Generalisations and why they are wrong.

Who can you trust?

Early this week I discovered someone online, making wild and negative accusations about the SGI as an organisation, lumping us all in to one big negative category.

SGI is made up of millions of people worldwide, 12 million to be exact, we truly are a slice of society. Many cultures, races and ethnic backgrounds.

Making wild and negative generalisations about people based on ethnicity, or religion is lazy thinking, and often the sign of an inability to perceive complexity.

Generalisations can sometimes have some truth to them though, but are almost always superficial and don't take into account complex nature of causation. However, we sentient beings do make sense of the world largely through pattern recognition, so one often can't help but make generalisations.

Just to throw the cat amongst the pigeons: is it possible that getting offended on the behalf of an organisation, or religion one identifies with, although natural, is ultimately just another division in society? Is it possible that my reaction itself is part of the problem?

“When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, or anything else [a Buddhist?], you are being violent. Do you see why it is violent? Because you are separating yourself from the rest of mankind. When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence. So a man who is seeking to understand violence does not belong to any country, to any religion, to any political party or partial system; he is concerned with the total understanding of mankind.” - Jiddu Krishnamurti

What are your thoughts?

Is SGI a cult?

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

1. A system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object.
2. 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

What is the real difference between the Temple and the SGI?

Many people have asked what is the difference between being a part of SGI and being part of a different school of Nichiren Buddhism. There are some clear differences.


What I think I like about SGI is that things have not remained the same. Mistakes have been made but things are have changed for the better, and they continue to change. 


Human beings are not perfect, none of us are perfect, we all have our flaws and our vices.


As with any organisation that has human elements, ego always has to rear its ugly head. I have spoken to many people from Youtube, who have had all sorts of stories about various SGI members who have wronged them, or treated them badly, or been rude to them or acted in an egotistical way.


And what I have realised is that, it all comes down to the law of cause and effect. We have no way to control how other people behave, only how we behave and how we react to this treatment.


I know that I am a good and honest person, that my goal for Kosen Rufu (world peace and happiness for all, or to spread the law or the knowledge of the lotus sutra) is authentic. Each time I chant, go to meetings, or do my best to tell others about the Lotus Sutra, I am doing my part to spread the knowledge that we are all filled with a deep and limitless potential.


At the beginning of my practice, I found it hard to be "part of an organisation" as this felt so much like being Catholic, or being a Scientologist. I was subscribing to a system, with rules and regulations.


In many ways this brought a sort of fear to me, and I was worried that I would become a bit like a walking drone or a robot, following rules and regulations, and talking in a language as part of this big organisation.


There are people in SGI who are like this, but their hearts are in the right place and they mean well. Not everyone has the ability to be self aware to the point where they see their behaviour as a little strange to some people.


I have subsequently realised that SGI is what I make it. Since we the youth, are the organisation it gives us a chance to have a say in how things go and how the future of the organisation looks.


I think the trouble with words, in human language, is that they have so may connotations. When I say organisation, you will immediately have a painted a intricate picture in your head of exactly what you think the word means and what is is associated with, based on your previous experience in life.


Every word we speak, we understand, based on association with the past, or what you have been told.


So, with that in mind. I think it would be much better to translate the word from organisation to family instead. 


Coming from Zimbabwe, and being part of a very staunch Christian community, it has been difficult for me to feel part of SGI, with out feeling that fear of pressure or obligation.


I have always associated organised religion with pressure, guilt and judgment.


But in our practice in Nichiren Buddhism there is no judgement. As every action in our lives is followed by an effect. So no matter how "good" or how "bad" we appear to be in our lives, we will always reap the benefits or lack of benefit from our choices or our causes.


So here is a bit about SGI and its difference with the Temple or other schools of Nichiren Buddhism.


The difference between the SOKA Gakkai International and Nichiren Shoshu clearly can be seen in at least four key areas:

1) View of Equality

The Lotus Sutra is a teaching of absolute equality - it affirms that all people, regardless of station, gender or background, are potentially Buddhas.

