The very purpose of Buddhism according to the Soka Gakkai
"As 'remarkable disciples', our duty is to establish the greatness of our mentor in history for future generations and posterity!" -- Singapore SGI leader
My good friend who has been practicing with SGI 40 years has never once said her mission is to establish president Ikeda’s greatness! I I ascribed to SGI cult mentality theories when I first encountered this blog 6 years ago, but I no longer view it any different than the too numerous to recount examples of the need people have for community and the sense of belonging to something larger than themselves. I also changed my views based on study - finally reaching the point of accepting and believing the daimoku itself operates in each individual who recites it and it is not possible for me to know or judge their progress, but to encourage continuing to the last moment of their lives. Cult mentality ? I don’t agree that is the label to affix to any community of believers though to some extent it does reflect a cultural tendency - which I encountered in spades working in a Harvard affiliated hospital for 5 years. 😉 ~ Katie Higgins
" What I find more disturbing about them, aside from that and sensei adulation, is the heretical teachings they share with NS Taisekiji, and how they mislead people from the authentic teachings of Nichiren' and the Lotus Sutra, which makes them doubly worse than groups which make no claim of following Nichiren and true Lotus Sutra Buddhism."
In other words, John, many or most, if not all -- to some degree, born in the Latter Degenerative Age or just plain ignorant? I take comfort knowing Shakyamuni Buddha factored in our ignorance! A universal, perfect teaching accessible to all ignorant wordings- We just have to keep believing that despite immediate not so great looking results ALL will attain the benefits promised by the Buddha. Hey, don't we do that every time we challenge an obstacle ? Continue until we break through!! ~Katie Higgins
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ! the cult marches on even without the mentor.
ReplyDeleteMy good friend who has been practicing with SGI 40 years has never once said her mission is to establish president Ikeda’s greatness! I I ascribed to SGI cult mentality theories when I first encountered this blog 6 years ago, but I no longer view it any different than the too numerous to recount examples of the need people have for community and the sense of belonging to something larger than themselves. I also changed my views based on study - finally reaching the point of accepting and believing the daimoku itself operates in each individual who recites it and it is not possible for me to know or judge their progress, but to encourage continuing to the last moment of their lives. Cult mentality ? I don’t agree that is the label to affix to any community of believers though to some extent it does reflect a cultural tendency - which I encountered in spades working in a Harvard affiliated hospital for 5 years. 😉
ReplyDelete~ Katie Higgins
" What I find more disturbing about them, aside from that and sensei adulation, is the heretical teachings they share with NS Taisekiji, and how they mislead people from the authentic teachings of Nichiren' and the Lotus Sutra, which makes them doubly worse than groups which make no claim of following Nichiren and true Lotus Sutra Buddhism."
DeleteIn other words, John, many or most, if not all -- to some degree, born in the Latter Degenerative Age or just plain ignorant?
I take comfort knowing Shakyamuni Buddha factored in our ignorance! A universal, perfect teaching accessible to all ignorant wordings- We just have to keep believing that despite immediate not so great looking results ALL will attain the benefits promised by the Buddha.
Hey, don't we do that every time we challenge an obstacle ? Continue until we break through!!
~Katie Higgins