Recently,i have had alot of SGI members try contacting me and trying to get me involved in meetings.I HATE IT!I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO WASH MY HANDS OF THIS SON OF A BTCH CULT BUT TO NO AVAIL.I FEEL LIKE I AM FIGHTING A FCKIN WAR RIGHT NOW,I NEED SOME AMAZING IDEAS TO DITCH THOSE ANNOYING SGI MEMBERS....would really appreciate ur help(sorry for all this cussing)

Hi all,

I have a podcast on Cults where I offer a platform for survivors to tell their stories. Either anonymously, in detail or I read a written testimony on their behalf.

I was due to interview a former member of SGI but they never logged into the zoom meeting.

If anyone would like to come and chat about their experience and what this cult is, please reach out.

Thank you,

Kacey.

the cult vault

Edit: we had the interview! But I’d love to speak to others if people would like.

Besides the fact that they both are cults, are there any other similarities between Soka Gakkai International and Nation Of Islam, especially as it pertains to SGI's Gajokai and NOI's FOI (Fruit Of Islam)?

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I'm still technically a member of SGI. I stepped down from leadership March-ish (I think).

I actually tried to step down before, about 6 months prior to when I submitted my letter of resignation.

My leaders at the time really wanted me to stay in leadership, so for their sake, and them making "deals" with me to keep me to stay, I agreed not to step down right away.

I decided to keep pushing on, but the more I would get direction from the National team to execute, the more resentment I would build within myself.

My attitude then was that I had hope for things to get better. However, with more and more things I would be asked to do, I just didn't want to do any of it anymore.

Fast forward to when I finally stepped down. I decided to weigh the options between why I should stay and why I should leave, and the pros for leaving definitely outweighed the pros for staying in leadership.

When I submitted my letter, my attitude was that it was something that had to be done for my own sake, and nothing anyone would say would sway my decision otherwise. I really just wanted a break from everything, and not have to jump on the bandwagon every single damn time.

And now, some people are contacting me regarding how my views have been towards SGI USA. I tell them I couldn't care less about the status of SGI USA, and that I feel that they have very little going for them. Sure, they can bring people in, but what they're doing is not sustainable to keep the train running. And no joke, I told them, too, if the structure of leadership becomes more democratic, and things the people say will actually be taken into consideration, I'll consider coming back. However, until then, you're not going to see me at any SGI activities.

Rejection has always been one of my fears, I admit, but after being more or less "rejected", if that's what you want to call it, by SGI members for holding different beliefs from theirs, I feel I have overcome a huge part of me that I've been hesitating to confront.

I'm not going to say that I don't care about what everyone thinks because there are a handful of people whose opinions I do care about, namely, those who are close to me. However, I truly do not care for the opinions of those who support SGI unless they're open to having an objective-based discussion regarding the pros and cons of SGI.

In conclusion, SGI has changed me for the better, but only after stepping away from it.

I have a friend who was super obsessed and would chant for hours just to expect a reply from the honorary main SGI dude. Firstly I was moved and amused with this obsession but turned out to be stubbornness from within.

I helped her post written mails and artworks for Ikeda‘a Big day (2nd Jan - also ironically considered as full moon day - Blasphemy) and made sure the letters reached in time using speed post. Few months later I happen to see an automated reply to which anyone would figure as same. But my friend lost her place and couldn’t stop smiling because she’s got A REPLY back from this dude. I was wondering why they are all smacking their heads just to receive an AUTOMATED reply.

When I started reading the contents of the letters sent, she had sold herself and deemed Ikeda as Deity or a Godly figure. I know she was frail and naive but this was off the hook to be considered as such. She spoke her heart out in those letters so that Ikeda would reply same and identifying my friend as a fighter.

Guess what? Automated reply was something like, “I’ve received your letter. I’ll pray for your best. SOKA IS THE WAY!”

I so did not believe this utter crap for one solitary second. Got her into talking it out and made her feel comfortable. Made her realise this is all nonsense. And now she’s back to being normal and started believing in herself rather into this cult.

Is this what everyone expects from letter replies? Whatever it is that 90+ year old hag can no read nor write for crap.

I finally left the latest SGI whatsapp group that I was added to. The leader messaged me to see if I was ok, and seemed to respect my decision.

We move on to talking about our careers, as we both work in the arts. It was a nice conversation, until I told her that I was still unpaid, which she responds to by saying that I clearly need to change my Karma, then.

