Interview with Dr. Lawrence E. Carter Sr.

[Silkia4u]

Look within and there you will see that peace is possible because it begins with you. My dream of peace on earth lives on in my heart. This month of October ,I have six youths from a local high school, learning about the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism and who is Daisaku Ikeda. These six youths are from India, Russia, Mexico, an African American, and two Caucasians. My hope is that in the future they will follow non violent ways to

promote peace. Dialogue is the key.

[AEDTL1]

No human being is perfect and perhaps it is due to some of our individual weaknesses that has caused others to have wrong perceptions of the SGI. Nonetheless, we take every critcism into consideration and will attempt to improve on ourselves so that others can see the different perspectives of religions.

[AEDTL1]

This is because, regardless of any recognitions given or not, they will still continue to contribute for the sake of the people around them and within the society. I believe that time really will tell. We would also like to thank others for their comments and criticisms so that we can do some self-reflection and see where did we do wrong that have caused others to have misconceptions of the SGI.

[AEDTL1]

They are none other than peace, culture and education. these are the 3 main things that can allow ALL humankind to understand each other better and breakthrough all races, religious and cultural differences in this world. SGI or even other local Soka communities have received commendations and recognitions from their respective countries for their contributions to their own societies. There is no need to boast or show off.

[AEDTL1]

A religion is meant to help ALL people to find spiritual support in life, especially the poorer people, therefore, it is natural to see poor or suffering people in almost every religion. If human beings do not need such support, then there would be no religions at all in this world. The SGI base their activities and actions on 3 guidelines proposed by Daisaku Ikeda. These 3 directions, if achieved and exhibited by all human beings, will eventually lead to happiness of all humankind.

[AEDTL1]

However, by just chanting and reading may not be enough, that is when we need a living example such as Ikeda, who has based his life on Nichiren Buddhism to show actual proof. The SGI is not a rich organisation by itself and their money is never used for evil purposes. The SGI gets its finances through its own member's humble contributions with the belief that their money can be put to good use and support their activities in promoting world peace.

[AEDTL1]

We don't worship Daisaku Ikeda. We look upon him as a mentor in life and a role model to show how this Buddhism can really help people. All human beings will meet with sufferings at one or more points in life and we would need a religion for spiritual support and a philosophy to guide us in life.

[trailblazer0405]

You got me wrong. Members of SGI don't worship Dr. Daisaku Ikeda. In fact, they don't worship anything. What they hv is an object of devotion that functions like a mirror. The basic belief is that everyone has the potential 2become Buddha - which is not a supernatural being but 1who's able 2overcome any adversity. This truth, expounded by Shakyamuni but hidden in e depths of e Lotus Sutra, was revealed by Nichiren. A mirror doesn't hv power, the power resides in e object reflected in e mirror.

[trailblazer0405]

Dr Daisaku Ikeda is a well-respected, ordinary citizen who opened up the way to peace through dialogue; notably, in his efforts in normalising the China-Japan, Russia-China relationship after the Cold War period. As with any great people, a well-respected person will inevitably invite jealousy&abuse from self-serving individuals. We can see this trend from history; Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Ghandhi, Leo Tolstoy, etc, were all, at some point of time, hated by some groups of people.

[sgcitizen]

the thing is ... nobody worships Abraham Lincon as a God ...

[sgcitizen]

so ... is SGI a cult, religion ... or what?

[trailblazer0405]

SGI is a lay Buddhist organisation that practices based on Nichiren Daishonin's teachings, a teaching which revealed the hidden truth (implicit meaning) of Shakyamuni's Lotus Sutra.

[sgcitizen]

why is that when I did some seach on the internet that some people say that they worship daisaku? is he a god or something to people who practices the teachings?

[ikedian]

"Sentinel"'s "Disent (tidy behavior)"

make balance kept the world.

Let's work seriously neatly.

Food, clothing, and housing is basic of life. The family is important.

The wording is polite.

It is "Lesson " of the Murakami literature.

However,when it only, it doesn't become literature so much.

However, telling comes to wear a myth aura suddenly when becoming the last human`s thing

(uchida tatsuru)

[Justiceforever1]

Y? Because you cant listen to reason, no matter wast we say, you are steadfast that SGI is a cult. If your so insistent, bring this to court of justice. Rally your ppl who think SGI is a cult. Procecute us! We will see who will win in the end!

