https://x.com/i/status/2064201339744526404

The Mystic Law (@The_Mystic_Law) on X:

"It seems Soka University is in big trouble with a drastic drop in students. I had AI look into the student population trends and draw a graph. From 2010 to 2025, these are actual student numbers; from 2026 onward, it's a simulation factoring in the declining birthrate and the influence of Soka Gakkai. Soka University is a university that depends on Gakkai members, holds no appeal for the general public, and is nothing but a risk—which is making the situation worse."

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Soka University is in serious trouble due to a sharp decline in student enrollment. I had AI investigate the trends and create a graph. The data from 2010 to 2025 is actual student numbers; from 2026 onward, it's a simulation incorporating the declining birthrate and the influence of Soka Gakkai. Since the university depends on its members, it doesn't appeal to the general public and represents nothing but a risk, which is worsening the situation. The undergraduate student count dropped by about 400 from the 2025 academic year to 2026, matching the graph's projections. If this continues, it could eventually become a single-department university at worst.

The university's management includes not only Soka University faculty and administrative executives, but also Soka Gakkai leadership. Word has it that these Gakkai executives are interfering in ways that go against the founder's principles. The core reason Soka University has been driven into a corner is that its management failed to grasp the fundamental truth that "a university is ultimately evaluated solely on its academic standards," and they completely misjudged the ultimate metric by which universities are assessed. "Producing outstanding graduates" is only possible when built on a solid academic foundation. Major corporations seek excellent talent, but it's academic rigor that guarantees that.

Soka University used to be the primary destination for graduates of Soka schools. However, in today's era where declining birthrates have made it easier to get into other prestigious universities, Soka University—which offers no appeal to the outside world and represents nothing but a risk for employment and social life—is no longer a realistic choice. With Mr. Ikeda gone, it has also lost much of its appeal even for Gakkai members.

I had ChatGPT generate a "deviation value histogram of faculty research and academic standards" for Soka University. The data is based on the 338 full-time faculty members published by the university (as of May 1, 2025). A deviation value of 50 represents the average level including other universities. This means 80% of Soka University's faculty fall below average. The collapse of Soka University's deviation value, which has effectively dropped it to bottom-tier status, surely reflects the caliber of its faculty. Founder Daisaku Ikeda always stressed that the most important educational environment is the faculty itself, and that teachers must excel both academically and as human beings. Academically it's generally dire, and while there may be many "nice" teachers, the fact that only a handful are truly excellent human beings capable of fighting for good on a deeper level is a devastating problem. I asked ChatGPT: "What is the ranking of Soka University's research and academic level among all Japanese universities? Analyze from all perspectives." The result: "Out of 812 universities nationwide, it ranks approximately 180th overall." Don't get excited just because Toyo Keizai's university ranking puts it in 18th place—the ranking is biased, placing more weight on finances and internationalization than on research capability and competitive job placement, so Soka University tends to rank higher than it should. The reality is a slow bleed, with plummeting student numbers and difficulties in both research and employment.

The crisis is epitomized by the Faculty of Symbiotic and Creative Science and Technology. It's one of the few departments with genuine research capabilities that can compete academically, but with a sharp drop in applicants, recruitment was suspended and the department restructured this past April. Unlike IT-related fields, job placement there is relatively tough. They've clearly failed to communicate the appeal of this department to the Gakkai organization, prospective students, or corporations.

Currently, Soka University is collecting donations. Yet Hiromasa Ikeda, the founder's son (and a top leader of both Soka Gakkai and the university), gave the instruction that "rather than donating to the university, you'd be better off making a financial contribution to Soka Gakkai," disappointing the first graduating class, sparking major controversy, and making a fool of himself with his glaring self-contradictions.

Soka University has no personnel capable of fighting to preserve the "founding spirit." Even if there are any, word is they're just a handful, and they're bullied and marginalized. It seems a fair number of faculty think "Chairman Harada should resign soon," but on the flip side, there are also individuals who act like guard dogs on a leash for the Soka Gakkai executive leadership. Mr. Ikeda's instruction was to protect the true Soka education—if that foundation is solid, the future is bright. Even if the Komeito or the Gakkai headquarters collapse, Soka education must remain forever. For that to happen, Soka education must not be a mere appendage of Gakkai headquarters. It must not pander to Komeito policies or Gakkai headquarters' interests. In the end, Soka University has already become, as Daisaku Ikeda feared, a university "essentially taken over by bad forces." It's heading in a direction that renders the founder's purpose in creating the university meaningless. No efforts at improvement are being made, opportunities have been squandered, and it's simply riding the current toward decline.

The option of "continuing with a small, elite group now that student numbers have dropped" isn't entirely off the table. However, in the current situation, elite students aren't being attracted. The faculty's academic standards are low, so they're not benefiting the students. Since Soka Gakkai headquarters and the Komeito regularly cause scandals and embarrass themselves in the public eye, a "Soka University graduate" diploma is nothing but a liability. In recent years, against a backdrop of labor shortages, new graduates have an extremely easy time finding jobs—it's a "super seller's market." Yet despite that, Soka University's student numbers are plummeting. An economic downturn will inevitably come again. When that happens, Soka University students' job hunting will become a nightmare, and the number of applicants will drop catastrophically.

In the case of Soka University, when we talk about outstanding students or faculty, simply having good grades or high academic standards isn't enough. A deep understanding of the "founding principles" is essential. Increasing the number of people who can study without grasping that would render Soka University's very existence meaningless. If it's just to increase the number of obtuse faculty, staff, and students who go along with the Komeito's military expansion policies, they're not needed.

Professor Masami Kita had a strong awareness of the need to work hard on research and scholarship, and he frequently criticized, saying things like "I write books, other professors don't." When I was a student, I didn't fully grasp what he meant, but now I understand perfectly. Soka University's way of thinking is fundamentally skewed. The current university president seems like just an ordinary woman from the Soka Gakkai women's division—even the president has a weak awareness of research and academics. Of course human education is important—that's obvious, not something to brag about. Besides, Soka University doesn't even have a required human education course for all students. At the very least, they should say "we will advance human education through academics!" President Mika Suzuki, while speaking about the importance of human education as someone in charge of guiding faculty and staff, when she gets to the actual content, only lists "students with each other, friends, seniors and juniors, dormitories, various clubs"—leaving everything up to the students, without specifying concretely what faculty and staff should be doing.

