Well, guys, I am very, very excited. After almost a year of blogging here, as well as writing opinion pieces at some Yahoo boards, I have gotten some written feedback from an actual SGI-USA staff member! Yay! I had always believed that our online discussions were read in Santa Monica (and Japan), but only had incidental proof that this was the case. Anyway, this person in Santa Monica believes that I owe apologies to the following:
1. To the first two presidents for accusing them of making a mistake and being fooled by the priests.
2. To President Ikeda for teaching incorrect Buddhism.(sic) (Note: I'm not clear here whether the staff member is saying that I have accused PI of teaching incorrect Buddhism, or whether he is saying that I have been teaching incorrect Buddhism myself - I would appreciate some clarification on that)
3. To all SGI members for characterizing them as lacking understanding of Buddhism and being mindless followers. Etc, etc, etc,...
Well, it's a breakthrough, anyway, and I'm not going to sneeze at it. There are couple of matters to clear up, though. Let's start at the first allegation, that I owe an apology to the first two presidents (i.e., Maikiguchi and Toda) for "making a mistake and being fooled by the priests".
What is strange to me here, is the idea that stating a belief that someone else has made a mistake is some sort of "accusation". People make mistakes. Infallible deities don't, but people do. It happens all the time. No problem. An example is my previous blog here. If I made a mistake, then I can apologize and move on, trying not to make the same mistake again. There are more substantive issues to be dealt with than forcing individuals into postures of apologetic submission, I'm sure we all can agree. Can't we?
Now, to the question of whether I have "accused" Preident Toda of "making a mistake". Although I understand that Santa Monica might be annoyed with me for deviating in writing from the standard orthodox perspective on Gakkai history and the three eternal mentors, I believe what I believe based on what I have read and studied (and much of that is outside the Gakkai's sphere of publication). In the US, we don't generally believe that we owe each other apologies for our opinions. That's how we play ball here on this side of the Pacific, and (as you know) the differences between how the
japanese play ball and how we play ball here are also a major topic of interest for me. In this country, we generally can write about topics of interest to us, no?
It is my belief, based on my own reading of the Gosho as well as modern independent scholarship (particularly Professor Jaqueline Stone of Princeton University) that Nichiren Shoshu's doctrinal deviations from Nichiren's teachings far, far pre-date the tenure of Nikken Abe and the SGI-"divorce" from Nichiren Shoshu in the early 1990's.
If we're not in the business of making infallible gods out of our founders (and only someone who is more in the know that I am can tell us that for sure), then the issue of whether or not the SGI spent its first 50 years in an alliance with a deeply distorted school of Buddhism (i.e., Nichiren Shoshu) is a perfectly reasonable topic of discussion. Not a personal "accusation" at all.
It's not as though I have accused Makiguchi and Toda of any felonies, I haven't called them child molesters or sexual deviants. Nothing of the sort. We are free here to discuss history and the development of our sect, no? That's all I'm doing. I know that my opinions are not in agreement with standard orthodoxy, but that's not a form of wrongdoing, is it? I mean, who is hurt by a disagreement?
I am somewhat befuddled as to what duty Santa Monica believes that individual SGI members owe to the organization's founders as far as creating a sort of myth of infallibility. Is that what we're doing? I'm not accusing anyone of anything, I'm just curious.
Finally, the whole issue of "being fooled by the priests" makes little sense to me. I don't think that either Makiguchi or Toda had any reason to disbelieve the Nichiren Shoshu's doctrines. Nor do I think they were tricked. They went with what information they had available to them at the time, and worked very hard for the expansion of our practice and the growth of the organization. Ikeda has worked hard to make this an international reality. That they believed what they believed based on the information they had available to them at the time is not a form of wrongdoing, and it is not an allegation of gullible idiocy.
Gotta go now, an update on this fabulous breakthrough tomorrow!
Be calm, be collected, be joyful, be cool.