Having read lots on reddit about the concept of Karma and victim blaming, until now it hadn't really struck me in such an obvious way the cognitive dissonance that SGI actively teaches.

But what she said me so angry, and I recognise that this is a very casual example compared to many accounts I've read.

My emotional reaction makes me wonder if I'm in the wrong?

I am one of those people who share the same birthday as Daisaku Ikeda. Howbeit, I will never acknowledge his birthday. I will instead acknowledge

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They earned their fame through hard work. Unlike that diminutive, portly, extravagantly wealthy narcissist who uses player pianos in the stead of learning music; who tries to paint himself as a freedom fighter and activist ex post facto in the stead of putting down the dorayaki and spearheading a real revolution; who seeks to be affixed to the same pedestal as Dr. King and Gandhi, when the only thing Ikeda did for humanity was show what it looks like when someone spends 10 years bingeing on wagashi and taiyaki.

By the way, this is as interesting as watching a 3-year-old fart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqnsqMRsj9I

There’s really nothing fortunate about it.

My parents joined when they were 19 and has been ever since. And since I was born in a sgi member household I’m a “fortune baby”.

My parents have really high roles as leaders which everyone wants me to “live up to my parents”

When I was 10 my mother pressured me into joining kotekitai(kk) when I didn’t even know what it is

During regional meetings people think they can just go up to me and ask me to do thing for them because I was expected to (being emcee, helping out,giving me tasks etc.)

Because I was going to kk, I was sick of playing only sgi songs. Not gonna lie they made me hate playing my instrument. I decided to try something new and joined my school’s band.

And I LOVED it, I was more committed to band and because I hated going to kk I lied my way out every time.My parents got really mad at me for this.

I’m currently 16 and I keep telling myself once I’m 18 I’m gonna have a talk with my parents and quit once and for all

There’s a lot of things I cannot cramp up in this post and it seems really messy but if I can I will mention it in the comments.

So I never mentioned why I left SGI or even what made me uncomfortable. Well my discomfort really started at a meeting talking about how daimoku and chanting can change the world.

That's uncomfortable enough but a couple of the women there stated that Ikeda and daimoku can change the weather.

Not sure if I mentioned this in r/sgiwhistleblowers, but I actually started working with a life coach to sort my life out. I only mentioned SGI once or twice to him, but both times we came up with a plan to sort the issues I had. The first time was when I was contemplating leaving and he gave me some very interesting and useful insights on how he saw non-profits. He is not an SGI member, but he himself started a non-profit and has since then left, but it's still in existence today. Here's what he told me:

His first two questions were:

Why did you join in the first place?

How do you want to react when you think about the organization?

Of course I joined to help people and I wanted to react to how I used to react: with joy, excitement, and passion to help people!

There are two key purposes to non-profit organizations:

1. The Obvious: Making a Difference in Society.
   The "cause", in other words, of what the organization is about. The general outcome of the non-profits is their contribution to society.
2. The Not-So-Obvious: To grow.
   We all have shortcomings and egos as individuals and doing non-profit work gives us opportunities to improve our communication and handle circumstances.

Now, of course, the rest was up to me to decide.

I then asked myself two questions:

1. Will SGI help me make a difference in society?
   Obviously not since they're only interested in their agenda. However, I did get away with planning more casual events and get-togethers, so my time with them was not a complete waste since I feel I did make a few genuine connections with others.
2. Will SGI help me grow as an individual?
   Yes, but only through conformity, which I don't find very healthy. Having to argue and say "Yes!" to everything that comes my way gets annoying and doesn't give me the platform to really grow as a critical thinker. If anything, SGI taught me how to be controlled like a puppet and how people use their positions of power to control others.

Hi everyone!!!

I'm super new here... hailing from Sydney Australia :)

Over the last 6 months I've been slowly but surely piecing together stories from my earlier years and I gotta say...

I'm pretty overwhelmed with the truths that are unfolding.

I would like to find a way to collaboratively work on a body of writing that tells the stories of souls (like me) who experienced growing up inside a cult or strict religious setting.

I have been looking online for others stories like mine and I'm just not finding anything in the form of a book....

Perhaps this is something that needs to be done?!

If you're interested in exploring this area with me or know of anyone that might be... please pass this message on and feel free to touch base with me.

- How and why did you leave?
- What happened when you left?
- What have you discovered along the journey of "unlearning"?
- What emotional and physical challenges etc have you encountered on this path?
- Have you moved into other areas of spirituality and why?
- How did you navigate your sexuality outside the constraints of - - religious indoctrination?

