We had a district study meeting Sunday morning. The meeting was good, but not great. I have soured on the current study material and it's only May. I didn't have much to say. We have a study presentation trio. One person does background. He studies a variety of Buddhist scholars and literature and always has something interesting to say. I usually have the easy to follow personal experience part and another WD does the party-line part. It is a good system.
The SGI is not studying gosho this year, but instead are studying Pres. Ikeda's lecture on The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life & Death.
We're on part 13
Zzzzz Zzzzz Zzzzz Zzzzz
I have begun to read the gosho and will be referring to my personal study in the next months.
Saturday evening the area MD leader called the MD chapter leader and asked to have coffee after the meeting and he was bringing the MD region leader. After the meeting, I was somehow included in this as well as the WD region leader and we went to a coffee shop. The MD area leader ambushed all of us and lectured the MD about his attitude. I was dumbfounded. Hard power all the way. He had decided to try to fix this chapter MD by ambush. The region leaders sat dumbstruck.
The store is very small and we sat a a tiny table near the window. Two feet away was an older woman reading a big book with several empty coffee cups on the nearby table. After about 20 minutes, she came over and stood between the chapter leader and me and said she couldn't figure out if we were talking religion or politics. We laughed and said it's the politics of religion. The two of us proceeded to tell her about our practice, listen to her story, give her a NMHRK card with our names and numbers.
We were told that we were going to have a meeting with all the chapter leaders on Monday. I didn't think that would work due to schedules and the area leader guaranteed that everyone would attend. Of course Monday night everyone was busy. One pioneer woman came, both area leaders (husband & wife), MD chapter and me. This time it was the WD area leaders turn. She talked from personal experience - gave several examples of how she had overcome conflict with other members. It was very soft power and very effective. We set a date to meet and chant as chapter leaders and start to work together. That is what we need.
That is my (abbreviated) story of hard power and soft power.
Mimi,
Sorry to hear about your son, and that probably is why there is stress and tension in you reply, so nothing but good wishes for your family and best of luck for the recovery for your son.
Bruce
Posted by: Bruce Maltz at June 5, 2008 09:06 AMHi,
Dealing with some real life issues right now.
My son has been in the hospital since Tuesday.
Priority back to my son, my real life.
Dr. Mimi writes:
"Kindly look in your own mirror... control issues seems to be a recurring theme with you."
Mark
I don't belong to a controlling cult so the only control issues I have is controlling my subordinates at work so the patient has a good outcome and when my dog chases a rabbit.
Mimi
"You are possessed by your hatred of the SGI and anyone else who does not share your very narrow belief of how the world does or does not work."
Mark
I have not an ounce of hatred for anyone. I practice Buddhism.
Mimi
And no, you do not make me apeshit crazy--
Mark
I must try a bit harder or I fear you will never wake up.
Mimi
just feeling pity for your need to argue with everyone and be the only one who is right.
Mark
I do not argue with everyone, only slanderers of the Lotus sutra and Nichiren Daishonin and there are plenty of them to go around. Is pity a new SGI teaching? In the Kempon Hokke we replace pity with the Buddhist mercy to correct slander.
Mark
Dear Mimi,
Again I will ask you to drop you leader status of a Cult and be a normal regular human being. I didn't insult you, I didn't bring up the horror stories I know about the SGI, or bring up current issues. I simply asked you to be a human being, now was that too much? I am not a Nichiren SECT I have no desire to compete with you, and I left your group in 1975 for type of reason you have demonstrated with your answer.
You are not my leader, I am not intimidated by you, and by your answer to me, I really honestly doubt you are as happy as you seem. One is not happy on the outside and miserable here. I am sure you have heard "consistency from beginning to end".
I have friends in the SGI, but to me, they are humans, not SGI members, I have friends that are Priests, but to me they are humans. If you want to be my friend you have to be human.
Bruce
Posted by: Bruce Maltz at June 2, 2008 10:24 PMBruce,
Not arguing with clueless....
After a while playing the victim, hurt role gets old... Grown-ups learn how to let go of their baggage if they are going to grow spiritually and emotionally (whether or not they are choosing a Buddhist path).
Put the anger in a safe place,work with some clay, do martial arts, get therapy. There has to be a time when one throws off the victim role, accepts responsiblity for one's role in one's mess, forgives the others and moves on.
My life and world extend well beyond the SGI-- I actually have family, friends and colleagues who don't care a whit about Nichiren Buddhism, spend their lives doing great and interesting things and enjoy their lives. My practice isn't about "beating folks up" or "flicking like dirt." I pursue my practice because I am learning how to take responsibility for my life, do the right things by loved ones, friends and others in my environment. Hopefully do my little part in making the world a better place.
Find someone to play "cyber intellectual battles."
I come from some mean streets. Used to dealing with the real world not dilettantes and armchair warriors.
