Saturday, May 27, 2017
Carol Compean writes, re: SGI May Contribution
Same old same old propaganda. Good fortune. Change your karma. Sho Hondo contribution for eternal good fortune. Yeah.
and
I remember it well and working on forgetting. People would come by with over a thousand dollars. The "Senior"Leaders were expected to give the most. It was a status symbol of one's "strong faith" and "faithful supporter" of D.Ikeda. Many people with small income gave their food and rent money. I am sorry. I can no longer think about those days.
Stupid SGI Singapore leader writes..
“The essence of ‘This is what I heard’ is the oneness of mentor and disciple, and that is the quintessence of the transmission of Buddhism." -- Stupid SGI Singapore leader..
Nichiren, on the other hand teaches, "This is what I heard is the title of the Lotus Sutra, Myoho renge kyo." -- Thus I Heard Gosho.
My, how the SGI perverts the teachings!!! My how ignorant are they.
Friday, May 26, 2017
Extraordinary assertions require extraordinary documentation according to Nichiren.
"Dr. Kawada treated fourteen people with stage four cancer. Some were not even SGI members. Their doctors had given up on all of them. One even had to be brought in on a stretcher. All fourteen people joined the SGI. They all learned to chant following this guidance of using the right side of their brain to project an image of no cancer intheir bodies. In the U.S., last-stage cancer patients are encouraged to draw a white cell eating a cancer cell. Though this has been shown to help, practicing Buddhism has an even bigger impact. In two months the person on the stretcher overcame their cancer. Then his doctor joined. Eventually all fourteen overcame their cancer." Bharat Soka Gakkai
to
I would be pleased to examine the medical records of these 14 patients. Since they all recovered from Stage IV cancer and joined the Soka Gakkai, I'm sure they will give their consent to my review. I will pay for the postage.
Sensei and SGI must not have liked Shin Yatomi and Pascual Olivera. Had they been liked, they surely would have been put in contact with Vice President Kawada MD. Every SGI member with Stage IV cancer should seek out Dr. Kawada, I reckon....and where was Dr. Kawada when President Daisaku Ikeda's own favorite son died at 29 of an easily curable stomach ailment?
Would SGI ever lie about such a thing? Hell, they lie about everything, from a rainbow appearing at the opening of the Ikeda World Peace headquarters building to Nichiren being the Eternal Original True Buddha. Please remember the following guidance of Daisaku Ikeda
"This is the time of year when there are sharp fluctuations in daytime and night-time temperatures. Let’s take due care to wisely look after ourselves, for example, by keeping warm at night so we don’t catch a chill while sleeping! Let’s all try to advance in the very best of good health!." -- To My Friends published in the Seikyo Shimbun.
Hehe. Through the SGI practice and faith in the mentor, Stage IV cancer, whether of the lung, colon, breast, pancreas, esophagus, blood, or brain can be cured in 14 out of 14 instances but Daisaku doesn't want his poor sickly disciples to catch a chill at night.
More from those who, according to Daisaku Ikeda, "will never ask for even the tiniest contribution of offering from the members"
SGI-USA Millennium Fund and Legacy Society: Securing the Future of American Kosen-rufu
The SGI-USA recently established the Millennium Fund, a long-term investment fund designed to expand and protect our kosen-rufu movement for many generations to come. The Millennium Fund will be built over time through estate or legacy gifts and provide important resources for the future.
Individuals who have included the SGI-USA in their estate plans are invited to join the Millennium Legacy Society now and to allow the SGI-USA to express appreciation for this profound commitment. Millennium Legacy Society members will receive a special certificate, a pin and, most important, the knowledge that they are making causes to secure the future of our movement in the United States.
For More Information: To learn about how you can join the Millennium Legacy Society or to learn more about the Millennium Fund, please contact Mary Oberman at:estateplanning@sgi-usa.org; by phone at: 310-260-8921; or by mail at: SGI-USA Millennium Fund, 606 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401.
