Boko Harum

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/look-inside-worldview-one-deadliest-222208560.html

Gratitude for Shakyamuni Buddha is necessary for the subjugation of ego vital for awakening.

SGI mis-teaches the principle of the equality of the Buddha and the common mortal because they misunderstand the principle of the general and the specific. They sometimes teach that the common mortal is equal to the Buddha and sometimes that the common mortal is superior. It is different the Buddha proclaiming that the common mortal is equal to the Buddha since this realty is a Buddhist paradox. Understanding [living] the paradox with gratitude for Shakyamuni Buddha is a necessary part of the subjugation of ego vital for awakening. Nichiren scolded the Zenmen for the very same transgression as the SGI. I can support my view with the authenticated writings of Nichiren and the Lotus Sutra. They can not.

The act of chanting together is engaged Buddhism

It brings people together in a way much more interpersonal than silent meditation. It also tears down the wall of separation between people.

SGI and the Zennification of Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism.

“The fifth volume of Great Concentration and Insight states, “There is a type called Zen men, but their masters and disciples are blind [to the truth] and lame [in practice], and both masters and disciples will fall into hell.” In the seventh volume we read: “[There are ten ways necessary for understanding and practicing Buddhism correctly. Of these, except one], the nine ways have nothing in common with the ordinary priests of the world who concentrate on the written word, nor do they have anything in common with the Zen masters who concentrate on practice. Some Zen masters give all their attention to meditation alone. But their meditation is shallow and false, totally lacking in the nine ways. This is no empty assertion. Worthy persons of later ages who have eyes to see will understand the truth of what I say.” 

The seventh volume of On “Great Concentration and Insight” states: “‘Priests who concentrate on the written word’ refers to men who gain no inner insight or understanding through meditation, but concern themselves only with characteristics of the doctrine. ‘Zen masters who concentrate on practice’ refers to men who do not learn how to attain the truth and the corresponding wisdom, but fix their minds on the mere techniques of breath control. Theirs is the kind of [non-Buddhist] meditation that fundamentally still retains outflows. ‘Some Zen masters give all their attention to meditation alone’ means that, for the sake of discussion, T’ien-t’ai gives them a certain degree of recognition, but from a stricter viewpoint they lack both insight and understanding. The Zen men in the world today value only meditation [as the way to realize the truth] and have no familiarity with doctrinal teachings. In relying upon meditation alone, they interpret the sutras in their own way. They put together the eight errors and the eight winds, and talk about the Buddha as being sixteen feet in height. They lump together the five components and the three poisons, and call them the eight errors. They equate the six sense organs with the six transcendental powers, and the four elements with the four noble truths. To interpret the sutras in such an arbitrary manner is to be guilty of the greatest falsehood. Such nonsense is not even worth discussing.” — The Opening of the Eyes 

SGI members go to toso after toso, chanting one million Daimoku after another, yet they sometimes assert that the prime point of the Lotus Sutra is the oneness of SGI mentor and disciple or that the Lotus Sutra teaches interfaith and other times they assert that the prime point of the Lotus Sutra is the Buddha-nature possessed by all beings. They know nothing of the doctrines contained in the 16th Chapter of the Lotus Sutra and the Opening of the Eyes. They lack both insight and understanding. In the end, they are guilty of the greatest falsehoods. 

There are several reasons for the slanders and distortions which characterize SGI’s teachings: 

1). Except for Makiguchi, the SGI members have not experienced martyrdom. They have had a relatively easy go with propagation and have, on occasion, resorted to bullying tactics themselves, something a Buddhist who has experienced severe persecutions first hand would never resort to. 

2). The way of the Samurai and Bushido [way of the warrior], remnants of the retainer/lord relationship, the principle of saving face, and the Zen Buddhist model of master/disciple relationship characterizes the Soka Gakkai 

3). Possibly the greatest digression from the Way of Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin is the zennification of the SGI. The Buddha stated: “be a lamp unto yourself” and the Buddha as well as the Daishonin taught that we should follow the Law and not persons. It should be obvious that the SGI exhortations to seek guidance, going so far as to have a Guidance Division, is actual proof of this distortion. Those who embrace the highest Law and the Supreme Object of Worship, need never be impelled to seek guidance and develop what is virtually a master/disciple relationship with anyone, even one deemed a senior in faith.

In Zen Buddhism, whatever the master says is followed without hesitation or question. In SGI, one often hears, “Follow no matter what.” I have heard such arbitrary non-Buddhist opinions as, “‘If you sincerely follow the guidance of your leaders, even if they are wrong, you will gain tremendous benefit.” Such teachings are endemic in the Soka Gakkai and in Zen. This is not the Lotus Sutra Buddhism of Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin. 

