Happiest New Year ever to all my readers and the entire world

"I have received a hundred mushimochi cakes and a basket of fruit. New Year's Day marks the first day, the first month, the beginning of the year and the start of spring. A person who celebrates this day will gain virtue and be loved by all, just as the moon becomes full gradually, moving from west to east, and the sun shines more brightly traveling from east to west.

First of all, as to the question of where exactly hell and the Buddha exist, one sutra states that hell exists underground and another sutra says that the Buddha is in the west. However, closer examination reveals that both exist in our five-foot body. The reason I think so is that hell is in the heart of a man who inwardly despises his father and disregards his mother, just like the lotus seed, which contains both flower and fruit at the same time. In the same way, the Buddha dwells inside our hearts. For example, flint can produce fire and gems possess value in themselves. We common mortals can see neither our own eyebrows, which are so close, nor heaven in the distance. Likewise, we do not see that the Buddha exists in our own hearts. You may question how is it that the Buddha can reside within us when our bodies, originating from our parents' sperm and blood, are the source of the three poisons and the seat of the carnal desires. But repeated consideration shows the validity of my claim. The pure lotus flower blooms out of the muddy pond, the fragrant sandalwood grows from the soil, the graceful cherry blossoms come forth from trees, the beautiful Yang Kuei-fei was born of a maidservant, and the moon rises from behind the mountains to shed light on them. Misfortune comes from one's mouth and ruins him, but fortune comes from one's mind and makes him worthy of respect.

The sincerity of making offerings to the Lotus Sutra at the beginning of the New Year is like flowers blooming from trees, a lotus unfolding in a pond, sandalwood blossoming on the Snow mountains, or the moon beginning to rise. Japan, in becoming an enemy of the Lotus Sutra has now invited misfortune from a thousand miles afar, whereas those who believe in the Lotus Sutra will gather fortune from ten thousand miles afar. The shadow is cast by the body, and just as the shadow follows the body, misfortune will befall the country whose people are hostile to the Lotus Sutra. The believers in the Lotus Sutra, on the other hand are like the sandalwood endowed with fragrance. I will write you again."

Nichiren

The fifth day of the first month.

Soka Gakkai and Mitsubishi Heavy Industrials are a match made in heaven

"Mitsubishi Heavy Industries say they are going "Green" and a partial weapons list is below. 

The difference with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and SGI is, when MHI tells their "Greenwashing" lies, no rational person is going to believe them and understands its just corporate propaganda to maximize profits and to try to distract the general public who doesn't pay attention.

But with SGI, they try to hide behind "religion" and also work very hard to distract the public from the facts of reality.

Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan), CONTRACTORS

Activities/Services Commercial and military helicopters, military aircraft, aircraft engines, guided missiles and defence electronics. Satellite and space systems...

* Air-Launched Rockets

* Air-To-Air Missiles - Beyond Visual Range

* Air-To-Air Missiles - Within Visual Range

* Air-To-Surface Missiles - Anti-Ship

* Air-To-Surface Missiles - Direct Attack

* Air-To-Surface Missiles - Stand-Off And Cruise

* Analysis

* Analysis - Air-To-Air Missiles

* Analysis - Air-To-Surface Missiles

* Analysis - Automatic Grenade Launchers

* Analysis - Bombs

* Analysis - Country Inventories - In Development

* Analysis - Country Inventories - In Service

* Analysis - Gun Pods And Mountings

* Analysis - Guns

* Analysis - In-Service Combat Aircraft And Their Air-Launched Weapons Capabilities

* Analysis - Mines And Depth Charges

* Analysis - Rocket Launchers

* Analysis - Rockets

* Analysis - Torpedoes

* Analysis - Worldwide In-Service Combat Aircraft

* Bombs - Cluster And Dispenser Munitions

* Bombs - Precision And Guided Munitions

* Bombs - Unguided

* Contractors

* Glossary

* Guns - Integral And Mounted

* Guns - Podded Systems

* Underwater Weapons - Mines And Depth Charges

* Underwater Weapons - Torpedoes

* Underwater Weapons - Unclassified Projects

There are actually reports of SGI and Mitsubishi misdeeds, as well as reports that SGI's main financing bank is The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi. Of course, the problem is SGI keeps all of their finances secret, so only Ikeda and his family know where the money is, and where it went.

[www.culthelp.info]

"In March 1990, a swirl of accusations over a mysterious transaction involving the Soka Gakkai, the Mitsubishi Corp and two Renoir paintings in which nearly 1.5 billion yen had gone missing."

"The organisation operates five cemeteries in Japan through a joint venture with Mitsubishi Corps. In May 1991, Soka Gakkai paid 640 million yen in profits from the sale of gravestones over the three year period ending in March 1990."

[www.caic.org.au]

The spying charges against Soka Gakkai International France, which claims 152,000 members, were further detailed in a recent issue of the Shukan Bunshun. Quoting the newspaper Le Parisien, it reported that a secret network of Soka Gakkai operatives allegedly infiltrated the Mitsubishi group offices in Paris, which were used as cover for intelligence operations. It did not specify whether the secret agents were corporate employees sent from Japan or local hires, or a combination of both.

SGI wants it both ways: Make a show of protecting article 9 of the Japanese constitution while supporting the LDP and Mitsubishi." -- by anticult

On the Nichiren Shoshu Doctrine of "Lifeblood"

The Nichiren Shoshu "Lifeblood Received by Only a Single Person" should read, "Lifeblood Received by Every Single Person".

Soka Gakkai leader threatens to sue me

"Notice to Cease and Desist to Mark Rogow from Tim Janakos-VanCampen Mark Rogow, I will be sending a registered copy of this notice to the Wildhorse Family Medical Clinic and Urgent Care Center, 1024 W Cherokee Ave, Sallisaw, OK 74955, US, unless you would like me to send it to your home address instead. If you would prefer I send it to your home address please notify me of that address. 

In your blog comment of July 30th 2013:
http://markrogow.blogspot.jp/2013/07/tim-janakos-soka universitygraduate.html, 
you claim I "hurt people spiritually AND physically" with my energy work. This letter is to request proof that I have harmed someone. 

Please provide me proof my energy healing work has harmed anyone "Spiritually And physically." If you cannot provide me with proof, within 21 days, immediately remove the post and publicly apologize to me for making a false claim against my work, as well as send me a written apology or I I will seek damages. Thank you. I'm looking forward to your quick response. 

Signed Tim Janakos-VanCampen,
e-mail, timjanakos@gmail.comwww.tjmusic.orgHayadori 
address, 1-11-32, Konan-ku Niigata-shi, Niigata-ken, Japan 950-0168

Response: As an SGI cult member, by definition, you hurt people physically and spiritually, especially when you practice Emotional Energy Healing which has no scientific basis of efficacy. Good luck with your lawsuit. I look forward to seeing you in court.

The bright mirror of the Lotus Sutra illuminates the darkness of Soka Gakkai

SGI members are the last to know about changes in SGI doctrines and practices. It is very bizarre when others have known for years about the direction to which Soka Gakkai is going, SGI members denie each and every change with every fiber of their being. But once the changes are affirmed by their Sensei, they not only readily accept and laud the changes but state that there are no changes, we have always believed thus.

What would Nichiren think of Soka Gakkai Scholar Katsuaki Onishi's conclusion in his essay, Buddhist Organizations and Their Response to Natural Disasters － Katsuaki Onishi

"In closing, I would like to share the view of a Theravada Buddhist, Alubomulle Sumanasara (1945–), who is quite widely read in Japan. He is known for having propagated early Buddhism within the Japan Theravada Buddhist Association and guided people in meditative practices. Rejecting the idea that the disaster represented some form of divine retribution, Sumanasara emphasized that the natural disaster was no one in particular’s fault. The real question is whether one experiences this as suffering and is spiritually overwhelmed by it, or whether one can live as a truly wise person. He does not consider the disaster in terms of karmic causality, but rather in terms of how people experience suffering in the face of a particular phenomenon, in this case a natural disaster, emphasizing a more agentic interpretation of the meaning of karma and the importance of living with wisdom.7 In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, the Japan Theravada Buddhist Association made its place of 46 buddhist organizations and natural disasters practice available as a temporary shelter and organized the cooking and delivery of meals for victims along with donations of books to libraries, the collection of relief funds, and other activities. In this way, the disaster relief activities of Buddhists and Buddhist organizations were widely recognized within contemporary Japanese society. These individuals and organizations fulfilled a role within the public sphere, gaining, in the process, a greater voice in society."

I'll tell you what Nichiren would think because I know Nichiren much better than the SGI scholar Onishi... He would think that without a shadow of a doubt Japan's ongoing calamity is divine punishment for Japan's slander of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren. Cause (slander) and effect (retribution for the Japanese peoples slanderous thoughts words and deeds of men such as those of Katsuaki Onishi) is the workings of karma. What else could it be?

