A recent entry on BuddhaJones titled On the Soka Money Trail, got my interest. Many times in the past, I have speculated about the scope, wealth, power, and master plan of the SGI. The Cult Education Network has begun an investigation on the finances of the Soka Gakkai International, which I find somewhat amusing. It strikes me as a troop of tenderfoot Boy Scouts going after a vanguard of Navy Seals, then trying to take on the U.S. Navy itself. Let me explain.
Although I am estranged from the SGI – well, perhaps a little more than estranged, I have another perspective on their amassment of wealth and power. For what the SGI is trying to do, it is necessary to conquer the world markets, academia, politics, and the hopes of the suffering masses. Establishing kosen-rufu, or rather, the global dominance of Nichiren Buddhism requires immense resources and far reaching influence. Since the twitty hoards of financial gurus and bewildered economists have managed to misjudge the world economy like some craps table doofus on a losing streak, my opinion holds about as much weight as theirs, or anyone else’s for that matter. I'm not going AAO anymore, but I am confident that even though Mr. Ikeda isn't going to win that Nobel Prize, he has laid the ground work for the global dominance of Nichiren inspired Buddhism. My hope is that as time goes on people will see that what the SGI is really about is the mighty Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni, Nichiren, and not about the three Soka Gakkai presidents. Right now, it's about the mentor and his endlessly documented and hearlded greatness. Yes, he's great, we all know he's mega-wonderful - you can stop reminding us, please, for the love of god, just stop and let us get back to the Lotus Sutra and the eternal Buddha.
Although financial transparency is a noble trait, this world is a plague infested cesspool of greed, duplicity, and power, with demonic minds just waiting for a way in to destroy the good works that other's have built, especially when there's money there. To know the extent of the SGI's wealth or how they spend their money runs counter-agenda to their strategic plan for the simple reason that no good would come out of it for the SGI and their enemies would try to use that information to discredit and ultimately ruin them. There are many former disgruntled SGI members who want nothing better than to destroy what they once loved and help build instead of going in a positive direction. This is patholigical behavior, although no group or person should be beyond investigation or criticism. It's so tempting to take a shot at the SGI after leaving - kind of like dissing your ex after things ran their course. There are also hideous, pin-headed, so-called investigative jouranlists that will go to any length to dig up dirt, ignoring the positive, bending the truth for the sheer thrill of scratching off the shiney finish, just because they are so damn unhappy in their own lives. These hacks jump at the prospect of making themselves look great while going out of their way to take someone else down. You wouldn't want to be in a foxhole with someone like that. Now, with the internet, any nutless yippy-dog is able to piss all over someone's manicured lawn. The SGI, president Ikeda, or any other large group/bigshot can be instantly smeared with the odious excrement of inspid adjectives and utterly fuzzed out facts by anyone with a laptop and a grudge. To me this behavior is the same pathos as penis envy
Face it, the SGI has mastered capitalism and are probably streetwise to the shady parts of the alley as well. You can't get to where they're at now if you're little goody two shoes. Capitalism is all about the building of wealth – it has little, if nothing to do with democracy as those most brilliant and apt Chinese communists have proven. The SGI is aggressively building a financial, educational, cultural, multi-media, and political empire that spans the world, using the advantageous status of a tax exempt religious corporation. The SGI has been mining the professional and intellectual brain trust of the planet for those people who can grow their agenda. One might believe that by doing this that, the SGI is an evil entity, but I ardently disagree for a variety of reasons.
This dark, evil age is just as The Buddha described. Our civilization is spinning out of control. The world’s financial markets are on the brink of collapse, nuclear war by renegade nations or terrorists, and biological warfare could happen at any moment. Global pandemics, starvation, natural catastrophes, and all manner of civil unrest could occur with little warning. Moreover, let us not forget the ominous threat of global warming.
No matter what one might think of the SGI, it is a true powerhouse and modern day religious success story. Call it a cult of personality or a power hungry religious corporation gearing up for world dominance. Think whatever you like. The reality of this era made the SGI the future defacto alternative to the Catholic Church, the most powerful sects of Islam, Zionism, Hinduism, and especially the evangelicals who long to annihilate us all to fulfill Biblical prophecy.
How can the SGI assume world dominance? One might think of arms or military might, but it seems that this battle will be decided by wealth and resources. I find it interesting that investigators have fixated on the Soka Gakkai’s wealth at $100 billion. It might be to their advantage to consider that their wealth is far beyond that and the SGI plan and methods are operating on a timeline that is looking backward from more than a hundred years in the future.
Consider the SGI’s keen interest in the great nation of India, that is sympathetic to Buddhism and economically on the rise. The SGI is thinking hundreds of years into the future by taking decisive action today. Just imagine buying up huge tracts of land, building schools, and investing in business. Strategic planning, targeted investment, and Soka education for the masses in India and other countries will lift that low-ball estimate of $100 Billion to many trillions. The wealth of the Soka Gakkai will make the Saudi princes seem like modern mavens of upper middle class – oil will eventually run out or be displaced by an alternative form of fuel for energy. The SGI is so smart that they might harness the next form of energy. They might even control the world’s food sources by creating and controlling a vital crop seed repository to restart blighted fields.
We will not know the full extent of the SGI’s wealth and power, at least not in our lifetime. It will grow quietly, flourishing without pause and nothing will stop it except internal fracture and factionalism, then it will arise again like Baby Bell’s or that hydra headed mythological Greek serpent which grew two heads each time one was cut off. The recent defeat of the Komeito is little more than a speed bump – at least that’s the way it would seem. I do not view this assent to world domination in a negative way. If the establishment of a world alignment based on the will of The Buddha and the prophecy of the Lotus Sutra is to be realized, no matter the negative anomalies currently evident, the SGI will transform. My humble ancestors chose to follow Martin Luther and break from the infallibility of the Pope and the crushing hand of the Catholic Church. My stance today is not all that different from my ancestors. The main difference for me is that I expect that the SGI will accomplish its goal of kosen-rufu, but over time will shed its false doctrines.
By false doctrines, or rather, improper doctrines, I mean the exaltation of the three presidents above and beyond The Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni, and The Lotus Sutra. I mean the improper teaching that Nichiren is the True Buddha rather than Shakyamuni. I mean the teaching that the Dai-Gohonzon is authentic. I specifically mean the inappropriate, endless adulation and glorification of president Ikeda which has created a cult of personality not dissimilar to the reverence seen directed to North Korea’s Kim Jong Il or Chairman Mao. There are other improper doctrines, issues, behaviors, and attitudes that must be changed. I wonder what form these changes will take – and when they will occur.
It is not my intention to impugn or diminish the validity, legitimacy, or potential of any other teaching based on the Lotus Sutra. It would be possible for me to write many, many more words on this subject, but they only amount to personal speculation. It is my opinion that the SGI is far more wealthy and powerful right now than we think and it is poised to become the wealthiest, most influential religious organization in the world whether we like it or not. I expect people to disagree with me and have nothing more than my own intuition as the basis of this opinion. No matter how wealthy, powerful or influential the SGI becomes, even if it offered me a million dollars a year to write about its greatness, unless the SGI changed its improper doctrines, I am still like my ancestors that stood by Martin Luther, even at the risk of their life.