SGI members are the last to know about changes in SGI doctrines and practices. It is very bizarre that when others have known for years about the direction to which they were going, they denied each and every change with every fiber of their being. But once the changes are affirmed by their Sensei, they not only readily accept and laud the changes but state that there are no changes, we have always believed thus.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
SGI will suppress 90% of Toda's writings and 90% of Daisaku Ikedas writings before 1991
"The natural power of human beings is very weak. No matter how hard one tries to live one's own life in one's own way, in the end one is easily influenced by others and by external factors....I believe that to make one's life its strongest, most brilliant and happiest, there is no way but to live the Buddhism of ichinen sanzen [a single life-moment possesses three thousand realms] and the mutual possession of the ten worlds. This is the ultimate philosophy that Nichiren Daishonin delivered to the vast universe more than seven hundred years ago. He perceived people's ignorance of this profound principle and bestowed upon them the gem of ichinen sanzen so that they could attain the state of happiness. This gem of ichinen sanzen is nothing other than the Dai-Gohonzon that he inscribed...."(Buddhism in Action, vol. 7, pp. 107-08, 1980)
We on Eagle Peak Blog will keep SGI's history alive so they can see their ugly faces.
So much for SGI kindness. So much for Ikeda's omnicience.
Oh, you were in on the joke of SGI's false doctrines? You knew it for years? Then why not the pioneer members? They had no right to know? And while we're on the subject, it was OK to slander those who taught correct doctrine all along?
Does Danny Nagashima blush when he's shamed?
I'd love to see the face of the foolish Danny Nagashima after reading these posts. I guess he can mitigate his shame at lying to the members for twenty years by looking at his bank account. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT DANNY BOY? Do you blush when you are shamed?
Better now to receive the boundless benefits of the Law!
Why wait five or ten years until SGI tells you that they are switching to a copy of Nichiren inscribed Gohonzon? THEN you will throw out the Nichikan Gohonzon anyway while paying for one of SGI's inferior quality copies. Since you will throw it out all the same, it is better that you throw it out now than later and enshrine a Nichiren Gohonzon.
Erase it from your mind. Sensei says so.
"The Dai-Gohonzon of the high sanctuary of true Buddhism at the Nichiren Shoshu head temple, Taiseki-ji, is the basis of all Gohonzons. The Gohonzon, which we are allowed to recieve so that we can pray in our own homes, can be inscribed only by one of the successive high priests who inherit the true lineage of Nichiren Shoshu." -- Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhism in Action, vol. 1, pg. 21
"It goes without saying that our Soka Gakkai is an organization of Nichiren Shoshu believers. Therefore, worshipping the Dai-Gohonzon and serving the high priest is the fundamental spirit of the Gakkai." Daisaku Ikeda, Inaugural address of president Ikeda, 1960
"The basis of Nichiren Shoshu is the Lifeblood recieved only by a single person. To faithfully follow the High Priest of the bequethal of the Lifeblood is the correct way for priests and lay believers. If one is mistaken about this single point, then everything will become insane." Daisaku Ikeda, Discussing Kosen-rufu and Human Life, Vol. 3, p. 32
"Needless to say, the Dai-Gohonzon of the high sanctuary inscribed for all mankind is the most fundamental basis of the movement for the Nichiren Shoshu Soka Gakkai [they have since changed the name to SGI]. The Dai-Gohonzon has been preserved and handed down within Nichiren Shoshu from the founder, Nichiren Daishonin, to his successor, Nikko Shonin, and then to the third high priest, Nichimoku Shonin, up to the present 67th high priest, Nikken Shonin. I hope, therefore, that we will courageously dedicate ourselves to studying Nichiren Daishonin's teachings in order to deepen our faith and to propagation true Buddhism in each country or community, as we follow the high priest's guidance, and respect the traditions and doctrines of Nichiren Shoshu." Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhism in Action, vol 1, p 33
"We conduct the third prayer to express our deepest appreciation to Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law. In this third silent prayer, we also offer our gratitude to Nikko Shonin, the second high priest and the fouder of Taisekiji. Further, we offer our appreciation to the third high priest, Nichimoku Shonin, and all the successive high priests of Nichiren Shoshu, each of whom transmitted the heritage of the Law to the next. Presently, as you know, the 67th high priest, Nikken Shonin, has inherited the Law. Now he is the master of true Buddhism." Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhism in action, vol 1, p 107
"...we must protect and transmit the essence of the traditions and doctrines that have been continually protected for over 700 years, since the time of the Daishonin. I am concerned that unless we make this our basis, that no matter how much we temporarily increase in power, we would be unable to avoid the criticism of future generations that our Kosen-rufu was a sham." Daisaku Ikeda, Daibyaku Renge, No. 333, p. 13
"That which forms the basis of Nichiren Shoshu is the Lifeblood. With the Dai-Gohonzon as the basis, the successive High Priests alone recieve and inherit this Lifeblood, and preserve it eternally." Daisaku Ikeda, Discussing Kosen-rufu and Human Life, Vol. 3, p. 256
"The Great Pure Law of the Latter day of the Law is transmitted by the successive High Priests of the bequethal of the lifeblood of the Law recieved by only a single person, and they inscribe the Gohonzon for us believers from that standpoint." Daisaku Ikeda, Discussing Kosen-rufu and Human Life, Vol. 4, p. 6
The SGI Teachings "On Seeking Guidance" Is a Form of Infantilism or There are Buddhas and There are BUDDHAS.
I am amazed how many intelligent and accomplished people in SGI seek guidance from uneducated and untrained SGI leaders, particularly from top Japanese senior leaders whose only claim to knowledge and wisdom is their position in the organization. The SGI teaching, "on seeking guidance" is a form of infantilism, people seeking relief from taking responsibility and decision making. They absolve themselves of their responsibility by resorting to a higher power or authority, a so-called SGI senior leader. Please note that this is not Buddhism which teaches: Follow the Law and not persons; be a lamp unto yourself; the Gohonzon is the teacher of all Buddhas; and taking full responsibility for our weal and woe.