Even if the SGI were to adopt the Object of Worship of the Original Doctrine and admit that the identity of the Original Eternal Buddha was Lord Shakya, it will take many generations to purge the SGI of the Way of the Samurai, Bushido values, the way of lords and retainers, and the insidious master/disciple teachings of Zen. 

The Lotus Sutra and the writings of Nichiren Daishonin trump the worldly ephemeral successes of the two mentors. The ten million Soka Gakkai converts, by virtue of their false mistaken faith and practice based on the Taisekaji teachings mixed with value creationism, Yui Yoga, and Bushido, have become demons who will destroy True Buddhism in no time. Nichiren states in the writing, Happiness In This World: 

“There is no true happiness other than upholding faith in the Lotus Sutra. This is what is meant by “peace and security in their present existence and good circumstances in future existences.”” 

He further states in Embracing the Lotus Sutra: 

“Now, if you wish to attain Buddhahood, you have only to lower the banner of your arrogance, cast aside the staff of your anger, and devote yourself exclusively to the one vehicle of the Lotus Sutra. Worldly fame and profit are mere baubles of your present existence, and arrogance and prejudice are ties that will fetter you in the next one. Ah, you should be ashamed of them! And you should fear them, too!” 

One million times zero equals zero. Since the Soka Gakkai rejects the Lotus Sutra teachings and Buddha Shakyamuni of the Juryo-hon Chapter of the Lotus Sutra, how can SGI member’s happiness be anything but an ephemeral happiness? SGI members’ happiness is based on worldly fame and profit, not unlike the zenmen. 

We hear over and over about what SGI, "achieved” but what did they really achieve? Nichiren states, quoting the Nirvana Sutra:

“Kashyapa, because [in the past] I devoted myself to the correct teaching, I have been able to achieve this diamond-like body that abides forever and is never destroyed.” 

In the USA there are perhaps twenty or thirty million new evangelical believers in the last ten years. They espouse great happiness but Nichiren states, “because [in the past] I devoted myself to the correct teaching…” We should ask ourselves, are the Soka Gakkai teachings the correct teachings? Is it correct to abandon Shakyamuni Buddha and the Lotus Sutra? The ten million Soka Gakkai adepts faith and practice is based on a dream or more appropriately termed a nightmare, the nightmare of the Taisaekaji teachings expounded by Toda and Ikeda: 

“…the Gohonzons that we recieve are also the living flesh of the Original Buddha whose eyes have been opened according to the principles of the actual Ichinen Sanzen in the passages depths of the Juryo Chapter and the true attainment of Buddhahood by plants and trees. Why would this very Gohonzon not be the true aspect of the eye opening of wooden and painted images? This is absolutely not found in the heretical sects outside of Nichiren Shoshu, and is a profoundly secret doctrine which only Nichiren Shoshu possesses.”– Daisaku Ikeda Soka Gakkai Daibyaku Renge 

“….He knew all too well that the age of the Latter Day of the Law had already come, when prophecy foretold a decline in the power of Shakyamuni’s Buddhism; he knew it would have been entirely inappropriate to bring back Shakyamuni’s Buddhism as a new set of beliefs. He was able to bring the people a totally new kind of Buddhism because he was convinced of his identity and missions to save all people in the Latter Day of theLaw.” — Daisaku Ikeda (pg. 212 Selected Lectures on the Gosho)

The Lotus Sutra admonishes him: 

“Shame on such monks! — they will preach their own fictions.”

And Nichiren states: 

“I had gone to many centers of the religion during those twenty years, in the quest of Buddhist truths. The final conclusion I arrived at was that the truth of Buddhism must be one in essence. Many people lose themselves in the labyrinth of learning and studies, through thinking that every one of the diverse branches might help to the attainment of Buddhist ideals.” — Works pp 1770-71 

And again in Myoho Bikuni Go-henji: 

“According to the Zen Sect, the true teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha are not transmitted through sutras. They say that sutras including the Lotus Sutra are like a finger to point at the moon or a ferry to cross a river; and that it is no use after seeing the moon or crossing the river. Zen Buddhists say such a thing as they learned, without thinking what they say. But they are actually slandering Shakyamuni Buddha and preventing propagation of the Lotus Sutra. Thus, the people in this country are all committing a grave sin, more serious than the Five 

Evils, without realizing it.”

