The principle that it is permissible for an SGI member to lie in order to protect SGI and SGI's mentor and their reputation from harm and to do so as part of conversion activities with both "believers" and nonbelievers alike.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Plain as the nose on Daisaku's face
"The object of devotion as set forth in the “Life Span” chapter is Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, eternally endowed with thethree bodies, who since the beginning of numberless major world system dust particle kalpas in the past has had deep and abiding affinities with this land of ours."
"From now on, firmly resolve to strive for your future existence."
"THE wardens of hell and King Yama are ten chō in height, their faces daubed in vermilion, their eyes like the sun or moon, with teeth like the prongs of a rake and fists like boulders. When they walk, the earth shakes as though it were a boat afloat on the ocean; their voices are like peals of thunder rumbling forth.
[Should you have to face them], you would be powerless to utter the words Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. You are not a disciple of mine. Write tome of what is truly in your heart and I will heed your words. Then I will pray on your behalf, racking my brains and taxing my body to the fullest. But understand that these must be prayers for your future existence. From now on, firmly resolve to strive for your future existence."
Nichiren on when we may rightly reproach the object of worship
"Among my disciples there are some who, apparently still intent on slandering the correct teaching, accuse me, saying, “This priest is acting as an enemy of Great Bodhisattva Hachiman.” It seems they fail to realize that, when it is only reasonable to expect prayers to be answered and yet they are not, one may rightly reproach the object of worship..."
Nichiren on why all other Buddhas are followers of Shakyamuni Buddha
"Again, if we consider the question of how long it has been since these various Buddhas attained the fruit of Buddhahood, then we will find that there are some who became Buddhas ten kalpas ago, others a hundred kalpas or a thousand kalpas ago. But in the case of ShakyamuniBuddha, the lord of teachings, it has already been a period of numberless major world system dust particle kalpas since he became a Buddha of perfect enlightenment and complete reward. The Thus Come OneMahāvairochana, the Thus Come One Amida, the Thus Come One Medicine Master, and all the other Buddhas of the ten directions are followers of Shakyamuni, the lord of teachings and our original teacher. He is like the moon in the sky that is reflected in ten thousand different bodies of water."
Listen carefully [especially Soka Gakkai, Nichiren Shoshu, and Nichiren Shu]
"Within Buddhism, the Hinayana teachings will overthrow the Mahayana, the provisional Mahayana will overthrow the true Mahayana. In such cases, the Hinayana and provisional Mahayana will act as would non-Buddhist forces attacking the truth of Buddhism. But there will be other times when not the Hinayana or provisional Mahayana, BUT THOSE DEDICATED TO THE LOTUS SUTRA OF THE TRUE MAHAYANA THEMSELVES WILL ACT IN SUCH A WAY AS TO OVERTHROW THE LOTUS SUTRA, and this will be a very serious matter indeed." -- Nichiren
"SGI organizational structure is at odds with its teachings." -- Linda Thornburg
"As a 30+ year member of SGI (20+ in leadership), I must say partially cult-like. While there is strong emphasis on individual goals and practice, structurally the SGI-USA is a two-tiered organization: 1) general members, and 2) leaders. After 50 some years in the USA general members still have no say in the operation of the organization: they do not determine organizational directions (which set the annual agenda for all members), rules, or leadership. Leadership is appointed by higher levels of leadership, and the highest levels of leadership, the Central Executive Committee, make all decisions. Those decisions are implemented by a top-down organizational flow. Input of "General Members" is possible only at the lower levels of organization--for district and possibly chapter meeting content. Strict limitation of participation of general members and even lower level leaders--i.e. meetings only for District Leadership up, Chapter Leadership up, Area Leadership up, etc.--prevents participation of certain members at meetings intended to disseminate direction or policy, restricting questions, dialogue, and genuine discussion. In this regard, limited participation of members, the organizational structure is at odds with its teachings." -- Linda Thornburg
"Nichiren" SGI Buddhist in five years...
"You were right Mark. I should have listened to you then. Thanks."
Don't come late to the party
"... After they died, Dozen-bo began to have some faith in the Lotus Sutra. But it was rather like obtaining a stick after the fight is over, or lighting a lantern at midday— the proper time had already passed." -- On Repaying Debts of Gratitiude
When you vow to practice the Lotus Sutra as did Nichiren Daishonin...
...please remember that their teachings are no match for ours.
