SGI forceful practice

In 2000, the Seikyo Shimbun kicked off a series of panel discussions featuring the top leaders of the Soka Gakkai, ostensibly to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the organization but in reality to attack the perceived "traitors" to their cause. It went on for several years and was eventually published as the multi-volume "Nijuuisseiki No Soka No Seigi" ("Justice of Soka in the 21st Century"). The series was very controversial even among active members because of the disgustingly profane language used in order to demonize those who have left the organization over the years. The controversy was such that an installment of the panel discussion on the 7/8/05 edition of Seikyo was devoted to the issue of language. Let's let them speak for themselves:

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Vice President Tanigawa: Once in a while we receive feedback on this panel discussion concerned that "the language is too harsh" or that "it seems offensive to equate a person to an animal."

Vice General Director Harada: People are finally starting to learn though, we hear those voices less & less (laughs).

President Akiya: If you're concerned about offensive, just look at how Nikken discriminates against lay believers. (laughter)

General Director Aoki: Exactly. Direct all complaints to him (laughs). Nichiren Daishonin's Gosho was first and foremost an expression of righteous anger, denunciation of evil. The language he employed to rebuke the enemies of Buddhism was very severe indeed.

Tanigawa: Just to cite a few examples..."mosquito, gadfly, bullfrog-like priests" "Like a vampire bat, neither fowl nor rodent" "Lower than cattle, akin to a raptor" 

Young Men's Leader Yumitani: He also said, "These bovine-like leaders criticizing Nichiren's teachings are like a filthy dog barking at a lion king or a chimp heckling the Taishaku deity."

Harada: "Bullfrog." "Filthy dog." Are these supposed to be offensive? (Laughter)

Tanigawa: Absolutely not. These are "words of justice" denouncing the enemies of Buddhism!

Akiya: "Human rights" and "discrimination" are perspectives based on social constructs. They may have their place, but we as Buddhists speak from the realm of the Mystic Law, of eternal life. We must never confuse this.

Aoki: For example, there is the term "mishou-on" in Buddhism. It describes a person who has been brewing hatred even before birth. Is this discrimination? Of course not. It just means that this individual's karma and negativity runs very deep.

Akiya: The Gakkai is all about humanism. Humanism means dignity for the humankind. Obviously we have to differentiate between humans and damnable beasts who oppose Buddhism.

Aoki: The Daishonin himself denounced ingratitude as "beneath bestial." If we treat beasts like humans, we're the ones who would be reprimanded by the Daishonin! (laughs)

Tanigawa: True, so true! (laughs) 

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