Reader letters to BuddhaJones.com. Letters are separated by blank lines or bold headings.

...I read with interest the article on Jackie Stone unavailable as I knew she use to do translations for WT. Just a thought, as it is totally up to you, but maybe you can create a page with an amazon link that lists writings by members, fiction and non, outside of SGI. I'm assuming some members are actually interested in other members literary accomplishments, and a central list would help. Take care.
Peter

[Great idea. If you or someone you know has written a book and would like to be included in such a list, please send an e-mail.]

*

Hey, Kiddios. Love the new stuff. Wanted to drop a line to Fiji K. re: the bylaws unavailable. Those bylaws are for Japan. America has its own bylaws that you can ask to view at your SGI community center. And nope, that excerpt is not all that the bylaws say...but who cares about the bylaws in Japan?! Wanted also to make the point that just because the SGI bylaws say that we are the true inheritors of Nichiren's spirit, that just won't cut it. We gotta walk the talk, as someone else on your site said.
keeeses all around.
Malvy71

*

I am overjoyed to see the writings of two SGI members on your site: Ms. Berry unavailable and Mr. Semilian unavailable. At first I struggled with the length and sly wit of the Semilian piece, but was ultimately rewarded. It is actual proof that two such talented writers are working in America today, trying to inspire empowerment in others.
Deepest thanks,
Tammy in Dallas

*

I had no idea there was something fun, informative and which went to the HEART of correct practice on the internet.
Who are you?
Who funds you? (I mean, all that nice "free" animations expensive.)
I'm thinking about establishing a SIG for MENSA... an organization I joined and found to be a boor and quit. They do have SIG's listed in their monthly publication and it would be a great way to shakubuku people.
What a wonderful discovery... I was looking up Alessandra-Davila's web site and stumbled across you.
Regards, Steve

[I assume SIG stands for special interest group rather than Soka International Gakkai. It took me a minute to figure that out. I'm obviously not in MENSA. As for funds, we have none; we've always relied on the kindness of strangers.]

*

Whence I was told to die
I threw myself into the sky
And instead of death I found life anew
I found empowerment.
Now I love sky diving
But I am told severely it is against Buddhism
And I am disdained.
But I fly on.
Actual Proof @ http://www.waszir.htmlplanet.com
Ps. Sky diving with my determined Daimoku to get me out of despression has cured my severe ulcerative colitis. But I must fly ASAP. Lest I bleed soon again!
Am I a sinner?
---:) Who cares?
I'd rather be sky diving

[Hi, Waszir! Glad you're still with us.]

*

Hi there, I'm not sure if you are having problems with your site or my Macintosh is having attitude again. I am unable to load any of the new articles and many of the older stuff. Looking forward to reading the site... I've been told the new stuff is especially good.
M.

[If you're trying to access BuddhaJones using an AOL browser on a Mac, our site appears to be only semi-functional. It's the kiss-of-death combo for us (AOL & Mac) and we can't figure out why. We're planning to re-design the site in a few weeks and hope that will solve the problem. Sorry!]

*

I have one thing to say.
Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo
David G.
P.s., nicely worded writing from you sir.

*

Li-sa Jones. I see you have not published your long-ago-promised article about why the World Tribune is lame or NOT lame, depending on how brainwashed you still are. I wrote you once when you were working at the paper to tell you that your articles are shallow and stupid. You sent me a cheerful reply that had no sarcasm. I laughed my ass off. Then you ran away from the paper and the members. I don't care why you left your post. You QUIT. Adios. The paper went to hell, little by little, right after and you wont take responsibility. Now you sit there and mock us with Weird Tribune unavailable. I bet you won't ever say that in your article. IF we ever see this wonderful article of yours. I won't hold my breath.
XX,
P.O.

[Loving you is starting to hurt, P.O.]

