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Friday, January 18, 2013

Bo Fugen on the schism

Daisaku Ikeda is a shameless demagogue. He can give his rambling, duplicitous and empty speeches all he wants but the treatment his "august" persona receives from his brainwashed followers surpasses that of kings, formalities included. 

What would that cult-leader and politician know about substance? He is known to change the meaning of the faith on a whim. How many substantial! u-turns has he made in his fruitful ($$$$) career? Here's something for you to consider. No matter what the followers of both SGI and NST are told about the "split" by their priests and senior leaders, they are being lied to. It was about money, power, and real estate. Nikken, as the head of the church wanted control over members' donations (and probably rightly so) but Ikeda would never give that up. In addition, Ikeda claimed (probably still does) ownership of a large part of Taisekiji grounds, including the Sho-Hondo, which SGI subsidize. Nikken found himself under control of that little, pudgy, and ruthless individual and made a hard decision to get out of the unhealthy marriage, foolishly gambling that most SGI members were in it for religion sake and would stick with the temple, not realizing the true power of cults and mind-control.... 

Typical power struggles between power and money-hungry individuals with nothing to do with Buddhism..... but the sheep just keep following...... NO MATTER WHAT!  -- Bo Fugen 

Bo Fugen and Jim Celer

> >Jim: You guys are so quick to boast of the growth of your membership. I am 
> >merely pointing out that it doesn't mean squat. 

> >Bo: Consider another example: It is an undeniable fact that "Micro$oft" 
> >software is taking over a large part of the computing world with an 
> >increasing success (I should probably not be bitching about that since 
> >quite a substantial part of my expenses is being taken care of because 
> >of the fact that M-$oft exists). Does that mean that they have the best 
> >technology? Hell, no!!! The only thing it really means is that they have 
> >superior marketing skills. Get it, Jim?<<< 

> Jim: Sure, I completely understand your reason for entering this discussion: 
> "Quick -- think of something bad to say about SGI." 

Bo: If that's what you choose to think, fine. But you are wrong, Jim. 
Wouldn't you love for me to just shut up and say nothing bad about SGI? 
To let all of your false claims go unchallenged? I can see how your 
response is sliding into a typical SGI response - skip the issues and 
make a personal remark. 

Do you really think you know what my reasons are, Jim? 

>Jim:  BTW, in many areas, Microsoft really DOES have the best product. 

Bo: Is that an educated guess or a subjective opinion on your part? Are you 
a computer professional? May one assume that all of your opinions have 
this degree of objectivity? 

Actually, there are a few similarities between M-$oft and SGI, 
M-$oft's mission is to dominate its market and make the 
most money. There is also a very distinct personality cult within that 
organization (Mr. Gates is idolized by most of his employees). 
Same as the Soka Gakkai. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against 
Microsoft. But they are a business entity and are entitled to their 
tactics. SGI, otoh, pretends to be this religious, democratic, 
world-peace organization and that's nothing but bull. 

>Jim: Growth -- or being number one -- doesn't NECESSARILY mean quality is lost. 

Bo: It also doesn't mean that its quality is superior. 

>Jim:  I refer you (again) to my original entry into this discussion, 
> especially the phrases "slow but steady" and "members are enjoying their 
> practice and receiving benefits". 
>

Bo: If you ask a serious practitioner of any religious sect or cult,  they will all  
say the same thing 

Continued...


> Bo: Wouldn't you love for me to just shut up and say nothing bad about SGI?<< 

> Jim: Of course I would. No secret there. 

> >Bo: To let all of your false claims go unchallenged? 

> Jim: Let's see -- I gave specific membership data on Omaha Chapter.  You have 
> something to prove those are "false claims?" 

> >Bo: I can see how your response is sliding into a typical SGI response -
> > skip the issues and make a personal remark. Do you really think you know
> >what my reasons are, Jim? 