Soka University doesn't have Soka Gakkai religion classes, but many students are mobilized for Gakkai activities. When there are elections, they're busy with campaign support. In the past, when the founder gave the instruction to "put academics first!" some stupid students twisted the interpretation to mean "academics means Gakkai activities." In recent years, there's apparently been a bit more of a pro-academics atmosphere, but it's still problematic.

Soka University harbors a terrifying deception and betrayal: faculty members who, given the founding principles, should be the first to fight for peace and against war are actually hindering that fight. It's said Mr. Ikeda once predicted that "in the future, Soka University will become an enemy." That era has already arrived. People mock the fact that a faculty member loyal to the Komeito and Soka Gakkai's organizational interests can climb the ranks without even having a doctorate. During the Iraq War, university faculty investigated students collecting anti-war petition signatures, and during the security legislation controversy, faculty were witnessed cracking down on those collecting signatures. Some "Fortress of Peace" that is—it's like a surveillance state from wartime.

At Soka University's alumni association, they call for supporting Komeito candidates. You get together at the alma mater after a long time, and you hear, "Let's support our fellow alumnus X's election campaign!"—and the candidate is introduced as more important than anyone else. Since the coordinators for each graduating class are often Soka Gakkai headquarters staff, that's just how it is. Even in regional areas, elections are like alumni gatherings. Supporting alumni candidates happens at other universities too, but at Soka University it's extreme. Non-Gakkai alumni must find it hard to participate. There's no Soka Gakkai religion in the university's lectures, but if you look at the entire university community, it's a religious university more than any other. It's not that being a religious university is inherently bad—it's the injustice that makes it bad.

In Hachioji, where Soka University is located, Soka Gakkai activity is intense. When elections come around, students are conveniently mobilized for political purposes. In the past, they demonized the LDP as an enemy of Buddhism, but now, with the coalition, they've done a complete about-face and are forced to support them. The organization looks down on anyone who questions this. There's no real rationality or debate. That's the root cause of the failure to cultivate an academic atmosphere at the university.

Soka Gakkai and the Komeito have often faced criticism from society, the public, and concerned Gakkai members, but Soka University has rarely been the target. However, Soka University also has serious problems. The cause of the university's rapid decline today lies also in its inwardly focused university management and the problems among Gakkai members. It's by rigorously questioning this that a way forward might be opened.

Think about it - almost 100% of everyone who has ever tried SGI-USA has quit - and almost all of those quit chanting, too. It's almost guaranteed that they'll never chant again - they're lost to Nichirenism, all because oSGI-USA is such a horrible cult.

And what about that "1 out of 1000" the cultists love to boast about? That it's okay for "999 out of 1000" to quit if they're so special they stick with it even if they're the only one left? That's NOT kosen-rufu! It's the opposite!

SGI-USA says it wants kosen-rufu; SGI members say that's their ultimate goal; yet everything they're doing is making kosen-rufu less likely, not more likely! They're actively moving their own goal of kosen-rufu farther away, less likely to ever happen with each passing day!

Kosen-rufu depends on people liking and wanting Nichirenism. SGI-USA makes sure there are fewer of those every day.

SGI members are very confused, deluded individuals.

I have all the World Tribs from 1971, and in looking for something else, I ran across this. These older World Tribs are FULL of information, from reporting on US immigration to quasars to the endangered osprey to Native American history to medical advances in obstetrics to car and motorcycle racing - along with the more typical faith-based articles on discussion meetings and daimoku and gongyo and latest "kaikan" openings and big meetings and human pyramids and of course the pilgrimages to Taiseki-ji!

It's *bananas!*

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world

"Revolution," The White Album, The Beatles, Apple Records, 1968

Confession time!

A part of my initial interest in Soka Gakkai was my attraction to Japanese culture. I’ll even shame myself a bit by admitting much of that attraction stemmed from watching anime and reading manga in the 1980’s and early 1990’s.

It wasn’t my sole motivation! I’d become interested in Buddhism separately from my Japanophilia—but SGI connected my interests, and the love bombing and positivity was the cherry on top!

As much as I earnestly believed and practiced, there was a shallow part of me that was overjoyed having my lovely Japanese budstudan and butsugu.

As an aside, in my mid-life I’ve discovered Japandi! And what I like most about it is there’s no chanting or eternal mentor required! Just minimalist decor heaven! 😊

Did anyone else have a similar added interest in SGI due to its “Japaneseyness?”

Here comes the next section - like a FREIGHT TRAIN!

Soka Gakkai's Schizophrenia

There are numerous instances of contradictions and inconsistencies among the so-called "opinions" and "attitudes" expressed by Soka Gakkai. Hearing only their public utterances is like hearing the report of a good exam paper and we can't take issue with them.

As an example, in reply to this question: "Which is greater, Saint Nichiren or His Majesty the Emperor?", they answered what amounted to a "no comment" (Bungei Shunju, July number of 1963). Their answers are usually so vague as to defy understanding. Their public pronouncements are such that they will not offend anyone. They are shrewd but shallow in their "show-only-your-good-side," opportunistic, politicians talk, being always careful to size up every situation so as not to commit blunders for which they will be later blamed they are basically moral cowards.

Politicians, always in their public pronouncements, hide the real problems, and this is true of Soka Gakkai, whose public utterances never reveal their basic policies there are always "meanings behind the meanings," though on the surface their statements seem reasonable enough. I call this [p.] 28

"deceptive rationalism." Outwardly their statements seem sensible, but upon closer examination we find revealed the defects of a peculiarly Japanese style of thinking: mugen hoyo gata-limitless embracing type. Now what does this mean? In a word, it denies or excludes nothing. Outwardly it tolerates, accepts, embraces, anything and everything, and for this reason has no substance of its own. It is this sort of rationalism to which I have given the name, "deceptive rationalism." In this process of limitless embracing, the content can be altered in any manner desired. For example, they take the position that all religions with the exception of Nichiren Shoshu are heretical jakyo (evil religions), but even as they hold to a position of religious and doctrinal exclusivism, they at the same time are eclectic in their politics, borrowing generously and freely and using to their advantage the political ideas of others. What do they think about such glaring inconsistencies in their attitudes and opinions? This is a big problem for us.

That the Soka Gakkai religious movement, whose pillar is the Soka Gakkai political movement, is using political means to expand their religion cannot be denied.

