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| Follow the white rabbit. |
Hello.
I have recently have started to go to SGI meeting with my aunt and have enjoyed them greatly. I even thought about officialy joining. I have been asked by people is it a cult well i dont know from my experiences it is completly sincere and doesnt in any way exsploit its members. what is your take on these people and these opinions
Hello Friend,
No SGI is not a cult. However you cant take my word for it, the definition of cult is as follows;
CULT
- A system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object.
- A relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister.
I think it recent years it has been seen as a bad word, as it is associated with a lot of negativity.
One of the definitions states that it is an exclusive religion.
If that is the definition we are to use then no, it is not.
It is an inclusive religion that does NOT exclude anyone. It is a faith based on humanistic point of view.
It is also a lay organisation which means it is run by everyday people like you and me.
Disaku Ikeda is the president, and you could also call him a spiritual leader, but he is no means "in charge".
When he steps down, as the final president, it will be us the youth that picks up the SGI.
There is a system of "people structure" in the organisation, but they are only there to help support people and run meetings. Nothing More. There is NO authoritative hierarchy.
And you are always ACTIVELY encouraged to challenge others if you disagree with their views. Dialogue is key to our peace movement.
The UN, has called the discussion meetings of SGI, the biggest movement towards peace, currently known on earth.
The practice is founded on daily life, and is focused on individual happiness.
Watch the video on my profile, it explains all. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiW0KAPfsXA&feature=channel_video_title)
You will always meet egotistical people, no matter what faith you are in.
There are some wonderfully loving Christians, but also some really egotistical ones.
The same goes for Buddhism.
As a whole, most people I have had dealings with are lovely, kind, compassionate and loving people. Who all want the world to be a better place.
Thats it. Nothing more. Nothing Less.
http://nichirenbuddhismlondon.blogspot.com/ -- this is my blog, as I dont really get much time to make videos any more.
Just trust your heart and realise that this practice is about building yoru self up and becomng the best human being you can be.
Through our suffering and our earthly desires, we can find our enlightenment, that is the official line haha
There are no laws and rules and dogma.
Only that you MUST consider EVERYTHING; your words, your thoughts and your actions.
These all create causes in your life and will result in an effect (karma)
It really is that simple.
Hope that clears up some of your questions.
Fond wishes
Bobby
Love these words and spoken with sincere and loving spirit. So simple and so true x
ReplyDeleteThank you for, again, so patiently and succinctly answering the question which I've become too exasperated to answer anymore, because so often it is flung at me as an accusation. (((((( hug )))) from Palm Springs, CA :)
ReplyDeleteThe leader and group are always correct and anything the leader does can be justified.
ReplyDeleteQuestions, suggestions, or critical inquiry are forbidden.
Members incessantly scramble with cramped schedules and activities full of largely meaningless work based on the leader’s agenda
Followers are meant to believe that they are never good enough.
Required dependency upon the leader and group for even the most basic problem-solving.
Reporting on members for disobedient actions or thoughts is mandated and rewarded.
Monetary, sexual, or servile labor is expected to gain promotion.
The ‘outside’ world — often including family and friends — is presented as rife with impending catastrophe, evil, and temptations.
Recruitment of new members is designed to be purposefully upbeat and vague about the actual operations of the leader and group.
Former members are shunned and perceived as hostile.
Wow, BUKU. It sounds like you have not had a good experience.
ReplyDeleteWhere are you based? Which part of the world did you practice?
I am aware that there are many people in organisations the world over who behave in a way that is less then desirable.
Personally, I have not experienced any of what you have described above.
I am not saying this stuff has not happened, but a wise man once told me.
Religion is imperfect. Men are imperfect. Humanity is imperfect.
It is up to us, the youth division to continue to work to bring the realisation of happiness to our lives and the lives of others.
I would be interested to ask how your life is, are you happy? Do you feel content in your self?
Personally my mission is to focus on the positives.
I am not saying we shouldn't acknowledge wrong doing, infact, we should SPEAK OUT against it.
I believe that we are all in this together, we all want the same things.
If you dont like something in an organisation then work to change it.
It is my determination to do this.
I am sorry to hear that you have had a bad experience with SGI.
If you went came to England, and met 100 English people and found them all to be rude, and abrupt.
I would hope that logic would dictate that not ALL English people are rude and abrupt.
And that you didnt tar all English people with this brush.
The SGI that you have described, is very different from the SGI I have experienced.
Fond wishes Friend.
Bobby