"I was marching around parking lots, like one of the kids being led around by The Pied Piper of Hamelin, off to have my life almost taken away by the cult."

Hitch, here in Chicago we marched around the big scary North Avenue National Guard armory, where I had to exit at a desolate CTA train station to get there. I was a Kotekitai, as it was called I believe, I played a mean piccolo! When I attended the pilgrimage, I was not allowed to march in the tozan parade and was instead made part of the angel corps, the people who march alongside the kotekitai and serve as aids, with water, band aids, etc. Nobody asked if I wanted to do this. This was done because I was overweight and I guess a fat girl in a skimpy outfit is no good for cousin rufus. Although I was kicked out, women ten years and more older than me (I was 18 at the time) were still marching as YWD! I was so hurt, but did as I was told. I had marched in many parades before, in white patent go-go boots no less. But I was not cute enough to march in front of ikea. I was depressed that whole pilgrimage. Hearless, inconsiderate "leaders".

Looking back, I can't think of one cult "leader" whom I can say is worthy of being looked up to and emulating. Not a single one (and believe me, I've honestly tried, very hard, to recall any).

Hitch, ditto. In Chicago, leadership was a popularity and beauty contest. And being Japanese, in whole or in part, didn't hurt.

I was as dedicated as they come, never missed any kind of meeting, slaved away on projects at the community center, did street recruiting, went on every trip, spoke intelligently and articulately at every discussion meeting, yet I was never appointed to even be a group leader. I saw other girls, particularly cute or Japanese ones, rising up quickly. I think the prejudice I faced was again due to my size. WhenI would listen to them talk, I would be thinking that these girls could not lead me out of a paper bag. There are more management layers in this org than in the government bureacracy I work for, and we did not question why. Now we know why. Puff people up, make them even more fanatical to protect their status, more invested in the org. Short sighted though, because the best people were often passed over. Now that I think about it, spirituality was very lacking in this so-called Buddhist org, it was more like a corporation and being a member was like going to work.

Oh, btw I forgot to add one comment to this video [www.youtube.com] posted earlier.

Notice from the 4:30 min. mark, there is a guy who starts jumping around on stage left (when facing the audience), he goes bonkers and starts pumping both of his arms up and down ordering the audience to support more with louder and more vigorous (a word I heard often from cult leaders) applause. This is typical of the kind of fanatic cult member who is destined to become one of those power hungry manipulators (if he isn't already).

I know this cult like the back of my hand.

On that note: To freeheartandmind,

The stereotyping, sexism and cruel behavior all get magnified and go into overdrive when you are dealing with the cult fatherland and the Japanese members.

It was common and pervasive behavior. I know a few ex-ywd from my time "in" who still remember the sheer mental and physical abuse, as well as the extreme rudeness, from their kotekitai days. I was shocked to hear some of their stories about ywd whom I had an image of being nice, sincere, wholesome, mother-like people turning out to be the same ones who screamed and hit people during their intense practices. Absolutely "heartless" and "inconsiderate", sums it up well.

I was asked to leave a meeting once for not showing up in the mandatory milkman uniform (from the 80's). I gladly left and told my parent, "hey, they were the ones who told me to this time." I remember, I was so happy. :-))

Why do you think NSA/SGI has never got involved in politics in the US?

Ever look at how much money SGI-USA spends lobbying politicians in the USA? We dug up some in this thread before.
It was in the millions.
SGI-USA is involved in politics in the US.

Never heard of them! Tks

ANTICULT,
This information is the most important piece I have ever been given! Thankyou! If u haven't kept a copy of your statwment, you should. It's one thing to think well I'm not sure what happened to me & another when put in rhe context u addressed above! The reason is INTENT! IF what u say is true then the SGI takes on a much more serious concern. What does that say about the intent of the organization on a global scale? Yicks!

I certainly have an entirely different perspective. That is evil on a global scale.

I am glad that THE VOID was able to see the truth without wasting so much time believing in fairy tales. For whatever reason, I didn't. At least after reading the post above I understand their was careful planning as to how to go about keeping members. Very creepy!

