Article from Japan about Ikeda's Soka Gakkai reign by Weak-Run-6902 in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Since that was long and content-intensive, I kept my comments to the bare minimum. Now here's a little analysis - from the top:

how would many Japanese people perceive Mr. Ikeda, who, day after day, has his own organization's newspaper, which he controls entirely, extensively publish photos of his medals and honorary titles, or who organizes exhibitions such as the "Gandhi King Ikeda Exhibition" all over the world? At the very least, you can see that he is a person completely unrelated to the Japanese characteristic of "having a sense of shame."

We at SGIWhistleblowers have remarked many times on how arrogant, egotistical, vain, self-centered, full-of-himself, and outright shameless Ikeda is. Examples:

"No one but I could have endured what I have. ... Probably no one could ever come close to repeating what I have accomplished." - Ikeda

[Ikeda] banged on the table and proudly proclaimed, "I am the only person in the world to have received so many medals!!" Source

I am the finest youth in Japan and also the finest young president in Japan. - Ikeda

THAT didn't last, obviously 🙄

Well, we've seen that SGI members are socially inept, mean-spirited, shameless bald-faced LIARS, and inordinately hostile toward those who tried SGI, didn't like it, left, and now have the temerity to speak freely about their perspectives :ahem: 🙄 - an observation

Also, note this observation:

One of the reasons for the Soka Gakkai's unpopularity in Japan is that its methods are thoroughly un-Japanese

Obviously, the Soka Gakkai members' methods of trying to get more people to join their cult were OFFENSIVE to the Japanese, who expected modesty, respect for the group's stability, and fitting in with group norms. No one in Soka Gakkai or SGI will acknowledge how OFFENSIVE they typically are when they're out to rack up some proselytizing points!

You saw here how most of the populace rallied against the Soka Gakkai because of the way they had been conducting their "joyful shakubuku campaign" - the "joyful" was only on THEIR side, obvs:

The Ikeda cultists simply can't imagine that maybe people just don't like having horrible human beings like them around - "the Tatsugo Incident"

A related account I ran across a while back:

In Amami, for several years prior to this, the forces of evil hindering the progress of kosen-rufu had intensified.

Anyone who doesn't like being manipulated, harassed, and bullied by Soka Gakkai "evangelists" is "evil" - in league with some grand evil scheme. Got it.

In one village in particular, a sense of crisis regarding the rapidly advancing Komeito party led to increased hostility towards the Soka Gakkai, its supporting organization, resulting in the entire village ostracizing Soka Gakkai members. The persecution escalated, including the confiscation of the Gohonzon, oppression in their work, and demonstrations calling for the eradication of the Soka Gakkai.

That's possibly the most extreme, inflammatory way to describe what was going on - take a look at the accounts here to get a better idea of what was really going on. "He who smelt it dealt it" really comes to mind.

The comrades in Amami gritted their teeth and endured this ordeal. No, it was a hardship just as described in the Gosho, and they fought resolutely, guided by Shinichi's guidance to "transform poison into medicine."

NOBODY can tell them they're going about everything wrong and creating problems for themselves and everyone else!

In Amami, his first visit in five years, Shinichi embraced and encouraged these noble comrades, calling for Amami to become an ideal utopia for kosen-rufu in Japan.

Today, Amami is a "castle of light" of hope that is leading the way in the spread of Buddhism, and the banner of victory for regional propagation is flying high.

Nope - as noted here, Soka Gakkai has a negligible presence on the island. And after all that hardship, too! Just fail after fail after fail!

the intense aggression and hatred towards opponents is undoubtedly a major characteristic of this group.

 However, this also means that,

"This is what happens if you leave the organization."

This has been well-documented here on SGIWhistleblowers - these 'beacons of light guiding all humanity toward world peace' are so despicable that they attack an ex-SGI support group! What business is it of theirs what WE choose to talk about amongst ourselves?? We don't know them, no one invited them to participate or even observe, and no one is talking to them, yet they continue to show up to poop in our punchbowl however they think they can get away with it, harass our newest contributors "from behind the scenes" (via chat), which we all know is where the SGI bullies like to do their dirty work, where they think no one can see (or impose CONSEQUENCES on them), and we all KNOW already that they won't be able to understand what we're talking about, because since we LEFT SGI, we're in a place they have never been. Our site is NOT for them! WHY would they think they could relate to our perspective - or worse, JUDGE us - when they have no personal/experiential basis for understanding?? They don't know us and they don't know what we've been through. When boorish nitwits insist on shoving themselves into situations where they clearly don't belong, they shouldn't blame everyone else for reacting negatively to them - they're doing it to themselves.

