Achieving the life condition of a stalker is not the goal. even Christians and Muslims understand that this is not a healthy thing. I'm sure most sane people would agree. - Gregorio
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Monday, May 16, 2022
Greg, would you care to comment?
Same Greg who ended a phone call and a friendship because I challenged his 911 inside job conspiracy theory😂 I’m hip to your jive - Mark and Greg 🥱 ~ Katie
Me personally, I care to follow Nichiren and to leave such (obsessed) people alone (from this moment on).
Very sad and poignant experience (comment) I received today on how Soka Gakkai destroyed his family
"This maybe off topic for this posting. I do read them all now. I am a lonely old fart. I wouldn't be such a lonely old fart if my ex hadn't given a great deal of our money to sgi . She continues to vilify me to my kids . They don't understand that sgi is a cult. My ex old lady was lost to me a long time ago. She worships ikedaism. She'd sell you and my kids down the sewer for ikedaism. She was giving 2k a month to them at one point. John Frank left his old lady after 25 years of marriage when he found out emiko gave those bastards 10k in 6 months. What kind of monsters would do that to families and kids. Sgi would. Thats who. It's hard to imagine for most people. then the sgi clowns, set about destroying the non sgi husband or wife in divorce court. Such family oriented people Sgi. I hired a japanese lawyer who specializes in such cases. My ex-wife's boyfriend tells my daughter straight to her face how great nuclear power and sgi are for Japan. My son knows what kind of clowns they are. He says they are the same old losers, going to sgi meetings that never go anywhere or do anything in their lives. Sgi preys on poor insecure people."
SGI will blame the victim for his past karma while Nichiren would blame SGI for their deplorable behavior.
Soka Gakkai top leaders too are those with perverse wisdom and who are enemies of Shakyamuni Buddha
"Shakyamuni Buddha is the father, sovereign, and teacher of all the other Buddhas and all the gods, of the whole assembly of human and heavenly beings, and of all living beings. How could the heavenly gods and benevolent deities rejoice if the Buddha were killed? Today all the people of our country have proved to be enemies of Shakyamuni Buddha, but more than laymen or laywomen, it is the priests with perverse wisdom and hearts who are the Buddha’s worst enemies." - A passage from Letter to Niike
Greg asked me to post the entire writing of Nichiren, Letter to Niike.
WHAT a joy it is for us to have been born in the Latter Day of the Law and to have shared in the propagation of the Lotus Sutra! How pitiful are those who, though born in this time, cannot believe in this sutra!
No one can escape death once born as a human being, so why do you not practice in preparation for the next life? When I observe what people are doing, I realize that, although they profess faith in the Lotus Sutra and clasp its scrolls, they act against the intent of the sutra and are thereby doomed to the evil paths. To illustrate, a person has five internal organs, but should even one of them become diseased, it will infect all the others, and eventually the person will die. The Great Teacher Dengyō states that though they praise the Lotus Sutra they destroy its heart. He means that, even if people embrace, read, and praise the Lotus Sutra, if they betray its intent, they will be destroying not only Shakyamuni Buddha but all the Buddhas in the ten directions.
Our worldly misdeeds and evil karma may have piled up as high as Mount Sumeru, but when we take faith in this sutra, they will vanish like frost or dew under the sun of the Lotus Sutra. Nevertheless, if one commits even one or two of the fourteen slanders set forth in this sutra, one’s offense will be extremely difficult to expiate. Killing a single Buddha would be a far greater offense than destroying all the sentient beings in the major world system, and to violate the sutra’s intent would be to commit the sin of taking the lives of all the Buddhas in the ten directions. One who commits any of these fourteen is a slanderer.
Hell is a dreadful dwelling of fire, and the realm of hungry spirits is a pitiful place where, driven by starvation, they devour their own children. The realm of asuras consists of strife, and that of animals is to kill or be killed. The hell of the crimson lotus is so called because the intense cold of this hell makes one double over until one’s back splits open and the bloody flesh emerges like a crimson lotus flower. And the hell of the great crimson lotus is even more horrible. When one falls into such an evil place, the fact that one was a ruler or a general means nothing. Tormented by the wardens of hell, one is no different than a monkey on a string. What use are fame and fortune then? Can one still be arrogant and persist in false beliefs?
