry, I don't want to continue ranting, but this has caused me so much grief. I loved my b/f more than anything else in the world and he loved me dearly as well, but how can I compete with enlightenment, "true" happiness and all of your heart's desires coming true? All promised by this woman, if he would give himself to SGI and forsake all others. He tried so hard to hold onto our relationship, but she made it too difficult for him and by me refusing to join SGI, the choice became clear to him. I was not the one for him, because I no longer shared his path. I have never hated anyone in my entire life, but I hate that woman and SGI so much for taking him away from me.
SGI-USA Code of Conduct for Leaders, cult-like rules
Posted by:
The Anticult
()
Date: July 13, 2009 11:52AM
Quote
SGI-USA Code of Conduct for Leaders
...and to resolutely protect the harmonious unity of the SGI; ...
...
Abide by the guidance and activity guidelines of the SGI and participate in and promote the kosen-rufu activities of the SGI, including, but not limited to, propagation, publications and contributions;
Study and apply the writings of Nichiren Daishonin and the guidance of SGI President Ikeda to deepen my faith and understanding of Nichiren Buddhism;
Refrain from using religious activities to involve the organization or its members in political activities, recognizing that I, as an individual, may freely engage in political activities;
Restrict my leadership role to my assigned organizational responsibility—not giving direction in organizational matters to members in other organizational units—and connect members to their direct organizational leaders and never promote exclusive relationships between members and any leader, including myself;
...
Not engage in any other behavior that disrupts the harmonious unity of the SGI or disturbs the faith and practice of its members.*
There are some outright cult-like rules in that document.
- SGI have banned any vigorous criticism of SGI, even if its valid. You open your mouth, you are out.
- SGI tell people they have to engage in "propagation, publications and contributions" That is RECRUITING OTHERS, BUYING SGI BOOKS, and GIVING SGI MONEY. right?
- they point to the personality of Ikeda, over and over.
- SGI decides on the politics.
- SGI also bans people from getting involved with other SGI local groups, which means to follow orders from the top, like the military chain of command.
SGI is very clearly a cultlike group.
Its shocking how these groups are now BANNING all critical questions these days, in WRITING, and making people sign-on to that. The Byron Katie group has done that as well.
It must be the new thing.
Perhaps the internet has destroyed their ability to control the information their followers receive, so now people have to be forced in writing to not criticize the group, as there is so much accurate and factual information easily available about the group and its leader.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2009 11:59AM by The Anticult.
Re: Former SGI members
Posted by:
tsukimoto
()
Date: July 13, 2009 11:43PM
Quote
Yzak
One time, when I was organizing a SGI club in my college, I meet this Japanese girl who is a "Fortune Baby" (being born and raised in this Buddhism) to talk about how to organize the club. I suggested for the final meeting we were going to have, that we should discuss about how this Buddhism thinks about problems in society in general. Example: Poverty, Violence, Race, Sexuality, Abortion, Discrimination, Abuse, Justice, etc, and how SGI Buddhism think they will address these issues for the betterment of the world. She went like, NO WAY, THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT! WE ARE HERE TO SHOW THIS BUDDHISM, TO DO SHAKUBUKU AND TO SUPPORT SGI, WHO CARES ABOUT THOSE THINGS, OR DETAILS!!!
That really shocked me, because how do they plan to make world peace without a solid philosophical argument that could say how to make the world better. But it seemed to me that they don't care or don't even bother to think about it, like contributing to SGI itself is enough for world peace.
Yzak, you hit the nail on the head. There IS no solid philosophical argument. There is no plan. SGI thinks that contributing to SGI is enough to create a perfect world. If you just chant enough, do shakabuku (recruit), do enough SGI activities, and follow your leaders without question, you can do ANYTHING! You can solve any problem and achieve anything in your life. You can solve the problems of war, poverty, disease, violence and nuclear proliferation. Don't think too much about it! Don't have a plan! Just have faith! And if you're doing everything, and nothing's happening -- go back and repeat Steps 1, 2, and 3. You can do this for a lifetime, like a mouse running on an exercise wheel in a cage.
