QuoteDrJesusEsqI do have one question in mind. It's a question of check and balances, of accountability. Frankly, if she really did understand any Buddhist teaching, even from the so-called evil Buddhist sects, can tell you that dishonesty is a big no-no. You don't lead one honest person to commit a bad error and then blame the error on them. well in any other buddhist groups it would
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

@ tsukimoto all this is actually quite pathetic when you coem to think of it. Even though its quite a few years since it shows to what length some in SGI would go.
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@ Anticult As far as I know Tiger Woods mom is practising a form of Thai buddhism.
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sorry folks a bit confused her, after reading this report - is Ms. Johnson still working for the state of california? I fshe is she mixes private issues with official ones. Sounds ab it like what we call a "banana republic". Does it not?
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@ wayfarerfree Try to get a hold of a copy of 'Fire in the Lotus' by Montgomery. In English one of the most objective books on Nichiren Buddhism. Sadly out of print by now though - Interlibary loan? The 'Dai-Gohonzon'? to my mind its a fake yes. I guess SGI has not made up its mind on the issue. As I said from the perspective of dogma they are in a giant catch 22 situati
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Well I think one has to distinguish. As a Nichiren Buddhist I would say the SGI- Gohonzon is not eye-opened anyway, so its not much different than the Gohonzons you can buy online. The eye-opening to my mind is, nothing else but, a ceremony. Its a step, a sign of commitment. But its a thing that takes place inside, the Gohonzon “just” a mere reflection of an inner attitude. As you may have brow
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I tink thats up to your discretion. In my case I have two options either hand it over to a priest of the scholl I am going to join or hand it back to somebody in SGI. Since I left not in a grudge (as I just left) I think the latter makesa clear cut. And they would officialy have to count me out.
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@ evergreen Have you never noticed the amount of honary degrees that Mr. Ikeda receives form a country that stamps the fredom of speech with its feets? China. What more is there to say I ask.
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The thing about Byrd is - and even after some time has passed now - it makes me so angry. As Anticult pointed out its those kind of stories that circulate in SGI circles. This time however the birth of this myth can be traced back quite good here in the internet. SHAME on Soka Gakkai for trying to undermine someones reputation after their passing - SHAME ON YOU. Sorry folks but just reading those
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@ Anticult The yahoo-unofficial is not that unofficial anyway. It used to be called Soka Gakkai ... (don't remember), anyway SGI objected (including threatening with legal actions) as it made an official appearance - wich is a joke being a yahoo group, afterwards the "unofficial" was added and moderation got closer. Before that you had NST-members, Nichiren Shu followers and ind
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@ evergreen As far as I know there are no recent books on SGI in an objective manner. As you know there are only those socio-demographic books by "independent"(????) researchers. This is actually a good article: Mystery with a reason. I once contacted the author but he no longer wishes to look deeper into the matter. Even though I believe that SGI is on the same level as Scientolog
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@ wayfarefree Good to hear how things turned out - keep us posted !
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@ tsukimoto you should mention the dirty laundry after her passing. SGI showed its true face !!!
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well even if they would think for themselves thats the very first sign of fundamental darkness and the devilish functions taking over. sounds like struggle.
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I guess one thing is for sure, that not all his speeches, "guidances" and whatever you have are written by him alone. Lisa Jones showed that quite impressingly. Its a bit like Walt Disney :-)
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@ wayfarerfree sounds like stalking whatever his intentions are - so contact the police to send somebody round to him - simple.
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again is there a way to archive the full sokacult website? tsuki you seem to have alot stored
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@sushigirl why is it creepy I thinj it shows the forum is on the right track actually as there are no arguments against the chriticism i.e. tax fraud, cult stucture, invading public (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) schools, .... its time for the media to show interest
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@ sushigirl I still suspect myth building i.e. "look at sensei how he was able to overcome his healthproblems" .... an acquaintance (not a member) of mine was diagnosed with a heart conditions in his teens we all felt sorry for him at the time ist was said he would with luck reach the age of 30. Now like all of us in that bunch we are nearing our fourties - he ist still alive and kic
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well one might want to conatct the onwer of this site could rick ross not provide this archive in order to make sure it can be accessed by the public?
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@ dragon14 Some good issues. It is always been said that he is in poor health although I suspect some myth-building behind that. In the overall structure I can not see that anything major happens in SGI without Mr. Ikeda being at least the initiator. The split issue and his low profile at the time compared to what is going now can in my opinion be explained with the conflict between SGI and N
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is it just me or has sokacult.com seized to exist?
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for the ones just following the thread here: This was Byrd Byrd's Blog.
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QuotewayfarerfreeBTW, somebody mentioned Byrd earlier. Ive read what she went through, for speaking out, its appalling. I think Byrd was a loyal and good person. A tre Buddhist and being a true Buddhist she faced the limited capacities of SGI. She also had contacts with Nichiren Shu and cultivated the art of REAL dialogue. The was she was treated by SGI was truly disgraceful and thw rumours th
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QuoteTsukimotoYou can see why SGI wanted to break with Nichiren Shoshu. And now this -- Ikeda's alive, but he's still in the prayers...and members are reminded, twice daily that they "owe him a debt of gratitude. :-) Nichiren Shoshu broke with SGI not the other way round :-)
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By the way :-) Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Joyeux Noel et bonne année Feliz Navidad y un Prósporo Año Nuevo Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes Neues Jahr Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar S prazdnikom Rozdestva Hristova i s Novim Godom Sheng Dan Kuai Le Shinnen omedeto Kuwa na Christmas jema na mwaka mpya mwema
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@ evergreen As far as I know the "Victims of Soka Gakkai" was created in the aftermath of the split or rather excomunication of SGI by Nichiren Shoshu. So its related to Nichiren Soshu - I doubt it was neutral or objective. That the site is not mainteined fits into the picture as in my opression NST tries to leave the SGI issue behind, On a religious/dogmatic level I do not agree w
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The Wizard of Oz That is actually quite a good comparison is it not?
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ever noticed one thing too? the relationship between a mentor and a disciple is by nature one of question and awnser ------ is it not so that in SGI the mentor gives awnsers to questions that he was not asked.
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One of you just mentioned the picture of Mr. Ikeda. I remember that a lot of members had it VERY close to the bustudan. I joined SGI in the mid 1980's - there was always the guidance not to have any pictures or statues near the butsudan so one would focus on the Gohonzon. Even then some odd members had an Ikeda picture up, some had pictures of relatives (parents or deceased relatives & f
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