Hey, you. Ever been in a cult? Wait, let me rephrase that. Have you ever been a member of a group that uses emotional manipulation to keep you among the ranks?
Did they tell you that bad things would happen to you if you left, and worse things would happen to you if you ever criticized the group? Did they claim that if you did everything right, you would reap benefits and rewards and be on the fast track to enlightened salvation?
Any of that ring a bell? If so, you might be interested in this story in the LA Times about a survivor of a high-pressure, abusive cult of personality: Emerging from a notorious hell of abuse to counsel others.
In other news, the lay leader of a Nichiren Shoshu temple in the UK has been accused of sexual harassment, according to this article in the Daily Mirror. (UPDATE: Please see corrections in the comments.)
Meantime, Soka Gakkai seeks to recruit a larger share of the Latino market:
William Aiken, director of public affairs for Soka Gakkai International, says ...
"The growth of Latino Buddhist can be in part due to our number of growing Latinos holding leadership positions. We have a great deal of Hispanics who are essential to coordinating the expansion of this community," he says.
And in South Carolina, one person was apparently so eager to connect with Soka Gakkai that she drove her car into a community center. On accident.
Richland County deputies say a 77-year-old woman rammed her Toyota Camry into Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist organization....Deputies say the driver confused the accelerator with the brake, which led to the accident
As long as she doesn't confuse the true teaching of Soka with the demonic teachings of everyone else, she should be fiiine.
The author of a new biography about Sonia Gandhi notes that Gandhi's dialogue with Daisaku Ikeda "was interesting as it happened just nine months after the assassination , and to the best of my knowledge is one of the few recorded exchanges of that time."
Nichiren Shu is helping monks find love. Japan's monks turn to wife matchmaking parties:
Ageing populations and shrinking birthrates combined with the often solitary life of a monk have resulted in growing concerns surrounding the hereditary succession of temples.As a result, one such matchmaking event was recently organised by a consultation office at the headquarters of the Buddhist order Nichiren Shu.
Sounds like fodder for a Bravo TV Series: Meet My Monks. Who Wants To Marry a Monk? Monk Housewives of Mount Fuji.
Ba-dum-bum. Thanks, folks. I'll be here all week.
11 comments
You gotta be kidding me! "Bodhisattva Troll King" is grousing to Mark Rogow that the "Feminazi Brook" kicked him off BuddhaJones "like a dog."According to Troll King, sexism doesn't exist in America or in Buddhism.And, on his own message board, Mark Porter similarly claims that misogyny does not exist in Nichiren Buddhism or the Nichiren sangha.Hmmm. Methinks we now know the identity of "Bodhisattva Troll King."Wanna know what I think? Men need to take responsibility for educating ourselves about sexism. We need to take responsibility for recognizing it and calling out our fellows and brothers for sexist behavior and remarks.Men need to get a clue. Seriously, guys, if you don't see the sexism in our culture AND in our institutions (including Buddhist groups!!) you're not paying attention. Instead, you're living in your own little bubble of privilege.Here's a link to a good summary of online sexism -- what it is, how it works, how f*cked up it is.#mencallmethings
Here's another good link...http://feministing.com/2011/11...
This is a corker -
Evidently they were not only strong but wise!Some words are best not used around people who don't understand them! P^)There has also been an odd report from Brazil.It seems that a local government institution has voted to add the founding of the Brazilian Gakkai to the National Clendar - on a regional basis anyway!http://www.aquidauananews.com/......and as for monks and marriage - "Desperate Monks"? They do need to get inventive or it will all end up like The Golden Girls!
I was surprised by the report on N Shu in the UK, as the basic language did not fit UK legal language.The link provided was also not working!It seems the story relates to Sri Lanka - and the original story text can be checked at - http://www.amarasara.info/hotn...I was also surprised by a claim that the Daily Mirror Newspaper in the UK would even know how to spell Nichiren Shu - never mind Harassment! Think Tattler or National enquirer.It's sad, but even journalists have to eat!
Nine Lives, ten2one is right. That Nichiren Shoshu bit happened in Sri Lanka -- LK, not UK.http://www.dailymirror.lk/news...
He's not. Have you ever known Mark to hide his identity? Say what you will about him, he does not hide from responsibility for what he writes or says.
You guys are right. Thanks for catching my mistake.
If people want to participate on this website, I urge them to do so anonymously. Some say that anonymity is an invitation to be a jerk online. Sometimes, that's how it works out.The upside of anonymity is that it allows you to separate your ego/sense of self from what you write online. This offers freedom to try out new ideas and express ideas about topics without feeling personally invested in how your ideas are received. This website is interested in a free exchange of ideas, even if those ideas are controversial or contrary to the "party line" in Nichiren Buddhism.Also, I think a healthy discussion involves the freedom to attack other points of view. There's a fine line between attacking an argument or an attitudes and attacking the person who holds the argument or attitude. As the designated moderator here, I'm willing to give a lot of leeway regarding attacks, as long there's some substance -- as long as the "attacker" is making points related to Buddhist beliefs, practices, and attitudes.To put it bluntly, this is a place where participants can criticize and be criticized. It goes better, I think, when people keep their egos out of it as much as possible.Also, there is a long, well-documented history of Nichiren Buddhists being open about their identities and outspoken on the internet, then being personally harassed by rival groups or disgruntled members of one sect or another. Please use anonymity for your own protection.All that said, I don't like people on this board trying to "out" other participants. If someone chooses to use an alias, that is allowed and encouraged. Don't try to figure out who's posting here. If you do figure something out (or think you've figured it out) DO NOT post speculation about identities.
Hell - we can all get it wrong!I'm sure that you confusing a .lk for a .uk is a minor sin!BUT, I have to admit - thinking that the Daily Mirror UK was worth quoting is unforgivable! Even the Big N was careful with his quotes - But, then again he did have the advantage of not dealing with the trash media in his day!
The subject says it all! Personally, I love it when Mary Joe Beth posts, as well as when Baburam Bhattarai Perkins-Smith gets down and dirty with the gloves off.Such a pity that Elvis has not posted for a while, but I understand that cryogenics does make typing and issue. Anonymousely yours!