I challenge SGI members to sharpen their perception

“Unless one can perceive the relative profundity of the various writings, one cannot judge the worth of the principles they reveal.” — The Opening of the Eyes

SGI's evangelical Christianity-like testimonials

"Consumed by their erroneous views, they slander the correct teaching."

http://ikedacenter.org/

Let's look, ponder, and analyze the "forums, themes, and thinkers" series of the Boston Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue, as well as, SGI's peace, culture, and education videos in light of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. Can we find one mention of Namu Myoho renge kyo, Gohonzon, or Kaiden? Can we find one instance of a remonstrance of Christianity, Provisional Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, or Judiaism? Can we find one mention of the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha or Nichiren Daishonin in the millions of words written and spoken?

They are putting the cart before the horse. Even a six year old is aware of the problems facing humanity. Efforts to create awareness of the problems is hardly the means to eradicating them, let alone lamenting about humanity's lack of awareness. Nichiren Daishonin teaches:

"But despite all these efforts, they merely exhaust themselves in vain. Famine and epidemics rage more fiercely than ever, beggars are everywhere in sight, and scenes of death fill our eyes. Corpses pile up in mounds like observation platforms, and dead bodies lie side by side like planks on a bridge."

Nichiren goes on to say:

"I have pondered the matter carefully with what limited resources I possess, and have looked a little at the scriptures for an answer. The people of today all turn their backs upon what is right; to a person, they give their allegiance to evil. This is the reason that the benevolent deities have abandoned the nation and departed together, that sages leave and do not return. And in their stead devils and demons come, and disasters and calamities occur. I cannot keep silent on this matter. I cannot suppress my fears."

Nichren then cites the Golden Light Sutra [referring to the Lotus Sutra]:

"The host said: There are numerous passages that could be cited and a wide variety of proofs. For example, in the Golden Light Sutra we read: “[The four heavenly kings said to the Buddha], ‘Though this sutra exists in the nation, its ruler has never allowed it to be propagated. In his heart he turns away from it, and he takes no pleasure in hearing its teachings. He neither makes offerings to it, honors it, nor praises it. Nor is he willing to honor or make offerings to the four kinds of Buddhists who embrace the sutra. In the end, he makes it impossible for us and the other countless heavenly beings who are our followers to hear this profound and wonderful teaching. He deprives us of the sweet dew of its words and cuts us off from the flow of the correct teaching, so that our majesty and strength are drained away. Thus the number of beings who occupy the evil paths increases, and the number who dwell in the human and heavenly realms decreases. People fall into the river of the sufferings of birth and death and turn their backs on the road to nirvana."

Yet, the advocates of Ikedaism council teach:

"Dr. Ikeda recalled Dewey's assertion that it is “the religious” rather than any specific religion that is of importance and noted that “the religious” is not a species of dogma, but rather a quality that can permeate experiences of many types, including those that are aesthetic, educative, and even political. It was in this connection that Dr. Ikeda associated the long-term viability of any form of religious expression with the degree to which it is capable of balancing and harmonizing internal and external forces in ways that promote positive social change. -- Larry Hickman

Nichiren then reiterates [and might well be speaking about the leaders of the Soka Gakkai such as Richard Yoshimachi, Virginia Straus, Mitch Bogen, Shirley Chandl, Jeff Farr, Masahiro Hagiya, Elizabeth King, Kevin Maher, Masao Yakota, Beth Zimmerman, and especially Daisaku Ikeda]: 

"...Outwardly they will seem to be wise and good, but within they will harbor greed and jealousy. [And when they are asked to preach the teachings, they will say nothing,] like Brahmans who have taken a vow of silence. They are not true monks—they merely have the appearance of monks. Consumed by their erroneous views, they slander the correct teaching."

"When we look at the world in the light of these passages of scripture, we see that the situation is just as they describe it. If we do not admonish the evil priests, how can we hope to do good?"

Soka Gakkai's Mount Sumeru of slander

Nichiren would reprimand SGI even more than we.

The Buddha taught, "Resplendent and adamantine are my words. Listen carefully and discern." 

Nichiren would be be more forceful with the Soka Gakkai than with the provisional sects of his day. While he was alive, for the most part, he could rein in his errant disciples through personal letters and direct communication. Today, he must rely on his faithful disciples and believers to police themselves. 

Every letter Nichiren wrote was to confront the established sects and/or to raise disciples and believers capable of establishing the true teachings and to refute the provisional teachings. Today, many so-called Nichiren sects slander the true teachings, seeking approval from the interfaith community, the provisional sects, and from the non-Buddhists. 

The Opening of the Eyes, the Selection of the Time, Repaying Debts of Gratitude, The True Object of Worship, as well as, his more than six hundred letters and fragments of letters are living testaments to his great wish to establish Namu Myoho renge kyo and strengthen the faith of his disciples and believers. He clarified for our sake both correct and incorrect Buddhist doctrines and he enjoined us to get along as "fish and the water in which they swim". All this he taught so the Law would long endure and that we live long happy lives free of misfortune and disasters

Nichiren never got his chance for a national debate. Other than his first public lecture in 1253, the local debate on Sado, and his meeting with the Regent Hei-no-saemon in 1274, he had little opportunity to confront the leaders of the established sects except indirectly through his writings and the conversion efforts of his disciples and believers. 