Stop and ponder! How rare is the faith that moves one to give alms to the priest who knows the heart of the Lotus Sutra! One will not stray into the evil paths if one does so even once. Still greater are the benefits arising from ten or twenty contributions, or from five years, ten years, or a lifetime of contributions. They are beyond even the measure of the Buddhas’ wisdom. The Buddha taught that the blessings of a single offering to the votary of this sutra are a hundred, thousand, ten thousand, million times greater than those of offering countless treasures to Shakyamuni Buddha for eighty million kalpas. When one encounters this sutra, one will overflow with happiness and shed tears of joy. It seems impossible to repay one’s debt to Shakyamuni Buddha. But by your frequent offerings to me deep in this mountain you will repay the merciful kindness of both the Lotus Sutra and Shakyamuni Buddha. Strive ever harder in faith, and never give in to negligence. All the people appear to believe sincerely when they first embrace the Lotus Sutra, but as time passes, they tend to become less devout; they no longer revere or make offerings to the priest, giving themselves up to arrogance and forming distorted views. This is most frightening. Be diligent in developing your faith until the last moment of your life. Otherwise you will have regrets. For example, the journey from Kamakura to Kyoto takes twelve days. If you travel for eleven but stop with only one day remaining, how can you admire the moon over the capital? No matter what, stay close to the priest who knows the heart of the Lotus Sutra, keep learning from him the principles of Buddhism, and continue your journey of faith.
How swiftly the days pass! It makes us realize how few are the years we have left. Friends enjoy the cherry blossoms together on spring mornings, and then they are gone, carried away like the blossoms by the winds of impermanence, leaving nothing but their names. Although the blossoms have scattered, the cherry trees will bloom again with the coming of spring, but when will those people be reborn? The companions with whom we enjoyed composing poems praising the moon on autumn evenings have vanished with the moon behind the shifting clouds. Only their mute images remain in our hearts. Though the moon has set behind the western mountains, we will compose poetry under it again next autumn. But where are our companions who have passed away? Even when the approaching tiger of death roars, we do not hear and are not startled. How many more days are left to the sheep bound for slaughter?
Deep in the Snow Mountains lives a bird called the cold-suffering bird that, tortured by the numbing cold, cries that it will build a nest in the morning. Yet when day breaks, it sleeps away the hours in the warm light of the morning sun without building its nest. So it continues to cry vainly throughout its life. The same is true of human beings. When they fall into hell and gasp in its flames, they long to be reborn as humans and vow to put everything else aside and serve the three treasures in order to gain enlightenment in their next life. But even on the rare occasions when they happen to be reborn in human form, the winds of fame and profit blow violently, and the lamp of Buddhist practice is easily extinguished. Without a qualm they squander their wealth on meaningless trifles, but begrudge even the smallest contribution to the Buddha, the Law, and the Buddhist Order. This is very serious, for then they are being hindered by messengers from hell. This is the meaning of “good by the inch and evil by the foot.”
Furthermore, since this country is a land whose people slander the correct teaching, the benevolent gods who should be protecting the nation have been deprived of the flavor of the Law and have ascended to heaven, forsaking their shrines. The empty shrines have been occupied by demons who are misleading the worshipers. The Buddha, having finished preaching, has returned to the Land of Tranquil Light. Halls and pagodas, and temples and shrines have been abandoned to become the dwellings of devils. These imposing structures stand in rows, built at state expense and through compulsory labor imposed on the people. This is not merely my own opinion; it is found in the sutras, so you should study them well.
Neither Buddhas nor gods would ever accept contributions from those who slander the correct teaching. Then how can we human beings accept them? The deity of Kasuga Shrine proclaimed through an oracle that he would accept nothing from those with impure hearts, though he should have to eat the flames of burning copper; that he would refuse to set foot in their homes, though he should have to sit on red-hot copper. He would rather come down to a miserable hut with weeds choking the passageway, or to a poor thatched house. He declared that he would never visit persons lacking in faith, even if they hung sacred festoons for a thousand days to welcome him, but that he would go to a house where the people have a mind of faith, even though they might be in mourning for a parent. Lamenting that slanderers have overrun this country, the benevolent gods have abandoned it and ascended to heaven. “Those with impure hearts” means those who refuse to embrace the Lotus Sutra, as is stated in the fifth volume of the sutra. If the gods themselves regard alms from slanderers as more abominable than the flames of burning copper, how could we human beings possibly accept them? If someone were to kill our parents and then try to offer us some gift, could we possibly accept it? Not even wise persons or sages can avoid the hell of incessant suffering if they accept offerings from slanderers. Nor should you associate with slanderers, for if you do, you will share the same guilt as they. This you should fear above all.
Shakyamuni Buddha is the father, sovereign, and teacher of all the other Buddhas and all the gods, of the whole assembly of human and heavenly beings, and of all living beings. How could the heavenly gods and benevolent deities rejoice if the Buddha were killed? Today all the people of our country have proved to be enemies of Shakyamuni Buddha, but more than laymen or laywomen, it is the priests with perverse wisdom and hearts who are the Buddha’s worst enemies. There are two kinds of wisdom, correct and perverse. No matter how wise a person may appear, if his assertions are warped you should not listen to him. Nor should you follow priests merely because they are venerable or of high rank. But if a person has the wisdom to know the true meaning of the Lotus Sutra, no matter how lowly he may appear, pay respect to him and make offerings to him as though he were a living Thus Come One. Thus it is written in the sutra.6 That is why the Great Teacher Dengyō says that the men and women who believe in this sutra, even if they lack knowledge or violate the precepts, should be seated above priests who observe all two hundred and fifty precepts of the Hinayana teachings, and never be seated in a humble position, and that this is all the more true of the priests of this Mahayana sutra.