"SGI would never try and control what we can and cannot read.," -- SGI YWD leader
"I just recieved an email forwarded by a fellow, good-hearted, member. What she sent me were two things: first was a poem Orlando Bloom gave to Ikeda Sensei when they met a couple of weeks ago & the other an unofficially translated article about Orlando's meeting with Sensei.
First off, I have an issue with things being circulated that are not officially translated by the SGI. Not that other people aren't intelligent enough to translate it correctly, but if it doesn't come directly from the SGI(-USA), I don't know who it originally came from, if it's been tampered with since its translation, etc. I hope that members understand that it's not that the SGI is trying to control what we can and cannot read, it's that they want us to have the cleanest, best translation of it. Honestly, there are people out there with grudges against the SGI or Sensei or specific members who could & would change things as they got forwarded & posted & forwarded.
Secondly, while Mr. Bloom is a world-famous actor, heart-throb, etc., etc.--doesn't he deserve some privacy? I'm sure he okayed the publishing of his poem & the report of his meeting with Sensei. But, as soon as I read that poem I thought about the times I have written to Sensei. I have written things to him that are so deep & close to my heart--things I'm not comfortable (yet) to say to others--to him. The thought of other people reading one of those letters feels almost violating...like someone reading my diary, you know? I know that the SGI members who are reading this are not trying to violate Orlando's privacy or anything like that. It's exciting (for me, too!) to tell my friends that Orlando is an SGI member. Just as I'm sure it was for my mother to say that Tina Turner is a member when she was my age (and so on).
I guess my thought is: where's the line for more famous members between their privacy & their ability to encourage a broader or different audience? Who draws that line? I think that the SGI does its best not to exploit these 'celebrity' members. I have never, ever seen differently. I just worry & hope that the members, as well, will do our best to do the same--to be aware & show compassion.
Thoughts?
~Niki~"
Omaha, Nebraska YWD
Nichiren on who "may be called a disciple of the Buddha and a true priest".
"If a person striving to propagate the correct teaching of the Buddha should hear and see others propounding the teachings of the sutras in a mistaken manner and fail to reproach them himself or, lacking the power to do that, fail to appeal to the sovereign and in this way take measures to correct them, then he is betraying the Buddha’s teaching. But if, as the sutras direct, he is not afraid of others but censures these slanderers himself and appeals to the sovereign to take measures against them, then he may be called a disciple of the Buddha and a true priest."
Everything you need to know about the SGI May Contribution Campaign
The SGI May Contribution Campaign is well under way. We can all be relieved that there will be no bake sales, garage sales, or other fund raising activities to line the pockets of the greedy Japanese destroyers of the True Dharma. However, they are gearing up the machine, the district leaders and above, to make a push to accumulate ever more donations, more than all previous years. Hell, they have to increase the mid six figure salaries of their leech Vice Presidents and General Directors to keep up with the cost of living.
What can we do? The SGI is the second richest religious multinational corporation on earth, second only to the Catholic church, and for all intents and purposes they are a nation run by disingenuous and cunning despots. Take a step back for a moment. Machiavelli himself could not form such rancid thoughts and actions as the President and leaders of Soka to take over their parent sect Taisekaji. Even though the Taisekaji priests were hardly good parents, they didn’t beat and torture their “children”. Their children hatched a plot to take over their parents fiefs and treasures. Not unlike a child who kills his parents for their insurance money, these dastardly men of Soka attempted to kill their parents until the plots were discovered and the children were turned out. I ask you my friends, who could ever trust such children and who would support them [besides the penal system]? Yet they ask their sincere members to support them, to send them their hard earned money so they can nourish their fat bodies, formulate even greater machinations in their twisted corrupted minds, and enact even greater acts against those whose treasures they covet.
Experiences:
“I have chosen not to participate in the special zaimu campaign for the 2nd year in a row. I have been able to maintain the same job for over one year now and even got a raise. My industry is quite challenged, so I am happy with this outcome. And aside from finances, my health has been pretty good and things are going well for the family.
I know of 3 experiences so far (in my small circle) of negative effects to those that are putting their all into trying to collect donations and to give all their extra cash as a donation. From car accidents to loss of job, and another one that simply is okay with his status of always being broke. Through chanting he realized it was okay and lessened his suffering, I guess. Doesn’t sound like gaining much fortune to me and it is no fun to always be broke. But I guess he will pretend it is okay so that he feels he got a benefit somehow.
