Also, I am wondering if this organization was less rigid before the split?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hello, Thank you all for your wonderful and informative posts. I don't know what to do. First of all, I wish I knew more about the split between the temple and the SGI. I joined SGI in 2006, and I have only been brainwashed to know the SGI side of things, like how awful the temple is. I feel so much confusion inside because although I like how I feel when I chant, I dislike the tone of t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

As a former leader I recall listening to member problems and formulating a NSA response in which I believed I was "encouraging them to practice". When I left NSA and realized the level of brainwashing an brain-f**king that went on as a matter of course I truly regretted many of the positions I took those days. In an organization like SGI with so much emphasis placed on "u
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotehertford65 I started to hear the brainwashing, the BS, the pressure on new members to keep practising. If something bad happened then it was a challenge for your practice and if something good happened it was because of your practice. It's a clever trap that keeps you locked in. When I returned my Gohonzon I was racked with guilt and it felt like I was throwing my own life away because
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I also wanted to add some recent happenings for me that just feel grotesque. I just want to vent actually. I recently told someone who knew me well in the practice that before joining the practice, I drove and lived in a nicer neighborhood. Then, when I joined and got involved, within a month, I had a car accident that left me fearful to drive, and also moved to a rougher neighborhood. What w
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi, I haven't written for a while, but I wanted to say hi. I haven't been chanting at all, or participating. I feel fine without participating, but sometimes I miss chanting. I know there have been probably many posts on here discussing the idea that it is fine to possibly chant on your own without the organization, right? I so want to do this, but my fear in this is then I will just de
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hello, sorry I only write every few months or so. This year has been really interesting for me. A year ago at this time, I was fairly gung-ho about the SGI. I did have my doubts after 4 years of practicing, but it seemed easy to overlook them when I supposedly had a "high life condition". I was able to overlook some of the weirdness of the organziation, and even embraced it. It wasn
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote Something that I have been thinking about lately is how much more fear I had when I was with SGI. I feared car accidents, making bad decisions, people getting hurt, etc. Maybe it's that we were always talking about karma that made me feel afraid and like it was out of my hands. I've noticed now that I have developed a much more rational approach to the ups and downs of life, an
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteChanter16Thank you Morgaine, it was nice to read your reply. I don't know quite how to respond to those that just want to get on here and criticize each other. I would rather we encourage each other. No one is ever going to believe the same way, the same things anyway. I began to chant back in the 80's - was inspired by a co-worker turned sponsor that was just so fun to be arou
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotedoubtful@Findingmyway, You wrote, "Speaking of which, if I have magical thinking, I see nothing wrong with it. So be it, so be it if I am prone to it. SGI, chanting, and anything connected with either of them is not going to make it worse or better. I don't think it is the end of the world if I am a magical thinker. I think anyone who wants to chant to a piece of paper is also pron
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I want to mention that once I told a coleader that SGI is a cult, and she was very mad at me. She said how could you say this? How could you say this? I think it is one thing to be in cult voluntarily and enjoy it, and be okay with it, but still know you are in a cult, and then there are those who so fervently deny they are in a cult. I would rather be the first person than the second one I descr
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteRothaus@ Findingmywaytoday First of al congrats on what you have achieved so far. I think it would be most interesting, especially to those who just follow the conversation, to learn if your counselling also touched on the subject of you being in a cult. It would be interesting to hear what professionals have to say on that. In terms of your Butsudan. I still have mine set up as I do c
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi Doubtful, Thanks for responding. If I take down my Butsudan, I wouldn't want to to download any Gohonzon. I don't believe in it, or want any memory of it if I take it down. The only reason I am not taking it down is because I am superstitious, always have been. I am not proud of that fact, but I believe it is my superstitious nature that lead me towards being in the SGI in the first
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi! Haven't written in a while. I enjoy reading everyones' experiences with the Soka Gakkai. I thought I would share some of my feelings and experiences in here as well. I have been in counseling since April, and it is the greatest blessing I have given myself. It is nice to be able to talk to someone professionally about my low self esteem and anxiety. I use to chant in front of
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The more I read all of your stories, the more I feel I became brainwashed in my four years of SGI. I also feel the harder it will be to pull away from the pressure. It won't be hard to pull away and disconnect myself, but in order to make it real, I would want to return my Gohonzon. I feel when word gets out of me wanting to do this, they will be knocking at my door. This makes me angry to t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Your posts regarding May Contribution and FNCC are very interesting. It is so refreshing, but challenging to realize I have been apart of a cult the last four years. I have to say that when I participated regularly and came to meetings and wanted support, I didn't get it. Now that I haven't been in contact, all sorts of people are coming out of the woodwork calling me and wanting to cha
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I also found that even things I do now that are good in my life, many members feel that it is because I chanted to the Gohonzon to get them, and because my life condition is higher than it was before I chanted. They didn't know me before I chanted. I had many good things happen to me before chanting, and I must remind myself again that I will have many good things happen regardless of chanti
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotelthomas@findingmyway. You are welcome anytime. I remember in the early years of my practice when I had my doubts of SGI, yet I never did any research at that time. I do however remember asking my shakabuku if we were considered a cult, and that was only because I heard that Orlando Bloom was in a cult. I remember her asking why I felt the need to question this, and I voiced some of my concer
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Lthomas, Guess what...I also got my Gohonzon 4 years ago on May 7th. That is such a coincidence!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thank you lthomas and tsukimoto! I really appreciate your feedback. When the anxiety hit more recently, I didn't want to let myself believe that this was because I wasn't chanting anymore. That belief is self limiting and makes me feel like I can only survive with the help of the SGI. I remember a few months ago right before I found this board, I felt the need to read about criticis
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hello, It has been a while since I have been on this board. My sponsor had called me back in March, and left a message saying that it was obvious that I was cutting ties and she didn't care if I chanted or not, but that my happiness was what mattered to her (yeah right). Leading up to her phonecall, I was not chanting, and I was feeling weirded out by the practice (which I still am). I
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

