It is the business suited Soka Gakkai priests with perverse wisdom and hearts who are the Buddha's worst enemies

"Shakyamuni Buddha is the father, sovereign, and teacher of all the other Buddhas and all the gods, of the whole assembly of human and heavenly beings, and of all living beings. How could the heavenly gods and benevolent deities rejoice if the Buddha were killed? Today all the people of our country have proved to be enemies of Shakyamuni Buddha, but more than laymen or laywomen, it is the [business suited Soka Gakkai] priests with perverse wisdom and hearts who are the Buddha’s worst enemies. There are two kinds of wisdom, correct and perverse. No matter how wise a person may appear, if his assertions are warped you should not listen to him. Nor should you follow priests merely because they are venerable or of high rank. But if a person has the wisdom to know the true meaning of the Lotus Sutra, no matter how lowly he may appear, pay respect to him and make offerings to him as though he were a living Thus Come One. Thus it is written in the sutra. That is why the Great Teacher Dengyo says that the men and women who believe in this sutra, even if they lack knowledge or violate the precepts, should be seated above priests who observe all two hundred and fifty precepts of the Hinayana teachings, and never be seated in a humble position, and that this is all the more true of the priests of this Mahayana sutra."

What a Low Life Condition

"Some protest video clips were posted earlier in this thread. Here's an interesting related clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHQ5t1iMPY0

Some of those same protestors, on another day, are being tailed through the streets by an earpiece wearing undercover soka (MIB=Men In Black, but in this case light brown) James Bond wanna-be stalker. He appears at the beginning of the clip (~20 sec. mark) and is confronted toward the end of the clip (~2:00 min. mark).

Take a look at his face at the beginning of the clip --> psycho eyes. At the end of the clip, when confronted, he is reaching for his communication piece in the back of his waist." Hitch, ex SGI fortune baby and Cult Education forum poster

_{A joyful bodhiNOTva is he. Unbelievable clip. Those anti-SGI people are such fearsome desperados. He looked so angry. What a low life condition. -- Mark}

More SGI BSG or More SGI Cult BS Propaganda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbwIriRIhgs&list=UUwyaSFSokcu5eXEzgZXTHtg&index=4&feature=plcp

Billions of people throughout the world get up each morning early to go to work or school but these lowlife SGI YMD can only do so if they have a connection to the Soka Gakkai and D.Ikeda.

Robin "Nichiren" Buddhist of the Ikeda Sect Responds (4)

4).Destructive cults generate some kind of external “pet devil” with which to threatentheir members if they should doubt, or fail, or ever leave the group.

The SGI has dozens of “pet devils”. Those who leave will have misfortune on their jobs, in their families, in the social lives,have accidents, fall into hell, etc. President Toda stated: “If you keep this up, you’re going to cometo a pitiful end in life.” and “Betraying the Soka Gakkai is betraying the Daishonin. In the end, they’llreceive the punishment of the Buddha, you’ll see.” Ikeda says, “To take action to fight againstwhatever forces appear as the enemies of the Soka Gakkai is our most noble mission.” Matilda Bucksays, “How tragic it would be for even one person to have found the great means of bringing forth Buddhahood only to be diverted to another, seemingly similar, path that is incapable of leading that individual to his or her deepest happiness.” This is the jist of the Gakkai’s attempt to chain themembers to the Gakkai way of life. The Biggest ”pet devil” is Nikken of the Nichiren Shoshu:

“When Buddhism speaks of “devilish functions,” what does that really mean? These represent whatever tries to prevent us from advancing in our Buddhist practice. In a sense, they are frightened when we expand the Buddha?s forces, because the realm they want to control will be changed into a pure land. In our case right now, this function is being manifested in the current high priest of Nichiren Shoshu.”

Robin: Again, as far as I can tell this is the same with all Nichiren sects with “Ikeda” being the “pet devil”. I used to hate all the demonizing of Nikken and felt the SGI should move on and focus on the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and the Gosho (which they now seem to do in the UK), but most Nichiren sects seem more obsessed with President Ikeda than you say SGI members are. 

Mark: I guess you are not familiar with the SGI UK Soka Spirit. I suggest you do a google search. A component of Fascism are those “WHO ARE URGED TO ENGAGE IN A HEROIC COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO ATTAIN A METAPHYSICAL GOAL against the machinations of a SCAPE GOATED DEMONIZED ADVERSARY”: [from Scruton]. For your benefit, I have included my commentary proving that the Soka Gakkai has features of Fascism

The following passages with capitalized words are from Scruton along with commentary proving that the SGI has the essential features of Fascism :

“[Fascism is] more notable as a political phenomenon on which diverse intellectual influences converge than as a distinct idea; as political phenomenon, one of its most remarkable features has been the ability to win massive popular support for ideas that are expressly ANTI-EGALITARIAN.”

Despite their rhetoric, there is a huge chasm between general members and their religious leaders in the Soka Gakkai. If a general member or lower level leader disagrees with a higher level leader, it is always the general member who lacks faith or should reflect. If a leader visits the home of a member, the leader invaraibly leads prayers even if the member has been practicing many years more than the leader.

"Fascism is characterized by the following features (not all of which need be present in any of its recognized instances"): nationalism; HOSTILITY TO DEMOCRACY,” TO EGALITARIANISM”

Not one leader has ever been elected in the Soka Gakkai but they call themselves, “the flower of Buddhist democracy”. Whenever members like the IRG group or individuals bring up elections of leaders, the higher level leaders, questions their faith or spins it that, “the SGI is already a Buddhist democracy, of what use are elections.” A leaders term is indefinite and the higher level leaders serve at the whim of the unelected “President”. Some leaders have been Vice General Directors, General Directors, or Vice Presidents for decades.

‘and to the VALUES OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT” [The Age of Reason]:

Another name for this age is the Age of Free Thought. As we have seen there is no free thought in the Soka Gakkai. See how far one gets in the organization were one to take Shakyamuni, Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin, or Michio Kaku as their mentor instead of Daisaku Ikeda. Free thought extends to the sphere of freedom of study. One can not even study the various extant Gohonzons in the Soka Gakkai because it is forbidden to photograph the Gohonzon. Even an independent study of the Lotus Sutra and the writings of Nichiren Daishonin is frowned upon. One must utilize the commentaries of the mentor. There were dozens of debating societies during the Age of Enlightenment. There is no debate in the Soka Gakkai. It is the mentors way or the highway and they are loathe to debate the other Nichiren sects, particularly the Kempon Hokke.

“The CULT OF THE LEADER,”

One need only observe the 20 foot banners, monuments, plaques and reliefs of Ikeda to know that the Soka Gakkai is a cult of personality. The teaching of the Oneness of Mentor and Disciple too is evidence. The memorizations ["fusing with", "burning into ones life"] of Ikeda’s guidances, aphorisms and poems, is another example. Naming dozens of parks, buildings, schools, and monuments after Ikeda, is yet another example.

“AND ADMIRATION FOR HIS SPECIAL QUALITIES”:

His voluminous and often ghost written books, his hundreds of paid for honorarium; “his ability to read minds and know what others are thinking.”; “‘The sun always shining when he comes to visit.”; His fidelity; loyalty; sincerity; never erring on religious or secular matter; the list literally goes on and on.

“A RESPECT FOR A COLLECTIVE ORGANIZATION, AND A LOVE OF THE SYMBOLS associated with it, such as UNIFORMS, PARADES and ARMY DISCIPLINE”:

One finds dozens of claims of the inability of people to attain Buddhahood outside the SGI organization. Every Division has their own flag and special symbols. The SGI has its own flag and symbol. Uniforms were a big part of the USA organization for years and are still worn in Japan. Uniformity, especially among the young men’s division is highly valued. Many fail to move up the organizational ladder if they have a moustache or beard. They have grandiose parades and their young men’s and young women’s divisions are run with military inspired discipline.

“The ultimate doctrine contains little that is specific, beyond AN APPEAL TO ENERGY AND ACTION”:

“Victory or defeat”; “ever victorious”; “life condition”; “take action today”; “It is essential for our members to raise their voices and take action.”; “Develop the will and spiritual energy to guide your members.”; give your very life for the Soka Gakkai.” “A lion is fearless. A lion is never defeated. A lion never laments. A lion is swift. A lion roars. A lion runs. And, above all, a lion wins without fail.”

“Another way to look at fascism is as a movement of extreme racial or CULTURAL NATIONALISM, combined with ECONOMIC CORPORATISM and AUTHORATARIAN AUTOCRACY”:

The Soka Gakkai is a country within the countries to which it has spread. There most definitely is a culture of Soka. The minor differences in the organizations of the various countries is window dressing rather than a true cultural assimilation. We would not be wrong to say it is an organization based on the Japanese cultural baggage of Bushido or way of the warrior [fierce loyalty, honor, feudalism]. They are one of the largest multi-national religious corporations in the world.