The so-called shortcomings of the Soka Gakkai are anything but mere shortcomings. They are a Mount Sumeru of slander. Nichiren would be outraged that the SGI fails to follow his teachings and admonitions, choosing instead to follow the person of Daisaku Ikeda. There are principles of "refutation" and "intervention" in Nichiren's Lotus Sutra Buddhism. He taught his disciples not to believe those who claim to be his followers unless they have some proof of it in his own hand. The proof today is the Lotus Sutra and his authentic writings, believing and upholding them. Nichiren was very clear about the exclusive faith and practice of the Lotus Sutra and that the forceful practices of the Lotus Sutra are to be employed in this degenerate age. Clear too are Nichiren's teachings on the staunch unity of his disciples if the Great wish is to be realized. He teaches that fifty or a hundred men in unity can overcome a great army in disarray. I enjoin you to create the type of unity that will move mountains. 

The only religion that can save humanity is the religion based on the correct Three Great Secret Laws and Correct Three Treasures of the Juryo-hon Chapter of the Lotus Sutra. The Soka Gakkai tramples on these bedrocks of the Nichiren faith. 

Most people fail to see themselves, especially after having drunk the poison of erroneous teachings. Modeling ourselves on the Buddha (The Excellent Physician) and Nichiren Daishonin (the Buddha's messenger), we will awaken the SGI members to keep well the Three Great Secret Dharmas of the Chapter of the Measure of Life and the Good Excellent Medicine which is Namu Myoho renge kyo

The fate of Daisaku Ikeda and Shinzo Abe

“It also says: “Evil monks, hoping to gain fame and profit, will in many cases appear before the ruler, the crown prince, or the other princes, and take it upon themselves to preach doctrines that lead to the violation of the Buddhist Law and the destruction of the nation. The ruler, failing to perceive the truth of the situation, will listen to and put faith in such doctrines, and proceed to create regulations that are perverse in nature and that do not accord with the rules of Buddhist discipline. In this way he will bring about the destruction of Buddhism and of the nation.” — On Dealing With Disasters

This is exactly the situation in Japan today with the SGI/Komeito preaching false doctrines and counseling the ruling party which is creating perverse regulations, for example, those severely curtailing free speech, those allowing manufacture and sale of arms throughout asia and the world, those sanctioning an unprecedented post World War II military buildup, and those limiting assistance to TEPCO in the clean-up of Fukushima. 

“The Great Collection Sutra says, “If he [the ruler of the state] sees that my teaching is in danger of perishing and stands idly by without doing anything to protect it, . . . his country will become the scene of three inauspicious occurrences.” — ibid

“The Lotus Sutra states: “In that evil age there will be monks with perverse wisdom and hearts that are fawning and crooked who will suppose they have attained what they have not attained, being proud and boastful in heart. . . . These men with evil in their hearts . . . will address the rulers, high ministers, Brahmans, and householders, as well as the other monks, slandering and speaking ill of us, saying, ‘These are men of perverted views who preach non-Buddhist doctrines!’ — ibid

“If we consider the matter in the light of these passages, we will see that evil monks fill the country and preach doctrines that lead to the destruction of the nation and the violation of the Buddhist Law. The rulers and the four kinds of Buddhist believers who live in that nation, failing to perceive the truth of the situation, listen to and put faith in their words. Therefore they reject and turn their hearts away from these Mahayana sutras.” — ibid

The Japanese rulers and the people have rejected and turned their hearts away from the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin and towards the Human Revolution, New Komeito, and Daisaku Ikeda.

“Answer: The Benevolent Kings Sutra says: “Those persons who should uphold and guard the three treasures of Buddhism will on the contrary become the destroyers of the three treasures, just as it is the worms that are born from the body of a dead lion that will feed on the lion’s flesh. It will not be the non-Buddhists [but in most cases the Buddha’s own disciples who will destroy this Buddhist Law of mine].”

SGI's Three Treasures are not the Three Treasures of the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren and his disciples.

If we go by this passage, those who destroy the nation and the Buddhist Law will come from among the disciples of the Buddha.” — ibid

This is self-explanatory.

“Question: These evil monks who destroy the correct teaching—do they destroy it with a teaching that resembles the correct teaching, or do they destroy it with an evil teaching?” — ibid

Nichiren goes on to say that those who destroy the correct teachings are those who embrace a teaching that resembles the correct teachings. To the ignorant, Nam Myoho renge kyo, the Nichikan Gohonzon, and the SGI faith is the same as Namu Myoho renge kyo, the Nichiren Gohonzon, and the Nichiren faith. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“As these passages demonstrate, those who slander the Law fail to realize in full how their acts affect others and proceed to commit grave faults, bringing about the destruction of the nation and the destruction of the Buddhist Law.” — ibid

These egotistical SGI heretics actually think that they are the avatars of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren who will ensure the peace and prosperity of Japan. The reality and modern history of the Japanese nation and rise of the Soka Gakkai demolishes their unwarranted faith. 

The Golden Light Sutra states: “He neither makes offerings to it [the sutra], honors it, nor praises it. . . Then many different types of disasters will occur in the country.” The Nirvana Sutra speaks of those who “hate and despise the unsurpassed Great Nirvana Sutra.” — ibid

Altering the Three Treasures, particularly changing the Three Treasures and converting the Three Treasures into Four Treasures [adding the Treasure of the Guru Ikeda which subsumes the Three Treasures of the Sutra and Nichiren] is to hate and despise the Three Treasures. Making offerings to the false Three and Four Treasures, is to dishonor the Three Treasures of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren.