In Those Initially Aspiring to the Way, he writes: 

“…As for other types of people, it would appear that, even if they do not understand the meaning of the Lotus Sutra and are ignorant but have earnest faith, then they will invariably be reborn in a pure land. For it says in the Lotus Sutra, “They will be born in the presence of the Buddhas of the ten directions,” and “She will immediately go to the World of Peace and Delight.” These passages give clear proof that one who has faith in the Lotus Sutra will be reborn in a pure land. 

Chapter 3 of the Lotus Sutra states: 

“Whether during the Buddha’s lifetime

Or after his extinction

If there be any who slander

Such a sutra as this,

Who, seeing those who read and recite,

Write or hold this sutra, scorn and despise, hate and envy them

And bear them a tenacious grudge.

Concerning the recompense of such people’s sin,

After their lifetimes end

They will enter into the Avici hell.” 

Although neither the evangelicals nor the SGI members have faith in the Lotus Sutra, it is better to be an evangelical who doesn’t slander the Lotus Sutra than an SGI member who slanders both the Lotus Sutra and the true believers of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren. Their holier than thou pronouncements based on the heretical SGI teachings are a castle built on sand.

As far as SGI’s assertions that the SGI teachings frees one from birth and death, that is not possible if one is to believe Nichiren Daishonin that the Lotus Sutra is the means: 

“What I call the Heritage of the Great Thing Concerning Life and Death is nothing else than the Scripture, the Lotus of the Perfect Truth. Fo rthe Sacred Title of the Lotus was handed down from the two Buddhas, Sakyamuni and Prabhuta-ratna (Taho or “Many Treasures”), to the Boddhisattva Visista-caritra (Jogyo or “Emminent Conduct”), when the Buddhas appeared in the Heavenly Shrine, and from eternity the heritage has been kept without interruption.”

In another writing, we read, 

“Then to utter the Sacred Title of the Lotus with the conviction that the three are one — the three, that is, Sakyamuni, the Buddha who from eternity has realized Buddhahood; the Lotus Sutra, which leads all beings without exception to Buddhahood; and we, beings in all the realms of existence.” 

How can you be one with Buddha Shakyamuni who from eternity has realized Buddhahood if you reject Him? Chanting mechanical daimoku with no conviction in Shakyamuni is not the way to free oneself from the fetters of birth and death. 

On Establishing the Correct Teaching states; 

“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.” 

The Selection of the Time states: 

“The Buddha says determining the future, “Depend upon the teaching, not upon the people. Bodhisattva Nagarjuna says, “If one depends upon the scripture it is a correct argument; if one does not depend upon the scripture it is an incorrect argument.” T’ien-t’ai says, “Again, if it conforms to the scripture, quote and use it. If there is no corresponding sentence or corresponding meaning, then one should not believe and accept. ” Dengyo says, “Depend upon what the Buddha taught, not upon the oral tradition.” If one follows these scriptures, treatises and commentaries, then one should not base oneself on dreams. Once should only treasure the passages in the scriptures and treatises…” 

Since the SGI abandons the scriptures, treatises, and commentaries, what is it that they have faith in? The words and the oral teachings of Toda and Ikeda? I don’t see anything about a mentor being necessary for attaining Buddhahood nor that new car or raise.

Nichiren writes: 

“The essential key to Nichiren’s disciples and followers is, namely, adherence to the Lotus Sutra.” 

The Lotus Sutra states: 

“But if one, after the Buddha’s extinction,

In the midst of an evil world

is able to preach this sutra, this is indeed hard…..(LS Ch.11) 

What the Soka Gakkai teaches is not “this Sutra”. 10,000,000 million SGI believers or 1,500,000,000 Muslims, are not equal to one Nichiren believer that has faith in the golden words of the Sutra. Most SGI members haven’t even read the Lotus Sutra. They go by the hearsay of the mentor, the Human Revolution, or the World Tribune. The SGI teachings on the Master-disciple relationship, value creation, receiving and giving guidance, no worth or role for solitary Bodhisattvas, the practice of shoju in this degenerate evil age, are all hearsay and oral teachings which Nichiren completely rejected. How sad for them. How sad that SGI members confuse Anger or Rapture for Buddhahood. 

Nichiren states: 

“Then what teaching should the country of Japan learn if its people are to free themselves from the sufferings of birth and death? As for this question, the Lotus Sutra states, “After the Thus Come One has entered extinction, I will cause it [the Lotus Sutra] to be widely propagated throughout Jambudvipa and will see that it never comes to an end.” 

Note, it doesn’t say to cause "Value Creationism”, “Human Revolution”, or “Taisekaji Mysticism” to spread.