“masked during its rise to state [world] power by PSEUDO-RADICAL POPULIST appeals to overthrow a conspiratorial elitist regime”:

Anyone who opposes the goal of “world peace” based on the Soka “value creation” philosophy are elitists, intellectuals, or priest-like.

“SPURRED BY A STRONG CHARISMATIC LEADER”:

Duh!

“WHOSE REACTIONARY IDEAS ARE SAID TO ORGANICALLY EXPRESS THE WILL  OF THE MASSES”:

Nothing could be more reactionary than the autocratic pyramidal structure of the Soka Gakkai formulated by Three Presidents and perfected by Daisaku ikeda, “The Buddha of the modern age who looks upon the people as his children”.

“WHO ARE URGED TO ENGAGE IN A HEROIC COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO ATTAIN A  METAPHYSICAL GOAL against the machinations of a SCAPE GOATED DEMONIZED ADVERSARY”:

Daisaku Ikeda’s Concept of Peace Cosmology is an example of SGI’s grandiose metaphysical goal. It doesn’t even limit the metaphysical goal to the earth but the entire cosmos. 

In his internal speeches since 1991, and in the latest Human Revolution series, we come to see that the evil Nichiren Shoshu priests and the the other evil Nichiren sects, in general, are the only thing preventing the realization of the worldwide actualization of Soka peace cosmology or the spread of the true teachings [Kosen Rufu].

“In any case, in most definitions of fascism the themes of conspiracism and a NEEDED SCAPEGOAT emerge”:

The Nichiren priests, in general and the Nichiren Shoshu, specifically, according to the SGI are the Third of the Three Powerful Enemies, to be crushed. They can’t even see that their high paid business suited lay leaders are what Dengyo terms, nominal Bhikksus or priests.

The parallels between fascism and the Soka Gakkai are conclusive. Other parallels are, elitism, xenophobia and drive for control, for example. Then there is the false propaganda and propagandists, those like yourself.

Daisaku Ikeda is not our pet devil nor is he even the reincarnation of Devedatta. He is our best friend in the entire World because without Ikeda and his organization, there would be no way to contrast the SGI with the Kempon Hokke.

Robin "Nichiren" Buddhist of the Ikeda Sect Responds (3)

3).Destructive cults reduce everything to a bi-polar attitude: “for us, or against us.”

Robin: "Within the UK, I’ve never come across this “for us or against us” attitude, but I’ve certainly met wise people that criticise the SGI and the Lotus Sutra as well as foolish people that praise the SGI.

"Daisaku Ikeda’s words show his compassion for people being deceived by priests, which is again common among all religions. Going back to your website, you have the same view that SGI members are being deceived by Daisaku Ikeda as well as criticising Rissho Kosei-Kai and Gene Reeves.

On March 25 you say “If one accepts the transgressions of the Soka Gakkai, Nichiren Shoshu, Nichiren Shu and Shingon without discriminating between the correct and incorrect, can they really be considered disciples of Nichiren Daishonin?”. Surely this is a “for us or against us” statement in which you either are or aren’t a disciple of Nichiren? Also, is this your quote? Most of the Kempon webpage refers to Nichiren as Shonin not Daishonin or are the two interchangeable in Kempon Hokke?"

Mark: It might have been instructive to point out what I wrote to prove the point.

Anyone who criticizes the SGI, no matter how wise, is a fool and anyone who praises the SGI, no matter how foolish, is wise:   http://www.mindspring.com/~sonoda/yamaz.htm

Here is another example:

“Seven years have passed since then. The outcome of the struggle of good and evil and the workings of the law of cause and effect have been strict and uncompromising. The decline of the crazed and destructive Nichiren Shoshu is clearly apparent. The victims, unfortunately, are the la ybelievers who practice with the temple, who are not aware of Nichiren Shoshu’s evil and have been deceived by the priests.” -- Daisaku Ikeda

The Kempon Hokke, on the other hand, accepts criticism from whatever quarter as long as it is based on the Lotus Sutra, writings of Nichiren Daishonin, and the truth. We also are not above criticizing our own, be they priest or laymen, should they deviate from the Lotus Sutra and teachings of Nichiren.

In the case of the Soka Gakkai it IS us against them:

"We, ourselves, cannot produce the Gohonzon. Since it's the
enlightened entity of Nichiren Daishonin, no one has the authority
other than the successive high priests who have been the sole heirs
to the heritage of the True Law. We take no part in this. Therefore,
the objects of worship inscribed by those in the Butsuryu and Minobu
factions [of the Nichiren sect] are absolutely powerless. They are
worthless because they are fake. In fact, they contain the power of
evil spirits. That is why they are dangerous." Former SGI president,
Josei Toda, Daibyaku Renge, 98, p. 98.

"Members of the Minobu school of the Nichiren sect chant daimoku.
They have the Gosho Their recitation of the sutra also includes the
Hoben and Juryo chapters. And, in the Shoshinkai, which consists of
ex-priests of Nichiren Shoshu , and the portions of the sutra they
recite and the daimoku that they chant are identical to the practice
we observe. Though their religion may seem the same as ours, they
lack the single, unbroken heritage of the law recieved directly from
Nichiren Daishonin. If one's faith is not based on this line of
inheritance, it is worthless to embrace any Gohonzon, for no benefit
will be forthcoming. That is to say, "Without the lifeblood of faith,
it would be useless to embrace the Lotus Sutra." " Daisaku Ikeda,
Buddhism in Action, vol 3, p 254

I suggest also that you search out the SGI Bible of Shakubuku:

Here are a few excerpts and my responses as a Kempon Hokke member.
The SGI Bible of Shakubuku (1951), supervised by Daisaku Ikeda,
was published by the Soka Gakkai to train believers. The Soka
Gakkai  no longer publishes the Bible of Shakubuku because it
promotes the Nichiren-Shoshu. Nevertheless, SGI's fundamental
doctrines have not changed except for denying that the heritage of
the Law is transmitted through the person of High Priest of Nichiren
Shoshu. Now they claim that the heritage is only transmitted through
the Successive Presidents of the Soka Gakkai.

"Shakyamuni's dharma is the dharma of the past and no longer
 beneficial". (page 63, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Nichiren taught that Shakyamuni's Lotus Sutra is the only teaching
to be spread in the Latter Day.

"It is necessary to realize that we no longer have a connection
 to Shakyamuni's Buddhism." (page 65, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Nichiren taught that we are the direct disciples of the Original
Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni.

"You should know that Nichiren Daishonin is the only true Buddha
 because Shakamuni's Buddhism is useless." (page 67, The Bible of
 Shakubuku)

Nichiren taught that Shakyamuni Buddha is the Original Eternal Buddha
and we can not even discard the Theoretical Section of the Lotus Sutra,
let alone the Essential Section.

"Buddha Shakamuni is inferior to the true Buddha Nichiren." (page
316, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Nichiren taught that all Buddhas throughout the past, present,
and future, are emanations of Shakyamuni Buddha. He also taught
that those who abandon Shakyamuni will fall into the Avici hell.

"The Lotus Sutra which is the long-cherished wish of Buddha
 Shakamuni is no longer valid in this era, not in the least." (page93,
The Bible of Shakubuku)

Nichiren says the Lotus Sutra is the ultimate teaching of the past,
present, and future

"If you don't worship the Gohonzon of NST (SGI), you will know no
well-being in the age of Mappo." (page70, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Yet, the deluded SGI members criticize us for pointing out that the
Nichikan Gohonzon breeds evil men.

'If you worship the Honzon of a wicked religion, you will naturally
experience misfortune (page280, The Bible of Shakubuku).

The misfortune of the SGI senior leaders and their family members,
is actual proof that they worship a Honzon of a wicked religion and
the tremendous good fortune of the believers in the Kempon Hokke
is proof of the righteousness of our Honzon and the goodness of our
religion.

"All other sects except NST (SGI) are wicked religions and are a
negative influence on society. (page280, The Bible of Shakubuku)

The reality is that wherever the SGI has spread, the people have
suffered every manner of misfortune and even their own members
obtain neither merit nor virtue.

"The teachings of Buddha Shakamuni is as useless as last year's
calendar. If you are guided by his teachings, your life will surely
fail as a logical result." (page303,The Bible of Shakubuku)

Then why so many unrealized dreams among the Soka Gakkai
members and why such wonderful benefits in the life of the Kempon
Hokke believers who embrace the Lotus Sutra and Shakyamuni Buddha?

"Every person who doesn't worship the Gohonzon of Fuji-Taiseki temple
(SGI) are bad people who slander the true dharma.' (page314, The Bible
of Shakubuku)

Then the SGI members are bad because, according to their own criteria,
they slander the "true dharma" of Fuji-Taisekaji temple. The reality is
that they are bad people, especially their high salaried leaders, for
other real and serious transgressions: For abandoning the Lotus Sutra
and Lord Shakyamuni Buddha and exploiting the Dharma for personal
gain.