"Question: If what you say is true, then why do persons who put their faith in the Mahayana sutras such as the Lotus Sutra or the True Word sutras encounter such disasters?

Answer: The Golden Light Sutra says: “The laws will be twisted until even the innocent are made to suffer.” The Lotus Sutra states, “They would bring unexpected disaster on him.”

The poor, unstudied, and unlearned SGI newbies are the innocents who are made to suffer. They expect to realize unsurpassed Supreme and Perfect Enlightenment but fall into the Lower Realms. This comes as a great shock to them.

"Judging from these passages that have just been quoted, such practitioners of the Lotus Sutra and True Word teachings have not yet reached any very profound level of practice, their minds are still weak in faith, and though their mouths recite the words of the sutra, they do not yet understand their meaning; they recite them only for the sake of fame or gain. –ibid

GAIN [“Goodness, Beauty, and Gain”] — The heart of the SGI teachings. A pity! A shame!

“Answer: The forces of karma do not operate in fixed ways. There is what is called karma that manifests itself in one’s present existence. Describing such cases, the Lotus Sutra says that a person “will in his present existence be afflicted with white leprosy. . . . And he will suffer from . . . severe and malignant illnesses.” The Benevolent Kings Sutra states: “If persons destroy the teachings of the Buddha, they will have no filial sons, no harmony with their six kinds of relatives, and no aid from the heavenly deities. Disease and evil demons will come day after day to torment them, disasters will descend on them incessantly, and misfortunes will dog them wherever they go.” And the Nirvana Sutra states: “If there are those who fail to put faith in this sutra, when they approach the time of death, they will encounter a world troubled by disorder, armed strife will break out, or they will find themselves the victims of the tyranny of rulers or the quarrels and contentions of warring families.”

Just so!

"Regarding the second type of karma, that which manifests itself in one’s next existence, the Lotus Sutra says, “If a person fails to have faith but instead slanders this sutra, . . . When his life comes to an end he will enter the Avichi hell.” And the Benevolent Kings Sutra states: “If persons destroy the teachings of the Buddha, . . . when they die, they will fall into the realms of hell, hungry spirits, and animals.” — ibid

Frightening! 

“Question: What is the quickest way to put an end to these disasters?

Answer: One must quickly take measures to deal with those who slander the Law. If this is not done, then although endless prayers are offered, they will not put an end to these disasters.

Question: What measures should be taken to deal with them?

Answer: The measures are indicated in the sutras. In the Nirvana Sutra we read, “The Buddha said, ‘With the exception of one type of person, you may offer alms to all kinds of persons. . . . [Persons of this one type] slander the correct teaching, and go on committing these grave acts. . . . With the exception of this one group of people called icchantikas, however, you may offer alms to all others, and everyone will praise you.’ ”

From this passage it is clear that one should take measures to see that no alms are given to persons of this type. In addition, there are many other measures to be taken, but I do not have time to discuss them all here.”

What can we do in this time and this place? Do not offer alms during the SGI May Contribution Campaign [or ever], immediately renounce your membership, and join us in reprimanding them. 

Proof:

"Answer: The Nirvana Sutra states: “Now I entrust the correct teaching, which is unexcelled, to the rulers, the ministers, the high officials, and the monks and nuns. If anyone should vilify the correct teaching, then the rulers, the ministers, and the four kinds of Buddhists should reprimand him and bring him to order. [In doing so, they] are not guilty of any fault.”

“Question: You yourself are a priest, and yet you are exposing the errors of other priests—is this not a blameful act?

Answer: The Nirvana Sutra says: “If even a good monk sees someone destroying the teaching and disregards him, failing to reproach him, to oust him, or to punish him for his offense, then you should realize that that monk is betraying the Buddha’s teaching. But if he ousts the destroyer of the Law, reproaches him, or punishes him, then he is my disciple and a true voice-hearer.”

When I read this passage, it seems to me that, in order to avoid being condemned as a “betrayer of the Buddha’s teaching,” I must not be fearful of how others may judge my actions,…” ibid

Trust Nichiren. Reprimanding the Soka Gakkai, you will be praised by the Buddha, the Buddhas of the Ten Directions, Nichiren Daishonin, and the Bodhisattvas of the Universe.

“But if, having once perused what I have written, they do not carry out the measures recommended in the passages I have quoted, then how can they escape the fate described in the Great Collection Sutra when it says: “Though for countless existences in the past the ruler of a state may have practiced the giving of alms, observed the precepts, and cultivated wisdom, if he sees that my teaching is in danger of perishing and stands idly by without doing anything to protect it, then all [the inestimable roots of goodness that he has planted through the practices just mentioned] will be entirely wiped out, and his country will become the scene of three inauspicious occurrences. . . . After his life has come to an end, he will be reborn in the great hell.”

This is surely the fate of Shinzo Abe and Daisaku ikeda.