No Nichiren but plenty of Ikeda in the latest Journals of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy, an example

http://www.iop.or.jp/Documents/1727/09_%5B070-084%5DY.Kawada.pdf

How different my life experience than that of the SGI members, the Oguchi's

"Additionally, what the Oguchis said and how they expressed themselves did not cohere neatly with a satisfying narrative arc of ruination leading into spiritual renewal that is common in member testimonials promoted by Soka Gakkai administrators. As the Oguchis spoke to me of their experiences with the tsunami and its aftermath, strong emotions rose to the surface easily and often. They derive joy from their daily work, and they clearly place a great deal of importance on their new, elevated role within Soka Gakkai, but years after 3.11 they remain fragile, prone to expressing profound grief. Unlike many survivors who have moved into reconstructed homes or far away from the disaster area, the Oguchis never escape the voices of the bereaved infiltrating their home at all hours, and they themselves are still visibly distraught. They shed tears of joy at having rediscovered their faith by gaining purpose in aiding others after the tsunami, but speaking with the Oguchis, hearing their anguished stories, and witnessing their wrenching mix of gratitude and sorrow, one might think the tsunami swept through weeks ago, not years. Summaries of their aid efforts do not convey this lingering trauma, nor do they do justice to the layers of life experiences that may explain why the Oguchis remain in their tiny temporary housing unit." -- Professor Levi Mclaughlin expert and sympathizer of the Soka Gakkai,  from his tome, Religious Responses to the 2011 Tsunami in Japan

How different my experience: The pure inexpressible and near permanent joy of faith after leaving the Gakkai for Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism and overcoming similar life and death hardships.

How disgusting..The Dying Galatian of Tokyo

We of the Eagle Peak Blog will keep Soka Gakkai's history alive so that the leaders can see their ugly faces.

"The natural power of human beings is very weak. No matter how hard one tries to live one's own life in one's own way, in the end one is easily influenced by others and by external factors....I believe that to make one's life its strongest, most brilliant and happiest, there is no way but to live the Buddhism of ichinen sanzen [a single life-moment possesses three thousand realms] and the mutual possession of the ten worlds. This is the ultimate philosophy that Nichiren Daishonin delivered to the vast universe more than seven hundred years ago. He perceived people's ignorance of this profound principle and bestowed upon them the gem of ichinen sanzen so that they could attain the state of happiness. This gem of ichinen sanzen is nothing other than the Dai-Gohonzon that he inscribed...."(Buddhism in Action, vol. 7, pp. 107-08, 1980)

SGI will suppress 90% of Toda's and Ikeda's writings before 1991.

To Soka Gakkai's top leaders: So much for SGI kindness. So much for Ikeda's omnicience.

Oh, you were in on the joke of SGI's false doctrines? You knew it for years? Then why not the pioneer members? They had no right to know? And while we're on the subject, was it OK to slander those who taught correct doctrine all along?

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT DANNY BOY?

I'd love to see the face of the foolish Danny Nagashima after reading these posts. I guess he can mitigate his shame of lying to the members for twenty years by looking at his bank account. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT DANNY BOY? Do you blush when you are shamed?

Soka Gakkai members: Better now than later. Better later than never

Why wait five or ten years until SGI tells you that they are switching to a copy of Nichiren inscribed Gohonzon? THEN you will rid yourself of the Nichikan Gohonzon and pay for another SGI inferior quality Gohonzon copy. Since you will discard the the Nichikan copy sooner or later, it is better that you return out now than later and enshrine a Nichiren Gohonzon.

Soka Gakkai members...Sensei says to erase his previous guidances from your minds

"The Dai-Gohonzon of the high sanctuary of true Buddhism at the Nichiren Shoshu head temple, Taiseki-ji, is the basis of all Gohonzons. The Gohonzon, which we are allowed to recieve so that we can pray in our own homes, can be inscribed only by one of the successive high priests who inherit the true lineage of Nichiren Shoshu." -- Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhism in Action, vol. 1, pg. 21

"It goes without saying that our Soka Gakkai is an organization of Nichiren Shoshu believers. Therefore, worshipping the Dai-Gohonzon and serving the high priest is the fundamental spirit of the Gakkai." Daisaku Ikeda, Inaugural address of president Ikeda, 1960

"The basis of Nichiren Shoshu is the Lifeblood recieved only by a single person. To faithfully follow the High Priest of the bequethal of the Lifeblood is the correct way for priests and lay believers. If one is mistaken about this single point, then everything will become insane." Daisaku Ikeda, Discussing Kosen-rufu and Human Life, Vol. 3, p. 32

"Needless to say, the Dai-Gohonzon of the high sanctuary inscribed for all mankind is the most fundamental basis of the movement for the Nichiren Shoshu Soka Gakkai [they have since changed the name to SGI]. The Dai-Gohonzon has been preserved and handed down within Nichiren Shoshu from the founder, Nichiren Daishonin, to his successor, Nikko Shonin, and then to the third high priest, Nichimoku Shonin, up to the present 67th high priest, Nikken Shonin. I hope, therefore, that we will courageously dedicate ourselves to studying Nichiren Daishonin's teachings in order to deepen our faith and to propagation true Buddhism in each country or community, as we follow the high priest's guidance, and respect the traditions and doctrines of Nichiren Shoshu." Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhism in Action, vol 1, p 33

"We conduct the third prayer to express our deepest appreciation to Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law. In this third silent prayer, we also offer our gratitude to Nikko Shonin, the second high priest and the fouder of Taisekiji. Further, we offer our appreciation to the third high priest, Nichimoku Shonin, and all the successive high priests of Nichiren Shoshu, each of whom transmitted the heritage of the Law to the next. Presently, as you know, the 67th high priest, Nikken Shonin, has inherited the Law. Now he is the master of true Buddhism." Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhism in action, vol 1, p 107

"...we must protect and transmit the essence of the traditions and doctrines that have been continually protected for over 700 years, since the time of the Daishonin. I am concerned that unless we make this our basis, that no matter how much we temporarily increase in power, we would be unable to avoid the criticism of future generations that our Kosen-rufu was a sham." Daisaku Ikeda, Daibyaku Renge, No. 333, p. 13

"That which forms the basis of Nichiren Shoshu is the Lifeblood. With the Dai-Gohonzon as the basis, the successive High Priests alone recieve and inherit this Lifeblood, and preserve it eternally." Daisaku Ikeda, Discussing Kosen-rufu and Human Life, Vol. 3, p. 256

"The Great Pure Law of the Latter day of the Law is transmitted by the successive High Priests of the bequethal of the lifeblood of the Law recieved by only a single person, and they inscribe the Gohonzon for us believers from that standpoint." Daisaku Ikeda, Discussing Kosen-rufu and Human Life, Vol. 4, p. 6 

Small experience of the protection of the Gohonzon

Monday I lied to my dialysis nurse because I didn't want him to take off too much fluid. I weighed 66.1 kg and I told him I weighed 65.4 kg. They took off only 700 cc (1.54 pounds) of fluid and because of the ensuing holiday (2 days with no dialysis), I drank more than my allotted 1 liter a day of liquid. I went to bed at 2:00 am and began to feel fluid overloaded (heaviness in the chest, shortness of breath, nausea). I was about to vomit and asked my wife to immediately bring me some plastic bags. I vomited, at least, 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of pure absolutely non-acidic fluid and despite having eaten only 1 hour before. I hadn't vomited in months. I felt great after vomiting and quickly fell asleep. The next day at dialysis, I related my experience to several experienced dialysis nurses. They couldn't explain it and never heard such an experience.

I attributed this to the Gohonzon's protection and my body automatically getting rid of the excess water.

Lessening the Karmic Retribution -- Nichiren Daishonin

There were two brothers called Suri and Handoku1. Both of them answered to the name Suri Handoku. You three believers are like them. When any one of you comes, I feel as though all three of you were with me.

The Nirvana Sutra teaches the principle of lessening karmic retribution. If one's heavy karma from the past is not expiated within this lifetime, he must undergo the sufferings of hell in the future, but if he experiences extreme hardship in this life, the sufferings of hell will vanish instantly. When he dies, he will obtain the blessings of Rapture and Tranquillity, as well as those of the three vehicles and the supreme vehicle. Bodhisattva Fukyo was not abused and vilified, stoned and beaten with staves without reason. He had probably slandered the True Law in the past. The phrase "after expiating his sins"2 indicates that because Bodhisattva Fukyo met persecution, he could eradicate his sins from previous lifetimes.