Our strong allies are the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha, and Nichiren Daishonin
"Thus, although their enlightenment may have been the same, from the point of view of the teaching that they propagated, Ashvaghosha and Nagarjuna were superior to Mahakashyapa and Ananda, T’ien-t’ai was superior to Ashvaghosha and Nagarjuna, and Dengyo surpassed T’ien-t’ai. In these latter times, people’s wisdom becomes shallow, while the Buddhist teaching becomes more profound. To give an analogy, a mild illness can be cured with ordinary medicine, but a severe illness requires an elixir. A man who is weak must have strong allies to help him." -- Repaying Debts of Gratitude
The real and the fake Fuju Fuse sect
"Under the pressure of persecution, in order to survive the sect went underground and, while some members worshiped overtly, others pretended to belong to an allowed sect and worshiped in secret. However, many faithful thought it unfair to give equal status to those who lived the life of a fugitive and risked their lives for their faith (the hōryū (法立?) and those who hid it pretending to belong to another sect (the naishinsha (内信者?). They also thought it was morally wrong to let a naishinsha officiate instead of a real monk even under the circumstances[--similar to the Donatist controversy in early Christianity]. Officiating requires a pure heart and a pure body, the argument went, but a naishinsha's body is soiled by his deceiving appearances. The dissent spread to the entire movement, with those who wanted a clear distinction between the two types of faithful being called tsuderaha (津寺派?) or (more formally) fudōshiha (不導師派?), and the others being called hisashiha (日指派?) or dōshiha (導師派?)[6]. The division hardened and survived to the present day, with the fudōshiha being represented by the Fuju-fuse Nichiren Kōmon-shū (不受不施日蓮講門宗?) which has its head temple in Okayama's Honkaku-ji, and the dōshiha by the Nichirenshū Fuju-fuse-ha (日蓮宗不受不施派?), which has its head temple in Okayama's Myōkaku-ji[6]." -- Fuju Fuse sect Wikipedia
Even the lowly Nembutsu priests on Sado Island were more courageous than the Nichiren priests and high leaders of today.
We demand that the Soka Gakkai, the Nichiren Shoshu, and all Nichiren Sects pay allegiance to Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin.
Failing to meet our demand, we call on Shakyamuni Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin and the Buddhist gods to summon the SGI, the Nichiren Shoshu, the Nichiren Shu, the HBS and all the sects of Kyoto, Tokyo, and throughout the world for a rain challenge or formal debate.
"So the sage Nichiren said to them, “We will decide whose teachings are correct through this prayer for rain." -- Letter of Petition for Yorimoto
"I have heard that, when the priest Ryokan knew I was far away in a distant province, he told everyone how he wished I would hasten to Kamakura so that he might debate with me and dispel the people’s doubts...
...What is more, when I actually did return to Kamakura, Ryokan shut his gates and forbade anyone to enter. At times, he even feigned illness, saying that he had caught a cold."-- Teaching, Practice, and Proof
Even the lowly Nembutsu priests on Sado were more courageous than the Nichiren priests and high leaders of today. They are even more cowardly than Ryokan.
"The conflict between Nichiren and the various schools" [Opening of the Eyes]
"The conflict between Nichiren and the various schools" [Opening of the Eyes] has now expanded to include the renegade disciples within his own school. Fortunately, just as Nichiren succeeded in spreading the Lotus Sutra despite the conflict, so shall we.
Who shall be qualified to be Honge Jogyo other than Nichiren, himself?
"My words (which have been predicted concerning conviction of Honge Jogyo may sound very boastful, but they were intended for the sake of helping the realization of Buddha's prophecy.... At any rate, who shall be qualified to be Honge Jogyo other than Nichiren, myself? The moon rises in the west and shines in the east, the sun rises in the east and shines in the west. Buddhism, too, is just like this. It came from the west to the east during the two thousand years of the Right and Fanciful Laws, but in the days of the Latter Law, Buddhism is for the sake of salvation from East to West.... According to Buddha's prophecy and considering all circumstances, now, Nichiren's age corresponds with the beginning of the Fifth Five Hundred Period. The True Buddhism shall go to the world from the Far East, Japan" (Nichiren's Works: Shinshio-Bunko & Ryogonkaku editions, Vol I., p. 476).
"Already the great Bodhisattva out of the earth has appeared, so that the great Law which the Buddha entrusted to him [summing up the salient points of His Laws], shall be evidence" (Nichiren's Works: Shinshio-Bunko & Ryogonkaku editions, Vol I., p. 325).
"I, Nichiren, am the greatest practitioner of the Hokekyo in the world" (Nichiren's Works: Shinshio-Bunko & Ryogonkaku editions, Vol I., p. 119).
"I, Nichiren, am the greatest sage in the world" (Nichiren's Works: Shinshio-Bunko & Ryogonkaku editions, Vol I., p. 513).
"In the beginning of the Fifth Five Hundred Period the Bodhisattva Honge Jogyo appeared and propagated this Law for the first time" (Nichiren's Works: Shinshio-Bunko & Ryogonkaku editions, Vol I., p. 508).
Soka Gakkai congratulates Iran on its Islamic Revolution
Soka Gakkai Representatives Attend Iran's Islamic Revolution Day Reception in Tokyo
"On February 10 [2004], Soka Gakkai Office of International Affairs Executive Director Kenji Yoshigo and Associate Director Hirofumi Koseki attended a reception commemorating Iran's Islamic Revolution Day at the Iranian Ambassador's official residence in Minato Ward, Tokyo. Mr. Yoshigo conveyed SGI President Daisaku Ikeda's congratulatory message to Iranian Ambassador to Japan Ali Majedi."