Nichiren Daishonin reaffirms this in many places throughout his writings. To a lay believer named Abutsubo, he writes:

You, yourself, are a true Buddha who possesses the three enlightened properties. You should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with this conviction. (MW-I, 30)

In another letter he writes:

There should be no discrimination among those who propagate the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo in the Latter Day of the Law, be they men or women. (MW-I, 93)

While the SGI bases itself on absolute respect for the individual, and its activities focus on thorough dialogue with people on all levels of society, Nichiren Shoshu staunchly asserts that it is a "sin" to speak of the equality of priests and lay practitioners, as we can see in a letter to the SGI from the temple's chief administrator, Nichijun Fujimoto:  To talk about the priesthood and laity with a sense of equality are expressions of great conceit. In fact, they correspond to the five cardinal sins.... (January 12, 1991)

Representative of such beliefs is the following comment from a priest's sermon at a temple in Japan:

A priest who wears this robe is special and different from lay believers. He is always seated with the Gohonzon behind him, but whatever the priest may do on other occasions and no matter how luxuriant his lifestyle, it is totally all right.You lay believers are confused about this point. These matters are of no account. (Seido Oyabu, at Horin-ji, January 1991)

Around this doctrine of absolute clerical superiority, it created an atmosphere in which the actions and intentions of priests can never be questioned; in which lay believers are obliged to serve priests, but priests have no obligation to serve the believers. Even funeral and memorial services are conducted with the expectation of receiving donations, and with undisguised dissatisfaction if those donations fall below par. This is in stark contrast to the attitude of Nichiren Daishonin, which was one of appreciation, respect, service and support of the believers.

2) View of the Gohonzon

Nichiren Daishonin clearly indicates in the Gosho that the Gohonzon is a manifestation of his life as an enlightened human being, and that it is no different from the enlightened potential within all ordinary people.

He writes:

Never seek this Gohonzon outside yourself. The Gohonzon exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who embrace the Lotus Sutra and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. (MW-1, 213)

In another letter, he writes: "Abutsu-bo is the Treasure Tower itself, and the Treasure Tower is Abutsu-bo himself. No other knowledge is purposeful" NW-1, 30). Later in the same letter, the Daishonin equates the "Treasure Tower" to the Gohonzon.

Nichiren Shoshu's position is that these teachings by the Daishonin are to be interpreted by priests only, not by lay believers. Their teaching on the Gohonzon is as follows: The Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is not inherent in all phenomena or in the lives of ordinary people. It exists only in the physical object of the Dai-Gohonzon and in the life of the current high priest, who has received it through a secret ceremony conducted with his predecessor. Only the high priest can empower a Gohonzon by personally conducting a special ceremony. Any benefit comes to the believer directly through the auspices and sanction of the office of the high priest. Temple publications state, "The sanctioning of the object of worship by the High

Priest, who is the only person to be bequeathed the Daishonin's Buddhism, is what makes the attainment of Buddhahood possible" (From an NST publication, Refuting the Soka Gakkai's Counterfeit Object of Worship" 100 Questions and Answers, P. 36).

The temple's stance is that believing the Law or the Gohonzon to exist within one's own life will send that person to hell.

Nichiren Shoshu's position on the Gohonzon stands in stark contrast with that of the Daishonin himself. The Soka Gakkai embraces the Daishonin's view that the Gohonzon is the embodiment of the Buddha's wisdom and compassion. The Daishonin inscribed it so that we can awaken the same wisdom and compassion within us. One's power of faith and practice to the Gohonzon enables him or her to tap the power of the Gohonzon within to which the Daishonin so adamantly refers. For the high priest or anyone to claim sole possession of the Law and control over the power of the Gohonzon is the basest form of exploitation of the Daishonin's teachings.

3) View of the "Heritage" of the Law

In his letter "Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life," Nichiren Daishonin clearly describes and defines what it means to receive the "heritage" or "lifeblood" of faith in his Buddhism:

Shakyamuni, who attained enlightenment countless aeons ago, the Lotus Sutra which leads all people to Buddhahood, and we ordinary human beings are in no way different or separate from each other. Therefore, to chant Myoho-renge-kyo with this realization is to inherit the ultimate law of life and death. (MW-1, 22)

In addition, the Daishonin writes:

All disciples and believers of Nichiren should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with one mind, transcending all differences among themselves to become as inseparable as fish and the water in which they swim. This spiritual bond is the basis for the universal transmission of the ultimate law of life and death. (MW- 1, 23)

And:

Be resolved to summon forth the great power of your faith, and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the prayer that your faith will be steadfast and correct at the moment of your death. Never seek any other way to inherit the ultimate law and manifest it in your life. (MW-1, 25)