Another friend asked the interesting question: what does the SGI do for the members? They take and take constantly; take members time, take members money. But what do they give back? They don’t have any qualms about taking from people that are already struggling financially. It’s okay to still take their money. Cruel . . . . . is the only word that comes to mind.” — SGI Member on the Rick Ross Cult Education Forum
"1. May contribution month is coming up soon. I personally contribute every year and don't give a hoot about how much SGI makes. BUT, it makes SGI look very BAD that they will not disclose their intake and expenditures IN DETAIL the way that any ethical religious organization in the US does. It really does make us look bad-no joke! This has been discussed before here at length. People have written to leaders at SGI Plaza giving them well thought out theses on why this disclosure is important to the health and growth of SGI. No change in policy." -- CMC
"CMC, I am thinking about just this thing myself and I know other religiousorgs that are tax exempt keep track of every cent and give out the reports to the members. Traditionally, I have given a lot of money to the SGI every year, but certain things have happened in my area that have given me pause about doing this, though I still count myself a loyal member and it is my tradition. I cannot, of course, tell you what to do, but what I am going to do about this year's campaign is to chant for wisdom directly (I already did this) about how much money I want to give them and I am going to write a memo to enclose with that or send to the Area/Zone leaders about my feelings about financial disclosure, but that I derive benefit from the SGI and I do want to support it, though I have concerns. That is what I am going to do about it. I may remind them how much I have given them in the past yearly, if they didn't know. What if every one of us that have concerns about this did this? I may tell them that if they do not find it worthwhile to answer my concerns that I will take that into account regarding my future contributions. As I said, I am chanting for wisdom about this, but this year, I am going to write my immediate area/zone folks about it. You can imagine what I would do next year if they do not respond. Maybe they don't need my wholehearted contribution." -- Kathy
Please do not support the SGI May Contribution Campaign with even a dime of your money or allow the top leaders to cajole you into using your powers of persuasion to solicit donations from your members. Please, my comrades of the other Nichiren sects and independents, let us use our Buddha voice to educate the members and leaders of the Soka Gakkai, to the true nature of their own leaders. Reginald Carpenter has presented Reverend Kando Tono’s [Shoshinkai's] forty part expose of the machinations and treacherous actions of the President of the Soka Gakkai and his underlings, towards their parents. Please read it so you can better communicate to the members of the Soka Gakkai, the slander of offering donations to these evil men.
On Alt.Zen, one SGI member, “Julian Semian”, accuses us of burying foxes and worshiping them until they die. Fact is, we bury SGI high salaried senior leaders head first and watch the lower level non-salaried leaders kiss their bums. Laughing so hard, we reach Enlightenment. They put on such a good show, we almost want to donate a few bucks during the SGI May Contribution Campaign. Sick thing about SGI, they would accept our donations.
If they were to offer us one hundred million dollars to exchange our Gohonzons for the Transmission of the Dharma for their Nichikan No-Honzons, not only would we not accept, we would have a good chuckle before we told them they were already in hell.
How much are you paid? We gladly do the Buddha’s work for free. I continue to practice as a physician so I can continue to spread the Daishonin's teachings and would never think of asking for even a nickle from anyone. We, unlike the SGI, uphold the principles of the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin.
The combined leaders’ salaries in the Soka Gakkai are in the tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars while the sincere members do the grunt work FOR NOTHING, not minimum wage, not even meals and expenses [unless you consider baloney and mayo sandwiches fed to the hard working Bodhisattva worker ants as meals].
Yet, they want you to give more to the SGI hundred billion dollar cult. Sell your car if you have too. Late for the rent, go for it. “Doubt consumed me every day but I knew I had to [give] for my two girls.” “An investment for World Peace.” (and the hundreds of high salaried SGI leaders).
Save your money. They are extending May Contribution Campaign from January to November, they just don’t call it May Contribution Campaign [which technically extends from April to July].