"The family which believes in the so-called Nichiren-shu will have
children who have deformities, mental retardation or madness."
(page321, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Then why do so many children of SGI top senior leaders never make
it past their twenty first birthday while most Nichiren Shu priests' and
believers' children not only survive but thrive? The reason is that the
SGI's leaders curses and particularly Ikeda's curses have returned to the
originator. For slandering votaries of the Lotus Sutra they or their SGI
family members suffer everymanner of disease and death before they grow
old.

"All other sects except NST (SGI) are false heresies  who exert a
bad influence on society." (page323, The Bible of Shakubuku)

Then why does France label the SGI a dangerous cult and has
Daisaku Ikeda never once received an award or honor from his
own people, the Japanese? Why did the Komeito suffer such a
brutal beating in the last election? Because they are a good
influence to society?

It is not we of the Kempon Hokke against others, it is we who are united with the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the universe and Nichiren and those who aren't from whatever quarter. We also acknowledge Nichiren's teachings on complicity with evil and who is and who isn't a good spiritual friend. From the vast corpus of writings of Ikeda and the Soka Gakkai, it is apparent that SGI members and, especially leaders, are poor spiritual friends.

Robin "Nichiren" Buddhist of the Ikeda Sect Responds (2)

2).Destructive cults claim to offer absolute Truth. Their teachings are not (to them) mere theory or speculation. The most effective cult doctrines are those which are unverifiable and unevaluable.

Mark: The SGI claims that their believers are the only Nichiren Lotus Sutra believers capable of obtaining Buddhahood, going so far to claim that all SGI members are Buddhas while those of the Nichiren Shu and Kempon Hokke are “deluded Shakyamuni worshippers”.

Robin: First, all religions (Christian, Islam, Judaism and even their subdivisions Catholic vs Protestant, Orthodox vs unorthodox, etc) claim that they are the one true path to heaven, the promised land, etc and the others are deluded, so this doesn’t automatically indicate a cult.

Mark: There are two general schools of thought within most religions, pluralism and exclusivism. The SGI is neither animal nor bird, it is a bat. Privately it eschews other religions but publically it celebrates interfaith, contrary to the teachings of Nichiren. It is their claim to absolute truth at the expense of the Nichiren Gohonzon and the orthodox believers that distinguishes it as a cult. More importantly the lack of actual proof in the lives of SGI leaders and members, despite your unverifiable and unevaluable testimonials, proves that it is a cult.

Robin: Second, from a brief look at most Nichiren sects (including your blog) there seems to be the same view that people should quit the SGI as they won’t find enlightenment under these false teachings and instead follow the correct Buddhism of our sect.

Mark: True about quitting the Soka Gakkai and joining the Kempon Hokke, and "from a brief look at my blog", it might seem that we endorse all disciples and believers of Nichiren to join the Kempon Hokke. From a deeper look and what the Kempon Hokke actually teaches, it is not the Nichiren sect one belongs to but the doctrines upheld and the behavior of the individual. It is a stretch to call the Soka Gakkai a Nichiren sect or SGI members Nichiren Buddhists since you fail to follow many of the tenets of Nichiren and as a group, especially SGI top leaders, you exhibit extremely poor behavior.

Robin: Finally, you have a new post on May 12 that says SGI teachings are dangerous to kids because an online SGI quiz asks “Who is a Buddha?” with the answer “Everyone”. Surely to support this 2nd cult point, the answer should be “Only SGI members”.

Mark: This was not the point of the article although I do indeed possess statements by Ikeda and his leaders where it is either explicit or implied that SGI members are Buddhas to the exclusion of others. The point of the article was that teaching children that "everyone is a Buddha" is dangerous because it will place an indiscriminately trusting child in danger. Were it even true that all SGI members were Buddhas, why the background checks of those who would lead and teach children?

Robin "Nichiren" Buddhist of the Ikeda Sect Responds (1)

Robin "Nichiren" Buddhist of the Ikeda Sect responds to the post, The Soka Gakkai is a Destructive Cult by Definition:

1). Destructive cults actively recruit new members, often through deceptive “front” organization

Robin: Many thanks for responding to my post. I’ll try and respond to your points as best I can. I’ve had a quick look at your blog to try and familiarize myself with your beliefs.

I found it a little difficult to search around your site though and while some people may look forward to all the SGI / IKEDA posts, I have enjoyed reading the articles I’ve come across that focus specifically on the LOTUS SUTRA and would genuinely like to know more about the BASICS of Kempon Hokke, but as the blog seems predominantly anti-SGI, it’s hard to find the basics of your faith and practice. As a gentle suggestion, it might be an idea to add labels to your posts, so that people can find SGI, LOTUS or KEMPON posts more easily.

Mark: The basics of the Kempon Hokke are the same Three Treasures and Three Great Secret Laws as taught by Nichiren Daishonin and the principle of the Transmission Through the Scrolls of the Sutra [Gohonzon and Twenty--Eight Chapter Lotus Sutra] and Writings of Nichiren Daishonin. We Chant the Daimoku, Namu Myoho renge kyo and recite the Second and 16th Chapters of the Lotus Sutra as prescribed by Nichiren:

Robin: Personally, as an enquiring mind, I would much rather have the facts of your religion and then decide for myself what to believe in rather than just be continually told why I shouldn’t believe in something else.

Mark: The writing, Establishment of the Correct Law for the Peace of the Land teaches, "Rather than offering up ten thousand prayers for remedy, it would be better simply to outlaw this one evil."

The facts of our religion are easy to research and readily appreciated through our faith and practice. Outlawing the "one great evil" of the Soka Gakkai is a difficult endeavor. Our struggle with the Fuji sects is no less serious and profound than Nichiren's struggle with the Pure Land and Shingon: http://kemponhokke.blogspot.com/2012/01/time-circumstance-and-teachings-kempon.html

Robin: While the anti-SGI stuff may attract a lot of support from like-minded people, it may turn off some people that are actually interested in learning the differences between the Nichiren Sects and deciding for themselves which one is teaching the true Buddhism of the Lotus Sutra. Countless examples of why the SGI is wrong, is not proof that Kempon Hokke is right and may turn away the very audience you are hoping to reach.

Mark: Several points: At this time, we are far more concerned about quality and preserving the correct teachings than we are with numbers. The spread of the true teachings will last as long as the Latter Day, for ten thousand years and more and the number of faithful believers, according to Nichiren [at least for the forseeable future], will be less than the amount of dirt that can fit on a fingernail; we are growing at a rate of hundreds of percent a year and our members are not drawn solely from the SGI, the Nichiren Shoshu, and the Nichiren Shu. We are attracting new members, with little or no background in Nichiren's Lotus Sutra Buddhism who are as fresh as the first blossoms of spring.;I advise you to worry more about the deeply flawed teachings of the Ikeda Cult that is hemorrhaging members than the Pure and Perfect teachings of the Kempon Hokke that is experiencing steady growth.

1). The SGI has the Boston Research Center, the Institute for Oriental Philosophy, and others where their affiliation to SGI is rarely if ever mentioned.

Robin: The Boston Research Center is now called the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue and the Institute for Oriental Philosophy mentions its association with the SGI on its UK homepage and the history page of the IOP Japan page. Maybe these have just been updated since your post on May 12.

Mark: The SGI also has dozens, if not hundreds, of deceptive front organizations, some that you might be familiar with, such as Victory Over Violence, and others that I'm sure even you are not familiar with, for example: SGI has several charter schools in the United States where even some of the teachers don't know that they are funded and sponsored by the Soka Gakkai; Artists for Peace and Justice; the Japanese equivalent of our 7/11 chain; travel agencies; recording studios; iShining and Phiten products; PCE International; and The Shachokai, a group which consists of CEOs from SG front companies; the World Poetry Society; and here's a list of Soka Gakkai owned companies:

http://antisgi.blog124.fc2.com/blog-entry-4.html

Not to mention their association [cemetary business, banking etc.] with the largest defense contractor in Japan, the Mitsubitchi corporation.

The SGI is a Destructive Cult by Definition

The SGI is a Destructive Cult by Definition

1). Destructive cults actively recruit new members, often through deceptive “front” organizations.

The SGI has the Boston Research Center, the Institute for Oriental Philosophy, Human Rights Education Research association, 7/11 [hehe] and others where their affiliation to SGI is rarely if ever mentioned.

2).Destructive cults claim to offer absolute Truth. Their teachings are not (to them) mere theory or speculation. The most effective cult doctrines are those which are unverifiable and unevaluable.

The SGI claims that their believers are the only Nichiren Lotus Sutra believerscapable of obtaining Buddhahood, going so far to claim that all SGI members are Buddhas while those of the Nichiren Shu and Kempon Hokke, for example, are “deluded Shakyamuni worshippers”.

3).Destructive cults reduce everything to a bi-polar attitude: “for us, or against us.”