Before 1991, Nikken himself supported the view of the heritage as expressed by the Daishonin in these passages, saying: "This lifeblood of faith is inherited not only by a high priest. It is also inherited by all priests and lay believers who inherit the true teaching. When these priests and

lay believers carry out pure faith in the true teaching and practice accordingly, they unlock the pure water of the law within their lives and equally attain enlightenment through believing in and understanding the Law." (Dai-Nichiren, April 1987) The priesthood today repeatedly refers to the exclusive transmission of the heritage of the Law to the high priest through what it calls the "Face to Face Bestowal of the Living Essence of the Law," insisting that the nature of this bestowal is beyond the capacity of ordinary people to comprehend. In a section called "Absolute Faith in and Strict Obedience to the High Priest," we see the following passage:

When the priests and lay believers of the faith of Nichiren Shoshu have the occasion to be in the presence of the High Priest, with palms pressed earnestly together in sincere gratitude, we pay prayer- like reverence to him as the Master who embodies the Living Essence of the Body of the entirety of the Law of all existence.... In short, with perfectly sincere faith and self-imposed, strict obedience, we should hold the High Priest's instruction in deepest reverence and we must realize that it is right there (sic) that the great, direct path of the true relationship of unfiltered, unrestricted faith between Master and disciple, which leads to ultimate enlightenment in this lifetime, is to be found. (Dai-Nichiren, Special Edition: On the Soka Gakkai Problem (11) pp. 13-14)

The SGI firmly rejects this idea of the exclusive possession and bestowal of an intangible "essence" of all Buddhism to a single individual by virtue of his religious position. Not only does Nichiren Daishonin never mention such a rite, he clearly refutes it.

4) Attitude and Behavior

The most essential difference lies in the realm of commitment and action taken toward the accomplishment of kosen-rufu and the people's happiness, toward securing a peaceful world based on the spread of the Daishonin's Buddhism.

SGI members have continuously exerted themselves for decades to spread Buddhism, devoting their evenings and weekends to chant and work for the happiness of their friends. SGI President Ikeda, in particular, has met with one person after another, Buddhists and non-Buddhists of all nations and fields of society, to share his commitment to peace and engender an understanding of Buddhist humanism.

It is evident, however, that priests have played a far more passive role, spending most of their time at the temple attending primarily to ceremonies and services. While many Gakkai members were at activities in the evenings, visiting and encouraging friends or studying Buddhism together, most priests remained at home. It also became clear that many were indulging themselves by joining expensive country clubs or frequenting night-clubs, lavishly and frivolously spending money earned from the members' donations.

Nevertheless, Nichiren Shoshu priests continued to maintain an air of superiority and even condescension toward hard-working Gakkai members. Their aloofness toward the laity is still evident in their relationship with Hokkeko or temple members. For example, at a May 1997 ceremony at a temple in Los Angeles after which the lay temple members held a pot-luck lunch in the parking lot, the dozen or so priests in attendance quickly exited to a separate room to enjoy their own catered feast. There was no exchange or interaction with the laity, other than with a few appointed representatives.

The Buddha In Daily Life: An Introduction to the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin

When beginning your journey in to Nichiren Buddhism, there can be many questions. When I first began two years ago, I found this book to be incredibly helpful.

I began practicing Nichiren Buddhism because I wanted to find out what was missing in my life. I had been living in London for almost 10 years and still didn't feel very fulfilled in my career and my general surroundings.

I came across this practice of chanting nam myoho renge kyo from a friend. I went along to a SGI meeting and heard the chanting for the first time.

I found it strange at first and felt really out of place. What were these strange words? Why was everyone sitting facing this box? What was the box? Is this a cult? What am I doing here?

All these questions were racing through my head.

A friend lent me a copy of this book some time later and it answered most of my questions.

You can buy a copy of the book from Amazon UK here. The Buddha in Daily LIFE by Richard Causton

Your path, is your path. We are in this together, but we walk alone.

<< for some reason, someone on youtube thought I had directed the previous comment, at them. When it was not. It was directed at someone else. This is my response to her/him>>

<<<<< THIS IS MY RESPONSE TO THE PERSON WHO GOT CONFUSED... >>>>

It would seem there are some wires crossed somewhere.