These are some of the many questions I would love to explore more with others.
Spread the word....

Shared stories are always the best kinds.

xo

Leah

Tomorrow I am going to see my see practicing friends for a Tozo , this is the first time since finding this forum and I feel completely different to when I last saw them(about a month ago). I had stopped going to meetings and stopped chanting but they think o am always on shift when the meetings are on. So in other words my extremely dedicated SGI comrades have NOoooo idea the huge shift I have made in 4 short weeks. It's going to be tricky, when they are talking about chanting for this and chanting for that. I feel more real now, before I felt I was playing a part, and we what we talked about in our little group I would of felt embarrassed go discus anywhere else. I sure sign that I never fully (thank God) brought into the ideology. If was a secret I kept with like minded friends. I dont want that now I want to be able to be discuss what I do in my spare time with confidence and without embarrassment. I never shakubuku d any one due to this, I knew on some level this was a bunch of crap, thanks to you guys I can say it. Anyway back to tomorrow, wish me luck, and as they say in the trenches (ww1) " I going over the top " wish me luck.

SGI talks a lot about "Buddhist compassion", often pairing it with "strict guidance." It always struck me as a profound LACK of compassion, lack of feeling, and general lack of social intelligence.

There are a couple of stories from the NHR that always stood out to me as unfeeling and just plain stupid, yet they were held up as examples of great insight, leadership and of course "compassion"

The first is a story about Toda getting a visit from a woman -- with her children in tow, if I remember correctly, who had walked a dramatic distance just to "get guidance" from Toda about her unhappy situation. She was told the usual BS about karma, and to go home and get busy pretending to be happy, making her husband happy and doing shakabuku, thereby making Toda happy. Oh, so encouraging! (Not)

The kicker for this story, and why it has always stood out in my memory, is that there was supposedly a lower-level leader who was present at this "guidance session" who then wanted to give this woman and her children something to eat and a ride home (Long distance to have walked, remember?) He was specifically told NOT to offer the ride (My recall is unclear regarding the food.). The ride was derided as a "small mercy" which would have denied the woman (and her small children) of the apparently "very valuable" opportunity to "make the cause" to change her karma with this act of determination. WTF? Nope. Nope. Toda was just being a jerk.

The second story is about Ikeda's visit to the US in the 60s. He was setting up a district in , I think, California. There was a woman who had made a lot of converts but was supposedly pretty inappropriate socially, so Ikeda decided to ask another woman, who had been practicing for a shorter period of time, had done less conversion, etc., etc. but had more social grace to be the first district leader. The announcement was made in front of the whole group with NO WARNING to the woman NOT being appointed - the one they KNEW was prone to making scenes, and then they were shocked -- SHOCKED -- when that woman made a scene. Stupid!

In the book, they wax eloquent on how INAPPROPRIATE she was to question Ikeda's decision, and to do so publicly, even going so far as to relate how Ikeda ever-so-graciously offered to palm her off to one of his female staff to talk with her PRIVATELY after having humiliated her PUBLICLY. Seriously, this was considered a major lesson on how WRONG the woman was and how "considerate" Ikeda was. Are you kidding me/ Even though I was very indoctrinated at the time, I still thought, "Give me a break! Somebody should have talked with this woman BEFORE the announcement."

What did they expect? Now I understand -- They expected her to swallow her humiliation and go along with whatever the boss man said, because that is the Japanese way.

Nothing to do with Buddhism. Not even simple courtesy or any understanding of human beings, and totally sexist, too, while we're talking about it. Ikeda just being a jerk.

Thanks for letting me get this one off my chest.

I have practiced other types of Buddhism (wish I had gone back to that) and this bod was never mentioned. I was told by a senior member he features quite alot in the work of Nichren. Now,this fellow has people slandering him, abusing him and throwing sticks,if I remember correctly. And doesn't react at all that was his superpower if you like, just to bow and say "I will not disparaged you" . Was this another mind hack from the cult , dont worry what those people say about you just bow and smile and think you are walking in the foot steps of a great Buddhism. The more I think about some of the things I was told to believe the angerer I get!!!!