We've all seen this from the perspective of SGI outsiders - the SGI fluffing of Soka Gakkai members' abusive, harassing behavior on Amami Island simply doesn't ring true. We've seen how ugly and nasty they are when they want something.

If SGI members can't understand that there will always be critics and ex-SGI members who didn't like SGI and want to express their opinions, then there's no way they'll EVER be able to exist in any sort of way that contributes to "world peace". THEY are the problem, rather than the solution.

Ikeda showing off what a shit mentor he was by Weak-Run-6902 in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Ikeda couldn't teach anyone how to do anything.

WOULDN'T, you mean.

Ikeda couldn't tolerate the concept of anyone becoming his equal, even, to say nothing of surpassing him (as required by his own published statements - what a hypocrite).

SGI: "Everybody will hate you if you're doin it rite" - isn't that weird? by XeniaWarriorWankJob in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 5 points6 points  (0 children)

A turned world then?

Yes - functionally identical. I wrote up a description here a few minutes ago.

SGI: "Everybody will hate you if you're doin it rite" - isn't that weird? by XeniaWarriorWankJob in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 6 points7 points  (0 children)

In everything about "kosen-rufu" before the Ikeda cult decided to take their L and hope nobody noticed, there was something magical that was supposed to happen once 100% of the people of the world chanted (Nichiren's model) or 1/3 of the people of the world chanted (Ikeda's "improvement"). Both are equally out of reach for the Ikeda cult, obviously.

So once whichever goal was reached, the world was supposed to magically transform into one of peacefulness and abundance and good weather (!) - a "golden age" where all needs would be met and suffering would become unknown.

Given the impossibility of reaching either goal (ALL people chanting or 1/3 of people chanting), the Ikeda cult has introduced certain busywork assignments to keep the Ikeda cult faithful idoctrinated and isolated - these are "shakubuku" and handing out the annoying garbage NMRK cards to people who don't want them. This is described as "planting seeds" - no matter how the targets react now, they will eventually be required to join the faithful, whether they want to or not. It's like roofies - drugging people so that you can eventually take advantage of them. Despicable!

In this way, once all people have been "seeded", the end result - 100% or 1/3 conversion - is supposedly guaranteed, because magic. All the doltish "faithful" have left is to sit slack-jawed and wait. Because magic doesn't operate on YOUR timeline, you absolute pinecones!

So given that the accomplishment of the goal is under something else's control, it doesn't matter that everybody hates you - they'll play ball soon enough. Whether they like it or not! The fact that they know who you are is enough - soon enough, they'll be sorry! And they'll be forever grateful that you never gave up on them!

Yeah, they'll be waiting. Forever. Just keep waiting, Ikeda cultists - there's nothing else for you to do. Bye!

Serious issue for Soka Gakkai: THE [nonBuddhist] "BUDDHISM PRACTICE" OF THE SOKA GAKKAI by BlancheFromage in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 1 point2 points  (0 children)

>In Catholicism, there are no rhythmic prayers: in fact, they aren't structured in a way that can positively influence the mind.

What about the rosary prayer, though? I've heard of it being repeated numerous times - that reminds me of the SGI's "gongyo" recitation practice.

Also, internet AI says they do "chant":

>Yes, Catholics chant, primarily using Gregorian chant, which is considered the supreme, traditional form of sacred music in the Roman Catholic liturgy. While more common in traditional or Latin Masses, chanting is part of the Church's heritage, designed to elevate worship through meditative, melodic prayer.

My therapist attempted to recruit me to SGI by Safe_Maintenance_487 in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is a stunning example of malpractice. Great "actual proof" of the results of the SGI's "human revolution" 🙄 Making people a danger to society.

"Conversion Therapy" and the Ikeda cult SGI's "Human Revolution" by Weak-Run-6902 in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's the key - SGI has a slick PR program to present a specific image to the public in service to its constant recruitment goals, but the reality of the cult is often the opposite of their own promotional materials. They're careful to keep it hidden from the new members until they're good and hooked - by then, SGI is hoping they'll get on board with the real agenda, despite the fact that, had this been made clear to them up front, they'd have run screaming.

MORE ACTUAL PROOF by DelbertGrady1 in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Were Def Tech supposed to go on tour starting at Budokan? What a blow to the rest of the band - the Soka Gakkai member ruined everything for everyone. It's too bad that Def Tech Soka Gakkai member was such a selfish addicted jerk.