There is someone who is a congressman from the south whose name escapes me. AND THERE IS A UNIVERSITY PUMPING OUT OR PIMPING OUT BRIGHT EYED PEOPLE WHO I'M SURE WILL GO INTO VARIOUS GOVERNMENT POSITIONS! After what I've read this morning it's not a comfortable thought!

Quote
Freeheartandmind
Why do you think NSA/SGI has never got involved in politics in the US?

Quote
The Anticult
Ever look at how much money SGI-USA spends lobbying politicians in the USA? We dug up some in this thread before.
It was in the millions.
SGI-USA is involved in politics in the US.

Oh yes indeed. They are trying. They are trying, real hard to get into politics - always have, too. $$$$ talks and nsa/sgi-usa has always known and used this principle.

That said, all of their $$$$ still hasn't bought them a meeting with any U.S. President, much to "Ikea's" chagrin (cue in the 90's and his infamous childish public rant towards Clinton).

Tom Bradley, mayor of Los Angeles, also attended big nsa meetings, because I remember seeing the man being escorted by Mr. Sadanaga/Williams and given the major VIP treatment.

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (4th District - Georgia), discussed elsewhere in this thread, is an infamous sgi-usa member who has recently travelled to Japan to present the dear leader with an "official" U.S. award.

They also used to trot out "official" letters of "congratulations" from members of congress, The President & VP, on big meeting occasions whenever they could get their hands on them (i.e., when a request for them was actually fulfilled).

I'm sure there are many, many more examples.

PS, I've mentioned before how the cult is huge on say "CONGRATULATIONS!" about everything:

"CONGRATULATIONS! On coming to this meeting! / CONGRATULATIONS! On giving your experience! / CONGRATULATIONS! On singing a gakkai song! / CONGRATULATIONS! On meeting some "leader!" / CONGRATULATIONS! On being appointed a "leader!" / CONGRATULATIONS! On meeting your first obstacle! / CONGRATULATIONS! On doing morning & evening gongyo everyday without missing! / CONGRATULATIONS! On doing more daimoku! / CONGRATULATIONS! On your seeking spirit! / CONGRATULATIONS! On driving three hours to this meeting! / CONGRATULATIONS! On changing your karma! / CONGRATULATIONS! On giving zaimu! / CONGRATULATIONS! On taking care of your members! / CONGRATULATIONS! On meeting me! / CONGRATULATIONS! On going to the bathroom by yourself! / CONGRATULATIONS!, CONGRATULATIONS!, CONGRATULATIONS!!!" (And cue in a big sh**-eating grin and aggressive handshake every time you hear it.)

Everyday is your wedding or birthday in the cult (it drove me up a wall, too).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/24/2012 05:27AM by Hitch.

Quote
Freeheartandmind
Looking back, I can't think of one cult "leader" whom I can say is worthy of being looked up to and emulating. Not a single one (and believe me, I've honestly tried, very hard, to recall any).

Hitch, ditto. In Chicago, leadership was a popularity and beauty contest. And being Japanese, in whole or in part, didn't hurt.

I was as dedicated as they come, never missed any kind of meeting, slaved away on projects at the community center, did street recruiting, went on every trip, spoke intelligently and articulately at every discussion meeting, yet I was never appointed to even be a group leader. I saw other girls, particularly cute or Japanese ones, rising up quickly. I think the prejudice I faced was again due to my size. WhenI would listen to them talk, I would be thinking that these girls could not lead me out of a paper bag. There are more management layers in this org than in the government bureacracy I work for, and we did not question why. Now we know why. Puff people up, make them even more fanatical to protect their status, more invested in the org. Short sighted though, because the best people were often passed over. Now that I think about it, spirituality was very lacking in this so-called Buddhist org, it was more like a corporation and being a member was like going to work.

Freeheartandmind...one sentence in your post I must comment on: "Short sighted though, because the best people were often passed over." Seems to me that they might have been passed over on purpose. One reason being possibly because they did not have the true bite of the KR Dog, and that surely would have been perceived by the in-deep senior leaders. Down the road, they might cause "problems". Also, the novelty of cute Japanese young ladies might seem like a draw, particularly for the always-lagging male SGI-USA population.

Another great observation: "it was more like a corporation and being a member was like going to work." This is a corporation, no ifs or buts. And the corporate mind-set, to quote the oft-quoted Gordon Gekko: "Greed is Good!"