SGI keeps saying that SGI's Buddhism is the only TRUE sect of Buddhism, and that we can know this because of ACTUAL PROOF -- practicing this Buddhism actually changes your life for the better. Well, does it? I cannot see that the SGI leaders and long-term, dedicated members are doing any better than any other group of people the same age, background, and nationality. Sure, there are a few SGI-ers with exceptional accomplishments -- but there are also nonSGI-ers who are equally successful. But if you take a group of SGI members and compare them to a group of Baptists, Reform Jews, Pure Land Buddhists, or just a group of people who practice no religion at all ---I really don't think you're going to find differences. The SGI folks, as a group, will NOT be more professionally successful, healthier, richer, happier,or have better relationships than any other group. Leaders themselves too often seem stressed, unkind, lacking in common sense, less informed about Buddhism than some of the members that they're supposed to be teaching. Really unable to do much but parrot what their leaders tell them. You can also see that there are SGI members who could be doing better -- if they were not spending time in SGI that they might better spend on relationships, with their families, on their studies, or at work. WHERE is the actual proof?
No wonder SGI is trying to suppress any real questioning or critical thinking.
Re: Former SGI members
Posted by:
tsukimoto
()
Date: July 14, 2009 12:20AM
Quote
obsidian
Honestly speaking, I never considered SGI a cult per say, but I would definitely call it a cult the way that crazy woman is running her district. She is a leader. The psychic angle is what she uses to entice certain people. That's how she drew my b/f in. She is a fruitcake. She did a reading for me and it turned out to be mostly wrong or general stuff that you could apply to anyone. For instance, she said I had a family member or someone close to me had a gambling problem. That can be taken as someone who plays the lottery often, or someone who plays a lot of online poker. I'm sure you can think of at least one person you know that that statement would apply to. She also said she converses with spirits and sees dark energy or bad karma radiating off of people. You're right. She is very manipulative and conniving. She tells people to keep her gift a "secret", because she doesn't want people bothering her and she will only see people she deems "fit". As well, she's starting to charge people for her "services", but ONLY because she has no other way to make money.
Talking with spirits and seeing dark energy radiating off of people? Wow. And I thought I'd met some bad leaders. Conversing with spirits and seeing energy have NOTHING to do with Nichiren Buddhism. This sounds like a situation that should be covered under the Code of Conduct. If she's charging members for readings, and teaching nonBuddhist doctrine at meetings, why don't her seniors use the Code of Conduct to go after her? If an organization must have a Code of Conduct, that SHOULD be the kind of situation it's used for.
If it were me, I'd be tempted to report this "leader" to the area headquarters. I am not necessarily advising you to; you know your situation better than I do. Perhaps she'd guess that it's you and retaliate in some way? She sounds like she would do anything. Also, if she has gotten away with this nonsense for awhile, then she must be presenting a good face to her leaders. Her followers could be too enthralled with her, or too intimidated by her, to complain. Perhaps she has good numbers for shakabuku (recruitment), can raise donations....and always agrees with Ikeda and SGI policy, at least publicly. SGI leaders are not necessarily the sharpest knives in the drawer anyway...they're more on the look-out for people who question or criticize SGI. Why should she criticize SGI? SGI provides her with people and situations that she can use for her own purposes...."don't disrupt the harmonious unity of our district by questioning a leader." Don't talk to people in other districts about what's happening in ours.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/14/2009 12:27AM by tsukimoto.
Re: Former SGI members
Posted by:
quiet one
()
Date: July 14, 2009 10:37AM
tsukimoto--Thank you for your insightful contributions. Thanks also for introducing me to "frought with peril" It is very enjoyable. I especially have enjoyed "Byrd's Eye View'. It is very sad what happenend to her, and how things ended for her.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.