Dr. Mimi,
I don't know you, and please don't think of this question as a threat or a question to mock you, but if a person has has a question or was telling people not to join Hitler's Army, was it because they were possessed with their hatred of Germany or Hitler.
Your comments are straw man, you attack Mark, but not his comments, and I am saying this out of respect. You are only having Mark "hate" SGI even more with your kind of brush off in your face answers, as if he were a piece of dirt, and if you don't like his statements, you should find a more pleasant way of settling your disagreements.
Mark was very hurt by your group, now, you say it was his fault, but I personally had my friends suicide put up as web site by your group, just for starters, but lucky I know there are good people and bad people in every group.
Are you a good person or a bad person? Your status as an SGI leader means nothing in the real world, and from how you handle Mark, I think you are an example of your own words "..possessed by your hatred of .... anyone else who does not share your very narrow belief of how the world does or does not work. "
My words were not to upset you, or ignite a war,
Bruce
BTW Nancy-- The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life and Death is a Gosho-- I know 13 installments on the same Gosho- year long study. However a lot of meat in this one. Sometimes a good idea to have in depth study rather than the "drive by superficial" study we often do in the org.
Posted by: Dr. Mimi at May 30, 2008 06:16 AMMark,
Kindly look in your own mirror... control issues seems to be a recurring theme with you. You are possessed by your hatred of the SGI and anyone else who does not share your very narrow belief of how the world does or does not work.
And no, you do not make me apeshit crazy-- just feeling pity for your need to argue with everyone and be the only one who is right.
Posted by: Dr. Mimi at May 27, 2008 02:43 PM"He studies a variety of Buddhist scholars and literature and always has something interesting to say."
I come away feeling this is the problem. And whose problem is it? The narrow minded dogmatist whose failure to understand leaves them with nothing to reply to that to which they would like to disagree. They should either learn to make a coherant reply or admit that they are angents of mind control. That will happen as more and more people refuse to knuckle under. And that will happen more and more.
Hi Mimi.
You write:
"...look at the part in that other human being that is making me apeshit crazy. Usually it is something that I need to work on as well...."
They (SGI) want you to look at things in this way but this is not Nichiren's way nor is it the Middle Way. It is a control thing. If you are chanting the Daimoku with the same faith as Nichiren, you are enlightened. If you are enlightened and someone is making you "apeshit crazy" that is because they are slandering the Law. There is no other cause that can make a votary of the Lotus Sutra "apeshit crazy". It is entirely their life, their slander, and has nothing to do with one who has a correct faith in the Lotus Sutra. Now, if you do not have the same faith as Nichiren Daishonin, that is a whole other matter.
Mark
Posted by: Mark Rogow at May 27, 2008 10:22 AMNancy,
I heartily agree. Great to have venues aside from meetings to interact with members and other human beings. Helps me to get away from the thought that I am only a Buddhist while in meetings or in front of my Gohonzon.
As I am unemployed, I am spending a lot of time at my local Peets writing and knitting. Many opportunities for impromptu discussions about everything including Buddhism. No I am not acting like a geek and trying to Gesshu every customer. Rather, I like to start with conversation about other things, get to know the person. Sometimes weeks before I even mention I am a Buddhist. However my cover is "blown" and I am known as the Knitting-writing-Buddhist:).
I love studying the Gosho. I started with just studying the passages from the "Daily Wisdom" calender. Now that I have time, I read the passage then read the entire Gosho. Since there are repeats in the calender- I get to read some over and over. Now I can find the Gosho quote I need when I am going through a difficult time.
In my 20 years of practice in SGI, I have learned to take what I need and leave the rest. The challenge has been to let go of the constant critic and complainer in my head-- if something doesn't go as I like, I have been stopping the complaining, confrontation and divisiveness. Rather I take it back to my own personal practice- look at the part in that other human being that is making me apeshit crazy. Usually it is something that I need to work on as well. Often practicing 9 thoughts to one word and sucking teeth. But also learning that I don't have all the answers and my way is not necessarily what will work for others.
Just striving to be a good egg and a decent WD group leader. Our group has made the determination to make our meetings happy, fun and interesting. We chant about it. It is happening-- little by little.
Joe....
Most excellent suggestion.... yeah, I think having Buddhist Movie night has got to be one of the better ways to enliven a meeting.
I know that once a few friends and I watched the movie "Crash" and it just really got conversations about cause, effect, karma, and intent really going.
There are a huge number of movies that fit the bill, too.
And anyway, doesn't the SGI bill itself as a big fan of culture, and that sort of thing? Why can't you discuss literature? Comic books, even? Cultural events happening in your neighborhood? Heck, even somebody's favorite pop song, if they can tie it into Buddhism.
Hey, one person can't build the "Pure Land" in its entirety, but if enough people pitch in, well, why not?
Kris
Nancy,
I think Kris has a good point. And anyone who uses humor and the word "ossify" is okay in my book, which is yet to written.