"The passage in the Benevolent Kings Sutra states, “If a time should come when the good fortune of these rulers runs out, . . . then the seven disasters are certain to arise.” And the passage in the Great Collection Sutra says that “though for countless existences in the past the ruler of a state may have practiced the giving of alms, observed the precepts, and cultivated wisdom, . . . all [the inestimable roots of goodness that he has planted through the practices just mentioned] will be entirely wiped out.” — ibid

Ever more horrendous disasters are in store for Japan under Abe and the New Komeito. My heart bleeds for the innocents who will suffer.

“In view of these passages, should one not set aside all other affairs and consider first of all why these disasters occur? If one does not do so, then more and more such disasters are bound to occur!

We started chanting "Namu Myo Renge Kyo" in February this year and received our Gohonzon on April 25" -- former Soka Gakkai Senior Leader.

"My Experience".... 

I was a member of SGI-USA for 25 years and for 20 of those 25 years I was very Gakkai. All I wanted was to be close to my master President Ikeda and attain enlightenment. Of course in the Gakkai the only way to accomplish this is to follow without question the guidance of your leaders starting with your immediate leader. I did my best to follow the direction I was given. I gave my heart, our money and all my time but it was never enough. I was never quite good enough even though I put the Gakkai first and my husband and family second. How much more could I give. 

I was a Chapter Women Division Chief and Headquarters, Territory, and Joint Territory Publications Cho. I was always in charge of the Territory Art Committee, & always a key person for the Jt. Terr. Art Committee. I did the Chapter banking and the HQ publications banking. I was usually in charge of the "People Movers" for all the movements: Conventions, Training Meetings, Guidance Meetings, Lectures, etc. I was in the 1972 WD Brass Band and I was a Bulgarian Dancer for Conventions. There were various other responsibilities associated with being a Chapter leader also, not to mention meetings 6 days a week and sometimes 2 or 3 meetings a day. And the G.A.C. (Gohonzon Acceptance Ceremony) campaigns were an absolute frenzy. 

The reason I mention all this is to make clear my devotion faith and trust in the Gakkai all those years and to emphasis the point that I did not leave the Gakkai on a whim nor did I take it lightly. I thought I was on the fast road to enlightenment. 

However, even though I thirsted for Buddhism there was never any sense that I was truly connected to the Buddha. My feeling toward Nichiren was of reverence but also unapproachability bordering on fear. It was a strange attitude that I believe is attributable to the general attitude of leaders toward members in the Gakkai. But of course I was trained well to suppress doubts. To have doubt was to have weak faith. Slowly a distance developed between me and the Gakkai and I became less and less able to accept the status quo. I was after all miserable. My husband and I were separated far 7 months because the Gakkai movement had caused such a strain on our marriage. You can imagine my despair when I realized I was not practicing real Buddhism but participating in an endless stream of organizational goals in order to support the Soka Gakkai or Value Creation Society. We believed we were achieving 'Kosen-Rufu", and guaranteed Buddhahood.. 

I think its important to focus on the name Soka Gakkai or Value Creation Society for a moment. It is my experience that the greatest emphasis was placed on 'material benefit" they may say otherwise but it was always the "bottom Line" that was supreme. After all we did create value, for things, for prestige, for money for results!!! The irony is that none of these things are permanent. Attachment to things does not lead to enlightenment and enlightenment is the purpose of Buddhism. So what were we doing? The vast majority of people we dragged to receive the Gakkai Gohonzon are no longer there and probably have a very bad impression of Buddhism. 

It took some real self induced deprogramming and recovery to realize that there was no reason for guilt because of my withdrawal from activities. I anguished for 5 years with guilt over letting down the Gakkai and ruining my chances for Buddhahood. 

Reason won out over my anguish.

1. The Lotus Sutra is the teaching that leads to Buddhahood and should not be considered "dead in Mappo". "The nation of Japan today has turned its back on the Lotus Sutra and cast aside Shakyamuni Buddha." (MW vol 6, Letter to Ichinosana Nyudo, pg 99) 

2. Shakyamuni is the Eternal Buddha as revealed in the 16th chapter of the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren always Shakaymuni as the Eternal "Shakyamuni is the father, sovereign and teacher of all other Buddhas and all gods, of the whole assembly of men and heavenly beings and of all sentient beings". (MW vol 1, Letter to Nikke, pg 257) 

3. Nichiren is Bodhisattva Jogyo "I Nichiren received the Buddha's Edict and was born in this land..." 

4. Nichiren chanted "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo" not Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. 

Of course there are many more instances of gross distortions that I won't go into. This passage from the MW vol 7, pg 154, reminds me of them:

"And so, when I, neither hesitating to speak out nor fearing others, tell them frankly that they are stupid persons who have misunderstood the true meaning of the Buddhist teachings, and that they are slanderers of the Law; when I deliver a sharp rebuke to them, mindful of the Buddha's golden words "then that monk is betraying Buddhism" and trusting in the passage of scripture that reads, 'We will be envoys of the World-Honored One, facing the assembly without fear"; when I do this, censuring those who "suppose they have attained what they have not attained, being proud and boastful in heart." Then how can they fail to turn upon me with hatred and jealously?" 

We started chanting "Namu Myo Renge Kyo" in February this year and received our Gohonzon on April 25". 

