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doubtful
@v3rsus You wrote, "The more I talk, the more things come back to me about shit SGI folks told ME about MY LIFE. And I just went on, letting 'em do it! I sucked it all in like some kind of psycho-sponge for such a long time."
This is something that came to bother me as l learned more and more about "advice" or "guidance" given to members. How in the hell do other members KNOW anything about why people go through certain things? I don't even give Nichiren that credit. Anyone who presumed to tell you anything about your problems or challenges is not qualified. Paid professionals are barely capable of doing that credibly.
I have this feeling that if and when something unpleasant or unfortunate happens to me, the leaders will think I brought this on by leaving the organization and by posting on this forum. However, I watched hardcore members get terminal illness and die, become homeless, have accidents, get laid off etc. I already know that bad stuff happens to everyone, even those who chant. No one is exempt from problems. Even Ikeda lost a child a while ago. .
I got into this mindset too, thinking, "If I have a problem, it's because I haven't been chanting enough/serving SGI enough. If I stop practicing, or criticize SGI, that will cause bad things to happen to me." Leaders promote this very fear-based mentality, endlessly, causing much anxiety, guilt and pain to their members. Well, let's look at what has happened to some devout practitioners.
1. Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, founder of SGI: Imprisoned by the Japanese government; suffered brutal treatment and harsh conditions in Sugamo Prison; died in prison.
2. Josei Toda, second president of SGI: also suffered in Sugamo Prison. Released, built the Soka Gakkai from almost nothing to 750, 000 households. Referred to the Gohonzon as a "happiness machine," told followers that they could chant for health and prosperity. Despite this, died at the age of 58 due to chronic health problems.
3. Daisaku Ikeda, third president of SGI: lost his first son due to a bleeding ulcer.
4. David and Patricia Kasahara, SGI leaders in New York: lost their son in an accident.
5. David Aoyama: SGI leader; died in a plane crash, September 11.
6. Mitoko Miller: SGI Women's Division leader; lost husband on 9/11; he was in one of the Twin Towers.
7. Ronnie Smith, SGI Men's Division leader; died of cancer.
8. Our chapter's first leader: died of cancer, despite all the chapter's chanting for him.
9. Local women's division leader: Disabled in an automobile accident, died after months of suffering in a nursing home.
Reality is: If you're human, you are vulnerable! As you go through life, you WILL lose loved ones, and things that you value. At some point, you WILL get sick and die. You will NOT achieve and get everything that you want...and when you do get what you want, it doesn't necessarily make you as happy as you thought it would. It's the first of the four noble truths: "Life is suffering." No matter who you are and what you practice. SGI is destructive and hurtful when it tries to tell members that they can be exempt from this truth -- if they just chant more and give more money to SGI! Inevitably you find out -- it's not true, and that adds another layer of hurt onto what you already had.