The SGI vice presidents need their new additions to their houses, new Infinities, new wardrobes, makeovers for their wives, and presents for the kids. You wouldn’t want to deny them their exorbitant salaries for spreading the Dharma that you do for free. Run along, tighten your belts, and set aside your money for your bishops and cardinals…I mean leaders whose rings…I mean bums, you kiss every day. Shame on them and shame on you for being so stupid. Thanks to the internet in 1995, I came to learn about the lies of the Fuji sect, the Nichiren as True Buddha doctrine, the faked Daigohonzon and the false heritage of the high Priests and Presidents. If they can lie about such fundamentals of the lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin’s teachings, they can lie about anything, especially where YOUR money goes.
Those who write books on the Dharma for profit, those who publish dharma magazines and newspapers for profit, those who set up secular businesses and encourage their flock to utilize their products and services, those preachers, whether layman or priest, who garner exorbitant salaries thanks to the dharma, are worse than the Wall Street profiteers. They are leeches who suck the blood of the dharma. They should be put in prison or brought to Venice beach. At the very least we can withhold Buddhist alms and refrain from working for them [for free]. In the Kempon Hokke, the true Kempon Hokke, you work for the sake of the dharma and for your own sake. Neither I nor Rev. Nikke (Marcheso), nor anyone will profit one red cent from your work to spread the Lotus Sutra and the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin. You can bet your life on this and you can take it [YOUR money] to the bank. The Soka gakkai is an amoral organization and that is why so many of their senior leaders are embroiled in scandal and controversy.
Lastly, a bit of satire:
Danny Nagashima (He shouts alot): HOW ARE YOU!!!
Member: I’m doing great. I’m practicing hard, doing Gongyo twice a day and chanting an hour of Daimoku. With the recession and all, I’m working two jobs and we’re expecting our third child.
Danny: “CONGRATULATIONS! You can change your financial misfortune into fortune. This is the perfect time. Our May contribution campaign (which had started April 15th) is in full swing. I know if you make a generous offering you will change poison into medicine.”
Member: “Really? I was reading the Lotus Sutra…”
Danny: “You were?’
Member: “In Chapter 17, I think, it says that one moment of faith in the Lifespan of the Buddha, is ten trillion billion times more valuable than offering the Buddha all the treasures in the entire universe for immeasurable kalpas.
Danny: “You know that the Lotus Sutra is wonderful but it has lost its power in this age. Nichiren and Sensei say so, so you can believe what I tell you. You should read the New Human Revolution when Ms. Nakayama was going through some hard times just like you. There was a special Kosen Rufu contribution for world peace and she sold her car and presented the money to Sensei. Now she has a new car and a house too. The little noodle shop she opened is busy all the time.”
Member: “Really. I just can’t get it out of my mind that I am already changing my fortune. I feel really good but times are tight.”
Danny: “Do you want to continue to work two jobs just to make ends meet? Did you read the World Tribune Special Edition, Open the Path for the Future? If you want to create your own grand vision, despite the rough times. From the standpoint of Buddhism, these struggles give us the opportunity to create a new vision for our movement and ourselves. We could even say that now is a crucial turning point for us to progress to the next level of fortune. You don’t seem happy. You can refresh your practice through this contribution campaign.
Member: “I am happy what ever gave you the idea that I wasn’t happy.”
Danny: You wouldn’t be complaining how tough the times are if you were happy. Something is missing in your faith. I think your reluctance to contribute to our special May Commemorative shows clearly that you are still not ready to commit yourself fully to Kosen Rufu. It’s so easy now, you can donate by cash, check, use your credit card, or even make a small bank transfer. You want the new baby to be born into favorable circumstances, DON’T YOU?”
Member: “I propagate the Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra. How can my baby be born into anything less than favorable circumstances?”
Danny: “The Way to propagate the Daimoku is only through the SGI and our activities. You must reflect on your faith and look at the TREMENDOUS benefits of those who have contributed to our May contribution.”
Member: “Like Gino who lost his apartment because he contributed his rent money?”
