QuoteTaitenAndProudQuoteI am not resigning from anything. Even when I was in NSA, there was no need for "resignation," as I was not an employee. The purpose of officially resigning one's former membership is to do whatever is possible to get one's personal information out of that organization's books and to stop that organization from claiming one as a member (and thus
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I called the temple and explained the situation. I left my number and they forwarded it to a member in my area. I thought for sure that I would be bombarded by calls. But it took a week for that member to call me. We spoke, and I was surprised that she didn't make any effort to reel me back in. She offered to pick it up at my convenience/meet somewhere - and that works well for me. I told he
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

TaP's response to me factored in many assumptions, pulled out of thin air. I'm not personally delivering that gohonzon to the temple, hence - no recognition sought. I've made arrangements to give it to a local NST member who is a complete stranger to me, whom I will most likely never see again. I've made no mention of superstition or perceived cosmic retribution - yet it was a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote So let me see if I understand here. Someone got a butsudan that happened to have an old gohonzon in it that some stranger apparently got at some point and then got rid of. For free. It apparently had no more value to its original owner than garbage. And now this new owner-by-default is determined to return that mass-produced xeroxed gohonzon to the NSA priests. Of course, the expectat
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Last week, I saw a pile of household goods, piled up at the curb. I pulled over and did a little rummaging. I walked away with a pair of Prada sunglasses and a 1967 Seiko, model 6619 Sportsmatic watch. I sold the sunglasses on eBay for $160 and the watch for $75. One man's trash... QuotemehI think what someone decides to do with their gohonzon is a matter of personal choice; the motive fo
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

MEH - Thank you. I try my best to do what I feel is the right thing to do. I really appreciate your sharing your "Passover Pot" story with me. It feels like, you "get it." After all, when push comes to shove, I have to live with myself, and myself alone. I'm just following my gut. That's the best I can do. I trust my gut. I find that when I override those intuitiv
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

TaP, I am not concerned about bad things happening to me as a result of mishandling of a scroll, aka religious object. I had a very good relationship with the priests back in the day. They were kind, courteous, respectful, contemplative, and never failed to take the time to answer my questions. Some of these men have spent the better part of their adult lives studying, chanting, and sharing w
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hello tatien and proud. I appreciate your willingness to offer help. Thank you. I'm not having issues with regard to SGI. It's been a long, long time. I found this MB and a lot of it brings back old memories. Plus, I have this gohonzon I acquired that needs to go back to its rightful place.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

No. The Gohonzon is not mine. It came with a Butsadan I picked up for free on Craigslist. It's also not an SGI gohonzon, it's a Nikken ghonzon. I have never been an "SGI" member. I left NSA in 1985. Like I said, I still have a bit of ingrained respect for the gohonzon - I can't say why. I just want to get it back to the temple - but not enough to spend my time and gas doi
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

@Hitch Thanks. I'm surprised they were able to get any money out of me at all. I love most things cheap or free. Nothing better than a good bargain! Then again, that's how I wound up with somebody else's gohonzon, which in turn led me to this MB. It never fails to amaze me what can be found in the free section of Craigslist -- LOL! The last straw was when they stranded my mo
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

@eyzopn My primary goal is what to do with this gohonzon. I called the temple and they said that a local member would call me and arrange for pickup. I thought for sure I would be swamped with calls. So far... nothing. I am not of the mindset to drive out to Hollywood to return it. My mom still wants to look into the NST. I've shared with her all that I have read about the cult of SGI.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I found it quite interesting to learn that Ikeda doesn't have proof of so much as a (self-earned) High School diploma and no employment history out side of the SG. Quoterattyboy...I never signed up to idolize a person..." Thank you, Backnforth. I agree. For me: Attempts to resell me the same used car (SGI) whenever I'm around an SGI member or members, even at memorial service
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

This is definitely longer than I intended it to be. I joined NSA in 1984. At the time, I was 19. I was told that they were open to dialogue. Being inquisitive by nature, I had many questions, about the practice. Most couldn't be answered. So I went to the temple and asked one of the priests. The answers he gave me, helped to tide me over for a while. But the organization continued to rub
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families