> Jim: Look at the top -- "Why Is SGI Crumbling".  That's the issue.  Three 
> people (including me) indicated that in their home areas SGI is in fact 
> growing.  For some reason, you prefer to argue with this.  Your logic 
> seems to be "If SGI is losing membership, that proves it's bad.  And if 
> SGI is gaining membership, that also proves it's bad." 
> BTW, I'm sure we can find another ng somewhere on the internet to
>debate the merits of Word vs. WP, but the point is this -- I can't believe you 
> really subscribe to the philosophy that "anything big is evil."  If you 
> do, there's little point even discussing things with you because you're 
> waaaayyyy out there.  So it appears -- in my mind at least, and I'm 
> assuming you're sane -- that you're applying this standard to the SGI 
> simply because you have to say something negative about the SGI.  I'm 
> sorry if the news that SGI members in Nebraska enjoy their practice is 
> unsettling to you, but I really doubt we'll be trying to enjoy our 
> practice less so you'll be happy.  And if that enjoyment results in more 
> people wanting to join, I bet we accept them, despite your problems with 
> our growth. 
> The End.  Go ahead, have the last word.  I'm done with this one. 
> Jim 

Ok, Jim. I'll have the last word then. 

You can try and sell your propaganda to those who may choose to buy it. 
I left SGI pretty recently and I do not have to rely on your phony 
stories to learn about your cult. Been there, done that and there is no 
substantive way that your opinion has more validity or objectivity than 
mine. In addition, no matter how much you may hate this fact but I am as 
entitled to express my opinions as you are yours. Live with it! 
If you don't like that others disagree with you and challenge your 
viewpoints, I suggest that you get the hell out of a.r.b.n. and stick to 
your Gakkai meetings where you will find plenty of support and 
encouragement. This ain't zadankai, my friend, and thanks for that. 
I would venture to say that in agreement one may find comfort, but in 
disagreement one can get closer to the truth.
                                                                                                                                                                                                               


Monday, January 14, 2013

"Nichiren wrote the Rissho Ankoku Ron to teach his disciples the value of dialogue" -- SGI leader

"The first essays that Nichiren wrote were doctrinal expositions intended to 
explain the Dharma to a trained audience of priests.  But the “Rissho 
Ankoku Ron” represents the type of writing at which Nichiren excelled and 
for which he is famous: the explication of doctrine for an individual, with 
anecdote, analogy, and detail chosen to appeal to that one person.  The 
essay consists of a series of questions and answers comprising a dialogue 
between a Buddhist scholar and his visitor.  During the conversation the 
scholar leads his quest to a correct understanding of the relationship 
between the establishment of the true Buddha Dharma (“rissho”) and the 
peace of the country (“ankoku”) 

The dialectic form had often been used for essays in China and earlier 
Japanese Buddhist doctrinal expositions (cf. Takagi, “Nichiren:sono kodo to 
shiso” p.73) and Nichiren himself had used the style in some earlier 
compositions, but never with such skill and effect.  The dramatic 
presentation suits Nichiren’s spirit, and the lively, conversational form 
allows for insertion of other doctrines which may be effectively refuted. 
The position that Nichiren urged was one of repression.  The Amidists, 
whose faith was single out by Nichiren for repression as “heretical, evil 
teaching” and “slander of true Buddhism” soon learned of the contents of 
the Rissho Ankoko Ron, which demanded that the Amidist’s faith be outlawed. 
Six weeks after Nichiren submitted the Rissho Ankoku Ron, his house on the 
outskirts of Kamakura was burned to the ground.  A few months later, 
Nichiren was arrested and,  with no trial,  was exiled to Izu by order of 
Hojo Shigetori, an Amidist. 

In the Rissho Ankoku Ron Nichiren had predicted a foreign invasion.  In 
1268, Kublai Khan sent his first letter threatening Japan with invasion by 
the Mongol Empire (which had already taken control of China and Korea). 
Overnight, Nichiren’s reputation as a prophet grew.  So did the  opposition 
to his teachings.  In 1271, Nichiren and his followers were accused of ten 
misdeeds, quoted from the Rissho Ankoku Ron.   Taken before Taira 
Yoritsuna, (head of the retainer’s bureau and chief administrator for the 
Hojo household)  Nichiren announced:

“The Kencho-ji, Jufuku-ji, Gokuraku-ji, Daibutsu, Choraku-ji--all the 
Nembutsu and Zen temples---should be burned to the ground and their priests 
beheaded at Yuigahama, or Japan will be destroyed.” 