Now all the pieces of the puzzle are coming together and making sense. I feel a much deeper understanding and joy in Buddhism. I love Shakyamuni Buddha and I am astounded by Nichirens'' compassion. I am so proud to be a member of the sangha, a word I never heard before coming to Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism Ironically, the merits I strove for in the Gakkai are now coming true. When we think of our many friends in the Gakkai that are suffering and confused, we can't help but share this teaching with them. My husband and I are looking forward to going to Japan and visiting many of the places associated with Nichiren Daishonin such as Minobu, Tatsunokuchi, and Sado Island. I hope that many other American believers will also be able to go, if not now, someday. 

I am so happy to finally live the words "Rely an the Law and not on persons" and truly be assured of enlightenment.

Who are disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha?

"All these beings are disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha. Since the various Buddhas themselves are emanations of Shakyamuni Buddha, it goes without saying that their disciples must be disciples of Shakyamuni. And of course the various deities of the sun, moon and stars, who have dwelt in the world from countless ages in the past must likewise be disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha." "(MW vol 2, Ibid, pg 152)

Tim Janakos wise or foolish?

"Welcome to the English and Japanese website for the award-winning, inspirational singer/songwriter, visionary author of both fiction and non-fiction, certified energy healer, native american, Buddhist activist, Tim Janakos, who is currently living and performing in Northern Japan, where he also hosts a twice-a-week, live, energy healing radio show called, "From Time Without Beginning," where you can call-in and let him perform some real-time magic on you, on the air. How does it get even better than that?" -- Tim Janakos

Nichiren:

"In China the occult evolved from Confucianism, and in India it is found among the non-Buddhist teachings. Yet it does not even approach the Hinayana teachings of the Āgama sutras, much less the connecting teaching, the specific teaching, or the perfect teaching. Therefore, how could it measure up to the Lotus Sutra?

"The non-Buddhist teachings [of India] date from about eight hundred years before the time of the Buddha. At first they centered around the two deities and the three ascetics, but eventually they split into ninety-five schools. Among the non-Buddhist leaders were many wise men and persons endowed with supernatural powers, but none of them was able to free himself from the sufferings of birth and death. Moreover, the people who gave allegiance to their teachings, whether faithful or not all ended by falling into the three evil paths."

"As the Buddha indicated in his dying instructions, there will be teachers who propagate the provisional sutras only and never make any attempt to propagate the true sutra. This is perhaps because from past times they have had very close connections with the provisional sutras and have never looked into the true sutra, or perhaps because they have been led astray by the devil and have thus become able to displaysupernatural powers. But whether they are correct or incorrect in their views is to be judged solely on the basis of the doctrines they expound. It is not to be decided on the basis of whether or not they have keen capacity or can display supernatural powers."

To begin with, if we are to put faith in persons who can exercise supernatural powers, then are we to put faith in non-Buddhists or the heavenly devil? Among the non-Buddhists there are said to have been those who could drink the ocean dry, or could pour the water of the Ganges River into their ear and keep it there for twelve years. And thedevil king of the sixth heaven could imitate all the thirty-two features of a Buddha and manifest himself in the form of a Buddha in such a convincing manner that even the Venerable Ānanda could not tell whether it was the devil or the Buddha. Even if the supernaturalpowers of Shan-tao and Hōnen may be worthy of respect, they are no match for the heavenly devil or non-Buddhists. Furthermore, the Buddha in his dying instructions warned that one was not to regard suchsupernatural powers as of any fundamental importance."

"Question: Among the Chinese Buddhist teachers there were persons such as the Great Teacher Tz’u-en who was said to have been a reincarnation of the Eleven-faced Perceiver of the World’s Sounds and could emit rays of light from his teeth. Or like the Reverend Shan-tao, who was said to have been a reincarnation of Amida Buddha and could produce Buddha figures from his mouth. And there were many other teachers in the world who could manifest supernatural powers, bestow blessing, or enter meditation and attain enlightenment. Why did these persons fail to distinguish between the provisional sutras and the true sutra and to make the Lotus Sutra the basis of their teaching?

Answer: The ascetic Agastya, a non-Buddhist believer, poured the Ganges River into one ear and kept it there for twelve years. The ascetic Vasu transformed himself into the heavenly being Freedom and displayed three eyes. Among the Taoist adepts of China, Chang Chieh exhaled fog and Luan Pa exhaled clouds. It is said [in the Nirvana Sutra] that, after the demise of the Buddha, the devil of the sixth heaven will take on the form of a monk or a nun, a man or a woman lay believer, an arhat or a pratyekabuddha, and expound the sutras preached by the Buddha in the first forty and more years of his preaching life. But this shows simply that these persons possessed supernatural powers; it does not indicate whether they were wise or foolish."

Soka Gakkai's anti-bullying initiative should start with them

It’s the standard Soka Gakkai/Taisekiji tactic to muddle, confuse and unbalance any logical criticism of their “reading between the lines” approach to Nichiren’s orthodox religion. And if that tactic doesn't work, they resort to smearing the character of their critics. It amounts to “bullying” any and all opposition. It is ironic that the Nichiren Shoshu became the target of SGI's bullying since 1990.