In the Opening of the Eyes, we also read: 

“It is also laid down that one should “rely on sutras that are complete and final and not on those that are not complete and final.” We must therefore look carefully among the sutras to determine which are complete and final and which are not, and put our faith in the former. Bodhisattva Nagarjuna in his Commentary on the Ten Stages Sutra states, “Do not rely on treatises that distort the sutras; rely on those that are faithful to the sutras.” The Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai says, “That which accords with the sutras is to be written down and made available. But put no faith in anything that in word or meaning fails to do so.” The Great Teacher Dengyo says, “Depend upon the preachings of the Buddha, and do not put faith in traditions handed down orally.” Enchin, also known as the Great Teacher Chisho, says, ‘In transmitting the teachings, rely on the written words [of scriptures]. ‘”

SGI's relies on the inferior teaching of the Human Revolution and those Nichiren Shoshu teachings that distort the Sutra and the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin. They depend more on the preaching of Daisaku Ikeda than they do on the preachings of the Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin and they hardly rely on the written words of the Sutra and Nichiren Daishonn. They are far more evil than the Zen men who make no pretense of practicing what the Buddha taught.

Nichiren Shu's [and SGI's] false portrayal of Nichiren

Rev. Ryuei asserts that Nichiren Daishonin was a “Confucian Gentleman” who was a proponent of interfaith [rather than a lion of break and subdue practice]. Contrary to this false image of Nichiren, we can see the true Nichiren through his teachings:

“The Dharma Teacher Chih-i said: “The Lotus Sutra itself says, ‘among the sutras, it holds the highest place.’ It also says, ‘Among the sutras I [Shakyamuni] have preached, now preach, and will preach, this Lotus Sutra is the most difficult to believe and the most difficult to understand.’ The Immeasurable Meanings Sutra makes clear that the sutras the Buddha already ‘has preached’ here refer to ‘the teaching of great wisdom and the Flower Garland teaching of the ocean-imprint meditation’ and so forth. And with regard to the sutras he ‘will preach,’ the Nirvana Sutra says, ‘. . . from the prajna-paramita (the teachings of the perfection of wisdom) he brought forth the Nirvana Sutra.’ These scriptural passages show that the Lotus Sutra is superior to the Flower Garland and Nirvana sutras; they make it abundantly clear, clear as could possibly be. You should understand accordingly.

Rebuked in this manner, some of his opponents simply shut their mouths, others spewed out abuse, while still others turned pale. The Ch’en ruler then rose from his seat and bowed three times, and all the hundred officials pressed their palms together in reverence. Powerless to prevail, the leaders of the other schools conceded defeat. Thus it was established that the Lotus Sutra holds the highest place among the teachings of the Buddha’s lifetime.”

Further along in this treatise, we read…

“So long as the people truly did not know of this statement, it seems that the false interpretations of the teachers I mentioned spread without anyone incurring retribution. But once a person of forceful character has come forward to make this sutra passage known in a bold and uncompromising fashion, then grave matters are certain to occur. Because people have looked down on this person and cursed him, struck him, sent him into exile, or attempted to take his life, Brahma, Shakra, the gods of the sun and moon, and the four heavenly kings have risen up in anger and become that votary’s allies. Thus unexpected censures have come down from heaven, and the people are about to be wiped out and the nation destroyed.

Though the votary of the Lotus Sutra may be of humble background, the heavenly deities who protect him are fearsome indeed. If an asura tries to swallow the sun or moon, its head will split into seven pieces. If a dog barks at a lion, its bowels will rot. And as I view the situation today, the same sort of retribution is happening here in Japan.”

Ryuei and the not-Nichiren Shu make Nichiren Daishonin into a passive milk toast of interfaith. Instead of these false priests becoming images of Nichiren they make Nichiren into their image. Who is he kidding and what is Ryuei's and the Nichiren Shu’s true agenda?

There are Nichiren Shu members who have been taught mistaken doctrines by their priests who themselves are mistaken and there are other Nichiren Shu members who really don’t like Nichiren Daishonin. To placate these slanderers or worms in the body of the lion, the priests themselves have become parasites.

They are not different than the SGI… Give the people what they want not what is good for them [correct and accurate teachings of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin]. "Good medicine tastes bitter and moxacautery cures a cold." Instead, Ryuei and the not-Nichiren Shu gives the people sugar water or Shirley Temples instead of the medicine of immortality. How sad! How pitiful!

Nichiren on faithful (believing) mind ‘(shinjin)

“The attainment of Buddhahood or non-attainment of Buddhahood by the evil people of the Latter Age does not depend upon the lightness or gravity of their sins but is just according to their belief or unbelief in this Sutra” (Hakii Saburo dono gohenji, STN, v. 1, 749). 