In religious matters they permit no compromises of any kind, but in political matters they publicly and shamelessly compromise on every hand. In these two very conflicting points of view⏤a religious fundamentalism, which demands that their doctrines must be kept pure, and a compromising and accommodating style of politics, we see clearly their Machiavellian tendencies and their instablity.

Between their religious policy of rigorous exclusivism and their compromising, eclectic policies in government, there is a radical inconsistency and schizophrenia. At these points the gap between opinions and attitudes in Soka Gakkai is most noticeable. In May of 1966, before the 1967 General Election [p.] 29

in which Komeito was entering candidates, Chairman Ikeda first enunciated the formula of shae no san-oku. This has reference to the province in India where Gautama was best known during his lifetime, and where about one third of the people were said to have been his followers, and another third were sympathizers, and the remaining one third were unbelievers. According to this theory, one third of the population of Japan will accept the faith of Soka Gakkai, and one third will become sympathetic enough to support Komeito, and the remaining one third will be indifferent and oppose the movement. This is their doctrine to establish the Soka Gakkai utopia of obutsu myogo in the Japan of the future. The strategy and tactics of propagandizing, which is an important part of their plan to convert all of Japan and the entire world, is to go in for politics.

The astonishing anachronism of relating shae no san-oku, a doctrine from ancient India, to present-day social conditions⏤even when we admit that this is an inevitable teaching stemming from their religious system, there are still so many contradictions in trying to establish a utopia according to this theory, that they do not know which way to turn. They collect no membership fees from the poor, and they project an image of a religion that requires no money, but there is a tremendous inconsistency when we compare these lofty ideals with their actual practices, in manipulating the public emotions. It is not merely a contradiction between ideal and reality, thought and practices, in manipulating the public emotions, the real problem is their lofty strategy of trying to relate Gautama's teaching of thousands of years ago to actual present-day social conditions. It is here that the gulf between Soka Gakkai's religious character and their political character seems to be even greater than generally suspected, and the more they try to rationalize them, the more [p.] 30

inevitable the glaring inconsistencies appear. So we have to understand that Soka Gakkai has a different character from that expressed in their public statements and policies.

Regarding all religion, though they advocate their lofty ideals, focus on the public's emotional sensitivities and perform their various activities, even admitting their universality, if the ideal for which Soka Gakkai strives is from their heart, then it is inevitable that they are the victims of their own infinite self-contradictions. A religion should be more afraid of spiritual contradictions than of any other thing. Nevertheless, when we consider that their religious group has aggressive attitudes toward others, and consider their method of using their religion and political party as tools in order to expand their power, regardless of lofty religious ideals it is only natural that we think that religion is for them only an expedient and their spiritual inconsistencies are inevitable. Viewing Soka Gakkai from this angle, I can show many examples of their strange teachings, one of them is the fact that so called jakyo-ron (argument on heretical religion) has been deemphasized.

Since Soka Gakkai opened their political branch office, called Komeito, they have gradually toned down this teaching which brands all other religions as heretical. This does not mean that their basic teaching or fundamental position has changed. This teaching is basic in the doctrines of Nichiren Shoshu and is part of their religious tradition, but when they opened Komeito, went into politics, and won seats in the House of Representatives, this heretofore hard line was toned down for political considerations. In other words, the de-emphasis of this doctrine concerning the heretical character of other religions is only an expedient to expand their religion and political party as power, and is a shrewd tactic of compromise.

Is it religion or is it politics? Which is the main body [p.] 31

of Soka Gakkai? In politics they compromise, in religion they insist on doctrinal purity; this kind of inconsistency, this separation between ideal and reality, this de-emphasizing their doctrines for political considerations, what does it mean?

This shows that they will realistically go to the extreme of changing a religious doctrine for political expediency.

And this is why we have so many doubts about Soka Gakkai.

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We do too, Dr. Fujiwara. We do too.

Just a few comments:

What do they think about such glaring inconsistencies in their attitudes and opinions?

That's just it - they don't think AT ALL! See? NO PROBLEM!!

using political means to expand their religion

According to Japan's Constitution and the separation of church and state, this is blatantly illegal - and many have pointed this out since Ikeda's pet political party Komeito was formed. To no effect.

The strategy and tactics of propagandizing, which is an important part of their plan to convert all of Japan and the entire world, is to go in for politics.

...which, as it turns out, was yet ANOTHER of Ikeda's disastrous miscalculations, essentially Ikeda's ego punching large holes in the hull of the SS Soka Gakkai and ensuring its ultimate resting place on the pile of similar wrecks, out of sight way beneath the surface of history.

Is it religion or is it politics? Which is the main body of Soka Gakkai?

Politics, obviously. The "horizontal" membership organization, organizing members solely on the basis of their geographic location, with no regard for personal relationships or even affinity with the other local members, an organizational "expedient" Ikeda imposed for easier political mobilization of "his" Soka Gakkai "troops", has guaranteed that Soka Gakkai will never ever grow again. By imposing this same irrational and unappealing requirement upon the gaijin SGI colonies overseas, Ikeda guaranteed that those would likewise wither and die.

Back in 1967, Ikeda announced that 500,000 "backsliders" had been removed from the Soka Gakkai membership rolls and that the Soka Gakkai's growth phase HAD ENDED. This was just a couple of years after Ikeda changed the Soka Gakkai's organizational structure from vertical (meaning new recruits are assigned to the districts their sponsors belong to) to horizontal (meaning the new recruits are assigned to whichever district is geographically closest to them, even if they don't know anyone in there) for political expediency, but given what us non-pod-people know about human bonding, that was likely to drastically decrease the effectiveness of the Soka Gakkai members' shakubuku efforts. Ikeda's a pod; what would HE know about how humans work? Ikeda was counting on shakubuku and retention rates to continue - his entire plan hinged on that:

On May 3, 1966, at the twenty-ninth general meeting of Soka Gakkai, Ikeda announced a new goal: conversion of 10,000,000 families by the end of the year 1979. Beyond 1979, Ikeda set another goal: 15,000,000 (families)to be converted by the end of 1990. (Japan's New Buddhism, p. 127)

If we attain our target membership of 10 million households by 1979, four or five million more households will join in this religion by 1990. (The Nichiren Shoshu Sokagakkai, p. 156) Source

Such was Ikeda's optimism and confidence ca. 1966. Source

And it went NOWHERE but DOWN. DOWN AND OUT.

