The Tathagata knows and sees the appearance of the Three Worlds in accordance with reality:

The Tathagata knows and sees the appearance

of the Three Worlds in accordance with reality:

there is no Birth-and-Death,

whether backsliding or emerging;

likewise there is neither existence in the world

nor extinction; they are not real; they are not void,

they are not thus; they are not different.

It is not as the Three Worlds

see the Three Worlds. In such a matter as this

the Tathagata sees clearly

and is without error. -- Lotus Sutra Chapter 16 [Juryo-hon]

and

The masses of beings see the kalpas exhausted,

When they are burned by the great fires;

This land of mine is peaceful and secure;

Gods and humans ever fill it. corrects

and forests and various halls and pavilions,

With various types of jewels adorned; On the

jewelled trees many flowers and fruit, Wherein

the masses of beings take their pleasure

and rejoice. The gods strike the celestial drums,

Ever making instrumental music.

Raining mandara flowers. Scattering them

Over the Buddha and the great assemblies.

Though My Pure Land is not destroyed,

Yet the masses see it burned up,

Worrisome fears and agonizing sufferings

And such things all filling it up. These

beings of various sins, Because of the causes

and conditions of their evil karma, Though

they pass through asemkheyas of kalpas,

Do not hear the name of the Three Jewels.

Those who have performed merit,

Who are gentle and pliant, simple and upright,

Then all see my body.

Staying here, preaching the Dharma.

Sometimes for these masses I preach the

Buddha's Life is immeasurable. To those who

see the Buddha only after a long time, I preach

for them the Buddha is difficult to encounter.

The power of My Wisdom is like this;

The illumination of the Light of My Wisdom is

immeasurable; My Lifespan is immeasurable

kalpas; It is what I obtained by performing the

karmas for a long time. You those who have

wisdom, Do not produce doubts about this. You

should cut them off and cause them to end forever:

The Buddha's Words are true and not empty. -- Lotus Sutra Chapter 16 [Jiga-ge]

Nichiren:

"The sahā world Shakyamuni Buddha revealed in the “Life Span” chapter is the eternal pure land, impervious to the three calamities and to the cycle of the four kalpas. The Buddha neither has entered into extinction in the past nor will be born in the future. And the same is true of his disciples. This means that their lives are perfectly endowed with the three thousand worlds, that is, with the three realms of existence. The Buddha did not reveal this truth in the theoretical teaching, or the first fourteen chapters, of the Lotus Sutra because the time was not right and the people’s capacity was not yet developed." -- True Object of Worship

Katie wrote and my reply...

"Or maybe only conspiracy theorists and internet junkies bother to read Mark’s bogus blog?"

My reply:

Yeah but your boy Jerry is a flat earther. Hypocrites both of you. Now sing a couple bars of Forever Sensei. You will feel better.

A discussion of the Kalpa of Decline and the dichotomy of "this land of mine (the Eternal Buddha) is peaceful and secure."

"Though all the grass and trees in the major world system should be used as fuel in an attempt to burn down Mount Sumeru, one could never burn it down. But when the time comes for the kalpa of decline, then a flame no bigger than a soybean will break out at the foot of Mount Sumeru and burn the entire mountain. And the same kind of thing, said the Buddha, applies to the Buddhist teachings.

They will not be destroyed by evil persons, non-Buddhist teachers, the heavenly devil Pāpīyas, or wielders of the five transcendental powers. Rather it will be those who appear to be Buddhas or who appear to be arhats who possess the six transcendental powers, monks who observe the precepts, wrapping their bodies in the three robes permitted by monastic discipline and holding a begging bowl reverently before their eyes, high-ranking monks whose renown is like a great wind sweeping over the grass and trees—these it will be who will destroy the correct teaching of the Buddha." - The Rulers of the Land of the Gods

"And elsewhere in the same sutra it says: “Because these persons have accumulated the causes that come from destroying the Law, they will fall into the great hell for a period of immeasurable hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions of years. These persons who destroy the Law will move from one great hell to another. And when the great fire comes that destroys the world at the end of the kalpa of decline, they will move to the great hell in some other world. Thus they will move here and there throughout the worlds of the ten directions. And during that time, though the fire will occur at the end of the kalpa of decline and they will die in one world, because they have not yet exhausted the evil karma acquired through the act of destroying the Law, they will return to the great hell in this world.

In the seventh volume of the Lotus Sutra it says: “Among the four kinds of believers there were those who gave way to anger, their minds lacking in purity, and they spoke ill of him and cursed him, saying, ‘This ignorant monk . . . !’ Some among the group would take sticks of wood or tiles and stones and beat and pelt him. . . . For a thousand kalpas they underwent great suffering in the Avīchi hell.”

This passage indicates that, if one curses the votary of the Lotus Sutra or beats him with sticks, though one may later repent of such actions, one cannot completely absolve oneself of the offense but will fall into the Avīchi hell for a period of a thousand kalpas. The sin of slandering the Law, even though one later repents of it, is a thousand times graver than the five cardinal sins. And how much worse is the fate of one who slanders the Law without ever repenting? Can such a person ever hope to be released from the Avīchi hell?