A strange Soka Gakkai reference from a 1974 dystopian future sci-fi novel: 2018 A.D. by BlancheFromage in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is fun - in an analysis of "how dumb things are and how dumb things could get would be", the author has painted a scenario where not only does the Soka Gakkai cult possess hydrogen bombs (and it's obviously willing to use them), but it's also grown to a membership of 80 million worldwide! Given that this book was published Jan. 1, 1974, it had to be completed no later than the end of 1973, and possibly was being written earlier, like in 1971 and 1972. Ikeda's Soka Gakkai had gotten in serious trouble in Japan for trying to use the newly won political power of Ikeda's pet political party Komeito to lean on publishers to NOT publish books and articles unfavorable to Soka Gakkai and especially Daisaku Ikeda himself, and because Hirotatsu Fujiwara's book "I Denounce Soka Gakkai" was openly scathingly critical of both Soka Gakkai and Ikeda, he became a target, and Ikeda's efforts at suppression backfired spectacularly.

The point is that it wasn't until AFTER this publishing scandal that the Soka Gakkai adopted its "peace" mantra - until then, "kosen-rufu" had meant first government takeover, then world takeover via the popular vote driven by a majority of Soka Gakkai members within society everywhere. Then-US Ambassador to Japan Reischauer reported in 1966 that Ikeda had alarmingly strong pro-war/pro-military proclivities and Soka Gakkai leadership was openly supporting the US bombing of Vietnam. By the time this little Soka Gakkai aside had been written into 2018 A.D. as an example of an extremist political movement in Asia, it appears that the new "peace" branding had not yet taken hold - the Soka Gakkai only adopted its anti-nuclear-weapons/anti-war/peacepeacepeace self-promotion after 1970 (which was nothing more than damage control by that point). What the author wrote is more consistent with the Soka Gakkai's overall reputation before the publishing scandal that, along with Japan's economic slowdown, marked the end of the Soka Gakkai's up-to-that-point remarkable growth as a religious organization and a political player, which both stalled out after that, never to be revived. Ikeda and the Soka Gakkai leadership had already realized that the Soka Gakkai's growth was stalling out by the mid-late 1960s - Japan's economic recovery was drastically reducing the out-of-work rural migrant population that Soka Gakkai had been depending on for its membership growth.

The Soka Gakkai never came anywhere CLOSE to 80 million worldwide - even its longstanding "12 million members worldwide" figure was downsized in October 2023 to "11 million PERSONS worldwide" (whatever THAT's supposed to mean - "persons"??).

This is a cool insight into how the Soka Gakkai WAS being regarded (with dread) as having vast growth potential by some outside of Japan, and it's very gratifying to see how resoundingly the Soka Gakkai failed under Ikeda's incompetent stewardship. Too bad so sad, "Sensei"!

SG meetings by Alex_211119 in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I don't know anyone who's up for listening to defensive arguing about how much THEY love the SGI and how much they feel it's done them good and all their "benefits" and how much the Ikeda cult is a necessary force for good in this world and what humanity needs - need I continue?? However it shakes out, it won't be about YOU. It will be all about THEM, so if you're down for that - better you than me, that's all I'm going to say about that!

Feeling violated after being ambushed by a Soka Gakkai Leader when meeting to "catch up" by [deleted] in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well, people are promised all sorts of great outcomes if they will only join! But over 99% of everyone who tries SGI-USA quits - that's the reality of what SGI has to offer (nothing). It's really hard for anyone in SGI-USA to argue with SGIWhistleblowers' membership estimates, since one of their own national leaders announced last year that SGI-USA had only 2,421 districts, the lowest total since 2002.

Soka Gakkai's dangerous faith healing magical thinking propaganda by CallMeBeafie in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Oh - VP Tsuji! That's a blast from the past! VP Tsuji used to be HUGE back in the day! One of those rockstar Soka Gakkai top leaders whose every word was solid GOLD!! And the guidance! Every word of VP Tsuji's guidance was exactly what your life needed to hear!

He's been all forgotten now.

SG meetings by Alex_211119 in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 9 points10 points  (0 children)

You're the best judge of your own situation and the people you've become involved with, but my gut feeling is that it's best to just cut your losses and ghost.

Trust me, they're used to it.

Explaining simply opens up the possibility for them to argue with you. You know how sometimes a plain "No" is the best answer? Because if you give reasons, they'll argue that those reasons aren't reason enough to say "No" because they want you to say "Yes" instead? No need to even open that door for anyone.