Anyone who criticizes the SGI, no matter how wise, is a fool and anyone who praises the SGI,no matter how foolish, is wise. Daisaku Ikeda writes, for example:

“Seven years have passed since then. The outcome of the struggle of good and evil and the workings of the law of cause and effect have been strict and uncompromising. The decline of the crazed and destructive Nichiren Shoshu is clearly apparent. The victims, unfortunately, are the la ybelievers who practice with the temple, who are not aware of Nichiren Shoshu’s evil and have been deceived by the priests.”

4).Destructive cults generate some kind of external “pet devil” with which to threatentheir members if they should doubt, or fail, or ever leave the group.

The SGI has dozens of  “pet devils”. Those who leave will have misfortune on their jobs, in their families, in the social lives,have accidents, fall into hell, etc. President Toda stated: “If you keep this up, you’re going to cometo a pitiful end in life.” and “Betraying the Soka Gakkai is betraying the Daishonin. In the end, they’ll receive the punishment of the Buddha, you’ll see.” Ikeda says, “To take action to fight against whatever forces appear as the enemies of the Soka Gakkai is our most noble mission.” Matilda Buck says, “How tragic it would be for even one person to have found the great means of bringing forthBuddhahood only to be diverted to another, seemingly similar, path that is incapable of leading thatindividual to his or her deepest happiness.” This is the jist of the Gakkai’s attempt to chain themembers to the Gakkai way of life. The Biggest ”pet devil” is Nikken of the Nichiren Shoshu:

“When Buddhism speaks of “devilish functions,” what does that really mean? These represent whatever tries to prevent us from advancing in our Buddhist practice. In a sense, they are frightened when we expand the Buddha?s forces, because the realm they want to control will the nbe changed into a pure land. In our case right now, this function is being manifested in the currenthigh priest of Nichiren Shoshu.”

5).Destructive cults lead their members to believe they are somehow superior to all other humans on the earth.

In many of Daisaku Ikeda’s speeches we see how the SGI members are to view themselves:

“Sons of the Gakkai”,

“Inheritors of Myoho”,

“Lions of the Mystic Law”,

“The sole group of true believers”,

“Truly praiseworthy are you who resolve to work hard for kosen-rufu and the SGI. You are the most noble of all people.”

6).Destructive cults put the will of the group above the will of the individual. This is often reinforced with simplistic games or rituals of some type designed to make the individual subservient to the group.

If you search, you will find such quotes from the eternal Soka Gakkai mentor, “the Soka Gakkai is more important than my life.” We also see the special Soka Gakkai holidays like May 3rd, day of mentor and disciple, and such slogans as, “reaffirming the prime point of the Soka Gakkai”

We see inordinate references to Soka Gakkai, SGI, and Ikeda in nearly every experience given by an SGI member. There used to be dress and hair (short) and beard(none) codes for the SGI Young Men’s Division and on saturdays everyone had to dress in whitepants and white tee-shirts.7).

7).Destructive cults teach that the end justifies the means.

How they misuse upaya (expedient means) is a travesty. Flirtatious shakabuku by young women’s division, telling peoplethey can get new cars and even drugs if the chant, teaching people that they will immediatelybecome Buddhas if they join the SGI, and the list goes on and on how they utilize the ends justifythe means philosophy of Machiavelli, the antithesis of the Buddha’s teachings.

8).Destructive cults teach strict obedience to superiors and encourage the developmentof behavior patterns that are similar to those of the leader.

Is there any doubt why the SokaGakkai is known throughout the ten directions as the Ikeda cult? Guidance division, never criticizing leaders, “follow no matter what”, this is so apparent to everyone but the brainwashed SGI memberhimself. Lately, the SGI has abandoned any subtle pretense with such overt youth division guidelinesas, “

Reveal your true identity as Shinichi Yamamoto” and “I want to be ShinichiYamamoto”

9).Destructive cults offer acceptance by the group for good performance, and conversely,withhold it for poor performance.

Moving up the ladder from Jr Group Chief, to Group Chief, toDistrict Chief, to Chapter Chief, to Area Chief, to Territory Chief, to Joint Territory Chief and so on.Busting people from their position or moving them at the leaders will.

10).In destructive cults, fear is a major motivator. Guilt is a close second, and shame isthird. Only the cult leader is perfect, so everyone below is fearful that those above willfind out their shortcomings. Cult members feel constantly guilty for having those real or imagined shortcomings, and are ashamed that they haven’t worked harder to get rid of them.

“Never talk about your problems to the members until they are resolved.”

“Did you know that so and so got hit by a car and is paralyzed. He should have stayed with the Soka Gakkai.”

“She turned in her SGI Gohonzon and lost her job and her house.”

“He committed suicide not soon after joining the Nikken sect.”

11).Destructive cult members swing from emotional highs, to emotional lows regularly. Lows are not long tolerated, and result in more indoctrination, or even ejection from the group if they last too long.

Here are some examples of SGI speech used to control their members: “You have weak faith.”. ‘You had better go for guidance if you want to resolve that problem”. Rumors to stay away from depressed individuals. Not inviting less than enthusiastic members to certain meetings or not telling them about “important” meetings. Lectures about “emotionalism”, [unless the emotion is rapture about the SGI and the mentor]. Every last former SGI cult member will attest to this.

12).Destructive cults tend to re-write their members’ past, manipulate their present, and distort their future. Disrupting time orientation is an honored technique of all such cults.

Human Revolution, New Human Revolution, New New Human Revolution. Need I say more?

13).And, finally, there is never a legitimate reason for leaving a destructive cult. The only reason members leave a perfect system, is because they are imperfect in some respect and will be punished for it.

“He was angry.”

“He was jealous.”

"He couldn’t get along with his leader.”

“He had weak faith.”

(even if "he" continues to chant three hours a day and does shakabuku with the Nichiren Shu or the Kempon Hokke). “No matter which destructive cult you choose, the above 13 items will almost universally apply".

The author of these 13 points [whose name escapes me] then goes on to conclude: Study the methods of est, LaRouche, Transcendental Meditation, Truth Station, Soka Gakkai, TheWay International, Children of God, Temple of Set, Synanon, Scientology ®, The Peoples Temple, Unification Church, Hare Krishnas, House of Judah, Ramtha, Garbage Eaters, Rajneesh, ECK, ChurchUniversal and Triumphant, Elan Vital, Posse Comitatus, or any of the others…. they use the same techniques, even though each of them claims unique and absolute ownership of the “truth.”

They [SGI leaders and Nichiren Shoshu priests] are puffed up with arrogance

Nichiren Daishonin writes:

"Those who call themselves my disciples and practice the Lotus Sutra should all practice as I do. If they do, Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, Shakyamuni's emanations throughout the ten directions, and the ten demon daughters will protect them." On Establishing the Four Bodisattvas as the Object of Devotion WND, 978

Let us put it this passage into context, first with the entierty of this writing and then with the entierty of Nichiren's Gosho. Two salient points of the writing, On Establishing the Four Bodhisattvas as the Object of Worship, I would like to bring out [to validate my assertions about the SGI teachings].

Another passage reads,

"In your letter you asked: "You have told me that an object of

devotion should be made of Shakyamuni Buddha of the essential

teaching, who attained enlightenment in the remote past, attended by

the four bodhisattvas who sprang from the earth and who have been his

disciples since that remote past. If this is correct, when is such an

object of devotion to be established? "

The SGI denies that the object of devotion is is Lord Shakyamuni of the essential teachings. This is not practicing as Nichiren did.

Finally, Ncihiren writes in the concluding paragraphs,

"You also mentioned in your letter that the people connected with

Ota Jomyo are apparently saying that the theoretical teaching of the

 Sutra can in no way lead to enlightenment. They are making a

sLotuserious mistake. Remember this about the theoretical and essential

teachings of the Lotus Sutra: Which is shallow and which profound,

which superior and which inferior, which lenient and which severe,

and which subordinate and which primary must be judged in accordance

with the time and the people's capacity. There are three periods in

which the sacred teachings of the Buddha's lifetime should be

propagated; the people's capacity should be thought of in the same

way.

In the first five hundred years of the Former Day of the Law

following the Buddha's passing, only Hinayana teachings spread, while

in the next five hundred years, provisional Mahayana teachings

spread. The thousand years of the Middle Day of the Law saw the rise

of the theoretical teaching. In the beginning of the Latter Day of

the Law, only the essential teaching spreads, but even so, the

theoretical teaching should not be discarded. Nowhere in the entire

Lotus Sutra do we find a passage suggesting that we should discard

the first fourteen chapters, which comprise the theoretical teaching.

When we distinguish between the theoretical and the essential

teachings on the basis of the threefold classification of the entire

body of the Buddha's teachings, the pre- Lotus Sutra teachings were

to be spread in the Former Day, and the theoretical teaching, in the

Middle Day, but the Latter Day is the time to propagate the essential

teaching. In the present period the essential teaching is primary,

while the theoretical teaching is subordinate. But those who

therefore discard the latter, saying it is not the way to

enlightenment, and believe only in the former, have not yet

understood the doctrine of Nichiren's true intention. Theirs is a

completely distorted view.