Never did I hear of a Buddha (which the SGI claims for their members) seeking guidance from another Buddha. The Gohonzon, not your senior leader, is the teacher of all Buddhas. Apparently, in the SGI, there are buddhas and there are BUDDHAS.
The SGI teachings "on seeking guidance" is a form of infantilism or there are Buddhas and there are BUDDHAS.
The SGI teachings "on seeking guidance" is a form of infantilism or there are Buddhas and there are BUDDHAS.
Profound teaching of Nichiren
‘Striking down the Causes and Effects of the Ten Realms of the Previous [Sutras] and the Manifestation Doctrine, it preaches and reveals the Causes and Effects of the Ten Realms of the Doctrine of the Original. This is the very doctrine (homon) of the Original Cause and the Original Effect. The Nine Realms are possessed in the Beginningless Buddha Realm and the Buddha Realm is provided with the Beginningless Nine Realms and it should be the True Mutual Possession of the Ten Realms (jikkai gogu), the Hundred Realms and Thousand Thusnesses (hyakkai sennyo) and One Thought is Three Thousand Realms (ichinen sanzen).” -- Nichirent
The honorary degrees are a joke.
"I’ve been studying this subject for three years. The process of ascertaining facts is very much hampered by the fact that on the long communication route from Japan to the world, no negative fact or argument about the SGI can travel far within the SGI and no external information about the SGI is available to members of the SGI than the SGI itself. This means that their internal PR is whatever they can get away with.
The honorary degrees are a joke. SGI has enormous funds – about three trillion dollars I believe, and these funds are donated to universities in return for honorary degrees. Soka University graduates are always on hand to write up the right kind of articles on any given subject, but nothing Ikeda has ever written was ever published in a respectable peer-review publication on any subject at all. His guidance isn’t very interesting to anybody in any field of the humanities. At all. Not because his ideas aren’t popular. (such publications are used to hosting controvertial debate). He just doesn’t say very much at all which isn’t basically common sense to most of the planet. Indeed his donation to Buddhist thought as a philosophical tradition is to make out that ‘Ichinen Sanzen’ is Positive Mental Attitude. That and the idea that democracy, dialogue and modern science are naturally integral to Japanese Buddhism. This overlooks the obvious facts of Japanese history, which was that while democracy, dialogue and modern science have been well established traditions in the west, Japan had developed sophisticated alternatives to each of them. The Americans forced them to adopt modern science at gunpoint. MacArthur forced them to adopt a nominal democracy after WW2. They still have problems integrating debate and free speech into their society at every level. But to read the SGI literature, Mr Ikeda would like to be given a Nobel Peace Prize for inventing all of them. That much seems to me to be a fact-based criticism of the whole SGI myth.
Among other things I notice that at the time of the split, members entering SGI culture centres were told by supervising staff that they could not enter unless they were prepared to step on a photograph of the face of the high priest. If they would not do this, they were asked to explain themselves and / or leave. This was a nationwide practice throughout Japan. So much for the spirit of ‘peace through peaceful dialogue. This isn’t normal behavior in Japan any more than it is in the west. I live in Japan. I don’t believe this could possibly have happened outside of Ikeda’s knowledge. It was far too widespread and no official apologies of any kind have ever been offered. Indeed when the President of the Kometo party complained about it, he was hounded out of both Kometo and the SGI for saying so. That is all fact.
The head of the SGI study department switched to Nichiren Shoshu and published his apology for creating so much nonsense deifying Ikeda. He said that he and his department invented 80% of what is communicated as Ikeda’s spiritual guidance on life. The remaining 20% was written by one other man who ghost wrote the ‘Human Revolution’. As this writer died, there will be no more such mini-novels. That is fact, and there s a list of all the names of the study department staff who manufactured Ikeda’s ‘guidance’ for him. This explains why the guidance tends to be rather common-sensical rather than shockingly insightful, avoids any controvertial opinon whatsoeveer and as a consequence, tends to be rather boring.
The Head of the Kometo Party admitted that whatever the Japanese Constitution, like every other respectable democratic constitution stipulates about a division between church and state, the SGI and the Kometo party in Japan are effectively staffed by the same people and centrally managed by Mr Ikeda personally. There have never been internal votes for Komeito leadership. Ikeda personally appointed each Kometo president. -- Dominic Berry
Nichiren turned poison into medicine but is marginalized in the Soka Gakkai
"In addition, this year has been different from any other. If it goes by the name of winter, is it ever anything but cold? If it goes by the name of summer, is it ever anything but hot? Still, though I don’t know how it has been in other provinces, the cold here in Hakiri has been exceptional. When we ask the longtime older residents, the ones who are eighty, ninety, and a hundred all say there has never been a winter as cold as this.
No one visits from ten chō or twenty chō away beyond the mountains surrounding my hut in all four directions. Thus I don’t know how things are there, but about one chō away from here, the snow is piled up to a height of ten feet, twenty feet, or five feet even in shallow places.
On the thirtieth day of the intercalary tenth month, it snowed a bit, but it melted right away. This month there was a heavy snowfall that started at the hour of the dragon [7:00–9:00 a.m.] on the eleventh day and continued right up to the fourteenth day. Two or three days later, a light rain fell, the snow froze as hard as diamonds, and it still has not melted. It is unusual for it to be bone-chilling cold both day and night. The sake has frozen over as hard as stone, frozen oil gleams like gold, and when just a bit of water remains in the cooking vessels, it freeze and they shatter. And as it keeps getting colder and colder, and our clothing is thin and food scarce, no one ventures out. Our living quarters are as yet only half finished so there is no keeping out the snow or wind, and we have nothing to lay down as floor covering. There is no one to go out in search of wood so we are unable to build a fire. The skin of those wearing a single old soiled quilted robe is like the skin of those in the hell of the crimson lotus or the hell of the great crimson lotus. Their voices resemble those that emit from the Hahava hell and Ababa hell. Hands and feet freeze, crack, and break open, and there is no end to people dying. The beards on the laymen look as if they had ornaments dangling from them, while the noses of the priests seem to be strung with bells.