Danny: I don’t know Gino but he couldn’t have selflessly dedicate himself to Kosen Rufu with the spirit of not begrudging one’s life for our TREMENDOUS organization. This too is found in the Lotus Sutra.
Member: “He never missed a meeting in three Years and chants two hours of Daimoku a day. I thought Sensei said, Buddhism was common sense.”
Danny: I have to go right now but think over what I told you today.
"As an eternal principle, the Soka Gakkai will never ask for even the tiniest contribution of offering from the members." --Daisaku Ikeda Seikyo Shimbun, June 16, 1962
"As an eternal principle, the Soka Gakkai will never ask for even the tiniest contribution of offering from the members." --Daisaku Ikeda Seikyo Shimbun, June 16, 1962
$OKA GAKKAI'S MONEY COLLECTING ACTIVITIES
The Unification Church coerced its members to purchase strange objects like pottery and miniature pagodas. A court ordered them to pay compensatory reparations for their "Inspirational Business." However, the Soka Gakkai matches their perniciousness in taking advantage of people's weaknesses. No, in fact, the Soka Gakkai's money gathering techniques exceed those of the Unification Church. Their money collections from believers throughout the entire country, which are carried out under the designation "zaimu," and which are conducted by order of Honorary President Daisaku Ikeda, are absurd, and their practice to efficiently collect money with "bank transfers" is shameful.
Two women sought compensation against the Unification Church, saying they had been coerced by the Church into giving money. They say they were told, "Unless you make a donation, more misfortune will occur. Your (deceased) husband hopes for $500,000, or at the very least, $300,000." A decision in the "Inspiration Business" trial in Fukuoka handed down on May 17 recognized the responsibility of those within the Unification Church who had employed the coercion, and ordered a total payment of $37,600,000. It was an epoch-making decision.
However, Hiro Yamaguchi, a lawyer with "The Nationwide Liaison Association of Lawyers against the 'Inspiration Business,"' says, "They engaged in coercion and were ordered to pay the victims for the coercion that they used against them by June 3, but the Unification Church immediately filed an appeal, so we cannot yet breathe a sigh of relief. It is thought by the lawyers in charge of the case that as a next step, if the Unification Church cannot meet the payment, the Church will declare bankruptcy in order to avoid revealing their hidden assets. However, we are discussing the possibility of seeking their dissolution before they can do so, based upon Article 81 of the Religious Corporation Act."
Article 81 of the Religious Corporation Act states that when a religious corporation engages in conduct recognized as having greatly harmed the public good, and when its conduct greatly deviates from the goals of a religious body, it can be ordered to disband. In the same manner, Article 79 states that when a religious corporation engages in enterprises outside of its public works (that is, its religious activities), in opposition to the goals of a religious body, a halt to those enterprises can be sought. Mr. Yamaguchi continues, "However, up until now there has not been a single instance in which Articles 81 and 79 have been put into practice. In order to win such an unprecedented decision in a court of law, we must accumulate many lawsuit victories such as the one in the current Fukuoka decision. At the very least, in having a religious corporation disbanded on the grounds of it engaging in anti-social behavior, we want to have a clear court decision in which the religious corporation is found guilty of illegal activities."
However, it could be said that he has in mind the money collection activities of the Soka Gakkai, about which doubts about its conduct being illegal are stronger than those of the Unification Church. At any rate, the Soka Gakkai's tremendous money collection activities, which they call "zaimu" (financial affairs), is already common knowledge. Moreover, their current method of collecting money consists of "bank transfers." It is extremely efficient, organizationally. Such money collection activities are of a distinctly deviant nature from the donations which religious corporations collect from their believers for propagation
activities.
Journalist Isao Dan says, "To begin with, I have never heard of a religious corporation which collects donations through bank transfers. Whether the money covers operating expenses or organ subscription costs, we're talking about offerings to Buddhas and Buddhist deities. It is not at all the same as payments by bank transfer for receiving the NHK TV signal, and it would be extremely odd to say that it is.
One unit of Soka Gakkai zaimu is $100, and there is no limit to how much may be given above that amount. In the last Upper House election, Komeito received approximately 6,040,000 votes. 80% of those, or approximately 5 million, are thought to be Gakkai members who earnestly participate in Gakkai activities.