This doctrine concerning the theoretical and essential teachings is

not my own [but was expounded by the Buddha]. Those who would distort

it can only be possessed by the heavenly devil, or Papiyas, and will

topple others along with themselves into the great citadel of the

hell of incessant suffering. How foolish they are! Teach this

doctrine to others clearly as I have taught you these many years.

Those who call themselves my disciples and practice the Lotus Sutra

should all practice as I do. If they do, Shakyamuni, Many Treasures,

Shakyamuni's emanations throughout the ten directions, and the ten

demon daughters will protect them. Yet, for all that, [some people

associated with Ota Jomyo distort the teaching]. I cannot fathom what

could be in their minds.

The priest Nichigyo's [Sammibo's] death was indeed pitiful. I recited

the Lotus Sutra and chanted Nam-myoho-renge- kyo for him here in

Minobu, sincerely praying to Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, and the

Buddhas of the ten directions to receive him on Eagle Peak. I have

not yet recovered from my illness, so I have written only briefly. I

will write to you again."

The SGI teaches the Nichikan doctrine: "We chant the Juryo-hon to smash the Hoben-pon and we chant the Daimoku to smash the Juryo-hon." They also teach, for example:

"Although LS and Gosho are great teachings, they are limited to

certain countries (Asian countries) and certain era (India 6

centuries BC, or 13th century Japan). It may need some explanations

and interpretations in applying their principles to modern times and

to other countries, such as Western countries and Africa. The person

who is doing this unprecedented task is SGI President Ikeda. With

his Ichinen and wisdom, Nichiren Daishonin's teachings has spread

to 14 million people in 128 countries. President Ikeda is the mentor

for our Buddhist practice. There is no other person in the world who

can do this. . . . KHS members assert that LS and Gosho can be

understood clearly by reading and interpreting as they are. This is

an arrogant attitude. When someone falls into arrogance that he/she

can understand everything by him/herself, the individual growth

stops and he/she will fail to attain enlightenment. Buddhism is

profound. No matter how many years we practice, still we always

make new discoveries when we read Sensei's lectures and

speeches."

Nichiren says we can not even abandon the Theroetical section of the Lotus Sutra but here, the SGI teaches that the Lotus Sutra only applies to 6th Century India while the Lotus Sutra itself says it applies to to the entire world [Jambudvipa] and in this time period -- Lotus Sutra Chapters 13, 14, 15, 21, 22 and 23.

In asserting that the Lotus Sutra is too difficult and not applicable to us, this teaching is no different than those of the Nembutsu and Zen founders. In the Opening of the Eyes, Nichiren writes:

"Great Concentration and Insight says: "If one lacks faith [in the

Lotus Sutra], one will object that it pertains to the lofty realm of

the sages, something far beyond the capacity of one's own wisdom to

comprehend. If one lacks wisdom, one will become puffed up with

arrogance and will claim to be the equal of the Buddha."

As far as being puffed up with arrogance, we read:

"...Buddhism is a teaching of mentor and disciple, expounding as it

does the oneness of the Buddha (mentor) and living beings (disciples). "

"Encounter With a Mentor" World Tribune, Jun 25, 1999 PAGE 7

In other SGI writings they make the claim that all SGI members are Buddhas while, in reality, the members are treated as anything but Buddhas by their senior in faith.

There are ten epithets of a Buddha used in the Lotus Sutra: Worshipful. All Wise, Perfectly Enlightened in Conduct, Understander of the World, Peerless Leader, Controller, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, Tathagata. Would a Buddha say to another Buddha, "you lack faith" or "you ask too many questions, like Sharihotsu"? Why would a Buddha need guidance? Since when do Buddhas receive guidance from other Buddhas? When a Buddha expounds his teachings they are all true without a single exception. Every last Buddha has their own retinue of disciples and believers. Thus there is no need for a centralized organization of Buddhas since each one is autonomous and creates their own organization of believers.

If you compare the way the SGI and the Kempon Hokke treats their members, you will see that the Kempon Hokke comes much closer to the ideal of treating their members as Buddhas, with all the faith, wisdom, and respect accorded to a Buddha.

As promised, here are some similar passages to the one cited by the SGI member at the top of this letter.

"If you are of the same mind as Nichiren, you must be a Bodhisattva

of the Earth." (The True Aspect of All Phenomena)

"In the same way, one who chants the Daimoku as the Lotus Sutra

teaches will never have a twisted mind." (MW vol 5, Letter to

Myomitsu Shonin, pg 196)

"They entirely look up to groups of icchantikas and rely on them as

leaders and, reverencing blasphemers against the Dharma, make them

national teachers. Taking up the Classic Filial Piety of Confucious,

they beat their parents' heads and, while chanting the Lotus Sutra of

Lord Shakya with their mouths, they go against the Master of

teachings." (Letter to Tonsured Layman Soya).

"Those who practice Buddhism but adhere to distorted views destroy

this loftiest of Sutras." (MW vol 5, Reply to Soya Nyudo, pg 164).

Can You Believe it?

A high ranking Ikeda sect member, Tim Janakos-Kobayashi, invited me to  "Free Energetic Emotional Healing Sessions.". I wrote him back, asking him if he stopped chanting the Daimoku. Myo is to revive. Of what use is a lantern when the sun rises? SGI is nothing but a new age claptrap of a religion which appropriates the Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra but which breeds deluded men.

yasahara

SGI member: “After consistent practice over 24 years and the just as consistent demonstration and proof of the power of the practice both conspicuous (material) and inconspicuous benefit I feel compelled to tell you that SGI is correct in using “Tactful” means of offering practitioners the promise of material gain and benefit. Further to that it is absolutely the birthright of any human to openly benefit from the infinite abundance of the Universe. Your view is limited and ultimately both judgmental and pessimistic. The idea of course is to understand by gaining material that it is not the source of happiness in and of itself but that those who are aware or awake to their Buddha nature will want for nothing and can fulfill their desires. There is no “sin” other than to not live our lives and as fully as we can.”

killianyacht@hotmail.com

Joseph

Response: Your benefits are miniscule compared to the devotees that practice as the Lotus sutra and Nichiren Daishonin teach. Try practicing as Nichiren did and you will experience the real benefit of the Lotus Sutra.

Here is the real reality of SGI “benefits”:

Shortly after the temporary Community Center opened on Park Avenue and 17th street (1979?), I went to a Young Men’s Division meeting on Saturday. The purpose of the meeting was to make our personal determinations for the future and to present them to Pres. Ikeda. We wrote down one or two line determinations in a binder-type book, one after the other. The meeting opened and, to my surprise, every determination was read. I was uplifted by the determinations. They were so lofty: US senators; judges; congressmen; doctors; lawyers; artists; musicians; and a few teachers, “for Kosen Rufu and for Sensei”. Final encouragement was given by Mr. Kasahara. The jist of what he said was to chant and do lots of activities and we would all realize our dreams without fail. At the end of the meeting, I’ll never forget, this Japanese senior leader going around and shaking hands very vigorously saying, “Ah!, future senator, future congressman, future doctor, for President Ikeda, neh?”

I’ll never forget the animated conversation I had with my best friend at the time after the meeting. I’m sorry if he reads this post and is offended but it is very instructive in terms of the truth of the SGI. He determined to become a US Senator. He told me he applied to become one of the “Who’s Who” of American Youth, and he determined to do so and was encouraged by his leaders to do so, so it would happen. It mattered nothing that he had accomplished little outside of the SGI. He even held on to his dream of becoming a US Senator for a time. He had attained the level of YMD headquarters chief, but he could barely hold on to a job for more than several months at a time, let alone finish college. He says he’s doing great, but to me, the SGI is just a fantasy land of broken dreams.

You will see replies to this post that this was an isolated example but if we delve into the history and the actuality of these young men, we will see that of the ~ 150 young men at the meeting, it would be safe to say, 120 stopped practicing with the SGI during the last 29 years. That leaves somewhere around 30 who continue to practice. Of those 30 how many have gone on to achieve a modicum of success (actual proof being touted by the SGI as the only reliable proof of a teaching)? How many have gone on to become senators, congressmen, judges, doctors, lawyers, accomplished artists or musicians, noted scientists, teachers, etc? To my knowledge, not one has gone on to become a senator, congressman or judge. Perhaps one or two has gone on to become a doctor or lawyer and there were conceivably a few who had gone on to become respected teachers, artists, scientists etc. But out of this handful of “successful” people, how many realized their determinations from that day in 1979? From what I’ve witnessed, the “actual proof” attained by these SGI practitioners was actually worse than the “actual proof” attained by those that stopped practicing or by a similar cohort who never practiced. For example, take any group of 150 highly motivated young men. One would expect that at least ten to twenty percent would go on to realize their determinations. But through the SGI faith and practice, probably less than five percent realized their dreams. However many (or few) there are, this is hardly the universal actual proof that the SGI espouses.

The bottom line is, there is no actual proof in the “Buddhism” of the SGI, regardless of how persuasively and aggressively the practitioners would have you believe. They have distorted the teachings of the Eternal Shakyamuni, the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin. How could they demonstrate actual proof?