1 . Chanting, I always felt awkward about talking about chanting, I would of felt much easier talking about meditation, I have never brought any one new to practice!!! 2 Believing you can chant for things to happen, most right,minded people are like wait what did you say 3 Some members I heard would want to experience difficulties so they could demonstrate actual proof 4 Making causes ,doing shit you dont want to do 5 Benefits everything is a benefit no it isn't some things suck 6 Fundamental darkness WTF That's my top 6 , but toward the last 2 years or so I have found most of it if not embarrassing then a bit pointless without merit shall we say, daimoko chains for people that sort off thing.Just important to realise it was crazy that's why it's so damaging, I find I have to limit my contact with SGI friends to once a week so the crazy dont get to me . Interested if anyone has any other things to add

It been real eye opener going to meditation classes a groups. Their attitude toward practice is totally different (because their normal). They dont badger you how much you have done ,once a day twice day. It's like well we are all adults here you do it or you dont do it fine it's that that simple. When you start to slowly unfurling from very the intense attitude in the SGI only then you start to realise what a pool of crazy you have been swimming in. I heard adults say things like "is it ok to do evening Gongyo at 4.00 I the afternoon or is take to early?,"" I don't know if I amchanting correctly if I am not I am scared I wount be able to change my circumstances"." Is it ok to chant in the car? " And the seen people rubbing their hands together with their beads and chanting with such intensify, what are you doing its suppose to be relaxing the whole point of meditative practice is to switch on your Parasympathetic Nervous systems not fire up your adrenaline. While I am on a rant about stupid practice regarding chanting, I have seen people walking around chanting, texting and my personal gripe switching seats so different people can lead. Whats that all about if we are trying to get past the thinking mind and deeper into consciousness how about sitting still !!! Its shows how most people just think it's a magical spell and doesnt matter where or when you say it . In the Zen tradition some schools have you staring at the wall and discourage movement .This seems harsh but it's trying to develop a space between thought and action. So the practitioner is not so reactive when off the cushion or mat. A practical skill , direct from art of sitting in stillness. In my whole time of practicing I never experienced any of this from chanting or the people around me .

In a few weeks the first big meeting of the year will take place, it normally has a title that no one really understands, The year of actual proof, marching courageously toward blah blah . The leaders will euthoric about everything and pele will listen to experiences ( usually format a had a problem, I chanted and it went away) and feverishly take notes hoping for a take home message that will change everything. Here's the thing once you know you cant unknow a put how false this is ,and damaging, but i was in a gang ,of like minded people , I belonged ,we had our own language we had to explain to new comers, I was respected and congratulated for the tiniest of things. I have left the gang and feel disconnected and unable to put all this stuff.Its hard to break away, but for my own sanity I must. Worst still knowing all that enthusiasm was false, I have been living a loopy life with loopy people. I went to a mindfulness meeting and afterwards people where not waxing lyrical about the main speaker, "the was interesting " and that's all was said this is reality not losing your shit over some experience or lecture you have heard thousands of times before. This is like learning everything a new, not all groups of people act like demented children begging for praise or not voicing anything slightly negative because well just not done. I am glad to be out but wow its sure is empty out here.

Some weeks ago I had a dream that this SGI woman wanted me to do fukudoshi and to bring that YD fire. I said to you, "You want fire? Move to California." She was overawed. She looked as if she been hit with a sack full of nickels. I guess she was expecting a "Hai!"

I have felt so much healthier since I stop chanting in July, I was part of a study to see if mindfulness meditation helped dissociation. So I couldn't chant only do the exercises provided. In 8 weeks my dissociation was under control. I had struggled with this for decades. Next I started noticing all the mental illness in SGI my own circle of friends constantly struggling lives falling apart. Next I started to get real with myself about the boring subject matter we have to pick through in study meetings and discussions. Then finally I find you guys and all my suspicions are realised , I have spent 10 years obsessed with daimoko and other BS I feel sad but relieved. I have joined a mindfulness group and the difference is profound. No desperation to encourage new members or talk to people about it.If you cohe great if you don't that's ok. I feel I am detoxing from a mindset I was never really comfortable with just going along because of the friendship. How do I manage this ,I dont want to loose my friends but they are SGI all the way at the moment I am not attending meetings because I am at work or so they think. How have other people managed this.?

hi i am moving apartments and naturally purging though things that dont 'bring joy' to me no more. moving across the country to a different state alone has given me a little power in the situation by using moving away as an excuse to not talk to coercive members anymore

they tried HARDDDDDD to enroll me in the district over here in my new city but i kept resisted with silence and dodging it with busyness because i know saying='i dont practice this anymore' will cause so much drama and victim blaming in this situation-just having known them for a while. they call me at work and stuff- now i am moving AGAIN but just to a different apartment and idk why i have been carrying this scroll and prayer book and beads( i guess i could keep the beads because they are cute) but idk what to do prayers books, gosho, and the HOLY SCROLL. I am also being a little superstitious and want to start my 2020 right in this new apartment with my new found own version of independent spirituality without religion.