Byrd in LA
Posted by wahzoh at April 4, 2008 01:13 PMI am envious. Anyway, as you know, I started before Reverend Nikken. I think Reverend Nittastu gave Soka Gakkai more leeway, at leat up until he made Ikeda resign. However, Nichiren Shoshu certainly did not change their doctrines.
If anything, I think Nichiren Shoshu has toned down the rhetoric in the last few years, and I think we are the reason. The practice works. People are waking up, and are not going buy into half baked platitudes any longer.
I do not feel any sort of enmity toward Nichiren Shoshu or SGI. The animosity between them is actual proof. As is the anger and aggression that some at SGU show towards those us who think for ourselves.
It is interesting that some feel a need to offer unsolicited advice; to tell others what they should or should think and do. I write about what I am thinking and doing; but even if asked for advice, I am adverse to giving it. I think people should practice, study, and learn to trust their own insight.
gassho
robin
Posted by: robin at April 4, 2008 10:07 PMWow! Byrd! This is a major breakthrough... actually getting communication. Although it is odd, the apparent idea that the leaders must be infallible....
I have several wonderful teachers and mentors in my life who have taught me very important lessons, and I am deeply grateful to them. And nope, they aren't perfect.
Maybe it's that Japanese cultural thing, Byrd...
Here's to your continued persistence!
Kris
So he wants you to apologize to two people who are deceased? I wonder what his concept of life after death, ( does that make any sense), is.
Posted by: hardtotrack at April 5, 2008 01:04 AMByrd, you naughty girl!
Congratulations on getting some official notice, finally.
Namaste, Engyo Mike Barrett
Posted by: Engyo Mike Barrett at April 5, 2008 06:03 AMByrd:
Somehow, I feel responsible for your reprimand from SGI staff. I would like to apologize to them, you, and your readers for insinuating that certain SGI leaders were cruel to Barbara at her crucial moment. Based on what information I had, which I suspect was personal and privlaged, I took them to task in my blog comment.
Do I think that what they did was wrong? It seems to me, that it was not a wise decision, but that does not mean that they did not deeply care for Barbara.
As far as the staff member who reprimanded you, I have known him for years and deeply respect him, so I know his rebuke was from th the heart, although I couldn't disagree more with it.
From my own experience, I have personally been the subject to horrific guidance and action from SGI leaders. Some of it was been so insipid that even today, I shake my head in disbelief.
With that said, I do not believe that you owe apologies to dead SGI presidents, nor do you need to feel badly about having an informed opinion about the SGI's interpretation of Buddhism. By that I mean, that the SGI advocation of Nichiren as the true Buddha, the impossibility of benefit enlightenment outside the master-disciple relationship, etc, etc, fails to hold up to scholarship or reason.
Your blog and the ensuing comments may have produced a response from SGI staff, but this is not any kind of dialogue, nor is it likely to initiate any kind of change beyond your reputation as a member in resonable good standing.
Therefore, I apologize for my own words that might have impuned the genuine concern that those leaders had for Barbara, but I stand by my words that their decision was fatally flawed.
Charles
Posted by: Charles at April 5, 2008 10:01 AMByrd,
Sorry to disappoint you, but it is just me. I reported this blog-site for it's gossip of members to my friends in the SGI.
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick at April 5, 2008 10:57 AMSnitch
Posted by: hardtotrack at April 6, 2008 01:11 AM
Dear Byrd;
Sounds more like Mao's Cultural Revolution of the Nazi children telling on their parents rather than the Human Revolution. The SGI breeds sick hearts. Get out while you can.
Mark
Posted by: Mark Rogow at April 6, 2008 06:17 AMHi, hardtotrack...I thought about that issue (apologizing to dead people), too. It occurs to me that this is kind of an interesting example of the internalized Japanese mindset. The whole idea of making amends through a ritual apology - not for actually having done anything wrong by Western standards - but for having discussed unauthorized subjects. If you look at the groups of people I owe apologies to (and actually, there are more, I initially copied only these three), it is clear what I am supposed to be doing from a cultural POV. I'm supposed to be bowing apologetically to the group (members), the leader (even though it's not clear what my offense toward the leader is), and toward the ANCESTORS (Makiguchi and Toda). Interesting, eh? Especially coming from a Westerner. In the West, we don't apologize to the deceased for our opinions.