Therefore it is stated in the second volume of the Lotus Sutra: “If this person . . . on seeing those who read, recite, copy, and uphold this sutra, should despise, hate, envy, or bear grudges against them, . . . When his life comes to an end he will enter the Avīchi hell, be confined there for a whole kalpa, and when the kalpa ends, be born there again. He will keep repeating this cycle for a countless number of kalpas.” - What it Means to Slander the Law

"It is like the case of Mount Sumeru, the golden mountain. Though one might gather all the grass and wood in the major world system, pile them up until they completely filled the heaven of the four heavenly kings as well as the others of the six heavens of the world of desire, and burn them for one year, two years, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, or a million years, the mountain would not suffer the slightest p.578injury. But when the time comes for the great fire that ends the kalpa of decline, a tiny flame no bigger than a bean will break out at the base of the mountain, and not only will Mount Sumeru be consumed, but the entire major world system will likewise be destroyed." - The Selection of the Time

"But when the conflagration that marks the end of the kalpa of decline breaks out and fire appears from within the mountain itself, then in an instant the whole mountain will be consumed by the flames and not even ashes will remain.” - Ibid

“When huge fires consume the nation, and the people are all burned to death, or when there are outbreaks of demon fire, dragon fire, heavenly fire, mountain god fire, human fire, tree fire, or bandit fire—when these prodigies appear, this is the third disaster." - Establishing the Correct Law for the Peace of the Law

Yet, the Lotus Sutra teaches in Chapter 16, The Lifespan of the Tathagata reads:

"The masses of beings see the kalpas exhausted, WHEN they are burned by the great (nuclear) fires; This land of mine is peaceful and secure, gods and humans ever fill it

This land of mine is peaceful and secure." - Lotus Sutra Chapter 16, the Lifespan of the Tathagata

What is the significance of this seeming dichotomy?

The various stages of Lotus practice as explicated by Nichiren explains this dichotomy:

Six stages of practice according to the Lotus school
			the stage of being a Buddha in theory
			the stage of hearing the name and words of the truth
	impure land			One hears the name of the three truths.
			the stage of perception and action
				One carries out the five stages of practice.
			the stage of resemblance to enlightenment
				One cuts off the eighty-eight illusions of thought.
				One cuts off the eighty-one illusions of desire.
				One cuts off the nine types of illusions innumerable as particles of dust and sand.
			the stage of progressive awakening
	reward land1			One cuts off the forty-one levels of ignorance.
			the stage of ultimate enlightenment
				One cuts off the one last level of ignorance.

  

The previous is from dialogue on the Lotus and Pure Land Teachings

Nichiren also explains in the Opening of the Eyes. "To have a profound knowledge of this world is itself Buddhism." - this explains the teachings from the perspective of the common mortal, a Buddha in theory and the stage of first hearing the name and the words of truth (Namu Myoho renge kyo).

A Nichiren Shoshu priest explains:

Six stages of practice (roku-soku)

"These are, according to Tiantai Buddhism, the six stages of practice for bodhisattvas practicing the Lotus Sutra:

1. Stage of not yet hearing the Law (ri-soku) – in theory having the potential for Buddhahood but not being aware of it)
2. Stage of first hearing the name of the Law (myoji-soku)– having heard the name of the truth and understanding that one has the potential for Buddhahood
3. Stage of observation and practice (kangyo-soku) – perceiving the truth within and having no contradiction between perception and action
4. Stage of having purified the six sense organs (soji-soku) – outwardly resembling a Buddha)
5. Stage of eradicating fundamental darkness (funjin-soku) – partial awakening to the truth
6. Stage of perfect enlightenment (kukyo-soku, or the ultimate level).

In his original identity... Nichiren Daishonin became enlightened to the mystic Law (Myōhō) in gohyaku jintengo (remotest past) as a common mortal at the stage of first hearing the name of the Law (myoji-soku) (the level where one first hears the true Law and understands that all phenomena are the Law of Buddhism)." 

We, on the other hand, have heard the Law for the first time more recently, unlike the Buddha and Nichiren who heard and practiced the Law since the remotest past. To expect us to have the same viewpoint as they, "this land of mine is peaceful and secure". are kidding themselves and filled with arrogance.

They who don't believe that this world is close to the end of the Kalpa of Decline, have little knowledge of this world. When they claim to see the world as the Buddha sees the world, "this land of mine is peaceful and secure", they are not only arrogant but stupid. Katie Higgins and Jerry Marcheso come to mind.

Still waiting!

It should be an easy matter for SGI to come here to refute my assertion that the oneness of SGI mentor and disciple is hardly the prime point of the Lotus Sutra. It is not even an inconsequential point. They have devoted literally thousands of pages to explaining this concept. One need only do a Google search, "oneness of mentor and disciple", for example: 

http://www.sgiaust.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/1280893669705-6032.pdf

Incredible story incredible video.

https://anomalien.com/former-kgb-agent-reveals-soviet-ufo-studies/ 

How stupid is the Russian military to fire on these beings?

