QuotetsukimotoQuoteMorgaine I've read Rissho Ankoku Ron too --- my thought is that Nichiren Daishonin, wise though he was, did not know about fault lines and plate techtonics, the theory that there are large plates under the surface of the earth -- and that these plates shift and cause earthquakes and tsunamis. Someone anti-SGI would say that this earthquake happened because of SGI's ev
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@tsukimoto: Hi Tsukimoto, happy New Year, Glad you are well. There is something I would like to clarify and that is 1) What the SGI teaches 2) What Nichiren and Shakyamuni teach and the Lotus Sutra. One of the main things about Buddhism is securing the peace and security of the land, that is not something SGI teaches that is Nichiren. So that is why this earthquake is a big deal. Several of
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@bobze, WhoW! Slow down and do daimukku three times. I am not an SGI Member. Since you changed it to everyone , I will ignore the rest of your statement as it does not apply to me. Though it is obviously something you feel strongly about. I posted my comment because I was struck by the fact that SGI just had a prayer session for the earthquake in Japan in 1995 and then less than a month
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Buddhism Jan 17, 2011 At the Soka Gakkai Hyogo Culture Center On the 16th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake (January 17, 1995) in Japan, Soka Gakkai held memorial services on January 17, in remembrance of those who lost their lives. Services were held at four venues in Osaka and Hyogo Prefectures. At the Soka Gakkai Hyogo Culture Center, after prayers for victims of the earthqu
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QuoteRothausQuotebachnforthI just have the strong feeling that they are building up to something; a major announcement. Not just that Ikeda will pass away (soon?) but they may have a new name for the organization, new silent prayers, new Gohonzon? I don't know what is coming, but I just sense that something major will change . . . and so many others, like us, will attempt to question, be sil
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The more I read about what is going on the more happy I am about my decisions this year to really turn my practice in another direction. Instead of realizing the MDM ( mentor disciple mistake) , is just that a mistake, they are ramping it up into high gear. When will the madness stop?
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@doubtful, I agreed with sgiwonder, regarding missing the meetings, but as I read your post I realized that I missed the meetings from over 10 years ago when we were very active and there were really good experiences. I guess if I think about it ,it has been a long time since I went to a meeting and felt that type of energy. As for my district meetings, it is similar to what you describe, th
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@backnforth: Evil not Evil, who really knows, I completely agree: Devadatta Chapter 12 of the Lotus Sutra: The Buddha said to his monks: "The king at that time was I myself, and this seer was the man who is now Devadatta. All because Devadatta was a good friend to me, I was able to become fully endowed with this six paramitas, pity, compassion, joy, and indifference, with the thirty-tw
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@sgiwonder, I completely agree with your post, it is particularly hard for me at times, because there are LOTS of Buddhist (sgi) where I live, I run into them all the time. I am sort of lucky though, a few of my friends have also left along with me, but I still miss the tozos with all the people and the energy of that. I also miss feeling as if I was part of something great and purposeful tha
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Hi all, First I was remiss in not welcoming Tibbs to the forum, welcome Tibbs. @BeingAdagio, yes , I agree it is important for us to help each other out with the deprogramming and I completely see your point and where you were coming from. I lapse into the SGI speak still too. So thanks . @Tsukimoto: I think that is a great idea to deconstruct Gakkai speak and see what we were told it
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@Being Adagio, I think it is hard to stop the Gakkai speak, especially after 20-plus years, I still speak that way and I have not been to a meeting in over a year, I sometimes have to go back and erase something I have written to post because I know it sounds very Gakkaish. Such is the way of cults and getting over being in one , the behavior and verbiage is hard to shake. I think the
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@ tsukimoto, that is great that things are going well for you, and this will be my last "chanting works" post, cause I think I have made my thoughts clear. I would say that the thing that strikes me the most is that , the real corruption of the SGI is not that they promise that you will get "things" if you chant, it is that it takes the focus off of the real purpose of Budd
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Dear doubtful, Your words reallly touch me. I tried the same experiment you with not chanting a few years ago and had the same response. Yes, some people did benefit from the snake-oil, the people who sold it! LOL.
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Doubtful and Tsukimoto, Tsuikimoto from your last paragraph I get that the issue you have is not with "gongyo and daimoku" it is with cult manipulative behavior by the SGI. I think all of us on this forum are here for that same reason, to expose the cult behavior. It is important though to point out that Buddhism existed long before the SGI and it will exist long after the SGI i
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@ tsukimoto: I remember that meeting in 1993 very well, it was simulcast all over the US,many members did react, when he made fun of Mr. Williams many of the older members just got up and walked out. I remember thinking it was really bizarre , I think that was the last time we saw Mr. Williams in his capacity of leader of NSA.