Such an extraordinary event has never occurred before. And not only that, but I have had a bout of diarrhea since the thirtieth day of the twelfth month last year, which failed to improve even in the spring or summer of this year. Fall passed and around the tenth month it actually worsened. After that there was a slight improvement, but it is apt to start up again at any moment.
It was just at such a time that the two quilted robes arrived from you two brothers. Even with forty ryō of cotton padding they are as light as an unlined summer robe. The contrast is all the more apparent because until now I have been wearing a robe so thinly padded it seemed to be no more than a single layer of cloth. Try to imagine how this must have been. Without these two robes, I would surely have frozen to death this year.
Moreover, whether from you two brothers, or from Ukon-no-jō, food also keeps arriving. Even when there is hardly anyone here, there are forty people, and when it is a crowd, there are as many as sixty. No matter how much I refuse, they still come to visit. Saying they are the older brother or the younger brother of someone here, they settle down, but out of regard for their feelings in the end I say nothing. Speaking strictly of my own wishes, I had prayed to be tranquil, alone with my acolyte reciting the sutra in my hut. Thus nothing could be as irksome as this state of affairs. And so I have been planning that, once the New Year has arrived, I would escape somewhere. Nothing could be as irksome as this. I will certainly write you again.
But above all, as for you and your brother Uemon no Tayū Sakan, whether it be about your better relations with your father or your winning the trust of your lord, without actually meeting you it is hard to say all that I wish."
Nichiren would be thrown out or marginalized in the Soka Gakkai for complaining. Even today, he is marginalized, replaced by the teachings of Daisaku Ikeda. The Soka Gakkai embraces Nichiren in name only.
Nichiren would be thrown out or marginalized in the Soka Gakkai for complaining. Even today, he is marginalized, replaced by the teachings of Daisaku Ikeda. The Soka Gakkai embraces Nichiren in name only.
His ego-driven insatiable lust for power and authenticity." -- former SGI leader
"I went to FNCC many times for culture department meetings. A couple years ago it was reinvented as a monument to Ikeda, including two exhibits full of memorabilia. We were honored to be able to tour his private quarters (snide remark). All conference discussion and presentations revolved around master/disciple relationship. One exhibit was the list of honorary degrees from all the obscure universities. I remember wondering what happened to the "rest" of Buddhism? The gosho, Nichiren, the Gohonzon? No one ever speaks of those anymore. I attended a gosho lecture prep where a senior-most leader said that it was "arrogance" to add our own thoughts to lecture material. That we were to neither "add to nor subtract from" ikedas lectures. As if no one else's thoughts or ideas matter at all. Then I tried again to read Ikeda's writings. I am highly intelligent, educated, well read. I could not derive any meaning from Human Revolution, except that Ikeda is "extraordinary", misunderstood by ordinary beings who don't believe in his extra ordinariness. I had always thought that Buddhism was a truth based religion and couldn't surmise how that squares with a leader who is so untruthful as to purchase honorary degrees and hire hack writers. If I had it to do over, I would never had contributed to this man's ego-driven insatiable lust for power and authenticity. What a cheat and a fraud." -- former SGI leader"
Several former Soka Gakkai member's experiences
"I'm not surprised on their lack of procedure. SGI will give guideance to members to chant daimoku, if you have issues with someone else, but they treat their own members and leaders differently. They say never give up on helping a member to grow and develop in spite of their negativity or their issues with you, but they don't follow their own guidance. SGI has become a religion of "do as I say and not as I do" policy. Whatever happened to Pres. Ikeda's "New Renaissance"? We've gone into the "Dark Ages" of religious authoritarianism. SGI accuses the High Priest of saying that members cannot attain enlightenment without his approval, yet SGI demands that members follow Pres. Ikeda's guidance no matter what. You won't get benefit, if you don't follow Pres. Ikeda's guidance. That sounds the same as "you won't attain enlightenment without obeying Pres. Ikeda's guidance". Sometimes you want to lead your own life, but you are forbidden. You have to be monitored periodically with home visits to get you back in line.
If you are a long term member, you no longer have a choice. You are required to have leaders home visit you to "encourage" you to follow Pres. Ikeda or be labeled an outcast. I seriously think that SGI's issues with the Temple will never be resolved, because the Temple is a reflection of what SGI is doing. To be a good member, you have to be blind to that. Leaders want to pry into your life to know everything that you think and do. Do they keep a database on your life? Why do they get upset when you want to keep certain things private? If you're not asking for guidance, they want to pry into your life, so that they can force guidance on you. Everyone has faults and weaknesses and I don't like leaders talking about me behind my back and gossiping. Don't ever think you have privacy after you get guidance!!!! Whatever you reveal during guidance becomes your reputation.
SGI doesn't excommunicate, they just have the men's and young men's division follow you around, if you go to a large assembly to be sure that you stay in line. Their eyes are on you. They are like the "Gakkai Police Division" to discourage you from going to large activities. SGI wants the temple members to return to SGI, yet when your participating sincerly in activities, some leaders will use you for their own purpose and say it's for kosenrufu. If you complain about mistreatment, those leaders are not replaced, they are promoted; becausethey "kiss ass" to their leaders, but jerk you arround. Then you are told that its your own karma. Yes, faith equals daily life or its more like daily life equals faith. SGI has become a bureaucracy that is no different than the big corporations that have their own internal office politics. Rather than being an example to members of how to live a life of compassion, they take steps to protect their own asses.
Pres. Ikeda has written guidance in SGI publications that leaders should treat their members with respect. Yet I have heard many times that Pres. Ikeda has yelled and scolded his subordinate leaders in front of other leaders in the same room. He mistreats them for kosen rufu and not follow his example. Oh, but he is our example of the Buddha's behavior. Once in a large meeting, General Director Danny Nagashima told us of how Pres. Ikeda yelled at him at a special dinner for high level leaders. I've heard of Pres. Ikeda yelling at former General Director Mr. Williams questioning his loyalty of supporting him and then Mr. Williams was fired and now SGI slander's his name.