*

The juxtaposition between President Ikeda's message unavailable to the World Tribune and your send up of the Weird Tribune unavailable was absolutely heartbreaking. When I re-read President Ikeda's vision for the paper I was struck by how we have fallen short. It is as if the paper has been hijacked by people who think that a smiley face equals faith. Your parody was biting, and I didn't laugh, I groaned. It is painful to have reflected back to me how weird we must look to those outside SGI. As a satirist you have done your job because I feel now that the World Tribune has been an "inside joke" that we all put up with, but it has to change. We must change it to be in tune with President Ikeda's mandate. My grudging thanks,
Sal

*

Liking Buddhism unavailable. Now that's funny. The organization department will be sending you a cease-and-desist letter any day now.
Luv,
Scott

*

Dear Lisa:
In regard to money within SGI-USA, I think it would be good to have an open accounting before the May contributions. It is my understanding that this is common practice in mainstream christian and buddhist denominations.

If we are being supported by Japan and not pulling our own weight in regard to supporting our community centers, that should be brought out into the open. That may even encourage more donations.

We are a great organization. We have nothing to hide.
Sincerely,
RBK

*

Thank you for your site. It is important.

I am 51 years old and have been chanting since 1975. I was really a gung ho-er and a district leader and had done all the stuff; parades, etc. Had to leave the organization to be able to chant for my own on my own. The last 20 of those years were spent unconnected to any form of the organization NSA or SGI-USA as it is called today. I just recently learned of the Sho Hondo and the power struggle that is going on. I was taking a plane ride with a friend who also chants and he said that he was going to do Gongyo before dinner and I said "me too, I guess". At that moment I realized that I hadn't done Gongyo with another human in those twenty years. I had also become stagnant in my life. But that's my situation and is not meant to reflect anything to anyone else. (Unless it actually does and then "cool").

But that moment changed my life and I am grateful. I am connected again. Better. Stronger. To my buddha. To the other buddhas in my life. My wife is one. She doesn't chant but man what a boddhisatva! She has become the conduit for all my diamoku. And like the Gohonzon, she is my mirror too. I guess what this is leading to is that I needed people to connect. And I am grateful to be chanting and moving forward again. You and your site are part of this. What you have accomplished is important and is creating value and affecting the world in a positive way. Your writings reflect your courage in the face of your doubts.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo can overcome even the organizations that prosilitize it. Because, afterall, like Soylent Green, it's made of people.
David Leisure

*

Dear Buddhajones,
I am from a country far away from yours -- India. Your website is truly refreshing. The reform issue in the US has really got me thinking. Being an SGI member I do believe that in true Buddhist spirit the organisation just like a human being has to continually evolve (what we call human revolution). Unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the spirit of many of the leaders. All over the world.

At any stage when we look at critcism of fellow members in isolation of their individual suffering and our own self-reflection-- we are going against both, the Daishonin's and President Ikeda's spirit. Surely these members (those who have signed the reform decleration) have suffered a great deal or are talking on behalf of those who have truly suffered at the hands of certain leaders or because of certain behaviour justified by some seemingly harmless guidelines. They don't seem to be against the organisation -- but the fanaticism it is breeding.

I have been to the US a number of times recently. And I have personally interacted with the most wonderful people (SGI members). I have observed that the sincerest of them (sincere about their practice and seeking true Buddhism) are definitely isolated and treated very shabbily for unbelievable reasons.
1. They ask questions that challenge both a leaders open-mindedness as well as knowledge.
2. They expect rational explanations for any sudden changes made in the organisation.
3. They have the courage to accept that their meetings are not inspiring and suggest innovative ways to make them more effective...

While I do not subscribe to the method of an organised reform declaration. I strongly believe that it is not brought about by members trying to mislead others. It is definitely a result of leaders who are resisting their own human revolution and in the process damaging the organisation more than any reform declaration can.
AA.

*

Nichiren was known to be an example of courage and wisdom. If you follow Nichiren, courage and wisdom will emerge in your life. When he wrote "On Securing Peace of the Land" Gosho, he was accused of being "political". If your concern is to end your society's and other people's sufferings, as Nichiren wanted, you'd use your voice, invite for debates and present to the authorities your vision, call it also Peace Proposals. There is nothing new in complaining against the SokaGakkai, and critics will never match the aggression of the militarists who, during the II W W - themselves being War Criminals -, banned the organisation and imprisoned its leaders as being "Thought Criminals".