The gentle or the forceful practice?
Not everyone is predisposed to perform the forceful practices. Nichiren understood that, for one reason or another, not every one can perform the forceful practices. Some have not studied Buddhism sufficiently and others are innately gentle. Regardless, he mandated that his monks and priests perform the forceful practices but not necessarily the laymen. He also taught that whether or not one performs the forceful practices or merely chants Namu myoho renge kyo, one should support those who do the forceful practices, either through moral support, withholding criticism, or through donations [if a priest]. I believe that the forceful practices are the only appropriate means to convert such evil men and women as Soka Gakkai leaders and members, Nichiren Shoshu priests and laymen, Islamic fundamentalists who strap explosives on mental defectives and detonate them in the marketplace, Christian fire and brimstone fundamentalists, those of the Jewish Defense League, the Hindi Kashitra or Brahman class, and the authorities who support them
Is this the reason SGI members are blind?
"Thinking about Sensei I want you to look at the sun" -- Danny Nagashima
Commentary on Sensei is my co-pilot by accomplished artist Kevin Richardson
Sensei is my Co-Pilot
"I got Mark's blessing on bogarting this site and this will be my only post so don't be alarmed...
I'd offered Mark a little "tech support" in doing some minor changes to his blog. Mark's posting about July 3rd being "Mentor Disciple Day" really got under my skin for some odd reason. Before I move on, a quick history lesson involving Mark and I - I followed his old blog at Fraught With Peril - I believe my first posting made some sarcastic reference towards the SGI and he initially thought I was a kool-aid sipping troll - I was drawn into Mark's blog because I had recently skirted the Gakkai and I wasn't ready to give up on the Nichiren faith. Not giving up however doesn't mean that I have abandoned my reserved skepticism.
Of course that doesn't come with a grain of salt for there has been a bit of a ideological struggle with the dilemma I have with Mark on this debate. I am not one who will use my belief in the Lotus Sutra to refute the SGI for the SGI is most undeserving to be refuted in that manner. Maybe I'm bit more hardcore with my dealings of the SGI.
They are two essential teachings of the SGI that I've long detested which is the main reason why my stay within SGI was short:
1) I never bought that Shakyamuni was a provisional Buddha. So they say that Shakamyni - the founder of Buddhism - was never the real Buddha? In Christian terms, that's like saying Jesus was a provisional messiah - That leaves a lot of wiggle room in that chain of thought. So Jesus wasn't the real Messiah. The real Messiah was Charles Manson? Jim Jones? David Koresh? or is he amongst the other wackos that could be found on a Rick Ross Cult website claiming the title?
2) I do not and I will never accept Daisaku Ikeda as my "mentor" I hope I don't have to get into grave detail to how frivolous that idea is...
Does a person without feet really need shoes? Point being, SGI doesn't have a leg to stand on with regard to Nichiren study but yet they are offered shoes. The above mentioned reasons are the heart and foundation to the Soka mind frame. The provisional Buddha only fits to be exploited by the Ikeda cult of personality. Mentor = Messiah = Buddha = Ikeda.
So they say that earthly desires leads to enlightenment.
Despite no SGI member has effectively been able to point out where in the writings of Nichiren or the Lotus Sutra that is stated, could only be attributed to the teachings of the SGI and no where else. SGI chanting is a bastardized concept borrowed from Western styled religions. Chanting for desires (i.e. cars, money, girlfriends, etc.) is a complete deviation from the 4 Noble Truths of Buddhism itself. Even Western religions considers the idea of praying for material things to be a lack of spiritual maturity. Could it be argued that chanting the SGI way is nothing more than a mechanism to keep the mind aligned with greasing the Ikeda Dharma Wheel?
There comes a point of stagnation in the practice of the general SGI member. He or she becomes frustrated for the attainment of their desires are not being fulfilled. They have not come close to Buddhahood from the time they started practicing. They are told they are Bodhisattvas of the Earth but they are considerably depressed. The balance of there so-called "life condition" have not panned out. They continue to drift between the 6 Lower Worlds. How could this be?
The a-typical SGI meeting is a sick game of Keeping Up with the Joneses' (peer pressure) where members give praise to the hospices of faith and a karma checklist of the acquisition of who has the most benefits. They are given two paths. Give in to the vicious circle and rededicate their efforts to make their contribution of the orgs self-preservation. Of course the most daunting would to simply quit and move forward toward their own spiritual path.
Breaking away and further exploring the basics of true Nichiren practice only confirmed the long suspicions harbored towards the cult. The general members enjoy absolutely no real "spiritual autonomy." Any attempt to exercise thought that doesn't conform to the company flow of the Gakkai machine can result in ostrification and ridicule. Those who choose to remain, the concept of religion will forever be intertwined with the politics of the organization. The concept of Buddhism to them (those who continue to work diligently for the SGI) will be like cereal without milk. Until the general member realizes that simple truth they will forever be bounded. SGI enlightenment equates spiritual enslavement." -- Kevin Richardson
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