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29 books by Daisaku Ikeda $250

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Why doesn't Daniel Metraux or Clark Strand have anything to say about this?

"As an eternal principle, the Soka Gakkai will never ask for even the tiniest contribution of offering from the members." --Daiskau Ikeda Seikyo Shimbun, June 16, 1962

$OKA GAKKAI'S MONEY COLLECTING ACTIVITIES

The Unification Church coerced its members to purchase strange objects like pottery and miniature pagodas. A court ordered them to pay compensatory reparations for their "Inspirational Business." However, the Soka Gakkai matches their perniciousness in taking advantage of people's weaknesses. No, in fact, the Soka Gakkai's money gathering techniques exceed those of the Unification Church. Their money collections from believers throughout the entire country, which are carried out under the designation "zaimu," and which are conducted by order of Honorary President Daisaku Ikeda, are absurd, and their practice to efficiently collect money with "bank transfers" is shameful.

Two women sought compensation against the Unification Church, saying they had been coerced by the Church into giving money. They say they were told, "Unless you make a donation, more misfortune will occur. Your (deceased) husband hopes for $500,000, or at the very least, $300,000." A decision in the "Inspiration Business" trial in Fukuoka handed down on May 17 recognized the responsibility of those within the Unification Church who had employed the coercion, and ordered a total payment of $37,600,000. It was an epoch-making decision.

However, Hiro Yamaguchi, a lawyer with "The Nationwide Liaison Association of Lawyers against the 'Inspiration Business,"' says, "They engaged in coercion and were ordered to pay the victims for the coercion that they used against them 

by June 3, but the Unification Church immediately filed an appeal, so we cannot yet breathe a sigh of relief. It is thought by the lawyers in charge of the case that as a next step, if the Unification Church cannot meet the payment, the Church will declare bankruptcy in order to avoid revealing their hidden assets. However, we are discussing the possibility of seeking their dissolution before they can do so, based upon Article 81 of the Religious Corporation Act."

Article 81 of the Religious Corporation Act states that when a religious corporation engages in conduct recognized as having greatly harmed the public good, and when its conduct greatly deviates from the goals of a religious body, it can be ordered to disband. In the same manner, Article 79 states that when a

religious corporation engages in enterprises outside of its public works (that is, its religious activities), in opposition to the goals of a religious body, a halt to those enterprises can be sought. Mr. Yamaguchi continues, "However, up until now there has not been a single instance in which Articles 81 and 79 have been

put into practice. In order to win such an unprecedented decision in a court of law, we must accumulate many lawsuit victories such as the one in the current Fukuoka decision. At the very least, in having a religious corporation disbanded on the grounds of it engaging in anti-social behavior, we want to have a clear court decision in which the religious corporation is found guilty of illegal activities."

However, it could be said that he has in mind the money collection activities of the Soka Gakkai, about which doubts about its conduct being illegal are stronger than those of the Unification Church. At any rate, the Soka Gakkai's tremendous money collection activities, which they call "zaimu" (financial affairs), is already common knowledge. Moreover, their current method of collecting money consists of "bank transfers." It is extremely efficient, organizationally. Such money collection activities are of a distinctly deviant nature from the donations which religious corporations collect from their believers for propagation 

activities.

Journalist Isao Dan says, "To begin with, I have never heard of a religious corporation which collects donations through bank transfers. Whether the money covers operating expenses or organ subscription costs, we're talking about offerings to Buddhas and Buddhist deities. It is not at all the same as payments by bank transfer for receiving the NHK TV signal, and it would be extremely odd to say that it is.

One unit of Soka Gakkai zaimu is $100, and there is no limit to how much may be given above that amount. In the last Upper House election, Komeito received approximately 6,040,000 votes. 80% of those, or approximately 5 million, are thought to be Gakkai members who earnestly participate in Gakkai activities.

Last year zaimu was conducted for three and a half months, from September 13 until December 31. Zaimu collected by the Gakkai for one year ranges from $2 billion to $3 billion. I have even heard the number estimated at $3,900,000,000."

