"Let us refresh ourselves striving to repay our debt of gratitude to SGI Sensei. May contribution campaign is almost over. Now is the time to give what you have saved for May Contribution with a tremendous sense of gratitude and appreciation for everything our wonderful mentor has done for us." -- Lowlife SGI leader "Those who have no gratitude lead a life that is dark and chee
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchThe really gung-ho members can potentially be rewarded with cult master (Williams/Sadanaga, Ikeda) signed awards and other "signature" items. I've seen these certificates cause members to shiver with emotion and become moist eyed as they clutch them tenderly to their chests as if they were holding 2nd or 3rd class religious (in this case, "cult") relics. Y
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchQuoteSGByeI love how the slacker Gajokai member gets physically assaulted by his superior for goofing off. Is this supposed to encourage or discourage YMD from joining the “elite group“? At the end of the day, the Gajokai are just a bunch of glorified door openers. I agree. Although the skit is done in jest, ironically, it isn't too far from the truth. Btw, I think that YWD i
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Stan Zir was stabbed in the chest in the New York Center, giving his all to protect the members and the Gohonzon and then 10 years later he complained to Mr. Kasahara that a senior leader raped his wife and he was excommunicated. Nichijew
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

They are still wearing uniforms. Gajokai , Sokahon group, and Byakuren to name a few.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

An interesting deductive feat of the Buddha, the size of a carbon atom: nichijew
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Nichijew
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteFreeheartandmind HUH? These defects have long since been corrected? From what I can tell, the structure of the org has remained substantially unchanged. Does anybody know if this Mark Graber is in SGI, he doesn't say what his status is, except he is not representing SGI in an official capacity. Almost every member in the cult will append their blog, books, websites, etc. with the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

There are two types of benefits to chanting Namu Myoho renge kyo, inconspicuous and conspicuous. About the inconspicuous benefits, Nichiren teaches: "Why do you not, if only this once, try planting the wonderful seeds that lead to eternal and unchanging Buddhahood? Though at present you may taste only a tiny fraction of the everlasting joys that await you in the future, surely you should
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

An SGI member told me that more than 2500 SGI members died in the Tohoku region in Japan during the earthquake and tsunami. About 27,000 people died in total. There are about ten million SGI members in Japan which has a population of 127,000,000 people. SGI members actually died at a slightly higher rate than those of the general population. Nichiren writes about a similar situation: "One
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchQuoteNichijewLets not forget, CONGATULATIONS Now you can change it for cousin ruff ruff. One of my favorites along this vein was telling a member who contracted pancreatic ca that they could overcome it and show actual proof as to the validity of the practice. Of course, they couldn't. (It's things like this that make me really hate some of those ignorant cult "leade
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchQuoteFreeheartandmindWhy do you think NSA/SGI has never got involved in politics in the US? QuoteThe AnticultEver look at how much money SGI-USA spends lobbying politicians in the USA? We dug up some in this thread before. It was in the millions. SGI-USA is involved in politics in the US. Oh yes indeed. They are trying. They are trying, real hard to get into politics - always ha
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

They should just be honest. It is taught nowhere in the Lotus Sutra or by Nichiren that leaving a group of deluded disrespectful people is anything but a good thing. Ikeda has usurped the teachings of the LS and Nichiren and now claims that only he practices correctly. He also claims that the way Nichiren practiced is not fitting these times. The SGI members praise Ikeda's vast knowledge of
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote: Nichijew The reality is that you believed and trusted these men and women who are blind to truth. Ignorance of the Law is not an excuse. Even if all the leaders meant well, their religion and philosophy has no power to awaken them to the harm they are doing to others. Nichijew, are you implying that you have special access to the "truth", while others don't, or am I ju
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotejlynneda63Hitch, I'm old now! I should have figured it out! Even today I found myself thinking about people I thought were my friends! Thank goodness I found this site! I feel nervous & fearful "WHAT IF"WHAT IF SAYING BAD THINGS WILL SEND ME TO HELL. WILL SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN. AM I SPENDING MT FORTUNE? How crazy is that? I actually know when they r chanting for me. Oh yea
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotejlynneda63Just caught up here. Reading posts about culture shows reminded me of being forced to go to the sewing warehouse in Santa Monica,every night after district activities in Laguna which was a long way away. I hated it! I tried to get out of it. I had children I drug with me. What a nitemare. Why were we so controlled? I think Hitch & I practiced nearby. when I read the comments I
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchThe YMD had many "tools" in it, with some of the "leaders" being the biggest. The hardest thing to stomach in the brass band were the sheer amount of immature kids in it. Some sections also had more annoying idiots than others. It was all a glorious waste of time for me. If I could sue for my time back, I would. I definitely remember when they started the ro
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

