Question from a Reader

May 18, 2010 nt 22 comments

Tracy asks” “I am leaving the SGI – after over 20 years. Should I return my Gohonzon? I am really conflicted. What are your thoughts?”

I am sorry you need to leave SGI. I wish you had the support you deserve to continue. Twenty years is along time, your decision must have been difficult. Apparently Rock the Era, mentor/disciple and the strong Ikeda push haven’t worked for you. I have been hearing that more often lately. The organization is trying to forge it’s future. Our young members grew up and we forgot to replace them. That is what Rock the Era is about, introducing young people to this practice. The strong Ikeda push feels like desperation. That, of course, is my own feeling and I can own it. Does any one else remember The Human Revolution? The first Human Revolution? Not The New Human Revolution. We bought all these little books and read them and quoted from them. We were told it was the history of us. Then we found out is was not the history of us, it was a fictional story. Doh! Now we are studying The New Human Revolution. These books are really expensive and this is the real story of us. Sorry, you lost me after the first one.

But, as usual, I have gone off on a rant. Back to Tracy. Through all my struggles, I still enjoy SGI. I know I would have no practice at all if not for SGI. Everyday I attempt to own my practice and struggles with my local organization. I moved here, these members need me and I need them. But you, Tracy, don’t feel that way anymore. As bad as I think it gets around here, it must be much worse where you live.

What to do with your gohonzon… I think you should keep it. You took a vow when you accepted it, to protect it and take care of it. You are a different person because you accepted that gohonzon and practiced Nichiren’s Buddhism. If you are contemplating returning the gohonzon, you must have decided to stop chanting. But will you stop being a Nichiren Buddhist? You don’t have to quit SGI. It is very easy to just walk away. At least it is around here. But later in life, you may decide to chant again. I know many members who gave it up for long periods and then started chanting again. Some even rejoined SGI. For some reason it is always 20 years. You are leaving after 20 years. Others return after 20 years. Again, I don’t know your story, so I may be way off, but it is your gohonzon, you have history with it, you have overcome lots of crap in front of that gohonzon, cried with it, laughed, screamed. It is a part of you. If you are not going to chant, take it down, roll it up and protect it. Never lose track of it. It will always be there for you when you need it.

All of us start in SGI. We all owe a debt of gratitude to SGI and President Ikeda for bringing this Buddhism to your country. That being said, I can understand why you may want to leave SGI. My suggestion is to find another sanga, a group of supportive friends to study and talk about Buddhism. And never stop reading fraughtwithperil.com!

Tracy and any one else contemplating a change, tell us your story. We want to help!

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Comments

Written by Engyo about 4 months ago.

Hi, Nancy & Tracy -

We kept our Gohonzon and continued chanting to it, until we made the decision to join a different Nichiren group and receive a different Omandala. As Nancy alludes above, we left SGI but did not leave Nichiren Buddhism.

I have a general question: what does SGI do with returned Gohonzon? I know what was done with the ones turned in during the 90′s in Houston, but I am way out of that loop now. Do they get stored somewhere, or is something else done with them?

Just as an FYI, it is common practice in traditional Nichiren schools (and most of Japanese Buddhism in general) to ceremonially cremate any ritual items no longer needed or useful. This includes Omandalas, juzu (prayer beads) and other items. It is done respectfully, after an eye-closing ceremony and while the Odaimoku is being chanted. It is a solemn and oddly peaceful ceremony.

Nancy – one other point of information. The first Nichiren temple in North America was founded in 1914 in Los Angeles, well before the Soka Gakkai’s arrival here. Several other temples along the West Coast followed, well before WWII. Their congregations were mostly sent to the internment camps during the war.

Namaste, Engyo Mike Barrett
Written by Joe Isuzu about 4 months ago.

“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”
Written by Patty about 4 months ago.

Joe-well said!

I returned my SGI Gohonzon when I left SGI because I’d just exchanged my very old Gohonzon for a new one in the beginning of the Soka Spirit ‘campaign’. I was told was
It was a more ‘appropriate’ mandala (because of the priesthood issue). I would
have had a much harder time returning my older Gohonzon for the reasons you stated.

Maybe before deciding it would be good to have a read of the Lotus Sutra and decide if that’s what she wants to base her practice on.

If it is, the suggestion to just quietly check out for awhile may be best. Study,
read different translations and commentaries of the Lotus Sutra from different
sources. Find out what a devotional Lotus Sutra practice really is, minus
all the layers of added interpretations people like to serve up. Read about Nichiren
Buddhism from many sources and decide if his ideas fit your own.

I have no ax to grind with any org. None of my business. But I am glad I took
the time to find that I am a Nichiren Buddhist, even after SGI. Life is very good
these days and it was hard to get here. I can tell you it’s worth the work.

If you’re reading here, Tracy, I wish you all the best. Patty
Written by Tracy about 4 months ago.