The worst sins according Nichiren and according to SGI

SGI stresses that disrupting the unity of believers (Ha Wagoso) is the worst Buddhist sin and the principle cause for falling into hell. Nichiren, on the other hand, teaches that slander of the profound teachings and nurturing evil companions is the worst sin:

“A person of wisdom should not fear enemy households, snakes, the poison of fire, the god Indra, the roll of thunder, attacks by swords and staves, or wild beasts such as tigers, wolves, and lions. For these can only destroy one’s life, but cannot cause one to fall into the Avichi hell, which is truly terrifying. What one should fear is slander of the profound teaching as well as companions who are slanderers, for these will surely cause one to fall into the frightful Avichi hell. Even if one befriends evil companions and with evil intent spills the Buddha’s blood, kills one’s own father and mother, takes the lives of many sages, disrupts the unity of the Buddhist Order, and destroys all one’s roots of goodness, if one fixes one’s mind on the correct teaching, one can free oneself from that place. But if there is someone who slanders the inconceivably profound teaching, that person will for immeasurable kalpas be unable to obtain emancipation. However, if there is one who can cause others to awaken to and take faith in a teaching such as this, then that person is their father and mother, and also their good friend. This is a person of wisdom. After the Thus Come One’s passing, that person corrects false views and perverse thoughts, and causes people to enter the true way. For that reason, he has pure faith in the three treasures, and his virtuous actions lead others to enlightenment.” (The Problem To Be Pondered Night and Day)

The SGI, because they correct correct views and compliant thoughts and cause people to enter the false way, stress the lesser evil of breaking the unity of believers (which, in the case of opposing the SGI for their greater evil of distorting the teachings, is actually a great good), second only to the greatest good of practicing as the Buddha Shakyamuni, the Lotus Sutra, and Nichiren Daishonin teach.

The SGI's slander of the correct teachings and true believers is by far the worst offense and the cause for falling into hell. Their teachings on Ha Wagoso is a smokescreen for the Soka Gakkai failing to uphold the golden teachings of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin. Nevertheless, the SGI in chanting Nam Myoho renge kyo [rather than Namu Myoho renge kyo], advancing the Nichiren as True Buddha doctrine, and taking Daisaku Ikeda as the Buddha of the modern age [while throwing out Shakyamuni Buddha of the Juryo Chapter of the Lotus Sutra], is the worse offender in disrupting the unity of believers.

"The two sets of writings are mutually incompatible."

Regarding the documents that Taisekiji attributes to Nikko, Yamanaka Kihachi, one of the great Nichiren scholars of the twentieth century and an expert on Nikko's authenticated writings, has written an exhaustive study on Nikko. He examined ALL of his writings, including the Taisekiji documents that the Nichiren Shoshu attribute to him. His comments were as follows: "If one examines all the authenticated writings of Nikko and then compares them to the documents that are housed at Taisekiji, the authentic writings are 180 degrees apart from those at Taisekiji. The two sets of writings are mutually incompatible."

Living it up on the members' dime

SGI doctrines too are replete with errors.

"The Buddha’s teaching was transmitted from India to China, and then from China to Japan. The scholars, the Tripitaka masters, the teachers who passed it down from one to another hardly relayed one doctrine in ten thousand in a condition that was free from error. And how much worse is the situation now when scholars of Buddhism put biased views above all else, are swayed by arrogance contend with one another like fire against water, and never reach a conclusion. Even when a scholar appears who happens to relay the teachings as the Buddha proclaimed them, no one will believe or heed him. Hence hardly one person in ten thousand can avoid committing slander against the Law."

For a Nichiren Buddhist, failure to follow Nichiren is a great slander

"Nowadays there are few people who are guilty of the five cardinal sins, but a great many who commit the ten evil acts. Sometimes you may find a person who, concerned about his next existence, is careful not to commit any of the ten evil acts and to act as a good person. But because of some quite natural error of ignorance, the person, though good in word and deed, in his heart believes in an evil teacher. Not only does that person himself put faith in the erroneous doctrines expounded by such a teacher, but he incites the rulers of the nation and the common people to embrace these same doctrines, or he persuades his wife and children, his followers, and members of his household to carry out the same religious practices that he does. Thus he prevents them from forming any ties with persons who would instruct them in the correct teaching, and keeps the common people and those related to him from experiencing a mind that responds with joy to that teaching. As a result, both he himself and others become slanderers of the Law, and those who would appear to be practicing good and putting aside evil in fact quite naturally end by committing deeds that lead to rebirth in the Avīchi hell. Cases of this kind are rife in this Latter Day of the Law.

The Venerable Ānanda was a nephew of King Shuddhodana and the son and prince of King Dronodana. He was a younger brother of Devadatta and a cousin of the Thus Come One Shakyamuni. He served the Thus Come One for twenty years, attained the mind-perceiving meditation, and understood all the sacred teachings of the Buddha’s lifetime. After the Buddha entered extinction, King Ajātashatru became a convert to Buddhism under Ānanda’s direction. 

Forty years after the Buddha’s entry into extinction, the Venerable Ānanda was passing through a bamboo grove when he came upon a monk who was reciting a verse of the teaching that went, “Though one be born a human being and live a hundred years, if one has not observed how the waters overflow and dry up, one cannot compare to a person who has lived only one day but has seen these things.”

When Ānanda heard this verse, he said to the monk, “This is not the Buddha’s teaching. You should not be practicing this.”

The monk then asked Ānanda, “What is the Buddha’s teaching?”