Vastly Different from Other Religious Bodies

Zaimu was originally introduced into the Gakkai in the decade between 1945 and 1955. At that time, only wealthy households were zaimu members, and they each donated 4,000 yen a year. (With the post-war exchange rate of 360 yen to one dollar, U.S., the amount would have come to just over 11 U.S. dollars.)

Mr. Isao continues. "However, this was gradually expanded, so that money was collected from the households of general members. From the early '70's, it extended beyond the aim of kosen-rufu. They began what they called 'special zaimu,' under the pretext of constructing facilities called Soka Culture Centers 

and of donating temples to the sect. Then, from 1977, it took the form of the current zaimu, where once a year they collect at least $100 per person. They used to call the people who collect zaimu, Zaimu Division members. They now call such people Kofu (Kosen-rufu) Division members."

When the current Honorary President Ikeda was reinstated as Sokoto (the General Head of the Hokkeko) in 1982, they escalated their money collecting activities, calling it "a mad dash forward." According to the journalist Masao Okkotsu (a Soka University graduate), "Previously, one unit of zaimu was $100 per person per year, but now there is no limit to how much a person can give above that amount. Money is even given in the name of children. It is not at all unusual for families who are not the least bit wealthy to give $10,000 or $20,000.

Gakkai members who give more than $100,000 are called 'Diamond Members. Orders have been handed down from the Headquarters for chapter leaders to see how many 'Diamond Members' they can muster. There are even cases where the

Gakkai has learned of a father passing away, and they have collected the money that he willed to the family."

From 1985, they instituted the "bank transfers" in big cities such as Tokyo on an experimental basis. From 1990, this was carried out on a nationwide basis. Mr. Okkotsu explains, "Before the 'bank transfers,' Gakkai members would assemble at the districts and chapters on the last Sunday of July and make cash donations only on that day. They would stuff their money into a cardboard box, and it would be conveyed to the Gakkai Headquarters, but leaders would pilfer the cash enroute to the Headquarters. This happened frequently. In addition, there was the danger of transporting large amounts of cash in an automobile, so they hit upon the idea of 'bank transfers.'"

However, as may be expected, there are no other religious groups which employ such conspicuous techniques. Rissho Koseikai, which has approximately 6 million believers, collects one dollar when someone joins and one dollar a month for operating expenses, as well as monetary donations they call "zaishi"(monetary  offerings). However, a spokesman says,

"When members come to one of our 239 churches throughout the country, they place donations in a collection box, which we refer to as a 'donation box.' But we do not set the amount a person is to give, like the Soka Gakkai does. We do not set time periods or distribute blank bank transfer forms. And of course, there is absolutely never any coercion."

Seicho no Ie has approximately 800,000 believers. A spokesman says, "Members give monetary donations, which we call 'kenshi' (donated funds), and which are classified according to four rankings: $1 a month, $4 a month, $10 a month, and more than $100 a month. Also, aside from that, those who make a one-time donation of $1,000 or $10,000 are called Seicho no Ie Special Members. This is the designation we give to people who come with money and wish to donate it for something other than operating expenses. Most members make donations every month, but there is no donation amount stipulated as being 'special.' Everyone comes to the churches and each of them make their donations there."

The Soka Gakkai is referred to as a money collecting religious body, but with the bank transfers, they have further increased their efficiency. A former Gakkai district leader attests, "Officially  there is no coercion in the Gakkai's zaimu activities, but in actuality, they are quite skilled in collecting zaimu. First of all, 

six months before payments are to commence, certificates of merit acknowledging Kofu Division members are passed out in each district. In addition, scarves used for wrapping prayer beads in are passed out as commemorative items. The designs on these scarves change every year, and the patterns have opportunity to give their experiences. They take such forms as,

'I gave this much and received this benefit, and thanks to zaimu, my business is prospering greatly.'

Members are given rankings of ABC, according to the extent of their faith. Then, when the zaimu is collected, members are made to write down how much they will donate this year and by what date it will be paid. Blank bank transfer forms are also passed out. If the proposed amount is paid, there is no problem, but when the money is not paid in the designated time or when the amount is less than proposed, district leaders go around to the members' homes and persuade them until the money is collected. They are relentless, making no allowances."