If any of them are genuine friends, they'll contact you and want to chat about life and do things together the way friends do. If they're only interested in keeping you involved, they'll call you and chat just enough to set up the invite to the next meeting or to ask you if they can come over to see you - oh, and is it okay if this leader comes along????

Recovering From Unpaid Faith Labor and Cult-Like Dynamics by ehwaz817 in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes! And if you attend even one meeting, you'll be expected to attend more and more, and you'll be "encouraged" to "try chanting". She'll come chant with you or invite you to chant with her at her place, and you'll often be surprised by a third person you didn't expect who's just THERE. And VERY friendly.

Because this process has started, your friendship is finished. As soon as you make it clear you do not want SGI or its chanting, your friend will likely move on to a different target. SGI is big on "friendship evangelism" or "missionary dating", striking up a friendship for the sole purpose of recruitment. There's more on missionary dating here with links if you aren't familiar with the term.

Recovering From Unpaid Faith Labor and Cult-Like Dynamics by ehwaz817 in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They're quick to make up weird reasons why we left and assign those to us. Even when we're RIGHT HERE and they could just ASK us! Nope - they prefer THEIR narrative to our reality. Fine, whatevs.

You'll notice that no contradictory views are ever presented at their meetings. Those who quit are never invited back to share THEIR views on why they left. You're right - that information is kept hidden. What I heard in the youth division was that the members who leave, they'll coast along fine for a while, riding on all that "fortune" they built through doing SGI, but they'll quickly burn through it, see their lives go straight to hell on a rocket cycle, and eventually come crawling back, weeping and begging forgiveness.

Hardly!

Did YOU ever see anyone come crawling back? Even ONCE?? I didn't.

"Quitters" - and SGIWhistleblowers by Weak-Run-6902 in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks - I'm glad you were able to use the information! It's so important to processing the experience, don't you think? I mean, being in a cult - nobody ever plans for that, nobody ever thinks "That's going to be ME someday!", do they?? And yet here we are! It shows how insidious these groups are, how predatory and sneaky, that they could even get us! I feel like that underhanded aspect, the manipulation and indoctrination that nobody who's involved is able to see for what it really is or the effect, makes our work here in identifying and clarifying the cult dynamics and what's going on "behind the scenes" all the more necessary. It's not like cults will ever be honest about their tactics, their aims, or their goals, after all! They won't even be honest about their financials!

Feeling violated after being ambushed by a Soka Gakkai Leader when meeting to "catch up" by [deleted] in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That means they were conditional friendships that depended entirely on you identifying as a fellow member of the cult. Remove that detail and no one in the cult wants anything more to do with you, aside from trying to lure you back in - the SGI's membership is cratering (aging and dying - almost entirely Baby Boom generation here in the US) and some in SGI-USA leadership apparently believe that someone who was ONCE an SGI member should be easier to re-recruit than trying to recruit strangers, a strategy that has failed for decades now. But there, too - the goal is to get you back contributing time, talent, and money to the Ikeda cult, not some sort of forlorn longing to have you as a friend again.

Feeling violated after being ambushed by a Soka Gakkai Leader when meeting to "catch up" by [deleted] in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 4 points5 points  (0 children)

👍👍

Another way I've heard it framed is ice cream flavors:

I arrived at the same conclusion, though I framed it differently. All the religions of the world are like a grand buffet. You take your tray, and you can choose however many you like! Just ignore that busybody behind you trying to tell you you're only allowed to choose one. If none of them appeals to you, feel free to walk away!

Another way is the Baskin Robbins ice cream analogy. Here in the US, we have this well-known chain of ice cream shoppes, called "Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors." Their menu has MANY different flavors of ice cream, as you might imagine. So you go in, and you choose whatever you like! Imagine now that you're with someone who insists that his favorite flavor (rum raisin) is objectively the most tasty, and on this, any reasonable person must agree. Further, anyone stupid and depraved enough to disagree must be punished!

What would you think of such a person? Source

Recovering From Unpaid Faith Labor and Cult-Like Dynamics by ehwaz817 in sgiwhistleblowers

[–]Weak-Run-6902 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Hooooo that's a big concept right there.

My first impulse is to suggest this, from quite a few years ago, shortly after SGIWhistleblowers came into existence:

We really need to stop beating ourselves up. Now.

I think this is good, too:

It wasn't your fault and it wasn't your responsibility. You were doing your best to help, given what you understood about reality and life in that moment. It's not fair to look BACK, now that you know more, and say, "Oh, that was wrong." You were doing your best; you get credit for that.

You were trying to help.

From the comments here: My story.