oh, T&P, you hit the virtual nail on the head: "I likewise found this deeply painful, and embarrassing, too. A combination of "How could I have been so wrong about them?" and "What's wrong with me that I wasn't able to cultivate a more meaningful friendship, despite all my altruistic efforts? "I found my SGI friends to have been almost uniformly "
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

and, meh, I understand completely you not wanting to offend the person who introduced you to the practice. it's wonderful that you're still friends.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

((((((( meh ))))))) Hope you're not offended by the virtual hug from a virtual stranger. The isolation, the lack of friends outside of the org. is as you wrote, "a little tough". One of the most painful things for me was realizing that I really had no real friends within the org. The few friends I have outside of the org., as well as my neighbors who never practiced at all
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

interesting take on the Southwest, meh. my stepmom is still in LA (many Japanese pioneer members). ..."I don't miss her, only the person I thought she was." really hit me in the heart. I feel this way about several "good" friends - perhaps that's part of why I went through what I can only describe as mourning after leaving the org.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

meh, practiced in LA, Atlanta, Miami and the Caribbean. practicing in the South and in the Caribbean is mind-blowing. not a trace of actual Buddhism there in the org (except for the Dominican Republic - sincere and humble members and leaders there, and should be no surprise that they are NOT a part of sgi-usa). for the rest, especially the clusterfuck of an org in PR - many, many, many very ignor
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

corboy, don't know if this will help, but here's the youtube link I found for the 'murder' segment of the show.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

wow. thanks, meh, just watched clips from, 'Curiosity, Brainwashed'. fascinating stuff... and a little too close for comfort.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

meh, great post. and I'm very happy to be part of this conversation. hardly ever watch tv, but the program sounds fascinating. I'll see if it's available online... as far as hope for long-time members, you'd be amazed at how many don't buy into the b.s. - don't want to hear anything about the priesthood "issue" (so many believe that soka spirit is not
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

T&P, your scrolls are beautiful!!! I'll never understand why there are so many 'taboos' associated with sg - nothing more than superstitious b.s., but it's been my long experience that most folks buy into it without question :-/ and, it's amazing how much the twice-per-day universe-permeating prayers for "protection" never seems to appear when needed mos
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

hey corboy, thanks for the welcome :o) yeah, 28 years is a long time, more than half of my life practicing, studying, taking care of my group, district and chapter members, so many conventions, so many trips to Shinanomachi... definitely a true believer. but finally waking up and walking away was very easy. I mourned, and moved on. anything especially helpful? honestly, a good long vacation
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

long time lurker, but had to jump in here to say you guys have been cracking me up!!! took posted advice to heart and started reading this thread from the beginning, and it's been wonderful, and hilarious, as well as gut wrenching and tearful. practiced for 28 years before I forced myself to "de-program" in 2007, and I've never looked back, and have never been happier! T&am
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

{{{{{Blue Lady}}}}} your struggle really resonates. so many of my dear friends, from long time to new members, feel the exact same way. like quiet one, stepping away was not near as difficult as I thought, and my practice has never been more liberating. I think we all know deep in our hearts that our prayers to the Gohonzon, and following the teachings of Nichiren will lead us on our path to enl
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families