Article 35 of exactly 213 << Previous Article >> Next Article /\ Current Results Email this message! • Help • Author Profile • View Thread • Post New • Post Reply • Email Reply • Bookmark • Text Only ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Josei Toda speaks the Truth From: rboyce@my-dejanews.com Date: 1998/07/22 Message-ID: <6p5ibl$hk3$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com> Newsgroups: alt.religion.buddhism.nichiren [More Headers] [Subscribe to alt.religion.buddhism.nichiren] The following is in response to Chris Holte's response to my post, beginning: "n article <6p00ib$689$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com>, rboyce@my-dejanews.com wrote: > In article <1998071914152300.KAA00114@ladder01.news.aol.com>, > luap5150@aol.com (Luap5150) wrote: Mr Boyce, this was a well written reply. However, it is important that youthink about a few points." Time permits only a response to one point today. Chris' Statement can agree with you that Nikken definately did not attack the Gakkai just to get more money. It seems to be that the attack is much more personal in nature than mere money. It seems that Nichiren Shosho feared the power of all those members to eventually force real reforms on them, and that Nikken was angered by the adulation that was sent Ikeda's way. I noticed at the time that his attack came just as Ikeda was leading the way towards reforming the leadership and practices of the Gakkai towards a more familly and humanistic approach. The specific cause of the break was a speach in which Ikeda had the temerity to criticize the priesthood for posturing while at the same time marrying, making babies, playing golf. He also, and this seems to have really ticked off Nikken, had the temerity to criticize some of the lectures of Nikken as being - shall we say - boring. Now these are the kind of criticisms that would lead to a shouting match, a major row, or an argument, in most marriages. However with the Gakkai, and Nichiren Shoshu, they led to pyrotechnics and divorce procedings. My Response This consists entirely of speculation, conjecture, innuendo and surmise, unsupported by evidence. However, there is ample evidence that the split was the outcome of Daisaku Ikeda's resentment at having been, from his point of view, "beaten" by the priesthood over a decade earlier. In the most egregious statement in the November 1990 speech, Ikeda stated: "The 50th anniversary, in the midst of defeat, betrayed, embattled --- and then I was made to resign as President. Treated terribly by the priesthood and by the Shoshinkai --- made a fool of. And on top of this, Mr. Hojo says, 'Well, the future is pitch black, isn't it?' [to which Ikeda replied] 'What are you talking about? Look to the 60th anniversary. Such dazzling, superb fruits there. The 60th anniversary is coming up, so show some spirit. That's what it is to be President. I'm the Honorary President.' [to which Hojo replied] 'Is that so?' What an ass. I tell you--not fighting --- and [I'm] leaning on --- who? Really ---" This statement reflects only that Ikeda's attitude in 1980 (the 50th anniversary) was one of personal frustration, malice and lust for revenge. It suggests that the only reason Ikeda didn't move against the priesthood at the time was that he was afraid he couldn't win and accordingly he backed off, while deceptively laying plans to extract his revenge at "the 60th anniversary", which was 1990, which was when he in fact did act. More recently, in an article by Daisaku Ikeda (writing under his pen name Ho Gaku) printed in the May 15, 1998, World Tribune, p. 9, recounting events surrounding the May 3, 1979, Soka Gakkai ("SG") Headquarters General Meeting, Ikeda first notes: "A few days prior to May 3, 1979, I resigned the presidency and became honorary president of the Soka Gakkai. Behind this were the schemes of a group of conspirators -- a union of treacherous members and priests who wished to drive me out and, once the Soka Gakkai had no true leader for kosen-rufu, to manipulate the organization for their own profit." Ikeda next recounts that the meeting took place ". . . in the midst of a firestorm of insult and defamation that can only be described as pure madness. The top leaders of the Soka Gakkai could not conceal their uncertainty and anxiety. They were hesitant and restrained in their applause for me -- out of fear of incurring the displeasure of the priests present [which I believe included the then High Priest Nittatsu Shonin]. It was a sad sight indeed. No, it was pitiful." (paragraph break omitted). Ikeda next indicates that after leaving the