[BodhisatvaOfTheEarth]

you are pathetic...it seems are in trouble... hope u can find peace in your heart...i will pray for you..

[Justiceforever1]

R u also stating that Ikeda dialogue with Rosa Parks was also deluded? On wat basis does they want to meet up with ikeda? It is because of his efforts that they want to meet Ikeda. Before u start critising that SGI is cult, y don you 1st get e facts rite before attacking us?

Onli time will tell whether SGI is a cult or not. A person who is deluded with mass media leads a sad life.

[hansquad]

sometimes my friend, we just have to let them be,, better concentrating our energy to our friends who are willing to listen,, shakubuku!

But can't deny I'm hot listening to their blindness about our Gakkai. cheers.

[Justiceforever1]

Daisaku Ikeda had worked so hard in promoting world peace. How many ppl in the world 2day are doing that? His worldwide recognition is testimony of his achievements for peace! Are you saying that Dr Arnold Toynbee is also deluded by Ikeda? Dr Toynbee was also a renown british historian who held dialogue with ikeda with pressing issues in the world.

[Justiceforever1]

PROVE IT! Attacking SGI, base on other ppl opinions alone is totally wrong! It is precisely because of this that brings the downfall of society. Do not attack us base on baseless accusation. U can even personally call up the UN to comfirm whether the SGI 'brought' it way into it. Unless you can prove that statement, i see no use of attacking SGI. Look at the members in SGI, how many of them are leading life of value? What is yours? A life full of hatred against SGI?

[Justiceforever1]

it may seems that some ppl are not happy with SGI. Let me now pose a qns to all. Wat r u doing as an individual rite now inf your life? R u leading a contributive life? A life that is helping society to become better? Beside critising that SGI is a cult, on wat bases do you proof it? Sure you find a lot of info on internet saying SGI is a cult, but what is the truth? Can u recognise which is correct?

Because of ur mindset that SGI is a cult, no matter wat we tell u, u cant possibly understand

[safado11]

the truth? like all the other cult religion soka tell what is the truth.. so what is the surface? you should really look deeper at the organization. i am extremely neutral. this is a cult. you can look in 100 different ways and you still have a clear picture of what is soka and what it does for people

[RandyChoy]

And one more thing, being rich organization or not, is not important, especially the status and the facial of the organization, but it is the philosophy and humanism teachings are dat important. I hope u can look into deeper direction than looking in the surface of situation, looking deeper u are able to find the truth, and i mean it. If u would denfence my word, i have nth to comment, but i hope whether is it hating it or not, is best to be neutral. (sorry sme bad english grammar) Thanks :)

[RandyChoy]

hmmm... i certainly really think, those critisize a religion is totally outragous, and this ppl are definately not happy. So, wat... u can shoot down SGI, destroy, critize SGI. Everything, will come down, wat benefit u got? What advantages u got? Is Critizing will bring value in ur life? U think bringing down SGI, will bring victory?

[safado11]

religion on its own doesn't make anyone happy. what benefit do you have to promote soka gakkai? no one. someone is going to get rich using your time. are you happy? i don't think so.............take care

[RandyChoy]

Well, I am very happy in SSA anyway, many comrades support me whereaver i am no doubt work and studies. :) If I promote SSA, i mean i want him/her to know better about soka, and to chant or not, is up to his/her dission, no forcing... becoz i feel dat i have testimony dat i able to overcome my fear thru encouragement so i can introduce to others. Juzs like u have good food, do u mind share wif others who dun have?

[RandyChoy]

Happy by means abosolute happiness, and it applies how much u encourage ppl who had problems base on wat u had experience and studies frm books using it in ur life and apply to others and not only SSA but others, i mention those who crisize ppl although bad or not are not happy, becoz, they discourge them instead of encouraging them in certain ways, like sincerety. I even see critising wif vulgarties and even involving wif parents and relatives, which is outragous!

[safado11]

are we talking about etics?? i know many ppl in soka that they are not happy....... it looks to me that they have even bigger problems. chanting may help someone and may destroy someone else

[RandyChoy]

Well, y are they not happy in da first place? and how to destroy smeone else thru chanting? Happy or not is come from within ourselves, not the organization.