I really appreciate these very thoughtful comments. I have not decided to stop chanting. I think my thought of returning the gohonzon is more an impulse of guilt. Since the Gohonzon was issued to me from the SGI, and I no longer feel comfortable (understatement) practicing with the organization, it seems somehow like stealing – or keeping something that doesn’t belong to me. Of course, no one has said that to me. This is my internal impulse, and based on little else. I talked to my husband (non-member) about this last night and he pointed out that I can always give it back later if I really want to, and it is best not to be impulsive. So, I won’t. I will always appreciate the SGI and I love the organization in many ways. My conflict is philosophical. But philosophical things are deal breakers for me – that’s how I’m wired. I spent many years trying to resolve these issues within the organization and through my practice. I tried to believe that is was all the devil of the sixth heaven, or my life condition, and so on – you know the drill. In any case – I will keep the gohonzon – and my ginourmous butsudan : ) – But I am very open to any offered insight into the issue of my guilt.
Written by Patrick about 4 months ago.

Soctrates says, “Know thyself” I would start there. Buddhism as I understand it, teaches no guilt.

I hope you well and that you find your happiness within your own practice. I did.

Patrick
Written by Mark Rogow about 3 months ago.

“One should abandon even one’s teacher if he or she is misguided, though there will be cases where this is not necessary. One should decide according to the principles both of the world and of Buddhism. Priests in the Latter Day of the Law are ignorant of the principles of Buddhism and are conceited, so they despise the correct teacher and fawn on patrons. True priests are those who are honest and who desire little and yet know satisfaction. Volume one of The Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra states: “Those who have yet to attain the truth should humble themselves before the highest principle, which is comparable to heaven, and feel abashed before all the sages. Then they will be monks with a sense of shame. When they manifest insight and wisdom, then they will be true monks.”

The closest concept to guilt in Buddhism is the concept of shame. There is nothing wrong with a sense of shame to a true seeker of the way, as it may be a door to insight and wisdom, according to Nichiren Daishonin.
Written by greg r about 3 months ago.

tracie, hold on to your faith. never lose your seeking mind for BUDDHISM. go find your answers. don’t walk, RUN ! “a coward cannot have her prayers answered”

best wishes.
Written by Patty about 3 months ago.

Mark,
I wonder if the sense of “shame” you refer to is more appropriate to Bushido philosophy
than it is to Buddhism. I’ve found repentance and realizing we DO harm others through
our actions may be a more appropriate life condition than shame-or at least the type
of shame in Samurai sense. Bushido shame is never overcome. But when we realize we
have a responsibility to others in our environment this can allow us to keep our self
respect as well as stop bad habits.

Since so many Bushido principles have attached themselves to Nichiren Buddhism through the centuries I’ve been looking closer at the words we use as Western Nichiren Buddhists. Best, Patty
Written by Patrick about 3 months ago.

I believe I will now leave FWP for good,as I have grown tired of this groups attacks on a personal level of faith.

Have a good time making bad causes on behalf of others lives. Goodbye FWP, do not sink too Low in your personal attacks of others, which you accuse others of.

Equality does not exist here, so whom is practicing equality here.
Written by Penelope about 3 months ago.

My friend has stopped chanting after 10 years , she feels her Gohonzon has no power, another friend is dying of terminal cancer, she thinks the Gohonzon has decided it is time for her to go (her words not mine), another friend thinks her struggle will be ok as long as she “imagines, herself walking hand in hand with Sensei” that was the guidance she received. Sites like fraught with peril are allowing people to see that they are not crazy and that there is something wrong. I am very grateful, how each persons handle it will be up to them, but I for one am glad you are here.
Written by Mark Rogow about 3 months ago.

We are more equal here than in the authoritarian pyramid of the Gakkai. Here, everyone gets their say. You don’t like that, Patrick? Do you know why top SGI leaders don’t come here Patrick? Because here they are just another Joe [no offense to Joe Isuzu] and nobody is kissing anyone’s keester here. Here there is the real equality of ideas and if anyone bogarts the conversation….to the TRASH bin.
Written by Penelope about 3 months ago.

Dear Tracy,

Don’t give up your practice, as some has suggested here , perhaps it is time to step back and take some time and reassess your focus, if you put the Law and Nichiren back in the center of your mind when chanting and studying I can guarantee that it will help. I know it helped me when I came to the same juncture. Peace
Written by clown hidden about 3 months ago.

I’m sure I’m in the minority here. It doesn’t matter what you do with the Gohonzon. If you think it’s the right and respectful thing to return it, return it. If you want to have a fire and burn it in your own little ceremony do that. If you want to put it away some where for safe keeping because you have some idea you might change your mind do that.
The one thing I wouldn’t do is superstitiously wonder what would happen if I did the wrong thing with it. Or be worried what someone else might think. To me it’s just a physical object with no power of it’s own. You received the real Gohonzon an eternity ago and you can’t give it back because you gave it to yourself.
Written by CL about 3 months ago.

Well said, there is no superstition in buddhism. Buddhism is reason, despite the vast number of unreasonable perceptions about it by those who consider themselves buddhist.
Written by コネホ about 2 months ago.