Last year zaimu was conducted for three and a half months, from September 13 until December 31. Zaimu collected by the Gakkai for one year ranges from $2 billion to $3 billion. I have even heard the number estimated at $3,900,000,000."
Vastly Different from Other Religious Bodies
Zaimu was originally introduced into the Gakkai in the decade between 1945 and 1955. At that time, only wealthy households were zaimu members, and they each donated 4,000 yen a year. (With the post-war exchange rate of 360 yen to one dollar, U.S., the amount would have come to just over 11 U.S. dollars.)
Mr. Isao continues. "However, this was gradually expanded, so that money was collected from the households of general members. From the early '70's, it extended beyond the aim of kosen-rufu. They began what they called 'special zaimu,' under the pretext of constructing facilities called Soka Culture Centers and of donating temples to the sect. Then, from 1977, it took the form of the current zaimu, where once a year they collect at least $100 per person. They used to call the people who collect zaimu, Zaimu Division members. They now call such people Kofu (Kosen-rufu) Division members."
When the current Honorary President Ikeda was reinstated as Sokoto (the General Head of the Hokkeko) in 1982, they escalated their money collecting activities, calling it "a mad dash forward." According to the journalist Masao Okkotsu (a Soka University graduate), "Previously, one unit of zaimu was $100 per person per year, but now there is no limit to how much a person can give above that amount. Money is even given in the name of children. It is not at all unusual for families who are not the least bit wealthy to give $10,000 or $20,000. Gakkai members who give more than $100,000 are called 'Diamond Members. Orders have been handed down from the Headquarters for chapter leaders to see how many 'Diamond Members' they can muster. There are even cases where the Gakkai has learned of a father passing away, and they have collected the money that he willed to the family."
From 1985, they instituted the "bank transfers" in big cities such as Tokyo on an experimental basis. From 1990, this was carried out on a nationwide basis. Mr. Okkotsu explains, "Before the 'bank transfers,' Gakkai members would assemble at the districts and chapters on the last Sunday of July and make cash donations only on that day. They would stuff their money into a cardboard box, and it would be conveyed to the Gakkai Headquarters, but leaders would pilfer the cash enroute to the Headquarters. This happened frequently. In addition, there was the danger of transporting large amounts of cash in an automobile, so they hit upon the idea of 'bank transfers.'"
However, as may be expected, there are no other religious groups which employ such conspicuous techniques. Rissho Koseikai, which has approximately 6 million believers, collects one dollar when someone joins and one dollar a month for operating expenses, as well as monetary donations they call "zaishi"(monetary offerings). However, a spokesman says,
"When members come to one of our 239 churches throughout the country, they place donations in a collection box, which we refer to as a 'donation box.' But we do not set the amount a person is to give, like the Soka Gakkai does. We do not set time periods or distribute blank bank transfer forms. And of course, there is absolutely never any coercion."
Seicho no Ie has approximately 800,000 believers. A spokesman says, "Members give monetary donations, which we call 'kenshi' (donated funds), and which are classified according to four rankings: $1 a month, $4 a month, $10 a month, and more than $100 a month. Also, aside from that, those who make a one-time donation of $1,000 or $10,000 are called Seicho no Ie Special Members. This is the designation we give to people who come with money and wish to donate it for something other than operating expenses. Most members make donations every month, but there is no donation amount stipulated as being 'special.' Everyone comes to the churches and each of them make their donations there."
The Soka Gakkai is referred to as a money collecting religious body, but with the bank transfers, they have further increased their efficiency. A former Gakkai district leader attests, "Officially there is no coercion in the Gakkai's zaimu activities, but in actuality, they are quite skilled in collecting zaimu. First of all, six months before payments are to commence, certificates of merit acknowledging Kofu Division members are passed out in each district. In addition, scarves used for wrapping prayer beads in are passed out as commemorative items. The designs on these scarves change every year, and the patterns have opportunity to give their experiences. They take such forms as, 'I gave this much and received this benefit, and thanks to zaimu, my business is prospering greatly.'
