I also think back to all the love-bombing I received. I normally wouldn't use that term, but that was what it was. If you talk about Ikeda, and the Mentor/Disciple Relationship, then the love-bombing will continue, I guess...
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thank you everyone. These seem like great ideas. I am getting the sense that whatever decision I make will certainly be the right one for me, and I can trust myself to take my power back from the SGI. By the way, I couldn't believe some of the ridiculous videos posted by Hitch of the Bhangra KRG, and the woman filming herself chanting. They were something else. I am realizing that I
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I am sorry for my ignorance, but is one an SGI member as long as you have an SGI Gohonzon? I no longer attend meetings, and I am rarely called. I am connected to a district, but no one asks about coming to chant with me, so that is fine. Am I still a member, as long as I have a Gohonzon from the SGI?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteThe AnticultAlso, for many people who are NOT into SGI, their mind can still "catastrophize". that is, for neutral, or unknown future events, the mind seems to naturally go to the negative scenario, and imagine it might happen, thus making the person anxious. So a person is on a new job, doing a very good job, yet their self-doubt creeps into their minds, and they start fearing
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Yeah, I know that the teachings aren't Buddhist, but it is good to know that many of you have been in this phase!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Well, perhaps it is called life, but I never became as superstitious as since I joined Soka Gakkai. Perhaps all kinds of things happened to me before, but like many people here, I never attributed them to anything but life. Now, I still attribute everything to the Gohonzon, and also to not chanting. I know this is because of how I was taught to think in the SGI, or at least what I picked up on.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotewakatta1QuoteshavoyBut there is a new sense of happiness brewing---the peace of knowing that I have listened to the voice inside and am living true to myself. Consider this: We all have had the "value creation power" within us. Ours to focus and use however we choose. Getting sidetracked by the Gakkai is like the person who doesn't trust the accelerator pedal and brake pe
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I enjoy all of your thoughts and opinions. What I am wanting is this feeling of peace. It is so hard to divorce myself from the SGI because my Gohonzon sits in my living room. I am still working on it. I want peace, and in the six years of being apart of the SGI, I felt other things, but not peace. It doesn't feel benevolent. Yeah, I pushed my life, but there was always this lingering sense
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Also, has anyone's life improved from leaving the Soka Gakkai? Has anyone become happier from leaving the SGI?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Has anyone rolled up their SGI Gohonzon, and printed out another type of Gohonzon from the Internet before?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote I have no interest in pursuing a Nichiren Shu practice or any practice of Buddhism at this point, (thank you SGI) and see that video as another helpful point of view examining this perplexing SGI machine. This is a really good point. SGI is really a perplexing machine. I completely agree with this point!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote At the same time we just have to at least be aware that within this forum we indicate towards other concepts within nichiren buddhism (that most in SGI have not the slightest clue of), but not to adverstise them either. You kept your message on that issue short and simple and it may help some out there to have a second think about what they are being told. Yes, I wanted to be sensi
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I completely agree about the video posted by Hitch. It makes me angry that they have taken the beauty of the Nichiren Buddhism, and the Lotus Sutra and connected it to the idolization of Daisaku Ikeda. In this video, they are starting so young. I wonder if these kids will later reject, or become big fans of Ikeda. On a slightly different note, I understand there is no mention of Human Revolut
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Here is some food for thought about the differences between Soka Gakkai, and Nichiren Shu. This is a conversation about some of the differences. Hope it is okay to post here:
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

There are so many interesting things being posted on this board. I try to keep up. I feel like I was truly more peaceful before I came across chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Recently, I visited a Nichiren Shu Temple (Not the same as Nichiren Shoshu, as you probably already know) to see what they do there. I ran into a former Soka Gakkai/ Nichiren Shoshu Practitioner there. What I learned from h
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteFindingmywaytoday, you sound like you are just too nice of a person. IMO, it's your house, you set the rules, you dictate what is acceptable to you and, most of all, you determine how a "guest" in your house treats you[/quot I am wondering if you think it is okay to call my district up, and tell them that I am not going to get the subscriptions, and I am not contributing to