Nichiren was found guilty of sedition and sentenced to exile on Sado.  In 
the second month of the following year, another prediction made in the 
Rissho Ankoku Ron proved accurate, further restoring confidence in 
Nichiren’s fame as a prophet. Hojo Tokisuke plotted a rebellion against his 
younger brother, Hojo Tokimune.....fulfilling the prophecy of internal 
rebellion and internecine fighting that Nichiren had found in the sutras. 
The Rissho Ankoku Ron proved to be the most inflammatory and far reaching 
of all of Nichiren’s writings.  Clearly,  this work was the touchstone that 
sparked a long series of persecutions in Nichiren’s life. 

Years later, while on his deathbed at Ikegami, Nichiren lectured 
extensively on the Rissho Ankoku Ron to his followers who had gathered 
there from September to October 13th of 1282, when, at around 8 AM, 
Nichiren finally died at the age of sixty. He was cremated and his remains 
were taken to Minobu. 

Nichiren did not write it to teach his disciples the value of “dialogue”, 
as the above history surrounding the Rissho Ankoku Ron clearly 
demonstrates." -- Stephanie Maltz

Sunday, January 13, 2013

The Paramita of Wisdom [prajna] or Buddha Wisdom

Dan Defensor SGI leader:" The Daishonin I think was in the absolute sense declaring the power of the Law: "If you chant...with your whole heart" and then "it is not difficult to become a Buddha" like Shakyamuni, to become or "make all people perfectly equal."
Me: Who is it that chants with their whole heart and is a Buddha equal to Shakyamuni? Anyone we know? I'd like to go over to their house and talk to him or her, I'd even take a week or a month off from work to do so. I'd have some questions for him or her too.
Dan Defensor: heh heh heh...I know a couple of women around here who might come close, but that's just my personal limited subjective opinion . But if you're expecting something magical or intellectualy stimulating, you might be disappointed.
Me: I'd have some questions too [just to test their understanding before I committed myself to them. For example why is the paramita of wisdom (prajna) excepted in the merits of one who embraces the lifespan of the Tathagata for even a moment in the 17th Chapter of the Lotus Sutra (Discrimination of Merits) while all the other paramita's are included in his merit.
Dan Defensor [clueless about the Lotus Sutra] responds: This is interesting. Could you quote please?
Me: "...Ajita, if there are living beings who, on hearing that the life span of the Buddha is of such long duration, are able to believe and understand it even for a moment, the benefits they gain thereby will be without limit or measure. Suppose there are good men or good women who, for the sake of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, over a period of eight hundred thousand million nayutas of kalpas practice the five paramitas - the paramitas of dana (almsgiving), shila (keeping of the precepts), kshanti (forbearance), virya (assiduousness) and dhyana (meditation), the paramita of prajna being excepted - the benefits they obtain will now measure up to even a hundred part, the thousandth part, a hundred, thousand, ten thousand, millionth part of the benefits mentioned previously. Indeed, it is beyond the power of calculation, simile or parable to convey the comparison. For good men who have gained such benefits as those [mentioned previously] to fall back without reaching the goal of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi is utterly unimaginable." 
Dan Defensor: No response
Me: The reason is, the Paramita of Wisdom or Buddha Wisdom is that which gives rise to Myoho renge kyo. In the history of the universe, only one man, Shakyamuni Buddha, the Original Buddha since time without beginning, the one and only Buddha who has been enlightened to Myoho renge kyo, has been training and guiding all others to Buddhahood. This is an integral part of Nichiren Daishonin's enlightenment and the enlightenment of all Buddhas throught the Ten Directions and Three Existences. Only the Original Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni has always and exclusively practiced and taught the True Law and he has been doing so since time without beginning.
Original Teacher means that no matter how eminent, wise, or knowledgeable one may be, no matter how diligent one is in carrying out the other Five Paramitas (Five Perfections), and no matter how long one practices them, there is no way that one could come up with, let alone reveal, Myoho renge kyo independently of Shakyamuni Buddha. Shakyamuni Buddha, in the history of the universe, was the one unique individual capable of doing so. Nichiren realized this, taught this, and reverenced Shakyamuni Buddha for His astronomical feat of autonomous self-practice. That is why He, rather than any other individual, is revered as the person of the Gohonzon of Ninpo-Ika (Oneness of Person and Law).

