QuoteevergreenOK so I get home and get this note HI......so and so and I stopped by after Kofu to say hi and encourage you to make a may 3rd contrubution to show your appreciation to the gohonzon and sgi. Ill call you later today. I'm leaving 2 envelopes in case so and so (my kid) would like to contribute also. I haven't been to a meeting in close to four years. I made the mistak
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

@Hitch...how true, how true, that it would have been ALL your fault if the bus went off a cliff...God, the fear factor is just incredible, how it works on human psyches. Everyone cowering in fear from one pamphlet. You did get off "easy" with the socializing part, it sounds like. There was a distinct era in my practice where leaders tried to break one of my best friends and I apart
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchI've got another gakkai cult "experience" to share: Back toward the end of my time "in", shortly before I decided to "officially" call it quits with the cult that I grew up in, I was dragged along to some meeting that required a bus trip comprised of a bunch of regional members from my area. I normally didn't do this kind of thing much anymore
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The hard-cores are shakabuku/zaimu/membership-increase driven EXACTLY as what's been expressed here, because they all want to be HAPPY! It is allll for them, and in their minds, even if a member tells them no way, no how anymore, or people show no interest in coming to meetings, they can brush it off and walk away toward the next one...because THEY ARE MAKING THE CAUSES TO BE THE HAPPIEST,
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteSGByeI've asked leaders before about long-time members dying in tragic circumstances. The answer I always got was "None of us really know what their practice was like." In other words, these leaders were implying that maybe these members weren't really the strong members they appeared to be and therefore didn't receive the "protection" that a truly strong
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I think human beings innately want certainty. Because life can be so fraught with worries, anxiety, illnesses, just plain sad and bad things, people instinctively want a life raft they can depend on. The SGI Frames for illness, for example...one frame for when a member does all the right things and then is able to overcome their illness---Yay!!! Victory!!! There ya go--Actual Proof!!! An
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteFreeheartandmind"I was marching around parking lots, like one of the kids being led around by The Pied Piper of Hamelin, off to have my life almost taken away by the cult." Hitch, here in Chicago we marched around the big scary North Avenue National Guard armory, where I had to exit at a desolate CTA train station to get there. I was a Kotekitai, as it was called I believe, I pl
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteFreeheartandmindLooking back, I can't think of one cult "leader" whom I can say is worthy of being looked up to and emulating. Not a single one (and believe me, I've honestly tried, very hard, to recall any). Hitch, ditto. In Chicago, leadership was a popularity and beauty contest. And being Japanese, in whole or in part, didn't hurt. I was as dedicated as they
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchQuoteThe AnticultSaw an interesting documentary on pre-war and wartime Japan. It shows where Ikeda's perverse and extremist beliefs come from. I've always felt that many of the original Japanese gakkai songs have a strong element of triumphant WWII-esque propaganda type tone/melody. One that is designed to blatantly pump people up, put their critical faculties to sleep and
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

SGI cannot prevent anyone from experiencing the ups and downs, sometimes hellacious,downs of life. Like tsukimoto said, plenty of devoted SGI members have experienced things in their lives that flies in the face of the SGI Frame that you can conquer all, just by practicing. @jlynneda63, here's what I've been doing to lessen that horrible fear of disaster that will surely come by spe
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotejlynneda63Nichijew Thanks for your perspective! Very weird time in my life. I guess I will share the most recent confusion & an example of what u r sharing. We had a man in our district who was a victim of agent orange in Vietnam. He has serious neurological deficits & I was concerned for his safety. I did senior care & saw that he could not take care of himself. Was not e
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchQuoteSGByeQuoteHitchEver wonder what the modern day version of Jr. Pioneers (Cult Kiddy Division) looks like? Look no further: (WTF!?!?!) It's called the "Lion Cub Club" or "Baby Lion's Division." I realize it was translated from Japanese into English, but that song has to be the most awkward-sounding song I've ever heard. I can't pi
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteSGByeA little while back I posted about the SGI urging children to participate in their May contribution campaign. In the new World Tribune, they're turning up the heat on the kiddies. Accompanied by a colorful photo of some piggy banks that kids in Washington DC painted for the campaign it reads: "Every May, we make offerings to the SGI-USA during our May Commemorative Con
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteSpartacusHitch - thanks for the welcome. Quote: Hitch It's always been an open secret that GMW was Korean (same thing with regards to the dear leader in Japan) (end quote) 1) Just wondering if Taisaku is a Korean name? 2) When did he change his name from Taisaku to Daisaku and did he ever give a reason why?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchRep. Hank Johnson (Georgia's 4th District) , an elected U.S. congressman, is a long time soka gakkai usa member and has even traveled to Japan to present the dear leader with an award in recent years. Some of Hank's brilliant intellect on display , regarding Guam, and a cartoon . Perfect poster boy for the cult. Presenting the dear leader with an award....Oh, Hitch.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Humans are blessed with critical thinking...they are also blessed with an instinct that tells them when things just don't add up, don't feel quite right. We are also vunerable because we naturally desire happiness and good circumstances. As TheVoid says, "If you think, you are a threat, if you think, you realize that it is all nonsense. If you think, you can escape. Keep on t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