That is interesting what you have been writing about in regards to Ikeda, MLK, and Gandhi. Before SGI, I had heard of MLK and Gandhi, and never Ikeda. Then, I started to believe he is a man of peace, but I believe with the wrong intentions. I don't know if I did the best thing, but I blocked all the e-mails from any SGI people. I then got a few calls from people saying that I should make
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thank you Wakatta1 for responding to my questions. Thank you to everyone else for their support and interesting posts. The idea of the 6 beat chant being calming to the body is interesting. I feel it is brainwashing on the SGI's part to say why people feel so good is because of the SGI. I have tried other forms of spirituality where chanting takes place and feel it has an effect as well.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I joined SGI way after the SGI split from the temple. I am wondering if anyone can tell me if there is any focus on shakabuku, or is this an Ikeda created idea. Thanks.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotewakatta1 As a Chapter Chief I enshrined and unenshrined Gohonzons, and the rules were to keep it upright when you rolled it up, don't breathe on it when you do, and place it in it's envelope and perhaps even wrap the package in a scarf against the possibility of it being handled by soiled hands. That is what I did with my big Gohonzon when I returned it to the temple near Chicag
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thank you so much for replying DavidM. I was at a big meeting a few months ago where a leader whom I respected and liked said something to the effect that she looks at every person she meets on the street as a potential SGI member, but she hasn't figured out how to shakabuku them. I felt a strange sensation overcome me when she said this. I also get weirded out by the photos of President Ike
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

You have all been so helpful. I have been reading previous posts from the previous years of this thread. I enjoy learning about all of your experiences, and can certainly relate. I have to tell you that I am in the shock phase. I wanted to believe so much that this group is/was for World Peace. I started to put things together, and in the last two months...I am seeing things with clearer eyes. I
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Wow, I really want to thank all of you for your responses. I am sorry I am only writing you back now. I am very appreciative for your responses. I realize more and more how I did join a cult. I will write you a more detailed response either tonight or tomorrow morning. All of you said some very interesting things. Thank you!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hello. I am new to this. I have been reading your boards for a month. I have been with the Soka Gakkai (SGI) since 2006. I am really starting to feel weird and unhappy about being apart of the SGI. I would like to leave this SGI, and not be bothered by them any longer. I would appreciate any advice on this since I realize that if I leave, there will be a gap in my life where this was once SGI act
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families