We owe our very Enlightenment to this Buddha and this Buddha alone. The arrogance of those who misconstrue Shakyamuni Buddha’s and Nichiren Daishonin’s words for their own aggrandizement is cause to fall into the Lower Worlds and to remain there for a very long time. How can one follow someone who is so blind to the manifest reality that someone had to give them the Five Characters that they pay homage to? Daisaku Ikeda didn’t come up with the formula Myoho renge kyo. The High Priest didn’t come up with this formula, nor did you. Even Nichiren Daishonin didn’t realize and expound the Lotus Sutra in the infinite past. It was Shakyamuni Buddha who taught Nichiren Daishonin and the other Bodhisattvas of the Earth the Lotus Sutra in the remote past. It was the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni who planted the seed of Myoho renge kyo in our Buddha-nature, the seed that, when watered with a correct faith and practice, grows into the magnificent tree of the Supreme Enlightenment of Myoho.

Why are there such poor relationships in the Soka Gakkai?

Someone wrote:


"Any social organzation or group of people has it's problems but especially where everyone gives everyone else guidance."

Following the Law and not the Person will cultivate healthy relationships.


Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Ikeda and his top leaders are Law devouring hungry spirits

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1971 – 62,050,000 Yen ($620,500.00)
1972 – 84,340,000 Yen ($843,400.00)
1973 – 113,570,000 Yen ($1,135,700.00)
1974 – 135,330,000 Yen ($1,353,300.00)
1975 – 121,980,000 Yen ($1,219,800.00)
1976 – 78,700,000 Yen ($787,000.00)
1977 – 51,490,000 Yen ($514,900.00)
1978 – 83,350,000 Yen ($833,500.00)
1979 – 34,500,000 Yen ($345,000.00)
1980 – 39,010,000 Yen ($390,100.00)
1981 – 75,030,000 Yen ($750,300.00)
1982 – 57,420,000 Yen ($574,200.00)

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

1983 – 32,000,000 Yen ($320,000) based on 14,030,000 Yen paid as income tax
1984 – 72,000,000 Yen ($720,000) based on 39,700,000 Yen paid as income tax
1985 – 60,000,000 Yen ($600,000) based on 30,950,000 Yen paid as income tax
1986 – 85,000,000 Yen ($850,000) based on 49,810,000 Yen paid as income tax
1987 – 87,000,000 Yen ($870,000) based on 51,510,000 Yen paid as income tax
1993 – 170,000,000 Yen ($1,700,000) based on 87,150,000 Yen paid as income tax

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the very same Rissho Ankoku Ron, we read:

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

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

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

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

Monday, January 7, 2013

Spaghetti with cult sauce anyone?


"Our Mystic Bond
To our Mentor, Ikeda Sensei
We all have mission in this life,
No matter how dark or difficult it may be,
The love of our Mentor will help us succeed.

NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO is the Sun

And gives us life,
Its power penetrates the deepest of our beings
Our Mentor has always won
And wants us to win.

Come on! We all have a mission in this lifetime
The path to our victory has been opened by a great man
He's our Mentor
He's our (??), our (??)
He's in our hearts.
We have to (??) together for all time
He wants us to say "YES!", "We have won again!", because we have fought with all of our lives
He gave us the correct (??) and the power to transform our fears (??) us into wisdom and hope.

(?? - Sorry, but I honestly can't understand what this fellow is saying in many parts.)

Dear Sensei
Your example as a buddhist is the most precious dream
Your presence in our heart gives us the courage and the faith to continue to fight!
Here, is our vow,
To give you Sensei -
We will continue to fight alongside with you for all eternity
We will protect the sacred, wonderful law "NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO!"

Your life has expanded like the (??) in the morning,
Humanity now has a real chance to overcome war, hunger, stupidity and the (??) to hurt so much our comrades in the journey of life.
You have created (??) friendships around the world,
Empowering the people, giving trust and encouragement through your actions and words.
Your battle has been the noblest one,
Promoting peace and mutual understanding,
Converting those in pain
Erasing the suffering from their face,
And strengthening the bonds of blood, flesh and bones.

SEIZE THE DAY!
SEIZE THE DAY!
ANOTHER VICTORY, IKEDA SENSEI!

SEIZE THE DAY!
SEIZE THE DAY!
ANOTHER VICTORY, IKEDA SENSEI!

COME ON!!!

SEIZE THE DAY!
SEIZE THE DAY!
ANOTHER VICTORY, IKEDA SENSEI!

SEIZE THE DAY!
SEIZE THE DAY!
ANOTHER VICTORY, IKEDA SENSEI!" -- Translation by Hitch