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi! It has been a little bit since I last posted. I just wanted to say hello, and say how grateful I am for this board. I joined the SGI six years ago. About 2-3 years into it, maybe less, I became smarter. I started questioning things about the SGI. I always got the same answers, and was considered a "difficult" member. Anyhow, I am writing today because I have mostly disconnected
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

One common reaction I have gotten when they (the SGI people) talk about Mentor and Disciple is that the idea of M-D gets lost in translation, or they say something like they don't worship Ikeda. I have heard this often. I can't buy it. I have looked up what a mentor means, and I have l looked up what disciple means. To me, I agree with Shavoy in that it is one thing to be a disciple of
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteWakatta 1 I recall in my very early days with the SokaGakkai in Japan at age 20, I was having a very rough time of it (away from home, feeling isolated, coping with "adult" grade problems). The individual that was most responsible for getting me to accept a Gohonzon and I spoke one day when I was really down, and he said "you are being punished by the Gohonzon because you are
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteNichijewQuoterattyboyBtw, regarding parades, when the one parade I was in was over and we were on the bus, our "cho" or whatever he was as a leader was pumping his arms and his voice was nearly gone from screaming in delight over our victory. He reached toward me, grabbed my shoulders and shook me while looking wildly into my eyes. I wanted to give the right response and react way
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitch That constant feeling of "doom" is classic cult psychological manipulation. It's also mentioned in the video I posted early "How Cults Work" (along with all the stupid activities - i.e., marching/parades - and a very humorous song for the leader - i.e., forever sensei). You're supposed to be afraid because your thoughts have been reformed (i.e., you'
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteBuddha31I am a former SGI member who left SGI in 2011 some time. I later joined the Kempon Hokke, but I eventually left them as well(can't swallow Nichiren's DOGMA anymore than I can swallow the DOGMA of the Bible or the Koran). The thing about SGI that really drove me nuts more than anything, more than Ikeda worship, more than the creepy leaders who spout off SGI slogans, etc et
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I have been doing a lot of reflecting this week, and I am trying to put all my thoughts into their correct places. I am just wondering if it is far-fetched to feel like some of my paranoia about stuff happening to me came from my participation in the SGI? I am saying this because there was this constant feeling of doom happening to me, that I never felt before the SGI. Yeah, stuff happened before
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hey, I found that movie: Ticket to Ride on Youtube. Thanks for the reccommendation!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Oh, it dawned on me what I wanted to say. I have a questioning mind, and I pride myself not accepting things on face value. I started writing and interacting with this board when I felt there was a push for mentor/ disciple, and the oneness of mentor/ disciple. That never sat right with me. I also felt deceived by the person who shakabuked me. I felt I came into the organization under false terms
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Tonight I made a big step. I actually talked to someone from the temple, and it was so freeing to actually talks to someone who chants Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, but doesn't worship Ikeda. I had a great conversation with this woman. I have to tell you that I was really scared to call, but it was incredibly empowering to at least branch out. Although I don't know much about the temple, I h
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteevergreenHi Findingmywaytoday I found ICSA (International Cultic Studies Assoication) to be helpful they have speakers, referrals and conferences listed on their website. evergreen Thank you sooo much! This is really helpful!!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchFindingmywaytoday, you stated that you were happier before you joined. Therein lies your answer. Time to get out. I can tell you that absolutely, positively, you have been brainwashed. All the fear and talk of sansho shima is manifestations of that. People (potentially) chanting for you? Well, in my view, that's entirely their problem, not yours. Don't worry about it.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchFindingmywaytoday, you stated that you were happier before you joined. Therein lies your answer. Time to get out. I can tell you that absolutely, positively, you have been brainwashed. All the fear and talk of sansho shima is manifestations of that. People (potentially) chanting for you? Well, in my view, that's entirely their problem, not yours. Don't worry about it.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I also feel like what if what I am experiencing is Sansho Shima (spelling). Is that just part of the thinking?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families