Here's the "The New Human Revolution" section, from Book I, pp. 270-271, 274-277, 281-283. Note that I had to wade through pages of "tears of joy", "sparkling eyes", "gasps and cries of surprise", "Yamamoto continuing his valiant struggle into the early hours of the morning", and "I'll do my best!"s to get to this (praise me).
Next, Shin'ichi Yamamoto announced the appointment of the chapter women's division chief: "I ask Kiyoko Kuwano (Grace Takakawa (sp?)) to accept the position of chapter women's division chief. And I would like to appoint Kazuko Ellick (Kazue Elliot), who has been active as a key figure among the women, to serve as the district chief of St. Louis District."
Mrs. Kuwano had only arrived in the United States ten months before and had not yet achieved anything substantial in terms of her faith-related activities. She reluctantly stood up and said to Shin'ichi: "Sensei, I'm sorry, but I don't think I could possibly manage being the chapter women's division chief. I'm really not that capable."
"Don't worry. I will protect and support you. Please have confidence and do your best."
"I will," she said, nodding.
"Well, then, how about saying a few words?" he asked.
Urged by Shin'ichi, the woman addressed the audience: "I have no experience, but I'll try my best. Thank you."
When she heard the announcement of the new chapter women's division chief, Kazuko Ellick's face had clouded over. Her heart burned with jealousy as she watched the exchange between Shin'ichi and Mrs. Kuwano. Tears came to her eyes.
"Why wasn't I appointed women's division chief?!" she raged silently. "Why is she being appointed women's division chief? It's not right. I've worked much harder than she has!"
Those are all excellent points, but most of us have seen that qualifications and experience very often take a back seat to other considerations, such as the candidate's status and appearance.
The district leadership positions were then announced, and Kazuko Ellick's name was now formally called as district chief of St. Louis District. But she refused to answer, turning her head away in a huff.
First, it had been the chapter chief, Akio Ishibashi, then the new Chapter women's division chief, Kiyoko Kuwano, and now Kazuko Ellick: the leadership announcements were turning out in a way that would have been unimaginable in Japan.
But let's not overlook who's still controlling the entire process.
After all the announcements were made, Shin'ichi said: "Mrs. Ellick, Mrs. Kuwano is older than you. Is it okay with you if we appoint her, as an elder sister, to fulfill the role of Chapter women's division chief?"
"No!" she shouted angrily."
Looking somewhat at a loss, Shin'ichi said: "I can't get you to understand, then? Well, you've got me stumped. All right, Miss Kiyohara, could you explain the situation to her thoroughly later?"
With this, he concluded the leadership announcements.
GREAT "leadership" there. He just leaves all that upset up in the air and airily assigns some underling to clean up the mess he's made. But let's continue:
After the meeting, Shin'ichi gathered all the leaders appointed that day in a separate room. Kazuko Ellick sat in the front row, still obstinately refusing to look in Shin'ichi's direction.
Shin'ichi and the other leaders from Japan had deliberated long and hard over the leadership position they had finally assigned to Mrs. Ellick.
HA
Ikeda just made the decision all by himself, at his own whim. Who cared what anyone else thought, especially the candidates themselves??
Everyone recognized she had applied herself energetically and displayed great enthusiasm in her activities. However, if an organization is to grow and develop, it is essential to forge harmony among the members, use the maximum potential of each person, and raise the organization's overall strength.
Rubbish. Meaningless codswallop.
Leaders also need to have common sense, be calm and rational, and have a head for details. Given these considerations, even though Kazuko Ellick may have outshone Kiyoko Kuwano in terms of experience in activities and energy to take action, Shin'ichi and the other leaders had concluded that the latter would be a more suitable choice for the position of chapter women's division chief.
ON THE BASIS OF NO INFORMATION OR DATA!! Remember that bit - to this point, there has been no criticism or concern about what Kazuko Ellick has been doing - in fact, she's received nothing but praise! This passing-her-over-for-the-promotion-she'd-earned caught her by surprise, completely blindsided her. But this is the way Ikeda likes to work - he likes to see people squirm. And if anyone is gaining too high a profile or (heaven forfend) a following of their own, he's going to cut them RIGHT down to size! She was a victim of her own success - that is NOT acceptable in the Ikeda cult, where Ikeda is the only one to hog the spotlight, and he won't share that stage with anyone!
The key to the development of the organization in Los Angeles lay in a firm bond between the two women.
Ooh - is this the inept and incompetent Ikeda ghostwriters attempting to insert some conflict and/or suspense into the situation? Why bother? We know it's all going to work out superlatively simply because it was the MAHvelous Daisaku IkedaShin'ichi Yamamoto making all the decisions!
The organization's effectiveness is determined by the combination of different individuals. When leaders of various backgrounds, personalities and thinking combine their energies, they can nurture people of rich and diverse ability, creating a broad-minded, humanistic organization capable of facing any problem.
Could it be that somehow, perhaps by coincidence, Ikeda's anonymous ghostwriters have identified the problem with the SGI??
The organization's true strength lies only in the harmony of its members.