The priest Ryōkan of Gokuraku-ji temple is thought to be a living Thus Come One, but the men and women who believe in the Lotus Sutra should be seated high above him. It seems extraordinary that this Ryōkan, who observes the two hundred and fifty precepts, should become angry and glare at me, Nichiren, whenever he sees me. The learned man has been possessed by a devil. It is like the case of a generally even-tempered person who, when drunk, reveals his evil side and causes trouble. Prior to the preaching of the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha taught that those who gave alms to Mahākāshyapa, Shāriputra, Maudgalyāyana, [and Subhūti] would fall into the three evil paths. He said that the minds of these voice-hearers were inferior to those of dogs or foxes. These four great voice-hearers adamantly upheld the two hundred and fifty precepts, and their observance of the three thousand rules of conduct was as perfect as the full moon on the fifteenth night. Nevertheless, until they embraced the Lotus Sutra, they were bitterly criticized by the Buddha. How much more would this be so in the case of the priests today who are inferior to them!
So flagrantly do the priests of Kenchō-ji and Engaku-ji temples7 break the code of ceremonies and the precepts, that they seem like a mountain that has collapsed into rubble. Their wanton behavior is like that of monkeys. It is utterly futile to look for salvation in the next life by giving alms to such priests. The benevolent gods who lend their protection have no doubt abandoned our land. Long ago the heavenly gods and benevolent deities, bodhisattvas and voice-hearers pledged in a single voice in the presence of Shakyamuni Buddha that, if a land hostile to the Lotus Sutra should exist, they would appear in the form of frost and hail in the sixth month to drive the land into famine; or turn into insects and devour the five kinds of grain; or cause droughts or floods to ruin the fields and farms; or become gales and sweep the people to their deaths; or transform themselves into demons and cause suffering for the people. Great Bodhisattva Hachiman was among those present. Does he not fear breaking the oath made at Eagle Peak? Should he break his promise, he would surely be doomed to the hell of incessant suffering—a fearful, terrible thing to contemplate. Until the envoy of the Buddha actually appeared in the world to propagate the Lotus Sutra, the rulers of the land were not hostile to it, for they revered all the sutras equally.
Now that I am spreading the Lotus Sutra as the Buddha’s envoy, however, everyone from the ruler on down to the common people has become a slanderer of the correct teaching. So far Hachiman has done everything possible to prevent hostility toward the Lotus Sutra from developing among the people of this country, as reluctant to abandon them as parents would be to abandon an only child, even if it were unfilial. But now in fear of breaking the pledge he made at Eagle Peak, he has burned down his shrine and ascended to heaven. Even so, should there be a votary of the Lotus Sutra who would give his body and life for it, Hachiman would dwell upon his head. But since both the Sun Goddess and Great Bodhisattva Hachiman have gone, how could the other gods remain in their shrines? Even if they did not wish to leave, how could they stay another day if I reproached them for not keeping the promise they made at Eagle Peak? A person may be a thief, but as long as no one knows, he can live wherever he wishes. But when denounced as a thief by someone who knows him, he is forced to leave his dwelling against his will. In the same way, because I know of their vow, the gods are compelled to abandon their shrines. Contrary to popular belief, this country has become inhabited by evil demons. How pitiful!
Many have spread the various teachings put forth by the Buddha in his lifetime, but until now, no one, not even T’ien-t’ai or Dengyō, has taught the most important of all.9 That is as it should be, for that teaching spreads with the advent of Bodhisattva Superior Practices during the first five hundred years of the Latter Day of the Law.
No matter what, always keep your faith in the Lotus Sutra steadfast. Then, at the last moment of your life, you will be welcomed by a thousand Buddhas, who will take you swiftly to the pure land of Eagle Peak where you will experience the boundless joy of the Law. If your faith weakens and you do not attain Buddhahood in this lifetime, do not reproach me. If you do, you will be like the sick man who refuses the good medicine his physician prescribes and takes poison instead. He does not recover, but it never occurs to him that it is his fault, and he blames the physician. Faith in this sutra means that you will surely attain Buddhahood if you are true to the entirety of the Lotus Sutra, adhering exactly to its teachings without adding any of your own ideas or following the arbitrary interpretations of others.