anticult-india, very enlightening post from you! Thank you for sharing your experience so far with SGI-India. It's the same, worldwide. People are people, regardless of the culture. They see the Happiness/Prosperity carrot dangling, and will do what it takes to get a major bite. There is no real answer that SGI can give, other than the Frame that it is one's karma that they are
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The chant, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, is a pretty straightforward, rhythmical chant--if you are going to chant something, you can't beat this one, to my thinking, for a great flow and yes, addictive at times and hypnotic. The hypnotic aspect has been talked about here as being condusive to an more receptive response, in relation to cult thinking. I can see that. But I still chant, because the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuotesimplifyQuoteHitch"“Welcome, youthful prince of the arts!”—with those warm words, SGI President Ikeda greeted the actor Orlando Bloom and friends at the Nagano Training Center in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, on July 30. One of Hollywood’s most promising young stars, Mr. Bloom is an SGI member from the U.K. Enjoying their first meeting with Mr. Bloom, Ughhh. What a nauseating mutual admi
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Peons like us would not have a chance in heck to have an audience with Senor Sensei. It is a given with celebrity members. Sensei pulls out all the stops whenever Herbie, Wayne, Orlando-- come calling. I find it amusing that when President Clinton, for whatever reason, declined a meeting with President Yamamoto...Pres. Yamamoto threw a fit and probably will take that grudge about Mr. Clint
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchI've mentioned before that one of the keys to understanding this particular cult is also understanding the Japanese mindset. The current emperor of Japan, Akihito, has prostate cancer and is regularly receiving treatment under secrecy that is not "generally" reported in the media (e.g., synchrotron radiation cancer treatment), despite it all being paid for by Japanese ta
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteSGByeQuoteShavoyThat could also explain why, despite all the YD imploring and praying for Sensei's Welcome Home to America has not produced Sensei in the last several years. Every year, without fail, some leader at the New Year's gongyo meeting would proudly exclaim, "We're going to welcome Sensei back to America this year!!," and every year it didn't happen.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

It is curious to me that if P.I. has indeed meandered on to the next life, that no information at all has been released to the members. The thing that comes right away to my mind is what was stated in a very recent post...If Ikeda was very ill and incoherent, that does not equal "Victory!", "Winning", etc. Sensei, of all people, should be able to mow down that obstacle! He
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteSGByeQuotejlynneda63Guys..Again I'm saying PRES IKEDA HAS NOT BEEN IN A NEW PHOTO SINCE 2010! He has had some permanent incident such as a ztroke AND IT IS BEING COVERED UP. Why, i don't know. If u look through your WT u will see that they are doctoring old photos to look current but therw is no date. If it becomes known that he's had something like a stroke, he would then a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteredroseI can remember years ago - early 90's - the women in my district would meet a couple times a month for some incredible spirited talks about anything and everything. We would have book reviews that had great meaning to us and almost all the books were non-buddhist! I miss those times. We were shut down. The only thing that we were allowed to talk about was Ikeda and his writin
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quoteredrose@simplify - how right you are about Ikeda's narcissistic behavior. Just look up the definition and he fits to a t. Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power or beauty Believing that you are special and can associate only with equally special people Requiring constant admiration Having a sense of entitlement Takin
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuotesirmrtonyPlease read this, I know it's long, sorry. Wow, am I glad I found this forum. I've been with the SGI since September 2011, I received my Gohonzon in November. I joined SGI because I was in a really bad depressed stage. It was the first time I ever felt suicidal. I called doctors to schedule appointments but I was not 18 at the time. I've been an Atheist ever since I c
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteredroseActually naming the year something special to focus on is no different any large christian church. They all sound pretty much the same. Speaking of Christian churches....Anyone make attempts back in their days to shakabuku Christians? I gave up when it was clear to me that every single Christian I know, and I know quite a few, have such complete conviction in their faith. I mean
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Bad times, things, obstacles, accidents, illnesses, terminal illnesses, family discord---these happen to every one of us on this planet--regardless of religious beliefs. The SGI has a frame for everything. But the truth is, Life is bigger, badder and more wondrous than human beings can completely fathom. Human beings look for answers, for certainty. The SGI thinks it provides this certai
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

@Nichijew....I just had to click on the link for 'oneness of mentor blah blah' log. Good Grief. Unbelievable. Good grief and unbelievable that people subjugate themselves to somebody else to this extent. The satires? Spot on, as always! And the sad thing is at this point is, it isn't hard to imagine Nagashima, Hall, McCloskey, etc. (not to mention Hassan, Johnson, Gauer
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families