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Updated 9/1/04
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Cults are obviously dark and sinister, right?
We don't expect cults to be friendly and normal seeming. We think cult recruiters must use force or diabolical spells to win recruits. We don't expect to be won over, little by little, through apparent care, concern and appeals to our idealism — appeals to “dream big dreams” rather than to think critically about the group.
Being open-minded, we have no reason to doubt what a religious group says about itself. We're usually willing to suspend our skepticism out of politeness if for no other reason. What Soka Gakkai International (SGI) members say about their group, however, is not always consistent with the functional reality of the group.
SGI claims to be a peace organization that opposes authoritarianism, welcomes all people and teaches people how to practice Buddhism so they can become happy. They are unlikely to mention that SGI is a multibillion-dollar religious corporation that refuses to disclose its financial dealings even to members and donors who ask for information. Members have no voting rights, no grievance procedure, and no say in the policies of their own organization.
SGI does teach a version of Nichiren Buddhism, but it is an interpretation that reinforces the belief that SGI members are somehow “chosen” to save the world, and that their belief system is the one, true, correct religion for all time.
SGI also encourages members to chant for stuff. Material gain validates the goup's teachings and is seen as "proof" that the practice of chanting "works." That's why some people say that Soka teaches "prosperity Buddhism" or Yen Buddhism.
SGI promotes and perpetuates itself through recruitment, fund raising and public relations activities. Members call this “working for kosen-rufu” or “world peace.” The group's agenda includes going into U.S. grade schools and universities to promote SGI President Daisaku Ikeda as a “peace activist” on par with Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. — despite the fact that Ikeda lives a life of luxury (spending millions of dollars on classic art, for example) and has never once so much as engaged in a protest demonstration.
Indeed, Ikeda is the de facto head of a ruling-coalition Japanese political party called New Komeito. In the past, The New York Times and others have reported that this is a militant political party that aims to establish theocratic rule in Japan. Others claim its a pacifist or socialist party. Either way, many people in the U.S. who join SGI think that they are joining a friendly group of Buddhists. They have no idea that they are supporting and legitimizing one of the most powerful and controversial political movements in Japan.
As for the SGI welcoming all people, new and potential recruits should know that SGI has publicly condemned and maligned SGI members who have voiced criticism and sponsored public discussion of SGI's policies and activities.
In fact, the “SGI-USA Reform Group” was threatened with legal action if they continued to identify themselves (correctly) as SGI members in good standing. SGI has proven itself capable of and willing to crush dissent and dissenters among its ranks. And non-members or former members who criticize SGI are branded as enemies or "people with problems."
Nichiren Buddhism is a religion, and there are dozens of different temples and organizations in which people learn, teach and practice this religion. Soka Gakkai, on the other hand, is a cult that uses this religion as a cover and a justification for accumulating wealth, political power and more members. Members receive nothing in return except a distorted view of Nichiren Buddhism, peer pressure, emotional manipulation, phobia indoctrination, a misguided belief that SGI membership gives them a special mission in life, and a habit of demonizing all perceived “enemies of Buddhism.”
That being said, SGI members are not evil or bad people -- not at all. Cults are a lot like peer pressure groups. Within the pressures of the group, people may do, say and go along with things that are ordinarily out of character for them. The person who told you about chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and invited you to a SGI meeting is probably sincere, well-meaning and genuinely wants you to be happy. Even so, you should know what you're getting into before you commit yourself to this group.
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