I've been busy with SGI meetings. Three days, three meetings. Tonight was a chapter and area leaders meeting. It was a good information meeting. When it came time for "Personnel Issues" I brought up that someone in my chapter had been told that she didn't dress up enough for World Peace Prayer. Everyone seemed shocked. The MD area leader gave a speech about how we need to treat each other, etc. I told him he needs to give that speech at World Peace Prayer when the people who say these things can hear.
After the meeting the WD area leader asked who was the sayer and who was the sayee. I told her that I had already fixed it, I think. Then we were discussing how a few Japanese members continue to bring up the matter of the monthly Pres. Ikeda video. It is presented with English subtitles and someone reading the subtitles in English. These few Japanese members want the video in Japanese with English subtitles. The problem (I've been oner this before) is that the subtitles sometimes move too fast and we have members who barley understand English, let alone having to read it while hearing Japanese. It is SOP for the video to be presented in English with English subtitles. But month after month the subject is brought up. The area offers to show the video at any meeting in any form, but the World Peace Prayer meeting will always be in English. So, we were discussing this when two other members peeked around the corner and then came in. I thought it was rude, but I had no idea how bad it was about to get.
These two asked me why I have a Buddha statue in my altar room. Greg bought a small bust and a postcard type photo of Nichiren. When he put these on a small table near the back of our altar room, the Japanese women had questions. Why do you have them?" "Who is it?" "No, it's not Nichiren." Greg told them it was Nichiren and he like them. We thought that was the end of it. But apparently, it wasn't. These people have been stressing about this statue for a couple of years. Now, tonight, it comes up again. I was livid. I told them they were Nichiren, Greg bought them because he liked them. The Japanese woman thought he just bought some crap in Japan. Now I was really pissed. Greg understood more about Buddhism than all these idiots put together. They have no idea what they are doing and then spend their time gossiping about us. I asked them what they were afraid of. No answer. They hit the hot button for me. I told them this is the same crap Greg had to put up with. I'm done - and left. I got outside and was planning to just leave, but thought better of it. As I walked back to the house, the area leaders came outside. Neither had heard anything about this and both were upset. We talked a bit, I vented a bit, and agreed that this is the cancer in our area. We need to fix this.
The San Jose region seems to be fixated on NST again. Apparently, NST is getting organized in the San Jose Bay area. Now, SGI is kinda scared. Some SGI members are going to show up at a NST meeting. Yea, that will go well. Some cultie youth division members will show up and make us look as lame a s possible. Instead of learning about Buddhism, they continually go back to mentor/disciple and the SGI magazine. Disgraceful.
On Saturday, I attended a gosho study prep. While listening to the SGI study prep video, I started wondering why I can't be like them. They seem so excited about this stuff and I'm thinking, "What is this really about?" "Who is Nichiren talking to and why? " And other questions. These women were so into something I thought was so shallow. Is it me? Why can't I commit? Would I be happier if I just committed? After a few minutes, I answered NO to all my questions. It can't be me. I'm going to continue to seek out different views and read lots of books.
I promised to supporrt my area leaders in the fight to take back our area. OK, that was way too strong. I promised to support them in uniting the area. I'll keep \you informed.