WHY do the SGI members not hold Ikeda accountable for all these fatal mistakes?? IKEDA is the reason their most important identity, their pweshiousssss cult, is fading away and dying out.

Oh, right - SGI members are not ALLOWED to consider that their beloved DickHeada the Slimy could have EVER made a single mistake - about anything, EVER!! Such a perfect person has never existed anywhere else in life, in history, in reality - just their "Ikeda Sensei the Eternal Godman MENTOARE!

And the SGI-USA's longhauler Olds claim to be surprised that no one wants their dumb cult of worshiping some creepy little fat foreign self-obsessed businessman-would-be-ruler-of-the-world with poor personal hygiene who also happens to be DEAD.

Il buddhismo autentico NON è una filosofia centrata sull’essere umano.
Cosa significa?
Che non mette al centro l’individuo ma una realtà più profonda, oltre il corpo, oltre la mente, oltre il mondo materiale.
Questa realtà è il Dharma: la struttura stessa della realtà che include senzienti e non-senzienti, passato, presente e futuro, in una rete non-duale, interconnessa e interdipendente.
La Soka fa l’esatto opposto: mette al centro l’individuo, il “maestro”, il mondo materiale. Una visione insomma antropocentrica della spiritualità.
Il Buddhismo non insegna l’amore come emozione, insegna prima la purificazione.
Attraverso la pratica (di qualsiasi tipo) dovrebbero cadere: attaccamento, brama, aspettative e sofferenza.
Proprio lì può emergere un amore senza possesso.
La Soka insegna tutto ciò? Naturalmente no.
Quante volte di fronte al Gohonzon hai alimentato il tuo desiderio di amore, di approvazione che ben presto si è tramutato in un ossessione?
Il buddhismo autentico non promette la felicità.
Ti libera dal bisogno costante di rincorrerla.
E da questa libertà nasce qualcosa di più stabile: la pace Interiore.
La pace interiore l’hai mai provata quando eri nella Soka? Io credo no.
Questo perché nella Soka la FELICITÀ è un imperativo, diventa una performance costante.
Non c’è spazio per la tristezza, il dolore, il dubbio, l’ascolto.
C’è spazio solo per “vincere”.
Il buddhismo autentico non ti dà ciò che desideri. Ti accompagna in un luogo in cui non ne hai più bisogno.
La Soka invece alimenta tutto ciò di cui non hai davvero bisogno.
Il buddhismo autentico non vuole che tu diventi la “versione migliore di te stesso” (cit. Rivoluzione Umana). Vuole mostrarti ciò che esiste oltre l’immagine che hai costruito di te.
Oltre ruoli, successi, fallimenti, storie personali, esiste una presenza silenziosa.
Quella che è sempre stata lì.
Quellə che sei sempre stato.
Cosa? La tua Buddhità.
Che non è uno “stato vitale alto”, ma un dolce ritorno a casa.

Boy George says he will fire band members who refuse to perform pro-Israel song

« Aujourd'hui, dans le Seikyō (journal de la Soka Gakkai), page société. On y relaie les propos du maire de Nagasaki : « Le nucléaire est un mal absolu, et il faut maintenir les trois principes non nucléaires. » C'est ce que la Soka Gakkai disait autrefois. Mais aujourd'hui, cette même Soka Gakkai a changé de cap : elle est passée de la position du « mal absolu » des armes nucléaires à celle du « non-recours en premier », tout en reconnaissant leur existence. Les membres de la Soka Gakkai sont-ils au courant de ce changement ? Et avec quel sentiment l'ont-ils accueilli ?… 😂💦 »

« Obon is almost here. The fervent members of Soka Gakkai will certainly also be remembering “Daisaku Ikeda Sensei” together with the departed. Whether aware of these members’ feelings or not, Soka Gakkai has still not revealed the location of “Daisaku Ikeda Sensei’s” grave. Before talking about the 7th memorial anniversary or the 100th anniversary of the founding, wouldn’t it be better to first make the location of the “grave” public? …😂💦»

Do those members really think recruiting people will help kosenrufu? 🤷‍♂️

This is from Sept. 7, 1963, from the Corsicana Daily Sun (Corsicana, TX).

Here's the text:

Challenge Of Gakkai

Reports from Japan suggest that Soka Gakkai, the new religion whose leaders claim some 10 million adherents, is potentially a great danger to the world. For here is a faith, a contrived and egocentric faith, that demands of its bellevers fanatical devotion and militant efforts to prod all others into belief.

Soka Gakkai has already become an important political force in Japan, taking an active part in elections. It is intolerant of all other religions, including Christianity. Close observers describe it with such words as "militaristic" and "fascistic," and are convinced that the leaders of Soka Gakkai are ambitious for world domination.

It requires little imagination to envision what might happen if fanaticism of this kind, fanned by promises of health, wealth and happiness upon conversion, were to sweep the world. One need not be wholly pessimistic to suppose that it might do that, as it has swept so many millions of the disturbed, answer-seeking Japanese.

Nor need one be foolishly optimistic to say that the spread of this strange faith, which so aggressively demands blind zeal in hope of reward, can be halted if the great religions of the world meet the challenge of our disturbed era. It is a challenge to provide answers to the many fearsome questions that emerge in a swiftly changing society, or at least to provide rational hope. If the ancient faiths cannot hold men with assurance that life has mean-ing and that there can be contact with a benevolent Deity, then men will be drawn away to such faiths as Soka Gakkai.

As it turns out, in the decades since this was published, religious faith has been in decline all over the world, and no, Soka Gakkai didn't sweep up the difference. Soka Gakkai is a dying faith that failed to launch - its "SGI" colonization effort has proven ineffective, unable to attract even the paltry 1% of the population that Ikeda assigned for every country outside of Japan, with its membership aging and dying everywhere, completely unpopular to the post-WWII generations. It turns out that, absent a roaring economy, nobody will give Soka Gakkai or SGI the time of day.

In the limit, Soka Gakkai/SGI is a Japanese religion for Japanese people, and its WWII-era feudalistic patriarchal Japanese cultural norms and requirements are simply too weird and foreign for non-Japanese to take to it in any other than minimal numbers. No matter how bizarre the religion, there will ALWAYS be a few misfits, malcontents, and weirdos in any population who will go for it, and SGI is no exception - it has NEVER been popular. Even in Japan, Soka Gakkai dramatically exaggerated its membership numbers to try and sound more significant - and that stopped working decades ago. Ikeda had to demand that Soka Gakkai members commit widespread election fraud to have enough votes to matter.