I have a question. You said that you think the Mentor/Disciple push is probably out of desperation. I can definitely see how that could be true. It seems to be the only unifier at times, not to mention that now that the tradition of the laity is separate from that of the priesthood, it leaves at a “where are we now” point in our practice and in history. I think history can only look at the three Presidents and say “this is how the organization formed, that’s what was really left after the split,” and so the administration makes it official. I agree that the Mentor/Disciple push may be made, mostly, of glue.

I think my biggest problem with the organization is that I see one thing in the pubs and another in reality. What I get from pubs is world peace, egalitarianism, Lotus Sutra and Gosho lectures, experiences, Sensei is important because he spreads Buddhism, things like that. What I get from a good number of members is Sensei is an extraordinary/ special human being, the Japanese know best (in regard to Buddhism), President Ikeda’s writings and guidance/opinions, disagreement as to the spirit of what is being said in the Gosho or any pubs. Not to mention that sometimes even the publications bust out with a glaring Sensei worship.

Sometimes I feel compelled to leave due to the contradictions, but at the same time, I’ve chanted for wisdom and I get this feeling that the organization is going to change for the better and clear out the idiosyncrasies over the next 20 years. Any thoughts?
Written by nt about 2 months ago.

I stopped reading the World Tribune long ago. I still subscribe, but, maybe for the reasons you site, I wonder if what is reported in the paper is actually what Pres. Ikeda said. I agree that the three presidents are the foundation of this organization. Then again, maybe it’s and American thing. I remember when we first heard about the split with the priesthood. We thought in 10 years, this will all be behind us and we can move on. Now, 20 years later SGI-USA still has Soka Spirit – the “We Hate the Priesthood” group. Before you fundies get all over me, I understand that this is not the actual motto of the group, but you all have to admit, we are holding a grudge. I agree that something will happen in the next 20 years. I just worry that we are so busy with the hype, we forgot about the Buddhism.
Written by plenty moron about 2 months ago.

If it’s giving you trouble maybe you should dispose of it in some respectful way. I chant with a statue of shakyamuni. It’s easier for me to visualize the Ceremony in the Air…it gives me a sense of place and of gathering. The SGI made me feel attached to the object of worship. I don’t even like that expression. You paid for your mandala….it’s not “on loan.” I just want to be free. Of course practicing will be harder without the SGI….chant loudly with a lot of JOY. Follow your heart, chant with the thought that JOY is welling up in your life. blessings!
Written by Mark Rogow about 2 months ago.

Were the SGI to become less insular [at the the top] all their lies and poor behavior would be exposed and it would be the end of the Soka Gakkai. I don’t see it happening. They will have to be dragged out of the burning house.
Written by robin about 2 months ago.

Mark & Patty,

Both shamelessness before others and lack of an internal conscience are deemed afflictions in Buddhism. The equivalent words for guilt translates literally as ‘moral dread’ and ‘lack of fear of consequences for bad causes.’ That said, I am not sure that is what most mean by ‘guilt’ these days. Often, people lay the blame on themselves when others are fault. I think this might be what is meant by ‘guilt trips.’ Conniving, passive-aggressive people know how to lay guilt trips on those raised in Judeo-Christian cultures. In Confucian cultures, they use ‘shame trips’ , or ‘loss of face’ much the same way to manipulate others. I think guilt is remorse for sins of commission; while shame is social embarrassment relating more to sins of omission. Put another way, shame makes us behave well when others are watching; guilt makes us behave well when no one is watching. ‘

Atrapa, Anapatrapya = Lack of appropriate fear of consequences, moral recklessness.
Anottappa = Lack of moral dread, no fear of evil, lack of conscience
Ahirika, Ahrikya = Shamelessness before others.
Written by Jean about 2 months ago.

I wish everyone who practices Nicheren Buddhism would have the opportunity to travel to Japan and also China and possibly other Asian Countries as well. This would allow people to expand their consciousness by seeing all the temples, mandalas, statues, priests, etc that have been and are dedicated to Buddhism. And I don’t mean going on tozo, with SGI or some other orchestrated group, I mean going on your own and seeing where Nicheren and others lived and worshiped. I think doing so would make you aware that the accouterments and even the writings are products of a specific place and time, but the spiritual experience is separate from all these things, including the gohonzon. You will also come to realize that the overriding message of Buddhist thought trumps all the sectarian nonsense, not just among Nicheren groups but all groups.
Written by Engyo Mike Barrett about 2 months ago.

Hi, Jean -

I couldn’t agree more. Here is the address for the photoblog from our 2006 trip to Japan, for anyone interested.

http://nichiren-shu.org/boston/pages/pilgrim/one.htm

Namaste, Engyo Mike Barrett
Written by plenty moron about 1 week ago.

I agree with clown hidden that it doesn’t matter so much. shame, guilt, blah blah. don’t get caught up in the fear of consequences for doing the wrong thing with the mandala. If it sits in your sock drawer and nags at you, you should get rid of it. I think it’s beautiful, I still have it somewhere, but I like my little statue. I’ve read, can’t quote it, the phrase “the mandala of the daimoku-only is firmly established. A shrine is nice, but change it up from time to time so that you’re not attached to particular objects. good luck….oDaimoku is good medicine!

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