A Lawsuit for Repayment Turned Away at the Door

Well, what becomes of the tremendous amount of money collected? The previously introduced Mr. Dan says, "It is estimated that the cash the Gakkai currently holds is $20,040,000,000. Just the interest on that money is $70 million. Their primary disbursements are for real estate. They construct facilities and training centers all over the country, but recently, they have purchased castles in Italy and England. In addition, the personnel expenses for the Gakkai's 3,000 employees is a pretty fair amount. Aside from the above, they presumably also give money to the Soka schools."

However, a financial expert says that most of the money collected is invested in financial markets. "In the case of last year, money transferred to authorized accounts at banks in Tokyo was added up twice between September and November. The three extra months' worth of zaimu was received as 'pennies 

from heaven' and kept idle in the usual accounts. They thought it would be profitable if they lumped it all together and invested the large amount at fixed intervals. The money from the banks in Tokyo was amassed together at the Yotsuya branch of Mitsubishi Bank, the Gakkai's main bank and then invested in the zaimu department of each of the Tokyo banks. Then, in accordance with instructions from Mitsubishi Bank, the money was returned to the Yotsuya branch, and then remitted to banks and securities firms which pay high interest. Then it was deposited in a fixed account in the Postal savings system. There is also a recent report that it is being invested as a hedge fund for overseas, where they are speculatively vigorous."

Of course, a sufficient amount of money is converted into maneuvering capital and traveling expenses for when Daisaku, who loves honors and decorations, meets with overseas VIP's. This is not just talk to make the believers, who have submitted their savings, believing them to be offerings, feel like fools.

In response to this illegitimate usage of funds, lawsuits seeking repayment have occurred before now. There is the example of a suit being filed in a Tokyo court in 1979, where approximately 530 plaintiffs sought repayment of approximately $1,000 each, for a total of $500,000. However, according to a representative of the plaintiffs at the time, "Zaimu should be collected based upon the spirit of offerings, but it was not, so they wanted their money back. Our stand did not mesh with the Gakkai insistence that zaimu is capital used for kosen-rufu activities. In the end, the court decided that a courtroom is not the place to settle a religious problem, and they dismissed the lawsuit."

There is an instance which occurred after that, in 1982 in Kochi, where 72 people selected three people to represent them as plaintiffs in a lawsuit. In that instance, the Gakkai was ordered to repay approximately $7 million. Though the Gakkai appealed the decision, the very best they could do was reach a compromise  to pay back $10,000 per person. According to one of the people involved at the time, "In that case, the Gakkai had at one time agreed to pay back the money, but they never paid it back, so the suit was not over a doctrinal problem. It was a fight against only a broken promise for repayment, so the lawsuit concluded in a victory for the plaintiffs. If the lawsuit had from the very beginning focused on doctrine, it probably would have been turned away at the door of the courthouse."

Its Very Existence Is Unconstitutional

However, there is no doubt that the Soka Gakkai's very existence is anti-social, seeing that it takes advantage of people's weakness, the same as the Unification Church. A Gakkai observer notes, "No. The Unification Church takes people's money, but at least they leave a pot to cook in. The Gakkai takes until there is nothing left. It's existence is evil from beginning to end." Professor Hirohisa Kitano of the Legal Department of Nihon University says, "The Soka Gakkai has been formally excommunicated from their Head Temple. They have no object of worship or anything else. They are nothing more than a collection of believers. Furthermore, their zaimu and bank transfers have no religious significance at all. 