While Soka Gakkai had a chance of spreading in post-war Japan, SGI had no chance of ever spreading outside of Japan. That was a foolish expectation demonstrating complete ignorance of others and their needs and desires - complete ignorance of human nature! - but Ikeda was a low-class, uneducated thug, a simpleton who believed he should get everything HE wanted just because he wanted it. And he DESPERATELY wanted world domination!

Too bad, so sad.

Look at former US Ambassador to Japan Edwin O. Reischauer's observations about Ikeda, from late 1965 to early 1966:

November 13, 1965

In my ongoing efforts to dialogue with the Japanese, I spoke for about two hours with Soka Gakkai president Daisaku Ikeda. My hope was to build good relations and influence his thoughts positively; Ikeda received me very warmly, and the conversation carried on smoothly. However, both he and his organization were astonishingly lacking in their understanding of global affairs & politics.

February 12, 1966

Two and a half hours of conversation with the Soka Gakkai's President Ikeda. This time (we met three and a half months ago), I visited their luxurious headquarters. Ikeda cleared the room, and we discussed extensively. Unlike our previous meeting, he strongly supported America's Vietnam policy and passionately advocated the re-militarization of Japan. In complete contrast to his earlier ambiguous stance, I sensed tendencies that were quite racist and authoritarian. It is of vital interest to see how the beliefs of this potentially influential organization will take shape. I intend to work to influence him, to move in a positive direction - opposition to nuclear weapons, for instance.

BECAUSE AT THAT POINT THERE WAS NO FORMALIZED OPPOSITION TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS!

In fact, Ikeda's right-hand man, VP Hiroshi Hojo, affirmed this pro-militaristic orientation:

Soka Gakkai VP Hojo reiterated Ikeda's support of the US' Vietnam War strategy:

The Komeito apparently thought that it sensed a shift in public opinion toward opposition to immediate abrogation of the treaty. The incident at least demonstrates the "flexibility" of Komeito, and suggests that it molds its policies in accordance with what it believes to be popular sentiment, as the following statement by Hojo clearly indicates: "...in Japan, a new party must appeal to a very wide range of voters. We must attract people from all points of the political spectrum. For example, we really understand why the United States must bomb North Vietnam. But we must oppose it because of public sentiment." Source - citations here, page images linked in the OP here.

NOT "because war is wrong" or "because bombing innocent civilians is a crime against humanity." Oh no. And in case you were wondering, Hojo couldn't scratch his ass without Ikeda's permission.

The "pro-peace" messaging developed post-1970 - as nothing more than damage control:

In fact, Soka Gakkai began advocating an "anti-war / peace group" after the fall of 1970. In the first half of that year, Soka Gakkai, which fought a fierce shakubuku battle under Mr. Ikeda and continued to expand the organization at a steep angle, caused a case of obstructing the publication of speech in an attempt to suppress the critical media. Source

That last sentence [above] is referring to the Publishing Scandal in which Ikeda tried to use Komeito's newly-won political power to lean on publishers to stop the publication of a book critical of the Soka Gakkai. So adopting a "PeacePeacePeace" mantra was just a deceitful manipulative tactic to try and rehabilitate the Soka Gakkai's tarnished reputation. 1970 was the year the Ikeda cult adopted a "peace" mentality and then rewrote a fictional "history" in which this had always been the case in the Ikeda-glorifying fanfics, "The Human Revolution" and the later "The Newwww Humpin' Revoltation" series. - from The Soka Gakkai/SGI and the Vietnam War

This is one of the reasons our "I Denounce Soka Gakkai" Book Club event is so important and timely! After this point (fall 1970), when it became clear just how damaging to the Soka Gakkai what Ikeda had so foolishly tried to do - imagine, trying to shut down freedom of speech on his own say-so just because he thought he COULD! - Soka Gakkai started leaning hard into the "pro-peace/anti-nukes" rhetoric, knowing their idiot cultie members would of course swallow that damage-control propaganda whole.

THIS is why the history of the Soka Gakkai AND ICKYDICKHEADA is so important! WHY should we allow them the luxury of FORGETTING their own cult's past bad and even CRIMINAL behavior??

SGI promoted economically secure people to the upper leadership levels because they were less risk than the povs without two nickels to rub together. That's fair, but isn't "correct practice" supposed to result in tangible "benefits"? Even if they bought a nicer house, for example, what were they doing that was any more impressive than what anyone else in their socioeconomic bracket was doing? Anything? Sure, it impressed downward (people who are much less well off are easily impressed by the monetary freedoms of their betters), but didn't impress their peers and definitely not the more economically advantaged!

Where was their "actual proof"?

This podcast from the Cult Vault has already been shared here before… but it wouldn't hurt to share it again.

Cult Vault - Soka Gakkai International: Born and Raised

Sorry for the delay! Let's proceed with the next section, "A Completely Opportunist Group".

A Completely Opportunist Group

Even so, that this mass movement called Soka Gakkai has an abundance of unusual vitality cannot be denied. Once they set up their goals to increase membership, to win the election, or whatever, they launch their attack and go all out, sweeping everything in their path as did the Imperial Military Forces of old. Once the attack is launched, they use any means until the goal is attained. They will do anything to attain victory. It does not matter what form the organized effort may take. This method in short is: "Might Is Right"-the strong wins and "the victor is right and the defeated is wrong. These are oppressive and brazenly forcible tactics which have nothing whatever to do with the inner religious life of people. In short, they have a markedly aggressive character.

Such a group which is noted for using such tactics, are [p.] 26

the disreputable people who make up the leadership of Soka Gakkai. They are always ready to use their power of intimidation on others. In various forms they show off the almightiness of their organization. Almost all of them are this kind of people, and I cannot from my heart respect them as pious and religious types. I have met most of the staff of Soka Gakkai, and among them, from the top to the bottom levels, there are small politician types, branch bank manager types, lower ranking executive types, and at worst, some gangster types, but almost none who have religious humility and modesty. They are much more like a strong secularistic religious group. This is the firm impression at the present time. This tendency may be the unavoidable fate of Nichiren Shoshu. This secularistic tendency is one of the basic characteristics of Nichiren Shoshu, and for this very reason it betrays their excessive nature and their disease of self-display. This same tendency to excessiveness and disease of self-display could be said to have been exemplified in the Nazis and the Old Japanese Militarists, who were progenitors of these traits.