“This Object of Worship is also contained in the two characters, ‘faithful (believing) mind ‘(shinjin); ‘by faith you are able to enter’ refers to this. The disciples and lay donors of Nichiren by believing undividedly in ‘forthrightly abandoning expedience’ and ‘not receiving even one verse of other sutras’ shall enter into the Jeweled Stupa of this Object of Worship” (Nichinyo gozen gohenji, STN, v. 2, 1376).  

SGI faith, practice, and teachings are inferior

“There are two ways of contemplating the three thousand realms in a single moment of life. One is theoretical, and the other, actual. What T’ien-t’ai and Dengyo practiced was theoretical, but what I practice now is actual. Because what I practice is superior, the difficulties attending it are that much greater. The doctrine of T’ien-t’ai and Dengyo was the three thousand realms in a single moment of life of the theoretical teaching, while mine is that of the essential teaching. These two are as different as heaven is from earth. You should grasp this deeply when the time comes to face death.”

Truthfully, no one wants to hear that one will encounter so many difficulties if one practices Buddhism correctly so SGI lies and almost exclusively talks about "benefit". That is one reason 95% of those who ever practiced with the SGI in the U.S. abandoned their faith. They were not prepared to meet difficulties. 

Question: Then one might inquire, how is it that practicing incorrectly as does SGI calls upon so many difficulties? 

Answer: The SGI faith, practice, and teachings cannot even sustain minor difficulties that all people are destined to encounter, let alone the difficulties encountered by the votaries of the Lotus Sutra. The difficulties encountered by SGI members pale in significance to those of the votaries of the Lotus Sutra who prove their faith by encountering and overcoming even the obstacle of hatred and persecution by governmental authorities.

We too advocate a return to pre-sectarian Buddhism

Nichiren Daishonin advocated a return to pre-sectarian Buddhism. Forcefully urging a a unification of Buddhism based on the Lotus Sutra, he was the greatest reformer in the history of Buddhism. Introducing a simple faith and practice, he created a formula that was easy to follow. Our goal too is to return to pre-sectarian Buddhism. This will never happen as long as Nichiren Buddhists don’t put their own house in order. There should be only one Nichiren Lotus Sutra school, not thirty or forty. I retain hope that this will be accomplished and I have a plan to realize this goal. The plan is simple. All the schools must cultivate the very same faith and practice as the founder, Nichiren Daishonin. If one does not have the same faith and practice as Nichiren, you are not a Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhist, even if you chant the Daimoku to a Nichiren Gohonzon.

According to the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin, “faith is first and foremost." Only those having the very same faith as Nichiren Daishonin are Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhists. We have proven that all the various schools fail to have and uphold the same faith as Nichiren Daishonin. We, on the other hand, share the exact same faith as Nichiren. This is not mere self-praise. It is reality as it is.

Nichiju on the Gohonzon

"This Great Mandala is the mandala that represents non-duality of subject and its surroundings; unity of the Buddha and the Dharma; oneness of all living beings and the Buddha; and the inter-possession of each of the Ten Realms. Therefore, since those who reverently listen to its name [Namu Myoho renge kyo] will eradicate the three persistent delusions (Kenji, Jinja and Mumyo)* in an instant, and those who reverently gaze upon it, even once, will attain Sambodhi (perfect Enlightenment); then this Great Mandala is a secret means of immediate enlightenment and a model of attaining Buddhahood in this very body. And, this sutra is the real Purpose for the advent of the Buddhas, and the direct way to Buddhahood for all living beings. Reading or reciting [this sutra] is the practice that is suitable for the organ of hearing, and these are the roots of goodness that have a connection with this [Saha] world. Copying** [this sutra] is the root of making the life of the teachings ever-abiding, and is the great goodness of committing them to memory or keeping them in mind." -- Nichiju

*( 1 ) kenji no waku (delusions of view and desire); (2) jinja no waku (delusions as innumerable as particles of dust and sand); and (3) mumyo no waku (delusions about the principle of the Middle Way or ultimate reality)

** In this modern period, "bestowing this Sutra".

Soka Gakkai scholar Ken’ichi Maegawa is an idiot

http://www.totetu.org/assets/media/paper/j017_198.pdf

Nichren was not interested in a framework of coexistence among the various sects and religions. He cared only for the Supreme Way and the relief of suffering by converting people to the Lotus Sutra.

SGI's believer centric versus Nichiren's Law-centric religion

AnonymousJanuary 31, 2016 at 5:25 PM

You say: "All the jewels on land and sea, all SGI's riches, can not match the fortune of possessing this Gohonzon." What utter nonsense. All Gohonzons are merely pieces of paper and have no intrinsic value, and certainly no supernatural power, which is what you seem to be claiming. Gohonzons are simply mirrors for observing our lives, but even without a Gohonzon, one can manifest Buddhahood simply by chanting NMRK anywhere. If that is not true, then Nichiren lied.