Despite all of that, the Gakkai is recognized as a religious corporation. That in itself is strange, and it is clearly in violation of the Constitution. Concretely speaking, it is first of all in violation of Article 20 of the Constitution. That is the article which stipulates the freedom of religion, but it also states that religious bodies are not to receive special rights from the State, and that those bodies are not to exercise governmental authority. They originally did not have tax exempt status, but now they do so this shows that they receive special rights from the State. In addition, they are in violation of Article 89, which stipulates that religious bodies are not to receive disbursements of public moneys. Not paying taxes which should be paid is the same as receiving disbursements of public moneys. Taxes of 35 -37% should be levied against the Gakkai's zaimu activities, the same as for enterprises in general. Even making a tremendous  compromise and (hypothetically) acknowledging that the Gakkai is a religious corporation, still taxes of 27% percent should be levied against a non-profit organizations for- profit enterprises."

If we deal with the issue of separation of Church and State, it is impossible to consider as taboo the matter of the Gakkai's existence. Liberal Democrat (LDP) Diet member Yoshinobu Shimamura is following up on the Gakkai problem. He states, "Until now, we have wanted to avoid making the LDP and the Soka Gakkai enemies. We have emphasized peace at any price, but now no one is saying anything like that." If that is the case, then Honorary President Ikeda should either be summoned to appear before the Diet or the Gakkai should be 

forced to disband.

I can't understand these people

For many, it is more important for Nichiren and Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism to be what they want them to be than to discover who and what they really are.

When I will forgive the Soka Gakkai

"When a person’s offense is minor, admonishment is sometimes called for, but at other times it may be unnecessary, for there are those who may correct themselves without being told. Reprove a person for slander when necessary, so that you can forestall for both of you the consequences of an offense. Then, you should forgive that person. The point is that even minor slanders may lead to serious ones, and then the effects one must suffer would be far worse. This is [what Chang-an means when he writes], “One who rids the offender of evil is acting as his parent.”

SGI members fall into the category of those who continuously slander the Law and thus I continuously reprove them. They pretend to be foremost in upholding the precepts and I continuously point out how they break the precepts.  I do this for their sake and I will forgive them when they correct their mistakes.

The Lotus Sutra is able to unloose all the bonds of mortal life

"Again, if anyone offers a three-thousand-great-thousandfold world full of the seven precious things in homage to buddhas, great bodhisattvas, pratyekabuddhas, and arhats, the merit this man gains is not equal to the surpassing happiness of him who receives and keeps but a single fourfold verse [Namu Myoho renge kyo] of this Law-Flower Sutra."

"Star Constellation King Flower! This sutra is that which can save all the living; this sutra can deliver all the living from pains and sufferings; this sutra is able greatly to benefit all the living and fulfill their desires. Just as a clear, cool pool is able to satisfy all those who are thirsty, as the cold who obtain a fire [are satisfied], as the naked who find clothing, as [a caravan of] merchants who find a leader, as children who find their mother, as at a ferry one who catches the boat, as a sick man who finds a doctor, as in the darkness one who obtains a lamp, as a poor man who finds a jewel, as people who find a king, as merchant venturers who gain the sea, and as a torch which dispels the darkness, so is it also with this Law-Flower Sutra; it is able to deliver all the living from all sufferings and all diseases, and is able to unloose all the bonds of mortal life."

A bunch of Nichiren believers walk into a bar

Believer #1 [KHK]: I'll take my Nichiren straight up

Believer # 2 [KHK]: I'll take a shot of Nichiren

Believer # 3 [KHK]: Make mine a double

Believer # 4 [SGI]: I'll have a Nichiren and water, lots of water please

Believer # 5 [NST] I'm in the mood for a mixed drink. How about a Sado Island Iced Tea with a shot of Nichiren, a splash of Tientai, a splash of Zen, and lots of Shingon. 

Believer # 6 [NS]: I'll have a virgin Nichiren

Believer # 7 [HBS]: I'll have Nichiren with a glass of magic okozui water on the side.

Believer # 8 [Indy]: Hmm, let me see, um, um....

Shitso Abe-Taisaku Ikeda Dialogue

Daisaku Ikeda: Hello Shitso my good friend. How are you, the wife, and the consorts? 

Shitso Abe: We are all fine. How about you, the wife, and your consorts?

Ikeda: We are all well, thank you my friend.

Abe: I need your help Tais...uh,uhh, Daisaku.

Ikeda: Anything for you Shitso. You have been so good to my envoy Nutso Yamaguchi. He's not too bright but he's very loyal.