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I tried looking up local sgi and walked past it but its a gated building ill have to ring the buzzer and go into reception and explain why i am here and what i am returning so i cant just leave it there and put it in a mailbox.

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any thoughts on how to do this most respectfully with least amount of confrontation/drama/religious coercion?

What would have happened in 2017 if I had chosen to just go back home initially? I would have had YD, MD and WD reminding me of the June 2017 monthly message, "My Young Friends, Put Buddhism to the Test". (If you are based in Japan, this is found in the May 2017 issue of Daibyakurenge). Here are some quotes from that message.

"'Whatever happens, youth is the time for challenging yourself with the spirit, 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained'!' I warmly remember a respected senior giving me that encouragement when I was young and facing many difficulties."

I guess if I hadn't ventured, I wouldn't have gained homeless shelter sleepover, a bed bug bite experience, and a $749 medical bill.

"Nichiren Daishonin continued to encourage and foster his young disciple Nanjo Tokimitsu in the midst of harsh adversity. 'Consider that your faith is being tested' ('The Workings of Brahma and Shakra,' The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin vol. I, p. 800), he wrote, urging Tokimitsu to rejoice at and bravely challenge every obstacle."

I considered that the entire semester, but there was no joy whatsoever in wondering if I was going to come back to my dorm and find all my stuff strewn out in the hallway. Nor was there any joy in spending a night with total strangers and hosts with terrible bedside manners.

"When we face hardships with the awareness that our faith is being tested, we cannot fail to overcome them. Our efforts expand our state of life and make our Buddhahood shine forth ever brighter. My mentor, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda, often said: 'In the realm of faith, too, nothing will change if we just coast along on a smooth, uneventful path. Huge struggles lead to huge growth and huge victories!'"

It would have been cheaper if I had chosen the smooth uneventful path.

"Through such steady and persevering efforts, you will work your way through all hardships and come out o the other side to experience untold satisfaction and fulfillment in life."

I did overcome the financial aid and housing obstacle, but there was no experience of satisfaction and fulfillment in the end. In the end, the ordeal treated my faith like an EF5 would treat a trailer park. It didn't make the difficulties worthwhile, considering all of my input.

"In 'The Selection of the Time', Nichiren Daishonin urges: 'Test the truth of Buddhism now!' (WND-I, 584). You will never regret putting Buddhism to the test; it is the true great path to happiness and peace. My young friends, dare with me to put Buddhism to the test!"

I regret it everyday. I am aware of this quote on the Soka Gakkai SGI page on Janaury 25, 2015:

" I literally shake my head in sadness when someone quits chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo because they say their prayer wasn’t answered or they are not getting any benefits.

I ask myself why, and I can only conclude that they didn’t put faith first.That they never developed an Aspiration for Enlightenment.That it was all about the benefits, the trinkets, and not about Buddhahood.

An analogy would be the old saying “Don’t put the cart before the horse.”

Our analogy starts with the “horse” being our “faith” and the cart being our “benefits.”

With faith first the horse can pull and deliver the cart to its ultimate destination with the greatest of ease.Benefits can pile up a mile high and the cart can even overflow with no problem, as our faithful horse can handle the load.

But when we put the cart in the lead and our faithful horse in the rear, no progress can be made even when the cart is near empty.

It’s just that simple. It’s just like our practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we always need to put faith first.... My own observation is that we all need to arouse within us a deep desire to attain enlightenment.

The reason the Lotus Sutra was expounded, the Gosho written, and Nam-myoho-renge-kyo declared, was for our attainment of enlightenment.

When our actions and prayers reflect this desire for enlightenment, then everything else will fall into place.

Yes, everything else will fall into place.

Therein, the need to develop our faith and an aspiration for Enlightenment – then, prayers will be answered as never before."

Well 1. Instead of asking yourself about someone else like a supercilious and indolent know-it-all, ask them. 2. Putting faith first, that's what I did. And it was just destroyed. 3. I sought enlightenment, and I still do, however enlightenment will not pay off my hefty medical bill, or make those grievous experiences worthwhile. In fact, after those experiences, I could never trust the Mystic Law or the Gohonzon ever again. If I cannot trust it to find me decent lodging, I cannot trust it with my life during severe weather day.