Ānanda replied, “‘Though one be born a human being and live a hundred years, if one has not understood the Law of birth and extinction, one cannot compare to a person who has lived only one day but has fully understood that Law.’ This is the Buddha’s teaching. The verse that you were reciting is mistaken in its wording.”

At that time the monk took the verse he had learned from Ānanda to the monk who had taught him originally. But the monk who had been his teacher said, “The verse I taught you is the true teaching of the Buddha. The verse that Ānanda recited is not the Buddha’s teaching. Ānanda is old and senile and says many things that are in error. You should not believe him.”

The monk then discarded Ānanda’s verse and went back to reciting the erroneous one he had recited before. When Ānanda passed through the bamboo grove again and heard him doing so, he realized it was not the verse he had taught the monk and spoke to him about it once more, but the monk refused to heed him.

If errors such as this had already appeared a mere forty years after the Buddha’s passing, how much worse must things be now that over two thousand years have gone by!

The Buddha’s teaching was transmitted from India to China, and then from China to Japan. The scholars, the Tripitaka masters, the teachers who passed it down from one to another hardly relayed one doctrine in ten thousand in a condition that was free from error. And how much worse is the situation now when scholars of Buddhism put biased views above all else, are swayed by arrogance contend with one another like fire against water, and never reach a conclusion. Even when a scholar appears who happens to relay the teachings as the Buddha proclaimed them, no one will believe or heed him. Hence hardly one person in ten thousand can avoid committing slander against the Law."

Soka Gakkai would have us believe

that "Individuals are responsible for their own actions but not organizations."

The supreme leader and excellent eyes for all people.

"In the third place, Sakyamuni Buddha is the supreme leader and excellent eyes for all people. He is the bridge that enables them to cross the river of evil passions; He is the skipper who guides them over the sea of life and death; and He is the fertile field in which they plant the seed of merits. The so called Four Sages of Confucianism and Three Hermits of Brahmanism, despite their worthy names, are actually unenlightened men unable to rid themselves of the Three Delusions (all delusions and evil passions). Although their names suggest they are wise men, in reality they are as ignorant as infants, who know nothing of cause and effect. How can we cross the sea of life and death aboard a ship steered by such men? How can we pass through the winding street in the Six Realms of delusion and evil passions over to the world of Nirvana by means of a bridge constructed by such men? (Kaimoku Sho, Noppa Translation)."

The war between the Soka Gakkai and the Nichiren Shoshu

"Both the Nichiren Shoshu and the Soka Gakkai suffer from the same ailment. A mass of true believers have lined up behind one man's ideology, one man's charisma, one man's vision. This reeks of the U.S. attitude my country, right or wrong. In this century, we have seen where this kind of an attitude can be devastating.

Both groups assert that they are in the right, that they have the special dispensation to devulge the truth handed to them by Nichiren himself. Yet, if you study the writings of Nichiren, it is obvious that they have gone astray. When confronted, neither group can quote just exactly where Nichiren called himself the Buddha and told us not to chant to Shakyamuni. Neither group can say exactly where Nichiren said that his teachings are the sole property of the Soka Gakkai or Nichiren Shoshu.

The council of christian churches makes more sense than these two warring "Buddhist" factions. Nichiren Dainshonin debated the issues of the day and won victories through his superior knowledge of Buddhist sutras. Both NST and the SGI are too busy fitting the Gosho to their own beliefs to see what it might actually be saying. Anyone who has read Ikeda's "Lectures on the Sutra" should be able to see that clearly with regard to the SGI. Where does the High Priest get the idea that he is the Buddha?

In a reasonable argument, contradictions cause one to think about the consequences of those contradictions. Even little things such as Nichiren carrying a statue of Shakyamuni with him should make a thinking person wonder.

Why does the temple resist verification of the so-called Dai-Gohonzon? Why not settle the issue once and for all? It begs the question, is it a fake? Just exactly who claims that their is a Dai-Gohonzon at all?

When I was young in the NSA, before the split up, I watched them shove Gohonzons on street people like flyers. Often, these Gohonzons were tossed in the trash on the way out of the community center. "Don't let the priest know, he will be angry," was the guidance we received. Is this how to protect the Gohonzon?

The priests should have kept better watch over the laymen. Cause and effect, both are at fault. But the money kept rolling in and it kept SOMEBODY happy. The numbers kept getting higher and it kept SOMEBODY happy. Most of the membership was not happy, they were too busy to be able to think, with the constant meeting schedule.

It was quite a time, the early days in the US. Everything was moving fast. I was told not to worry about my pronunciation of Gongyo, that would come later. Hurry up, follow the beat, and rush along with the rest of us. The peaceful river of the Lotus Sutra became a ride through the rapids then. Study today is like the gongyo of yesterday, listen to the beat, follow the drummer...

The meetings were not about the sutra or the gosho they were about BENEFIT. Buddhism works because I got the car I wanted, or my marriage is off the rocks, or I have a new job. Since the focus was on benefit, since you were ASKED to tell about your benefits, you saw them around every corner. If ND's buddhism could have been reduced to one principle at that time it would be: BENEFIT. I do not believe this attitude was beneficial to Buddhism.

The NSA Buddhist of that time carried the World Tribune, talked to anyone about the practice, rushed through Gongyo, and chanted for that house on the hill until his throat was raw. Now, somewhat older, they have put away childish things and are on the straight-and-narrow path to Enlightenment. So they would have us believe.