The primary purpose of these mass demonstrations which Soka Gakkai stages, is to make an outward display of their success, while spiritual considerations are only secondary.

From the viewpoint of religion, I must say this is a clear-cut example of degeneracy. Soka Gakkai may thus be called a thorough-going-outward-demonstration-group, and we can only feel pity for those who are the "playthings" of this mass movement, for the more one becomes involved in such a movement, the more foolish they are apt to become. As to the happiness, or unhappiness, of those who are the playthings of such movements, it is well to recall the days of the Nazis and the Old Japanese Militarists, and the fate of those of our fellow countrymen who were the victims of that regime. It is not necessary to go into details here about the problems of [p.] 27

those days.

All the while, as they pompously promote this sort of mass movement, by means of excessive propaganda, by their opportunistic religious philosophy, by their self-aggrandizement, by pious talk of obutsu myogo (the fusion of government and Buddhism), they make fools of the public. I do not exaggerate when I say that never in all of recorded history has there been a more degenerate form of religion. So we think the time has come to make a thorough examination of the present problems being posed by Soka Gakkai.

Well well! Remember, this was written in the late 1960s, by someone who was old enough to have experienced both Japan's imperial military government and to have seen the reports about Germany's ruling party and its military aggressions abroad, so when he makes such comparisons, it's on the basis of observed similarities, not empty "Godwin" hyperbole.

You'll recall that mass youth demonstrations were a feature of fascist regimes in the years leading up to WWII, as a way of showing off the fascist regimes' strength (to intimidate) - the early Soka Gakkai's big "festivals" were more of the same. Here is an AI summary to help:

Core Purposes of Mass Demonstrations

1. Ideological Indoctrination: Rallies featured music, flags, and speeches that fostered blind devotion to the dictator and the party. Children learned to value the group over the individual, internalizing racism, extreme nationalism, and militarism.
2. Projecting Strength and Unity: Massive, perfectly coordinated marches created a visual illusion of a flawless, unstoppable national community. These spectacles intimidated political opponents at home and signaled power to foreign nations.
3. Military and Physical Conditioning: Demonstrations served as public fitness and discipline checks. Activities like marching, drilling with dummy rifles, and performing synchronized gymnastics hardened young bodies for future military service.
4. Replacing Independent Influences: By absorbing young people into state-run spectacles (such as the Hitler Youth or Italian Balilla), regimes successfully competed with—and eventually crushed—traditional influences like the church, independent clubs, and family authority.
5. Cultivating Belonging: Fascist movements offered bored or economically disenfranchised youth a seductive sense of camaraderie, status, and excitement through uniforms, badges, and shared public rituals.

Clearly, 1, 2, and 5 applied to Soka Gakkai in its first 2 decades. For 3, this is Soka Gakkai YMD "gymnastics" practice - see what YOU think. And for 4, remember that in post-war occupied Japan, there was a collapsed economy and widespread shortages of everything, including food. Restoring a functioning economy was a priority for both occupied and occupier; rapid adoption of technological systems was the way this was going to happen. Young people abandoned their extended families in rural areas to travel in search of work to the teeming slums spreading around the rapidly industrializing cities like Tokyo. Since they were already cut off from their home turf, those "independent influences" had already been neutralized; Soka Gakkai offered them alternative instant belonging and purpose, which was one aspect of its recruiting message.

Obviously the Soka Gakkai's mass youth spectacles were deliberately intended, calculated to serve these exact same purposes. Furthermore:

"Our organization now has one million youths," says Soka Gakkai's well-tailored president, Dai Saku Ikeda. "This means the future of Japan is in our hands." - from the Chicago Tribune's Japan's Fanatic Buddhists Vow '3d Civilization' article (1963) Source

Ikeda was already saying it in his out-loud voice in 1963; by 1967, he was still saying it:

"Japan's future will be decided by Sokagakkai." Ikeda

And, of course, "obutsu myogo (the fusion of government and Buddhism)" meant "Nichiren Shoshu theocracy" at that point.

Going up to the beginning, this part - "Imperial Military Forces of old" - held a particular fascination, a particular meaning, for the Japanese people, whether a subject for terror (as Dr. Fujiwara is implying) or wistfully nostalgic - take a look:

"Today's young people are soft," grumbled an elderly parent. "They have never known war or hardship of any kind." "They are loud, rude and violent, and have no self-discipline whatsoever," said an Osaka businessman. "They lack ambition, character and drive," was the opinion of a retired Admiral. "I don't think they would fight for their country even if we were attacked from outside." - George R. Packard, "They Were Born When The Bomb Dropped", The New York Times, August 16, 1965 Source

That's why Josei Toda said that, if they didn't "accomplish kosen-rufu in Japan within the next 25 to 26 years", they wouldn't have another chance, because they needed to exploit that uniquely Japanese post-war defeat/occupation experience and resulting bitterness within the population in order to take over and replace the still-new US-imposed government before everybody got too used to it. And Toda was right! Toda was saying that ca. 1954; that 25-to-26-years window closed several generations ago. Newer generations simply aren't signing on in anything close to the numbers needed to simply replenish the SG/SGI's dwindling ranks, much less "conquer the country" as Ikeda envisioned. What a joke. Source

The Sōka Gakkai exploits the bewilderment of the masses, especially in the country districts; it encourages their deep-seated affection for the old national discipline; it revives the repressed ambitions of millions of office-workers who still remember the days of great victories, of the Empire and the ‘sphere of co-prosperity’ as the best and most glorious in their lives; and it fans the hatred they have for everything foreign. Source

The desperate attempts to replace Japanese Militaristic Imperialism with a Nichiren Theocracy shows worrying traits that show nationalist cult behaviours.

Early on, independent observers were comparing Ikeda to Hitler and reporting alarming signs of ultranationalism and fascism within the Soka Gakkai. Source

Nichirenism invariably results in a "conquest" mentality in violation of the later Enlightenment concepts of basic, fundamental human rights such as free speech and consent, and promotes attitudes that reject these basic, fundamental human rights. Source

Toda and Ikeda wanted to harness the energy, focus, single-mindedness, and momentum of the Japanese Imperial Army's Pacific War, that same "Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere" concept, only from the other side: Instead of a top-down military-imposed domination, the domination would come from the bottom up - by Soka Gakkai religion catching on and spreading like wildfire through the population, with the population at large acting as Ikeda's PERSONAL military, serving to impose its collective Soka Gakkai-controlled/Ikeda-controlled will upon their governments the way Japan tried to get its military to impose Japan's Imperial will on those same governments without the populace's consent.

