Best drummer in the world?

Of one thing we can be certain...Wherever SGI flourishes disasters abound

http://news.yahoo.com/brazil-land-water-goes-thirsty-035910463.html

The SGI is a five dollar knockoff

I thought the SGI was a Rolex watch but one day I jostled it and the mainspring uncoiled and jumped out the watchface. I fault the top leaders for selling me a watch that they said was a Rolex but was really a five dollar knock-off. I also fault myself for not doing my homework. The SGI ends justify the means sales pitch is really perverse. To a desperate man, it was just what I was looking for. I bought it for twelve dollars and it cost me twenty years.

Are you a disciple of the foremost practitioner of the Hokekyo in Japan, the priest Nichiren?

"I, Nichiren am the foremost practitioner of the Hokekyo in Japan. If among Nichiren's disciples and lay donors you come later than me, then even before the God Brahma, the Emperor Shakra, The Four Great Celestial Kings or the Emperor of the Dharma Yama, proclaim, 'I am the disciple of the foremost practitioner of the Hokekyo in Japan, the priest Nichiren,' and you shall pass. 

This Hokekyo becomes a ship on the rivers of the Three Paths, the Great White Ox Cart on the Mountain of going Forth in Death, becomes a lamp on the paths of the underworld, and is a bridge to take us to the Spiritual Mountain. When you are at the Spiritual Mountain, seek at the ushitori (northeastern) gallery. I will certainly awa"it you. But it depends on the mind of faith of each one. If just the mind of faith is weak, no matter how much you call yourself a disciple or lay donor of Nichiren, by no means will you be accepted. If one is of two minds and merely the mind of faith is weak, think of it as the stone from a mountain rolling down into a valley or the rain from the sky falling to the great earth: There can be no doubt of the Great Avici Hell. At that time do not resent me, Nichiren: It really depends on the faith of each one. The fact that those who formed conditional links under Daitsu Buddha fell to hell and passed through kalpas more than the dust of lands in an easterly direction touched or untouched by ink drops made from the elements of a great trichilocosm (sanzen jintengo) and the group that put down the seeds of Buddhahood under the Original Buddha in the Most Distant Pass fell to hell and passed through kalpas more than the dust of five hundred thousands of tens of thousands of tens of millions of nayutas of asamkheyas of great trichilocosms (gohyaku jintengo) is because they met EVIL SPIRITUAL FRIENDS and believed in the Hokekyo in a neglectful manner. Really having the mind of faith, indeed, when you go to the Spiritual Mountain, seek for me, Nichiren. At that time I shall tell you in detail." (KHS, p. 541) 

Nichiren writes in another letter: 

"Be that as it may, one should understand that, at present, when it comes to teachers, there is a difference between correct teachers and erroneous teachers, between good teachers and bad teachers. One should shun those who are erroneous or evil, and associate with those who are correct and good. Even if their virtue is known throughout the country and their wisdom is as bright as the sun and moon, one should recognize that teachers who slander the Lotus Sutra are evil teachers and erroneous teachers, and refrain from approaching them. A sutra warns us on this point, “If there are slanderers of the Law, one should not dwell with them. If one draws near them and dwells with them, one will be bound for the Avichi hell.” 

No matter how honest and upright you may be, or how you may strive to be known as a worthy person in the secular or the religious world, IF YOU ASSOCIATE WITH EVIL PERSONS, then as a natural result you will find that in two or three instances out of ten you are following their teachings, and in the end you, too, will become an evil person. Thus the commentary says, “Though one may not be evil to begin with, if one associates with and is friendly with evil persons, one is bound in time to become an evil person oneself, and one’s evil reputation will spread throughout the world.”

Response to a condescending SGI member

SGI member GWT wrote:

You know, after reading many of these posts, I'm wondering a few things, and one of those things is "how much do any of you have really read the Gosho, how many of you have any real understanding of the cultural and historical context in which modern day Nichiren Buddhism is framed, how much do you know about the role of one mentor out of the three mentors, and if any of you know exactly how karma works and where is springs from? 

Wakatta responds:

With that lead-in, you're going to have an interesting career on these pages my friend. Please don't underestimate the grit of those silently lurking here, you may learn more about Buddhism than you might expect. 

I would advise that instead of attributing the things folks are saying here to "just griping" by a bunch of Taitan backsliders, you might consider that many of them have struggled long and hard with your organization and have simply decided it makes no sense to throw good money after bad. 

Call whoever you like but in the end, SGI is SGI. All the hyperbole and savant arguments cannot camouflage the organization's core set of problems. 

Poor member still waiting to hear from Danny Nagashima

"This past week I've gone through a major trial of negativity, one so severe that Danny Nagashima is going to call me this week to let me vent. I've been so pissed off, my fundamental darkness so strong, my personal obstacles so severe that my senior leaders gave me the number to the national level to call, I talked with Jim Nobukuni, and he passed me to Danny to handle, as that's how crucial a point in my faith that I''m at. 

He's going to hear about how I can't stand the constant negativity of members, the lack of passion, the lack of support and the years of trying to understand an incredibly complicated philosophy that has most of it couched in arcane language and too much metaphor with no current historical context that it makes the simplest concepts too difficult for us Americans to understand and grasp. He's going to hear that thousands of members are quitting because they can't grasp Buddhism and are not getting benefit. He's going to hear that we need a different kind of evolution in the organization, since the structure and practices that are employed now have resulted in epic fail for thousands of people. He's going to hear that the SGI-USA needs to be dynamic, vigorous, passionate and exciting and readily accessible and understandable if it stands a chance of surviving in America, where one thing we do very well is complain about anything and everything. He's going to hear that we have to be more "americentric" in the way that we conduct activities in this country, with clarification of concepts IN PLAIN ENGLISH, and not base things on an operational model that worked 50 years ago in another country and culture, one that is misconstrued, misunderstood and misinterpreted, because it's so foreign. SGI-USA really DOES have to be "Made The American Way" in order to be successful and for people to really get benefit. He's going to hear that Buddhism has ALWAYS evolved and adapted to the culture in which it was practiced in for centuries, and we DON'T have to have one universal methodology based upon Japanese culture. He's going to hear that we need more MALE voices in teleconferences and publications, and allow us men to stand up and fight to change our Karma instead of just supporting the other 3 divisions. Actually, those are all things that I personally need in order to continue on practicing, but I know that I'm not the only one that feels this way. 