The twenty-four successors3 were all emissaries from the Buddha, who had predicted their advent. Of these, the fifteenth, Bodhisattva Kanadeva, was killed by a Brahman, and the twenty-fourth, Aryasinha, was beheaded by King Danmira. Buddhamitra and Bodhisattva Nargarjuna also suffered many persecutions. Yet others propagated Buddhism under the protection of devout kings, without encountering persecution. This would seem to show that there are both good and evil countries in the world, and accordingly there are two ways of propagation, shoju and shakubuku. Persecutions occurred even in the Former and Middle Days of the Law -- even in India, the center of Buddhism. Now is the beginning of the Latter Day, and this country is far away from India. I therefore expected that persecutions would arise, and I have long been awaiting them.

I expounded this principle a long time ago; so it should not be new to you. Kangyo-soku is one of the six stages of practice in the perfect teaching. It means that one does as he speaks and speaks as he does. Those at the stages of ri-soku and myoji-soku believe in the perfect teaching, but even though they praise it, their actions fail to reflect their words. For example, many people study the books of the Three Great Rulers4 and the Five Emperors, but there is not one case in ten million where society is governed as those ancient Chinese sages taught. Thus it is very difficult to establish peace in society. One may be letter-perfect in reciting the Lotus Sutra, but it is far more difficult to practice as it teaches. The Hiyu chapter states, "They will despise, hate, envy and bear grudges against those who read, recite, transcribe and embrace this sutra." The Hosshi chapter reads, "Since hatred and jealousy abound even during the lifetime of the Buddha, how much worse will it be in the world after his passing?" The Kanji chapter reads, "They will attack us with swords and staves...we will be banished again and again." The Anrakugyo chapter states, "The people will be full of hostility, and it will be extremely difficult to believe." These quotations are from the sutra, but there is no way of knowing when these prophecies will be fulfilled. In the past, Bodhisattva Fukyo and Priest Kakutoku read and lived these passages. But aside from the Former and Middle Days of the Law, now in the Latter Day, in all Japan only Nichiren seems to have done so. From my present situation, I can well imagine how followers, relatives, disciples and believers must have grieved when so many of their saints met persecution in the ancient days of evil kings.

Nichiren has now read the entirety of the Lotus Sutra. Even a single phrase or passage will assure one's Enlightenment; since I have read the entire sutra, my benefits will be far greater. Though I may sound presumptuous, my most fervent wish is to enable the whole nation to attain enlightenment. However, in an age when none will heed me, it is beyond my power. I will close now to keep this brief.

Nichiren

Check it out...Soka Gakkai satire by Buddha Jones

https://web.archive.org/web/20010205042200/http://buddhajones.com/AboutThisSite/MostFrequentlyReadArticles.html

Steve Mortan Soka Gakkai West Territory 4 division* leader

Steve Mortan who cursed at a youth during a soka group shift for not being in the “proper” position even though he was where his in charge told him to be. The abused member stated, 

"if someone so high up in the org curses at someone for something like that, that’s just pathetic and I want nothing to do with it. Staring at a wall for seven hours straight definitely has SO MUCH BENEFITS YOU WONT BE ABLE TO FATHOM THE KIND OF FORTUNE YOU WILL CREATE. I am done being indoctrinated."

*Mens, Women's, Young Men's. Young Women's are the four Soka Gakkai divisions.

Just Decided I Want Out... (or that I am out) from SGIwhistleblowers

Well this is really hard....

I feel like there has been so much positive benefits I’ve gained from the practice and I do feel like there are great things to it.. but there was just red flag after red flag.

I quit SGI

It just seemed like the more activities you did the more they expected from you and the more they tried to instill this sense that “Daisaku Ikeda is your mentor” “the oneness of mentor and disciple” “the eternal vow for our great mentor, Daisaku Ikeda blah blah” it is like they worship him. Like he is the Current Buddha incarnate. How the hell can you have a mentor that you have never met in person!?

What set me over the top was my region leader . He keeps touching me in inappropriate ways and making be feel highly uncomfortable. He told me he “wants to make me feel uncomfortable”

Then at a Gajokai meeting, another leader said then . “Do not leave the SGI, when you leave the SGI, you begin to make causes against the SGI, and when you make causes against the SGI, you make an enemy of the Buddha, and you do not want the Buddha as your enemy” I was shocked when I heard this and also thought it was a big red flag...

And in order to “officially leave the organization” you have to write a letter and return your Gohonzon ??? But I that scroll is mine and it has been mine for the past two years as I PAID 20 dollars for it

I have always felt it was a little culty but I recently brought a ton of my close and true friends to my district meeting ( I am a district leader) and they all told me they felt like there was no room for independent thought and that it felt culty and didn’t feel like real Buddhism. These have all been my friends for over ten years of my life and I trust them. But I can’t help getting rid of this feeling inside of me now that I just feel cheated and like I want to vomit in disgust.

Also how should I go about leaving? I do feel a need to call out my region leader for how he kept touching me.

Also Steve Mortan cursed at my during a soka group shift for not being in the “proper” position even though that was where my in charge told me to be? If someone so high up in the org curses at someone for something like that!? That’s just pathetic and I want nothing to do with it. Because staring at a wall for seven hours straight definitely has SO MUCH BENEFITS YOU WONT BE ABLE TO FATHOM THE KIND OF FORTUNE YOU WILL CREATE. I am done being indoctrinated.

By the way, does anyone know how much money per year these directors make? Like I said even though I decided this is no longer for me, it hurts internally.

SGI India Anirban Shaw on the post, The Definitive Analysis Why SGI is a Cult with Commentary

Anirban Shaw: Hello author. I started reading this post looking for a fresh perspective but I did not have to reach 10 sentences to figure out that you are grossly misled. I would not waste my time invalidating your ridiculous post...,

Commentary: Then she goes on to do exactly what she states she will not do, "waste her time invalidating my ridiculous post." 

Anirban Shaw: but I would say this. SGI DOES NOT allow any kind of monetary transaction to be taken place between members or leaders.

Commentary: Yes, only monetary transactions between members, leaders, and the Soka Gakkai cult to the tune of billions of dollars. No one else is deserving of the members and leaders money, not hospitals nor charities, only the SGI?

Anirban Shaw: The SGI's mission is to spread and propagate the Lotus Sutra. Now, understand this. You are a leader. You are given the responsibility to propagate Nichiren Buddhhism as you are very well fond of it. Can you explain a valid, free, self-sustaining method? If you can I would suggest, you contact Dr. Daisaku Ikeda for he's in need of a successor.

Commentary: I contact the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren who fully explains the valid, FREE, self sustaining method. Thank you very much!

Anirban Shaw: As far as I have understood, the model of the SGI is the best possible model to propagate the Lotus Sutra as nowadays people have lost all forms of faith. And if SGI is paving the pathway towards it, I don't understand your deep dissatisfaction with it.

Commentary: No. The model of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren is the best possible model to propagate the Lotus Sutra. SGI propagates Ikedaism.

Anirban Shaw: You are right in what you say about SGI but they are wrongly interpreted. for example when you say "chanting becomes nothing more than a thought-stopping technique", you are right. But do you realize that at the core of the Lotus Sutra, this is what it says. You cannot be worried. But nobody can ever tell you to not think good things. Do you do that. Do we all think good good things all the time? I'm sure of that answer and I know so are you. I hope you understand what I'm saying even if its a fraction.

Commentary: I found out this article was written by a former ghost writer for Ikeda. One can not stop their thoughts according to Nichiren who writes:

"Simply chant Namu Myoho renge kyo and strive to attain the way"; 

and "Thus he states: 'Chant the Lotus Sutra with your ordinary 

distracted mind. You do not have to enter into a state of mental 

concentration. Whether sitting, standing, or walking, just fix 

your whole mind on the words of the Lotus Sutra.'-- Nichiren 

Commentary: About thinking good things, no one could be more joyful and "thinkers of good things" than the followers of the Supreme Votary of the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren. Certainly not the followers of Daisaku Ikeda, the corrupter of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.

Anirban Shaw: I can go on and on commenting on this infuriating post, but I would stop here as I can understand that you are grossly cruelly misled. I would suggest you chant and chant your life away.You have been taken advantage of and I would tell you to reach out and try to understand the true motive behind SGI.

Thanks

With Regards

Anirban Shaw

India

Commentary: You tell us to chant "our lives away". Is this the behavior of a Buddha or is this proof of the depraved life conditions of the members of the Ikeda cult? You have no mirror. Your Nichikan no-Honzon has no power to transform people into Buddhas. The Lotus Sutra transforms one thousand out of one thousand people into Buddhas. This is proof that what you spread is not the Lotus Sutra but the machinations of a warped teacher. 

Cyberfrume

Anirban Shaw: "The SGIs mission is to spread and propagate the Lotus Sutra." 