Becoming a Buddha is nothing extraordinary. If you chant Namu-myoho-renge-kyo with your whole heart, you will naturally become endowed with the Buddha’s thirty-two features and eighty characteristics. As the sutra says, “hoping to make all persons equal to me, without any distinction between us,” you can readily become as noble a Buddha as Shakyamuni. A bird’s egg contains nothing but liquid, yet by itself this develops into a beak, two eyes, and all the other parts, and the bird soars into the sky. We, too, are the eggs of ignorance, which are pitiful things, but when nurtured by the chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which is like the warmth of the mother bird, we develop the beak of the thirty-two features and the feathers of the eighty characteristics and are free to soar into the sky of the true aspect of all phenomena and the reality of all things. This is what is meant by the sutra passage that says in essence: “All people dwell in the shell of ignorance, lacking the beak of wisdom. The Buddha comes back to this world—the land where sages and common mortals live together, the latter undergoing transmigration with differences and limitations—just as a mother bird returns to her nest, and cracks the shell of ignorance so that all people, like fledglings, may leave the nest and soar into the sky of the essential nature of phenomena and the reality of all things.”
“Knowledge without faith” describes those who are knowledgeable about the Buddhist doctrines but have no faith. These people will never attain Buddhahood. Those of “faith without knowledge” may lack knowledge but have faith and can attain Buddhahood. This is not merely my own opinion; it is stated clearly in the Lotus Sutra. In the second volume, the Buddha says, “Even you, Shāriputra, in the case of this sutra were able to gain entrance through faith alone, not because of any wisdom of your own.” This shows that even Shāriputra, unsurpassed in his wisdom, was able to attain Buddhahood only by embracing and firmly believing in this sutra, and that his wisdom alone did not enable him to become a Buddha. If Shāriputra could not attain Buddhahood through his wisdom, how can we ordinary people, with limited knowledge of the doctrines, dare to dream that we may attain Buddhahood when we do not have faith? The Buddha explains that people in the latter age will be arrogant, though their knowledge of the doctrines is trifling, and will show disrespect to the priests, neglect the Law, and thereby fall into the evil paths. If one truly understands the Buddhist teachings, one should show this in one’s respect for the priests, reverence for the Law, and offerings to the Buddha. Shakyamuni Buddha is not among us now, so you must respect the teacher with enlightened wisdom as you would the Buddha himself. How, then, could you not receive blessings? If one wishes for happiness in one’s next existence, one should renounce one’s desire for fame and fortune and respect the priest who teaches the Lotus Sutra as one would a living Thus Come One, no matter how humble that priest’s station. Thus it is written in the sutra.
The Zen school today generally violates the five constant virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and good faith. To honor the wise and virtuous, to respect the elderly, and to protect the young are recognized universally as humane conduct in both Buddhist and non-Buddhist scriptures. But the Zen priests were until yesterday or the day before no more than uneducated rabble, unable to distinguish black from white. But now that they have donned priestly robes, they have become so conceited that they belittle the learned and virtuous priests of the Tendai and True Word schools. They observe none of the proper manners and think they rank higher than all others. These people are so insolent that even animals are better behaved. The Great Teacher Dengyō states that the otter shows its respect by offering up the fish it has caught, the crow in the forest carries food to its parents and grandparents, the dove takes care to perch three branches lower than its father, wild geese keep perfect formation when they fly together, and lambs kneel to drink their mother’s milk. He asks: if lowly animals conduct themselves with such propriety, how can human beings be so lacking in courtesy? Judging from the words of Dengyō, it is only natural that the Zen priests should be confused about Buddhism when they are ignorant even of how people should behave. They are acting like Pāpīyas, the heavenly devil.
Understand clearly what I have taught you here, and continue your practice without negligence, reverently believing in the single sutra consisting of eight volumes and twenty-eight chapters. When you long to see me, pray to the sun every day, and once a day my image will be reflected there. Have the priest who is my messenger read this letter to you. Trust him as a teacher with enlightened wisdom, and ask him any questions you may have about the doctrines. If you do not question and resolve your doubts, you cannot dispel the dark clouds of illusion, any more than you could travel a thousand miles without legs. Have him read this letter again and again, and listen attentively. In anticipation of speaking with you at our next meeting, I will conclude here.
Respectfully,
Nichiren
The second month in the third year of Kōan (1280)
To Niike
Namu Myoho renge kyo for the victims in Buffalo. Anonymous responds to the attack and other views...
I despise SGI. SGI is one of the most racist phoney authoritarian religions in the world. The Japanese people know it. Many Americans know it. I also despise fox news. The coward worship money and power. The hero's and truly good straight, shooting people stand up to injustice and murder Fox News is poisoning America. Rupert Murdoch and his heirs should be shunned. https://interc.pt/2JAJYce by @maassp theintercept.com Remarkable number of GOP candidates responding to Buffalo slaughter with variations of “what about that time a Black person killed people?” No dog whistles here. This is open fascism.