My comment was not aimed at you, it was aimed at an arrogant person, who basically demanded that I left the SGI, and only then he would be friends with me and talk to me.

That is what I found arrogant.

I don't care that he called the SGI a cult, I know in my heart it is not.

People are entitled to the opinions.

This is what he said to me, after I requested to be friends with him on Youtube.

<<< THIS IS WHAT THE OTHER PERSON SAID TO ME, I AM REFERENCING IT HERE TO EXPLAIN WHY MY COMMENTS WERE NOT DIRECTED AT HER/HIM>>

Thank you, but...
My cause is to tell you to try the correct way, search a Nichiren Shoshu Temple and think about how is posible to keep the ortodoxy without the priesthood. Nichiren Daishonin explained how did he adquire the Budha Status, so if we do exactly the same, we should be Budha too. This is the importance to keep the ortodoxy. When you abandon the heretic cult of SGI, call me again. Good Luck.

He is totally missing the point as to why we practice.

We practice so that we can find happiness, and help others find happiness, what does it matter which group we are a part of, we all want the same things. We all have the same goals.

Peace and happiness for all of humanity.

I am confused as to why you thought my comment on my blog was directed at you when I clearly showed his response to me.

I was not intending to be defensive, I was defending my self. And sometimes I think it is necessary.

As his comments were an attack on me.

I never retaliate or speak out against these kinds of people, if you look at any of my comments, I am always gracious. I do not always believe that fighting FIRE with FIRE is the answer.

However, this is the first time in two years I have said anything like this.

I do not care that he thinks I am wrong, what I care about is that he thinks he is being superior and trying to tell me where I should be practising. Like it matters where or who I practice with.

It doesn't. What matters is what is in my heart. What matters is my intentions in life. What matters are my thoughts, my actions and my words.

Just like my grandmother told me as a child, to connect with god, or connect with our creator, we do not need to be in a church, or with a priest.

"God" or the "universal law" exists in every thing and is every where. It lives in every single molecule. It is the creative force that paints life. Every slice of matter around you is creative energy. It is alive. You and I are both apart of it. When we chant, with the right intentions, we connect with this.

We do not need churches, temples, or statues to practice our faith.

Everything that we need is innate within our lives, our bodies and our hearts.

Faith, practice and study. That is what we must do, to find our way back to our TRUE selves.

It doesnt matter what you do, as long as it is for the betterment of yourself and humanity.

If you pray to Allah, God, a golden cow, if your intentions come from a place of love, compassion and kindness. Your path, is your path. Only you can walk it alone.

The creative force behind every thing around us, has been given many names.

I stand by what I always say, that there are many paths to wholeness, and we are all in this together.

The moment everyone stops shouting at each other, and carring on about how "their way" is the better way, and focus on their own lives and achieve that deep and unshakable happiness, then maybe, others will see them and see how their way, is perhaps indeed a path of love, compassion and happiness. And perhaps follow in their foot steps.

Light up the darkness.

Best wishes
R

<<< HOPE THIS MAKES SENSE, CONVERSATIONS ONLINE CAN GET AWFULLY CONFUSING AND OFTEN PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND INTENTIONS>>

SGI is a CULT.

A letter from someone who I added as a friend on Youtube.

He basically feels that he can NOT be friends with me, as I am part of the SGI. I have comment back to him that I feel he is missing the point as to why we practice.

<< this was his letter to me....>>>
My cause is to tell you to try the correct way, search a Nichiren Shoshu Temple and think about how is posible to keep the ortodoxy without the priesthood. Nichiren Daishonin explained how did he adquire the Budha Status, so if we do exactly the same, we should be Budha too. This is the importance to keep the ortodoxy. When you abandon the heretic cult of SGI, call me again. Good Luck.
<<<---------------------->>

My response:

do you have any idea how arrogant you sound?

We all want the same things in life.

Happiness, love, food on our table and safety for our children.

Spending your life going around telling others how they should live their lives will not bring you happiness.

We stand as beacons of hope to others that practicing the law, will bring us unshakable happiness.
No priest or Gohonzon will bring me happiness, only the law, which is innate with in every single human beings life.
You do not need SGI, The Priesthood to practice The Law. SGI just acts as a support to your life and your practice.

In the grand scheme of things, none of this stuff really matters, what matters is what is inside your heart.

