This reaction should happen to SGI members after they read the writings of Nichiren Daishonin when they realise that they have been fooled by the organisation for so many years
it may take the nst/sgi members lifetimes to awaken from the deep sleep they have realized form the affiliation with slanderers. certainly, there is a stiff price to pay.
There are also many xsgi member that have shredded their Nichikan Gohonzon and smashed up their Butsudans after they found out that they were being manipulated by the organization A And now they have turned their rage against Nichiren by hating his writings and publicly denouncing him a self righteous religious fanatic
"not having a full understanding of the Buddhist teachings, they would find it difficult to endure the attacks of others.
Though they had supposed that, by practicing the Buddha’s teachings, they would gain peace and security, in fact they would find that, because they had embraced this teaching, they were beset by great hardships.
In that case they would then slander this teaching as a distorted one and therefore fall into the evil paths. How pitiful that would be!"
Sahih International: Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it [as if] setting in a spring of dark mud, and he found near it a people. Allah said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness."
Pickthall: Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness.
Yusuf Ali: Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: "O Zul-qarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness."
Shakir: Until when he reached the place where the sun set, he found it going down into a black sea, and found by it a people. We said: O Zulqarnain! either give them a chastisement or do them a benefit.
Muhammad Sarwar: to the West where he found the sun setting into a warm source (spring) of water and a people living near by. We asked him, "Dhu 'l-Qarnayn, you may punish them or treat them with kindness?"
Mohsin Khan: Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black muddy (or hot) water. And he found near it a people. We (Allah) said (by inspiration): "O Dhul-Qarnain! Either you punish them, or treat them with kindness."
Arberry: until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and he found nearby a people. We said, 'O Dhool Karnain, either thou shalt chastise them, or thou shalt take towards them a way of kindness.'
Even in the Quran there are many translations that are interpretations of a verse
"Even in the Quran there are many translations that are interpretations of a verse"
Translating any writing that is composed in an archaic language is frought with the potential for many variations and even error--not to mention ripe for alterations in meaning based on personal bias.
This, BTW is a point that has been employed in SGI's interfaith *commiseration* campaign!
in both the quran and the bible, there are many, many contradictions. i am not sure about the bible, but with the quran the latest version is the one they encourage their believers to follow. 9 times out of ten the latest version is fraught with violence... ???????&^%$#!
Faith in myoho-renge-kyo that perpetuates a consistent practice will naturally lead to questioning of one or more of the many inconsistencies and distortions that are endemically the SGI. How resistant we are to brainwashing and bullying in the context of practicing our faith is also a function of our faith in myoho-renge-kyo. My point is that from the moment we began to chant, we were not theoretically at the mercy of any leader's teachings or the rules and codes of the SGI. Not so in other religions where it is only possible to reflect and ponder with our deluded minds what we are told about the lesser teachings recorded in their scriptures. At any point in our experience as SGI members, the benefit of seeking clarity and wisdom that accords with the mind of the Buddha is available to us via faith in and chanting Namu-myoho-renge-kyo.
Awakening to the truth of Nichiren's teachings is by far more important than simply believing the *person* who refutes the slander that comprises SGI's teachings/doctrines. In my humble opinion.
I think that discovering the fallacies in the SGI doctrines and experiencing the atmosphere of oppression, arrogance and entitlement that pervades SGI activities may not go hand in hand with arousing even a moment of faith in myth-renge-kyo. Members who find the attitudes and behavior of leaders intolerable may well appreciate discovering that at the root of these base behaviors are false doctrines and intentional manipulation to keep members under control and in the dark-- These members would be most likely to display intensified anger, feeling their personal experience has been validated by the exposure of SGI's spurious agenda.But if this response extends to destruction of one's altar and hatred for Nichiren, then clearly the message that SGI NOT Nichiren is in the wrong, has not been communicated or understood--- and that speaks to our responsibility to share the truth of Myoho-renge-kyo-- and our great benefit for doing so.
Nichiren does not react with rage and hatred for the slanderous priests of the erroneous schools of Buddhism he refuted and denounced. Following Nichiren's example the challenge is making the clear distinction between Nichiren's Lotus Sutra Buddhism and all other religious and spiritual practices. One distinction not mentioned on this thread yet, is that widespread slander of the Lotus sutra is the cause for the *terror* that is griping all humanity, evident in the emergence of religious- based sanctions for killing. Those who distort the Buddha's teachings to serve their own greed and lust for power are committing acts of violence. Could it be that the widespread distortion of Nichiren's teachings, that ostensibly is the basis for amassing great wealth and power for a small number of SGI's "leaders", is by far the worst of all acts of violence ?
This reaction should happen to SGI members after they read the writings of Nichiren Daishonin when they realise that they have been fooled by the organisation for so many years
ReplyDeleteit may take the nst/sgi members lifetimes to awaken from the deep sleep they have realized form the affiliation with slanderers. certainly, there is a stiff price to pay.