Their ad hominem never stops! I respond, not in kind
Someone (hehe) wrote: everybody knows “ something”- some, more than others, know what a phony baloney you are Romero ! you have the same malady as those who saw trump for what he was, then crawled straight up his behind ! nothing but disingenuous lonely old farts on this site -
Me: You wouldn't last one day with what Greg has overcome during the last 5 years,
Another someone wrote: imagine how that sweet child would shriek and run for mommy if she got a look at you !
Me: I am child and animal whisperer leaving even the most vicious animal and irritable infant peaceful and at ease. The children love my whiskers and especially my life condition replete with compassion and mercy for them. Thanks to Myoho renge kyo, the Gohonzon, Eternal Buddha, and Nichiren Daishonin, I have been blessed with these powers.
What a stupid analogy
Someone wrote that these Raccoons are more loyal to the woman who saved them than the ex-SGI members of SGIwhistleblowers are loyal to SGI, they who feel that that they were used and abused by the Soka Gakkai.
Sunday, May 15, 2022
My dear Katie..Why don't you argue with these 2500 ex members on SGI Whistleblowers, some of whom continue to chant Namu Myoho renge kyo. Here is one example I believe you should tackle.
From an online discussion about an online discussion about the SGI's weird and creepy "Gandhi-King-Ikeda" exhibit
I know, kinda meta - a dream-within-a-dream kinda theme:
I hope not to offend the SGI members who come here, but this is just odd. There's a traveling exhibition titled "Gandhi, King, Ikeda: A Legacy of Building Peace" currently parked at a high school in Ontario. The exhibition focuses on Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Daisaku Ikeda to show how to work toward world peace. It's been traveling around for about a year, I take it, but I just stumbled into it today.
If you're struggling to place Daisaku Ikeda: He is the president of Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a lay Nichiren Buddhist organization. I'm sure he's a nice fella, and I'm aware that he has directed SGI into doing a lot of good work. But does he belong in the same league with Gandhi and King? I'd like to give SGI members a chance to explain why he does.
Response #25, from "Luisa," who says she is a psychotherapist, is interesting because it reflects the way a lot of SGI members and leaders argue.
We've talked about "Luisa" before:
Luisa: "Barbara, All these negative remarks about President Ikeda are off the mark. They are fear based and inaccurate.
As a Soka Gakai Buddhist and psychotherapist SGI Buddhism does not confuse Buddhism and Psychology.
President Ikeda is honored per se by members because he sees us and we see us as no lesser capacity than he or Nichiren Daishonin or Shakyamuni Buddha. We are hence no lesser than and of no less capacity I say.
The proof is that one by one each of us are in fact transforming our lives home, work and environments slowly but surely and are trully becoming happy individuals. Ultimately this is the purpose to attain fulfillement create value that is what Soka means create value.
I am sure by reading these comments above that none of these individuals who have commented negatively about the SGI or President Ikeda have ever spent a moment in reading about the history of our movement nor have they read any of President Ikeda’s writings. That we can and will and do overcome the four sufferings in life as described by Shakyamuni Buddha to attain absoulute happines is proof enough and will continue to be. Thank you! With My Deep Respect and Appreciation for these comments,
people are stirring and I am not surprised, freedom at the same time is most empowering as well as can create fear-"
(1) Luisa mentions fear at the beginning and end of her comments. Why? I didn't find anything about fear in Barbara's piece, nor in the preceding 24 comments. People were just asking what exactly Ikeda has done that would make him the equal of Gandhi and Dr. King. How is that fearful? This is a typical SGI argument. If you don't agree with them, you are blind, afraid, stubborn, or something uncomplimentary. SGI members often go for a personal attack of critics rather than having good arguments to rebut their critics.
And honestly, it's SGI that uses fear to manipulate people. Leaders tell members that their lives are going to fall apart if they leave or criticize SGI.
(2) She says SGI Buddhism does not confuse Buddhism and psychology. Well, who said it did? The issue was what Ikeda has accomplished. Luisa is introducing a topic that is totally unrelated to this argument, and arguing against something that nobody said! This is also typical of SGI members when they are losing an argument. Let's throw in something totally irrelevant!
Luisa is the one who mentioned that critics of SGI are fearful, perhaps of freedom...it sounds as if SHE's the one confusing Buddhism and psychology. (Or she would be if SGI were actually Buddhism.)
(3) Ikeda sees his followers as his equals? Then why is he the mentor and everyone else is supposed to be the disciples? SGI members ARE of no less capacity than Ikeda -- I agree with that, but does SGI actually teach and believe that? My experience is that it doesn't.
DEFINITELY not. Any more than Christianity teaches that Jesus and all people are equal. HA.
(4) ALL the SGI members are transforming their lives for the better? Really? How in the world could she know what ALL the SGI members are doing?
Many of us have seen that a lot of members seem to be struggling with the same problems year after year. Many of us have noted that our friends and relatives who are still in SGI really don't appear to be any more successful, healthy or happy than nonmembers from similar backgrounds.
