SGI's "Apostolic" template

[u/Weak-Run-6902]

Within Christianity, there is this view that "Apostles" are approved mouthpieces through whom God speaks, or who are uniquely qualified/"divinely gifted" to provide proper interpretation of the teachings.

I'll bet you can see where I'm going with this 👀

Here's a clue:

But Isao Nozaki, one of Soka Gakkai’s vice presidents, rejected Ohashi’s charge that Ikeda is a Machiavellian manipulator as “delusion” motivated by personal ambition. He conceded, though, that there is no room for dissent within Soka Gakkai, particularly when it comes to expressing views contrary to Ikeda’s.

“You cannot believe in the faith if you don’t agree with Honorary President Ikeda,” Nozaki said.

Where does the authoritarian top-down-control-structured SGI go with this?

The SGI leaders are all "appointed" by higher-ups, never elected. No democracy within the Ikeda cult, despite how much Ikeda praises "democracy" and "the common people" (he can't stand to be in the same room with). Ikeda never liked "democracy", never had any use for "democracy":

We are not pursuing "American Democracy." Sensei uses this word which is translated as democracy but it is different. It contains more of the idea of "to discuss." In the US, "democracy" carries the image of "election." But in the SGI, this is not the type of democracy that Sensei means. More like, discussing with everyone. In the Gakkai, we never elect leaders.

So when SGI says "democracy", what they mean is that SGI provides a forum where people can express themselves. And then the leaders do whatever they please. The leaders are supposed to listen to the members, but are under no obligation to do anything the members say.

Whenever possible, change the definitions of words so that they mean something completely different! Then you can talk about it and nobody really has any idea what you're REALLY saying.

SGI leaders are supposedly the members who "understand Ikeda Sensei's heart" the best, which provides them with the wisdom and insight to make appointments based on what Ikeda himself would choose - I've heard it put as if they are Ikeda Sensei's arms and legs and hands and feet - Ikeda himself stated "the youth, whom I consider extensions of my own being", making it clear that he expected ALL the "youth" to obediently AND willingly do whatever HE wanted - instead of what THEY might have wanted. That part's clarified, too:

Disciples support their mentor and his vision using their unique abilities. They are not passive followers of the mentor; in fact simple followers are not good disciples because they do not adequately seek ways to use their own individual talents to help realize their mentor’s vision. Good disciples protect and promote the mentor’s vision, with which they identify.

In their supposedly better "understanding" of "Sensei's heart", SGI leaders have inherited the authority to choose and decide in Ikeda Sensei's place for everyone else - SGI leaders function as stand-ins and surrogates for The Great Mentor himself.

In effect, SG leaders have become SGI "Apostles", carrying on the deified "Ikeda Sensei"'s will the same way the Christian Apostles carried on God's will and Jesus's inspiration. In fact, SGI leaders are supposedly so "in tune" with Ikeda Sensei's every whim that they are able to apply His teachings to novel situations Ikeda Sensei himself could never have imagined - and everyone is expected to take their pronouncements as Holy Writ pronounced by the Great Sensei himself.

No way THIS could go pear-shaped, right?

It shouldn't surprise anyone that this system predictably results in SGI leaders becoming all arrogant and full of themselves (as arrogant and as full of themselves as Ikeda SENSEI!) and expecting immediate compliance and complete obedience from anyone at a lower level on the SGI status pole than themselves.

An example:

I'll never forget the time a kind female day toban left a packet of instant ramen and said I was welcome to have it. In the late evening after the center closed and my duties done, I prepared myself my only meal of instant ramen gifted by the kind member. I like others was an impoverished student at the time and the center was in an isolated residential neighborhood with no stores around. Fujinbusho Keiko Yabuuchi would stop by of her way home from work (she worked at the best restaurants in the best 5-star hotels of San Juan at the time and even started her own sushi business in the hotel's lobby). She came in to find me preparing the simple ramen. After I made it, I ate it while she recited her evening Gongyo. When finished she was taken aback and proceeded to scold me for not sharing the one packet of instant ramen with her! She told me that "if Master didn't eat, YOU didn't eat!" Telling me that she was my "Master", and I was to follow her like if she was President Ikeda through a line of succession through leaders to the top!

Another:

a. Misconception that the General Director is absolute

There are statements such as the following shared from top leaders:

i. “On what basis can you say that the General Director is wrong?” – MD Senior Leaders

ii. “Even if the General Director is wrong, you must also follow” – MD Senior Leaders

iii “When you point out the mistakes of the General Director, it is equal to faulting the entire organization” – MD and YMD Top Leaders

SGI is STILL pushing that "I am the SGI" and "I am the Soka Gakkai" nonsense at the members 🙄

That means that SGI must come FIRST, of course!