Members are given rankings of ABC, according to the extent of their faith. Then, when the zaimu is collected, members are made to write down how much they will donate this year and by what date it will be paid. Blank bank transfer forms are also passed out. If the proposed amount is paid, there is no problem, but when the money is not paid in the designated time or when the amount is less than proposed, district leaders go around to the members' homes and persuade them until the money is collected. They are relentless, making no allowances."
A Lawsuit for Repayment Turned Away at the Door
Well, what becomes of the tremendous amount of money collected? The previously introduced Mr. Dan says, "It is estimated that the cash the Gakkai currently holds is $20,040,000,000. Just the interest on that money is $70 million. Their primary disbursements are for real estate. They construct facilities and training centers all over the country, but recently, they have purchased castles in Italy and England. In addition, the personnel expenses for the Gakkai's 3,000 employees is a pretty fair amount. Aside from the above, they presumably also give money to the Soka schools."
However, a financial expert says that most of the money collected is invested in financial markets. "In the case of last year, money transferred to authorized accounts at banks in Tokyo was added up twice between September and November. The three extra months' worth of zaimu was received as 'pennies from heaven' and kept idle in the usual accounts. They thought it would be profitable if they lumped it all together and invested the large amount at fixed intervals. The money from the banks in Tokyo was amassed together at the Yotsuya branch of Mitsubishi Bank, the Gakkai's main bank and then invested in the zaimu department of each of the Tokyo banks. Then, in accordance with instructions from Mitsubishi Bank, the money was returned to the Yotsuya branch, and then remitted to banks and securities firms which pay high interest. Then it was deposited in a fixed account in the Postal savings system. There is also a recent report that it is being invested as a hedge fund for overseas, where they are speculatively vigorous."
Of course, a sufficient amount of money is converted into maneuvering capital and traveling expenses for when Daisaku, who loves honors and decorations, meets with overseas VIP's. This is not just talk to make the believers, who have submitted their savings, believing them to be offerings, feel like fools.
In response to this illegitimate usage of funds, lawsuits seeking repayment have occurred before now. There is the example of a suit being filed in a Tokyo court in 1979, where approximately 530 plaintiffs sought repayment of approximately $1,000 each, for a total of $500,000. However, according to a representative of the plaintiffs at the time, "Zaimu should be collected based upon the spirit of offerings, but it was not, so they wanted their money back. Our stand did not mesh with the Gakkai insistence that zaimu is capital used for kosen-rufu activities. In the end, the court decided that a courtroom is not the place to settle a religious problem, and they dismissed the lawsuit."
There is an instance which occurred after that, in 1982 in Kochi, where 72 people selected three people to represent them as plaintiffs in a lawsuit. In that instance, the Gakkai was ordered to repay approximately $7 million. Though the Gakkai appealed the decision, the very best they could do was reach a compromise to pay back $10,000 per person. According to one of the people involved at the time, "In that case, the Gakkai had at one time agreed to pay back the money, but they never paid it back, so the suit was not over a doctrinal problem. It was a fight against only a broken promise for repayment, so the lawsuit concluded in a victory for the plaintiffs. If the lawsuit had from the very beginning focused on doctrine, it probably would have been turned away at the door of the courthouse."
Its Very Existence Is Unconstitutional
However, there is no doubt that the Soka Gakkai's very existence is anti-social, seeing that it takes advantage of people's weakness, the same as the Unification Church. A Gakkai observer notes, "No. The Unification Church takes people's money, but at least they leave a pot to cook in. The Gakkai takes until there is nothing left. It's existence is evil from beginning to end." Professor Hirohisa Kitano of the Legal Department of Nihon University says, "The Soka Gakkai has been formally excommunicated from their Head Temple. They have no object of worship or anything else. They are nothing more than a collection of believers. Furthermore, their zaimu and bank transfers have no religious significance at all.
