“Never forgive the base enemies of the Buddha, never! Be unremitting in your battle against them! Fight through to the end against the scheming verbal violence that seeks to undermine the Kosen Rufu movement, upholding in your hearts the slogan “Adamantly Fight Back!”. — Soka Gakkai President Daisaku Ikeda, message to the Saitama Youth Division
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAnger can arise from a place of compassion, and can be in alignment with the spirit of Buddhism. As long as we are focused on the shared humanity, anger can be an effective driving force to fight against injustice and corruption.
DeleteHi. Do you doubt its authenticity? Do you believe it is taken out of context?
ReplyDeleteNo. I didn't doubt its authenticity. I'm not sure about 'taken out of context'...
Delete"Never forgive the base enemies of the Buddha, never! Be unremitting in
ReplyDeleteyour battle against them ! Fight through to the end against the
scheming verbal violence that seeks to undermine the Kosen Rufu
movement, upholding in your hearts the slogan "Adamantly Fight Back !".
Daisaku Ikeda's message to the Saitama Youth Division Cultural
General Meeting, Tokorozawa, Japan, Sept 12th 1999 (WT)
"Being fired up with anger toward evil and injustice constitutes good. When we no longer have this blazing anger toward iniquity, it is a sign that we have lost our commitment to justice and truth. It signals our spiritual death. There is no benefit, no joy, no happiness in the hearts of those who are spiritually dead. To fight passionately against injustice, to rebuke, attack and condemn it to the end -- this is Buddhism and the correct path of humanity."
ReplyDelete(Oct. 29 World Tribune, p. 4; from the 38th Headquarters Leaders Meeting, held Oct. 7)
Thank you, Mark. That statement of 'never forgive the base enemies of the Buddha' sounded like a counter to what I believe to be the correct spirit of Buddhism... I have no issue with someone getting angry, which I think is a normal human emotion, and would be totally understandable if it was truly about injustice.
ReplyDeleteCan it possibly be taken out of context? What about the following quote from the "pacifist" Makiguchi:
ReplyDelete"'Sacrifice your own skin to slash the opponent's flesh. Surrender your own flesh to saw off the opponent's bone.' With their faithful implementation of this well-known Japanese fencing (kendo) strategy into actual practice during the war, the Japanese military is able to achieve her glorious, ever-victorious invincibility in the Sino-Japan conflict and in the Pacific war, and thus, easing the minds of the Japanese people. This [strategy of sacrifice] should be held as an ideal lifestyle for those remaining on the home front and should be applied in every aspect of our daily life." --Tsunesaburo Makiguchi
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWhat are your thoughts about the last one, Mark? What do you believe?
DeleteI believe that the SGI cult manufactures its history to suit its own narrative. It should be noted that it's narrative has changed several times and so has its history, The truth is always being spun in the SGI cult. They fail to believe in the Lotus Sutra which teaches the principle of thusness [or suchness]. It is useless to rely on the teachings of such people.
ReplyDeleteAm I being too kind to them? Probably.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the SGI cult manufactures its history to suit its own narrative. It should be noted that it's narrative has changed several times and so has its history, The truth is always being spun in the SGI cult. They fail to believe in the Lotus Sutra which teaches the principle of thusness [or suchness]. It is useless to rely on the teachings of such people.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI believe that kindness is a virtue, Mark. We have enough mean people.
ReplyDeleteYou sound like someone who has seriously and sincerely thought about these things. In my opinion, the SGI people do believe in all people's inherent potential for enlightenment, i.e., do believe in the Lotus Sutra. I like how you say "the principle of thusness [or suchness]. Eckhart Tolle may call it "beingness."
Thank you for honesty and sharing your thoughts.
"In my opinion, the SGI people do believe in all people's inherent potential for enlightenment., i.e., do believe in the Lotus Sutra."
ReplyDeleteThat is a great leap of logic mitchabe... Shingon, Zen, and the Tzu Chi's Buddhist Compassion Relief Foundation too make the exact same claim of believing in all people's inherent enlightenment and belief in the Lotus Sutra. An examination of SGI's actions, faith, and practices belie their belief in inherent Buddhahood and the Lotus Sutra. It is easy to talk the talk of the Lotus Sutra but difficult to practice as the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren teach.
SGI does not want to discuss the teachings because the teachings are at odds with Ikedaism [SGI "Buddhism"].
"In my opinion, the SGI people do believe in all people's inherent potential for enlightenment., i.e., do believe in the Lotus Sutra."
ReplyDeleteThat is a great leap of logic mitchabe... Shingon, Zen, and the Tzu Chi's Buddhist Compassion Relief Foundation too make the exact same claim of believing in all people's inherent enlightenment and belief in the Lotus Sutra. An examination of SGI's actions, faith, and practices belie their belief in inherent Buddhahood and the Lotus Sutra. It is easy to talk the talk of the Lotus Sutra but difficult to practice as the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren teach.
SGI does not want to discuss the teachings because the teachings are at odds with Ikedaism [SGI "Buddhism"].