Abe: Yes. That's what I like about him. [bowing very deeply] I am so grateful to you. There is no way I can repay you for having dropped every fundamental principle that you made believe that you held dear to support me on the military buildup thang and our plan to to alter Article 9...

Ikeda: Well there is something...

Abe: Please please, let me finish. I still need one itsy bitsy thing from you.

Ikeda: [Ikeda through his transcendent wisdom and abilities knows what Abe is going to say before he says it] No problema amigo. We have been keeping secrets since the elevator incident [Toda having passed on the SGI presidency to Ikeda in an elevator but according to some, Toda really had someone else in mind]. I can give you and Taro [Taro Aso, Shitso's pitbull deputy] a few pointers [wink, wink]. First thing, surround yourself with dumb as clams ministers who worship the ground you walk on and follow no matter what. 

Abe: Already done!

Ikeda: Then lie through your teeth to them. They won't suspect a thing and if they do open their big traps, they will be telling the lies that you told them anyway.

Abe: Brilliant!

Ikeda: I know. More importantly, always have contingency plans and policies. Say one thing today and another tomorrow and be sure to rewrite history, like the comfort women thang, the rape of Nanking, your dismal record on human rights, the trillions of yen stolen from the treasury, and the sex scandals...ah the sex scandals. That will keep them too busy to enquire about the quadrillions of beckerels leaking into the pacific ocean daily, and the thousands who are sick and dying.. Be sure to put out lots of meaningless statements.

Abe: AH SO!

Ikeda: Now Shitso, about the thing you can do for me.

Abe: Yes, yes, anything.

Ikeda: Please don't tell anyone I'm dead.

Those who tell little of the truth are great liars

December 2013 lecture on the Three Tripitaka Masters Pray for Rain...Andy Nagashima shows a photograph of a rainbow over new Soka Gakkai Headquarters building that he reports was on the day of the grand opening ceremony, Nov.18th 2013. 

Same photograph at the 4:25 mark of the following video dated Oct. 25th 2013: "Published Oct. 25th 2013":

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

The honzon and practice of SGI/NST need to be examined very carefully.

"SGI talks about "cause and effect through chanting". The idea that "all you have to do is chant" in order to gain benefit, is neither borne out by experience nor the writings of Nichiren. Correct doctrine and behavior is equally important. If an object of devotion is based on deception and incorrect doctrine, all the sincerity in the world will not lead to benefit.

Daisaku Ikeda's second son died suddenly of a perforated ulcer while a student at a prestigious Japanese college. Ikeda's oldest son has been in an out of mental hospitals with severe mental disorders. He must take high doses of psychoactive drugs to control his condition. Makaguchi, the first President of the Soka Gakkai died of starvation in a Japanese prison during the last days of the war. All nine of Makaguchi's children died during his seventeen years of faith in Taisekeji.

When I joined the SGI in the late ‘60's, I couldn't convince my friend, Gloria, to join. Her husband, Gary, had been a member for years. One day he didn't show up for Men's Division Bagpipe practice. Another member went over to his house to find out why he missed practice. He found Gary, eyes gouged out, ears cut off, head almost decapitated and mutilated that. He was murdered by the Manson family, whom he taught to chant the Daimoku. Obviously, Gloria did not think that Gary had been "protected" by the SGI/NST Gohonzon.

Three friends of mine were killed in a horrible car accident (their fault) rushing to "Kotekitai" practice, in preparation for some big parade in San Francisco. My old chapter chief lost two of his children (one was decapitated in a freak accident) and a third child was institutionalized. Over the years, many sincere friends died of diseases that they could not overcome by chanting in the SGI/NST. I could fill pages with "actual proof" horror stories that I personally witnessed. It seems that the wrong honzon cannot give "protection" or "benefit" any more than the claims of all other religions.