I'll be sure to let everyone know how he responds, and I hope that what he has to say can clarify a lot of things for you folks (and for myself). I hope that he says "be the leader to make the change", to which I'll reply "I'd love to, as our local leadership are all in their 60s and 70s. Can you please "retire" some of them so that I can chant at toso with a passionate, fighting spirit without being bogged down?" 

I think that's the biggest obstacle: complacency and lack of spirit. Time to take off the Underoos, and maybe go commando. ;-) See? We all have something to complain about. The difference is that I'm going to practice this Buddhism to do something about it". -- Gwt SGI leader

It is time for you to wake up, take a step back, really study the teachings, and readjust your faith

Dear Gwt; 

First I am sorry for your misfortune [of being an SGI leader]. I am not sorry about SGI's misfortune. Nichiren says, "misfortune comes from one's mouth and ruins one while fortune comes from one's mind to make one respectworthy." Your mind has become warped by the SGI teachings that throws out the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha and the entirety of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth for the sake of what, the three mentors and the corrupt SGI organization? It is ironic that you cite "cause and effect". 

Then, taking SGI's teaching that you yourself are a Buddha, you run to another "Buddha" to help you resolve your problems. Never in the history of the universe has a Buddha received guidance from another Buddha. Either you are or you are not a Buddha. If you are a Buddha that is the end of the matter. If you are not then you had better seek guidance from the Buddha. Nichiren Daishonin writes: 

"Since Sakyamuni Buddha is eternal and all other Buddhas in the universe are his manifestations, then those great bodhisattvas converted by manifested Buddhas are also disciples of Lord Sakyamuni Buddha. If the "Life Span of the Buddha" chapter had not been expounded, it would be like the sky without the sun and moon, a country without a king, mountains and rivers without gems, or a man without a soul. nevertheless, seemingly knowledgeable men of such provisional schools of Buddhism as Ch'eng-kuan of the Hua-yen, Chia-hsiang of the San-lun, Tz'u-en of the Fa-hsiang, and Kobo of the shingon tried to extoltheir own canons by stating: "The Lord of the Flower Garland Sutra represents the reward-body (hojin) of the Buddha wheras that of the Lotus Sutra the accomodative body (ojin);" or "the Buddha in the sixteenth chapter of the Lotus is an Illusion; it is the great Sun Buddha who is enlightened." clouds cover the moon and slanderers hide wise men. When people slander, ordinary yellow rocks appear to be of gold and slanderers seem to be wise. Scholars in this age of decay, blinded by slanderous words, do not see the value of a gold in the "Lifespan of the Buddha" chapter. Even among men of the Tendai school some are fooled into taking a yellow rock for gold. They should know that if Sakyamuni had not been the Eternal Buddha, there could not have been so many who received GUIDANCE from Him. " -- Kaimoku Sho p. 27 Translated by Kyotsu Hori, 1992 

"Now , when the Eternal Buddha was revealed in the essential section of the Lotus Sutra, this world of endurance (Saha-world) became the Eternal Pure Land, indestructible even by the three calamities of conflagration, flooding, and strong winds, which are said to destroy the world. It transcends the four periods of cosmic change: the kalpa of construction, continuance, destruction and emptiness. Sakyamuni Buddha, the Lord-preacher of this pure land, has never died in the past, nor will He be born in the future. He exists forever throughout the past present and future. All those who receive His GUIDANCE are one with this Eternal Buddha." -- Kanjin Honzon-Sho (NOPPA) page 94 

You don't have a clue as to the nature of a Buddha, the supernaturally divine and all pervasive power of the Gohonzon because the SGI Gohonzon derives from Nichikan and his warped "theology". The equally warped mind of Ikeda chose for you this man's Gohonzon because he knew it would foster co-dependency. It is time for you to wake up, take a step back, really study the teachings and readjust your faith, basing it on the Lotus Sutra and the authentic writings of Nichiren Daishonin. All the Daimoku in the world, even with one hundred million eons of effort, will not help you in the least if you don't perceive the true nature of your life [and the SGI]. We can help you with the latter.

Christians, Muslims and Hindus uphold one of the Three Wrong Viewpoints and atheists uphold another

"In this world there are three wrong viewpoints. If one clings to these viewpoints, then all things in this world are but to be denied. First, some say that all human experience is based on destiny; second, some hold that everything is created by God and controlled by His will; third, some say that everything happens by chance without having any cause or condition. 

        

If all has been decided by destiny, both good deeds and evil deeds are predetermined, weal and woe are predestined; nothing would exist that has not been foreordained. Then all human plans and efforts for improvement and progress would be in vain and humanity would be without hope. 

        

The same is true of the other viewpoints, for, if everything in the last resort is in the hands of an unknowable God, or of blind chance, what hope has humanity except in submission? It is no wonder that people holding these conceptions lose hope and neglect efforts to act wisely and to avoid evil. 

        

In fact, these three conceptions or viewpoints are all wrong: everything is a succession of appearance whose source is the accumulation of causes and conditions." 

from the Avatamsaka-sutra....

I have a suggestion for those visiting the SGI Florida Nature and CULTure center [FNCC]

I have a suggestion. The next time you go to FNCC, air your grievances or better yet, write out every question you have about the SGI faith and practice, the Lotus Sutra, and the writings of Nichiren Daishonin in a notebook. By the time you finish writing down your questions, you might have more than a thousand questions. Then, seek out the answers from your leaders as if your life depended on it [which it does]. See how many of those questions are answered. Check them off. Write down the answers next to the questions. See how many questions are answered to your satisfaction and let us know.

SGI respects the dignity of life?

"All they really care about is numbers. For instance, my daughter performed a few years back in a fan dance with the ESD [Elementary School Division]. She rehearsed for two months every weekend. Then the day of the performance, all kinds of parents were throwing their two, three and four year olds up there on stage to dance and "make a cause". I was so upset, because it diminished all the work my daughter put in to it and the leaders in charge didn't put a stop to it, they turned a blind eye. It was crazy; toddlers on stage! The little ones had no idea what they were doing, they were "cute" and it certainly filled up the stage leading one to believe that the Elementary School Division were of large, healthy numbers. That was the last performance for my daughter, and she was happy about that." -- Former SGI Woman's Division leader

"What If what I believe is a lie?" -- Blue Lady 45 year SGI member and Woman's Division Chapter Leader

I am SGI 

I have been a YWD Leader, WD District Leader, and now a Chapter WD Ldr. I have practiced for almost 45 years. I know Nichiren Shoshu Academy, Nichiren Shoshu of America, and now the SGI. I have marched in the fife and drum, been to at least 20 States for conventions, and I am too pooped to pop. 

