Helen Chinberg SGI leader: But the spirit of zaimu, of gokuyo, of offerings made to the Buddha is completely different. We do not encourage members to make these offerings because the organization needs them but rather because the act of making offerings to the Buddha itself brings great benefit.
Me: You threw the Buddha out of his own religion years ago but when it suits you, collecting donations for example, you invoke the Buddha. Duplicity is one of the fourteen slanders and greed is one of the Three Poisons.
"... the act of making offerings to the Buddha itself brings great benefit."
ReplyDeleteI would argue that the *organization* receiving the offerings does not equate with "The Buddha", by any stretch of the imagination.
C'mon Helen, how can you say this with a straight face? Did the Buddha need to hire a CFO with a flare for fundraising campaigns?
~Katie
They can't hire priests so they hire accountants and lawyers.
ReplyDeleteIn 2012 I decided not renew my subscriptions for WT and "Living Buddhism". Not sure where Helen Chinberg practices, but in the U.S. Aiden Straus kicked off the "Contribution Activity" with a double page spread in the WT. Boasting about all of the new *paid positions*, many for Youth Division members. Unemployment rates were still high here, but Boston SGI leaders focused on the *fortune* of SGI, how well the members were doing as compared to the general *non SGI member* population, noting that SGI was providing employment for members within the organization. THIS was also promoted as "fortune creating" opportunities for members with regard to the special zaimu offering (old term) and the campaign was lengthened to about 2 months.
ReplyDeleteI asked, "How does this campaign contribute to the prosperity of our society?"
Region WD leader replied, " It is actual proof of the benefit of practicing with the SGI, especially when our economy is in such bad shape. Increasing our membership is a great benefit to society as a whole,"
I could not find The Buddha in their mirror.
~Katie
yeah, but i'm sure the oder was horrendous. the sgi/nst turns smart people into idiots. all cults do.
ReplyDelete