QUESTIONS

How come China and Russia have nuclear bunkers for the general population but the richest country in the world, the USA, only has bunkers for the elite (the fake phony politicians and military men and women)? Does it mean that their leaders have more regard for their citizens than our politicians?

Elon Musk JUST WARNED Europe! "Putin Wants To Launch Nukes".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRxT5x_3NyI&t=529s 

Anonymous on nuclear pollution and wildfires

Nuclear pollution continues in Japan under TEPCO, SGI, and greedy Ikeda. Wildfires, are increasing in surrounding areas The WHO, said only a few hundred died, from Chernobyl. Caldicott proved it is a million and more and growing. There are more wildfires, at Chernobyl, every year. There are more wildfires by many other nuclear sacrifice zones in the USA and, around the world due to climate change. Libby Levy produced a pod cast about nuclear polluted Santa Fe NM and the surrounding areas are in 2019, on Nuclear Hot Seat. Americium and plutonium in the water tables of Los Alamos and Santa Fe. High level radiation, dust blowing everywhere. The govt. Made her take it down. Santa Fe, Las Vegas NM, and Los Alamos, have mucho nuke waste. Everyone knows it. Trucks make the rounds in those areas hauling it in, and picking it up. A route goes right through Las Vegas NM has the largest bomb making facility in the world. A 40,000 acre wildfire was just there. Don't let them lie. Americans are so stupid, they flock there and live there. Shows how stupid the rich can be. One of My Friends, from Sants Fe died of pancreatic cancer at 63 and his wife at 60. The wildfires are growing more fierce and spreading more radiation, in that area yearly.

Phosphorus is the most pyrophoric chemical known to man that is not so radioactive. It's borderline nuclear activity, is responsible for life on earth. That is because of phosphorus's high reactivity and ability to produce energy, in cells. Phosphorous helps produce energy in mitochondria and the Krebs cycle. Ask Dr Busby he'll tell ya. Ironic isn't it. Now there is uranium and plutonium which are hundreds or thousands of times more pyrophoric than phosphorus. White phosphorus, burned Dresden to the ground. That was during WW 2. White phosphorus has been used in Syria and yet, nothing compares to radionuclides pyrophoricity. When they detonated the first nuclear bomb, they honestly thought it might set the atmosphere on fire from pyrophoricity, heat, and fallout. Yet they detonated it anyway. Now, there are so much pyrophoric radionuclides from car exhaus, fracking, and nuke waste that there are massive wildfires around nuke accident zones and nuke facilities around the world. People breathing that shit. No wonder rsv, covid, valley fever, chagas and everything else are going up in California, the western USA, and SW-SE USA from climate change and wildfires. 60 students and former students from a high school in NJ, close to a plutonium factory, now have a rare form of radinuclide induced brain cancer. When will the insanity end. Probably not before everyone gets cancer, from the growing chemical and nuclear pollution in the world, combined with nuclear wild fires .

Authentic versus apocryphal

https://web.archive.org/web/20140905031353/http://pramos76.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/original-vs-apocryphal/ 

"As an eternal principle, the Soka Gakkai will never ask for even the tiniest contribution of offering from the members." - Daisaku Ikeda

https://www.worldtribune.org/2022/03/key-points-for-may-contribution-2/ 

Goldarn liars from top to bottom!

Guru Sensei's (Scamsei) is a lowlife

 

How unhappy seems Guru Ikeda's reported love child.

What the hell is the great sensei (Scamsei) doing placing his dirty fingers in this child's mouth and the Soka Gakkai cult members smiling in abject joy?

The teaching of faith and practice of mentor-disciple or of High Priest dilutes one's faith and practice of the Law.

“When he has finished speaking these words, he should once more bow his head to the ground, make obeisance to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas, and ponder the principle of the broad and impartial sutra. If he does this for one day and so on for three times seven days, then whether he is a householder or one who has left the household he will not need a tutor, nor will he require teachers or the declarations of the confession ceremony. Through the power acquired by accepting, upholding, reading, and reciting the great vehicle sutra, through the help and encouragement proffered by Bodhisattva Universal Worthy, and because this is the eye of the correct Law of the buddhas of the ten directions, relying on this Law, on his own he will succeed in attaining the fivefold body of the Law, which is made up of the precepts, meditation, wisdom, emancipation, and the insight of emancipation. The buddhas, thus come ones, are born from this Law, and in the great vehicle sutra they receive prophecies of their attainment of buddhahood." -  Sutra on How to Practice Meditation on Bodhisattva Universal Worthy, epilogue of the Lotus Sutra

The most judgmental of all people are the fundamental Evangelicals, going against their bible. Next come the members of Soka Gakkai who go against the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren

Bible: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (Matt. 7:1-5)

