More info on the Priesthood/SGI conflict, from an article on the Nichiren's Coffeehouse website by Ryuei Michael McCormick, a Nichiren Shu priest.
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nichirenscoffeehouse.net]
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In 1977, however, the relationship between the Soka Gakkai leadership and the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood began to break down. Due to statements made by Ikeda and the change of the gongyo prayers to include references to the Soka Gakkai, the Nichiren Shoshu priests were angered that the Soka Gakkai seemed to be equating itself with the third of the Three Treasure, the priesthood.
The priesthood, however, were further angered in 1978 when the Soka Gakkai allegedly made unauthorized copies of the Gohonzon for their community centers.
The Nichiren Shoshu priesthood and its original lay organization, the Hokkeko, however, were still not satisfied with the Soka Gakkai's apologies and were not convinced that the Soka Gakkai had changed its attitudes. In March 1979, the Hokkeko began pressuring Ikeda to resign as chief lay representative of Nichiren Shoshu.
In April 1979, Ikeda stepped down as president of Soka Gakkai and as chief lay representative of Nichiren Shoshu. In his place, Hiroshi Hojo became the fourth president of the Soka Gakkai. Ikeda, however, became the honorary president of Soka Gakkai and the president of Soka Gakkai International.
The relationship between the Soka Gakkai and the Nichiren Shoshu was fairly harmonious during the rest of the 80's. Ikeda was even reappointed as the chief lay representative of Nichiren Shoshu on January 2, 1984. This peace would not last however. During 1990 the tensions between the two groups erupted again, resulting in the dismissal of Ikeda as the chief lay representative of Nichiren Shoshu in December.
Throughout 1991 the accusations and recriminations between the Nichiren Shoshu and the Soka Gakkai intensified.
On November 8, 1991, the Nichiren Shoshu demanded that the Soka Gakkai disband. When the Soka Gakkai refused and instead intensified its criticisms of Nikken and the actions of the priesthood, the Nichiren Shoshu excommunicated the Soka Gakkai en masse on November 28. .
The next year, on August 11, 1992, the Nichiren Shoshu personally excommunicated Ikeda from the Nichiren Shoshu. On October 2, 1993 the Soka Gakkai began to issue its own Gohonzons, using one originally transcribed by Nichikan, the 26th High Priest of Nichiren Shoshu. On November 30, 1997, the Nichiren Shoshu excommunicated the actual members of Soka Gakkai who refused to leave the organization to join the Hokkeko
The Soka Gakkai claims to have 8 million members in Japan and 300,000 in the U.S., but more conservative estimates put the Japanese membership at 4 million and the U.S. membership at just under 36,000 in 1997. ---------------------------------End of Quote---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The history of SGI that leaders will not tell you. During my years in the Soka Gakkai, I never knew that there was actually a fourth Soka Gakkai president, Hiroshi Hojo.
Interesting that Nichiren Shoshu felt that they had to excommunicate SGI members twice -- on November 28, 1991, and on November 30, 1997. Was Nikken afraid that the first excommunication didn't work?
What does it really mean to be excommunicated in a situation like this? At the time, I still had my Gohonzon, and my Gosho book, and I was still chanting and studying. To me, at first, "excommunication" just felt like a war of words between men in suits and men in robes.
I remember hearing that SGI had 300,000 members in the U.S. Quite a difference from 36,000. I'm sure that we'll soon be hearing about the millions of people who attended Rock the Era.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/10/2010 02:07AM by tsukimoto.