You really misunderstand the heart of the Lotus Sutra and the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin and the principle of abandoning expedients. Perhaps, I can help you but I doubt it. You have learned little in your 24 years in the Soka Gakkai. All the same, I will try.

SGI member: You can chant for anything you like, the purpose of chanting is to fullfill your every desire.

Shakabuku: Really? I always wanted a Cadillac Sevlle and a pretty girlfriend.

SGI member: You can chant for ANYTHING you want. The purpose of chanting is to accumulate actual proof in your life so you can demonstrate the benefits of chanting to your family and friends and create world peace.

Shakabuku: That sounds great, I think I will give it a try.

Two years later, the shakabuku has just totaled his shiny new Cadillac and his pretty girlfriend ran away with the district chief. He is devastated and he quits chanting.

This is a scenario that is all too common among the members of the SGI and is one of the reasons, of the more than 500,000 people in the USA who came to SGI Buddhism in the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s, less than 35,000 have persevered in their practice.

Lets take the SGI teachings literally:

You chant to fulfill your desires. Your desires are fulfilled. By fulfiilling your desires you attain Enlightenment. What is it that is permanent in this world? A car? A girlfriend? A house? Good health? Good friends? Joy? Nothing. There is nothing that is permanent. Everything and everybody is as ephemeral as the dew on the grass. Nevertheless, the SGI says chant for this and chant for that and this is the purpose of Buddhism.

An SGI member concisely sums up the SGI teachings:

“Actual attachments are the source of enlightenment. Don’t confuse Mahayana with Hinayana Buddhism. We all have desires and it is within the scope of Buddhism to fufill them in order to deepen our faith in the effectiveness of this practice.”

Question: What is the source or cause of Enlightenment, according to the SGI?

Answer: “Attachments” according to Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism are but temporary phenomena yet, according to the SGI, attachments fulfill ones desires and leads to Enlightenment. We have already seen that one aspect of phenomena is impermanence. Therefore, there is nothing that one can attach oneself to permanently. Furthermore, to attach oneself to anything, since all things are impermanent, can not lead to the attainment of the awakened state of Enlightenment which is absolute and permanent.

The awakened state clearly perceives, among other things, the impermanence of all phenomena and no other perception that characterizes the Enlightened state invalidates the truth of temporary existence. Even the truth of the Middle Way does not invalidate the truth of temporary existence. Therefore, it is absolutely useless to rely on attachments (impermanence) to arrive at the sublime life state of Enlightenment. The Daishonin states:

“It is said in the Nirvana Sutra:’ Before listening to the Lotus Sutra we had all been of evil views.’ Grand Master Miao-le explains this in his Fa-hua hsuan-i shih-chi’en; ‘ The Buddha himself called his pre-Lotus Three Teachings (zokyo, tsugyo and bekkyo) evil. ‘ Tientai citing the words of the Nirvana Sutra just mentioned, says in his Mo-ho Chih-kuan (Great Concentration and Insight): They called themselves evil. Isn’t “evil” bad? ‘ Miao-le explains this in his commentary on the Mo-ho Chih-kuan:

‘Evil means “wicked.” Therefore we must know that only the engyo (perfect teaching) among the Four Teachings is correct. But it has two meanings. First, it means that following the “perfect teaching” (engyo) while rejecting the remaining three is correct, and rejecting the “perfect teaching” while following the three is erroneous. THIS IS A RELATIVE POINT OF VIEW (caps me).

Secondly it means that attachment to the “perfect teaching” is considered erroneous while detachment from it is correct. This is an absolute point of view in which there is no difference in the eyes of the Buddha between the “perfect teaching” and the remaining three of the so-called Four Teachings. Either way, we have to stay away from error. It is bad to attach ourselves to the “perfect teaching,” how much worse it is to attach ourselves to the Three Teachings!” (The Opening of the Eyes).

What is it that the Daishonin means, in practical terms? He means that if we attach ourselves to some desire, any desire, one can not attain the sublime life state of Buddha. Let me give you a few examples, albeit extreme examples that are derived directly from SGI’s and the SGI member’s assertions above:

One man is attached to eating. He chants to be able to eat the most sumtpuous food whenever he wishes, in order to prove the validity of the practice. The person will surely realize this desire, according to the SGI. He eats until he is 600 lbs. He develops diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. The practice is proven according to the SGI, the person attatches himself to his desire to eat and through chanting and realizing this desire, he thus attains Enlightenment.

What really happens is that, instead of leading to Enlightenment, attaching himself to his desire, he gets sick and becomes a poor example of a Buddhist.

Another person loves to chant the Daimoku. He attaches himself to chanting the Daimoku in order to attain Enlightenment. He determines to chant the Daimoku continuously and realizes his desire by chanting ten or more hours a day. Once again, according to the SGI, he proves the validity of the practice.

The reality is that he disproves the practice despite realizing his desire. He skips meals, fails to talk with the wife, and begins missing work. He gets divorced and is layed off from work.

By forming attachments, according to the SGI, one obtains enlightenment but, as we see, the actual reality is that attachment leads to misery. The Lotus Sutra, the Buddhas throughout the Three Existences, and Nichiren Daishonin teach that attatchments lead to suffering but why then, does the SGI teach otherwise?

There are several reasons: They misunderstand Buddhism; they emphasize quantity rather than quality; they have huge egos and thinking themselves wiser than Buddha Shakyamuni and Nichiren Daishonin; and their leaders are deluded.

In the end, not one person has ever attained Buddhahood through the SGI teachings.

Lastly, the SGI is as phony as a three dollar bill and as duplicitous as those who espouse republican right wing family values:

Speaking to SGI members:

“Make Full Use of Your Attachments” — Lectures on the Hoben and Juryo Chapters of the Lotus Sutra by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

But when speaking to the intellectual community:

“The more one is able to solidify a “mind of goodness,” the more he or she overcomes attachment to earthly desires and develops a “mind of peace.” — Dr Yoichi Kowada, the Director of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy speaking at the Fourth World Public Forum Dialogue of Civilizations in Rhodes, Greece

“Nichiren writes:

“I, Nichiren, have never prayed for the benefit of this lifetime alone. I pray only for the realization of Buddhahood.”  He also says, “However, I always pray for your sake, Shijo Kingo, because you are one who inherits the life of the Buddha, the life of the Lotus Sutra” and "No matter how earnestly Nichiren prays for you, if you lack faith, it will be like trying to set fire to wet tinder".

"No matter how earnestly Nichiren prays for you, if you lack faith, it will be like trying to set fire to wet tinder" which is from The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren never wrote that and I will change it post haste.

Nichiren never prayed for Shijo Kingo’s profit, for a better income or higher social status. What he does say is,”I always pray for your sake.” When Nichiren says,”for you sake”, he prays for the sake of Shijo Kingo’s life in the true, ultimate sense. Shijo Kingo was in the midst of an extremely difficult situation when he received this writing from Nichiren (his fellow samurai were jealous of the close relationship he shared with Lord Ema, their over-lord, so they tried to persuade Lord Ema to punish Shijo Kingo and force him to abandon his practice of faith. As a result, Lord Ema threatened to confiscate Shijo Kingo’s property unless he gave up his faith.)

Even during this horrible time, he does not pray for Shijo Kingo’s material advancement, but he does pray deeply for his sake, for his security. In other writings, Nichiren criticized priests who concentrated on the material gain or benefit of their believers. He taught that such teachings are not of the True Law. In “Letter to Hoshina Goro Taro Nyudo: Nichiren says: “Today, priests such as Zendo, Honen, and the others, deceive ignorant priests and lay believers by displaying magical skills, thereby destroying faith in the true teaching of the Buddha. The followers of the Shingon sect are especially guilty of stressing benefit only for today, only for this lifetime. They worship various kinds of animals in order to bring about love between male and female, or to gain property, wealth and status. They value such superficial bits of proof. If you think that their teachings are superior to other teachings because of this sort of proof, then you should know they are inferior to even the heretical teachings in India.”

Question: What about the Gosho “Earthly Desires Are Enlightenment”, it contains the phrase “In a practical sense, the doctrine of ‘earthly desires are enlightenment’ indicates that the mundane cravings of the individual, when tempered by faith in the True Law, become the fuel for enlightenment.”

Answer: This is wrong. It is a Soka Gakkai/NST doctrine, not a Nichiren Doctrine. Seeing the words “in a practical sense” in SGI/NST publications, whether in the writings themselves or their commentaries, is seeing a red flag – you should read on with great caution. From what I see, both SGI and NST view orthodox doctrine as theoretical and inapplicable to “modern” life while viewing their “more practical” teachings as something that people today can understand and use to “create value” in their lives.

Their “practical” but false explanations of the teaching is proof of their widespread misunderstanding of the Lotus Sutra and the writings of Nichiren Daishonin. A good example is found in their view of the popular writing they call, “Earthly Desires Are Enlightenment”.

