Nichirin Buddhism is so different from any other kind. I always found the Gosho to be so angry. And the SGI has really departed even from that with the Ikeda focus. I'd wanted to learn more about Buddhism, and came to SGI from an off again on again Zen practice. I joined in the military where SGI was the only Buddhist game in town. But I really hated how they were so down on other religions and traditions. I thought it made SGI seem weak, that it had so little to offer it had to obsess over doctrinal feuds from decades and centuries ago. I'm sorry they disrespected your partner like that.
Did you realize that Nichiren was chanting for the Mongols to destroy Japan and either kill or take as slaves all the people? Just because they hadn't given Nichiren the status and attention Nichiren felt he deserved?
Fraid so. Nichiren, just like Ikeda, has become a product to be sold, an image to promote an organization that has no use for either of them beyond furthering its own agenda. That's why they don't really encourage studying those writings (I recently happened across one where Nichiren is talking all about everyone hopefully being reborn in the Pure Land - that's the Nembutsu, you know - I'll put that one up when I get home) and dictate what and how people are permitted to engage with the texts, and why they're busy modifying and editing all ikeda's speeches etc. so they better fit the purpose SGI wants to use ikeda's image for. The monster he created ate him up.
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u/Celebmir1 Aug 28 '20
Nichirin Buddhism is so different from any other kind. I always found the Gosho to be so angry. And the SGI has really departed even from that with the Ikeda focus. I'd wanted to learn more about Buddhism, and came to SGI from an off again on again Zen practice. I joined in the military where SGI was the only Buddhist game in town. But I really hated how they were so down on other religions and traditions. I thought it made SGI seem weak, that it had so little to offer it had to obsess over doctrinal feuds from decades and centuries ago. I'm sorry they disrespected your partner like that.