Cyberfrume: THE S.G.I. HAS DISAVOWED THE LOTUS SUTRA, FROM DAY ONE.THEY DON'T FOLLOW THE LOTUS SUTRA OR NICHIREN, AS WRITTEN, WHICH NICHIREN REQUIRES. THIS IS A QUOTE FROM THE LECTURE ON THE SUTRA JOSEI TODA, SEIKYO PRESS, 1967: THE PREFACE OF THE LECTURE ON THE SUTRA, JOSEI TODA STATES"

THE EMBODIMENT OF THE DAI GOHONZON WAS THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE FOR THE DAISHONIN'S ADVENT. FOR THE DAI GOHONZON IS THE VERY ORIGINAL CAUSE FOR ALL LIVING BEINGS TO ATTAIN BUDDHAHOOD AS WELL AS FOR ALL SUTRAS TO ACQUIRE THEIR APPROPRIATE MEANINGS. THEREFORE,OUR OBJECT OF WORSHIP IS THE DAI GOHONZON AND BY NO MEANS THE HOKKEKYO, THE HOBEN CHAPTER OR THE JURYO CHAPTER."

THE S.G.I. IS A CULT. THEY WENT FROM WORSHIPING THE PHONY DAI GOHONZON TO WORSHIPING THE PHONY IKEDA! THE S.G.I. ONLINE SHOWS THE DAI GOHONZON WAS A SHAM: The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin I (0) WND-2 (0) LSOC (0) OTT (0)..." (I could not find the remainder of the comment)

Toro

"Japan is completely contaminated, with very high level radionuclides. From the explosions, the fuel fire. It is contaminated from burning waste and topsoil, all over the country from Fukushima. Japan is the sickest, of sick places. It is barely survivable. Japanese, people who go to visit Japan, will not talk about their trips. They say it was ok, without going into details. It is a nightmare! Every relative and friend sick, dying, or dead. The projection that SGI and Japan are doing well is completely inaccurate and fabricated.

Scientists found, at most 600 Bq/kg Cs137 at the Chernobyl Evacuation zone, 7 years after that accident. They are finding 10,955 Bq/kg Cs-137 in cow stools by fukushima .

100 Bq/kg Cs-137 for a few months, is enough to cause sterility, permanent heart damage and cancer death in a year and there is 100 times that amount. They have found 5,000 Bq/kg Cs-137 by Tokyo and Yokohama, 150 to 200km south of Fukushima. That is because three reactors blewup and melted down and a fuel tank with used hilevel radionuclide caught fire for a while. The japanese have been burning nuclear waste all over Japan as well.

Marco Kaltofen@MKaltofen

Nov 26 2019

Our lab found domestic cow stools with up to 10,955 Bq/kg Cs-137 & 646 Bq/kg Cs-134 (from Namie - 6/14/18), despite an air dose only 4X background as beta. These animals (and even their eventual remains) are necessarily permanent residents of the restricted zone.

Wild monkey's stool emits #radiation around x 3 of background air dose. It means devastating amount of radionuclides are contained in it.

Appreciate him for sharing us of rare reports on how some places in east #Japan are so contaminated w/#Fukushima Dai-ichi fallout.

#Olympics? https://twitter.com/kienaiyoru3/status/1197720026599395330

Well wishers here and at home

"Sorry you are so sick Dr. Mark. SGI must be patterned after a Christian Prosperity cult. Your legacy will live on. I chant for you. Wish I could help you more."

Thank you Jeremiah. I'm doing well. Of the 157 patients at the dialysis center, I'm the ONLY one still working and most days I feel good. My family life is the envy of my friends thanks to the Gohonzon, Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin.

Jeremiah

"It is like going to a strange regimented, political ralley. Not unlike one of the Trump rallies these days. It is without that venom but the cheer-leader, and cult worship is there. No negative thinking allowed among SGI members or meetings! It might ruin the brain-washing tone, of the meetings. All good clones, must be positive. One must never say anything, that has negative vibes, man. The ikeda-norman-vincent peale-law of attraction-Japanese Pseudo- Prosperity, Buddhist Ministry has to keep going. So sign your checks to SGI, sing the hitlerite Sensei Worship songs and win, win, win! Don't bother to talk about the Typhoon, that recently devastated Tokyo. or the multiple district leaders that are quitting. Too negative. Get on your feet and win while spoiled rich kids are paraded before you bragging about their good fortune and prosperity. Soka Gakkai meetings are very phoney."

Six gag orders

Annual Christmas Sermon: Comparing The Bible and the Lotus Sutra by Graham Lamont

Both the Lotus Sutra and the Bible offers salvation through faith.

A bit of background on the Bible before we make the comparison:

An essential teaching of Christianity is the concept of the eternal damnation of the non-believers. The Gospel of Mark 9:43 talks of a fire that can not be put out. Thessalonians 1:8-10 describes a deity of fiery vengence and the eternal loss of those who fail to accept Christianity. Mark 16:16 talks about how the baptized will be saved while those who aren't will be condemned. Equally as important, the Bible specifically excludes certain people from salvation, even if they humbly repent. The Gospels according to Mathew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-30 and Luke 12:10 teach that those who commit the so-called Sin against the Holy Spirit are guilty of an unforgiving sin and may never hope for salvation.

In Hebrews 6:4-8/12:17/10:26-30 we see that no one commiting apostacy (abandonment or defection) of the christian faith can ever hope to gain salvation even, as in the case of Esau in the Old Testament(Genesis) who regrets his desision, is forever cast aside. Many modern day christians have attempted to "interpret" these passges in a more compassionate and gentle light using clever words and arguments, but the "inspired" words of the Bible remains for all to see and read for themselves. Also, at the whim of their deity one is either doomed or saved. One who is doomed by this merciless deity is Pharoah(Romans 9:17-18 citing Exodus 9:16.), Here, the purport of this deity appears to be to demonstrate his sovereign power. Thessalonians 2:11-12 teaches that this god in full awareness makes people believe falsely, in order to condemn them. They are condemned, not temporarily, as a means of teaching or to correct their misguided belief, but rather on a whim to demonstrate his power and to an eternal unremitting hell. Analagously, Romans 9:20-21 states that we should not question the will of god as we are merely clay for the potter. Christianity is so exclusionary! "for many are called, but few are chosen." (Mathew 22:14) Corinthians 9:22 tells the story of Paul of Tarsus. He saves some people but not others and is quite discriminating of who he saves through his many guises.

To those saved by Christianity it smells like sweet perfume, to those condemned it smells like raw sewage. Those who meet Jesus and the Christians and by predestination do not believe are only confirming their own ruination(Corinthians 2:15-16).

The habitual manifestation of vengence characterizes the Jewish as well as the Christian god. This god acts to cause irrevocable and terrible punishment and the very conclusion of the entire Jewish scripture (Isaiah 66:24) is the revelation of Yahweh(the enemies will be displayed in eternal fire and worms in his antechamber.) Mark 9:48 is the Christian equivalent.

The Lotus sutra, the culmination of the Buddha's wisdom states:

"Of those that hear this Dharma there is not one that does not attain Buddhahood" (Lotus Sutra Chapter 2, Tactfullness)

"In a future era If there are good son's or good daughters who hear the "Chapter of Devedatta" of the Myohokkekyo and with a pure mind believes and reverences, not producing doubts and confusion, they shalll not fall to the hells, hungry ghosts, or beasts but be born with the Buddhas of the Ten directions and in the place where they are born they shall constantly hear this sutra; If they are born among humans or gods they shall receive superior and sublime joy.(ibid. Chapter 12, Devedatta)

These two passages are quite clear on the future of those who either merely just hear the Lotus Sutra or of those who pureheartedly believe.

Now, lets turn to those who do not believe. There are passages in the Hokkekyo which teach of the of the terrible punishment of those who fail to believe and of the worst of all the hells, Avici hell, for those who slander the Sutra or the Sutra's adherents. These passages are found in the 3rd Chapter(Parable), the 10th Chapter (Teacher of the Law) and the 20th Chapter (Bodhisattva Never Despise). Despite the superficial similarites to the Christian hell, not even the worst hell (mugen jigoku), Avici, is eternal. True, it is unremitting while in this realm, but one will without doubt reemerge. Therefore, all the Buddhist hells are at worst equivalent to Christian purgatories.

".... they received great agonies; having ended their punishment, they again met the Bodhisattva Jofukyo (Fukyo) teaching and converting to Supreme Enlightenment."(Chapter 20)

Nichiren affirms too, that those who persecute him will fall into the Avici hell but then will become his disciples and attain Buddhahood. Redemption will come to even those who oppose the Lotus Sutra. What a grand and awe inspiring vision the Buddha paints in this, the summit of his fifty years of preaching!