Can you imagine, Americans bowing deeply and apologizing to Thomas Jefferson for discussing the fact that he fathered children with a slave? Or how about bowing deeply to George Washington and apologizing for mentioning his wooden teeth? Maybe I should bow deeply to William Shakespeare and apologize for my belief that he was a syphilitic. I mean, that a LOT worse than just making an innocent doctrinal mistake! How weird. Anyway, we don't apologize to the ancestors here in the US, but our culture clearly doesn't set the rules in the SGI.
Patrick, if we define "gossip" as "idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others", I am genuinely baffled as to how you feel this page is a source of gossip. I have discussed policy announcements made at meetings (the "close the temples" daimoku campaign) and SGI policy. I don't think I've discussed anyone's marriage or sexual affairs or mental illness or medication or anything like that (which is how I am defining "gossip") Please be more specific about how you are defining this term. Maybe we're using it differently.
Have a good week, all - Best, Byrd in LA
Washington's teeth were not wood, they were made of ivory and other stuff. You owe him an apology!
Once when I was in the third grade I told the teacher about the bad behavior of some other students. She looked at me and said, "Don't be a fink."
Let me add my congratulations on at least getting an official response.
Posted by: Vanya at April 6, 2008 01:46 PMByrd,
Hm. Perhaps the definition of gossip is now "Anything that makes the SGI look less than perfect."
Patrick, I haven't seen any gossip yet from Byrd. She's posted things friends sent her, with their permission, her perceptions of things she sees going on, and how she'd like to see them change. Did I miss some particularly scandalous juicy tidbit that Byrd produced? Byrd, are you keeping ALL the good gossip from me? What's up with that?
Keep cool, keep it real,
Kris
Byrd, who was the "SGI staffer" who reprimanded you? Just curious. There are a limited number of them on the actual hit squad. Margie Hall. Greg. Odano. A few others.
Anyway, you wrote:
"It is my belief, based on my own reading of the Gosho as well as modern independent scholarship (particularly Professor Jaqueline Stone of Princeton University) that Nichiren Shoshu's doctrinal deviations from Nichiren's teachings far, far pre-date the tenure of Nikken Abe and the SGI-"divorce" from Nichiren Shoshu in the early 1990's."
You don't even have to go to outside sources. Just look at what Mr. Toda said, in writing, about Nichiren Shoshu, Gohonzon production, high-priestly obedience and so forth. Then look at what Mr. Ikeda said, in writing, about same, before and after the split.
The "SGI staffer" just needs to look at that stuff to realize that you are not inventing anything, but simply reporting the facts. Of course, the SGI staff has had this information for years, so whomever "corrected" you is a liar and a hypocrite. Maybe that's too harsh, since he/she was just following orders and being a good soldier.
Anyway, they are full of shit. You are not.
Patrick, Byrd doesn't gossip. She reports and opines. (Look those up in the dictionary, if you are confused.)
Cheers!
Andy
Posted by: Andy Hanlen at April 7, 2008 12:40 PMThere has been extant proof for years that SGI in it's many national guises monitors discussion groups on the net and watches most carefully for any content that may be useful to the organisation is addressing aberrant(?) members/opinions/views etc and driving them away. It's a well established practice and very cult like in its nature.
I know from personal experience that a post in one forum went from the USA to UK to Local leaders and they were on the phone to me in under 30 minutes!
In the same vein SGI have had all their websites and online resources revamped to break URL/Links from a number of posts that highlight errors within SGI and Which their own online resources show! References to Ganken Ogo, Sensho Zojoman, Zuiho Bini - well they have all vanished from the SGI, Its websites, On line references - Dictionaries.
It would seem that the web is monitored not only for comment but for content so that folks who are unskilled in Data Searching will find it impossible to discover some inconvenient truths!
@~>~>~~~
Posted by: That BloomingPouf at April 11, 2008 05:56 AM