Some may take issue with my using the word cult to describe SGI because they see it as unnecessarily pejorative. Theyre comfortable saying that SGI has cult-like aspects, but calling it a cult is going too far. Many of these members are the same ones who express dismay about SGIs seeming refusal to become less cult-like. They dont understand why SGIs leaders and members deliberately allow the organization to maintain financial secrecy, adulate Daisaku Ikeda and obsessively demonize Nichiren Shoshu, to name three common complaints. In my opinion, acknowledging that SGI is a cult helps to explain a lot.

Cults characteristically exert control over members behavior and the information members receive about the cult, as well as members thoughts and emotions. This is referred to as the BITE model of cult influence: Behavior, Information, Thought, Emotion.

Until around 1990, SGI leaders made no secret about telling members who to marry. They used to tell gays to chant to be straight. Men were told to shave their beards and mustaches if they wanted to be good members. Members wore uniforms. In other words, behavior was overtly controlled in SGI. But the organization is no longer so obvious in its influence on member behavior.

Members still receive personal guidance from leaders and are taught to behave cheerfully, subscribe to the publications, recruit new members and participate in as many SGI activities as possible to create good fortune. And, of course, SGI gets people to sit down and chant twice a day. But if this is behavior control, some may argue that its ultimately benign because chanting is unquestionably always a good thing. Plus, whats wrong with being cheerful?

Instead of making members follow strict rules of behavior, SGI influences members thoughts and emotions, which in turn influences behavior. For example, many SGI members are afraid to visit a Nichiren Shoshu or Nichiren Shu temple because they have been told that temples are infested with demons and slanderers. This serves to keep members from shopping for an alternative to SGI or discovering first-hand information about other sects. So just with this one phobia, SGI can control both behavior and information.

In cults, theres a common phenomenon known as thought stopping, a learned response to information and ideas that threaten or contradict the groups teachings.

In SGI, all criticism is dismissed as negativity. The moment we hear criticism, we label it negativity or anger and immediately discount it and stop listening. If a member cannot maintain a cheerful, grateful attitude toward SGI, that person is having a karma attack, an obstacle to their happiness that they must overcome so they can be positive and cheerful once again. One must be positive and cheerful to get benefits from chanting or so goes the conventional SGI wisdom.

Is our training to put on a happy face an example of thought stopping? I guess its debatable, but thats how Ive seen it used -- to get members to squelch their own critical faculties.

Alternatively, when someone has a problem with something in SGI, we say: Chant about it. Instead of fully discussing criticism and thinking things through, we are advised to chant. Chanting is a wonderful practice, certainly. But when chanting is employed as a remedy for free thought and inquiry -- or is used to rationalize the groups deceptions (or make us forget about them for the time being), chanting becomes nothing more than a thought-stopping technique.

The BITEness in SGI is pretty obvious, I think. This is how it goes: You start to chant and you like it. Members, leaders and publications keep telling you that SGI is the only legitimate venue for your Buddhist practice, the best and only sangha sanctioned by Nichiren.

You are encouraged to read the SGI publications, which continue to reinforce the groups messages. You are discouraged unavailable from seeking out unauthorized information or putting credence in anything that you read on the Internet. Uncomplimentary views of Daisaku Ikeda and SGI are explained away in advance by telling members that SGI has many enemies who are all jealous of the organizations vast wealth, success and millions of members.

Members may have persistent questions about doctrine, organizational policy or how to apply Buddhism in daily life. They may find that their questions are not adequately answered. Even so, many do not search for a more fulfilling sangha because they have been conditioned to make excuses for the SGIs failings. From the very beginning of our membership, it is impressed upon us that we must protect the SGI, preserve the unity of the members above all, and be the change we wish to see in the organization.

If there is a problem with the SGI, the fault is with the person who recognizes the fault, or with common human failings, or with the low life-condition of the group. The organization itself, at its core, is not to blame and should not be scrutinized or criticized.

Even if we allow ourselves to admit that there are fundamental, systemic problems with the SGI, we most likely believe that these problems are remediable. We honestly believe that the SGIs stated aims are its true aims. We assume that everyone is working in good faith toward the same goal of helping people to practice Nichiren Buddhism. The last thing we think is that SGI is a cult and is therefore not playing by the same rules as an open, progressive organization.

Some members say, So what if its a cult? SGI has helped me a lot, given me structure and a sense of purpose. Besides, I dont care about organizational stuff. I just care about practicing Buddhism correctly.

This is the most insidious thing about SGI, in my opinion: the organization distorts Nichiren Buddhism to undermine members autonomy and increase their dependence on SGI, and promotes this as correct practice.

For example, consider the fact that you do not own the SGI-issued Gohonzon enshrined in your home -- it is the property of SGI dead link . For a one-time fee, SGI will loan you a Nichikan Gohonzon, the banner of SGI. Leaders and members spread rumors that other Gohonzon are demon infested or dont work.

Some members think, Great! We have more unity in SGI because we all embrace the same edition of Gohonzon. Conformity is often praised as unity in SGI. But whats more insidious is that SGI inserts itself into the most sacred and central aspect of Nichiren Buddhism: the relationship between the practitioner and the Gohonzon.

If SGI owns your Gohonzon, its not such a leap to say that they own your practice. And if they own your practice, its not such a leap to say that they own a large share of your mind and heart. After all, the Gohonzon is not just a paper scroll, Nichiren teaches, but the very essence of our life itself.

To be a good SGI member, you must have a Gohonzon that is approved by SGI. Leaders may rationalize this as protecting the members unavailable, but even Gohonzon inscribed by Nichiren himself are not approved by SGI. Perhaps many members are relieved that they do not have to choose from the dozens of Nichiren-inscribed Gohonzon available for free. But my point is that SGI pays lip service to freedom of choice and diversity, yet there is no choice with regard to the most essential and personal aspect of Buddhist practice.

Granted, most SGI members do not believe that the teachings of Nichiren have been manipulated to serve the self-enriching interests of a cult. We have been told for so long that SGI serves all humanity. Serving SGI is wonderful, we are told, because SGI alone is fulfilling the Buddhas decree.

In other words, the group itself perpetuates a belief in the unquestionable greatness of the group.

Most destructive of all, I think, is that SGI members are indoctrinated to never give up. In Buddhism, never give up means never give up on your own life and practice, and to be persistent in your quest for liberation for yourself and all living beings. This is a great Buddhist attitude, I think.

But in SGI, never give up is often invoked to mean never give up on the organization. No matter if participation in SGI requires you to compromise your personal integrity, never give up. No matter how you have to rationalize and make excuses, never give up. No matter that leaders and members consistently insult or ignore you, never give up. Keep begging, keep pleading for change, keep smiling. Hold on to SGI, no matter how humiliating or intellectually dishonest it may be for you. After all, we are told, Nichiren never gave up.

To me, thats the poison in SGIs BITE: convincing members that an abject, cringing dependence on SGI is really something noble, brave and Buddhist. I think Nichiren would be appalled.

The good news is that no BITE control is 100 percent effective or 100 percent permanent. As I said earlier in one of my comments on this blog, "SGI is like a cage that members carry inside themselves." To my shame, I spent years helping SGI members build and reinforce this cage. I feel obligated to say unequivocally that this cage may feel safe but it's really no more than a trap. There is a way out.

Best wishes,
Lisa J.