In reality, Nichiren Shonin did not give a title to this writing, and if you read it carefully, you will see that the writing could just as easily be called, “The Sufferings of Birth and Death Are Nirvana.” If you find the “Sufferings of Birth and Death Are Nirvana” not as appealing as “Earthly Desires Are Enlightenment”, that should be an indication to you that you have a misunderstanding of Nichiren Shonin’s teachings.

Part of the Lotus Sutra that you recite reads: “Isshin yok-ken butsu Fu ji shaku shinmyo”, which means that, with one, solid mind we sincerely deeply long to see the Buddha – to find the Buddha. To pray in this way continually is the meaning of prayer. A prayer for material desires must, by definition, be shallow, because it is a prayer concerned with that which is transient. Someone who longs today for a Mercedes Benz may want a BMW tomorrow. Affairs such as these change so easily. Material desires are ever-changing and never-ending but the prayer to see and manifest the state of the deathless unchanging reality of Buddhahood should always be always in our hearts. Not all people recognize it or understand it but, from the time we were born and before, the prayer of “yearning to see the Buddha” has always been in our lives. That is why we are able to feel such joy by chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo. The existence of this prayer in the depths of our lives is the reason we are capable of praying with the strength of producing fire by rubbing wet wood together, or reaching the water of the Buddha’s mercy by digging through dry earth. To feel this real prayer and to realize the genuine benefit of faith in our lives, we need strong, persistent, unbroken prayer for Buddhahood.

Nichiren states, “Even if the sun rises in the west, the prayers of the devotee of the Lotus Sutra could never be unanswered“.

“The devotee of the Lotus Sutra” will be able to call forth this ultimate prayer in his or her life. This real prayer will give us the steady life we long for; we will no longer be sometimes joyous, sometimes depressed. The aspects of a devotee’s life – those phenomena that are both discernable and conspicuous or those things referred to as “benefit” and “loss” will then manifest to best serve the life of Buddha within [the non-discernable and inconspicuous]. In the writing, The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren writes, "No matter how earnestly Nichiren prays for you, if you lack faith, it will be like trying to set fire to wet tinder

I am sure that you SGI or NST members sometimes have been engaged in campaigns to chant one million Daimoku in order to get some sort of “actual proof” of the Gohonzon’s power – a nice apartment or house, a new job, a husband or wife, etc. It may be of interest for you to know that Nikko and Nichimoku Shonin strictly forbade such practices of “testing” the Gohonzon. At any rate, whether or not one’s wish is fulfilled, after completing such practices, does not provide evidence of “actual proof” of Nichiren’s teachings since such prayers are not the prayers of the devotees of the Lotus Sutra.

Please understand that I am not saying that desires are wrong in and of themselves. For instance, someone may long to live in a beautiful penthouse apartment. It is possible for someone to enjoy that kind of wish as long as he or she is not consumed by desire [attached] and does not confuse such wishes with prayers.

Your true virtue as a human being who chants the Daimoku can never be replaced by anything – not even good friends, family, or by a perfect relationship between husband and wife. Certainly, your true worth as a human being does not depend on your high standing in society, apartments, houses, cars, jobs or money, as taught in the Soka Gakkai.

We can complete the true meaning of our existence when by fusing our life with the Gohonzon, with the Life of the Eternal Buddha, and with the Lotus Sutra. When we do this our real prayers are manifested and we feel an overwhelming joy and appreciation to the Lotus Sutra. Isn’t that wonderful! When we have this feeling of joy and appreciation to the Lotus Sutra our prayers are answered.”

SGI leader attempting to rationalize SGI’s erroneous interpretation of Earthly Desires are Equal to Enlightenment:

“Yes. To clarify what the Daishonin meant, on the Gohonzon he wrote two names in (medieval) ancient Indian Sanskrit, or Siddham. They are the Buddhist deity Ragaraja, which represents the principle of “earthly desires are enlightenment”, and the Buddhist deity Achala which represents the principle that “the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana.”

Since it’s on the Gohonzon, it’s a very real part of our lives.”

Aizen Myo [Ragaraja]  is The Wisdom King of lusty, passionate, greed]:

“愛柔 明王 {Aizen-myo’o}:

Ai means something like infatuation. The kanji read zen means stained or dyed. Aizen is a translation of raga. It is translated as passion, lust, greed, desire, gluttony, & craving; among other things. I think I like infatuation for raga.

The myo means light, a translation of vidya, meaning objective wisdom. The O is, of course a translation of raja, meaning king. (Skt: Ragaraja) A Buddhist deity who is said to purify people’s afflictions and free them from illusions {hleshas, bonnos} and the sufferings accruing from afflictions. In the esoteric teaching his true identity is regarded as Dainichi (Skt: Mahavairochana) Buddha or Kongosatta (Vajrasattva). Aizen is pictured on the Diamond World mandala and is depicted as being red in color with three eyes, six arms and a furious expression. In his hand he has a bow and arrows. His name is inscribed in Siddha, a medieval Sanskrit orthography, on the left-hand side of the Gohonzon as one faces it, signifying the principle that afflictions are enlightenment (Jap: bonno soku bodai). -- Source: A Dictionary of Buddhist Terms and Concepts. NSIC: Tokyo. 1983. 1990.

Other meanings of aizen:

[Basic Meaning:] impassioned; To be caught by desire/attachment(Skt. rakta, saṃrakta, amiṣa; Tib. chags pa; kun tu chags pa) [cmuller; source(s): Nakamura,S.Hodge]; the taint of desire. (Skt. tṛṣṇ�, r�ga, ) [cmuller; source(s): Soothill, Hirakawa]

The Flammarion Iconographic Guide: Buddhism states:

“This Vidyaraja, who is venerated almost exclusively in Japan, is a deity of conception. He is the king of the magic science of attraction or of love. ‘Aizen Myo-o represents in fact the amorous passion as it appears sublimated in the perspective of esotericism: victorious over itself, not by suppression as normally taught, but by a greater exaltation transmuted into a desire for 

Awakening.’ He is sometimes identified with a ferocious form of Vairocana, although he is not one of the five great Vidyarajas. ” (p.213)

The Guide also says:

“Due to his combative force, Fudo is invoked in many circumstances, chiefly against attacks of sickness – not because he is considered as a healer, but as an effective force to combat impurities and demons that cause illness. He is also invoked for protection against persons feared to be harmful and against spells cast by sorcerers. Fudo is also often considered as the defender of Japan against attack from external enemies. For all these reasons, he must be one of the Buddhist deities most often invoked in Japan, and also one of the most popular. The temples and sanctuaries dedicated to him are found throughout the countryside, in cities and at crossroads. Most of these temples belong to the Shingon and Tendai sects. Members of the Nichiren sect also worship him, mainly as the ‘protector of the state’.” (p.208)

“Aizen Myo-o is still venerated by the Japanese, and is often invoked in connection with petitions concerning love. Apart from this, he is not a popular deity except among artists, geishas and others in professions connected with matters of love.” (p.214)

The seed syllable hum http://www.visiblemantra.org/hum.html [the preceding on Aizen Myo found on Robin Beck's blog on Fraught With Peril]

However, we clarify Aizen Myo ["Earthly Desires Are Equal To Enlightenment"] from the perspective of Nichiren’s Lotus Sutra Buddhism and most importantly, the true meaning of the Gohonzon, faith in the Lotus Sutra, and faith in Eternal Buddha:

The SGI’s reliance on Aizen Myo and their misunderstanding of the concept of Earthly Desires Equal Enlightenment [which should read, Delusions Equal to Enlightenment], is equivalent to a separate enshrinement of this deity. It is a great slander of the Law. They misunderstand the very nature of the Gohonzon while the position of The Master of Teachings Lord Shakya of the Original Doctrine of the Lotus Sutra and thus the Gohonzon itself is diminished. This is the fundamental cause for their lack of benefits and their punishment.

Nichiren Daishonin writes:

“For all the beings of this country of Japan the Buddha Shakya is Ruler, Teacher, and Parent. Even the Heavenly Deities, the Five Generations of the Earthly Deities, and the Ninety generations, gods [kami] and humans, of the Human Kings are subordinates of the Buddha Shakya.” [Myoho bikuni gohenji or Reply to Bhikshuni Myoho]

Subordinates refer to retainers or vassels. Aizen Myo or Delusion are Equal to Enlightenment is subordinate to Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter and the Buddha nature of the Amala consciousness. Therefore, earthly desires are subordinate to the Great Desire for Buddhahood and the spread of the True Teachings.

In reply to Various People [Shonen Gohenji] we read:

“The whole of the country of Japan one and all will become the disciples and lay donors of Nichiren. Those who have left the household life among my disciples will become teachers of the Emperor and Retired Emperor. The housholders will be ranged among the Ministers of the Left and of the Right. Or even the whole of Jambudvipa will all revere this doctrine.”