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QuotetsukimotoQuoteStoicIt was not my intention to cause division amongst you but simply to point out that conclusions based on emotion rather than logic have long been used to hoodwink people who have little understanding of probability theory. Just because it feels right it doesn't necessarily follow that it is right. Our feelings are changeable and easily manipulated. On the subject o
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Ugh goodness, really?? Are we saying that chanting does not offer protection? That it does not put you in rrthym?? I wholeheartedly disagree. Without delving into a conversation about quantum mechanics, I would say, yes there are things wrong with SGI, but please, do not throw the baby out with the bath-water.
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@ wakatta, I see your point, I choose option one for a long time until the M/D thing went into overdrive , then I chose option two. It is not easy to realize you were in a cult, and for such a long time. @BeingAdagio,, I so agree with you, I just want a simple practice to chant and study in a group of like minded people without all the debates. It would be a refreshing change. Whoever thou
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@Wakatta, I agree the SGI does not have a monopoly on the Gohonzon, my reply to V3sus was simply to agree with the conclusion she came up with for her own life and offer support. The larger contextual issue of the authenticity of the Gohonzon and who should issue it is a whole nother can of worms, which could take us down many different roads, i.e. consecration of Gohonzon, authenticity of
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@v3sus, I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your child, the statements of your so called "leader" must have only exacerbated the sorrow. I like your solution to the problem of leaving the gakkai, it sounds very good, if they do keep bothering you, do perhaps the solution someone posted of threatening legal action will help. One aspect of the "Gakkai" I always hated was
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QuotecyclopsIf only it was as easy @ this to tell SGI to leave you be! Years ago I was a leader and I had a YD member parents call me and they told me that there kid would not be going to any SGI activities so take their kid name off the list - I horned their request and said the kid would be taken off! This occurrence took place during the IKEDA is your mentor campaign! Well about two months
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v3sus, Welcome to the forum, I am so sad to hear your experience, there is a weird thing in the Gakkai, I have seen over the years when dealing with members with mental illness, there is much bad guidance to the unfortunate and then there is a certain level of labeling and disdain, not good for all concerned. I think if you make it clear to them what it is YOU want to do they will leave you a
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QuoteTheVoid I am willing to put a large wager on that, when Ikeda dies (though he is Eternal apparently) an Ikeda Gohonzon will replace the Nichikan Gohonzon, and that Shakyamuni, Nichiren, Ikeda will be pushed as the latest 3 treasures. Is that insane or a just a very real possibility? That would be really great. Such an obvious glaring departure from Buddhism would wake those that are on t
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QuotebacknforthI am new to the forum. I am so happy to see some like-minded people with present or previous Gakkai experience. I wonder if some of you might help get the word out. The oneness of mentor/disciple is an SGI invention and people need to know. We should point this out to anyone we care about. The study material for the 'new' study exams to be held in October has a very
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@ quietone, Maybe, Mr. Ikeda is not behind it maybe he is, at this point it is irrelevant, the SGI as a whole is spreading a doctrine that is not Buddhism, also Mr. Ikeda has a son that is young enough and I would guess in contact with his own father, he could try and put a stop to it. One call to a local newspaper and that would at least make people aware. In any case , 20 years ago, there w
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@ Anticult Yes. Your post is the best explanation I have heard of the mind-trap in a long time. The thing that is insidious is that chanting will bring you benefits and that is the trap. Because over the years when I chanted I would see some change and feel good after a tozo, the rest of the craziness I bought into also, they say the best lie is the one that has some truth to it. But if I c
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@ cyclops, Other than the constant push to send a letter to President Ikeda I have not run into such a pledge either. I am not sure about the MD being the ones who are not down with the program with the whole M/D and MD pledge thing, I have found the MD to be the first one fighting for this, I guess things are different where you practice. I think the reason for the pledge is the same as a
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QuoteScoobyDoobyI've never heard about this organization (doesn't appear to be affiliated with any of the Nicherin organizations that I know of) but an interesting discussion regarding the M/D relationship. @ScoobyDooby Hi, one of my friends who lurks on this site just told me to look at the link you have posted, I think this is one of the best answers I have heard to the whole M
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@doubtful, Hi doubtful, I had a similar experience to yours to day. I ran into a member who I know had not been out in a while, he was a small group leader , and they retained his position for him. He had since returned and has taken up his old position. I did not know it was MD month but he informed me of all-the difficulties he was having planning a meeting. I have to admit I did feel the
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Hi all, I am very curious about the fact that PI was not seen at the HQ meeting in Japan, as one member here said. AFter having the constant bombardment of him at every meeting in one way or another , I find that quite odd. Does anyone have more info about that?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families