QuoteFindingmywaytodayHello, sorry I only write every few months or so. This year has been really interesting for me. A year ago at this time, I was fairly gung-ho about the SGI. I did have my doubts after 4 years of practicing, but it seemed easy to overlook them when I supposedly had a "high life condition". I was able to overlook some of the weirdness of the organziation, and even em
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteTheVoidLisa Cowan, SGI-UK Young Women’s Division leader, lectured on The Three Kinds of Treasure. We learned that the heart of the Buddha, or the mentor, is the heart that constantly seeks the happiness of self and others. We were all encouraged to report magnificent victories. The kick-off ended with a lion’s roar gongyo. Straight after the meeting, we reported to Sensei on its success
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotechiriderbacknforth, I do not mean a head to head battle with SGI. That would be doing what they want someone to do. There is enough proof on the internet that sgi would like to get rid of. It just needs to shown every now and then. Going head to head is what real shakubuku is all about "correcting the misguided beliefs of others". Quote from Waking the Lion- vol.1 by Marge
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteMajorMajorThe latest video is the HQ leaders video but he isn't in it and it says that he sent a message about not being in the front so others can develop. Not much time to post but couldn't let that slip. I think what they mean is "We need time to get someone new who the membership like who when Ikeda passes away will say: 'Ikeda was my mentor, lets all follow his
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi all, Some of the regulars may remember me, I left SGI about 9 months ago, I was quite active on this forum for a few months after that. I just want to say, my head hasn't been split into 7 pieces, nor have myself or any of my family suffered tragic events. In actual fact, I got a great new job about a month ago, and I feel my personal relationships with my family and girlfriend hav
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuotecyclopsFor sure – I feel it’s a self inflicted purge – of course most of us old timers that have some grounding in Master – Disciple relationship know intuitively that a Master is a one to one relationship and has personal attachment and not someone who is thousands of miles away in Tokyo! SO what to do with the troublesome group of followers that know that this is all a made up chatter– we
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuotecyclopsFor sure – this is the fallacy of this Mentor and Disciple concept – the premise that the disciple will in time become the Master – this the SGI will never accept – for them the one and only Master is Ikeda - so their foundation is so distorted it makes any analytical person to just get up and walk out on this junket that SGI is pulling. SO many members that I know are voting with t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuotecyclopsOF course some of the YD is wakening up – in another district a YD member stated that their mentor was their parents – and no mention of Ikeda – a youth division leader shouted @ the YD member – stating that the member needed to get their head straight because Ikeda should be their mentor first before all others – the YD member just got up and walked out! I see this lot where sincere
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuotedoubtfulCertainly my reaction to the video of "Forever Sensei" reminded me of that. This was not simply a reaction to PR either. I cannot deny that for the better part of 21 years many of the leaders, members, activities and even the publications(prior to about 5 years ago) provided me with a lot of encouragement. I buried relatives, prayed for successful medical operations for lov
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Yeah I think the same as Rothaus. I'm not aware of anything like this going on in the UK at the moment. Its not really 'the done thing', big events and conventions like that just don't sit well with a lot of British people. And I didn't mean 'sensitive' in a derogatory way at all, its in a positive way.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Sorry to triple post, but I've been away for almost a week. A lot of people have said recently that when they first joined SGI they were vulnerable, and at a low point in their lives. This is absolutely nothing to be ashamed off. I'm one of those people. SGI members believe the 'Ikeda Dogma' so much that they actually appear genuine when they say they can help you, and
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Welcome to everyone who has posted their thoughts on this forum in the last few days! Loads of excellent points and questions raised by everyone. Its unusual to see so many new people visit this forum in such a short space of time. Does anyone think this has been sparked by the excruciating ramp up in pressure regarding Rock The Era that's been reported recently? I'm in two mind
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotewriteforchange@doubtful I have read so much Nicheren theology that I am no longer clear about some of it. I read and read and then got to the point that I felt some of it was so absurb that it no longer mattered. Hi WFC, SGI will never tell you but there are a number of Gosho letters which many Nichiren sects consider to be forgeries. Most of them deal with what you spoke about, Nichir
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteJohn TraficanteHi guys, I discovered your site just two days ago and I'm furious about that. Had I discovered it 2 or 3 years ago, I would be a free man by now. My story with SGI is a piece of work and I'm writing about it. I still have the GOHONZON that I hope to send back next week. I'm gonna your support (advice mainly) on how to cope with the aftermath of what I'
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

A quick question to anyone who's been to an SGI study meeting recently. Does SGI mention Ichinen Sanzen anymore? I was thinking about this earlier today. As far as my understanding goes, the concept of Ichinen Sanzen is the fundamental principle of Nichiren Buddhism. It underpins the very act of daimoku, and is the only 'real' way to explain karma, the human condition, and
