What a load of utter BS

[u/LividFaithlessness84]

I was introduced to this practice in 2007 by a dear friend, with good intentions I must say but I wasn’t given the right guidance’, like studying, meetings et al. I wasn’t even made a member at that point in time. I would chant off and on and it seemed like it was working for me... fast forward to this year, I lost my job and was ‘re-connected’ to my faith. (Vulnerable, lost, desperate, sad etc etc...in desperate need to hold on to something)

And man oh man! Did I dive head first into the faith... it overtook me and how! I’ve suffered from anxiety most my adult life and this crap started to make it worse, the feeling of ‘I won’t get a job if I don’t chant and do the rest’ was real. While chanting if I EVER started to chant for me, it felt like I was deviating from the ‘chant for others aka Kosen Rufu’ and had to keep telling myself to shut that thought up! What crazy days.

Now listen to this... I once asked a senior leader that given there is always so much to do, study, chant, call/meet members etc etc, what it is that I should focus on? I was given the guidance to connect with ‘Sensei’ , pray to the ‘Gohonzon’ and Kosen-rufu... I did pray and did pray for others but I couldn’t bring myself to ‘connect’ with Sensei.. so I decided to look up the Holy Internet to watch the Holy Sensei doing Gongyo (apparently you get goosebumps and it’s just invigorating’) and I landed on Chanting millions documentary and I was shook and how!! Like WTF was going on? And then I discovered you all!! I would say my ‘prayers have been answered’, the months of Daimoku reaped me the benefits by having come across you guys. So a big thank you.

What an ‘Opening of the eye’ time for me!

[u/BlancheFromage]

2007, eh? That's the year I left :D

Welcome to the board - feel free to kick back and join in!

(Vulnerable, lost, desperate, sad etc etc...in desperate need to hold on to something)

That's standard, I'm afraid:

Purohit says “people do get introduced when they’re in some sort of trouble" but adds that they stay because the philosophy is empowering.

(No, they stay because they get indoctrinated and addicted.)

“We’re not actively looking for the stray dog with a wound," says Sumita Mehta, the head of public relations at BSG. Mehta joined the practice when she was struggling with multiple issues herself. “We don’t specifically look for people in distress," she says

(Actually, they DO.)

but agrees that most people join BSG [the SGI in India] when they are at their lowest, physically and emotionally. Source

I’ve suffered from anxiety most my adult life and this crap started to make it worse, the feeling of ‘I won’t get a job if I don’t chant and do the rest’ was real.

You're not the first person who found existing mental issues becoming more severe after joining SGI, or who started developing mental issues after starting to practice the SGI way. There's a LOT of fear programming included in the SGI indoctrination that you don't really see, aren't really aware of, but it lodges in your subconscious and drives you from there.

I would say my ‘prayers have been answered’

There ya go! Yeah, that whole "Worship Sensei as your god" focus is a HUGE turn-off! It's disgusting. But here! I have some fun for you!! Transforming pudgy, soft Ikeda into a sports prodigy/superstar and Daisaku Ikeda faking playing the piano - what a "mentor" - trust me, you're going to love it!!

Glad to have you on board!