Hence, the correct doctrine is pivotal. Yet, SGI/NST people keep saying, "I don't want to get theoretical. I just chant and have actual proof in my life." Nichiren's position was quite different. To him, the correct doctrine was most important. Buddhist practice was of no avail if it didn't accord with the Lotus Sutra, the correct Gohonzon, and the refutation of provisional teachings. Taisekiji's theology is a provisional teaching, based upon a fake honzon, and it contradicts the words of Nichiren.

The honzon and practice of SGI/NST need to be examined very carefully.  For every "benefit" there are ten instances of punishment.  IF SGI practice afforded universal benefit as they claim, why have 95% of all members quit? If even Ikeda could not be assured of the protection of the Buddhas, then the statements of universal SGI "actual proof" is untrue.  If "actual proof" were the only criteria, then the events of the last four years between the  SGI and the Nichiren Shoshu speak volumes about "punishment". -- Bruce Maltz

What's good for the goose is good for the gander

"I have a group picture next to my butsudan, taken at Sessen-bo with Sensei in 1970. Among the people in the picture is Genjiro Fukushima, who later became a vice president of the SGI. Then about 20 years ago he betrayed Sensei and the SGI and worked to stop the flow of Kosen-Rufu. He was the lay leader of the Hodo-in temple in Tokyo, until his death by cancer on August 8th of this year.

Eyewitness accounts of his open-casket funeral were that they found it impossible to close his eyes, cancer had completely consumed his body, and his death mask was a hideous expression of wide-eyed, agonized terror, difficult to view." -- Dick "Wiley bad" Powell proud SGI member

I wonder how those SGI leaders who were run over by a snow plows, whose parachutes failed to open, whose skulls was torn apart by stage hooks, who died on flight 767 [on 9/11], or who were killed by the Manson gang, appeared in their caskets?

Terry and Kathy Ruby: Poster children for the moral decay of the Soka Gakkai and its members

"At this point Chris I believe Marc's version of events, not Terry's.  I
did a search of old April posts and found one where Kathy Ruby referred
to her death as a suicide.  I've had a few email exchanges on this with
Terry Ruby over the weekend and at this point it looks like he's shut
down the conversation with me.  I asked him point blank if she
committed suicide and if he was involved romantically with her.  I
asked him if the rumors are true that he fathered her child.  He
refused to answer and in fact, based on what he wrote to me he thinks I
am someone else.  He's confused.  Maybe he's suffering some breakdown.

Either way, he is scary."  