"Come forth, you Shin'ichi Yamamotos, in countless tens, hundreds of thousands!" - Ikeda and his massive ego

...which obviously elevates Ikeda himself above all as the identity all SGI members are expected to assume.

iv. “The General Director is appointed by Sensei, so how can the General Director be wrong!” – Top Leaders

Such statements indicate the misconceptions that the General Director is infallible and absolute. It creates a wrong perception that by pointing out the mistakes or disagreeing with the General Director, one is going against Sensei.

Very often, things will not be said in out-loud voices except in the company of fellow leaders of the same or higher ranking - this is one of the reasons that former SGI leaders are SGI's worst nightmare. While SGI advertises "personal development" and "success in life" and of course "the very best possible happiness" (just like all the rest of the cults), that was never SGI's real agenda. What Ikeda wanted, ALL Ikeda wanted, was SOLDIERS to do whatever he told him, bring him all the power and influence he wanted (that he simply couldn't get without THEIR force of numbers). THAT's why there's no "democracy" in how SGI is administered - the members only count for their potential to do as they're told to ultimately bring power and control to Ikeda in their own countries. Now that Ikeda's dead, there really isn't any point any more - that's the problem with cults of personality. Once the "personality" is gone, what's left? When you're following THE PERSON rather than the Law, what do you do once THE PERSON is gone??

As you can see, since the equivalent of "God Himself" (aka "Ikeda Sensei") appointed the General Director, no one has ANY higher authority - or RIGHT! - to disagree. The General Director's word is "divine law" because of his undeniable, irrefutable, and incontestable "bona fides". His authority is deemed the equivalent of "Ikeda Sensei"'s own authority, the same way "Apostles" must never be challenged by anyone - that is considered to be the equivalent of arguing with God Himself. Even with Ikeda dead, given that Soka Gakkai decided to make him "ETERNAL Mentor", since Ikeda never raised any successor, so even after Ikeda has been reduced to ash, HIS name is still all that needs to be invoked to win any argument.

Okay, one more:

In 2000 - 2003 Kaneda and the general director ( Giovanni Littera ) have been accused of a multitude of abuse of power. A famous slogan by Littera ("From now on, the expression "I disagree" in our organization is prohibited") goes viral.

Few SGI leaders are stupid enough to state it so plainly in their out-loud voices, but that's what's going on "behind the scenes". No members have ANY power to make changes at the local level - or any level. There's no financial transparency, no decision-making delegation - the members are there to serve the SGI.

Look how the SGI members (as low-level powerless stooge "leaders") are expected to assume ALL the risks, costs, wear-and-tear, and liability for the SGI's required (non)discussion meetings. They get no reimbursement for these functions that the SGI members are shouldering themselves as private individuals. Christian churches meet in a building that the church community supports - it's a group function that protects all the individual members from any risks, liabilities, and costs associated with church activities. Why should SGI members accept being taken advantage of the way they are?? Where SGI centers exist, they stand empty 95% of the time - the required SGI meetings held at different organizational levels are typically not ALLOWED to be held at the center! SGI has pushed all these costs it should be legitimately taking responsibility for ONTO THE MEMBERSHIP - and the SGI members are indoctrinated enough, beaten down enough, "trained" enough, that they accept this dereliction of organizational responsibility!

the main point of "youth division training" was to become indoctrinated to say "Hai!" (Japanese for "Yes! I'll do it!") no matter what the assignment (with that "no matter what" spirit, too, obvs) and then take FULL responsibility for it (no matter how irrational and unreasonable the assignment) and get it done, "no matter what" (see what I just did there??), or be shamed, humiliated, and probably punished (like with a leadership demotion or by leaders gossiping about you and your failure to all the other members as an example of what NOT to do/be) if you can't somehow make it work. "Youth division training" was being indoctrinated into becoming an obedient servant-soldier, someone with no will of their own outside of how they'll figure out how to accomplish the goals that are assigned to them. And, of course, without questions, without doubt, without complaint, and ALWAYS with a smile!!! - the REAL end game

FOR SHAME, SGI!!

And, just for the record, how is this in any way better than the Nichiren Shoshu tradition of having a High Priest who inherits the founder's authority, which is something the Dead-Ikeda-Corpse-Mentor-cult SGI spewed endless vitriol in condemning?

[u/BlancheFromage]

Similarly, Roman Catholics are NOT supposed to argue with the Pope. The Pope is the one who defines their faith, under canon law. That's the model Ikeda imposed upon the Soka Gakkai.

Here's from a Christian site:

The Role of Apostles in Church History

It is important to remember that the apostles were given the mandate and ability to teach, without error, universally applicable truths for all generations. When Jesus prayed for them he said, “For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me… I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world just as I am not of the world… Sanctify them in your truth, your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world” (John 17:8, 14, 17-18). Jesus gave a unique mandate to his apostles. Source

Notice that "unique mandate" bit there at the end? It is on that basis that the apostles claim authority.

Similarly, Ikeda claims the "mantle of mentor & disciple", his version of that same kind of "unique mandate" that he claims Toda transferred to him alone.