Don't count on SGI being an example of faith, because if you have problems with them they will say it's your karma. Keep chanting no matter what and you will get the life you create. Likewise, SGI will get the life that they are creating. I'm sure the remaining leaders are chanting to resolve all these issues too. SGI is not there yet; so you'll just have to put up with it until SGI is perfect. Who needs members to do Human Revolution, when you've got leaders that jerk you around?" -- Savantakashik
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"I cannot believe there is someone who has had the same experience (s) that I have had. I've often thought whats really the difference (priesthood VSSGI?) Why does everything have to impinge on a home visitation opposed to just getting guidance and even then many times a member in good standing will delegate to another member who you may hardly even know or who has been less than cordial to you call you out of the blue and start their own pitch thus adding insult to injury. In my case I've observed that when we finally got our own center It didn't take too long to notice a Private country club mentality take place. Members will often times be more than glad to get you to meetings that are right in you're [own] neighborhood but it seems only a select few get to "go to mecca" and provisions are made for them but yet often times you get a startled look when you're seen by someone who acts surprised to see you there. In another case I've recently befriended a newer member with whom I share similar obstacles/demons but its been hard to connect because they fear who knows what. The person lives close to me and its been like pulling teeth because were not encouraged to just get together outside of an activity and chant. I'm glad that you are continuing to chant and encourage us to do so. I appreciate you're candor and that you're still chanting . Please keep expressing you're thoughts. -- CP
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Yes, I know exactly what you mean by "Private country club mentality". When they asked for Mens Division volunteers to do traffic control, I would readily volunteer. I did it many times as a Group Leader and as a District Leader and I was in good standing. I had asked many times of my leaders and the Youth Division leaders to give me or sell me one of the blue jackets that identify me as one of the volunteers, but they never gave me one. Near our Kaikan there was a small street and I was instructed not to let members park in front of the neighborhood houses and so I prevented many members coming to the meeting not from parking there. However, some close "buddies" of my MD Area Leader parked there and they treated me like I didn't know what I was talking about. My Area leader came out and told them that I was doing the traffic control, but he didn't support me and tell them to move their cars. Instead, he told me to go inside to the meeting and when I came out after the meeting, his ''buddies" still had their cars parked in the street that I had all the other members avoid. I think the word that best for this type of inside group is "clique". The type you hear of in high school. The type of exclusive group that you may never be apart of. My MD Area Leader has his own special support group of non-leaders that he socialized with and to whom he gave special organizational privileges . I wouldn't be suprised if this happens quite frequently in many parts of SGI. We are all supposed to be equals, but this is not the reality of the organization.
SGI teachings on the DaiGohonzon then and now
ABOUT THE DAI-GOHONZON By Ted Morino
[Excerpted from the 9/10/99 World Tribune]
SGI President Ikeda stated: "Nothing has changed in the way we view the Dai-Gohonzon: It was inscribed by Nichiren Daishonin for the happiness of all humanity and is the basis of our faith." The SGI has always upheld the validity of the Dai-Gohonzon, even during these years when we have not been able to see it."
We should clarify what is the correct attitude toward the Dai-Gohonzon. First, the power of any Gohonzon, including the Dai-Gohonzon, can be tapped only through the power of faith. It is wrong to think that the Dai-Gohonzon alone has some kind of unique mystic power that no other Gohonzon possesses. The Dai-Gohonzon and our own Gohonzon are equal.
What is most important is the power of our faith and practice, which enables us to tap the power of the Buddha and the Law in the Dai-Gohonzon and in all other Gohonzon, and within ourselves. In this respect, the Daishonin states: "The Gohonzon is found in faith alone. As the sutra states, 'Only with faith can one enter Buddhahood'" (The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 213).
It is wrong to think that, whether we have faith in the Dai-Gohonzon or not, the Dai-Gohonzon is absolute. Faith is what matters. In this respect, President Ikeda states: "The Gohonzon enshrined at our home carries the same significance as the Dai-Gohonzon. They are as beneficial as the Dai-Gohonzon, in accord with the Buddhist principle of "dispersing the body of the original in different forms" (Jpn funjin santai).
Since the Dai-Gohonzon is made of wood, its physical longevity is naturally limited. But the essence of the Dai-Gohonzon, the Law, will never perish because it inherently exists in the universe and within each of us. President Toda used to use the expression "the Dai-Gohonzon in my home," meaning that the Gohonzon we worship at home is essentially the Dai-Gohonzon itself.
The millions of SGI members who have achieved victories in their lives have done so through their practice to their own Gohonzon. This is because we have been practicing the Daishonin's Buddha's correctly in accord with the compassionate spirit behind the Daishonin's inscription of the Dai-Gohonzon. This awareness is more important than ever today."
AnonymousJanuary 25, 2016 at 2:33 AM
Upon completion of Daiseido they intended to totally depart from the Dai-Gohonzon that was inscribed in 1279 and that is located at the Nichiren Shoshu head temple. They tried to signify the wooden Gohonzon of the Soka Gakkai Headquarters (which was transcribed by Nichiren Shoshu's 64th High Priest Nissho) to replace it as the Dai-Gohonzon. In order to do so, they needed to firstly reject the position of the Dai-Gohonzon. They tried to make use of the Study Department to build up the grounds of the teachings to place the Nissho Gohonzon as the Dai-Gohonzon. However, the Study Department strongly opposed to proceed the hasty change of such an important teaching issue within a short period of time. The careless change may give rise to great confusion within the organization, at the same time, it will cause to contradict the history of the Three Founding Presidents.