Despite all of that, the Gakkai is recognized as a religious corporation. That in itself is strange, and it is clearly in violation of the Constitution. Concretely speaking, it is first of all in violation of Article 20 of the Constitution. That is the article which stipulates the freedom of religion, but it also states that religious bodies are not to receive special rights from the State, and that those bodies are not to exercise governmental authority. They originally did not have tax exempt status, but now they do so this shows that they receive special rights from the State. In addition, they are in violation of Article 89, which stipulates that religious bodies are not to receive disbursements of public moneys. Not paying taxes which should be paid is the same as receiving disbursements of public moneys. Taxes of 35 -37% should be levied against the Gakkai's zaimu activities, the same as for enterprises in general. Even making a tremendous compromise and (hypothetically) acknowledging that the Gakkai is a religious corporation, still taxes of 27% percent should be levied against a non-profit organizations for- profit enterprises."
If we deal with the issue of separation of Church and State, it is impossible to consider as taboo the matter of the Gakkai's existence. Liberal Democrat (LDP) Diet member Yoshinobu Shimamura is following up on the Gakkai problem. He states, "Until now, we have wanted to avoid making the LDP and the Soka Gakkai enemies. We have emphasized peace at any price, but now no one is saying anything like that." If that is the case, then Honorary President Ikeda should either be summoned to appear before the Diet or the Gakkai should bef orced to disband.
Question for my dear readers
Is it more important for Nichiren and Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism to be what one wants them to be or to discover who and what they really are?
Why SGI members are to be continuously reproved
"When a person’s offense is minor, admonishment is sometimes called for, but at other times it may be unnecessary, for there are those who may correct themselves without being told. Reprove a person for slander when necessary, so that you can forestall for both of you the consequences of an offense. Then, you should forgive that person. The point is that even minor slanders may lead to serious ones, and then the effects one must suffer would be far worse. This is [what Chang-an means when he writes], “One who rids the offender of evil is acting as his parent.” -- Nichiren
SGI members fall into the category of those who continuously slander the Law and thus are to be continuously reproved. They pretend to be foremost in upholding the precepts and I continuously point out how they break the precepts. I do this for their sake. I will forgive them when they correct their mistakes.
Nichiren and Dengyo
Nichiren Daishonin deviated sharply from the teachings of his immediate predecessor Dengyo the Great. Dengyo taught the primacy of Buddha-nature [Buddha Wisdom] and the doctrine of Original Enlightenment [Hongaku Shiso] while Nichiren taught the primacy of the seed of Buddhahood or Namu Myoho renge kyo. Without the seed of Buddhahood, the field of Buddha-nature lies forever fallow. This is the meaning of the Ceremony in the Air and the rationale for the oneness of Shakyamuni Buddha and we common mortals both of whom plant the seed of Namu Myoho renge kyo "into the wasteland of the people’s lives in the evil world
*from Essentials for Attaining Buddhahood
Thursday, May 25, 2017
"It is able to deliver all the living from all sufferings and all diseases, and is able to unloose all the bonds of mortal life." -- Lotus Sutra Chapter 23
"Again, if anyone offers a three-thousand-great-thousandfold world full of the seven precious things in homage to buddhas, great bodhisattvas, pratyekabuddhas, and arhats, the merit this man gains is not equal to the surpassing happiness of him who receives and keeps but a single fourfold verse [Namu Myoho renge kyo] of this Law-Flower Sutra." -- Lotus Sutra Chapter 23 THE FORMER DEEDS OF MEDICINE KING BODHISATTVA
"Star Constellation King Flower! This sutra is that which can save all the living; this sutra can deliver all the living from pains and sufferings; this sutra is able greatly to benefit all the living and fulfill their desires. Just as a clear, cool pool is able to satisfy all those who are thirsty, as the cold who obtain a fire [are satisfied], as the naked who find clothing, as [a caravan of] merchants who find a leader, as children who find their mother, as at a ferry one who catches the boat, as a sick man who finds a doctor, as in the darkness one who obtains a lamp, as a poor man who finds a jewel, as people who find a king, as merchant venturers who gain the sea, and as a torch which dispels the darkness, so is it also with this Law-Flower Sutra; it is able to deliver all the living from all sufferings and all diseases, and is able to unloose all the bonds of mortal life." [ibid]
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