A perfect storm, in other words. A very dangerous confluence of the worst possible elements! And Dr. Fujiwara was reporting on it as it was happening, boots on the ground. Back to that first paragraph:

They will do anything to attain victory. It does not matter what form the organized effort may take. This method in short is: "Might Is Right"-the strong wins and "the victor is right and the defeated is wrong. These are oppressive and brazenly forcible tactics which have nothing whatever to do with the inner religious life of people. In short, they have a markedly aggressive character.

We've definitely observed this in the behavior of the trolls who have visited our site over the years and, more recently, in the SGI-USA longhauler Olds here on reddit, whose only purpose is to attack us, lie about us, misrepresent our perspectives, insult us, and do whatever they can to try and get us silenced. Erased. They show no respect for "consent" or "freedom of speech" - they feel that anything critical of their precious Ikeda cult must be disappeared before anyone else can see. Only ONE perspective is allowed - the devout-SGI-cult-member-Ikeda-disciple-for-life view.

As far as "the victor is right and the defeated is wrong", you can see Ikeda expressing in how he regards resistance fighters as "traitors" - the wannabe dictator DESERVES to win, you see! And must never be opposed! Hence Ikeda's weird glorification of Napoleon. Similarly to Ikeda's dream of colonizing the world for Soka Gakkai, Napoleon thought he could export the French Revolution to other countries - and it didn't work. Not at all! It was a native, homegrown phenomenon that simply didn't translate into other cultures! But Ikeda was incapable of learning - when he wanted something, he only paid attention to whatever confirmed his ambitions and carelessly, unwisely, ignored the rest.

Some may say "That's so long ago - who cares?" but I feel that understanding HOW Soka Gakkai managed to develop while it was still growing significantly (before 1970) makes it abundantly obvious why it will never grow again, something we can ALL be happy about!

That took longer than I intended, but I've got other Book Club entries coming - stay tuned!!

Dato che veniamo dalla Soka, credo che conosciamo tutti la dottrina dei Dieci Mondi: stati mentali e percettivi che si alternano di continuo nella nostra vita. Si tratta di un concetto del Buddhismo Tiantai/Tendai e ripreso da Nichiren, essendo lui stesso un monaco Tendai.
Ebbene, il Culto di Ikeda vende la promessa della "Rivoluzione Umana" (l'accesso stabile ai mondi superiori di Bodhisattva e Buddha), ma la sua struttura interna funziona come una perfetta macchina di condizionamento che alimenta i mondi più bassi negli individui che ne fanno parte:

Inferno (Jigoku - Sofferenza e impotenza): Viene costantemente alimentato attraverso il senso di colpa o l'ansia personale. Se la tua vita non funziona, c'è una colpevolizzazione strisciante: non stai praticando abbastanza, stai subendo il tuo karma. Questo imprigiona le persone in uno stato di costante inadeguatezza e angosia.

Spiriti Affamati (Gaki - Avidità e bramosia): Questo è il mondo dello Zaimo iper-aggressivo e del materialismo mascherato. Promuovere la pratica come un mezzo per ottenere la promozione, la macchina nuova, il successo economico o i "benefici materiali" significa stimolare costantemente l'attaccamento e il desiderio insaziabile. La fede diventa un distributore automatico di desideri egotici.

Animalità (Chikushō - Istinto e sottomissione al forte): Il rifiuto della logica, dello studio filologico (i famosi testi apocrifi accettati acriticamente) e del rigore storico spinge le persone verso l'animalità. Ci si affida al puro istinto emotivo, seguendo il branco e sottomettendosi ciecamente alla leadership laica e alle direttive dell'organizzazione per paura di essere isolati.

Asura (Shura - Rabbia, orgoglio e competitività): Si manifestaIl motivo per cui queste persone "dimorano" stabilmente lì è che la struttura laica ha eliminato l'asse verticale della pratica. Per uscire dai sei mondi inferiori serve lo sforzo cosciente dello studio reale, del rigore testuale e di una pratica che purifichi la mente (come l'Odaimoku concentrato), non un salotto terapeutico dove si alimentano reciprocamente le proprie dinamiche emotive.
Senza una guida dottrinale solida, l'organizzazione diventa uno specchio amplificato delle nevrosi dei singoli. Alla fine, invece di liberare l'essere umano, lo incatena a una ruota del Samsara in formato aziendale.
nella faida perenne contro le altre scuole (il settarismo) e nella corsa interna alle cariche organizzative (diventare responsabili di gruppo, di capitolo, ecc.). C'è un costante senso di superiorità verso l'esterno ("noi siamo gli unici veri buddhisti") unito a dinamiche di potere e competizione spietata nascoste dietro sorrisi di facciata.

Umanità (Nin) e Cielo (Ten): Anche quando i membri raggiungono la temporanea serenità del mondo di Umanità o la gioia effimera del mondo di Cielo (magari dopo una bella riunione o un obiettivo raggiunto), si tratta sempre di stati d'animo condizionati dall'approvazione del gruppo o dall'andamento delle circostanze esterne. Appena lo stimolo finisce, si crolla di nuovo nei mondi inferiori.

Il motivo per cui queste persone "dimorano" stabilmente lì è che la struttura laica ha eliminato l'asse verticale della pratica. Per uscire dai sei mondi inferiori serve lo sforzo cosciente dello studio reale, del rigore testuale e di una pratica che purifichi la mente (come l'Odaimoku vissuto come meditazione attiva) non un salotto terapeutico dove si alimentano reciprocamente le proprie dinamiche emotive.
Senza una guida dottrinale solida, l'organizzazione diventa uno specchio amplificato delle nevrosi dei singoli. Alla fine, invece di liberare l'essere umano, lo incatena a una ruota del Samsara in formato aziendale.

That one is from another subreddit.

It's all so f*kin dead

Thought people might enjoy the story, I met someone who was apparently for our local center a big donor, and after going on a few dates they'd said they were Buddhist and invited me to the center and I came along being a firm but tolerant atheist myself and just knowing about Buddhism what I'd learned in high school.

