It's interesting, there is also a discussion on this topic on the Buddha Jones site: QuoteevergreenI remember one of my buddhist professors in college: when he introduced Nichiren he called him "a trouble making monk." He spoke of his letters as being incendiary. people have used his writings over time to suit their own need. Nichiren wanted to expose the corruption of hi
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The buddhajones.com website had an interesting quote from Twitter: -----------------------Beginning of Quote--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JessicaG90: Our teacher had us in class reciting Tina Turner Nichiren Buddhism chant "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" 1 day ago from UberTwitter --------------------------
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Stoic posted this on the Byron Katie thread of the "Cults, Sects and New Religious Movements" forum: -------------------------------------------Beginning of Quote------------------------------------------------------------ This article on happiness and adversity presents a more realistic and long-term picture of the life events over which none of us, including Byron Katie, ha
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David, I did not know about that website, and I don't know anything about Safwan Zabalawi either. He or she could be some ordinary member who has created the website independently. Or perhaps there is no person by that name; an SGI member, leader, or group could have just chosen that pseudonym. It's not an official SGI website, but it can say things that an official site couldn&#
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More about paying $180,000 to name a gate for Ikeda, from Soka Gakkai Unofficial: from -----------------------beginning of quote---------------------------------------------------------------------------- People's Park Re: "Branding" Ikeda Park for $180,000 Stace: <<I remember one youth saying that by 2010 everyone will know who Ikeda is. I wonder why is thi
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So, according to the mythology, Josei Toda, second president of the Soka Gakkai, became enlightened while in prison during World War II in Japan. After the war, he began rebuilding the Soka Gakkai and spreading the faith. However, at many points, his behavior does not exactly seem Buddha-like: Excerpts from an article by a Nichiren Shu priest, Ryuei, from -----------------------------Be
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David, this is on (A website sponsored by the Soka Gakkai) ------------------------------------------------Beginning of Quote----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Enlightenment In July 1943, Toda was detained and imprisoned on charges of violating the Peace Preservation Law, a key tool for the suppression of dissent in wartime Japan, a
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QuoteDavidM My friend found this forum and challenged me to read it, it was only 130 pages back then :) . At first when reading my brain threw up all the usual SGI conditioned responses, 'these are evil people trying to harm buddhism, 'these people are lying, 'its all the Japanese tabloids fault!', but as I read on and on something started to change inside me. I felt how sin
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QuoteScoobyDooby This is my situation with my wife. As a 20+ year member, I'm losing hope that she'll ever come to the realization of how much her SGI activities has taken away from our kids and I over the years, let alone that it's a cult. As a long time member was it a gradual realization that there was something definately wrong with the SGI or was it a "light bulb"
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Barbara's Buddhism Blog has had two good articles on SGI -- one on the Ikeda-King-Gandhi exhibit and the other on naming the park gate after Ikeda. In her article on the Ikeda-King Gandhi exhibit, she asks the same question that many of us have -- how can you compare Ikeda to Gandhi and Dr. King? -----------------------Beginning of Quote, Barbara's Buddhism Blog----------------
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Sparky, I appreciate having this thread. It has helped me transition and detox from my years in SGI. I'm grateful to Rick Ross for having this website, where so many people can share their experiences and warn others about certain groups. When I was in SGI, frustrated and questioning, I felt very alone. Those members who left didn't seem to want to talk about SGI at all.