Definitely this ^
Some members actually seem to be held back by SGI. The amount of time that they spend on SGI activities keeps them from spending time improving their education, advancing in a career, or maintaining good family relationships. Many of us who have left have found that our lives are better for many reasons -- less guilt and manipulation, more time for the things and people that really matter to us.
AND this ^
(5) Critics of SGI cannot possibly have read anything by him? Well, given his penchant for using ghostwriters, I don't know how much of his work I actually have read. :-) But again, Luisa is making assumptions and attacking. She can't possibly know how much any posters have read of Ikeda's work. Most sounded very knowledgeable, I thought. But as far as she's concerned, anyone who criticizes Ikeda is just ignorant. So typical of how SGI members attack critics. Does she realize that many of us don't think much of Ikeda because we HAVE read his writings? (Again, if the writings were even actually written by him, and not the ghostwriter.)
(6) She says she has respect and appreciation for these comments. I don't know, so far this does not sound very respectful or appreciative to me.
She thanks Barbara for giving her the opportunity to tell SGI critics how ignorant and fearful they really are. Well, at least she's trying to be polite.
(7) And that ending -- if you disagree with Ikeda, you must be afraid of freedom. And have a nice day!
"You're a worthless scum-sucking jerkface stupidhead and I hope you die. Toodles! 😙"
And this woman says she's a psychotherapist? Please. This is an individual who makes huge assumptions about people she knows nothing about. She speaks of respect and yet insults anyone who disagrees with her. If you question her assumptions, she tells you that you are ignorant and fearful...if you weren't so dumb and fearful, you would love Ikeda as much as she does. I just hope that she can look at her clients' issues more clearly and objectively than this. Source
Here's another rebuttal from the original discussion:
Luisa V Nayhouse should stop and think before she writes: “that none of these individuals who have commented negatively about the SGI or President Ikeda have ever spent a moment in reading about the history of our movement nor have they read any of President Ikeda’s writings.” How do you know this? You are leaping to a conclusion, and a rather broad one, based solely upon your prejudice in favor of Mr. Ikeda. I suppose my comments could be considered negative, and I certainly have a negative perception of the “great leader.”
I spent 12 years in the SGI. I was a senior leader. I have read nearly everything about the SGI and Nichiren Buddhism that has been published in English, as well as possessing a large collection of the organization’s publications and Ikeda’s writings. So, I think I have a very good idea of the history of this group. Actually, it is precisely because I did my own independent investigation, instead of just blindly believing everything the organization said, that led me to the conclusion that Mr. Ikeda is something of a fraud and the organization he leads little more than a cult.
AND another:
I commiserate and have gone through a similar process to what David described in his comment.
I post with an AKA because I actually have spent time with and know at least two of the senior leaders who have posted here. While I do have immense respect for these two men (they’re very nice guys) – I also had joined during the NSA years / practicing for almost 20 years in two states / achieved upper “leadership” status / then finally departed, etc – I have to point out the “NSA/SGI-Speak” that is apparent in their statements:
[SGI-USA national leader Ian McIlraith] Ian: “I for one simply appreciate and applaud Dr. Lawrence E. Carter’s effort to introduce Mr. Ikeda’s name and work to the larger public.”
Okay, but what about the absurdity of putting Ikeda on the same level as Gandhi and King in a public display?
[SGI-USA national leader] Bill Aiken: “I agree that you cannot equate the life of Daisaku Ikeda with Mohandas Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr. Gandhi and King are iconic figures of our century and – as you point out – they made the ultimate commitment of their lives to advance their noble ideals. However, I would not underestimate the value of Mr. Ikeda’s contributions in fostering a movement that spans millions of people in 192 countries around the world….(and on and on)”
Okay, but what about the absurdity of putting Ikeda on the same level as Gandhi and King in a public display?
Notice that neither of these well-meaning men take into account the absurd arrogance and presumptive nature of how the exhibition groups the relatively unknown Ikeda with two of the greatest figures of the last century, and possibly in history in general. This, from a philosophy that supposedly abhors arrogance, and teaches its followers to avoid it!
"Arrogance" is just FINE when it's Ikeda's... I mean, how else is anyone going to know just how GREAT he is if he doesn't talk himself up as much as possible?? And his "disciples" sure are arrogant!
They simply used “NSA/SGI-Speak”, which is a re-framing of a response to make things “not sound so bad”, without directly addressing a touchy or controversial subject. This happens in the SGI all the time.
Yes. You won't be able to avoid tripping over it if you try to communicate with SGI members.
Bottom line, there’s still a public exhibition running around the country which has been resoundingly criticized my so many for the aforementioned grouping.