The past 6 years plus have been hard for me to swallow. The whole Mentor and Disciple, now the ONENESS of Mentor and Disciple. It’s too much for my sensibilities anymore. I can only talk to 2 members about this whole idea of reaching enlightenment through the Mentor/Disciple relationship. That would mean the pioneers who came before us including my father would not have had the opportunity to reach enlightenment through this sort of new principal. 

Hell I always considered Pres Ikeda my master back when I was in youth division. I have been practicing since the late 60’s. However that was my choice, it was not printed in publications, spoke about daily, on Sundays etc. Now you have to accept it or ….. I don’t know what the or really is? 

Lately I have read The Autobiography of a Yogi, Fire in the Lotus, Old Path White Clouds, The Prophet Nichiren? Wake up to your life: Discovering the Buddhist path of Attention. The first 30 pages deal with picking your teacher. Very interesting… 

So I am at a crossroads in my leadership duties. What If what I believe is a lie? The practice of chanting and GONGYO and reading the Gosho are fine with me. --- It’s the body of Leaders in the SGI that concern me. The constant reference to each and every Gosho as the oneness of Mentor and Disciple. What does that really mean? I thought to myself. The constant steam cooker – me and my district leaders operate under. Some of them are not participating in leaders meetings – They don’t jump like they did when they first began their practice. The endless last minute meetings where you are expected to drop everything. I am constantly told “I am going home and going to bed” or “I can’t make all these meetings” 

We just had our May 3rd meeting it was FLAT nobody seemed to be enthusiastic about Rock the Era or none of what was going on stage. Clearly when it came to Pres Ikeda‘s video folks were flying out of the room to leave or go to the bathroom. 

I have told Region leaders I want to give up my Chapter position - I only signed on for 3 years and its now been 9. Before that I was a District Leader for 20 years. 

Guests come through the front door and leave out as members – in some cases never to be seen or heard of again. 

I have other reasons that I don’t want to talk about just yet. I am whipped and beat and tired. I want to retire like any other Manager who has been on the job for 42 years, collect my gold watch, and leave. 

I am funny if I think I can go out without a fight. 

Also========================================= 

From Reply to the Mother of Ueno… To reassure the lay nun Ueno that her son has attained Buddhahood, the Daishonin discusses the great benefit gained from embracing the Lotus Sutra, and asserts that a votary of the sutra will be protected by Shakyamuni, Many Treasures , and all the other Buddhas. 

Hmmp don’t see any mention of living the oneness of mentor and disciple. 

How many times in the Gosho did Nichiren emphasize that those who go against the Lotus Sutra suffer but those who continue to embrace it are Buddhas… Gee no mention here of the Oneness of Master and Disciple... oops they call it Mentor and Disciple now. 

Nichiren states of Shichiro Goro in the Gosho of the same name…. "At an early age, having not yet turned twenty, he began chanting Namu Myoho-renge-kyo and thus he became a Buddha. This is what the sutra means when it says: Then not a one will fail to attain Buddhahood.” 

Gee again no mention of this mentor and disciple relationship. It seems to be the relationship between us and the Lotus Sutra." -- Blue Lady

World Tribune March 1, 2014

World Tribune March 1, 2014

Daisaku Ikeda Receives 359th Award from the Devries Online College 

World Tribune Hamtramck Michigan, 02/05/2014 
Adin Straus reporting

For his outstanding achievements in Home Economics [bringing millions home to Japan for himself and his Vice Presidents], the Devries College awarded Daisaku Ikeda with his 359th honorary degree and the key to their online community. Unfortunately, Sensei was not able to attend the ceremony which was held at the Devries Online Computer Center in the Detroit neighborhood of Hamtramck. Hiramasu Ikeda, however, was pleased to receive the award for his father. Hiramasu talked about the revitalization of Detroit Michigan thanks to his father’s ongoing dialogues with Reverend Al Sharpton. Hiramasu related to the members that, during the first of their historic meetings, Reverend Sharpton hailed the Yemeni immigrants, both legal and illegal, as the bedrock of this predominantly polish community. Reverend Sharpton also praised the new Mosque across from the Devries Computer Center and Sensei concurred adding, “this beautiful community of ethnic and religious diversity is the hope for all mankind.” Sensei also brought up one of Hamtramck’s native sons, Rodney Dangerfield stating, “I don’t get any respect from the real Nichiren Buddhists and he didn’t get any respect from anyone.” Everyone was in a joyous mood at this profound award ceremony. 

May Contribution Is Just Around the Corner 
World Tribune 02/07/2014

Jim Celer Midwest Bureau Chief and Illarraza Buku World Tribune Reporter Santa Monica Ca.

Many members have been asking if it is too early to contribute? Danny Nagashima, SGI-USA General Director, responded to this very question with a question of his own at the January 18th Headquarters leaders meeting, right after the Daisaku Ikeda video presentation: “Is it too early to gain benefit?”. He went on, ”It is never too early to contribute to the May Campaign and it is never to early to gain more benefits.” He related the story of Orlando Cepeda who, through a myriad of bad investments, was nearly broke until he met Sensei. Sensei told him how, he too was nearly broke until he bought the four Renoir paintings from the Louvre Museum in Paris to donate to the members. He ponied up his last four million dollars and he is now a billionaire. Immediately after returning to the states, Mr Cepeda donated his last ten thousand dollars and, the next day, he became the national spokesperson for Churches Fried Chicken. You must be wondering by now, when can members begin to contribute? The commemorative May 2014 contribution period is actually from today, February 7, 2014 until February 6, 2015. 

How can members contribute? 

Financial contributions can be made in the following three ways: 

• In person at your local SGI-USA culture or community center, by cash, check, money order or credit card; 

• By mail with a postage-paid business reply envelope from your local SGI-USA center using a check, money order or credit card; 

• On our Web site at www.sgi-usa.org by credit card. 

