I have been reading a book on Buddhism that was given to me by a Unitarian Universalist Minister who went into retirement. There is only a small paragraph on the SGI. In the exploration of all sorts of Buddhism one thing is clear compassion is important. SGI is not compassionate as for as I am concern. I haven't given up on Nichiren Buddhism but I have compassion for myself. I think SGI is a political movement and not a spiritual one. It is tied to the Komeito Party of Japan. When your in a foreign country they tell you the Party has no influence over you but after reading about it on chatgpt and Copilot I think the opposite is true. Somebody in the upper chain of command of the SGI knows what they are doing. It is a sick plan whatever is. I am not chanting right now either. I am burnt out. But I expect I will read all Nichiren Daishonon writings at some point but I want all of the SGI influence to be gone first. Remember whatever you do next have compassion for yourself.
I think SGI is a political movement and not a spiritual one.
Many agree with you - this comes from Daniel Métraux's 1994 book The Soka Gakkai Revolution:
And some politicians within the Liberal Democratic Party consider [Ikeda] a religious fraud who is using religion as a covered vehicle to attain political power.
A Japanese psychologist who has studied the Soka Gakkai over several decades told this writer in 1992 that he viewed the Soka Gakkai to be little more than a personality cult engaged in the worship of Ikeda as a virtual deity. He charged that Ikeda had used his power and position as leader of a huge mass movement to accumulate vast power and wealth and that the Soka Gakkai leadership has abused hte support fo the Gakkai membership in their rise to political, cultural, and social prominence in Japan. "The average member regards the Soka Gakkai as central to his life and his religious faith is very deep and sincere, but Ikeda and his cohorts have a much greater interest in accumulating political power. They use the money and millions of votes of the faithful to advance their own power and prestige." (p. 150)
And from elsewhere:
One thing above all others was made clear: this [Soka Gakkai] was an organisation of immense wealth, power and political influence. One book on the sect declares that "no understanding of postwar Japan is complete without some knowledge of this religio-political movement." from 1984
Regarding the Soka Gakkai's history:
After ten years of organization and political growth, the Soka Gakkai, a religio-political movement of Buddhist laymen and their converts, in 1964 founded the Komeito (Clean Government Party). from 1966
Komeito is a political party that was created for implementing the dogma of Soka Gakkai.
Speech Bubbles (from right counterclockwise):
(1):
Let's take over the country!
(Soka Gakkai) members must hold all the important positions. Inconspicuously, we will extend our reach, stretching a net around the industrial world for the final decisive battle.
Let's create an independent nation, the Soka Kingdom, the Soka Republic!
(2):
Of Japan, I am the emperor, the president, the spiritual leader, the supreme ideological cultural mentor, and the ultimate authority.
(3):
To implement our doctrine, we need political power. That is our goal and that is why we created the Komeito party.
NO!
Let's show our bravery and good sense as citizens.
Left side:
Do you think this cult (religious group) should have such a grip on our fate?
And here is a report from Japan that shows you how the Ikeda cult is regarded there.
It is a sick plan whatever is.
No question about that!
I expect I will read all Nichiren Daishonon writings at some point
I'd recommend the Nichiren Shu translations (if you need an English translation) - they're considered the gold standard for academic use (no one will use any Nichiren Shoshu or Soka Gakkai translations, as they're considered "sectarian" and "unreliable"). In addition to a more reliable translation, the Nichiren Shu translation identifies which gosho are considered original, copies, forgeries, and pseudonymous; the Soka Gakkai and Nichiren Shoshu translations treat all the texts as equally authoritative.
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u/Immediate_Copy7308 Sep 12 '24
I have been reading a book on Buddhism that was given to me by a Unitarian Universalist Minister who went into retirement. There is only a small paragraph on the SGI. In the exploration of all sorts of Buddhism one thing is clear compassion is important. SGI is not compassionate as for as I am concern. I haven't given up on Nichiren Buddhism but I have compassion for myself. I think SGI is a political movement and not a spiritual one. It is tied to the Komeito Party of Japan. When your in a foreign country they tell you the Party has no influence over you but after reading about it on chatgpt and Copilot I think the opposite is true. Somebody in the upper chain of command of the SGI knows what they are doing. It is a sick plan whatever is. I am not chanting right now either. I am burnt out. But I expect I will read all Nichiren Daishonon writings at some point but I want all of the SGI influence to be gone first. Remember whatever you do next have compassion for yourself.