meeting, he saw a group of teary-eyed women who called out to him "Sensei, Sensei." He says: "And I thought: 'Now, who will protect members such as these good people? Who will work for their happiness? What will happen if cruel and heartless animals dressed in priestly robes begin to dictate to these people?" Then, Ikeda says, he went to the Kanagawa Culture Center in Yokohama, indicating that he had decided to "begin a new struggle" from there. He further states: "On May 5, picturing my mentor's face, I wrote down my pledge as a piece of calligraphy. I wrote the single word 'Justice.' In the margin next to it, I wrote, 'I will carry the banner of justice alone.' I knew that my real struggle was only beginning. Whatever circumstances I found myself in, I would fight resolutely. Even if I was alone. I firmly resolved in the depths of my being that I would triumph -- in the true spirit of the oneness of mentor and disciple." (paragraph breaks omitted). He also indicates: "My vow that day, to take the lead in opening the second chapter of the kosen- rufu movement -- to draw the sword of the Law, the jeweled sword of faith, and with it cut through all adversity and triumph over evil without fail -- was the deepest of commitments." It is reasonable to conclude from the foregoing that Ikeda formed a specific intent to extract revenge upon the priesthood at least as early as May, 1979, as a result of his perceived defeat at that time. It should be noted especially that, at that time, Nittatsu Shonin was the High Priest. Evidently, Ikeda's plans were not based on the personality or conduct of the present High Priest. Rather, Ikeda hated Nittatsu Shonin as much as he now hates Nikken Shonin. One can argue, I suppose, about whether Ikeda's intent proceeded from a concern for members or from malice at the mistreatment he felt he suffered at the hands of not only traitors and priests -- but even his own underbosses who, due to cowardice, failed to give him the volume of applause to which he felt entitled. As I read it, Ikeda's rhetoric reeks with malice and the concern for the members part is merely propaganda. Finally, despite Ikeda's dramatic rhetoric about carrying the banner of justice and drawing the sword of the Law, it appears that Ikeda in fact implemented his determination through a sneaky, ten year plot. Perhaps in his dreams Ikeda is a hero on a white horse boldly executing a Napoleonic cavalry charge. In reality, he is a shadowy conspirator who is only capable of tactics based on deception and treachery. Returning to the November 16, 1990, speech, Chris indicates that Ikeda called the High Priest's sermons "boring." This is presumably a reference to the following statement made in Ikeda's speech: "And what if I hear another one of these difficult doctrines? I don't understand it at all. No one understands it. .. It's like listening to German." Thus, Ikeda did not say that the sermons where "boring" but that they were too difficult. Of course, the Daishonin often emphasized that the profound doctrines of True Buddhism are difficult to understand and difficult to believe. The SGI, however, specializes in dumbed-down, fast food MacBuddhism. When the SG finally responded to the priesthood's questions concerning Ikeda's statement in a January 1, 1991, letter from SG President Akiya, the only explanation offered was: "The indicated statement of the Honorary President described the speech and conduct of the already expelled Shoshinkai who look down on and deride believers, and was not a description of the current priesthood." In contending that the statement was in fact intended to suggest that the High Priest's sermons are "boring," Chris merely serves to prove that Akiya's explanation was a lie. -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==----- http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum ------------------------------------------------------------------------  << Previous Article >> Next Article /\ Current Results Email this message! • Help • Author Profile • View Thread • Post New • Post Reply • Email Reply • Bookmark • Text Only ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Free Coupons!  |  Classifieds  |  Yellow Pages  |  Register Your Domain Name  |  Auctions  |  Directories New Users · About Deja News · Ad Info · Our Advertisers · Deja News Store Free Web Email · Link to Deja News · Create Your Own Forum Home  ·  Search  ·  Browse  ·  Post  ·  My Deja News  ·  Help  ·  How are we doing? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright © 1995-98 Deja News, Inc. 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