These teachings are of sublime significance in the context of the entire Buddhist canon, particularly of the Mahayana. Only the Hokkekyo allows the practitioner to fulfill the first of the Four Great Vows of the Bodhisattva (vows which all Bodhisattvas on their spiritual path have promissed to uphold): "beings are innumerable: I vow to save them all." The Buddhism as taught in the other sutras does not enable the practitioner to realize this vow because all of these sutra exclude, in one way or another, one or another class of beings. Some of these sutras exclude those of the Two Vehicles of Hinayana, others exclude evildoers, others those of incorrigeable disbelief (icchantikas), and others women. Even Amida in the Pure Land Sutras (Muryoju Sutra in particular), the so-called savior of the evil people of our age, excludes slanderers of the Dharma or those who commit the five cardinal sins. The Fugen Sutra, the concluding sutra of the Lotus sutra, affirms that the very subjects of the salvation of the Lotus Sutra are blasphemers and those who commit the five cardinal sins. The Lotus Sutra (and the Hikekyo or Flower of Compassion Sutra)) teaches that it is Shakyamuni Buddha who in a former life vowed to accept the beings rejected by the other Pure Lands of the ten directions declaring, "I alone can save them" (Chapter of the Parable).

Christianity, as a religeon that rejects certain sinners, is even more noticeable than those of the provisional sutras of Buddhism, let alone the Lotus Sutra. As seen in the first post above, not only are those who reject Christianity but also those who fall away and even those who utter a single word against the "Holy spirit". not able to achieve salvation but are doomed to eternal damnation. Even though John 3:17 declaresgods intention to save all, the Bible adds an exclusionary clause for unbelievers(John 3:18) which says they are condemned.

The "worst case scenario" is a very useful concept in comparing and contrasting Buddhism and Christianity. Therefore, the comparison between the cases of Devedatta and Judas Iscariot is most instructive. Both of these men represent the epitomy of evil, not only in the sense of worldly evil but more importantly, in the sense of spiritual evil. This evil that pits itself against the very root of salvation itself, the very source figure of salvation in their respective traditions (Christ in Christianity and the Buddha in Buddhism). Devedatta attempts to kill the Buddha and corrupts the morals of King Ajatashatru (Buddhism's rough equivalent to Oedipus. He kills his father, marries his mother, and also attempts to kill the Buddha). Devedatta then fakes his repentance while again planning to murder the Buddha. Judas, possessed by the devil, betrays Jesus leading to Jesus crucifixtion and murder. Devedatta, it is taught, ends up falling into a crevice during an earthquake while Judas is said to have either committed suicide or bursted open (Matthew 27:5 Acts 1:17-18). The ensuing spiritual fates of the two are very different, however.

Judas is destined from the start to be lost.(John 17:12). He is to be condemned before he even acts, "that it would have been better for him never to have been born" even though he later feels remorse. This concept in Christianity is known as meta-melomei (Mathew 27:3). He is predestined "beforehand he is made to do what he does" (John 13:21-30) and his horrendous fate is declared in Mark 14:21, Luke 22:21-22 and Matthew 26:24-25. Again, using clever and disengenuous reasoning, some Christians state that he is really saved by the famous Biblical prayer of Jesus to forgive those who no not what they are doing (Luke 23:24). This is absurd because Judas knew very well the teaching of Jesus and knew perfectly well what he was doing.

As far as Devedatta is concerned. despite his evil and insufferible punishment, we see that Devedatta is promised to attain Supreme Enlightenment as the Tathagata Tenno(Devaraja). Judas is never summoned back in the Christian scriptures and is doomed to hell eternal. Devedatta, the avowed enemy of the Buddha who was well versed in the entire Buddhist Canon (as was Judas in the Christian teachings), and abandoned for more than forty years by every sutra, in the Lotus Sutra, is "summoned back" to become a Buddha.

There is a rational concept in the Buddhism, ko itsu rei sho (mentioning one to illustrate all). This is applicable to this WORST case in Buddhism, that of Devedatta. Since Devedatta has attained (or will attain) to Supreme Enlightenment, matricidal and patricidal murderers, blasphemers, unbelievers, etc. will attain to emancipation by the teaching of the Lotus Sutra let alone us ordinary rabble. In the Lotus Sutra, both slander (unbelief) and belief (in Namu myohho renge kyo) both plant the seeds of Buddhahood. A Sutra passage (?) cited by Chan-jan in referring to the unbounded merit of the Lotus Sutra states, "Hearing the Dharma, bringing forth irreverence and contempt and falling into hell are superior to making offerings to Buddhas numbered as the sands of the Ganges." He goes on to state that one may make an offering to a Buddha without so much as hearing a lesser teaching let alone the Hokkekyo but merely having heard this supreme teaching one will surely attain Buddhahood even if one slanders it.

Who is most in need of salvation, which being or class of beings: the ones who readily accept and embrace the path to "redemption" or those who resist, refuse, are perverse or refractory? To put it another way, who is more in need of salvation those who are inclined to good or those who are inclined to evil? Which religeon abandons the incorrigeable disbeliever and wrongdoer? Which religeon saves the most worthless, corrupt and cowardly? Which religeon truly "forgives" its worst enemies?

Poem Twas the Night Before Christmas by Craig Bratcher

T'was the night before Christmas

and all through the Kaikan
all the members were praying
for the destruction of "Nikken"

The HQ chief
was counting the bread
while visions of kotekitai
danced in his head

The SGI leaders
were airbrushing pics
while Keith Robinson obediently
sucked on their....

The presses were rolling
spewing their crap
with the SGI robots
snared in their trap

They turned on the big screen
there was so much chatter
the gossip was spewing
It was such a big matter!

The band started playing
In honor of sensei
who made his appearance
to save the whole day

He was dressed in a suit
from his fat lips to his shoes
his stomach protruded
like an overstuffed moose

He said he was forced
to say he was sorry
but now he is strong
and here's the real story

I had to hide the truth
until I had proof
of the evil priesthood
and their 700 year spoof

The 26th (priest) raised chickens
and had a statue made there
he lied like the dickens
he lost all his hair

The 31st sold the temple
to some hari Krishnas
but SGI came
to lend come charisma

Socialism is good
democracy can't be
in a group such as ours
let's just wait and see

But it's clear to me now
that we are all monks
for the coming new age
we yearn for so much

But you cannot be trusted
to elect all our judges
it would make our group busted
So just follow my hunches

We no longer need
the meaningless forms
that the evil danto say
are strictly the norm

We can start our own faith
and all have our say
with no stuffy priests
to get in our way.

Then he proclaimed an honor
on those who they follow
the charismatic fat man
in whom they so wallow

With a wink at the girls
as he turned on his way
The members so sweetly
sung forever Sensei!

The SGI teachings "on seeking guidance" is a form of infantilism or there are Buddhas and there are BUDDHAS.

I am amazed how many intelligent and accomplished people in SGI seek guidance from uneducated and untrained SGI leaders, particularly from top Japanese senior leaders whose only claim to knowledge and wisdom is their position in the organization. The SGI teaching, "on seeking guidance" is a form of infantilism, people seeking relief from taking responsibility and decision making. They absolve themselves of their responsibility by resorting to a higher power or authority, a so-called SGI senior leader. Please note that this is not Buddhism which teaches: Follow the Law and not persons; be a lamp unto yourself; the Gohonzon is the teacher of all Buddhas; and taking full responsibility for our weal and woe. 

Never did I hear of a Buddha (which the SGI claims for their members) seeking guidance from another Buddha. The Gohonzon, not your senior leader, is the teacher of all Buddhas. Apparently, in the SGI, there are buddhas and there are BUDDHAS.

The SGI teachings "on seeking guidance" is a form of infantilism or "there are Buddhas and there are BUDDHAS."

Daisaku Ikeda's honorary degrees are a joke

"I’ve been studying this subject for three years. The process of ascertaining facts is very much hampered by the fact that on the long communication route from Japan to the world, no negative fact or argument about the SGI can travel far within the SGI and no external information about the SGI is available to members of the SGI than the SGI itself. This means that their internal PR is whatever they can get away with.

The honorary degrees are a joke. SGI has enormous funds – about three trillion dollars I believe, and these funds are donated to universities in return for honorary degrees. Soka University graduates are always on hand to write up the right kind of articles on any given subject, but nothing Ikeda has ever written was ever published in a respectable peer-review publication on any subject at all. His guidance isn’t very interesting to anybody in any field of the humanities. At all. Not because his ideas aren’t popular. (such publications are used to hosting controvertial debate). He just doesn’t say very much at all which isn’t basically common sense to most of the planet. Indeed his donation to Buddhist thought as a philosophical tradition is to make out that ‘Ichinen Sanzen’ is Positive Mental Attitude. That and the idea that democracy, dialogue and modern science are naturally integral to Japanese Buddhism. This overlooks the obvious facts of Japanese history, which was that while democracy, dialogue and modern science have been well established traditions in the west, Japan had developed sophisticated alternatives to each of them. The Americans forced them to adopt modern science at gunpoint. MacArthur forced them to adopt a nominal democracy after WW2. They still have problems integrating debate and free speech into their society at every level. But to read the SGI literature, Mr Ikeda would like to be given a Nobel Peace Prize for inventing all of them. That much seems to me to be a fact-based criticism of the whole SGI myth.