Reply: No Anonymous. Nichiren didn't lie. You misunderstand Ichinen Sanzen and his teachings on self and "other power". I never made a distinction between internal and external Gohonzon. I refer you to the following http://markrogow.blogspot.com/2016/01/refuting-core-sgi-doctrne.html

Ex-SGI UK member Simplify

"The trouble with enabling people to see that SGI is a cult if you live in the UK is that a lot of the red flags have been toned-down here. Or at least that is my experience in the districts I have practiced with. Up until the Mentor/Disciple personality cult stuff started to be shoved down our throats 3 to 4 years ago, there was a deliberate effort to not seem cult-like. There is very little pressure to contribute to the Kosenrufu fund, which in the UK happens 3 times a year. There is no suggested percentage - you have to guess. There is even no obligation to make a contribution when you receive gohonzon (inc.uding omomori and tokuso) and many members never contribute either when receiving gohonzon or to the three funds a year.

The same subtlety applies to encouraging members to buy the monthly magazine as well, lots of leaders and members don't actually subscribe and there is no pressure to do so.. Japanese leaders are not in great evidence. In fact I've been told that the General director and his female equivalent have to be British Citizens. 

It seems that the UK is not an income stream for SGI-Japan. Possibly because us Brits are not so heavily coerced into giving. Is SGI-UK therefore a vanity or prestige project for Ikeda?

Unlike in the United States, the public can see the accounts of the charity [www.charitycommission.gov.uk] and some years we aren't getting in enough donations from UK members to keep the UK organisation running. I'm not very experienced at reading accounts but SGI-UK received an injection of some £26 million in 2006 from the Japanese mothership, so it appears that money is flowing away from Japan and into the UK rather than in the other direction.

One inexplicable item I found from glancing through the latest (2009) accounts was that Robert Samuels (General Director-staff) and Kazuo Fuji (vice-general director - staff) had huge salary hikes in 2009:

R A Samuels - General Director 2008 salary= £57,327 2009 salary=£91,325 

K Fujii - Vice-General Director 2008 salary= £59,799 2009 salary=£112,470

They had both been steadily receiving just under £60,000 for many previous years, then suddenly their salaries are nearly doubled. Remember these are Pounds sterling not Dollars - these latest salaries are very substantial. 

Can anyone tell me what that might be all about? Hush money? Or am i seeing deception and conspiracy everywhere now? :-)" -- Simplify ex SGI UK member

SGI is Ikedaism infused with the artificial flavor of Nichiren

http://www.totetu.org/assets/media/paper/j020_108.pdf

"His [Nichiren's] ideas are thought to have a certain amount of influence on the tendency to value the effort to deal with concrete societal problems seen in new religions related to the Lotus Sutra in contemporary Japanese society." -- Hiroshi Kanno Senior Research Fellow, the Institute of Oriental Philosophy Professor, Soka University

No one in SGI corrects Dr. Shihab Ghanem

Dr. Shihab Ghanem gave a lecture on "Al Fatihah―The Opening Chapter of the Quran"

On June 6, 2015, the Institute of Oriental Philosophy (IOP) organized a lecture titled, “Al Fatihah―The Opening Chapter of the Quran” by Dr. Shihab M. A. Ghanem and Dr. Waddhah Ghanem held at the Central Tower of Soka University. 

In his speech, Dr. Shihab Ghanem presented some similarities between Nichiren Buddhism and Islam. He mentioned that, as Buddhism also suggests, Islam proposes the idea of the eternity of life, the equality of all life, and emphasizes the importance of harmony and coexistence with other religions. He went on to explain that in Islam Jihad does not refer to war or combat but rather to an inner struggle with oneself. 

Following his speech, Dr. Waddhah Ghanem gave a summary of Al Fatifah, which is the opening chapter of the Quran. He explained that Al Fatifah has multiple names such as “The Mother of the Quran,” “The Seven Oft-repeated Ones,” “The Complete One,” “The One that Suffices,” and “The Curing One,” indicating that it is the most essential part of the Quran. He also mentioned that Al Fatifah praises and appreciates Allah as the source of absolute and infinite mercy and recognizes Allah as king, master, or sovereign on the Day of Judgement. He added that we human beings have desires and can easily be swayed by the negative forces within us, but that Allah guides us to the correct path. 　