Nichiren: At the time of his extinction, the World-Honored One of Great Enlightenment lamented, “Now I am about to enter nirvana. The only thing that worries me is King Ajātashatru.” Bodhisattva Kāshyapa then asked him, “Since the Buddha’s mercy is impartial, your regret in dying should stem from compassion for all living beings. Why do you single out only King Ajātashatru?” The Buddha replied, “Suppose that a couple has seven children, one of whom falls ill. Though the parents love all their children equally, they worry most about the sick child.”1 T’ien-t’ai, commenting on this sutra passage in his Great Concentration and Insight, said “Even if the parents of seven children are never partial, they are still particularly concerned about the sick one.” In essence, the sutra is saying that, even if there are many children, the parents’ hearts are with the child who is ill. To the Buddha, all living beings are his children. Among them, the sinful man who slays his own parents and becomes an enemy of the Buddha and the sutras is like the sick child." - Winter Always Turns to Spring

"The Chinese sage kings Yao and Shun were impartial toward all people. They manifested one aspect of Buddhahood within the human world. Bodhisattva Never Disparaging saw the Buddha in everyone he met, and Prince Siddhārtha was a human who became a Buddha. These examples should help you believe." - The True Object of Worship

Lotus Sutra: "The father knew that his son’s outlook was gradually becoming broader and more magnanimous,.." -Lotus Sutra Chapter 4 Belief and Understanding

"The fact that I have attained impartial and correct enlightenment and can save living beings on a broad scale is all due to Devadatta*, who was a good friend.” - Lotus Sutra Chapter 12 Devadatta

*The evil enemy of the Buddha. To me, the top leaders of the Soka Gakkai and High Priests of the Nichiren Shoshu are my best friends.

Victor Yushchenko, former President of Ukraine, on what it will take to defeat this brutal despot

https://theworldnews.net/gb-news/i-ve-dealt-with-putin-before-i-know-what-it-will-take-to-defeat-this-brutal-despot-viktor-yushchenko 

John Sala's viewpoint

I think this is very typical in many "high control groups" (read the "c" word), and perhaps I shouldn't be overly critical of the members who are in many way victims...because many people in such groups really are under a form of brainwashing/mind control. Those who chant the Odaimoku while disparaging Shakyamuni, the actual teachings of Nichiren, the Lotus Sutra and the Dharma generally are not worthy of respect, they are sheep in wolves clothing, having the appearance of Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhists. They are in fact infinitely more dangerous than people who openly oppose true Buddhist teachings, because they can more easily misguide sincere seekers. I say that about organizations such as SG, and to a lesser extent NS, and not about individual members who may in fact be very sincere, and in many cases in need of information to leave such groups-I think that the Internet gives people such resources if they're willing to search for them. Before the Internet, people had no idea about alternatives to SG/NS, or alternatives to many well-known groups, which really gave them a monopoly. The Internet is very positive in this regard, and the abundance of YouTube videos, groups and other websites for people leaving high control groups is a testament to this.

One of Daisaku Ikeda's young American friends

"One of my first experiences with the obsession with Ikeda's lame writing was back in the early 80's when they were pushing REALLY HARD for the ymd to memorize the poem "To My Young American Friends." I never did, simply because I couldn't stand the thing. I never understood how others could get up at meetings and recite such drivel from memory ("YOU! YOUTH! OOOOHHHH YOUTH!!") with tears flowing down their faces. I remember thinking that it was all way over the top and cuckoo for cocoa puffs. Nope, I was never a fan of any of his works. I think the guy's an insecure pretentious hack and the people fawning over it are not in their right minds. -- Hitch

I too tried to memorize it, at the insistence of Vice General Director David Kasahara. Only one of my friends and fellow YMDs succeeded. He was propped up at more than several meetings to recite it, to the rousing cheers and applause of the brainwashed Ikeda groupies. Funny, he appears to be the least happy and successful of all my friends who I knew growing up. He actually thought and stated many times that he was going to be a senator. Why? Because he could memorize and recite Daisaku Ikeda's poem? Craziest thing, he couldn't get above a C- on a college English course but he could memorize 200 lines of Ikeda's drivel word for word. I write this not to deprecate him. He could be loads of fun and is a source of some of my fondest memories. I write this to show the lie of the Soka Gakkai which promises its members that all their desires will be fulfilled if only they embrace the oneness of mentor and disciple. Certainly, no one I know embraced Ikeda more than he, and not one of his great wishes has come to fruition.

Nichiren on tolerance and intolerance

Nichiren was sometimes tolerant and other times not. In the Opening, of the Eyes he says:

"Intolerance is opposite to tolerance just as fire is to water. We can be tolerant of people who are ignorant and immoral. But we must be intolerant of people who have wrong views and slander the Lotus Sutra."