Among other things I notice that at the time of the split, members entering SGI culture centres were told by supervising staff that they could not enter unless they were prepared to step on a photograph of the face of the high priest. If they would not do this, they were asked to explain themselves and / or leave. This was a nationwide practice throughout Japan. So much for the spirit of ‘peace through peaceful dialogue. This isn’t normal behavior in Japan any more than it is in the west. I live in Japan. I don’t believe this could possibly have happened outside of Ikeda’s knowledge. It was far too widespread and no official apologies of any kind have ever been offered. Indeed when the President of the Kometo party complained about it, he was hounded out of both Kometo and the SGI for saying so. That is all fact.

The head of the SGI study department switched to Nichiren Shoshu and published his apology for creating so much nonsense deifying Ikeda. He said that he and his department invented 80% of what is communicated as Ikeda’s spiritual guidance on life. The remaining 20% was written by one other man who ghost wrote the ‘Human Revolution’. As this writer died, there will be no more such mini-novels. That is fact, and there s a list of all the names of the study department staff who manufactured Ikeda’s ‘guidance’ for him. This explains why the guidance tends to be rather common-sensical rather than shockingly insightful, avoids any controvertial opinon whatsoeveer and as a consequence, tends to be rather boring.

The Head of the Kometo Party admitted that whatever the Japanese Constitution, like every other respectable democratic constitution stipulates about a division between church and state, the SGI and the Kometo party in Japan are effectively staffed by the same people and centrally managed by Mr Ikeda personally. There have never been internal votes for Komeito leadership. Ikeda personally appointed each Kometo president. -- Dominic Berry 

Nichiren is marginalized in the Soka Gakkai

"In addition, this year has been different from any other. If it goes by the name of winter, is it ever anything but cold? If it goes by the name of summer, is it ever anything but hot? Still, though I don’t know how it has been in other provinces, the cold here in Hakiri has been exceptional. When we ask the longtime older residents, the ones who are eighty, ninety, and a hundred all say there has never been a winter as cold as this.  

No one visits from ten chō or twenty chō away beyond the mountains surrounding my hut in all four directions. Thus I don’t know how things are there, but about one chō away from here, the snow is piled up to a height of ten feet, twenty feet, or five feet even in shallow places.

On the thirtieth day of the intercalary tenth month, it snowed a bit, but it melted right away. This month there was a heavy snowfall that started at the hour of the dragon [7:00–9:00 a.m.] on the eleventh day and continued right up to the fourteenth day. Two or three days later, a light rain fell, the snow froze as hard as diamonds, and it still has not melted. It is unusual for it to be bone-chilling cold both day and night. The sake has frozen over as hard as stone, frozen oil gleams like gold, and when just a bit of water remains in the cooking vessels, it freeze and they shatter. And as it keeps getting colder and colder, and our clothing is thin and food scarce, no one ventures out. Our living quarters are as yet only half finished so there is no keeping out the snow or wind, and we have nothing to lay down as floor covering. There is no one to go out in search of wood so we are unable to build a fire. The skin of those wearing a single old soiled quilted robe is like the skin of those in the hell of the crimson lotus or the hell of the great crimson lotus. Their voices resemble those that emit from the Hahava hell and Ababa hell. Hands and feet freeze, crack, and break open, and there is no end to people dying. The beards on the laymen look as if they had ornaments dangling from them, while the noses of the priests seem to be strung with bells.

Such an extraordinary event has never occurred before. And not only that, but I have had a bout of diarrhea since the thirtieth day of the twelfth month last year, which failed to improve even in the spring or summer of this year. Fall passed and around the tenth month it actually worsened. After that there was a slight improvement, but it is apt to start up again at any moment.

It was just at such a time that the two quilted robes arrived from you two brothers. Even with forty ryō of cotton padding they are as light as an unlined summer robe. The contrast is all the more apparent because until now I have been wearing a robe so thinly padded it seemed to be no more than a single layer of cloth. Try to imagine how this must have been. Without these two robes, I would surely have frozen to death this year.

Moreover, whether from you two brothers, or from Ukon-no-jō, food also keeps arriving. Even when there is hardly anyone here, there are forty people, and when it is a crowd, there are as many as sixty. No matter how much I refuse, they still come to visit. Saying they are the older brother or the younger brother of someone here, they settle down, but out of regard for their feelings in the end I say nothing. Speaking strictly of my own wishes, I had prayed to be tranquil, alone with my acolyte reciting the sutra in my hut. Thus nothing could be as irksome as this state of affairs. And so I have been planning that, once the New Year has arrived, I would escape somewhere. Nothing could be as irksome as this. I will certainly write you again.

But above all, as for you and your brother Uemon no Tayū Sakan, whether it be about your better relations with your father or your winning the trust of your lord, without actually meeting you it is hard to say all that I wish."

Nichiren would be thrown out or marginalized in the Soka Gakkai for complaining. Even today, he is marginalized, replaced by the teachings of Daisaku Ikeda.  The Soka Gakkai embraces Nichiren in name only.

Daisaku Ikeda's ego-driven insatiable lust for power and authenticity." -- former SGI leader

"I went to FNCC many times for culture department meetings. A couple years ago it was reinvented as a monument to Ikeda, including two exhibits full of memorabilia. We were honored to be able to tour his private quarters (snide remark). All conference discussion and presentations revolved around master/disciple relationship. One exhibit was the list of honorary degrees from all the obscure universities. I remember wondering what happened to the "rest" of Buddhism? The gosho, Nichiren, the Gohonzon? No one ever speaks of those anymore. I attended a gosho lecture prep where a senior-most leader said that it was "arrogance" to add our own thoughts to lecture material. That we were to neither "add to nor subtract from" ikedas lectures. As if no one else's thoughts or ideas matter at all. Then I tried again to read Ikeda's writings. I am highly intelligent, educated, well read. I could not derive any meaning from Human Revolution, except that Ikeda is "extraordinary", misunderstood by ordinary beings who don't believe in his extra ordinariness. I had always thought that Buddhism was a truth based religion and couldn't surmise how that squares with a leader who is so untruthful as to purchase honorary degrees and hire hack writers. If I had it to do over, I would never had contributed to this man's ego-driven insatiable lust for power and authenticity. What a cheat and a fraud." -- former SGI leader"

Former Soka Gakkai member experiences

"I'm not surprised on their lack of procedure. SGI will give guideance to members to chant daimoku, if you have issues with someone else, but they treat their own members and leaders differently. They say never give up on helping a member to grow and develop in spite of their negativity or their issues with you, but they don't follow their own guidance. SGI has become a religion of "do as I say and not as I do" policy. Whatever happened to Pres. Ikeda's "New Renaissance"? We've gone into the "Dark Ages" of religious authoritarianism. SGI accuses the High Priest of saying that members cannot attain enlightenment without his approval, yet SGI demands that members follow Pres. Ikeda's guidance no matter what. You won't get benefit, if you don't follow Pres. Ikeda's guidance. That sounds the same as "you won't attain enlightenment without obeying Pres. Ikeda's guidance". Sometimes you want to lead your own life, but you are forbidden. You have to be monitored periodically with home visits to get you back in line.

If you are a long term member, you no longer have a choice. You are required to have leaders home visit you to "encourage" you to follow Pres. Ikeda or be labeled an outcast. I seriously think that SGI's issues with the Temple will never be resolved, because the Temple is a reflection of what SGI is doing. To be a good member, you have to be blind to that. Leaders want to pry into your life to know everything that you think and do. Do they keep a database on your life? Why do they get upset when you want to keep certain things private? If you're not asking for guidance, they want to pry into your life, so that they can force guidance on you. Everyone has faults and weaknesses and I don't like leaders talking about me behind my back and gossiping. Don't ever think you have privacy after you get guidance!!!! Whatever you reveal during guidance becomes your reputation.

SGI doesn't excommunicate, they just have the men's and young men's division follow you around, if you go to a large assembly to be sure that you stay in line. Their eyes are on you. They are like the "Gakkai Police Division" to discourage you from going to large activities. SGI wants the temple members to return to SGI, yet when your participating sincerly in activities, some leaders will use you for their own purpose and say it's for kosenrufu. If you complain about mistreatment, those leaders are not replaced, they are promoted; becausethey "kiss ass" to their leaders, but jerk you arround. Then you are told that its your own karma. Yes, faith equals daily life or its more like daily life equals faith. SGI has become a bureaucracy that is no different than the big corporations that have their own internal office politics. Rather than being an example to members of how to live a life of compassion, they take steps to protect their own asses.

