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DrJesusEsq

@Nichijew, Rothaus, and quiet one: I don't know how long ago you guys left the org. Since I joined in the year 2004 and recently left a few months ago, I think the SGI was in a really hazy phase of going from learning the traditional doctrine of Nichiren's teaching and going into the "humanistic" Ikedaism. Here's actually one reason why my depression and amplified and even turned to anger.

On one hand, at these meetings you hear these "experiences" of people having a certain problem and issue, they chant soooo many times in a day, at least for 2 hours, and then BOOM problem solved. They mostly say it is due to a change in circumstance, such as a boss gives them a raise so they can get their new car, a relative calls them up out of the blue and gives them money for education, or even an ex-partner writes them an email for no reason and wants to get back together with them. It's almost like saying if you chant, your luck changes.

And then, when I chant to improve all aspects of my life, obviously nothing changes. I ask the other members who have been in the practice longer than I have and they always tell me I am not taking the right action. Of course, when I ask them what's the point in chanting, that's when they give me some obtuse answer of infusing my Buddhahood with my ichinen and all that jazz. Yet, I still chanted for that "wisdom" that was supposed to open up.

That being said, it was a very confusing dichotomy. Actually since I stopped doing anything with SGI, at least I am depending on myself more to change my life and that has been improving.

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Nichijew
Dear All:

I just listened to the February Men's Division audio encouragement. Tariq Hassan, SGI Men's Division leader was the next to last keynote speaker. He was incredulous that some regions and areas weren't showing Ikeda's videos at their sunday Kosen Rufu Prayer meetings, "I don't understand it", he said in derision. Then he went on to give an experience about home visiting the husband of a member. This man is one of the top executives of Citi Bank. Hassan was literally gushing praise [like a little dog sniffing the butt of a big dog's behind] of this mega rich fool. he stated to the effect, " The favorite activity of City Bank top executive is seeing President Ikeda's videos". No wonder the crook in City Bank is in awe of the billionaire Ikeda, the Soka Gakkai never loses money and doesn't have to pay even a dime in taxes. They do have one thing in common, getting rich off the little guys. At the same time, is there any doubt why Citi Bank lost so many billions and billions of dollars thanks to faulty investments? With heads of the company like this fellow, it was a matter of course.

Tariq Hassan also stated that you are not worthy of being a disciple of Sensei if you don't feel inspired to bring many people to see Sensei's videos.

Another Ikedabot stated that the prime point of the national meeting in Guam, "was the VERY large picture of Sensei placed in the middle of the room."

Literally, in the latest audio of the Men's Division meeting, among the five speakers, especially those of Tariq Hassan and the earlier speakers, "Sensei" and "President Ikeda" were mentioned many dozens of time and Nichiren Daishonin, once, if I remember correctly. Danny Nagashima quoted the Daishonin several times but the script was the same old, same old.

[www.sgimedia.net]

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SGBye
In the area where I used to practice, they would have the Ikeda video meetings twice a month at the kaikan. When the attendance level at both meetings started running low, they began showing the videos at kofu gongyo. I hated that because I would avoid the Ikeda videos on purpose, and it felt like they were luring us into kofu gongyo only to turn around and shove the Ikeda videos right down your throat. Bait and switch, SGI-style!

All of those Ikeda videos follow the same pattern:
1. Ikeda comes onstage with his arms stretched out in victory to a cheering crowd.
2. A choir or band performs some militaristic-sounding SGI song.
3. Ikeda receives an award from a foreign dignitary.
4. Ikeda babbles on and on about how some park in some country you never heard of was christened "Ikeda Peace Park," or how some road in some third world country was named "Toda Way."
5. Daimoku sansho (the long & over-indulgent 10-minute Ikeda version).

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SGBye
One of more interesting experiences I had in the SGI towards the end was attending the "Orlando Bloom Meeting." A big meeting was held at a local convention center with Danny Nagashima, with performances, etc. At the end, Orlando Bloom came out onstage to everyone's surprise (including the behind-the-scenes people). Well, the whole room freaked out, and a swarm of young ladies rushed the stage with their cameras, screaming as though they were at a concert. After the dust settled, Bloom got down to business. He had recently gone to Japan and had a personal meeting with Ikeda - we all knew this because it was front page news in the World Tribune - and he had come to share how great "Sensei" is. It was quite an eye-rolling experience for me having to hear him gush about how much of an incredible person "Sensei" is and how fortunate he felt to have found such a great mentor in life.

But it got me thinking, "If I flew over to Japan, could I have a one-on-one meeting with Ikeda?" Of course not! I'm a nobody in Ikeda's eyes! At SGI meetings they constantly talk about how everyone is equal in the organization, and that no leaders are above any members. Using that logic, I should be able to just call Ikeda up and meet! The reality is that it would probably be easier for me to first work at becoming a world-famous actor who can influence millions of young people that I can bring into the SGI, then ask for the meeting, which would undoubtedly be granted to me at that point.