For nearly 80 years, until 2014, the cornerstone of the Soka Gakkai faith, the very prime point of their faith, was the DaiGohonzon of Sanctuary. Before 1991, millions of Japanese SGI had visited the Head Temple of Taisekeji to worship this Gohonzon, some more than a thousand times. It was the very bedrock of the Soka Gakkai's silent prayers, its heart and soul and the inviolate principle to which all members were taught to revere more than life itself. The slanders heaped upon us and me personally for questioning the DaiGohonzon, number in the thousands. I am angry and at the same time amused at SGI members rank stupidity, lack of seeking spirit, and vitriole. I am not surprised however because the DaiGohonzon breeds evil men and women. Every last pioneer SGI member, man or woman, is a devil who will fall into the unremitting hell. Pity.
The SGI KYOGAKU-BU REPORT ("Study Department Report")
AnonymousJanuary 25, 2016 at 2:33 AM
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What is the KYOGAKU-BU REPORT ("Study Department Report")?
Before the completion of Daiseido (Hall of Great Vow for Kosen-rufu) in November 2013, some of the Soka Gakkai's powerful executive leaders were working behind the scenes -- to imprudently change the teachings and to enact the new Soka Gakkai Charter and its Rules & Regulations.
The KYOGAKU-BU REPORT is the document that has recorded in detail how the Study Department opposed to stop their schemes and tried to denounce their mistakes. The writer of this Report has described the accurate dates and content of their speeches. It was written with composure, showing a full of a sense of justice and sincerity.
Schemes to Change Teachings Planned by Some Powerful Executive Leaders:
Upon completion of Daiseido they intended to totally depart from the Dai-Gohonzon that was inscribed in 1279 and that is located at the Nichiren Shoshu head temple. They tried to signify the wooden Gohonzon of the Soka Gakkai Headquarters (which was transcribed by Nichiren Shoshu's 64th High Priest Nissho) to replace it as the Dai-Gohonzon. In order to do so, they needed to firstly reject the position of the Dai-Gohonzon. They tried to make use of the Study Department to build up the grounds of the teachings to place the Nissho Gohonzon as the Dai-Gohonzon. However, the Study Department strongly opposed to proceed the hasty change of such an important teaching issue within a short period of time. The careless change may give rise to great confusion within the organization, at the same time, it will cause to contradict the history of the Three Founding Presidents.
The Study Department was fully aware that the Dai-Gohonzon issue should be solved and overcome in the future, but the risk to carelessly proceed the matter within a short period of time was too great to take. They also calmly judged that they could not construct the new teachings with an inconsistent idea to replace the Nissho Gohonzon as the Dai-Gohonzon. It was one of the reasons they opposed the executive leaders when they tried to enforce adoption of their idea. (There is a premise that all the Gohonzons are the transcription of the Dai-Gohonzon. When you consider it logically, It does not make any sense to choose the transcription "copy" and to deny the Dai-Gohonzon "original")
However, the top executive leaders applied great pressure on the Study Department who had been opposing them with reasons. They finally told them that "this is the will of President Ikeda" to enforce the change. Later, the Study Department discovered it was nothing but a false, make-up story.
There was another issue -- it was the start of a newly created organization, the "Nichiren World School Soka Gakkai" and to enact its Charter and its Rules and Regulations. Some of the top executive leaders planned to make the new organization which would come on top of the SGI's. They were proceeding to enact the "Charter" to control all the SGI's of the world under an absolute power of the top executive leaders by placing the president of the Soka Gakkai as the top (president) of this organization.
The plan to act on their own authority, even using the name of SGI President Ikeda, was brought to a standstill due to a strong resistance from the Study Department and some of the SGI general directors. So, they could not accomplish their plan for the November 18, 2013 Daiseido project. Thereafter, key leaders of the Study Department who were involved in this matter and some of the Soka Gakkai leaders who have supported the Study Department were reshuffled and ousted. Their plan had to be carried over to this year.
On the surface it seems to be the issue of the teachings; however, it deeply involves for Mr. Tanigawa, Chief Vice President, to take office as the next president of the Soka Gakkai. At the same time, it is strongly connected with the absolute power structure they intend to establish when and after SGI President Ikeda passes away.
This letter was written in 2014
For nearly 80 years, until 2014, the cornerstone of the Soka Gakkai faith, the very prime point of their faith, was the DaiGohonzon of Sanctuary. Before 1991, millions of Japanese SGI had visited the Head Temple of Taisekeji to worship this Gohonzon, some more than a thousand times. It was the very bedrock of the Soka Gakkai's silent prayers, its heart and soul and the inviolate principle to which all members were taught to revere more than life itself. The slanders heaped upon us and me personally for questioning the DaiGohonzon, number in the thousands. I am angry and at the same time amused at SGI members rank stupidity, lack of seeking spirit, and vitriole. I am not surprised however because the DaiGohonzon breeds evil men and women. Every last pioneer SGI member, man or woman, is a devil who will fall into the unremitting hell. Pity.
A discussion among members of the SGI Independent Reassessment Group circa 1990
"I'm not surprised on their lack of procedure. SGI will give guidance to members to chant diamoku, if you have issues with someone else, but they treat their own members and leaders differently. They say never give up on helping a member to grow and develop in spite of their negativity or their issues with you, but they don't follow their own guidance. SGI has become a religion of "do as I say and not as I do" policy. Whatever happened to Pres. Ikeda's "New Renaissance"? We've gone into the "Dark Ages" of religious authoritarianism. SGI accuses the High Priest of saying that members cannot attain enlightenment without his approval, yet SGI demands that members follow Pres. Ikeda's guidance no matter what. You won't get benefit, if you don't follow Pres. Ikeda's guidance. That sounds the same as "you won't attain enlightenment without obeying Pres. Ikeda's guidance". Sometimes you want to lead your own life, but you are forbidden. You have to be monitored periodically with home visits to get you back in line.