I have friends in Oregon who have district meetings in which they discuss literature, art, philosophers, etc. And from what I've gleaned from some of your previous blogs I'll continue Kris's thought: you seem to be up against ossification in a political sense that takes the form of cultural calcification. Hey, that's no fun.
Does encouraging people mean you can't have any fun doing it? Remember "Where's Waldo?" Way back in the 1970's, Saturday Night Live had Father Guido Sarducci (Don Novello) do a bit where he had the audience "Find'a the Pope in'a the pizza." I'm going to start a study night where we watch movies and find the buddhism in them. Poems, movies, novels, art, all story telling about the human condition. If the SGI-USA organization, especially the publications which set the standards, is going to be responsive to thinking other than what has been imbued by a culture of origin, it is going to take concerted efforts on the part of individuals like yourself. Let's face it, we are here at FWP for that very reason.
Every time I read you, I get encouraged to continue!
Nancy,
Okay, it's funny, but in a sad kind of way: "Two feet away was an older woman reading a big book with several empty coffee cups on the nearby table. After about 20 minutes, she came over and stood between the chapter leader and me and said she couldn't figure out if we were talking religion or politics"...
Oh... no.... feel.... possessed...by the... inexorable need to get on my soapbox.....
Don't let the politics take the joy out of your practice! Screw religion! Practice with people who share your passion, and if you've lost the passion, well, find what fires you up (seems like you like VOV?) and go with it....
(Oop... sorry. I'll put the alter ego away now).
But seriously, if the topics are flat, and not doing anything for anyone in the group, why can't you find the issues that are of going concern?
For instance, in some of my sub-sangha groups, the topic of death came up (people dealing with it in their families) and I think all of us in that group are really learning and growing in our practice because of that...maybe the topic would be whether the Lotus Sutra has anything whatsoever to do with traffic jams and road rage, I don't know. It might be "why do really lousy things happen to really sweet people" (which would likely be really applicable and thought-provoking in your district, given some of the events of the past year).
The Heritage of the Law is that buddhahood is eternal and we can all tap into it. At least, in a nutshell, that's how I understand it. Those of us in the Nichiren schools touch that eternity through chanting, using a calligraphic mandala. That "Law" is going to be taught in millions of different ways, but the underlying reality, Buddhahood, is everyone's heritage. If your study of the "Heritage" series doesn't help people actually touch that heritage of buddhahood we all have, well, is it doing any good? From a Buddhist standpoint?
Organizational units can ossify. Religions come and go. The Eternal Dharma, in the best sense of the word, keeps on going... isn't that the point of a Nichiren Buddhist practice, to touch that Dharma, in ourselves and others?
Oh, gee. ;) I'll stop my rant now. Just trying to say there's a practice outside of confines of organizational trappings. Buddhism is, in my mind, a practice leading to ultimate freedom, and hoping, I guess, to encourage you in some weird way. I want to say "Keep the faith", but I want to make sure I clarify and say "Keep the faith that is typified by beauty and joy and not suffering and drudgery".
With hands together towards you,
Kris
I agree that the system is broken. When I was appointed district leader, there was a reorganization of leaders. We were assured there would be no honorary leadership appointments. Then a MD I had never met and didn't actually meet for about 4 years was appointed some study or guidance position. We still have pioneer WD in made up positions.
When I started practicing in the late 80's, my husband and I had lots of great ideas and a few lame ideas, but we just went for it and did stuff. Meetings at coffee stores, meetings in the park, hiking with youth division - you know creative ideas. Now, I can barely think of anything creative. The meetings are at my house and I don't want to go. I know it is my responsibility! I'm working on it. I have already asked some of the district members to think about some new activities to replace our tired meetings. The Japanese women will just have to live with it.
Nancy: Hi again. I just had a thought. My job transferred me to our Salinas office a few months ago, and since you are in Salinas, I would love to have lunch with you sometime. Would that be possible?
Sincerely, Ashley
Posted by: Ashley at May 22, 2008 08:52 AMHi Nancy:
I want to ask: what makes it a good system? It's a sucky system, and it has members following along because "that's the way it is done". So, it must be a good system? Change the system into one you think will be better. I assure you, it will be better. I sat through the system for over 30 years. After about 20 years, I finally started to think for myself, and decided it was a lousy system. But that's not just limited to how meetings are organized. I think the entire system of the organization is archaic and needs to be 0abandoned. That includes the four divisional system, the heirarchy of leaders, mentor & disciple - basically, you name it. I am in complete agreement with the all the recommendations put forth by the IRG. It must become a member driven, democratic organization. Until then... well, it is what it is, and I am unable to participate. I have become a radical dissenter in every sense of the word. Anyone care to join?
Posted by: Ashley at May 22, 2008 08:22 AMHi Nancy,
This prompted me to ask "Why do you stay?" . . . but you answered that in your last post.
Michele