What matters, are your thoughts, your actions and your words.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

Spend a little more time focusing on your own life and a
little less trying to convince others that "your superior way" is the correct way.

Why is the SGI continuously attacked and subject to vicious rumours?

SGI continues the Buddha’s mission of awakening people to their potentials and their identity as Bodhisattvas : global citizens who put humanity first in their behaviour. This spirit clashes head on with three main tendencies:

The isolationist tendency of Japanese supremacists has no room for the concepts of global citizenship, humanism and Buddha nature, inherent in the people of all nations. It only natural for those who deny the equality of people - based on their shared humanity, such as racists and nationalists - it is natural for them to be at odds and in strong disagreement with SGI teachings of Humanism. The nationalist powers continue today their past history of hatred and disregard to what unites people.
The Japanese nationalist authorities, which caused the ruin of millions of families during the II World War - and banned the Soka Gakkai at that time – were not alone in finding justification for their aggression. Various temples vigorously supported the nationalist cult of emperor worship and the cult nation worship.
“Arrogance and Authoritarianism” are shared qualities between the nationalists and the “religious” priesthood:

The spiritual life of the individual in Nichiren Buddhism does not need the authority of “mediator-priests”. SGI’s teaching: that an individual has a “direct connection” with the world of Buddhahood - was a teaching of dispute with the controlling priests. The priesthood demanded from ordinary believers the “absolute obedience” to the authority of the High Priest. When the Soka Gakkai rejected obedience to this spirit of arrogance and control over ordinary believers of Buddhism, the vicious animosity of the priesthood against SGI consequently revealed it self.

Anyone familiar with the history and influence of the concept of “authority” on the Japanese society would grasp how easily ordinary people can fall into deception. There are various individuals and institutions which are strongly affected by the media campaign of fabrications and hatred against SGI. Falling in the trap of emotionalism and delusion, they also attack SGI, expressing their ignorance.

The group of the “Ill-informed” about SGI can also be found outside of Japan, in various Western countries, among those who base their information - and hence attacks on SGI - on hear-say sources and “Japanese experts” views. The “Ill-informed group” covers under its umbrella also those whose superficial views about Buddhism find SGI teachings as “revolutionary and alarming”, a reminder of the situation faced by Nichiren when he challenged traditional beliefs with the revolutionary concepts of the Lotus Sutra.

The above is an excerpt, from http://www.buddhawill.com/Soka_Humanism/Homepage.html

It is my firm and strong opinion that if people would stop juding others, based on what they heard, and instead on what they actually saw with their own two eyes, the world would be a very different place.

So many different schools and groups, spend so much time, throwing insults, hurling abuse and demanding that the other "practices the correct path".

If we all have the same goal, of peace and happiness for all humanity, what does it matter.

We all want the same things at the end of the day, love in our hearts, peace in the land.

It is beyond me why we cant all just get along. I dream of a day when ignorance and arrogance are no longer the major causes of conflict in this world.

In response to a heated conversation about which school of Buddhism is correct. Is SGI a cult? Is Disaku Ikeda a honest man or not...

I have been observing this rather heated conversation and am reminded of what happens across other faiths when people argue and try to convience that the other is correct.

Buddhism was created to lift people out of suffering, it was developed and nurtured so that ordinary people could look in the mirror and KNOW that they had the power to change their lives and the lives of others for the better.

You are wasting precious time arguing about this text and that letter, this gosho and that gosho.
What matters is what is in your heart.

Judge a man by his actions, not by his words. If you with your own eyes have seen evil deeds by IKEDA then judge him accordingly, but as Buddhists it is not our place to cast judgment on others.
Karmic law will create an outcome for any evil doings.

Just like the Christians and the Jews and the Muslims, everyone killing each other, fighting and arguing about who is right.

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing.

Food on our tables, love in our hearts and the safety of our family and children.

If Siddhartha Gautama, was listening to this conversation, I do believe that he would shed a tear at the level of arrogance and ignorance.

It is not our place to correct others, but to show them a path we have walked to achieve unshakable happiness.

Your life is your life, and you can choose how you live it.

If you wish to share your experiences for the good of man kind, it should be able helping others altruistically not demanding that they practice, said teaching, in the way written down in stone.
Every life is different, every life is unique.

You are missing the point of Buddhism if you continue to demand others follow the same path of you.

Namaste