This is why we have priests to clarify the teachings and the danger of those unlearned SGI men and women, those who claim to have attained what they have not, teaching the Lotus Sutra and the meaning of the doctrines of Nichiren Daishonin. The whole of “Give Adoration” [Namu] includes Aizen Myo who gives adoration to Namu Myoho renge kyo.

Therefore, our earthly desires or delusions give way to Namu Myoho renge kyo, not the other way around as taught in the Soka Gakkai. They are confused about the Gohonzon and they are confused about the Buddha. How could they not be confused about everything else. Do not believe them, not about anything. If you want guidance go to the source. Go to the Lotus Sutra and the writings of Nichiren Daishonin and, if you still have questions, seek out a priest who knows the heart of the Sutra.

Let the karmic retribution of many SGI’s top leaders [as well as the theoretical proof proffered here] be a warning to those who follow. It would be better to outlaw the SGI distorted teachings than offer up ten thousand prayers.

****************************

“Anyone who can find the spirit

of Nichiren Daishonin in our group,

please come and join us but please go

anywhere you find any other group

who holds the spirit more than us.”

Greedy Japanese Top Soka Gakkai Leaders

The SGI top senior leaders are law devouring hungry spirits, according to Nichiren Daishonin. They use the Buddhist teachings to gain personal fame and fortune. Though they pretend to have a sincere wish to spread the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, in their hearts, they are greedy and use the offerings they receive from the sincere members to nourish their own bodies and that of their family members.

“Make sure that the participants each bring a bowl and a pair of chopsticks. And ask each person to pack their own lunch, since we can’t afford to provide lunch for them as well. Those who don’t bring any food with them will just have to make do with whatever edible they can find in the surrounding forest. In the future, the Soka Gakkai may experience severe oppression; we may be called on to fight or endure a long, drawn-out struggle. At such time, each person will have to find their own food. We may even have to eat grass. For the sake of training, I would actually have like the youth to spend the night outdoors. I don’t want the members of the Soka Gakkai youth division to be soft.” — Human Revolution by Daisaku Ikeda

That must be why, even after the Soka Gakkai accumulated more than one hundred billion dollars, they still serve the hard working Bodhisattva bees, baloney and mayo sandwiches or rice cakes and biscuits [to allow them the privilege of experiencing the privations of Nichiren Daishonin].

Let’s examine the financial pie chart on the SGI-USA website:

8% [of ~ five billion a year in untaxed revenues] is four hundred million dollars a year for “administrative costs” [if these percentages are true and we know how the Soka Gakkai lies just about everything]. This is a huge percentage for administrative costs. Searching the definition of administrative costs, we find the largest percentage is EXECUTIVE SALARIES!!! Three Hundred Million dollars in salaries [average of 75% of administrative costs] for these so-called Bodhisattvas leaders who, according to Nichiren Daishonin, should “desire little”.

Salaries of Top SGI Inc. Officials as of Fri, 29 Aug 1997

The following information is provided to you courtesy of the Yotsuya Tax Office, Tokyo, Japan.

The declared income of Daisaku Ikeda is listed as follows: (The dollar amounts are listed at the exchange rate of 100 Yen to U.S. $1.00)

1971 – 62,050,000 Yen ($620,500.00)

1972 – 84,340,000 Yen ($843,400.00)

1973 – 113,570,000 Yen ($1,135,700.00)

1974 – 135,330,000 Yen ($1,353,300.00)

1975 – 121,980,000 Yen ($1,219,800.00)

1976 – 78,700,000 Yen ($787,000.00)

1977 – 51,490,000 Yen ($514,900.00)

1978 – 83,350,000 Yen ($833,500.00)

1979 – 34,500,000 Yen ($345,000.00)

1980 – 39,010,000 Yen ($390,100.00)

1981 – 75,030,000 Yen ($750,300.00)

1982 – 57,420,000 Yen ($574,200.00)

From 1983 to 1987, and 1993, the amount of income as calculated from the amount of income tax paid:

1983 – 32,000,000 Yen ($320,000) based on 14,030,000 Yen paid as income tax

1984 – 72,000,000 Yen ($720,000) based on 39,700,000 Yen paid as income tax

1985 – 60,000,000 Yen ($600,000) based on 30,950,000 Yen paid as income tax

1986 – 85,000,000 Yen ($850,000) based on 49,810,000 Yen paid as income tax

1987 – 87,000,000 Yen ($870,000) based on 51,510,000 Yen paid as income tax

1993 – 170,000,000 Yen ($1,700,000) based on 87,150,000 Yen paid as income tax

Income of SGI President, Einosuke Akiya for 1993 calculated from the amount of income tax paid: 55,260,000 Yen ($552,600), based on 18,420,000 Yen paid as income tax.

Income of SGI Vice President, Norimasa Yahiro for 1993 as calculated from the amount of income tax paid: 52,830,000 Yen ($528,300), based on 17,610,000 Yen paid as income tax.

Income of SGI General Director, Kazuya Morita for 1993 as calculated from the amount of income tax paid: 41,610,000 Yen ($416,100), based on 13,870,000 Yen paid as income tax.

Income of Vice President, Jun Aoki for 1993 as calculated from the amount of income tax paid: 30,720,000 Yen ($307,200), based on 10,240,000 Yen paid as income tax.

Note: There are approximately 200 vice presidents. Even at a salary of U.S. $200,000 each per year, that amounts to $40,000,000.00 (Forty million dollars) paid out of the contributions from members. This does not take into account the numerous other staff salaries. we can only imagine their salaries today.

Now, lets say, for example, you are making $416,000 a year as a salaried top senior leader, a Bodhisattva for hire, so to speak. Your kids are attending the best schools, you have a mortgage of say $4500.00, you have a life insurance premium of $1000.00 per month, and you have other expenses totalling perhaps $10,000.00 per month. You are trained to promote SGI Buddhism and go here and there, lecturing on Ikeda’s guidance and his take on the Daishonin’s teachings. But all of a sudden, while you are doing your one hour of Daimoku a day and studying president Ikeda’s guidance for an hour and the Gosho for twenty minutes, you have a realization that Shakyamuni is in fact the Eternal Buddha.

What do you do? You are not trained to function in the private sector, you aren’t exactly an engineer, or a doctor or a romance novelist. Your children depend on you, your wife depends on you and you have a lifestyle to maintain. Do you do the right thing and begin to teach contrary to the party line, risking your excellent salary that you receive to do the Buddha’s work? The Daishonin clothed himself in deerskins who died a natural death in the forest. He sometimes lived on brachen. Yet he always gave 110%. Something is wrong here and if the SGI members can’t see it, we have to conclude by virtue of their lack of actual proof (insight) that there is validity to the charge of them practicing a false Buddhism and there is brainwashing in the SGI (since they can’t even question the obvious).

“…But if we examine the behavior of the priests of today who supposedly observe the precepts, we find that they hoard silks, wealth, and jewels, and concern themselves with lending money at interest. Since their doctrines and their practices differ so greatly, who would think of putting any faith in them?…” — Establishing the Correct Law For the Peace of the Land

We may rightfully consider the top salaried SGI senior leaders to be priests. They have no jobs other than to teach and spread the Soka philosophy. They teach that one’s behavior as a human being is the way to measure one’s attainments. Then let us look at their behavior. They hoard wealth, receiving exorbitant salaries and benefits to to do the Buddha’s work that Shakyamuni and Nichiren did for free. They [SGI] are the Mitsubitchi bank’s biggest customer, their money invested, lent with interest. They are also Mitsubitchi Banks partner in the cemetary business. They dress in silk and worsted suits and buy their wives expensive jewels.

The SGI then levels criticisms on the Kempon Hokke [and me in particular] for being impolite, stating, “how could you be enlightened exhibiting such poor behavior.”

In the very same Rissho Ankoku Ron, we read:

“It also states: “The Buddha replied: ‘[Bodhisattva] Kashyapa, it is because I was a defender of the correct teaching that I have been able to attain this diamond-like body. . . . Good man, defenders of the correct teaching need not observe the five precepts or practice the rules of proper behavior. Rather they should carry knives and swords, bows and arrows, halberds and lances.’

They who write books on the Dharma for profit, they who publish dharma magazines and newspapers for profit, those preachers, whether layman or priest, who garner exorbitant salaries thanks to the dharma, are worse than the Wall Street profiteers.

These greedy SGI leaders who turn the sublime teachings of the Lotus Flower Sutra into a new age provisional teaching based on precepts, Zen [Bushido], and Shingon [Yuiga Yoga or Ikeda worship] for profit, turning the dharma into their personal ATM, are enemies of the Lotus Sutra. They would be put in prison in an ideal world. Their members like L and CL who judge others but can see neither the ugly faces of their own mentors nor their own, are no better than birds and beasts. They, as their leaders, are leeches who suck the blood of the sincere members and destroy the Dharma.

We of the Kempon Hokke are the modern day defenders of the True Dharma. In light of the Buddhas of the Ten Directions and our masters Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin, our behavior is that of the supremely and perfectly enlightened [in conduct].