If you are a long term member, you no longer have a choice. Your are required to have leaders home visit you to "encourage" you to follow Pres. Ikeda or be labeled an outcast. I seriously think that SGI's issues with the Temple will never be resolved, because the Temple is a reflection of what SGI is doing. To be a good member, you have to be blind to that. Leaders want to pry into your life to know everything that you think and do. Do they keep a database on your life? Why do they get upset when you want to keep certain things private? If you're not asking for guidance, they want to pry into your life, so that they can force guidance on you. Everyone has faults and weaknesses and I don't like leaders talking about me behind my back and gossiping. Don't ever think you have privacy after you get guidance!!!! Whatever you reveal during guidance becomes your reputation.
SGI doesn't excomunicate, they just have the men's and young men's division follow you around, if you go to a large assembly to be sure that you stay in line. Their eyes are on you. They are like the "Gakkai Police Division" to discourage you from going to large activities. SGI wants the temple members to return to SGI, yet when you're participating sincerly in activities, some leaders will use you for their own purpose and say it's for kosenrufu. If you complain about mistreatment, those leaders are not replaced, they are promoted; because they "kiss ass" to their leaders, but jerk you around. Then you are told that its your own karma. Yes, faith equals daily life or its more like daily life equals faith. SGI has become a bureaucracy that is no different than the big corporations that have their own internal office politics. Rather than being an example to members of how to live a life of compassion, they take steps to protect their own asses.
Pres. Ikeda has written guidance in SGI publications that leaders should treat their members with respect. Yet I have heard many times that Pres. Ikeda has yelled and scolded his subordinate leaders in front of other leaders in the same room. He mistreats them for kosen rufu and not follow his example. Oh, but he is our example of the Buddha's behavior. Once in a large meeting, General Director Danny Nagashima told us of how Pres. Ikeda yelled at him at a special dinner for high level leaders. I've heard of Pres. Ikeda yelling at former General Director Mr. Williams questioning his loyalty of supporting him and then Mr. Williams was fired and now SGI slander's his name.
Don't count on SGI being an example of faith, because if you have problems with them they will say it's your karma. Keep chanting no matter what and you will get the life you create. Likewise, SGI will get the life that they are creating. I'm sure the remaining leaders are chanting to resolve all these issues too. SGI is not there yet; so you'll just have to put up with it until SGI is perfect. Who needs members to do Human Revolution, when you've got leaders that jerk you around?" -- Savantakashik
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"I cannot believe there is someone who has had the same experience (s) that I have had. I've often thought whats really the difference (priesthood VSSGI?) Why does everything have to impinge on a home visitation opposed to just getting guidance and even then many times a member in good standing will delegate another member who you may hardley even now or who has been less than cordial to you call you out of the blue and start their own pitch thus adding insult to injury. In my case Ive observed that when we finally got our own center It didnt take to long to notice a Private country club mentality take place. Members will often times be more than glad to get you to meetings that are right in you're neighborhood but it seems only a select few get to "go to mecca" and provisions are made for them but yet often times you get a startled look when you're seen by someone who acts surprised to see you there.In another case I've recently befriended a newer member with whom I share similar obstacles/demons but its been hard to connect because they fear of letting to much be known for the "database" you're referring to. That person lives close to me and its been like pulling teeth because were not encouraged to just get together outside of an activity and chant. Im glad that you are continuing to chant and encourage us to do so.I appreciate you're candor and that you're still chanting . Please keep expressing youre thoughts. -- CP
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Yes, I know exactly what you mean by "Private country club mentality". When they asked for Mens Division volunteers to do traffic control, I would readily volunteer. I did it many times as a Group Leader and as a District Leader and I was in good standing. I had asked many times of my leaders and the Youth Division leaders to give me or sell me one of the blue jackets that identify me as one of the volunteers, but they never gave me one. Near our Kaikan there was a small street and I was instructed not to let members park in front of the neighborhood houses and so I prevented many members coming to the meeting not from parking there. However, some close "buddies" of my MD Area Leader parked there and they treated me like I didn't know what I was talking about. My Area leader came out and told them that I was doing the traffic control, but he didn't support me and tell them to move their cars. Instead, he told me to go inside to the meeting and when I came out after the meeting, his ''buddies" still had their cars parked in the street that I had all the other members avoid. I think the word that best for this type of inside group is "clique". The type you hear of in high school. The type of exclusive group that you may never be apart of. My MD Area Leader has his own special support group of non-leaders that he socialized with and to whom he gave special organizational privileges . I wouldn't be supprised if this happens quite frequently in many parts of SGI. We are all supposed to be equals, but this is not the reality of the organization. -- S
"Authoritarian leadership, deception and destructive mind control are the main ingredients in a cult, and SGI fits the bill. That may strike some as an unkind or unfair assertion, but I plan to back it up with examples and explanation.
"SHOW YOUR EVIDENCE!"
Are you blind?
BACK IT UP WITH EVIDENCE NOT EMOTIONAL EXAMPLES AND EXPLANATIONS
Chanting, one day to the Nikken or Nittatsu Gohonzon and the next day [by authoritarian proclamation] exchanging these Gohonzons for the Nichikan Gohozon. Reciting the Sutra 5 times in the morning and 3 times in the evening and the next day [by authoritarian proclamation] everyone without a single exception, reciting the sutra once in the morning and once in the evening.
Similarly, changing the silent prayers at the President's pleasure.
There was no diialogue or discussions regarding these significant changes to the faith and practice... They were all changed by the authority vested in Daisaku Ikeda.
In 1966, the SGI by-laws [which remain in effect] were further changed so that:
- The president is also the “official representative” of the Gakkai.
- He is manager of all its affairs.
- He has the power to convoke the Leaders Meeting (of all 21 responsible officials).
- He appoints and dismisses all the other responsible officials.
- He appoints and dismisses all the vice-general directors, the directors and all “other necessary officials.”
- He holds office for life.
- He chooses his own successor.