We must be intolerant of wrong views. Nichiren also says in On Practicing the Buddha's Teachings:

"The teachings of the Lesser Vehicle and of the provisional Mahayana were valid only for the people who lived during two thousand years after the extinction of the Buddha. We are living in the first five hundred years after the beginning of the Age of Degeneration. Now is the time to propagate the Lotus Sutra. The Lotus Sutra is the Pure Law, the Perfect Law, the One True Teaching. According to the Daijikkyo Sutra, in the first five hundred years after the beginning of the Age of Degeneration, people resort to fighting, and the right teachings of the Buddha are forgotten. In these years, the provisional teachings are mistaken for the true teachings. Now the teaching of the One Vehicle should be propagated and the provisional teachings criticized. What we should do is criticize wrong views."

Later in the same writing:

"I have appeared in Japan in this time of emergency by the order of the Buddha. I dare say that I am not fortunate. However, the order of the King of the Law is categorical. Therefore, according to the Lotus Sutra, I raise the army of the true teaching against the forces of provisional teachings, wear the armor of patience, take the sword of the Wonderful Law, bend the bow of the Revelation of the Truth, fix the arrow of honesty, ride in the white bullock-cart of equality, break the gate of provisional teachings, and hurl criticism at the followers of the Nembutsu, Shingon, Zen, Ritsu, and other sects. Some of them run away or withdraw, while others are captured and become my disciples. I will repeat the offensive. I will march on, although they are many and my friends are few."

SGI Daimoku just doesn't "work".

"45 minutes per day for 50 years of chanting, when is it suppose to start working??" - SGI member and former leader

I believe strongly that it doesn't work because there are other aspects to the faith and practice of Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism than merely chanting a truncated Daimoku. One glaring example is reverence for Lord Shakya of the Original Doctrine, the Eternal Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin the Supreme Votary of the Lotus Sutra.

The evil people in Shakyamuni Buddha's day...

...could not see the sublimity of the Great Man. How much more difficult for the evil people of the Latter Day to see the sublimity of the ordinary men and women who embrace the Lotus Sutra and follow Nichiren Daishonin.

The Four Perfectly Evolved Bodhisattvas are sure to manifest as worthy rulers in this era of ignorant rulers

"You who are my disciples, take this to heart! The countless Bodhisattvas of the Earth were the disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, from the time he first set his mind on and attained enlightenment in the remote past. But they did not come to his place of enlightenment in India, nor did they come to the grove of sal trees when he entered nirvana. They were unfaithful to him. They also failed to appear when the Buddha preached the first fourteen chapters, or the theoretical teaching of the Lotus Sutra, and they left the assembly when he preached the last six chapters of the essential teaching. They only attended the Buddha during the first eight chapters of the essential teaching. Since these noble bodhisattvas received [the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo] and made a solemn oath to Shakyamuni Buddha, Many Treasures Buddha, and the Buddhas of the ten directions, is it possible that they will not appear now at the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law? Know this: in the time for the practice of shakubuku the four bodhisattvas appear as worthy rulers who rebuke and convert ignorant rulers, and in the time for the practice of shōju they appear as priests to embrace and spread the correct teaching." The True Object of Worship

CNN to premier documentary on Navalny 9pm Eastern on April 24th

 CNN Films to Premiere Alexey Navalny Documentary (broadwayworld.com)

Putin has no mirror in which to see himself

Believing in a religion (Russian Orthodox Church) which has no power in order to deeply reflect, Putin is clueless about his own hideous behavior. Putin is destined for the hell of incessant suffering. No different than the Christian Bush who killed hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraquis.

Cult Tactics Handbook: (3) The tactics SGI culties routinely use to ISOLATE people without their realizing that's what's happening - SGIwhistleblowers with comments

 Cult Tactics Handbook: (3) The tactics SGI culties routinely use to ISOLATE people without their realizing that's what's happening

This is another installment in the Cult Tactics Handbook series.

It is essential that cults isolate their members - and as quickly as possible! - in order to indoctrinate them and to establish and maintain control over them so as to most effectively exploit them. Once they've managed to make that sale, the last thing the culties want is to see that new recruit heading for the exit!

LOVE BOMBING

Love bombing is a coordinated effort, usually under the direction of leadership, that involves long-term members' flooding recruits and newer members with flattery, verbal seduction, affectionate but usually nonsexual touching, and lots of attention to their every remark. Love bombing - or the offer of instant companionship - is a deceptive ploy accounting for many successful recruitment drives. Source

This term was coined by the Moonies, who used this intensive positive attention to manipulate lonely and isolated people via the promise of instant wonderful and positive community. Those who are *susceptible to this kind of manipulation will typically react like this:

"These people are so NICE! They really get me; they see me the way I've always wanted to be seen! They're the community of instant best friends I've always dreamed of!"

Those who are not susceptible find this approach false, unnerving, and suffocating. Being love-bombed makes them feel alarmed; they regard these efforts as creepy and fake (which they are). Love-bombing, BTW, has long been a tactic in fundagelical Christian circles to rope in any new people who happen by their groups.