That's why they call it CULTure festival....Cult of the Dear Leader..... Nichijew
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitch"Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG) is the Indian affiliate of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI). It’s making presence among the upper and upper middle class Indian homes. A large number of Indians have joined BSG but they are unaware of the dark and hidden sides of this cult. Most of these people either those who were brainwashed from the beginning to worship Daisaku Ikeda, the members of
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteSpartacusQuoteNichijewQuoteSpartacusA warm welcome to Freeheartandmind. We joined only a year apart. Looking forward to reading more of your story. I am currently writing my story. Since it is a bit too lengthy to post, I am putting it up under its own web site: spartacusrebeldotweeblydotcom The first three chapters are already up. I invite one and all to have a sneak peek,
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The Soka Gakkai Teachings Are a Danger to Children The SGI could never make their arguments without use of the forged writings such as the True Aspect of all Phenomena or at best, a snippet here or there from a personal letter intended only for the recipient. They can never make their outlandish claims utilizing the Five Major Works of Nichiren Daishonin, the treatises that are the bedrock of
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteFreeheartandmind"Freeheartandmind, thanks for sharing a little bit of your experience! I started in the 80's, when G.M. Williams was in his prime. Did not realize that it was so manic back in the 70's. Thanks to you and Wakatta1 telling how it all went. Looking forward to more from you!" Shavoy, I remember when George Williams name change was announced. We were told h
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteSpartacusA warm welcome to Freeheartandmind. We joined only a year apart. Looking forward to reading more of your story. I am currently writing my story. Since it is a bit too lengthy to post, I am putting it up under its own web site: spartacusrebeldotweeblydotcom The first three chapters are already up. I invite one and all to have a sneak peek, and to offer any feedback.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Listening to all your stories really makes me both mad and sad. I'm sad for those who have lost their faith in the Lotus Sutra, the Ten Worlds, the Three Thousand Realms in a Momentary Existence, the greatness of the Buddha and Nichiren. I'm mad at what the SGI has done to these teachings, making the greatest religion in the world into a personality cult and therefore destroying faith i
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteKRQuoteNichijewQuoteKRQuotejlynneda63Well that is bizarre. Where was the pic aken & why? Where did the gohonzons come from sgi gives out? The SGI gohonzons are massed produced and if my information is correct, even the act of doing such is grave slander to the Nichiren tradition. Gohonzons are suppose to be inscribed by priest and from what I hear the ceremony is quite special. My linage
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteKRQuotejlynneda63Well that is bizarre. Where was the pic aken & why? Where did the gohonzons come from sgi gives out? The SGI gohonzons are massed produced and if my information is correct, even the act of doing such is grave slander to the Nichiren tradition. Gohonzons are suppose to be inscribed by priest and from what I hear the ceremony is quite special. My linage of High Priest of t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotejlynneda63Well that is bizarre. Where was the pic aken & why? Where did the gohonzons come from sgi gives out? That pic was taken at Minobu , either within the temple grounds or directly outside. SGI uses a scroll manufacturer, probably not unlike blankwallscrolls.com Not sure if the company is owned by them or they contract out their Gohonzon. Certainly, they are not hand mounted.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Eventually the defamation case was overturned by the Supreme Court but the fact of the altered photos remained. Here is the SGI photo of the purported Kempon Hokke Gohonzon shop which is actually on the grounds of the Minobu sect: Mark
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchWhen you're within the throes of the sgi (cult) mind-frame, you can easily invent ways to convince yourself that what you are seeing or hearing isn't really what you are seeing or hearing - essentially dismissing your doubts right from the outset. It wouldn't surprise me if they are altering photos. "World Tribune" photographers (at their own admission) were
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotejlynneda63ODD IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT! PHOTO SHOPPED...AND NEXT WE WILL SEE THE BRAND NEW IKEDA, AND BY BRAND NEW I MEAN JUST MANUFACTURED BY WILLING PARTICIPANT! Hi J. There is a video on you tube purporting to plans for the mummification of the great leader. Maybe they already started the process? Nichijew
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families