3.
A destructive cult has only two basic
purposes: recruiting new members and fund-raising. Altruistic movements,
established religions, and other honorable groups also recruit and raise
funds. However, these actions are incidental to an honorable group's main
purpose of improving the lives of its members and of humankind in general.
Destructive cults may claim to make social contributions, but in actuality
such claims are superficial and only serve as gestures or fronts for recruiting
and fund-raising. A cult's real goal is to increase the prestige and often
the wealth of the leader.
Response:
This does not apply to SGI, an organization with the goal of world peace.
To that end, SGI has labored at length, promoting dialogue around the world
and in our communities. Some peace activities are listed at:
http://www.imaginepeace.net/
http://www.toda.org/
http://www.icapeace.org/home.html
More than 20 years of President Ikeda's
peace proposals are at http://www.eaglepeak.clara.co.uk/peacehome.html
4.
A destructive cult appears to be innovative
and exclusive. The leader claims to be breaking with tradition, offering
something novel, and instituting the ONLY viable system for change that
will solve life's problems or the world's ills. But these claims are empty
and only used to recruit members who are then surreptitiously subjected
to mind control to inhibit their ability to examine the actual validity
of the claims of the leader and the cult.
Response:
What is it that is being offered in SGI? It is a Buddhist practice that
is carried out by the INDIVIDUAL, not controlled by the group. Whatever
results one has are based SOLELY on one's individual practice not on any
validation by the group of believers. From the SGI-USA website: "The Soka
Gakkai International (SGI) was formed to support practitioners of Nichiren
Daishonin’s Buddhism and help them teach others about it on a global scale."
And are the claims of SGI empty claims?
Ask an SGI member. If they were not getting something out of the Buddhist
practice on a regular basis, why would they continue practicing?
I am also mystified by the idea of
SGI using mind control. Nothing could be further from the truth, in my
opinion. Practicing Buddhism with SGI enables one to fully realize one's
own mind in front of the Gohonzon. The Buddhist principle of O bai to
ri explains that each person is different and that those differences
are precious.
5.
A destructive cult is authoritarian
in its power structure. The leader is regarded as the supreme authority.
He or she may delegate certain power to a few subordinates for the purpose
of seeing that members adhere to the leader's wishes. There is no appeal
outside his or her system to a greater system of justice. For example,
if a schoolteacher feels unjustly treated by a principal, an appeal can
be made to the superintendent. In a destructive cult, the leader claims
to have the only and final ruling on all matters.
Response:
There is no such concentration of authority in SGI. Each local area has
its own local coordinators who merely convey information about meetings
and various activities. There is no one in place to judge what a believer
thinks or does.Here are some of the guidelines designed for leaders in
SGI (from the March
1990 Seikyo Times):
"It is important for leaders to be
fair and impartial and to hear out opinions that differ from their own.
Having the broad-mindedness to consider others’ views will win you the
respect of your juniors. If you have the humility to treasure members who
offer good suggestions, you will be able to raise many capable people.
By giving sincere consideration to diverse opinions, you can develop a
broad, flexible outlook and make stable progress.
"Discussing all things openly as siblings
or members of a family, please proceed hand in hand, step by step, toward
construction and growth. In this sense, the world of Buddhism must be a
model of democracy.
"Without personal growth, a leader
loses his appeal. Not only are the juniors of such a person affected, but
he will himself arrive at an impasse. People will not follow him, and as
a result he will try to control them by weight of authority. Such arrogance,
however, can only drive people even farther away. It is a vicious circle.
"If leaders make constant efforts
to study hard, grow, and maintain a sense of freshness, the organization
will advance and be filled with dynamism. An organization will change and
develop only to the extent that leaders change and develop themselves.
The advancement of kosen-rufu in the community and country proceeds likewise."
6. A
destructive cult's leader is a self-appointed messianic person claiming
to have a special mission in life. For example, leaders of flying saucer
cults claim that beings from outer space have commissioned them to lead
people away from Earth, so that only the leaders can save them from impending
doom.
Response:
In SGI, leaders are simply people who corrdinate activities. They are no
more enlightened or "worthy" than even the newest practitioner.
For example, this guidance is designed for leaders (from
the March
1990 Seikyo Times):
"All people are equal. There
are absolutely no distinctions of superior and inferior among human beings.
Differences of position in an organization are temporary and provisional.
They are no more than an expedient means for enabling all members to practice
joyfully and become truly happy.
"Therefore, a leader in an organization
is not someone who stands above others but one whose role is to serve and
support everyone else. This is something that the second Soka Gakkai President
Josei Toda used to explain by saying, 'Leaders are servants of the members.'
In a sense, a true leader of kosen-rufu is one who is determined to sacrifice
himself for the sake of the members.
"If leaders are under the illusion
that they are somehow great or superior to others because of their position,
their attitude goes against the Buddhist spirit of equality."
7. A
destructive cult's leader centers the veneration of members upon himself
or herself. Priests, rabbis, ministers, democratic leaders, and other leaders
of genuinely altruistic movements focus the veneration of adherents on
God or a set of ethical principles. Cult leaders, in contrast, keep the
focus of love, devotion, and allegiance on themselves.
Response:
The focus in SGI is on one's individual practice. To that end, we chant,
study and encourage each other. There is no hierarchy -- everyone is equal.
In fact, basing one's practice on another person can be extremely dangerous.
Here is an example of a Buddhist way of thinking (from the March
1990 Seikyo Times):
"it should be pointed out that the
'Law,' not the 'person,' is to be regarded as the proper standard in all
things. Putting the person first gives you an uncertain standard; it is
to let that person’s mind become your master. At some point, relations
based on such a standard will become like those existing between a paternal,
godfather-like figure and those bound to him by personal loyalty."
8. A
destructive cult's leader tends to be determined, domineering, and charismatic.
Such a leader effectively persuades followers to abandon or alter their
families, friends, and careers to follow the cult. The leader then takes
control over followers' possessions, money, time, and lives.
Response:
The opposite is true in SGI. Believers are encouraged to maintain and strengthen
their ties with the community, on the job, and in the family. This example
is from the March
1990 Seikyo Times:
"Our organization for kosen-rufu
exists so that each member can attain absolute happiness. Let me make it
perfectly clear that the objective of this organization is your happiness.
"Society and daily life are the 'great
earth' for our faith and practice of the True Law. The steady development
of kosen-rufu can be ensured only when, based on faith, we carefully attend
to the affairs of society, our daily life and our families. 'Faith manifests
itself in daily life' — this is our eternal guideline."
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