RESULTS OF THE SPECIAL ZAIMU CAMPAIGN:
MEMO # CJT-69
DISTRIBUTE TO - TERR/HQ
INFORM TO - HQ CHIEFS
MEMORANDUM TO ALL TERRITORY AND HQ CHIEFS
FROM CHICAGO JOINT TERRITORY OFFICE
DATE: OCTOBER 9, 1989
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION WEEKLY REPORT - AS OF 10-8-89
CHICAGO TERR 1 -------------$106,821.87
" " 2-------------$39,132.89
" " 3-------------$128,991.81
" " 4-------------$240,519.73
Heartland terr.--------------------$111,964.62
Tennessee Terr-------------------$51,102.06
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$678,514.98
We are at 1/3 of our goal at this point. This month, October is the originally scheduled month for the Special Contribution, and we have to do our VERY BEST! [sic] The most important point is "Promotion of Significance." There are so many members to reach and explain this historic campaign.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
The Ikeda auditorium in Chicago was never built.
Chinberg responds: The new Chicago Culture Center was built instead, Craig.
Response:
AT A COST OF 1/5 OF THE 3.5 MILLION COLLECTED. What happened to the other 2.8 Million?
The members who dared ask the question "Where'd all the money go?" were sent personal letters of expulsion via certified mail. Six in all.
The list goes on and on. Son thoroughly trounced are you on this one point.
This post in 1995 helped to convince me to leave the Soka Gakkai
"Well, your answers are quite sad to read. Instead of going back to the source and re-reading Nichiren you say, "what you say about the severe retribution for not following your brand of Shakyamuni's teachings is truly astonishing".........how is this my brand? It's Nichiren's teaching. I didn't find "passages to support (my) beliefs"........and "goshos are open to interpretation, despite (my) insistence that (I) alone know the truth". Goshos are exactly as they are written, no interpretation at all when it's so clearly spelled out. You say that my statements do not "pass the rationality test".
And you say "there cannot only be One Way". (Sorry, that's Nichiren' message, there is ONLY one way, not two or three.) "There are many paths to enlightenment as there are seekers". Fine words, but they are a different teaching. They are not Nichiren's and they are not the Lotus Sutra. In case you didn't notice, Nichiren is a fundamentalist, and his is an exclusive practice, i.e. the Lotus Sutra only. Likewise, Shakyamuni says that he has "not yet revealed the truth", which is found only in the Lotus Sutra. You can't be a Nichiren Buddhist if you don't believe Nichiren's words.
Nichiren was a "scriptural Buddhist". He relied solely on the sutras. His earliest credo was from the Great Nirvana Sutra..... "Trust the Dharma, do not trust human teachers. Trust the wisdom (of the Buddha) do not trust human consciousness. Trust the sutras of final meaning, do not trust the sutras of non-final meaning."The Buddha taught three kinds of teaching: provisional, expedient, and final. The final is the Lotus Sutra, with the Nirvana Sutra as a "gleaning".
T'ien t'ai said: "If something agrees with the (Lotus) Sutra, then record and use it. Do not believe in oral transmissions." In the Tendai tradition of Nichiren's day, there was a "zenification" happening, which implied that there was some meaning that was higher than the text. Nichiren rejects this completely. Unfortunately, the SGI/NST philosophy is in this vein , and is completely in opposition to Nichiren.....
You rely on the opinions of Ted Morino....even if they contradict Nichiren. This SGI talk is simply "New Age mysticism in Buddhist robes". It is not Nichiren Buddhism. (It's easy for Ted Morino to tell you anything because you haven't looked it up for yourself. Isn't this risky, like taking a stock broker's word for an investment? I had no luck until I read everything for myself).
Like it or not, Nichiren was a strict fundamentalist. His words, "All other sutras lead to hell" is a direct quote, correctly translated. Jesus is a "bad teacher" and his teaching causes terrible suffering, especially after death......only Nichiren used the name "Honen" in this type of example. Obviously, he didn't know about Jesus, but the principle is the same. Sorry to shock you, but it's not me who says so, it's Nichiren himself. And Nichiren says that if people find him to be too strict, then they must consider Shakyamuni to be even more strict in the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren merely reiterates the teaching that Shakyamuni transmitted to him at the ceremony in the air (Chapter 11, Lotus Sutra).
Instead of going on in this vein, let me be blunt. You practice Soka-Buddhism,.not Nichiren Buddhism. .Do you think that a fake honzon can give the same benefit as a real one? The answer is that you are not getting the benefits that Nichiren described. I don't doubt that you feel your practice benefits you. Christians get benefits also, even miracles. So does every religion in the world, including paganism, shamanism, even Norman Vincent Peale's positive thinking. It's not the yardstick that we can use to compare the "results". I can use my mental strength to create a miracle, because the human mind is truly remarkable. However, the human mind is not the equivalent of the Buddha mind, even though the latter is found in each of us.
Don't you see that the lack of knowledge about Nichiren (what have you been reading for 14 years? Ikeda? WT? But never the Lotus Sutra? Does this pass the "rationality test"?)....this lack of knowledge about Nichiren has fueled a philosophy that is completely removed from the original writings? You can recite the daimoku, but if it doesn't reflect the truth, then you miss the benefit. This kind of chanting will lead you to someday find the Lotus Sutra again, perhaps in a future life, but it misleads you now. Shall I quote goshos that are specific on this point? I'm not saying this to inflame you or to give you "fire and brimstone". It's the exact teaching that Nichiren presented, and it mirrors the Lotus Sutra perfectly. If you truly believe that the Lotus Sutra is removed from Shakyamuni and the daimoku of Nichiren, then your chanting is a provisional teaching, not the true teaching. (I'm paraphrasing a specific gosho, this is not my own invention.) I wish it were otherwise, then it would be easy to "receive and keep" this teaching. But it's very hard to believe and practice in an evil age, harder that to carry a load of dry grass through a fire without getting burned, etc.