Yet, I have difficulty forgetting their past. They have no love for study, they ask few questions, and they accept doctrine as given. Sheep grazing in the field have more freedom than NST and SGI Buddhists. If only they would begin to graze on the Lotus Sutra and the words of Nichiren. Have you ever played the game where you pass a message around a small circle of friends in secret? When the message comes full circle, it is something completely different than the original. If only they would turn from the so-called orally transmitted teachings and turn to the verifiable writings instead.

The trouble is that in a field where there is little grass, the sheep become easily led. By this standard, both the NST and the SGI are full of Baa'd doctrine."

Don David Scott

Soka Gakkai and Mitsubishi Heavy Industrials are a match made in heaven

"Mitsubishi Heavy Industries say they are going "Green" and a partial weapons list is below. 

The difference with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and SGI is, when MHI tells their "Greenwashing" lies, no rational person is going to believe them and understands its just corporate propaganda to maximize profits and to try to distract the general public who doesn't pay attention.

But with SGI, they try to hide behind "religion" and also work very hard to distract the public from the facts of reality.

Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan), CONTRACTORS

Activities/Services Commercial and military helicopters, military aircraft, aircraft engines, guided missiles and defence electronics. Satellite and space systems...

* Air-Launched Rockets

* Air-To-Air Missiles - Beyond Visual Range

* Air-To-Air Missiles - Within Visual Range

* Air-To-Surface Missiles - Anti-Ship

* Air-To-Surface Missiles - Direct Attack

* Air-To-Surface Missiles - Stand-Off And Cruise

* Analysis

* Analysis - Air-To-Air Missiles

* Analysis - Air-To-Surface Missiles

* Analysis - Automatic Grenade Launchers

* Analysis - Bombs

* Analysis - Country Inventories - In Development

* Analysis - Country Inventories - In Service

* Analysis - Gun Pods And Mountings

* Analysis - Guns

* Analysis - In-Service Combat Aircraft And Their Air-Launched Weapons Capabilities

* Analysis - Mines And Depth Charges

* Analysis - Rocket Launchers

* Analysis - Rockets

* Analysis - Torpedoes

* Analysis - Worldwide In-Service Combat Aircraft

* Bombs - Cluster And Dispenser Munitions

* Bombs - Precision And Guided Munitions

* Bombs - Unguided

* Contractors

* Glossary

* Guns - Integral And Mounted

* Guns - Podded Systems

* Underwater Weapons - Mines And Depth Charges

* Underwater Weapons - Torpedoes

* Underwater Weapons - Unclassified Projects

There are actually reports of SGI and Mitsubishi misdeeds, as well as reports that SGI's main financing bank is The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi. Of course, the problem is SGI keeps all of their finances secret, so only Ikeda and his family know where the money is, and where it went.

[www.culthelp.info]

"In March 1990, a swirl of accusations over a mysterious transaction involving the Soka Gakkai, the Mitsubishi Corp and two Renoir paintings in which nearly 1.5 billion yen had gone missing."

"The organisation operates five cemeteries in Japan through a joint venture with Mitsubishi Corps. In May 1991, Soka Gakkai paid 640 million yen in profits from the sale of gravestones over the three year period ending in March 1990."

[www.caic.org.au]

The spying charges against Soka Gakkai International France, which claims 152,000 members, were further detailed in a recent issue of the Shukan Bunshun. Quoting the newspaper Le Parisien, it reported that a secret network of Soka Gakkai operatives allegedly infiltrated the Mitsubishi group offices in Paris, which were used as cover for intelligence operations. It did not specify whether the secret agents were corporate employees sent from Japan or local hires, or a combination of both.

SGI wants it both ways: Make a show of protecting article 9 of the Japanese constitution while supporting the LDP and Mitsubishi."  -- by anticult

Correcting the Nichiren Shoshu

The Nichiren Shoshu "Lifeblood Received by Only a Single Person" should read, "Lifeblood Received by Every Single Person".

SGI leader threatens to sue me

"Notice to Cease and Desist to Mark Rogow from Tim Janakos-VanCampen Mark Rogow, I will be sending a registered copy of this notice to the Wildhorse Family Medical Clinic and Urgent Care Center, 1024 W Cherokee Ave, Sallisaw, OK 74955, US, unless you would like me to send it to your home address instead. If you would prefer I send it to your home address please notify me of that address. In your blog comment of July 30th 2013http://markrogow.blogspot.jp/2013/07/tim-janakos-soka universitygraduate.html you claim I "hurt people spiritually AND physically" with my energy work. This letter is to request proof that I have harmed someone. 

Please provide me proof my energy healing work has harmed anyone "Spiritually And physically." If you cannot provide me with proof, within 21 days, immediately remove the post and publicly apologize to me for making a false claim against my work, as well as send me a written apology or I I will seek damages. Thank you. I'm looking forward to your quick response. Tim Janakos-VanCampentimjanakos@gmail.comwww.tjmusic.orgHayadori 1-11-32, Konan-ku Niigata-shi, Niigata-ken, Japan 950-0168

Response: As an SGI cult member, by definition, you hurt people physically and spiritually whether you practice Emotional Energy Healing, Reiki, Acupuncture, Qigong, or Western Medicine. Good luck with your lawsuit slanderer. I look forward to seeing you in court.