Buddhism is concerned with removing sufferings from people's *current* life. it is concerned with peace and security of the society, and holds high esteem for all human beings as carriers of the Enlightened Law of the Universe. Whether we like it or not, the SGI is a function in society which works for peace according to Nichiren's teachings, and the word dialogue is another expression of the principle of the Sutra : "Voice does the Buddha's work". Dialogue requires also high culture of interested people, and here you find that peace-culture and education are inseparable.
Darshams

*

Dear Lisa,
Thanks for your thoughtful response to the Reform Declaration. I was one of the original signers of the Declaration and I too find points that I disagree with and points that I don't care about. Some are the same as those you bring up some are different. I put my name on the Declaration for many reasons but primarily because there are some points that I agree strongly with, and because I wanted to show by example that disagreement with the SGI does not necessarily lead directly to the Avichi Hell, or loss of all benefit. My hope is that by taking the all or nothing position that we did, we will make it easier for people to speak up about their individual concerns.

In retrospect I wish we had made the Declaration less dogmatic. I don't think there's a single signer of the Declaration that agrees with every point. What we all agree on is that the SGI-USA needs to foster an atmosphere where open dialogue can occur, and members with differening opinions are respected not refuted. The declaration says we are concerned about the "my way or the highway" one true sect rhetoric of the SGI. The declaration sounds alot like that too. I want to personally apologize for that tone.
Bill Anker

*

Are you a fan of the tv show Buffy the Vampire Slayer? I bet you'd write a great episode of this show.
Mike Rudnick
Bedminster, NJ

Brooke is so very Buffy.

*

Dear Lisa,
Congratulations on the June 26, 2002 issue of BuddhaJones. I greatly enjoyed the two articles on the reform movement by you and Mr. Hardey. For obvious reasons I don't agree with everything in them, but I most heartily applaud your publication of them and your support for ongoing dialogue on these issues. In a very real sense, that is at the heart and soul of the reform movement within the SGI-USA. In your article, referring to the recently published Reform Movement Declaration, you wrote:

<< Part of me would like to sign in solidarity with the people who wrote it, because they're now being slandered and dissed. I'm disgusted that some leaders want to drive the reformers out of the organization. That's just not right. But, no, I wouldn't sign the declaration. Going through it point-by-point, there are too many things I disagree with.>>

...which makes me think about a very important (in my opinion) shortcoming of the Declaration. It can be taken as containing a list of "all or nothing" demands, which is not its intent. In retrospect, I would preface the "signed by" section of names at the end with something like this:

"Although we do not necessarily agree with all of the points in the Declaration, we lend our names in support of open and honest DIALOGUE AND DISCUSSION of these issues, confident that such exchanges, coupled with sincere faith, can lead to meaningful reform of our organization."

If we can publicly and reasonably discuss these issues, we can move forward. As long as the leadership fears this and tries to stifle it, no real growth is possible, and we are at risk of failing of the promise that our great organization offers. This would be a great shame. Certainly discussion and debate can be uncomfortable at times, but as Mr. Hardey said in his article:

<< I hereby declare that I am in favor of increased discomfort among members of SGI-USA! >>

And as the Daishonin said:

"Take suffering as suffering, enjoy pleasures for what they are, and whether in suffering or joy, continue chanting Namu-myoho-renge-kyo. How can this not be the joy of the Dharma received for oneself? Muster the strong power of faith all the more."

...nobody said it would be easy!

At the end of your article you wrote:

<< I think that the reformers sincerely want the SGI-USA to be a great place for everyone to practice Buddhism. Their views about the problems in SGI-USA are not the only views, of course. And their suggestions for improvement are not the only ones worthy of consideration. Instead of blasting these members or pretending that the declaration is not "pertinent," I think SGI-USA should thank the reformers for presenting a good springboard for dialogue. >>

Well, I thank YOU for having the courage to address these issues and encourage discussion of them. In further praise (I think you can handle it! >8^), I think that what BuddhaJones offers, in its diversity of views and equal representation for all opinions, both serious and frivolous, should be a model for a reformed publications policy at SGI Plaza. Would that the World Tribune would publish alternative and opposing views, reinstate and expand its letters section, and actually promote "expanding dialogue," rather than simply using those words as an empty and meaningless slogan.
Best regards,
Andy Hanlen
-- contributor to the Reform Movement Declaration
-- founding member of the IRG