What if members have questions? If you have further contribution-related questions, please call the toll-free hotline at (866) 501-3220 (within the United States). Hotline representatives are available weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT throughout the commemorative contribution period. Messages left after business hours will be returned during regular hotline hours. 

The Soka Gakkai International-USA is a religious, non profit organization and gifts to it WERE tax-deductible under the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section501(c)(3) 

Why does SGI does not want to discuss the teachings?

Because Nichiren's teachings are at odds with Ikedaism.

Perhaps the Seventh Day Adventist Ben Carson would comment on this rebuttal to the teleological argument of a creator god

"If you believe that complex things require a designer, then you need to account for who designed the designer. If you counter that the designer just is, then you rebut your own argument."

Perhaps the Seventh Day Adventist Ben Carson would comment on the cruelty and violence in the bible?

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/cruelty/long.html

Perhaps the Seventh Day Adventist Ben Carson would comment on the inconsistencies in the bible?

Noah enters the Ark a week before the rain starts (Genesis 
7:7) 

Noah enters the Ark the day that the rain starts (Genesis 
7:11-13) 

God dwells in light (1 Timothy 6:16) 

God dwells in darkness (1 Kings 8:12) 

Blasphemy agaist the Holy Ghost is unforgivable (Matthew 
12:31-32; Mark 3:29) 

Believers are justified in all things. (Acts 13:39) 

John the Baptist is Elias (Matthew 11:14) 

John the Baptist isn't Elias (John 1:21) 

John 5:22-23 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath 
committed all judgment unto the Son: That all [men] should 
honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that 
honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath 
sent him. 

John 5:30 [Jesus says] I can of mine own self do nothing: as 
I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not 
mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent 
me. 

John 8:15 [Jesus says] Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no 
man. 

John 12:47 [Jesus says] And if any man hear my words, and 
believe not, I judge him not 

The Lord will judge the people (Deuteronomy 32:36; 1 Samuel 
2:10; 1 Corinthians 16:33; Psalms 7:8, 9:7-8, 50:3-6, 75:7, 
96:13, 98:9, 135:14; Isaiah 33:22; Ezekiel 7:2-3, 8 & 27, 
11:10-12, 16:36-38, 18:30, 21:28-30; Acts 7:7; Romans 
14:11-12; Hebrews 10:30, 13:4; Revelation 19:11-16) 

Think not that I come to send peace on earth: I came not to 
send peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34) 

...all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 
(Matthew 26:52; Revelations 13:10) 

For wrath killeth the foolish man... (Job 5:2) 

...let not the sun go down on your wrath. (Ephesians 4:26) 

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, even the Son of man 
which is in heaven. (John 3:13) 

God "takes Enoch with Him" (Genesis 5:24) 

.
..and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 
2:11) 

Jesus ascends to Heaven (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50-51; Acts 
1:9-11) 

The two witnesses ascend (Revelation 11:3-12) 

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. (John 
5:31) 

I am one that bear witness of myself... (John 8:18) 

[Christ Jesus was the speaker in both of these quotes] 

Love God. (Deuteronomy 6:5; 11:1 & 13 & 22; 19:9; 30:6 & 16, 
Joshua 22:5; 23:11, Psalms 31:23, Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, 
Luke 10:27) 

Fear God (Leviticus 25:17; Deuteronomy 6:1, 13 & 24, 10:12 & 
20, 31:12-13; 1 Samuel 12:14; Psalms 33:8, 111:10, 115:13, 
128:1, 147:11; Luke 12:5; 1 Peter 2:17) 

Love and fear God (Deuteronomy 10:12) 

There is no fear in love. (1 John 4:18) 

(See also: additional commentary) 

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's 
children... (Proverbs 13:22) 

Sell that ye have... (Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:33) 

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the 
earth (Colossians 3:2) 

On the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day 
of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and 

ye shall afflict your souls and offer an offering made by 
fire unto the Lord. (Leviticus 23:27) 

For I spake not unto your fathers, nor comanded them in the 
day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning 
burnt offering or sacrifices. (Jerimiah 7:22) 

God is not the author of confusion. (I Corinthians 14:33) & 

Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the 

Almighty pervert judgment. (Job 34:12) & Every word of God 
is pure (Proberbs 30:5) & God is not a man, that he should 
lie (Numbers 23:19) 

Out of the mouth of the most high proceedeth not evil and 
good? (Lamantations 3:38) & For he hath said, It profiteth a 
man nothing that he should delight himself with God. 
Therefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding: for it be 
from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the 
Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. (Job 34:9-10) & 
God says that He intentionally gives bad laws. (Ezekiel 
20:25; 2 Thessalonians 2:11) & God causes others to lie (1 
Kings 22:23; 2 Chronicles 18:22; Jeremiah 4:10, 20:7; 
Ezekial 14:9) & The law of God has been perverted by scribes 
(Jeremiah 8:8) 

With God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) 

And the Lord was with Judah, and he drove out the 
inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the 
inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of 
iron. (Judges 1:19) 

...for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep 
anger forever. (Jeremiah 3:12) 

Ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn 
forever. (Jeremiah 17:4) 

...the earth abideth forever. (Ecclesiastes 1:4) 

...the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also 
and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 
3:10) 

If a man vow a vow unto the Lord or swear an oath... he 
shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. 
(Numbers 30:2) 

But I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven... 
nor by earth. (Matthew 5:34-35) 

Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to regin. 
(2 Kings 8:26) 

Fourty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign. 
(2 Chronicles 22:2) 

For all have sinned. (Romans 3:23) 

There was a man... whose name was Job; and that man was 
perfect and upright. (Job 1:1) 

God "takes Enoch with Him" (Genesis 5:24) 

...and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 
2:11) 

The two witnesses ascend (Revelation 11:3-12) 

(God doesn't take sinners, which is what the Hebrew strongly 
implies is what He literally did in the cases of Enoch, 
Elijah, and the two witnesses.) 

Jesus is also notably sinless... 

(See Also: A note on Mary and Catholicism.) 