Also, it’s funny how quotes from Ikeda like “It should be hoped that (Russian) President Putin will continue to do such a good job” (from some Living Buddhism issue a while back), and support, admiration and accolades presented to a tyrant torturing dictator like Islam Karimov (Uzbekistan) are quietly swept under the rug and ignored within this organization. Are these the activities of a great peace activist who has “earned” a place alongside King and Ghandi?
This is just the tip of the iceberg.
The SGI is, by many definitions, a cult, and tacitly worships the almighty Ikeda. His writings frequently usurp those of the original priest, Nichiren, in organizational magazines, articles, study meetings and presentations such as the Ghandi, King, Ikeda exhibit.
There are many well-meaning people in the US organization, some of who are very famous and/or influential, who really do not mean any harm to anyone, but promote Ikeda as an all-seeing multi-honorary-degree carrying diety-on-earth. This is due to a demented top-down hierarchical push from the Japan SGI HQ for Ikeda to be praised and exalted to a level above most other humans.
Absolutely.
Is there formal worship of Ikeda? No, it’s tacit as I’ve mentioned. But it seems to be getting closer and closer to that.
Just pick up any of their publications - they're ALL about Ikeda. Always. All the time. Nichiren and Shakyamuni are rarely mentioned, if ever.
I speak from many years of faithfully trying to be a “good Buddhist”, and becoming deeply embedded in the organization. It finally took a sense of deep dissatisfaction and evaluation of what I was doing to remove myself from the unhealthy environment. I had never felt such a sense of freedom as the day I left the SGI and removed my Ikeda picture from my altar.
Okay - one more:
I had only recently joined SGI when our district hosted the Gandhi King Ikeda exhibit. Although I was an enthusiastic new member, that exhibit really bothered me–as did the explainations made by senior members when I asked how Ikeda compared to two men whose lives were constantly put in peril because of their convictions (whereas I had recently learned Ikeda was living large and his multi-million dollar income was a perfect example of someone who practices true Buddhism–wha?!?). I recall one member excitedly told me Ikeda had spent an ENTIRE NIGHT IN JAIL because he had been wrongly accused of election fraud. Wow.
I left the org about a year later, after I was encouraged to put a photo of Ikeda on my altar so I could better develop my relationship with “sensei”.
I remember when this started becoming a "thing" - right after Ikeda's humiliating excommunication. Of course the Ikeda worship had to shift into overdrive to drown that reality out!
Wait - okay, this will be the last one:
Ok. I gotta rip this one to shreds:
“Barbara, All these negative remarks about President Ikeda are off the mark. They are fear based and inaccurate.”
That’s completely your opinion, which you’re entitled to. But it’s not a provable fact. I’ve done my time worshipping the man, studying him and going to great lengths to catch a glimpse, handshake or breathe his same air. None of it transformed my life, in the end. What did was leaving the SGI and living for myself.
Ditto.
“As a Soka Gakai Buddhist and psychotherapist SGI Buddhism does not confuse Buddhism and Psychology.”
Hoooboy. Delusional much?
“President Ikeda is honored per se by members because he sees us and we see us as no lesser capacity than he or Nichiren Daishonin or Shakyamuni Buddha.”
No, he is honored because YMD and YWD are “tasked” with making sure he gets these honorary degrees. One might want to ask Nestor Torres about his experience with being asked to do this. These honors are very much extracted from people by the SGI, which in turn paints the picture of Ikeda being “presented” with the honor by whatever institution or organization.
“We are hence no lesser than and of no less capacity I say. The proof is that one by one each of us are in fact transforming our lives home, work and environments slowly but surely and are trully becoming happy individuals. Ultimately this is the purpose to attain fulfillement create value that is what Soka means create value.”
People transform their lives all the time. The Soka Gakkai hasn’t cornered the market on this.
It’s also a matter of perspective and opinion. For example, the people in Jonestown also thought they had transformed their lives by going to South America.
“I am sure by reading these comments above that none of these individuals who have commented negatively about the SGI or President Ikeda have ever spent a moment in reading about the history of our movement nor have they read any of President Ikeda’s writings.”
How are you sure? Do you know? I definitely feel aligned with the “negative” comments, and spent a couple of decades on the deep inside of the organization and in leadership positions. Your statement is untrue and, frankly, quite arrogant.
“That we can and will and do overcome the four sufferings in life as described by Shakyamuni Buddha to attain absoulute happines is proof enough and will continue to be.”
Again, I don’t feel the Soka Gakkai has cornered the market on Shakyamuni’s teachings. There are many many Buddhists who have experienced life transformation without the SGI. There are also many non-Buddhists (for example… Gandhi and King!) who have achieved transformation. My transformation began with developing the courage to leave a time and money sucking organization that attempted to rule my thoughts, opinions and choices in life.
“Thank you! With My Deep Respect and Appreciation for these comments, people are stirring and I am not surprised, freedom at the same time is most empowering as well as can create fear-”
If you think the SGI is a basis for freedom, you should definitely have your delusions examined by another (non-SGI) psychologist. I’m sorry to be blunt, but sometimes one has to be cruel to be kind.