In a question and answer session, Dr. Waddhah Ghanem commented that mankind was created as a collective and that we cannot live on our own, which is why Islam teaches us to contribute to society. Therefore, whatever is good for society is considered good for individuals. 

To the question of the meaning of prayer in Islam, Dr. Shihab Ghanem replied that through prayer, we can directly communicate with Allah and cleanse ourselves. He stressed that we must always remember that God sees us even if we do not see him. Dr. Waddhah said that God created a spirit and gave it to man. In this sense, we all have God’s spirit, and all human beings are therefore equal. 

Profile: 

Dr. Shihab M. A. Ghanem is a poet, translator and scholar from Dubai, UAE. To date, he has published over 50 books, including 14 collected poems in Arabic, a collected poem in English and 20 collected poems translated from English to Arabic and Arabic to English. Dr. Ghanem also directed and worked on the Arabic edition of SGI President Ikeda’s book, Fighting for Peace (Dubai, 2014). He carries out research on Al Fatihah togetherwith his son, Dr. Waddhah S. Ghanem.

Organizer: The Institute of Oriental Philosophy (IOP)

Lecturer: Dr. Shihab M. A. Ghanem and Dr. Waddhah S. Ghanem

Venue: Soka University, Central Tower 

Date: June 6, 2015

Nichiren on "compassion" and "pity"

"Moreover, the “Expedient Means” chapter describes how the five thousand persons of overbearing arrogance withdrew from the assembly. They did so after hearing the Buddha make the concise replacement of the three vehicles with the one vehicle, and when the Buddha was about to begin making the expanded replacement of the three vehicles with the one vehicle. At that time, the Buddha used his power to influence them in such a way that they rose from their seats and withdrew. Later, through the Nirvana Sutra and the four ranks of bodhisattvas, the Buddha made it possible for these persons to achieve enlightenment in their present existence.

On the other hand, in the Non-Substantiality of All Phenomena Sutra it is recorded that Bodhisattva Root of Joy, addressing the monk Superior Intent, forced him to listen to the Mahayana teachings, causing him to speak slanderously of such teachings [and thus create a reverse relationship with them]. With regard to these two differing incidents, the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai explains that “the Thus Come One Shakyamuni was exercising the virtue of compassion in causing them to withdraw, while Bodhisattva Root of Joy was exercising the virtue of pity in forcing the monk to listen.”

The meaning of this passage is that the Buddha was moved by compassion and for the moment put aside thoughts of the later happiness of the five thousand persons. He could not bear to see them slander the Lotus Sutra and suffer the pain of falling into hell, and therefore he inspired them to withdraw from the assembly. It was like the case of a mother who knows that her child is sick but cannot bring herself to inflict suffering on the child, and therefore does not treat the child quickly with moxibustion. In the case of Bodhisattva Root of Joy, he was moved by pity. He did not mind that the person he was addressing would suffer pain for a time, but thought only of that person’s eventual happiness. Therefore he forced the person to listen to the Mahayana teachings. It was like the case of a pitying father who, seeing that his child is ill, is not deterred by the fact that the child may undergo temporary suffering but is concerned only for the child’s eventual welfare. Therefore he applies the treatment of moxibustion." -- Nichiren       

Nichiren and the "poison-drum relationship"

"According to the above passage of the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai, in this latter age the persons who are lacking in good roots are many, and those who possess them are few. Therefore, many people are doubtless destined to fall into the evil paths in their next existence. And if they are destined for the evil paths in any case, then one should preach the Lotus Sutra to them forcefully and thereby allow them to create a “poison-drum relationship” with the sutra. Hence there can be no doubt that this latter age is the proper time in which to preach the Lotus Sutra to all people, thus enabling them to create a reverse relationship with it by slandering it."

Soka Gakkai commits treason against Nichiren

"The Buddha has constantly warned us, saying that, no matter how great an observer of the precepts one may be, no matter how lofty in wisdom and well versed in the Lotus Sutra and the other scriptures, if one sees an enemy of the Lotus Sutra but fails to rebuke and denounce him or report him to the ruler of the nation, instead keeping silent out of fear of others, then one will invariably fall into the great citadel of the hell of incessant suffering. Suppose, by way of analogy, that one commits no treasonable act oneself, but knows of someone who is plotting treason. If one fails to inform the ruler, then one is guilty of the same crime as the person who is plotting treason."

Soka Gakkai is the foolish one

"I believe everyone deserves respect and that respect extends to their choice of belief." -- SGI interfaith leader

“Next, concerning your reverence for those who observe these practices, a teaching is not necessarily worthy of honor simply because its practitioners are respected. It is for this reason that the Buddha laid down the principle, ‘Rely on the Law and not upon persons.’