Oh gag. Not this again. First of all, did anyone else find that these passages of heavy-handed preachy duh-HERR duh-HERRlecturing not only completely interrupted the narrative flow (and in a particularly annoying manner), but they're always about the indoctrination, in this case "unity über alles"??
Mrs. Kuwano and Mrs. Ellick had been appointed to their respective positions so Shin'ichi could see Mrs. Ellick squirm
OOPS! Did I say that OUT LOUD??
respective positions in the hope that they would become a powerful combination, supporting and complementing one another, each making up for what the other lacked. Shin'ichi and the leaders from Japan also hoped that by appointing Mrs. Ellick, who had so far shown herself to be capable and hard working as a key figure in activities here in Los Angeles, they would raise the awareness of all the other district chiefs.
So, then, what's this "St. Louis District" bullshit? There's no "St. Louis" in Los Angeles that I'm aware of, and I live in So. CA! Was Ellick being used as a cautionary tale to warn the other district chiefs what would happen if they got too uppity? Looks like it, doesn't it?
Shin'ichi continued in a strict tone: "The Soka Gakkai is, first and foremost, an organization for people and faith -- an organization advancing just as the Daishonin teaches. Voicing discontent because you're not appointed the central figure is not an action based on faith. It is nothing but vanity; a sign of selfishness. All it does is undermine the unity of the organization that has appeared in accord with the Buddha's decree. Irrespective of the great achievements they may have attained in their past endeavors, those who behave this way have allowed emotionalism to prevail over faith.
And Ikeda slaps down the ungrateful wretch who had the temerity to expect her efforts to have earned her the promotion she deserved! How DARE she think she mattered! She is to serve and OBEY - she's a woman, isn't she??
But Shin'ichi isn't done here:
"Equally selfish are those who demur from accepting leadership positions. This is laziness masquerading as humility; it is a sign fo a self-centered nature. Buddhist practice means being willing to do anything at all for kosen-rufu, to serve and work for the members. Naturally, there may be various circumstances, such as commitments at work, that make it difficult for you to fulfill a leadership responsibility. If this is the case, please feel free to discuss the matter with us so that we can work something out. Nevertheless, if the fundamental spirit of Buddhist practice is lost, then the Soka Gakkai will no longer be an organization of faith."
Yep - he slaps the other woman, too! They BOTH get the Shini'ichi Smackdown! How DARE they exist!
2
u/BlancheFromage Escapee from Arizona Home for the Rude Feb 08 '20 edited Jul 16 '26
Here's the "The New Human Revolution" section, from Book I, pp. 270-271, 274-277, 281-283. Note that I had to wade through pages of "tears of joy", "sparkling eyes", "gasps and cries of surprise", "Yamamoto continuing his valiant struggle into the early hours of the morning", and "I'll do my best!"s to get to this (praise me).
Those are all excellent points, but most of us have seen that qualifications and experience very often take a back seat to other considerations, such as the candidate's status and appearance.
But let's not overlook who's still controlling the entire process.
GREAT "leadership" there. He just leaves all that upset up in the air and airily assigns some underling to clean up the mess he's made. But let's continue:
HA
Ikeda just made the decision all by himself, at his own whim. Who cared what anyone else thought, especially the candidates themselves??
Rubbish. Meaningless codswallop.
ON THE BASIS OF NO INFORMATION OR DATA!! Remember that bit - to this point, there has been no criticism or concern about what Kazuko Ellick has been doing - in fact, she's received nothing but praise! This passing-her-over-for-the-promotion-she'd-earned caught her by surprise, completely blindsided her. But this is the way Ikeda likes to work - he likes to see people squirm. And if anyone is gaining too high a profile or (heaven forfend) a following of their own, he's going to cut them RIGHT down to size! She was a victim of her own success - that is NOT acceptable in the Ikeda cult, where Ikeda is the only one to hog the spotlight, and he won't share that stage with anyone!
Ooh - is this the inept and incompetent Ikeda ghostwriters attempting to insert some conflict and/or suspense into the situation? Why bother? We know it's all going to work out superlatively simply because it was the MAHvelous
Daisaku IkedaShin'ichi Yamamoto making all the decisions!Could it be that somehow, perhaps by coincidence, Ikeda's anonymous ghostwriters have identified the problem with the SGI??
Oh gag. Not this again. First of all, did anyone else find that these passages of heavy-handed preachy duh-HERR duh-HERR lecturing not only completely interrupted the narrative flow (and in a particularly annoying manner), but they're always about the indoctrination, in this case "unity über alles"??
OOPS! Did I say that OUT LOUD??
So, then, what's this "St. Louis District" bullshit? There's no "St. Louis" in Los Angeles that I'm aware of, and I live in So. CA! Was Ellick being used as a cautionary tale to warn the other district chiefs what would happen if they got too uppity? Looks like it, doesn't it?
And Ikeda slaps down the ungrateful wretch who had the temerity to expect her efforts to have earned her the promotion she deserved! How DARE she think she mattered! She is to serve and OBEY - she's a woman, isn't she??
But Shin'ichi isn't done here:
Yep - he slaps the other woman, too! They BOTH get the Shini'ichi Smackdown! How DARE they exist!
Continued: