In the days of Shakyamuni Buddha, the only way that he and his monks and nuns could survive was through donations. People gladly gave them food and shelter. This is how the Buddhist order was sustained.

In Nichiren Buddhism -- well, in Soka Gakkai -- we don't really have a monastic group of teachers, but we have an organization that provides meeting places and, well, organization. The organization is sustained through the sale of books and publications, but mostly through the willing financial contributions of members.

I traditionally defend the organization's right to keep private all the info about its finances. By law, SGI-USA does not have to tell the public how much money they receive and from whom, or where it goes. So they don't. Many other churches and nonprofit organizations do disclose this information even though they don't have to.

I used to be glad that SGI didn't make this info public. I have seen how people who hate Soka Gakkai will take even the most innocuous facts and turn them into "proof" of something sinister.

My attitude on this matter has changed recently because of two things. First, I recognized that my own attitude toward money can be irresponsible. Second, I am trying to buy a house and have developed a new awareness of all things financial.

First, I have a trusting nature. I assume the best of everyone, even if I end up getting burned. For instance, my friends have seen me fall for the sob stories of people begging for money on Third Street Promenade. I look like an easy mark. I shell out ten bucks. Then, the very next week, the very same guy will approach me with the very same sob story about how his car broke down and he needs cab fare! I know I've been conned, but still I wish I could give ten bucks to everybody who asks.

I like to be generous and I don't care about getting anything in return. As you can see, my tendency to be generous borders on irresponsibility. Am I really helping people if I am reinforcing the idea that they don't have to be accountable or financially responsible? Through my irresponsibility I am basically facilitating irresponsibility in others.

I should stress that making financial contributions to SGI-USA is not like giving money to people on the street. No one in SGI has ever asked me to give money. The reason I give is because I have great fortune in my life due to my Buddhist practice. I make contributions as a way of giving back to the organization that has given me a lot. I give twenty bucks here, a hundred bucks there. My motivation is gratitude. Also, I find joy in being able to share my good fortune with others.

The part about trust and accountability does apply to SGI though. There's a fine line between being trusting and being negligent in exercising due diligence. Such big words I throw around these days! What I mean is that it's our responsibility as contributors to see that our contributions are used in a responsible way.

The part of me that doesn't want to know where the SGI's money goes is the same part of me that doesn't know where my own money goes! I'd rather just spend what I want whenever I want and not really think about it.

I do not have infinite amounts of money at my disposal however. Now, with buying my first house, I am feeling kind of poor. I had to take a hard look at my money habits.

In the past month I have disclosed everything about my finances to total strangers. Talk about feeling naked! At first I felt defensive, but then I understood that people were just doing their jobs in figuring out if I'm responsible enough to handle a mortgage.

Being financially naked makes sense to me now. For one thing it demonstrates that you have nothing to hide. And it gives you a chance to show off your assets. ;-)

Bottom line: If you want people to trust you with money, you have to show that you're accountable and responsible. Besides, after the Enron monkey business, providing honest financial disclosure seems like the right thing to do for every corporation in any position of public trust.

If members knew how much it costs to provide them with the things they take for granted, I bet they'd be more than happy to pitch in even more than they do. That's the best reason I can think of for SGI-USA to open its books, or at least show exactly where member contributions go. Wouldn't it be excellent to see a pie chart in the World Tribune that shows what percentage of the contributions goes where?

Another good reason to get the financial house in order is because lots of SGI members have grown totally rich in fortune over the years and they are thinking about what they want to do with their money when they die. I heard third-hand about a member who wants to endow a full-time job for a person to focus on developing the SGI-USA study curriculum. That's brilliant! The only problem is that to administer something like that, SGI-USA would need accounting staff or some kind of auditor.

I have a hunch that the reason why SGI-USA does not provide financial disclosure is because there aren't enough professional accountants working for the organization to compile and disclose info. It would cost a lot to hire a team of outside auditors, but I would contribute funds if I knew they were earmarked to pay the auditor's tab. The benefits of being able to finance things like a Study Maven outweigh any extra administrative costs in my opinion.

Member contributions to the organization are basically sacred money. I said at the beginning that I am trusting, and I know I can trust the organization. I have learned in my own life, though, that if you want to move beyond where you've always been (renting, in my case) you have to get your finances in order and open your books.

Being responsible about finances is part of growing up. And, honey, SGI-USA is getting way too old to not account for every dollar. ;-)

That's my two cents, which is all I can afford right now.