“I have heard it said that the sages of ancient times who observed the precepts could not bear even to utter the words ‘kill’ or ‘hoard,’ but would substitute some pure-sounding circumlocution, and when they happened to catch sight of a beautiful woman, they would meditate upon the image of a corpse. 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?

“And as for this matter of building roads and constructing bridges, it only causes people trouble. The charitable activities at the port of Iijima and the collecting of rice at the Mutsura Barrier have brought unhappiness to a great many people, and the setting up of barriers along the seven highways of the various provinces has imposed a hardship upon travelers. These are things that are happening right in front of your eyes. Can’t you see what is going on?”

The unenlightened man thereupon flushed with anger and said, “You with your little bit of wisdom have no cause to speak ill of that eminent priest and to defame his teachings! Do you do so knowingly, or are you simply a fool? It is a fearful thing you are doing.”

Then the lay believer laughed and said: “Alas, you are the foolish one! Let me briefly explain to you the biased views of that school. You should understand that, when it comes to the Buddhist teaching, there is the Mahayana division and the Hinayana division, and that in terms of schools there are those based upon the provisional teachings and those based upon the true teaching. Long ago, when the Buddha taught the Hinayana doctrines in Deer Park, he was opening the gate to a phantom city. But later, when the mats were spread for the teaching of the Lotus Sutra on Eagle Peak, then those earlier doctrines ceased to be of any benefit.”

Nichiren Shu priests stabbing Nichiren in the back

                                          

"According to the teachings of the true sutra, when the latter age has begun and Buddhism has fallen into complete disorder, a great sage will appear in the world. For example, the pine tree, which withstands the frost, is called the king of trees, and the chrysanthemum, which continues to bloom after other plants have withered, is known as a sacred plant. When the world is at peace, worthies are hard to distinguish. It is when the age is in turmoil that both sages and fools come into view. How pitiful that Hei no Saemon and the lord of Sagami failed to heed me! If they had, they would surely not have beheaded the envoys from the Mongol empire who arrived a few years ago. No doubt they regret it now.

The great ruler Emperor Antoku, the eighty-first sovereign, commissioned several hundred teachers of the True Word school, including the Tendai chief priest, Myoun, to offer prayers in an attempt to subdue the General of the Right Minamoto no Yoritomo. But their curses “rebounded upon the originator,” as the sutra says. Myoun was beheaded by Yoshinaka, and Emperor Antoku drowned in the western sea. The eighty-second, eighty-third, and eighty-fourth sovereigns, that is, the Retired Emperor of Oki, the Retired Emperor of Awa, and the Retired Emperor of Sado, as well as the reigning emperor— these four rulers had the Tendai chief priest and Administrator of Priests Jien, and forty or more other eminent priests, including those of Omuro and Mii-dera temples, offer prayers to subdue the Taira general Yoshitoki. But again, the curses “rebounded upon the originator,” and the above-mentioned four rulers were banished to various islands.

Concerning this great evil teaching [of the True Word school]: The three great teachers — Kobo, Jikaku, and Chisho — violated Shakyamuni Buddha’s golden words that the Lotus Sutra is supreme, interpreting them to mean that the Lotus Sutra ranks second or third and the Mahavairochana Sutra ranks highest. Because the rulers put their trust in these distorted views, they destroyed both the nation and themselves in this life and are destined to fall into the hell of incessant suffering in the next.

This next special prayer ritual will be the third. Those among my disciples who have already passed away are probably now observing this with their Buddha eye. And those whose lives have been prolonged, watch with your own eyes! The ruler and other high-ranking officials will be captured and carried off to a foreign land, and those who conducted the prayer ritual will either die insane, or end up in a foreign land, or hide themselves in the mountains and forests.

The messenger of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, has twice been paraded through the streets, and his disciples and other supporters have been thrown into prison, killed, injured, or driven from the provinces where they lived. Therefore, the guilt of those offenses will unfailingly extend to each one of the inhabitants of those provinces. Also, people will be afflicted with white leprosy, black leprosy, or all kinds of other terribly grave illnesses. My disciples, understand the reasons for this." [A Father Takes Faith]

Were we to enter into discussions with this Shingon priest, he would neither be smiling nor posing for a picture. He would have been praying to Mahavairochana to punish us, the modern day messengers of Shakyamuni Buddha. His curses would have "rebounded to the originator" and he would have fallen into hell alive.

Cowards

http://www.sgm.org.my/en/?cur=news/view&id=318&title=Interfaith_Dialogue_Reinforces_Message_of_the_Lotus_Sutra