Whosoever shall say Thou fool, shall be in danger of 
hellfire. (Matthew 5:22) 

[Jesus said] Ye fools and blind. (Matthew 23:17) 

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that 
getteth understanding. (Proverbs 3:13) 

For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth 
knowledge increaseth sorrow. (Ecclesiastes 1:18) 

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou 
hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee (Hosea 4:6) 

(See also: additional commentary) 

Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord... Wealth and 
riches shall be in his house... (Psalms 112:1-3) & If they 
obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in 
prosperity, and their years in pleasures. (Job 36:11-12) & 
In the house of the righteous is much treasure... (Proverbs 
15:6) 

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, 
than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. (Matthew 
9:24) & Lay not up for yourself treasures upon the earth... 
(Matthew 6:19) 

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the 
earth (Colossians 3:2) 

The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father. (Ezekiel 
18:20) 

.
..I the lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the 
iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and 
fourth generation. (Exodus 20:5; Numbers 14:18) 

A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; 
even to his tenth generation (Deuteronomy 23:2) 

(And interestingly, it appears that the sons CAN bear the 

blessings of God for many generations: `And thou hast known 
that Jehovah thy God He [is] God, the faithful God, keeping 
the covenant, and the kindness, to those loving Him, and to 
those keeping His commands--to a thousand generations' 
(Deuteronomy 7:9)) 

...the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves 
shall hear his voice, and come forth... (John 5:28-29) & And 
the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which 
slept arose. (Matthew 27:52) 

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that 
goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. (Job 7:9) 

God is seen (Genesis 5:22-24 (Enoch "walks with God"); 

32:24-30 (God is both seen and physically touched); Exodus 

24:9-11, 33:11 ("face-to-face"), 23; "hinderparts"); Numbers 
14:10, 16:19, 42; Deuteronomy 5:4 (face to face); John 14:7) 

God is unseeable (Exodus 33:20 (death for seeing His face); 

John 1:18 (has never been seen), 5:37 (can't be seen/never 
seen); 1 Timothy 6:16) 

God is heard (Genesis 3:9-10, 22:1-2, 11-12, 15-18; Exodus 
33:11 (direct physical conversation); Numbers 12:5-8, 
14:10-11, 16:20, 23-24, 44-45; 1 Kings 19:12-18; Acts 9:7) 

God is not heard (John 5:37 (never heard)) 

And God saw everything that he made, and behold it was very 
good. (Genesis 1:31) 

And it repented the Lord that he had made man on earth, and 
it grieved him at his heart (Genesis 6:6) 

God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any 
man. (James 1:13) & For he hath said, It profiteth a man 
nothing that he should delight himself with God. Therefore 
hearken to me, ye men of understanding: for it be from God, 
that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he 
should commit iniquity. (Job 34:9-10) 

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt 
Abraham. (Genesis 22:1) 

God allows Jesus to be tempted by Satan. (Matthew 4:1-11) 

God rested (Genesis 2:2; Exodus 20:11 & 31:17; Hebrews 4:4) 

God never rests (Isaiah 40:28) 

Murderers will be killed (Exodus 21:12 & 23) 
& He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right 
to the poor. (Job 36:6) 

Cain was protected by God for the murder of Able (Genesis 
4:15) 

Do not murder/kill (Exodus 20:13, 23:7; Leviticus 19:18, 
24:17, Matthew 19:18) & If ye love me, keep my commandments 
(John 14:15) 

Believers are justified in all things. (Acts 13:39) (Which 
would include murder...) 

David orders a cold-blooded murder (II Samuel 1:15) 

David sings of slaughtering children (Psalms 137:9) 

Moses orders killing (Exodus 32:26-27 (3,000 die); Numbers 
31:17-18 (wanton slaughter)) 

Elijah -- most holy of the prophets -- kills (1 Kings 18:22 
& 40 (kills 450); 2 Kings 1:10-14 (102 men), 2:23-24 (causes 
42 children to die)) 

God kills or orders it done (Genesis 19:24-25, 22:2; Exodus 
21:14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 29, 22:18, 19, 20, 24, 23:27, 32:27; 
Leviticus 20:2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 27, 21:9, 
24:14-16 & 23, 21, 26:17, 22, 29; Numbers 16:31-33, 35, 
21:6, 31:1 ; Deuteronomy 13:5, 9-10, 21:18-21, 22:21; 
Ezekiel 14:9; Matthew 15:4; Acts 5:5 & 10) 

Those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17; Luke 
11:9-10) 

Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer; they 
shall seek me early, but shall not find me. (Proverbs 1:28) 

Keep the Sabbath holy (Exodus 20:8; Leviticus 19:3 & 30) 

Don't worry about it (Colossians 2:16) 

Keep it holy only if you want to (Romans 14:5) 

...envy slayeth the silly one (Job 5:2) 

"I am a jealous God" (Exodus 20:5) 

"Jealousy" is defined as being envious. (Ask Mr. Webster.) 

Shaving is not allowed (Judges 8:5; Leviticus 19:28) 

Long hair is shameful (I Corinthians 6:14) 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your 
good works. (Matthew 5:16) 

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of 
them. (Matthew 6:1) 

Worry not, God will take care of you. (Matthew 6:26, 28 & 
30-34) 

You better take care of yourself. (I Timothy 5:8) 

When ye go, ye shall not go empty; but every woman shall 
borrow of her neighbor, and of her that sojourneth in her 
house, jewels of silver and jewels of gold, and rainment; 
and ye shall put them on your sons and upon your daughters; 
and ye shall spoil the Egyptians. (Exodus 3:21,22) 

Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, nether rob him. 
(Leviticus 19:13) 

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the 
earth (Colossians 3:2) 

God is not a man, that he should lie: neither the son of 
man, that he should repent. (Numbers 23:19) 

God causes others to lie (1 Kings 22:23; 2 Chronicles 18:22; 
Jeremiah 4:10, 20:7; Ezekial 14:9) 

And God said, Let us make man in our image. (Genesis 1:26) 

And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do 
unto his people. (Exodus 32:14) 

And it repented the Lord that he had made man on earth, and 
it grieved him at his heart (Genesis 6:6) 

For by grace are ye saved through faith... not of works. 
(Ephesians 2:8-9) 

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by 
faith only. (James 2:24) 

Solomon prays standing up (I Kings 7:22) 

Do not pray standing up (Matthew 6:5) 

Jesus dies at the 6th hour (Luke 23:44-46; John 19:14-30) 

Jesus dies at the 9th hour (Matthew 27:46-50; Mark 15:25-37) 

God sees everything (Proverbs 15:3; Job 34:21-22) 

God does not see everything (Genesis 18:20,21) 

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any 
likeness of anything that is in heaven... earth... [or] 
water. (Exodus 20:4; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 5:8) 