Bridget

op wrote:
> <rainerg...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1154370327.171092.69980@s13g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> >
> > op wrote:
> >> "Chris" <chris...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >> news:1154365261.362311.277520@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> >> > marcinmd wrote:
> >> >> Ivan wrote:
> >> >> > Cody wrote:
> >> >> > > According to Terry Ruby, April did not commit suicide but died of
> >> >> > > a
> >> >> > > heart attack.
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > See:
> >> >> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SokaGakkaiInternational/message/66742
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > Cody
> >> >> >
> >> >> > So, how did she die? And who is she? Enquiring minds want to know!
> >> >> Wow..Terry never would tell anyone that..She took pills and killed
> >> >> herself..Shame on you.
> >> >
> >> > Marc, he accused me of seeking to defame him for referring to her
> >> > suicide in a reply to one of his re-posts of your "April Storm" story.
> >> > Since my knowledge is all second hand about this all I could do was to
> >> > point to sources and reply that I defamed nobody but was simply
> >> > reporting an old story that nobody had denied before.
> >> >
> >> Chris, I think I remember the posts as being (although I don't have the
> >> exact words in front of me) as being about "abandonment."  which was what
> >> the "defame" part was apparently all about.  It seemed that Bill thought
> >> you
> >> had "accidently" done it, and that Terry thought you had done it on
> >> purpose.
> >> Either way, I read it that you were making a statement that was your
> >> opinion, but not necessarily defamatory, based on the previous arbn posts
> >> on
> >> the subject that you had read, portions of which you posted on the SGI
> >> board.
> >>
> >>
> >> > In his post he claims she was loved and cherished to the end.
> >>
> >> She may have been, Chris, by many people.  Maybe even Terry.
> >>
> >>  Somehow
> >> > she didn't commit suicide -- her heart just "stopped."  Frankly, at
> >> > this point Terry scares me.
> >>
> >> I am not sure why Terry is at this time presenting the "I don't know if
> >> she
> >> committed suicide or not..the official verdict was a heart attack.."
> >> version.  It may be as Marc says that he wishes to present her memory in
> >> what *he* considers to be a positive light.  Maybe Terry is a person who
> >> considers suicide to be in the category of an undesirable way to die -
> >> since
> >> we have been on that topic here.  I am not sure why Terry is scary to you
> >> and Bridget.  Would you mind explaining that to me?  Is he scarier than
> >> other religious fanatics?
> >> Marc, on the other hand, blames the SGI and NSTfor April's death, and has
> >> for years, though I can't remember why anymore.  It seems to me that he
> >> has
> >> never tied that to her suicide.  He recently mentioned that the Maryland
> >> priest at the time of the split conducted a memorial service for her and
> >> that many Gakkai members (but not leaders) attended.  So, how SGI and NST
> >> let April down in Marc's eyes remains a mystery to me.  op
> >
> > Hi Op,
> >
> > It is Terry's fundimentalist attitude that i find frightening.
> > Sometimes it seems he is losing his grip.  Like if you disagree with
> > him he comes unglued and starts attacking you personally.  Like the
> > emails he sent me.  He acted like I was a horrid person for even
> > questioning him yet he is the one who started it by posting about a
> > private person who died many years ago and nobody was even discussing
> > her.  I still think he should not have even begun his April Storm
> > installments and if he felt some overpowering need to do so he should
> > not have used her real name.  It's just wrong.  I feel like he's using
> > her once again to satisfy some need inside himself.
> >
> > At this point I really believe that terry did have an affair with her,
> > and maybe he did father her child.  On that I don't know but based on
> > his emails to me I can come to no other conclussion to explain how
> > completly unglued he came at my questions.
> >
> > It's the way he posturizes his position.  I can imagine what he must
> > have been like in prison.  All tough and stuck in his place of what is
> > right.  It's just frightening to me when people, men especially act
> > like that.  I can see them getting violent when things just aren't
> > going the way they think they should go.  A real control freak.
> >
> > The real sad thing is April.  Whatever the reasons, whether she really
> > was alone or not, she felt alone.  That's what is so sad to me.  That
> > she killed herself because she saw no other way out of her pain.  It
> > just makes me very sad for her.
> >
> > Bridget
> >>
> >> >
>
> Bridget, the only thing that I can see Terry doing is getting really
> frustrated with Will's board, and lobbying SGI Central to issue some kind of
> a memo with regard to the members who post there, something like he and
> Kathy did with the IRG board.  You know, trying to demonize the board and
> the members who post there.  Not that he and Kathy were the only ones who
> did that with the IRG, but I can see that kind of action coming from someone
> with Terry's frame of reference.
> As for April, it IS sad.  Suicide's are always sad.  My best friend's
> husband committed suicide.  He suffered from bouts of depression all of his
> life, and took his life at the age of 29.  It was horrible, and traumatic
> for his wife and child.  Many people loved him, but could not stop him from
> his deep despair that led him to that act.  This to me is another reason why
> I think that we have to look at how someone has lived, not how they have
> died.  He was a wonderful man overall.
> op

Yes OP exactly.  Terry is demonizing Will's group.  Trying to get SGI
to take some official stand against the group and the members who post
there.  He is pushy and controlling and a liar and he will use those
traits to get his way.  Like the bully on the playground.  His wife is
NO better.  Both liars.  I can't stand lying people.

If the SGI did take an official position against Will's group or it's
members that would definetly seal it for me.

I'v had several people close to me kill themselves.  It is hell for
those of us left behind.  We are the one's left trying to sort it all
out and pick up the pieces of our shattered lives.