The love-bombing never lasts, though. It requires too much effort and energy from the established cult members. It is nothing more than a temporary manipulative tactic to attain the goal of creating a dependence on the group in the new recruit. No genuine friendship can compare; love-bombing is so intense and so overwhelming that it's like crack to an addict or canceled plans for an introvert. And, of course, when that sweet, sweet love-bombing is withdrawn, the new recruit will typically (due to the factors that made them susceptible to the love-bombing in the first place) feel they must have done something wrong, and will then try to regain the perceived favor of their new community via involving themselves more intensively in the group's activities. Which leads us to the next tactic:

BUSY BUSY BUSY

A great way to isolate people without their realizing that's what's happening is to invite them to a lot of activities. Your time is a zero-sum game; if you're spending time here, you no longer have that time to spend there. So cults typically have a LOT of activities going on for the new recruit to get involved in, like:

• A self-isolating practice - while they're chanting, they're not interacting with anyone else. Even if they're chanting with other people! Ditto the morning/evening "gongyo" recitation/prayers ritual.

• Discussion meetings - eats their entire evening once a month

• Call to remind the new recruit about the upcoming activity; pull out the manipulation and "encourage-encourage" at the first hint of hesitation: "But so-and-so and such-and-such are SO looking forward to your being there! They were telling me just this weekend that they look forward to your comments and observations most of all - you always really impress them with your insights and perspective!" (Notice the love-bombing in that "encouragement"...)

• "Invite" the new recruit to do something for the upcoming discussion meeting - this may well involve preparation time (reading some passage, rehearsing, etc.) that of course isolates them

• "Invite" the new recruit to more activities - study meetings, planning meetings for the discussion meetings and study meetings, chanting parties (tosos), even home visits

• Ask the new recruit if they would pick up so-and-so and bring them to the meeting - this pretty much guarantees they'll BOTH show up for the meeting and also develops in the new recruit the feeling of "being useful" to Das Org

• Offer the new recruit the "opportunity" to take on a leadership position (even if there is no one for them to "lead") - they'll need to add leaders meetings to their calendars on top of all the other meetings and activities

• If the new recruit expresses disappointment or skepticism about the promised effectiveness of "this practice", tell them there's something wrong with them, that it's all their OWN fault, and that they need to dedicate themselves to more chanting and more activities if they're ever to attain their goals and dreams and ultimate happiness! In other words, isolate themselves more within SGI!

All of this squeezes out the new recruit's existing relationships (friends and family). First of all, no real relationship can compare to the false façade of a love-bombing manipulation. Second, this wonderful new supportive community's many demands will be made to sound so urgent: "But this planning meeting is essential to the success of our District discussion meeting! We can't do it without YOU, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you to build so much fortune for your life! Just send your mom a card for her birthday instead!" "We urgently need all hands on deck if this campaign is going to be a success - kosen-rufu depends on it and Sensei is counting on us! ALL of us!"

Immersed in SGI-USA, Mary neglected the rest of her life. She quit practicing the violin because she had no time for it. She rarely saw her parents and forgot their birthdays. Source

With no time left to spend with their former friends, those friends will gravitate toward other friends who have time for them.

And when time passes with no contact between friends, that friendship can evaporate. If you have not done anything or had a conversation with a certain friend in several months, it's likely that friendship is over. When people go significant periods of time without having any contact with each other, they are having various experiences that change who they are; their lives take different directions. If they're remaining in contact, they share these events, insights, and realizations with each other; that continues the shared experience of their friendship. But if you're out of touch for a significant time, when you do re-establish contact, it's as virtual strangers. All you have in common is in the past, and your commonality may consist only of remembering that shared past, which one person may not think is anywhere near as enjoyable as the other person does. If this new friendship opportunity involves frequent reminders of an unhappy past since transcended, since that other person has no awareness or understanding of one's new reality, where is the incentive for this person to accept the overtures to rekindle the friendship? It's simply not there any more.

This is a huge and largely unappreciated danger of SGI membership - if you are being persuaded to put your non-cult friendships on the back burner, you're likely to wake up one morning and realize they're gone. And they don't want to be involved with you any more. You can't blame them, though - it was YOU who prioritized your shiny new love-bombing cult "friends" (cult recruiters) over them, so now that's what you're left with, even though you can now see they aren't shiny, they're sad and tarnished, and they aren't making any effort to even be particularly nice or friendly to you - the love-bombing ended a long time ago. You've lost value through your involvement with SGI. You've damaged your life.

PRIVATE LANGUAGE

Every specialized group has its own specialized terminology that the members in the know use when they communicate with each other. It's all meaningful within the group; not so much outside of the group. Whether we're talking about mechanics, surgeons, sportsball fans, opera lovers, or cult members, they all speak their own unique "private language". Within the cult context, this "private language" is taught to the new recruits; there are some concepts within this context that don't translate directly, so the new recruits will need to know the proper terminology if they wish to understand and make themselves understood. Also, the new recruits learn really quickly that if they try to explain what these concepts mean to "outsiders", it sounds stupid and they get embarrassed. They can only discuss these private-language concepts in a sufficient atmosphere of gravitas WITHIN SGI, amongst fellow culties (isolating them by getting them to surround themselves with SGI). Additionally, fluency in the cult's "private language" is an essential factor in demonstrating that one is a full-fledged member of the group and not just some hanger-on or groupie; it's one of the factors that distinguishes the full-fledged members from the tourists and dabblers. The Ikeda Cult is SRS BZNSS - no fooling around! Which leads us to:

NO SENSE OF HUMOR

Within a hate-filled intolerant cult - like fundagelical Christianity, like SGI - there is no room for kidding around. Everything is deadly SERIOUS - the fate of the world depends on their activities and actions! Nothing in life can be achieved with a half-hearted or frivolous attitude!

