"Soka Gakkai", A Book I Read.

I bought the book at Shin-Osaka station before I get on a Super Express Train. The book was very interesting and I wasn't tired of the trip. The author is a academian of comparative religion who was fired in the time Aum incident. Because his standpoint of objectivist was not accepted by emotional people, and he was misunderstood that he is a supporter of Aum, I guess.



Comparative religion researchers deal with superficial things of religions, therefore, I usually feel empty inside when I read those books because my major was philosophy. However, this time, I really enjoyed the book. Because I'm interesting in the religion, Soka-Gakkai long while.



I often feel disgusted at friends who belongs in the religion because they say Soka-Gakkai is the best religion in the world. I don't think the profit seeking religion is good religion. And I wonder why people believe in the religion. This time, I can understand the why specifically. I wrote this blog along with what the author said.



I think there are two people who are ignorance about religion in Japan. One is those who regard religion as stupid people's thing in consequence of Left Wing and etc. The other is those who believe bad religions without doubts. The representative people are Aum which caused sarin gas attack.



Even though I think buddhists should be an intelligent and mercifulness person, I think the religion, Soka-Gakkai, it call itself a buddhist sect, is far from the virtues.



I found features of the religion different from other common Japanese buddhist sects.



First, the religion but good seek benefit of life in this world. The prime example is Komeito which is a ruler political party. The party produces merits of buddha through the political act. And even though the religion insist it is not spendy religion, in fact, it preaches people can get merits of buddha by contributions. For example, it advertises a woman's son could enter employment to first-class companies because she donated 1,000,000 yen to the religion. (1,000,000 yen is sensuously about 10,000 dollars.) It insist the merit of donation and it is a system to collect a bill. It seems not imposition but , according to my friend who is a believer of it, committed donator's spirits attains promotion.



Second, it is a religion supported by low-income population. This is overlapped third. According to the author, basically, high economic growth beard the religion. Its target is second son and third son of farm family who are not enough educated. Non educated people who immigrated to city area can't enter first class company and they force to enter company which doesn't have enough social security and they are isolation. And it offers mutual cooperation to those poor people. I can say it gives aid to them and also can say capitalizes them.



Third, it is a religion of ignorance population. Originally, Buddhism has been supported by cultured population. The founders of Japanese buddhism were all super intellectual people. In addition, even this age, cultured population has many serious buddhists, for instance, Hayao Kawai, a great clinic psychologist, Takeshi Yoro, a famous anatomist, Hideki Yukawa, a physical scientist, Hiroyuki Itsuki, a famous novelist, Wahei Tatematsu, a famous novelist, Kazuo Inamori, a president and a founder of Kyocera Corporation, and so on. Comparison, there is no special educated man in Soka-Gakkai. Soka-Gakkai's Gakkai means academic conference, however, the studying is dishonesty. That is, Buddhist scholars are objectivists but the religion subjectivizes buddhism too much. The founder of the religion was a teacher of high school, and was not specialist of buddhism. The amateur founder established the dogma and theorized and give people an indoctrination.



The founder was a believer of Nichiren-sho-shu-sect, and Soka-Gakkai is a sect of the sect, but it was unchurched about 15 years ago.



Forth, it is exclusionism. It holds examinations and the content is that it make believers animadvert other sects, especially Nichiren-sho-shu-sect. I think such attitude is wrong and is not mercifulness. I can't regard it as a sect of buddhism. It excludes other religions, for example, it encourages to burn up other religion's amulets and security blankets and so on as things of bad religion. And, it has caused crimes. For instance, it bugged (eavesdrop on) homes of top officials of Japanese Communist Party. And, it brought pressure on writers who intend to publish a book or article which criticize the religion. Someone says, it took advantage of Kakuei Tanaka who was a prime minister of Japan to suspend the publishing. Japanese Communist Party and Soka-Gakkai are rival because both scrambled for acceptance of low-income class amid rapid economic growth. They are at outs with each other. As a result. Soka-Gakkai won the race because of mutual aid it established. The author said they don't leave the society because it is very profitable religion.



Fifth, as I said, it developed system of mutual assistance. For example, it has many show business people including Herbie Hancock, Roberto Baggio and many Japanese actors and signers. Even unpopular musicians can entrust it with selling tickets, and they can earn their living. I've heard such getting employed of 10,000 dollar donation was also a mutual aid services. It has millions believers, thus, it has believers in human resources department of first class companies. Such kind of partiality lives in disfavor in Japan.



The Komeito announce itself a party of peace and social welfare. However, burning up other religion's treasures is peace? Favoritism is social welfare? Once, I lend a book about Yuima-sutra to my friend who is a believer of Soka-Gakkai and she didn't return the book. She has burned up my book? The author of the book is my teacher!!



The Soka-Gakkai does proselytizing in other countries including America and Europa. The target is people who are interesting in Japan and Buddhism. I suppose the believer may try to promulgate their faith. I may not have right to hamper you to join the religion, however, I recommend to doubt the religion if you meet them. In addition, other new religions are often danger. Almost traditional ones are not danger. For example, Soto-shu(sect), Rinzai-shu, Jodo-shin-shu, Jodo-shu, Shingon-shu, Tendai-shu, and Ji-shu are good. I think religions need history to be mature.



I think I have to say that Soka-Gakkai is far better than Aum.



Once, 3rd president of Soka-Gakkai, Daisaku Ikeda, said "I'm a king and ruler of Japan.". And his political party is a ruler party now. Many Japanese worry about it.



The author of the book I read this time said the contribution of Soka-Gakkai may be hampering the growth of communists power.



If I have chance to read another books about the religion, I want to read them, however, there is not enough number of book written by specialists.



I took the photo at Iwashimizu Hachimangu shrine.



Well, I have to sleep.