And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work 
shalt thou make them. (Exodus 25:18) 

God states that he has given the gift of knowledge of how to 
make graven images to Bezaleel and Aholiab and commanded 
that they make graven images. (Exodus 31:1-11) 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and 
set it upon a pole... (Numbers 21:8) 

God is all powerful (Jeremaih 32:27; Matthew 19:26) 

God is omnipotent (Revelations 19:16) 

God is not omnipotent (Judges 1:19) 

John was in prison when Jesus came to Galilee (Mark 1:14) 

John was not in prison when Jesus came to Gailiee (John 
3:22-24) 

David's throne was forever (Psalms 89:34-37) 

David's throne was not forever (Psalms 89:44) 

David's throne will be given to another (Luke 1:32) 

Israel had 800,000 fighting men & Judah 500,000 (2 Samuel 
24:9) 

Israel had 1,100,000 and Judah 470,000 (1 Chronicles 21:5) 

The Lord made David number the people (2 Samuel 24:1) 

Satan made David number the people (1 Chroncles 21:1) 

David took seven hundred horsemen (2 Samuel 8:4) 

David took seven thousand horsemen (1 Chronicles 18:4) 

Be angry (Ephesians 4:26) 

Don't be angry (Ecclesiastes 7:9) 

Michal had no children (2 Samuel 6:23) 

Michal had 5 sons (2 Samuel 21:8) 

Abraham had 2 sons (Galations 4:22) 

Abraham had only 1 son. (Hebrews 11:17) 

Abraham had at least 7 children (Genesis 22:2, 25:2 & 6) 

Incest is quite bad (Leviticus 20:17; Deuteronomy 27:22) 

One may commit incest for specific purposes (Leviticus 21:3) 

Abraham commits incest (Genesis 20:11,12) 

Paul's attendants heard the miraculous voice (Acts 9:7) 

Paul's attendants hear nothing (Acts 22:9) 

Christ = God ("I and my father are one." John 10:30) 

Christ & God are not equal ("My father is greater than I." 
John 14:28) 

Honor thy father and mother. (Exodus 20:12; Matthew 15:14, 
19:19) 

If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, 
and wife, and children, and bretheren, and sisters, yea, and 
his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26) 

For I come to set a man at varience against his father, and 
the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law 
against her mother in law. (Matthew 10:35) 

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the 
earth (Colossians 3:2) 

Thou shalt not steal (Exodus 20:15; Leviticus 19:11; 
Deuteronomy 5:19, 24:7; Matthew 19:18) 

Steal the wealth of besieged cities (Genesis 34:27-29; 
Deuteronomy 20:13-14) 

There shall no evil happen to the just. (Proverbs 12:21) 

God will allow evil to happen to the just (Job 1:12; Hebrews 
12:6) 

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to 

be tempted of the devil. (Matthew 4:1) 

Jesus is omnipotent (Matthew 28:18) 

Jesus is less than omnipotent (Mark 6:5) 

They gave him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall. (Matthew 
27:34) 

And they gave him to drink, wine mingled with myrrh. (Mark 
15:23) 

Josei Toda and Nichiren Daishonin dialogue

Josei Toda: I will not ask whether you are sincerely practicing because propagation is something you should carry out of your own initiative. Instead, I want to ask you if your businesses are doing well, whether you are making money, and whether you are enjoying good health. 

Nichiren Daishonin: I have not enough to eat. I am living off of grass, brachen, and melted snow. I wear the hide of deer that have died in the forest and icicles grow from my scraggly beard. My only visitors are the winter hares, raccoons, and roe deer. It is very cold in my hermitage but deep within this mortal flesh I preserve the ultimate secret Law inherited from Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, at Eagle Peak.

Josei Toda: You should chant more Daimoku. Our environment reflects our life condition. Why would you think anyone will practice this teachings without showing any actual proof? You should follow in the footsteps of Taisaku here, he is well on the way to becoming a billionaire by teaching the Dharma to silk robed laymen.

Nichiren Daishonin: I desire and am satisfied with little. My only wish is to attain Buddhahood, overcome my heavy karma for long having slandered the Law in countless past lives, and to help others do the same.

Josei Toda: That's not enough Nichiren. You should aspire to "five Cadillacs" and having enough money to donate a dozen community centers to the Soka Gakkai to which you should be forever grateful.

Nichiren Daishonin: You may think that those who believe in the layman Taisaku double tongue are prospering, but you should see what has become of those who paid for the construction of Shinonamachi, Fukushima, and the Tokyo seventh ward community centers. Again, the lord Abe is the ruler of Japan and partner to the SGI New Komeito but by his conduct he has called down on himself an enemy almost as great as the land of Jambudvipa. The era of widespread temple building is long over.

Josei Toda: You just don't get it. The Gohonzon is a happiness-manufacturing machine. How can you be happy without money and tons of adoring members?

Nichiren Daishonin: Worldly fame and profit are mere baubles of your present existence, and arrogance and prejudice are ties that will fetter you in the next one.

Josei Toda [ruffled]: What do you have to be arrogant about Nichiren? You don't have a pot to piss in and barely a handful of followers. If you had a correct faith, you would have had 750,000 followers who worship the ground Taisaku and me walk on and in this very life. Chill out Nichiren. Have a couple glasses of sake with me. I really shouldn't because my liver is shot from all that sake but just this once.

Nichiren Daishonin: Slanderers are as numerous as the dust particles of the land while true believers are as few as the specks of dirt that can fit on a fingernail. What were you saying about enjoying good health? Your eyes are yellow and your complexion is sallow . Although I too suffer from poor health, having had persistent abdominal pains and chronic diarrhea for years... the persecutions, continuously running for my life, having had barely enough to eat, the endless debates, and worrying about my disciples, my spirit dwells in this body as the moon is reflected in muddy water, or as gold is wrapped in a filthy bag. Your mind however, is clouded and warped from long having embraced the slanderous teachings of Taisekeji.      