Being halfhearted is such a waste. If we go around as if we’re half-asleep all the time, we can’t hope to savor a life that is free of regret. Enthusiasm and vigor are vital ingredients for a fulfilling life. Ikeda

Later, when the delegation learned that Shin'ichi had chanted while watching their takeoff, they began to reflect on their attitude.

They thought: "After participating in the scheduled events here, we behaved as if we were students on a school field trip, just having a good time without a care in the world. That's why we were so excited and even cheered when we heard that our plane was heading back to Honolulu. We had absolutely no awareness that we had come to Hawaii to work for kosen-rufu.

"Yet President Yamamoto chanted for our safe trip home. Without a doubt, he prayed wholeheartedly, thinking what a horrible tragedy it would be if we met with an accident. We should have been the ones who were praying for our safety. The devilish function of inattentiveness almost got the better of us."

They were all ashamed of their frivolous attitude. At the same time, through Shin'ichi's example, they were keenly reminded of their heavy responsibility as leaders of kosen-rufu never to be negligent for even a moment. Source

🤮 Remember, all these supposed individuals knew of "Shin'ichi's example" is what other people TOLD them. In reality, Ikeda was no doubt in the Presidential Lounge, knocking back a couple Long Island Iced Teas. This is how it goes within SGI - the SGI leaders inform the members about how weighty their mission, how Ikeda wants this or that for them, expects this or that from them, and how it is their duty, their VOW, to become whatever Ikeda wants them to become. And the SGI leaders will of course provide all the necessary details...

The key is to give your all to every moment and to work efficiently. Many people go about their days absentmindedly or working in a halfhearted manner. But it is better to live with the spirit that now may be the last moment of your life and consistently do your best to get things done as quickly as possible. The energy to live this way comes from chanting [Nam-myoho-renge-kyo] earnestly. Mornings are especially important. … It also helps to avoid watching television into the late hours of the night or keeping late hours generally. … Buddhism is reason. A Buddhist practitioner cultivates self-discipline. Ikeda's idealized avatar "Shin'ichi Yamamoto"

WHICH brings us to:

LIMITING MEMBERS' ACCESS TO INFORMATION

In the quote just above, Ikeda admonishes his followers to be serious, to take their lives seriously, and as one way to demonstrate their seriousness, "avoid watching television into the late hours of the night". WHY should they be watching "the idiot box", anyhow? They could be studying this month's installment of "The Newwwww Human Revoltation", or reading Ikeda Scamsei's "guidance", or chanting more, or calling other members to encourage them or even making home visits! Where's the "value creation" in vegging out in front of the tube??

You, on the other hand, are making noble efforts day and night to contribute to the welfare of others—spreading the teachings of Nichiren Buddhism, encouraging your fellow members and striving for the development of your communities. Sometimes you may think, “Wouldn’t it be nice to just stay home tonight and relax and watch TV?” But in joyfully taking action for the happiness of others and your fellow members, you are leading lives infinitely more fulfilling and worthwhile. Ikeda

All right, let's get to work again!-This is the spirit of people of genuine substance. Those who avoid hard work or neglect the things they have to do, who just while away their time, eating, sleeping, playing, watching television-such individuals will never experience true happiness, satisfaction or joy. Ikeda

Watching TV = destroying your chances at happiness, satisfaction, and joy! EEK!

However, it may be that is exactly when you find it the most difficult time to chant. You are on the brink of changing a part of your life that always stops you from progressing or being happy. It will probably feel like walking up a hill backwards. At such times obstacles and devils arise. You will probably be able to justify why it is more beneficial to watch TV than do gongyo or chant or tell a friend about Nam-myoho-renge-kyo or study some of Nichiren Daishonin`s writings. But this is exactly the time to do these things in order to break through and win over something that has always held you back. This is the time to muster a fighting spirit and to be courageous. SGI-UK

SEE??

It's COWARDLY to watch TV! Are YOU a coward??

Are you a lazy person of NO genuine SUBSTANCE?? Just look at all the things you could be doing instead of watching TV: doing gongyo, chanting, telling a friend about nam-myoho-renge-kyo, studying some of Nichiren Daishonin's Ikeda's SCAMSEI's writings...

If you're NOT watching TV, you're not going to be exposed to the ideas, perspectives, and reports that are being broadcast on that TV, are you? You're also not going to have the cultural currency that enables you to find topics in common to discuss in getting to know others (the first steps in making a new friendship) - you won't be able to compare/contrast perspectives on a popular TV series, which is one of the most common "icebreaker" topics when first meeting someone. THAT's the point, and your "good friends" in SGI will tell you absolutely anything to get you to "decide" to NOT watch TV. Same with non-SGI-assigned books and magazine articles! SGI will tell its members that it's exceedingly important to read "good" books - and what are the BEST books?? THOSE SOLD BY SGI!!