The sooner you walk away from the Dear Sensei Ikeda, the sooner you’ll be free. Just do it. I’m not San Sho Shima. My head hasn’t split into 7 pieces. 🙃
I LIED!! One more!!
As far as the other two personalities ate concerned through out the exhibition it is never conveyed that Ikeda is equal to Gandhi and King Junior.
Ikeda sounds like a great spiritual master, until you compare him to the other spiritual masters. A genuine master would not allow the exhibit to be shown, nor would he have people buy him “honorary” degrees, or have parks and streets named after him. A real teacher is one you work with personally, and who knows you personally. Otherwise, he’s just someone whose (possibly ghostwritten) books you have read.
So far, no one has been able to explain exactly what Ikeda does to promote world peace that puts him in the same company as Gandhi and King.
That's because the answer is "ABSOLUTELY NOTHING".
The exhibit is absurd on its face, as is the belief that Ikeda was “chosen.” The exhibit obviously was created primarily as a vehicle to publicize Ikeda. And may I also say that I continue to be saddened by the cult of personality that surrounds Ikeda. It cheapens the entire SGI organization and makes what could be a more purely beneficial organization into Ikeda’s personal self-promotion machine.
There's nothing "beneficial" about SGI. Barbara O'Brien is really good, but her ignorance of the reality of the SGI, along with her acceptance of the cult's self-promotional propaganda, honestly hamstrings the usefulness of her analysis. Still, even with that handicap, she clearly identifies the problems being presented here via the "Gandhi, King, WorthlessAsshole" exhibit - and the SGI culties' defense of it.
The advice of others is that I should not allow any comments, not directly related to the posts, REPETITIVE comments, and ad hominum attacks. What do you think?
Aren't these types of repetitive comments getting boring and beyond the pale of the Lotus Sutra and the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin?
Regarding the assertion that I should respect the faith and practice of SGI, NST, Nichiren Shu, Islam, Brahmanism, Christianity, Judaism and their members, priests, gurus, imams, and rabbis, Nichiren teaches that Shoju or the peaceful practices are only to be employed in this Latter Age when the people are gentle and pliant. Shakubuku or the forceful practices are to be principally employed in this degenerate age when a person, a group, or an organization despises or even fails to believe the Lotus Sutra. Do you think the Muslims, Hindus, Evangelical Christians and Jesuits are gentle and pliant regarding the Lotus Sutra and teachings of Nichiren? Do you really believe that it is OK to literally destroy the Three Treasures of Buddhism and Three Great Secret Laws as the SGI and NST? What about interfaith practiced and condoned by the SGI and the Nichiren Shu?
Here are the complete comments from the previous post:
I have never met you buddy! Only on this dumpster fire would a blog administrator solicit, fuel and publish your disgusting harangue! Note to Mark : you were doing this long before I encountered you - now I am very personally acquainted with your depravity and stupid schemes to “ appear superior” You are complicit in my being attacked with foul language . Me! A woman who has been reciting/ embracing Myoho Renge- Kyo in the real world for 33 years. There’s your working definition of “ complicity in slander”, Mark. I will never deny the benefit I received from fellow believers in SGI and NST; nor will I ever be insincere about my reasons for choosing to practice independently. By the same token ,I am brutally honest regarding my “ personal” assessment of your errors and indecent behavior. Clearly, you are no match for a woman of strong faith who is not intimidated by insecure males or howling jackals. Yea, I’m responsible for the uptick in views here, and I know why 😉 Katie Higgins —
yet we live in a democracy - founded on freedom of religion ! separation of church and state ! usa is a non buddhist country - only a cretin would deign to weaponize the teachings of nichiren- someone who has great difficulty believing that those who recite the daimoku of the lotus sutra should exemplify as well as receive respect for all living beings.: someone like mark , performing for a motley crew of anonymous friends, comes to mind 🫤
this is what stupidity looks like ! no regard for anything but what stokes your fragile ego- FWIW , at least ikeda’s guidance is humanity driven - caring for others ,serving one’s community, contributing in a positive way to society . eagle puke blog is grievance,gossip, grudge driven: dr mark’s “ 3G network “ 😂
sure, your true enemy would be a woman who points to the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren’s example for guidance on the correct attitude and behavior towards those who recite\ embrace , Myoho Renge-kyo I’d say , you should be ashamed of yourself, but you apparently have as little capacity for shame as you do comprehension of the True teachings. it’s obvious that you cannot discuss “ the teachings”— only control and manipulate info to sustain your bully image.
I accidently deleted the most rediculous one of all, lambasting Gregorio Romero for "being up Trump's ass. If you go to Gregorio's facebook page, you will never find a more outspoken anti-Trump critic in the entire world.
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