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From the Kempon Hokke Blog on www.fraughtwithperil.com: Videos: 1. "Don't You Want to Become a Cult Leader?" Video about how to start your own cult. Not specifically related to SGI, but much of it applies. When the "cultmember" was giving "testimony" about how awful his life was before the group, and how great it was since he'd joined, and t
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QuoteTheVoid How is having a gate named after Ikeda going to promote Kosen rufu, are people going to see the name on the gate, and their hearts will connect with his, opening the gates to the mentor/disciple relationship. they will obviously yearn to attain a great victory by entering these gates. this is a most profound and Joyous occasion which is unparalleled in history, we have been vic
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Evergreen, sorry about the loss of your friend. I have been able to avoid the SGI members in my area. I would feel anxious if I had to go to some event where there would be a lot of members. I like Wakatta's advice about considering it like going back to your old high school, something that would trigger memories -- but that you have grown past. I also like Rothaus's advice ab
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Quotequiet onetsukimoto, I find this very disturbing. It also makes me mad. I don't want SGI's stamp on public property such as parks. Agreed. I also don't want them opening schools in the United States...or anywhere else....but unfortunately, the Soka Gakkai's application for a new charter school, Spirit of Knowledge Academy in Worcester, Massachusetts was recently appro
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Interesting discussion going on at Barbara's Buddhism Blog. In San Francisco, SGI/some SGI members are offering the city $180,000 to name a gate in Franklin Square Park after Ikeda. A number of city residents are not happy about this. Bill Aiken's comment that a private SGI member chose to donate the money if the gate is named for Ikeda is a nice slick trick. SGI can c
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QuoteNichijewDear Tsukimoto: "For instance, some say, "You can overcome your problems if you do shakubuku, if you promote Seikyo Shimbun you can be happy. You can be happy if you try to do more zaimu." This is a life condition of hunger. You are always expecting something in return. If you don't overcome your problem you will resent having made the effort. This is different
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Evergreen, Wakatta, and Dr. Jesus, I think you all make great points. Certainly, leadership (or lack thereof) is a big part of the problem. People chosen to be leaders are the people who will parrot the party line. That's how they'll lead...and who they'll promote. Wakatta's "dialogue" between the questioning member and the party-line leader was spot-on
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Quotewakatta1 Just to stir some further discussion, onething that repeatedly bothered me a lot when I practiced was the loneliness. Sure I was surrounded by members who were chanting intentedly to their "happiness machines" for their "heart's desire", but aside for administrative or faith-based activities, there was very little in the way of "fellowship". Fr
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Quiet One, congratulations on the article! That's great! Our thread has seemed to be going through a lull...it's had busy and slow periods since we began it in July 2008. Back then, I'd never have guessed that it would grow to 156 pages. I didn't expect it to go past ten. There was more to say about SGI than I thought....and more people out there who have concerns
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SokaGakkaiUnofficial, Message #99738 Whenever I had a question for or issue with Soka Gakkai; it was always taken as a challenge. Then, whatever leader or person I spoke with tried to adduce my motives. Either that, or I was told it was not important. If I raised this problem of miscommunication; I was told it was my problem, that something about me caused this confusion. I finall
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Thanks, Nichijew -- that worked! I especially liked this message on the SGIUnofficial board. This was my experience in SGI too. If I ever had a question about something SGI did or said, the leaders inevitably took it as an attack on SGI --- when sometimes, all I really wanted was more information. -------------------Beginning of Quote, SGI Unofficial Board-----------------------------
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Does anyone know what's going on with the SGIUnofficial message board? When I try to look at messages there, I keep getting a page that says it's temporarily unavailable. It's been this way for several days.
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QuoteRothaus@ Tsukimoto well I myself am not to sure what to think whenever nichiren followers amongst themselves throw with dirt at each other or proclaim that they are the real McCoy. Sceptical and turned off. How far is SGI, amongst others, from such a view of the world. Gandhi and King to me represent a very simple idea - to show and live UNCONDITIONAL respect for others. I agree, Rot
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QuoteRothaus Well if you look at it SGI NEVER spoke out against human rights issues: China, Tibet, Death penalty, Child abuse, not one issue that is contriversial and would mean to declare its position ... okay nuclear weapons, but thats rather common sense. True, and Japan is also the only country that has suffered a nuclear bombing...so Ikeda's "no nukes" position would be po
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Elmore has also commented that it's interesting that SGI has sponsored the "Gandhi, King and Ikeda" exhibit. During the Civil Rights Movement in America -- while Dr. King was alive, and working for civil rights -- Ikeda apparently said NOTHING publicly regarding Dr. King or his work. (Just as King and Gandhi opposed the death penalty, and Ikeda's apparently never said a
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Antony Elmore, on www.proudblackbuddhist.org, writes extensively on SGI's feud with Nichiren Shoshu. He has strong opinions, as I do -- and is also very pro-Nichiren Shoshu, which I am not. Despite that, I can agree with much of what he writes. Here, I've excerpted some of what he's written about the SGI's actions in Memphis and Ghana. From www.proudblackbuddhist.o
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Also, page 49 of this thread has information on the IRG.
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Quiet One, the Nichiren's Coffeehouse website has information on the IRG. nichirenscoffeehouse.net/IRG/history.html The IRG was a group of people who were SGI members back in the late 1990's. They sent letters and memos to SGI requesting that SGI-USA actually have the autonomy that the SGI Charter says that national groups should have. The leadership of SGI, needless to
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QuoteNichijew This week, two people from the IRG yahoo reform group , one person on the SGIunofficial yahoo group, and one Kempon Hokke friend, were contacted to set up home visits. Coincidence? nichijew Interesting. When I left SGI, I quarreled with a fairly senior, and popular Women's Division Leader. I think what's happened is that she has said some awful things to the other
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