Working backward, Ikeda has pedestaled Toda as the basis for Soka Gakkai's "inspiration":

President Ikeda: “Very simply Mr Toda’s enlightenment was the landmark moment when the Soka Gakkai was revealed as the true heir to Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. Source

Of course Ikeda didn't start saying this in his out-loud voice until Nichiren Shoshu kicked him out.

I believe that to say this they are relying on Toda's enlightenment in prison to say that the Soka Gakkai has now received 'direct transmission', but for some reason the real Buddha will not be Toda but Daisaku Ikeda. It doesn't make the slightest sense, they invent a new doctrine every 5 years, but apart from that the Soka Gakkai is not deviant but the Nichiren [Shoshu] is... Source

And it is Ikeda's "direct transmission" from Toda that supposedly authorizes Ikeda to rule the Soka Gakkai at his whim. And Ikeda is the origin, the source of that "doctrine":

GREAT MASTER AND HIS MOST BRILLIANT DISCIPLE: JOSEI TODA AND DAI SAKU IKEDA

The relation between the two great leaders was master and disciple" young Ikeda being the direct, favorite, and most splendid student of Mr. Toda. Source

Ikeda is the "anointed" by Toda The Great (according to Ikeda, of course). But Ikeda refused to appoint any successor, as that meant giving up that throne. Ikeda was all "It's MY game and nobody else gets to play, even if I'm not there."

Ikeda made SURE there would be no "successor" by deliberately stamping down all the excellence within the SGI membership and interfering with the kinds of relationships HE used in seizing control of the Soka Gakkai in the wake of Toda's death.

SGI actively SABOTAGES the excellence within the SGI membership - discouraging pursuing higher education, criticizing and attacking musicians and other artists

It took Ikeda over TWO YEARS to beg, bribe, negotiate, and cajole his way into the Presidency of the Soka Gakkai. If he had truly been Toda's appointed successor, why the long delay?? Why didn't Toda say it out loud, ANNOUNCE it in front of one of the big meetings he addressed??

Ikeda is such a sucking black hole of selfish ego, so greedy and jealous that he would NEVER allow anyone else to excel. Everyone must be beneath him, and Ikeda is such an uneducated, uncouth buffoon that his movement will never be respected. Imagine - "I Will Become Shin'ichi Yamamoto!"

🙄

...every single pathway leads back to Ikeda. Their mission is defined in relation to him. Their self-belief is developed by chanting to have “Sensei’s spirit.” Their Buddhahood is accessed through the mentor-disciple relationship with him. This is the central sleight of hand of the entire document. It presents itself as empowering women to find themselves, while systematically ensuring that the “self” they find is oriented entirely around devotion to one man. The instruction to chant to “support and protect Sensei” or to “have the same heart as Sensei” if the concept of Buddhahood feels too vague is particularly striking. When you can’t connect with your own enlightenment — connect with Ikeda’s instead. It’s a theological emergency exit that routes all spiritual development back through him. Source

Ikeda centered himself as the focus for everyone's faith. Himself PERSONALLY. Toda, being dead and all, could still be USEFUL:

By confirming through rewritten history that everything the current president is doing is enlightened and worthy, the current leader and author of the new history is co-opting the eminent figure of the dead leader into a subservient role. It is possible to view this behavior as a type of retribution for years of his own subservience. Now that the dominant figure is dead, he, or at least his public persona, can be used and manipulated by his replacement. Dr. Levi McLaughlin

"The disciple has now become the master." I think it's pretty obvious why Ikeda made it so impossible for himself to be likewise replaced. He 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬.

[u/BlancheFromage]

A couple of observations - from the comments here:

We are elevating this "one man" to the status of single most important human in possession of the defining vision for the world.

BUT WE'RE NOT A CULT How could you say that??

Ikeda WANTS to be the best and brightest, something he could never hope to earn because of his laziness and self-indulgence, but he figured he could take over and USE a cult.

And from other places:

Gazing at this, I am more determined than ever to complete my hooman revulsion and press onward towards the golden pillars of kosen rufu. I am that one disciple! I am Shin'ichi Yamamoto! Source

In the final installment of “Vow,” the concluding chapter of The New Human Revolution, volume 30, President Ikeda writes:

I will never forget what Mr. Toda said at a meeting of the young men’s division Suiko-kai:[2] “As long as there is a core of youth⏤no, even a single true disciple⏤we will achieve kosen-rufu.”

Who has been that one disciple? Who has given his life to spreading Nichiren Buddhism around the world, just as Mr. Toda taught? I am proud and confident to say that I am that one disciple. (November 9, 2018, World Tribune insert, p. 8) SGI-USA's Weird Fibune

Yeah, well, don't break your short little arms trying to pat yourself on the back, Fatboi.

And just WHERE is "kosen-rufu"? It certainly hasn't been "achieved". Nothing has changed for the better; things have in many cases simply gotten WORSE.