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Wow, from everything in this 180+ page thread that is actually the most cultish behaviour I've seen. Sitting in a room together calling anyone and everyone, hoping they will come and join. I can't believe SGI has sunk to such depths to hide a nationwide membership drive, aimed squarely at 'the youth', which SGI has been losing rapidly and absolutely needs to survive. Hiding
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotetsukimoto 6. Awards? WHO is giving the award, and why are they giving it? I could make up some fancy trophy or certificate and say that I'm going to give my best friend "The Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Award" from the Tsukimoto International Peace Foundation. It might sound impressive, but what would it really mean? Not much. I would like to humbly accept this g
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteBlue Ladythis is the what I rec'd in my email yesterday. The big kahuna is visiting to beat us over our heads The benefit that accrues from making contributions is clearly spelled out in the Gosho. If we were to contribute to kosen-rufu just as the Gosho teaches and then failed to receive actual proof, then Buddhism would be false. The Gohonzon has tremendous power. I'm sure you
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteAnongirlWow, its so great to see all of you folk here, I dont feel so alone. I was a member for 6 years but havent practised now for over a year. Being in SGi did really help me for a while, it helped me to stay focused and positive but much of the time I was chanting and my inner self was staying the same. I never understood why members would give me a photo of a japanese man Id never met
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteRothausI guess SGI is in a bit of a catch 22 situation at least in the west. During the time while members of Nichiren Shu they never did the job one would except from an organised lay congregation except being pissed off when the priesthood would be critical of Mr. Ikeda. Concerning being involved many of the mainstream Christian congregations are far more advanced than SGI. There is the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi Rothaus, Thats an excellent list of points, I think it could be applied it to any kind deception/exploitation realtionship - husband and wife, business, crime. It wouldn't be unreasonable to bold these points too: - What is my motivation on my path? - What role does the need for a feeling of security, affirmation and approval play in my life? - Do I have the impression that I
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteSoniqueScThank you all so much for your responses. I'm going to do my best to write detailed responses to each of your thoughtful posts. Perhapse I should have clarified my position. I'm a current member with a lot of the same doubts mentioned here in this forum. I'm hoping to create value by having dialogs with those who are outside or on their way out. I'm not su
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteRothausHi David, Yeap seems so just read the posts in that group as they are public anyway, Scary stuff big time is it not? Interestingly enough more and more seem to leave --- SGI = Cult. Clearer than ever before. Very scary... I only left a few months ago but even in my bainwashed state I would've stopped and stared at that if I had read it in a magazine. It beggars belief how c
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteRothausI came across an interesting thread in the SGI yahoo group. One participant of this Yahoo group said: “In the "Seize the Day" Section of the May 28 World Tribune the following were written: In the article regarding the YMD flag, "The shield represents the vow one makes to protect the mentor, whose teachings enable all people to attain enlightenment."
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hello SoniqueSc, welcome to the forum. First of all, I would like to direct you to the post I made on this page which is a few posts up. It explains a bit about the purpose of this forum and the people here. It will definitely help you if you keep it in mind when engaging in dialogue with the people on this forum. You said, "I am a current SGI member who would like to have a sincere
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Dear GwT, First of all, welcome to the forum. Before responding directly to the points you made I'd just like to say a couple of things regarding this forum and the people here. Firstly, it would be good to bear in mind that the main purpose of this forum is not to discuss whether SGI is 'good or bad'. The main purpose of this forum is to be a support network for people who
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

@Wakatta I totally agree with your post, the truth couldn't be any simpler or plainer. One thing I'd like to add. I once spoke to a leader (who I was quite close to) about some of my concerns regarding 'SG'. He basically bare faced accepted that SG was, 'pretty weird and crazy', and justified it by saying that in Japan it is a totally different culture and en
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteNichijewSGI-italy, what a mess. Not great but Google translate gets the job done. If what Nichiren Daishonin teaches about unity is true, the future generations have little to worry about the Soka Gakkai despite their great size and wealth. Nichijew... Crying over SGI Italy's misfortunes that they brought upon themselves............NOT @Nichijew I've tried readin
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Its really interesting to read things from that perspective Wakatta, its not a thought process that I was ever exposed to during the last 4 years. I once did bring up the whole 'temple' issue, I didn't really know anything about it to be honest but I had heard of it, so a member gave me the 'Truth About The Fuji School' book. I noticed it was written by SGI so I didn�
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuotedoubtfulReading the posts on this site is becoming an obsession for me. I have been an SGI member for over 20 years, a district leader for about 6. I have always had reservations about many things in the organization, including Master-Disciple which later became Mentor-Disciple. I joined because I was searching for a dynamic spiritual experience among progressive people( I was openly gay), b
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families