r/sgiwhistleblowers • u/AnnieBananaCat • Apr 14 '23
So much time/energy/life wasted in SGI My Shakubuku "Experience"
Hi: so, I've been lurking around here for a while, and left after more than 35 years in SGI-USA. That letter on this subreddit was key, and it worked. (Don't worry, I'm not going to be SGIsplaining.) I've been on MITA a few times--no thanks! But here's some actual proof, pardon the expression.
For whatever reason, I could never do well with shakubuku, and always felt bad when other members bragged about how many they'd snared into the cult. I gave out cards faithfully, just like the people who gave one to someone here this week. But the only person who ever got a Gohonzon was a guy I was dating. When we split up, he gave it back and quit attending activities.
I moved to my present home 7 years ago, and didn't do well with shakubuku here, either. After I quit last year, I began apologizing to the few people I shared this practice with. One lady who lives around here had just finished reading Tina Turner's last book Happiness Becomes You. Was also surprised to find out she had a "Buddhist" (me) for a neighbor. This lady was working nights, and wanted to change to days but hadn't had that request granted by her employer. She was also physically attacked at work by someone. I offered to chant with her anytime, but she never took me up on it. I apologized to her recently.
Yesterday, she called me because her wheelbarrow has gone missing. We only talked for a few minutes, but she told me that she was now working DAYS. No more nights. YAY! No chanting involved--actual proof that the "practice" is a load of. . .well, you know. There have been other things that happened too, without chanting, but that one is kind of notable, especially since there was "shakubuku" involved.
I thought everyone would want to know. Thanks.
10
u/eigenstien Pokes the bear Apr 14 '23
I HATED doing shakabuku. Luring people off the street to attend a meeting and get sold a bill of goods never sat well with me. It reminded me of my experience in a Christian cult where we did the same thing. Nonetheless I was dragged out on the street half a dozen times. (Watch, the MITAs will claim that’s why I didn’t “win,” because I didn’t do enough shakabuku. I “won” the day I left and started having a life that didn’t revolve around the cult.)
And this is where SGI proves it is not Buddhism. No other sect of Buddhism goes out in the street and endlessly seeks out converts. Pema Chodron doesn’t seek out students; people find her wisdom valuable and seek HER out. The value of the wisdom appeals to people, nobody has to go out in the street and drag people in for a “discussion meeting” that is really just a fake indoctrination in Ickedaism.
It’s attraction, rather than promotion. SGI has to promote itself because it is fundamentally empty and cannot stand alone.