Pres. Ikeda has written guidance in SGI publications that leaders should treat their members with respect. Yet I have heard many times that Pres. Ikeda has yelled and scolded his subordinate leaders in front of other leaders in the same room. He mistreats them for kosen rufu and not follow his example. Oh, but he is our example of the Buddha's behavior. Once in a large meeting, General Director Danny Nagashima told us of how Pres. Ikeda yelled at him at a special dinner for high level leaders. I've heard of Pres. Ikeda yelling at former General Director Mr. Williams questioning his loyalty of supporting him and then Mr. Williams was fired and now SGI slander's his name.

Don't count on SGI being an example of faith, because if you have problems with them they will say it's your karma. Keep chanting no matter what and you will get the life you create. Likewise, SGI will get the life that they are creating. I'm sure the remaining leaders are chanting to resolve all these issues too. SGI is not there yet; so you'll just have to put up with it until SGI is perfect. Who needs members to do Human Revolution, when you've got leaders that jerk you around?" -- Savantakashik

------------------------------------------------

"I cannot believe there is someone who has had the same experience (s) that I have had. I've often thought whats really the difference (priesthood VSSGI?) Why does everything have to impinge on a home visitation opposed to just getting guidance and even then many times a member in good standing will delegate to another member who you may hardly even know or who has been less than cordial to you call you out of the blue and start their own pitch thus adding insult to injury. In my case I've observed that when we finally got our own center It didn't take too long to notice a Private country club mentality take place. Members will often times be more than glad to get you to meetings that are right in you're [own] neighborhood but it seems only a select few get to "go to mecca" and provisions are made for them but yet often times you get a startled look when you're seen by someone who acts surprised to see you there. In another case I've recently befriended a newer member with whom I share similar obstacles/demons but its been hard to connect because they fear who knows what. The person lives close to me and its been like pulling teeth because were not encouraged to just get together outside of an activity and chant. I'm glad that you are continuing to chant and encourage us to do so. I appreciate you're candor and that you're still chanting . Please keep expressing you're thoughts. -- CP

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Yes, I know exactly what you mean by "Private country club mentality". When they asked for Mens Division volunteers to do traffic control, I would readily volunteer. I did it many times as a Group Leader and as a District Leader and I was in good standing. I had asked many times of my leaders and the Youth Division leaders to give me or sell me one of the blue jackets that identify me as one of the volunteers, but they never gave me one. Near our Kaikan there was a small street and I was instructed not to let members park in front of the neighborhood houses and so I prevented many members coming to the meeting not from parking there. However, some close "buddies" of my MD Area Leader parked there and they treated me like I didn't know what I was talking about. My Area leader came out and told them that I was doing the traffic control, but he didn't support me and tell them to move their cars. Instead, he told me to go inside to the meeting and when I came out after the meeting, his ''buddies" still had their cars parked in the street that I had all the other members avoid. I think the word that best for this type of inside group is "clique". The type you hear of in high school. The type of exclusive group that you may never be apart of. My MD Area Leader has his own special support group of non-leaders that he socialized with and to whom he gave special organizational privileges . I wouldn't be suprised if this happens quite frequently in many parts of SGI.  We are all supposed to be equals, but this is not the reality of the organization. 

SGI teachings on the DaiGohonzon then and now

ABOUT THE DAI-GOHONZON By Ted Morino

[Excerpted from the 9/10/99 World Tribune]

SGI President Ikeda stated: "Nothing has changed in the way we view the Dai-Gohonzon: It was inscribed by Nichiren Daishonin for the happiness of all humanity and is the basis of our faith." The SGI has always upheld the validity of the Dai-Gohonzon, even during these years when we have not been able to see it."

We should clarify what is the correct attitude toward the Dai-Gohonzon. First, the power of any Gohonzon, including the Dai-Gohonzon, can be tapped only through the power of faith. It is wrong to think that the Dai-Gohonzon alone has some kind of unique mystic power that no other Gohonzon possesses. The Dai-Gohonzon and our own Gohonzon are equal.

What is most important is the power of our faith and practice, which enables us to tap the power of the Buddha and the Law in the Dai-Gohonzon and in all other Gohonzon, and within ourselves. In this respect, the Daishonin states: "The Gohonzon is found in faith alone. As the sutra states, 'Only with faith can one enter Buddhahood'" (The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 213).

It is wrong to think that, whether we have faith in the Dai-Gohonzon or not, the Dai-Gohonzon is absolute. Faith is what matters. In this respect, President Ikeda states: "The Gohonzon enshrined at our home carries the same significance as the Dai-Gohonzon. They are as beneficial as the Dai-Gohonzon, in accord with the Buddhist principle of "dispersing the body of the original in different forms" (Jpn funjin santai).

Since the Dai-Gohonzon is made of wood, its physical longevity is naturally limited. But the essence of the Dai-Gohonzon, the Law, will never perish because it inherently exists in the universe and within each of us. President Toda used to use the expression "the Dai-Gohonzon in my home," meaning that the Gohonzon we worship at home is essentially the Dai-Gohonzon itself.

The millions of SGI members who have achieved victories in their lives have done so through their practice to their own Gohonzon. This is because we have been practicing the Daishonin's Buddha's correctly in accord with the compassionate spirit behind the Daishonin's inscription of the Dai-Gohonzon. This awareness is more important than ever today."

The SGI KYOGAKU-BU REPORT ("Study Department Report")

AnonymousJanuary 25, 2016 at 2:33 AM

http://6027.teacup.com/situation/bbs/37225

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What is the KYOGAKU-BU REPORT ("Study Department Report")?

Before the completion of Daiseido (Hall of Great Vow for Kosen-rufu) in November 2013, some of the Soka Gakkai's powerful executive leaders were working behind the scenes -- to imprudently change the teachings and to enact the new Soka Gakkai Charter and its Rules & Regulations.

The KYOGAKU-BU REPORT is the document that has recorded in detail how the Study Department opposed to stop their schemes and tried to denounce their mistakes. The writer of this Report has described the accurate dates and content of their speeches. It was written with composure, showing a full of a sense of justice and sincerity.

Schemes to Change Teachings Planned by Some Powerful Executive Leaders:

Upon completion of Daiseido they intended to totally depart from the Dai-Gohonzon that was inscribed in 1279 and that is located at the Nichiren Shoshu head temple. They tried to signify the wooden Gohonzon of the Soka Gakkai Headquarters (which was transcribed by Nichiren Shoshu's 64th High Priest Nissho) to replace it as the Dai-Gohonzon. In order to do so, they needed to firstly reject the position of the Dai-Gohonzon. They tried to make use of the Study Department to build up the grounds of the teachings to place the Nissho Gohonzon as the Dai-Gohonzon. However, the Study Department strongly opposed to proceed the hasty change of such an important teaching issue within a short period of time. The careless change may give rise to great confusion within the organization, at the same time, it will cause to contradict the history of the Three Founding Presidents.

The Study Department was fully aware that the Dai-Gohonzon issue should be solved and overcome in the future, but the risk to carelessly proceed the matter within a short period of time was too great to take. They also calmly judged that they could not construct the new teachings with an inconsistent idea to replace the Nissho Gohonzon as the Dai-Gohonzon. It was one of the reasons they opposed the executive leaders when they tried to enforce adoption of their idea. (There is a premise that all the Gohonzons are the transcription of the Dai-Gohonzon. When you consider it logically, It does not make any sense to choose the transcription "copy" and to deny the Dai-Gohonzon "original")

However, the top executive leaders applied great pressure on the Study Department who had been opposing them with reasons. They finally told them that "this is the will of President Ikeda" to enforce the change. Later, the Study Department discovered it was nothing but a false, make-up story.

There was another issue -- it was the start of a newly created organization, the "Nichiren World School Soka Gakkai" and to enact its Charter and its Rules and Regulations. Some of the top executive leaders planned to make the new organization which would come on top of the SGI's. They were proceeding to enact the "Charter" to control all the SGI's of the world under an absolute power of the top executive leaders by placing the president of the Soka Gakkai as the top (president) of this organization.

The plan to act on their own authority, even using the name of SGI President Ikeda, was brought to a standstill due to a strong resistance from the Study Department and some of the SGI general directors. So, they could not accomplish their plan for the November 18, 2013 Daiseido project. Thereafter, key leaders of the Study Department who were involved in this matter and some of the Soka Gakkai leaders who have supported the Study Department were reshuffled and ousted. Their plan had to be carried over to this year.

On the surface it seems to be the issue of the teachings; however, it deeply involves for Mr. Tanigawa, Chief Vice President, to take office as the next president of the Soka Gakkai. At the same time, it is strongly connected with the absolute power structure they intend to establish when and after SGI President Ikeda passes away.