I too have suffered depression all of my life and I understand all too
well the despair that can lead to someone killing themselves.  That is
why I can relate to April and feel so badly for her.  Nobody should
feel so utterly alone and in so much pain that they have to kill
themselves to get out of it.  That's why I feel so sad for her.  I
feel, based on what I have read that April was taken advantage of by
some in leadership position.  I feel it is wrong and I feel the SGI has
culpability for April's death because they put her into a position of
crossing paths with the leaders who did take advantage of a emotionally
fragile young woman.

Terry's posting of April's Storm, 14 years after her death and changing
the cause of death just shows that he hasn't taken any responsibility
for anything he did that may have played any part in her death.  If
he's really changed and learned anything his story would reflect that
and he would be educating people on their responsibilities as leaders
to "do no harm" to their members.  He would take full responsiblity for
his part and own up to it like a man.  He's just trying to change the
history to alleviate his own guilt or glorify himself.  Not sure which.
 Either way, I have about as much respect for him as I do a child
molester.

Bridget

Repulsive is right. A must read on an empty stomach

http://www.reddit.com/r/sgiwhistleblowers/comments/2e391e/ikeda_is_both_elegant_and_eloquent/

Hehe... "Nichiren" "Buddhist" probably read it 14 times. He must be very thin.

Powerful discussion: "Shocked with the high level of mental disorders among SGI members" - a psychiatrist SGI member

http://www.reddit.com/r/sgiwhistleblowers/comments/2egzij/shocked_with_the_high_level_of_mental_disorders/

An SGI so-called fortune baby awakens

"I suspected bullshit for a long time so I did thorough googling and found this subreddit I'm born into the cult and running when I can live on my own."

SGI leader in an exceedingly rare moment of honest discourse

"Nichiren Daishonin was a great influence but now it's time to move on to the superior teachings of the Soka Gakkai and the Three Presidents.” 

Prediction of the return to Japanese pre-war fascism thanks to the Soka Gakkai has come true:

http://www.reddit.com/r/sgiwhistleblowers/comments/29w7nh/why_did_ikeda_quit_by_daniel_a_metraux_1980/

"It was in 1970, remember, that Komeito was forced to shut down, strip off all the Nichiren doctrine and verbiage, and then allowed to re-enter the political arena as purely political party New Komeito (instead of Soka Gakkai's religious political party), after public outcry over how Komeito was mixing religion and politics. Some sources trace the end of Komeito's growth to this change.

Here is a summary of one of the main books the Soka Gakkai was trying to use its newly won Komeito political power to lean on the publishers to prevent its publication:

Fujiwara, Hirotatsu. I Denounce Soka Gakkai. Translated by Worth C. Grant. Tokyo: Nisshin Hodo, 1970.

Intensely critical of every aspect of the Soka Gakkai, suggesting that its political involvement would bring a return of prewar fascism.

Allegations of attempts by Soka Gakkai–supported politicians to suppress publication sparked intense controversy, leading in 1970 to the official organizational separation of the Komei political party from the Soka Gakkai. Source

Sounds like an insightful author, actually, especially given what we've seen since then, both from inside AND from this side of the pond. Of COURSE it would have brought a return of prewar fascism - that was the explicitly stated plan! "Obutsu myogo", meaning "Nichiren theocracy", would have made Nichiren Shoshu the state religion and required all the other religions to shut down. Ikeda was a fan of fascism - he even commented that he greatly admired fascism. I guess it's fine when you picture yourself in charge." -- BlancheFromage

You thought I was kidding

http://markrogow.blogspot.com/2014/08/dad-dad-dad-dad-dad-dad.html

Ginny Benson director of the Ikeda Peace Center with Elise Boulding former peace activist and Alzheimer's patient: 

http://www.sgiquarterly.org/feature2014jly-10.html

Only $209.00 [YIKES!]

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-history-as-theology-of-soka-gakkai-daniel-alfred-metraux/1014007135?ean=9780889460553&itm=1&usri=9780889460553

I'll tell you about the theology of Ikedaism for free.

Good dat!

SGI lost 90% of its membership between 1989 and 1997

http://www.reddit.com/r/sgiwhistleblowers/comments/2eu2mr/sgi_lost_90_of_its_membership_between_1989_and/

Praying to the SGI living emperor God