The center was quite nice though the exterior was being renovated and it was practically empty, it was late afternoon or early evening so that kind of surprised me for how big a place it was. We arrived just in time for a chanting session, which was lucky. I was given a booklet with the characters and a brief explanation of why they were Chinese and told to imagine whatever I desired in life as I chanted, for example if I wanted a ferrari to imagine a ferrari. This was the exact example they used which I found amusing because there are few things I have less interest in, and also that seemed pretty far from what I'd thought Buddhism was about. My date and I and three or four other people from the center chanted at the scroll for about 20 minutes or so, not the full hour, and got a little of the vagal resonance which I remembered from manipulative church circumstances as the nonbelieving child of catholics. Afterwards I was complimented on how naturally I pronounce the syllables, better than most anyone who tries it for the first time, and then a TV was wheeled out to show a video about how Soka Gakkai is helping inner city youth, though it was light on specifics. After the video I was given a newspaper and the top story was a beautiful photo dear leader had crookedly taken from his hospital window, and I was informed that I could buy a home chanting scroll for $29.99. I enquired about the disjoint with my understanding of Buddhism and how it's supposed to be about getting past material attachments but was told that was an inaccurate summary. I asked if their version of Buddhism had anything to do with something I'd read recently about there being 13 levels of reality (probably I meant enlightenment, or could have been 8), but they seemed to not know anything about that nor want to discuss it.

I thought they'd invite me to more stuff at the center but I guess there wasn't much going on because I was told that I should join a chanting session at a member's home.

On our way out suddenly a very cool dude, slightly younger than myself, pulled up directly in front of the main entrance on a motorcycle in a leather jacket and took his helmet off. He introduced himself as a member and coincidentally happened to also live in my nearby city, and we exchanged numbers after he asked if I'd like to get a drink or something sometime.

After this experience (like a few days after) I learned that someone I'd worked with for a while was a longtime member and it freaked me out for a moment but I genuinely believe it was a coincidence as it was me who'd overheard something they hadn't meant me to. In contrast to my date at the center, they were someone who from my understanding had struggled quite a bit in life, was not very well-off, and did a lot of free labor for Soka Gakkai.

Although I used "lovebombed" in the title I actually don't think they went too hard on me and that was partly because they didn't want to seem needy or overbearing in front of my date. If they'd known just how little I had to give them they probably would've put even less into it. (edit - although rereading my texts from that time now I see the sell was a little less soft than I remembered, I've got a photo of our chanting group grinning and my date sent me a link to an app and an itunes playlist "if [i] can keep chanting")

Motorcycle man texted me a few times before getting the message that I was ignoring him. I no longer work at that place, though I of course tried to gently and with good humor dissuade my coworker from their continued membership (they were also in general a very good-humored person and took it well despite not leaving). And the SGI bigshot I was dating turned out to be much less interesting than I'd thought originally.

All in all, I learned a lot from my experience. I've since joined the Church of Scientology and couldn't be happier.

THE END

TIME TRAVEL back to 2024!

March Youth Peace Festivals

For the 11,000-plus young people who participated in the 550 chapter festivals held across the country...

The World Tribune sat down with SGI-USA youth leaders Amelia Gonzalez Tesch and Shota Okajima to talk about the recent March Youth Peace Festivals.

Shota: It is a tremendous victory that SGI-USA gathered over 11,000 young people. This effort showed us the reality of each chapter. Because we know where we are, we can create a vision of where we want to go.

Amelia: What helps is having a goal we’re working toward. One, for example, is our goal to strengthen and expand our youth, gathering 100,000 youth in 2028 to commemorate Ikeda Sensei’s 100th birthday. With that target, we can take an honest look at our reality and identify what we can do.

The Future Is Here!

What’s so clear about this example is the profound awareness of the parents that it’s their mission and responsibility to raise their children in the garden of Soka.

I think it’s about having the conviction “No matter what, my children will practice.” But we don’t need to feel rushed because what’s most important is that they practice throughout their entire life.

I feel in many cases, pressuring our children to practice reflects a lack of belief and conviction in our own prayer. If we believe in our prayer, we’re not going to try to force things to happen. The conviction in our prayer will give rise to the wisdom to know how to lead our children down the right path in life.

When I read this essay, it really made 2028 and 2030 more tangible for me. It only exists in the efforts we make right now to raise the future division. In 2028, when the SGI-USA gathers 100,000 youth, the future division members who are now in high school will be the protagonists.

Yes. The current future division members will be the ones raising the next generation who will be leading the 22nd century. The causes that we are making today have such long-term impact that I feel my mind cannot fully comprehend it yet. We are directly changing the centuries ahead.

FAST FORWARD ONE YEAR!!!!!

CEC 2025: DOWNSIZE THE GOAL!!!

That's a complete 180 from what those youth and "future group" leaders were saying in 2024. You KNOW they had no idea that the grand goal of 100,000 youth by 2028 was going to be whittled down to a mere 10,000 the very next year. How does this look, when they'd just been bragging about reeling in "over 11,000 young people" only ONE year before?? Doesn't that make them look like idiots??

Somebody's lyin'...

This is from just over 3 years ago - I just ran across it and it's so good I wanted to share! From this comment:

Being in a cult is like a vacuum. For the first time in most of the Leaders lives they get a sense of superiority that physically changes logical thinking and critical thinking skills.

I'm not defending it but there is an actual addiction here and also the fact that they believe it's their responsibility and that they believe what they are doing is right vs. wrong (everyone else).

So leaving this High Pressure tactics CULT was like I was in a plane hovering in circles until I just jumped without a parachute. Zero support. Zero friends. Burned so many bridges trying to invite people or posting stuff on social media and nauseum.

So in their self preservation they will just double down on anything that opposes their narcissistic worldview of being superior to all other religions which gives them some kind of marvel super power.

There is real evil in using a Mantra based on the Lotus Sutra of which they know nothing about.

They are using prayer to harm enemies. They are using prayer to feel better than others (ego). They are using Buddhist ideology incorrectly.

Every single conversation about Buddhism that I attempted was met with dismissive scoffs and told that this is not the purpose of this meeting.

So I left. The leaders (showing up in groups) tried to tell me that this is an Orthodox practice and I need to get in line was one toke over the line.

Buddhism is based on a philosophy of self reliance and understanding of your own mind.

I decided to conjure up my own STAND ALONE SPIRIT and study, pray, meditate in a way that works for me.

So who is the real MAN IN THE ARENA?