Today, television and the internet have made their way into the family, too, but it is impossible to stress too heavily the importance of reading. The decline of the culture of the printed word can be seen as leading ultimately to the destruction of humanity itself. A popular saying, sometimes attributed to Cicero, tells us that a “room without books is like a body without a soul.” Ikeda

TEH O NOES!!! Why, you better buy and read the latest whatever attributed to Ikeda Scamsei! That's what makes it the BEST!!

Through this novelized history of the Soka Gakkai—one of the most dynamic, diverse, and empowering movements in the world today—readers will discover the organization''s goals and achievements even as they find inspiring and practical Buddhist wisdom for living happily and compassionately in today''s world. The book recounts the stories of ordinary individuals who faced tremendous odds in transforming their lives through the practice of Nichiren Buddhism and in bringing Buddhism''s humanistic teachings to the world. This inspiring narrative provides readers with the principles with which they can positively transform their own lives for the better and realize enduring happiness for themselves and others. Source

WOW!!

What better reading material could possibly exist??

Why Is It So Important to Study The New Human Revolution? - World Tribune article

"Ask questions a little less ordinary than 'What do you do?'" Carlyle Jansen, author of Sex Yourself, tells Bustle. "Questions such as 'What is the craziest thing you have ever done?' or 'If you could fly anywhere tomorrow, where would you go and why?' or 'What is your latest favorite book, play, movie or TV show and why?'" will get the ball rolling. "These types of questions can lead to discussions revealing more about their interests, values and priorities," Jansen says. In the meantime, you get to have fun finding out more about someone new.

If ALL you are reading/seeing is SGI-produced content, you're effectively crippled, socially. And THAT is also the point. To isolate you by making it more difficult for you to interact with others. The attitude of superiority that SGI members exhibit is also off-putting - nobody wants that. Nobody is willing to regard them as the authority figures who must be obeyed (which is why they have to make up LIES about scenarios where that happened).

Q: How can I challenge myself to continually work on my own human revolution?

A. It is difficult to inspire oneself, especially in isolation. Therefore, we need to stay in close communication with our fellow members and continue to seek encouragement from Ikeda Sensei through our publications. Source

THERE it is. The whole idea is to enmesh each SGI member WITHIN the SGI, surrounded by SGI leaders and members, reading SGI's indoctrinational materials, ISOLATED within SGI.

See how subtle? "Oh, no - you're not 'isolated'! You're surrounded by your very best friends from the infinite past, marching forward together in your shared mission for kosen-rufu!"

They CAN'T be heavy-handed about it any more and just command the SGI members to only read SGI indoctrinational materials; way too risky. They need a way to get that same message across, only to do in such a way that the SGI members think it's their OWN idea!

In this new segment “The New Human Revolution & I”, we feature lionhearted SSA members on their personal journey studying the NHR and how it has encouraged them in their daily life. Source

In today's feature of "The New Human Revolution & I", we have SSA Vice Men Division Chief Soh Kim Beng who shares with us how The New Human Revolution became his valuable "textbook of faith" throughout the years.

In today's "The New Human Revolution & I", we feature SSA Woman Division Region leader Sherline Tay, who has been greatly inspired by the wide-ranging guidance given by President Ikeda narrated in the NHR. The NHR has been her main source of encouragement over the years and she is currently on her third English reading while concurrently reading its Chinese version to better appreciate the Buddhist terms and concepts! Kudos to Sherline's strong seeking spirit!

WHAT POSSIBLE READING MATERIAL COULD BE BETTER??

And if YOU can think up some creative way to read the NHR, why, they might run a segment about YOU, with "Kudos" for YOU! O.O

The more you isolate yourself (deliberately or not, makes no difference) within SGI, the more strange and unappealing you become. It will become even more difficult than usual for you to make friends, because the Ikeda cult has damaged your capacity for compassion, empathy, and open-minded interest in others and their beliefs. SGI members tend to become selfish, self-centered, anxious, and pushy - nobody wants to be around that.

So beware when a cult member comes onto you with effusive demonstrations of interest, affection, attention, flattery, and praise - this is their investment in ultimately acquiring YOUR LIFE to exploit for their cult.

Don't you give it to them!

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Comments

level 1

ToweringIsle13

·52 min. ago

NO SENSE OF HUMOR

And it stands to be said that just because people are laughing does not mean there is humor present. Having a sense of humor about something requires a level of detachment and objectivity, and a willingness to recognize its faults, which creates a mental space for spontaneous observation to occur.

Laugher minus humor is nothing more than a show of nervousness, and/or a habitual tool for conditioning the people around you by making them mirror your expressions.

2

level 2

BlancheFromage

OP·26 min. ago

Ooh - good points!