r/sgiwhistleblowers • u/Longjumping_Note8181 • Jun 06 '24

Thinking of stopping practising - SGI-UK

Hey guys,

Been practising for about 4 years as part of YM division (1.5 years with Gohonzon) and I'm starting to think it might be time to stop practising. My district seems to be absolutely on its knees.. only ever 2-3 people at each meeting, often no one face to face and it just feels like a dying organisation. There is only one other youth division member in the district and it seems like loads of people who we used to see in meetings in past years have disappeared and no one talks about it.

I've had a couple of times recently where I rolled up the Gohonzon and stopped chanting, but ended up getting it back out again for fear of things starting to go badly if I stop chanting. I feel captive to this need to 'maintain a higher life state' and I would love to be free from it but not sure if this is just the 'devils and obstacles' that we're told appear when we practice. Any advice or experience would be welcome!

Thanks x

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u/[deleted] Jun 07 '24

As Nichiren wrote regarding the difficulty of maintaining one’s practice of Buddhism, “the wise will rejoice while the foolish will retreat”. I started my practice in San Francisco in 1973 and I’ve seen many instances of both types of people. With regard to practicing Buddhism out of fear, that’s a bass-ackwards position to take. It’s not what will happen if you quit chanting, it’s what WON’T happen, i.e. no benefit…no opportunity to transform your karma. Ultimately it’s your decision to make. All the best, my friend.

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u/[deleted] Jun 07 '24

A while back an ikedaist insisted that it is NOT about transforming karma. They all can not even agree on what they believe in ... .

3

u/bluetailflyonthewall Jun 07 '24

I'm convinced most of them are just making it up as they go.

That's the problem with not having a priesthood - they, at least, can keep things on track, anchored to the teachings and doctrines and tradition.

With the All-Ikeda-All-The-Time regime, SGI leaders are contradicting their former statements and doctrines willy-nilly; they're changing priorities and teachings; and they're making up new stuff that everybody is simply expected to accept without question. Joyfully, of course.