DeleteThere are also many xsgi member that have shredded their Nichikan Gohonzon and smashed up their Butsudans after they found out that they were being manipulated by the organization
DeleteA
And now they have turned their rage against Nichiren by hating his writings and publicly denouncing him a self righteous religious fanatic
exactly, and this is the damage done.
Deleteextra, extra, a negative karma for sale!
"not having a full understanding of the Buddhist teachings, they would find it difficult to endure the attacks of others.
DeleteThough they had supposed that, by practicing the Buddha’s teachings, they would gain peace and security, in fact they would find that, because they had embraced this teaching, they were beset by great hardships.
In that case they would then slander this teaching as a distorted one and therefore fall into the evil paths. How pitiful that would be!"
Nichiren
Exactly.
ReplyDeleteChapter (18) sūrat l-kahf (The Cave)
ReplyDeleteSahih International: Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it [as if] setting in a spring of dark mud, and he found near it a people. Allah said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness."
Pickthall: Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness.
Yusuf Ali: Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: "O Zul-qarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness."
Shakir: Until when he reached the place where the sun set, he found it going down into a black sea, and found by it a people. We said: O Zulqarnain! either give them a chastisement or do them a benefit.
Muhammad Sarwar: to the West where he found the sun setting into a warm source (spring) of water and a people living near by. We asked him, "Dhu 'l-Qarnayn, you may punish them or treat them with kindness?"
Mohsin Khan: Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black muddy (or hot) water. And he found near it a people. We (Allah) said (by inspiration): "O Dhul-Qarnain! Either you punish them, or treat them with kindness."
Arberry: until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and he found nearby a people. We said, 'O Dhool Karnain, either thou shalt chastise them, or thou shalt take towards them a way of kindness.'
Even in the Quran there are many translations that are interpretations of a verse
"Even in the Quran there are many translations that are interpretations of a verse"
DeleteTranslating any writing that is composed in an archaic language is frought with the potential for many variations and even error--not to mention ripe for alterations in meaning based on personal bias.
This, BTW is a point that has been employed in SGI's interfaith *commiseration* campaign!
Just saying~
~Katie
in both the quran and the bible, there are many, many contradictions. i am not sure about the bible, but with the quran the latest version is the one they encourage their believers to follow. 9 times out of ten the latest version is fraught with violence... ???????&^%$#!
ReplyDeleteThose moderators of Reddit SGI Whistleblowers for example [referring to Noel's observation].
ReplyDeleteFaith in myoho-renge-kyo that perpetuates a consistent practice will naturally lead to questioning of one or more of the many inconsistencies and distortions that are endemically the SGI. How resistant we are to brainwashing and bullying in the context of practicing our faith is also a function of our faith in myoho-renge-kyo. My point is that from the moment we began to chant, we were not theoretically at the mercy of any leader's teachings or the rules and codes of the SGI. Not so in other religions where it is only possible to reflect and ponder with our deluded minds what we are told about the lesser teachings recorded in their scriptures. At any point in our experience as SGI members, the benefit of seeking clarity and wisdom that accords with the mind of the Buddha is available to us via faith in and chanting Namu-myoho-renge-kyo.
ReplyDeleteAwakening to the truth of Nichiren's teachings is by far more important than simply believing the *person* who refutes the slander that comprises SGI's teachings/doctrines. In my humble opinion.
I think that discovering the fallacies in the SGI doctrines and experiencing the atmosphere of oppression, arrogance and entitlement that pervades SGI activities may not go hand in hand with arousing even a moment of faith in myth-renge-kyo. Members who find the attitudes and behavior of leaders intolerable may well appreciate discovering that at the root of these base behaviors are false doctrines and intentional manipulation to keep members under control and in the dark-- These members would be most likely to display intensified anger, feeling their personal experience has been validated by the exposure of SGI's spurious agenda.But if this response extends to destruction of one's altar and hatred for Nichiren, then clearly the message that SGI NOT Nichiren is in the wrong, has not been communicated or understood--- and that speaks to our responsibility to share the truth of Myoho-renge-kyo-- and our great benefit for doing so.
Nichiren does not react with rage and hatred for the slanderous priests of the erroneous schools of Buddhism he refuted and denounced. Following Nichiren's example the challenge is making the clear distinction between Nichiren's Lotus Sutra Buddhism and all other religious and spiritual practices. One distinction not mentioned on this thread yet, is that widespread slander of the Lotus sutra is the cause for the *terror* that is griping all humanity, evident in the emergence of religious- based sanctions for killing. Those who distort the Buddha's teachings to serve their own greed and lust for power are committing acts of violence. Could it be that the widespread distortion of Nichiren's teachings, that ostensibly is the basis for amassing great wealth and power for a small number of SGI's "leaders", is by far the worst of all acts of violence ?
~Katie
So true Katie
ReplyDelete