Josei today was hardly Enlightened

“But, without any thought for my person or my life, I chant Namu-myoho renge-kyo.” — Nichiren Daishonin

“When I meet you, I don’t ask: “Are you keeping faith?” The reason is that I take your shakubuku for granted. What I really want to ask you is how your business is, whether you are making money, and if you are healthy. Only when all of you receive divine benefits do I feel happy. A person who says “I keep faith; I conduct shakubuku” when he is poor – I don’t consider him my pupil. Your faith has only one purpose: to improve your business and family life. Those who talk about “faith” and do not attend to their business are sacrilegious. Business is a service to the community. I will expel those of you who do nothing but shakubuku without engaging in business.” — Josei Toda

And

“How can we live happily in this world and enjoy life? If anyone says he enjoys life without being rich and even when he is sick – he is a liar. We’ve got to have money and physical vigor, and underneath all we need is life force. This we cannot get by theorizing or mere efforts as such. You can’t get it unless you worship a gohonzon…It may be irreverent to use this figure of speech, but a gohonzon is a machine that makes you happy. How to use this machine? You conduct five sittings of prayer in the morning and three sittings in the evening and shakubuku ten people. Let’s make money and build health and enjoy life to our hearts’ content before we die!” — Josei Toda

Aunti Religion says...

1. Vietnam is not a Japanese word.

2. Nam is ONE character.

3. Nam Mu is TWO characters.

4. Nichiren NEVER, NEVER, NEVER wrote SIX Characters

5. Nichiren ALWAYS wrote SEVEN Characters for Nam Mu Myo Ho Renge Kyo

6. If Nichiren wanted to say Nam Myoho Renge Kyo... He would have done so.

7. Every Mandala has NAM MU MYO HO RENGE KYO

8. After the Muromachi period, it became custom in Japan to drop vowels, or swallow them when talking. However that was after Nichiren passed away. 

9. Jose Toda asked the High Priest of Nichiren Shosho to change Nam Mu to Nam so the Soka Cockeye could chant caffeine 100 mph. What if he asked if it were OK if the members could jump in front of the Tokyo Subway Express?

10. It is ridiculous to ask a priest or friend or some crack pot if Nam is ok, ask Nichiren, he never wrote NAM ... HE always wrote Nam Mu Myo Ho Renge Kyo

We are joyful and at peace

Namu Myoho renge kyo is translated, "The Sublime [or Wonderful] Dharma of the Lotus Flower Sutra". It is a diamond scalpel for excising delusion. Yet, this diamond scalpel in the hands of the faithless, unwise, malevolent, or selfish, can be used to create delusion and misery. Similarly, a scalpel in the hands of skilled neurosurgeon can remove a highly malignant brain tumor but, in the hands of a desperate prisoner, it can be used to cut his guards throat. 

Nichiren teaches that Daimoku is like gold and it is the same gold in the hands of a fool and in the hands of a wise man. Still, Nichiren never advocated for foolishness. The SGI has taken the diamond scalpel and pure gold of the Lotus Sutra and created misery while squandering the true benefits of the Sublime Dharma. 

Nichiren teaches not to give up the gold just because the bag in which it is lying is dirty. We have thrown away the dirty bag of the Soka Gakkai and retained the gold of the Lotus Sutra. We are joyful and at peace.

You make some serious charges against the SGI

They will be bound by seven cords of iron and dragged by the two wardens of hell to the court of Yama, the lord of hell. While in hell, they will suspect that they had been brought before Yama because they had slandered the Lotus Sutra, and they then quickly will set aside all their songs in honor of Daisaku Ikeda, all their ill-gotten gains from the member's sincere donations, their Shingon type practice for material gain, and their tantric Guru Yoga, and instead they will chant the passage from the Lotus Sutra that begins, “Now this threefold world is all my [Shakyamuni Buddha’s] domain,”whereupon the cords that bound them will fall away and they will be returned to life.*

*The above modified from a passage in Repaying Debts of Gratitude.

How SGI works to destroy the teachings

“…Then, as laymen, they work to destroy the teachings of Buddhism. Men of this kind steal and usurp the correct teachings of Buddhism and use them to supplement and bolster the erroneous writings…” — Opening of the Eyes

The Soka Gakkai steals and usurps the Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra to destroy the Secret Law of the Object of Worship, the concept of Eternal Buddha, the doctrine of the exclusive faith and practice of the Lotus Sutra, the doctrine of the transmission, and the meaning and significance of attaining Buddhahood in this very body. They utilize the writings in a selective and arbitrary manner and highlight the disputed texts such as the forged and insignificant Ongi Kuden to supplement and bolster the erroneous teachings of Human Revolution, Lotus Sutra interfaith, SGI Oneness of Mentor and Disciple, and seeking guidance [control]. They [Daisaku Ikeda and his high paid lieutenants] also steal and usurp Namu Myoho renge kyo to enrich themselves. 

SGI is a bizarre parody of Buddhism.

"What I object to is how SGI is constantly glorifying this workaholic, go-go-go overscheduled lifestyle. Linda Johnson, for example, gave a speech about how she has this very busy job as a prosecutor, going to court herself and supervising other lawyers -- and then she also has two demanding positions in SGI. If that's what she wants to do, fine, that's her choice. What I dislike is that this is held up as an example to the rest of us -- we should be doing the same. Well, I don't want to! I would like to have a personal life, time for hobbies and friends, time to stop and smell the roses! When I tried to explain this to my leaders, their attitude was that I was being selfish and lazy, content with a narrow little life. 

Nonsense! I work quite hard at my job and at home -- but I also consider it important to have balance in my life. I have seen many SGI leaders who are miserable, exhausted, and overstressed -- and their families suffer too from their overinvolvement with SGI. Even if I loved SGI, that's not for me. It's not a healthy way to live." -- Tsukimoto

Nichiren too realized this:

"But for your person as a householder the essence is for you to chant 'Namu Myoho renge kyo' with no other thought and also make offerings to the monks. And also, if it is in accord with the sutra text, one should also 'expound it according to one's strength,' shouldn't one?" [Reply to Lord Matsuno] 

The key here, I think, is "according to one's strength". It doesn't read, "according to the strength of another". SGI changes Nichiren's teachings for their self serving ends. They are not even "Nichiren Buddhists", let alone "The One True Nichiren Sect". 