This letter was written in 2014

For nearly 80 years, until 2014,  the cornerstone of the Soka Gakkai faith, the very prime point of their faith, was the DaiGohonzon of Sanctuary. Before 1991, millions of Japanese SGI had visited the Head Temple of Taisekeji to worship this Gohonzon, some more than a thousand times. It was the very bedrock of the Soka Gakkai's silent prayers, its heart and soul and the inviolate principle to which all members were taught to revere more than life itself. The slanders heaped upon us and me personally for questioning the DaiGohonzon, number in the thousands. I am angry and at the same time amused at SGI members rank stupidity, lack of seeking spirit, and vitriole. I am not surprised however because the DaiGohonzon breeds evil men and women. Every last pioneer SGI member, man or woman, is a devil who will fall into the unremitting hell. Pity.

A discussion among members of the SGI Independent Reassessment Group circa 1990

"I'm not surprised on their lack of procedure. SGI will give guidance to members to chant diamoku, if you have issues with someone else, but they treat their own members and leaders differently. They say never give up on helping a member to grow and develop in spite of their negativity or their issues with you, but they don't follow their own guidance. SGI has become a religion of "do as I say and not as I do" policy. Whatever happened to Pres. Ikeda's "New Renaissance"? We've gone into the "Dark Ages" of religious authoritarianism. SGI accuses the High Priest of saying that members cannot attain enlightenment without his approval, yet SGI demands that members follow Pres. Ikeda's guidance no matter what. You won't get benefit, if you don't follow Pres. Ikeda's guidance. That sounds the same as "you won't attain enlightenment without obeying Pres. Ikeda's guidance". Sometimes you want to lead your own life, but you are forbidden. You have to be monitored periodically with home visits to get you back in line.

If you are a long term member, you no longer have a choice. Your are required to have leaders home visit you to "encourage" you to follow Pres. Ikeda or be labeled an outcast. I seriously think that SGI's issues with the Temple will never be resolved, because the Temple is a reflection of what SGI is doing. To be a good member, you have to be blind to that. Leaders want to pry into your life to know everything that you think and do. Do they keep a database on your life? Why do they get upset when you want to keep certain things private? If you're not asking for guidance, they want to pry into your life, so that they can force guidance on you. Everyone has faults and weaknesses and I don't like leaders talking about me behind my back and gossiping. Don't ever think you have privacy after you get guidance!!!! Whatever you reveal during guidance becomes your reputation.

SGI doesn't excomunicate, they just have the men's and young men's division follow you around, if you go to a large assembly to be sure that you stay in line. Their eyes are on you. They are like the "Gakkai Police Division" to discourage you from going to large activities. SGI wants the temple members to return to SGI, yet when you're participating sincerly in activities, some leaders will use you for their own purpose and say it's for kosenrufu. If you complain about mistreatment, those leaders are not replaced, they are promoted; because they "kiss ass" to their leaders, but jerk you around. Then you are told that its your own karma. Yes, faith equals daily life or its more like daily life equals faith. SGI has become a bureaucracy that is no different than the big corporations that have their own internal office politics. Rather than being an example to members of how to live a life of compassion, they take steps to protect their own asses.

Pres. Ikeda has written guidance in SGI publications that leaders should treat their members with respect. Yet I have heard many times that Pres. Ikeda has yelled and scolded his subordinate leaders in front of other leaders in the same room. He mistreats them for kosen rufu and not follow his example. Oh, but he is our example of the Buddha's behavior. Once in a large meeting, General Director Danny Nagashima told us of how Pres. Ikeda yelled at him at a special dinner for high level leaders. I've heard of Pres. Ikeda yelling at former General Director Mr. Williams questioning his loyalty of supporting him and then Mr. Williams was fired and now SGI slander's his name.

Don't count on SGI being an example of faith, because if you have problems with them they will say it's your karma. Keep chanting no matter what and you will get the life you create. Likewise, SGI will get the life that they are creating. I'm sure the remaining leaders are chanting to resolve all these issues too. SGI is not there yet; so you'll just have to put up with it until SGI is perfect. Who needs members to do Human Revolution, when you've got leaders that jerk you around?" -- Savantakashik

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"I cannot believe there is someone who has had the same experience (s) that I have had. I've often thought whats really the difference (priesthood VSSGI?) Why does everything have to impinge on a home visitation opposed to just getting guidance and even then many times a member in good standing will delegate another member who you may hardley even now or who has been less than cordial to you call you out of the blue and start their own pitch thus adding insult to injury. In my case Ive observed that when we finally got our own center It didnt take to long to notice a Private country club mentality take place. Members will often times be more than glad to get you to meetings that are right in you're neighborhood but it seems only a select few get to "go to mecca" and provisions are made for them but yet often times you get a startled look when you're seen by someone who acts surprised to see you there.In another case I've recently befriended a newer member with whom I share similar obstacles/demons but its been hard to connect because they fear of letting to much be known for the "database" you're referring to. That person lives close to me and its been like pulling teeth because were not encouraged to just get together outside of an activity and chant. Im glad that you are continuing to chant and encourage us to do so.I appreciate you're candor and that you're still chanting . Please keep expressing youre thoughts. -- CP

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Yes, I know exactly what you mean by "Private country club mentality". When they asked for Mens Division volunteers to do traffic control, I would readily volunteer. I did it many times as a Group Leader and as a District Leader and I was in good standing. I had asked many times of my leaders and the Youth Division leaders to give me or sell me one of the blue jackets that identify me as one of the volunteers, but they never gave me one. Near our Kaikan there was a small street and I was instructed not to let members park in front of the neighborhood houses and so I prevented many members coming to the meeting not from parking there. However, some close "buddies" of my MD Area Leader parked there and they treated me like I didn't know what I was talking about. My Area leader came out and told them that I was doing the traffic control, but he didn't support me and tell them to move their cars. Instead, he told me to go inside to the meeting and when I came out after the meeting, his ''buddies" still had their cars parked in the street that I had all the other members avoid. I think the word that best for this type of inside group is "clique". The type you hear of in high school. The type of exclusive group that you may never be apart of. My MD Area Leader has his own special support group of non-leaders that he socialized with and to whom he gave special organizational privileges . I wouldn't be supprised if this happens quite frequently in many parts of SGI.  We are all supposed to be equals, but this is not the reality of the organization. -- S

"Authoritarian leadership, deception and destructive mind control are the main ingredients in a cult, and SGI fits the bill. That may strike some as an unkind or unfair assertion, but I plan to back it up with examples and explanation.

"SHOW YOUR EVIDENCE!"

Are you blind?

BACK IT UP WITH EVIDENCE NOT EMOTIONAL EXAMPLES AND EXPLANATIONS

Chanting, one day to the Nikken or Nittatsu Gohonzon and the next day [by authoritarian proclamation] exchanging these Gohonzons for the Nichikan Gohozon. Reciting the Sutra 5 times in the morning and 3 times in the evening and the next day [by authoritarian proclamation] everyone without a single exception, reciting the sutra once in the morning and once in the evening. 

Similarly, changing the silent prayers at the President's pleasure.

There was no diialogue or discussions regarding these significant changes to the faith and practice... They were all changed by the authority vested in Daisaku Ikeda. 

In 1966, the SGI by-laws [which remain in effect] were further changed so that:

- The president is also the “official representative” of the Gakkai.

- He is manager of all its affairs.

- He has the power to convoke the Leaders Meeting (of all 21 responsible officials).

- He appoints and dismisses all the other responsible officials.

- He appoints and dismisses all the vice-general directors, the directors and all “other necessary officials.”

- He holds office for life.

- He chooses his own successor. 

RESULTS OF THE SPECIAL ZAIMU CAMPAIGN:

MEMO # CJT-69

DISTRIBUTE TO - TERR/HQ

INFORM TO - HQ CHIEFS

MEMORANDUM TO ALL TERRITORY AND HQ CHIEFS

FROM CHICAGO JOINT TERRITORY OFFICE

DATE: OCTOBER 9, 1989

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION WEEKLY REPORT - AS OF 10-8-89

CHICAGO TERR 1 -------------$106,821.87

" " 2-------------$39,132.89

" " 3-------------$128,991.81

" " 4-------------$240,519.73

Heartland terr.--------------------$111,964.62

Tennessee Terr-------------------$51,102.06

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$678,514.98

We are at 1/3 of our goal at this point. This month, October is the originally scheduled month for the Special Contribution, and we have to do our VERY BEST! [sic] The most important point is "Promotion of Significance." There are so many members to reach and explain this historic campaign.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

The Ikeda auditorium in Chicago was never built.

Chinberg responds: The new Chicago Culture Center was built instead, Craig.

Response:

AT A COST OF 1/5 OF THE 3.5 MILLION COLLECTED. What happened to the other 2.8 Million?

The members who dared ask the question "Where'd all the money go?" were sent personal letters of expulsion via certified mail. Six in all.

The list goes on and on. Son thoroughly trounced are you on this one point.