You're happy with SGI's version of Nichiren, but don't fool yourself into thinking that the benefit "is all the same". And don't expect me or anyone else who has walked both roads to buy into the SGI "crock". I've been there and back.....so have many others. As for the "world peace" angle, more people have quit SGI than have stayed. Conservatively, half million gohonzons have been sold in this country but the membership today is probably under 30,000 in the US. Do the math for yourself. If there is so much benefit via the SGI way, why have so many left? People don't leave if they are benefitting from something.
Realistically, the Gakkai is a means to drive people away from the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren. How many Americans have a bad taste in their mouth for Nichiren, just because they were shuttled through the SGI? How many people can tolerate the heavy handed "senior leader" tyranny? How many lives have been ruined, marriages broken up, and careers wasted? How many people have been crushed by the demands of insane activities, min-ons and conventions? Or "guidance"? In order to create "world peace" SGI would have to go back and win these people back again. It won't happen.
Don't bother to convince me otherwise on these points, I saw more in my years with SGI than you can even imagine. And I talk to new people every day, who left five or more years ago. It hasn't changed and the horror stories are still the same. My e-mail is full, every day, of posts from people who write about their pain over the SGI experience. Do you think that these people are lying to me, and would waste their time in writing if they hadn't been spiritually duped or abused by leaders? Shall I believe you and tell these people that they must be mistaken? Shall I adopt the stance of "denial", and lie to myself about what I went through? I see very clearly the pattern that my life had in SGI. It's only because I practice the orthodox way that I can see with crystal clarity what my own life is about, and what it was about then. (I am being very specific here, and the precise experiences that I refer to are the basis of my spiritual convictions. They are significant and substantial, not just "feelings".) Are you saying that this "actual" proof of mine is invalid? Or that I can't compare the differences between then and now? Are you doubting my experience that the real benefit did not happen until I "parted from the false and adopted the true"? (That's from the sutra.)
If you find Nichiren's words too harsh to accept at face value, then stay with Soka-"Buddhism". But don't try to convince me that "it's all the same". The "results" are completely different and the final destinations are in opposite directions. I'm sorry you don't study for yourself but rely on "scholars" like Ted Morino .........it's lethal. You can accept the New Age philosophy without much personal damage....but when you use new Age to destroy the teaching of Nichiren, then it's a different scenario. You can strike your fist at the air without damage , but if you strike a rock, then your hand will break. To attack other teachings is to strike the air, but to attack the Lotus Sutra (and SGI says it has no power, a serious attack) is to strike a rock. It doesn't matter if you do so in ignorance, your hand will still break. It doesn't matter if you give the order to kill people or if you are the soldier who carries out the order, the retribution is the same. Teacher and disciple fall to hell together. Do you recognize these last two statements? They're directly from Nichiren.
Enough said. I sincerely hope you consider both sides carefully. We are a network, not a "leader-based' organization like SGI, so don't think that I'm trying to get you to switch for the sake of "our side". The purpose of this post is not to drum up membership, like some "shakabuku campaign". The issue is doctrine only, and the truth. Not some interpretation (based on lies, sadly)......all "benefits" flow from the truth. The philosophy that you described in your letter (new-age buddhism) is not Nichiren. No amount of rationalization will make it so. At least admit to the "revisionism" of SGI and consider seriously if it hasn't altered the truth. Then consider what benefit can come from adopting the truth, and what harm comes from accepting a lie. Base it on the words of Nichiren and the Lotus Sutra only. Don't make "me" the issue. It's cult mentality to attack the messenger, to see things as "us" vs. "them". Remove "me" from the discussion and look at the issue of doctrine only. If you don't study the doctrine you can be duped." -- Bruce Maltz
The Nichiren Shoshu theology is based on internal forgeries
"This transmission is the oral transmission from Nichiren to one legitimate disciple, the secret transmission entrusted to only one person." "Ubuyo Sojo Ji" [Transmission Concerning the First Bath], Shinpen, p. 1710.
Internal forgery
Internal forgery
"The successive Shonin are all, without exception, Nichiren." (Nichiren Daishonin, "Seven Teachings on the Gohonzon Transmitted from Master to Disciple", Fuji Shugaku Yoshu, vol. 1, p. 32; Nichiren Shoshu Seiten, p. 379
Internal forgery
"[The documents of] this Heritage [of the school of the Essential Teachings of the Lotus Sutra] and [the documents of] the essential matters of the Gohonzon are documents of the Transmission of the Law from Nichiren to the successive masters in the seat of the Law. They concern the Transmission bestowed [on Bodhisattva Jogyo] at the Treasure Tower, the Transmission of the Heritage of the law exclusively from one to the next." -- On the True Cause
Internal forgery
Internal forgery
"[The documents of] this Heritage [of the school of the Essential Teachings of the Lotus Sutra] and [the documents of] the essential matters of the Gohonzon are documents of the Transmission of the Law from Nichiren to the successive masters in the seat of the Law. They concern the Transmission bestowed [on Bodhisattva Jogyo] at the Treasure Tower, the Transmission of the Heritage of the law exclusively from one to the next." -- On the True Cause
Internal forgery
On the True Cause, Seven Teachings on the Gohonzon, and Concerning the First Bath are all base forgeries, not accepted by any scholar or priest outside of the Nichiren Shoshu. Even the SGI teaches that these writings are blatant forgeries.
Say what?
"Compel your members to accept some truths while rejecting others." -- SGI top Senior Leader
Proof please
"In this day and age, no one can attain Buddhahood without participating in SGI activities." -- Soka Gakkai President Daisaku Ikeda World Tribune, Dec. 1992
Who am I to question your beliefs?
You are free to believe anything. You may believe in Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny. There is about as much proof of the authenticity of the DaiGohonzon and of Ikeda being the Buddha of the modern age as there is for Santa Clause. Who am I to question your beliefs? Why should I even care that you embrace a fairy tale rather than experience the true greatness of the Daishonin's teachings? Hell, if you die with a smile on your face singing Forever Sensei, who am I to try and shake your beliefs, even should the Lotus Sutra and Five Major writings of Nichiren point out the heresy of your beliefs.
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