Belief in the Lotus Sutra and Shakyamuni Buddha will put Soka Gakkai senior leaders out of a job

Likening Daisaku Ikeda to Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny is appropriate. It is also appropriate to point out that the emperor Ikeda has no clothes. Ikeda and his disciples are so jealous of Shakyamuni Buddha that they threw him out of his own religion. Years ago, on the Alternate Religion of Nichiren Google group, when former members would assert the centrality of Ikeda to SGI, SGI members would retort, "Shakyamuni the Easter Bunny" or "Shakyamuni Buddha... do you mean Santa Claus?" Isn't it strange that Shakyamuni Buddha, not only is rarely mentioned [in a so-called Nichiren sect] but they defame him. Nichiren mentions Shakyamuni Buddha thousands of times and with great reverence and deference. Were people to follow the Law rather than the person [of Ikeda], there would be no SGI. They fear Shakyamuni Buddha and the Lotus Sutra because belief in them [rather than Ikeda and the SGI] will put them out of a job. 

The nonsense about always chanting with a goal in mind is pure SGI hogwash.

"Always chant with a goal in mind" -- SGI top senior leader

There are two types of chanting meditation, the Daimoku of contemplation where you let your thoughts arise and fall away and the Daimoku of prayer. As far as the Daimoku of prayer, it is possible to remain focused when praying for something of deep significance [to you], for example, the death of a family member or best friend, food when there is no bread on the table, or shelter when you have no place to stay. It is next to impossible to remain focused on something of lesser significance for more than twenty minutes or so. 10 minutes of focused concentration is not so unusual for a less than life and death struggle. We can make such things as Buddhahood a life and death struggle but it is not at all wrong to chant as a meditation, without any attachment whatsoever to our thoughts. This nonsense about always chanting with a goal in mind is pure SGI hogwash. Nichiren often said just to chant.

If you are one of this year's "six thousand" SGI-USA shakubuku..

You should read every post on the Eagle Peak blog.

Tariq Hassan SGI Men's Division Leader on SGI Ikeda Sensei's videos

Tariq Hassan, SGI Men's Division leader was the next to last keynote speaker. He was incredulous that some regions and areas weren't showing Ikeda's videos at their Sunday Kosen Rufu Prayer meetings, "I don't understand it", he said in derision. Then he went on to give an experience about home visiting the husband of a member. This man is one of the top executives of Citi Bank. Hassan was literally gushing praise [like a little dog sniffing the butt of a big dog's behind] of this mega rich fool. He stated to the effect, "The favorite activity of the City Bank top executive is seeing President Ikeda's videos". No wonder the crook in City Bank is in awe of the billionaire Ikeda, the Soka Gakkai never loses money and doesn't have to pay even a dime in taxes. They do have one thing in common, getting rich off the little guys. At the same time, is there any doubt why Citi Bank lost so many billions and billions of dollars thanks to faulty investments? With heads of the company like this fellow, it was a matter of course. 

Tariq Hassan also stated that you are not worthy of being a disciple of Sensei if you don't feel inspired to bring many people to see Sensei's videos. 

Another Ikedabot stated that the prime point of the national meeting in Guam, "was the VERY large picture of Sensei placed in the middle of the room." 

Honesty and objectivity as fundamental darkness?

Only in SGI pseudo-Buddhism.

"Today I return my Gohonzon to SGI-UK"

"I have been reading this thread for about the last 4 hours and it has made me sick to my stomach and close to tears." -- SGI member

"I'm glad you have spent four hours reading this thread. However, whilst it might feel safer to focus on things in the United States, these experiences are certainly not exclusive to the States. The worst extremes of SGI attitudes were, and still are most prevalent in Japan it seems. SGI is not quite so stupid to attempt acting so militantly elsewhere. I used to practice in the UK and the SGI here are no less insidious, having just changed their approach to the level our culture will allow. Barely. Even knowing that SGI used to, or are elsewhere using underhand and cult tactics to affect peoples lives, should be enough for anyone with integrity to distance themselves from such an organisation. Otherwise, I find it akin to locking oneself in a room with ones fingers in their ears whilst humming loudly, trying not to hear whats going on outside. It should be obvious that everyone here seems to have already attempted to "be the change you wish to see", and this approach has not worked. Therefore, this is why the thread is titled Former Cult Members and Affected Families. 

You could well be Robert Samuels. No offense intended, but your post certainly smacks of an "official, by the book, response". Of course, any and all are more than welcome to post here. But its not a forum for support of SGI and that should be blatantly obvious. I think you could better serve the voices here on this thread, by accepting and understanding them. If you wish to remain in a group that is unable, unwilling, and not even interested in reform, that is your decision. If you are happy in such a community, that is likewise your prerogative, but if you fly with the crows... 

I agree with the other responses, I don't particularly welcome your pity, however. I don't see how pity is befitting to people's experiences here. The word sounds a little inappropriate and somewhat insensitive to the people that have suffered within SGI. They did not suffer at random. The experiences related here bear common themes and are a result of the SGI mindset and structure. Just because you "are not aware" of similar events in SGI-UK, by no means does it mean they do not occur. A "pitying and sympathetic" post is not going to make all these events not exist. There are many more people who do not know where to turn. They have no-one to speak to regarding the discomfort and subtle mind control SGI exerts. Being in an SGI community is by its very nature a pressured way of life. These are my conclusions, and I am not alone. I am very glad to have followed all the "supportive steps and guidance" you have provided, in the past myself, and it had about as much effect as trying to slice a pool of water. Today I return, finally, once and for all my Gohonzon, to SGI-UK. I am so very glad to be rid of SGI's presence in my life - these strong emotions have come about after going through mental torture trying to consolidate my conscience with the nonsense I put up with as a member. I am glad to say my conscience, not SGI's alleged "value creating society", are what has endured, and it is once again guiding my life instead of Soka Spirit. Cult is not a dirty word. Christianity began as a minority cult. I too had many concerns about the cult of SGI, yet I found I could not live between the two worlds - my sense of right and wrong and what SGI was doing to me. The two were incompatible. -- Former SGI-UK member

SGI and totalitarianism

The SGI is not much different than totalitarian governments and our modern republics and democracies which too have become totalitarian. Since life isn't so great for a good many people who are burdened with heavy taxes [donations], engaged in wars, and their leaders lining their pockets [corruption], the governments attempt to keep the people entertained and uneducated, with endless sport programming, talent shows, reality shows, stupid "newsworthy" events, community activism for shallow causes, poor educational systems, etc. Likewise, the SGI doesn't want the youth to think and to really explore Buddhism, lest their free labor and donations stop, so it promotes mindless culture festivals like Rock the Era for Sensei while drumming into their heads that they are contributing to world peace and "human revolution" through these banal activities.