[safado11]

possibly but so if he come within yourself why join soka?? it is just your business if you are happy or not. soka is useless so

[RandyChoy]

Be seeing it or not, we are happy or not, soka is base on humanitism, and base on nichiren teaching, we still lead to normal life, eat sleep :P study, working, love our family, frienzs, and dis is still our buddhist concept, if we degrudge by abadoning freinzs family, sucidal, is not buddhism and it nvr teach us dat way. Buddhism how we live our life the fullest, and archeive wat we shld archieve, i hope b4 u emphaise uselss or not, millions of soka members archieve breakthru in their life.

[safado11]

really? most of soka members i met they didn't achieve nothing at all after years of chanting. i met oth

[safado11]

most of the people i met fm soka are sad with big problems.....more sensitive than others and normally are weaker than most of the people. people who achieve something good normally are not member of soka or any other cult religion

[RandyChoy]

ohhh... even such ppl doesn't have wat they had archieved, but recently i had received guidances frm one of my frienzs, he stated, last time a WD asked, over 30 years, i haven't received my prayers, and y is dat so? So, she questioned the leaders, all the ppl stun, dunno wat to tell her, till the day she said, my prayers is to win a lucky draw!!! then eventually she concluded, dis prayers whether we fulfil it or not, is really depebding our inite potential and all the hardwork we put in (part 1)

[RandyChoy]

and to fulfil our prayers. Gonhonzon is not supersituious or anything god to represent. It is our mirror in our life, how muzch we look upon ourselves to due the matters ourseves, not the gohonzon to due the matter wif. So, even i see myself, my illness started to recover hehe :) all becoz, i base on prayers, and action to do. Look for doctors etc etc. If they cnt get prayer answer, it is the time wheter shld the attitude of the person change the way he/she think abt the gohonzon. :) cheers :)

[SoKult49]

Many sgi members are so preoccupied with Ikeda's degrees and awards. That is how wealthy religious leaders command respect and awe from members. For instance, Moonie from Unification Church has received many awards and degrees, and met VIPs like Gorbachev, Eisenhower, Nixon, Kim Dae-Jung, Kishi, Fukuda.... All those presidents and prime ministers of the world.

[SoKult49]

Do some research on Mr. Fukunaga from Ho no Hana,　Mr. Niwano from Rissho Koseikai and many more.　You will see the same pattern.

The only difference is Ikeda morbidly self-praises in Soka publications and sgi members brag about it.

[touchingstoves]

What exactly do you mean by pattern?

[touchingstoves]

Here are some of the university's that have presented Daisaku Ikeda with an Academic Honour. Apparently he has received over 200 such honours, which he accepts on behalf of the SGI membership. I was able only to find these 8, though I am confident that as the internet develops, more sources such as these will become available with the passage of time. (please refer to the links for verification) (cont)

[touchingstoves]

comments are playing up

[touchingstoves]

Chinese University of Hong Kong

University of Sydney

Northeast Normal University

University of Delaware

St. Petersburg State University

University of Hong Kong

University of Macau

[touchingstoves]

So it seems I can't post URLs...

[safado11]

offensive to compare ikeda to ghandi e king. ikeda is a bloody greedy cult leader. human revolution?

[RandyChoy]

Wat is human revolution then?

[safado11]

it is up to you to change your attitude in this planet not necessary to join soka to do so. the world doesn't need soka gakkai or ikeda.

[RandyChoy]

Well, u r right. Joining or not is the person dission. Other than ikeda, there are still have wonderful ppl too, which ikeda mention, many famous ppl to encourage the members. :)

[safado11]

ikeda mention famous ppl?? well it look easy to do so, they have plenty of money and they have enough to live a decent life. in 1000 ppl how many they will become famous?

not too many. may be none. so what does it change to ppl life if someone famous encourage anyone? to me nothing and so to most of the ppl. it doesn't look good to join soka bcs some famous ppl encourage you.

[hansquad]

If you want, we can have a clear debate through MSN messenger or any other tool you want.

[neothomist1275]

Civil "rights" are not the same thing as inalienable rights. Civil "rights" are contractual privileges you receive when you surrender your sovereignty to become a United States "citizen" (14th amendment corporate franchisee).

[chocobutch]

You are a cult. I spent three months in the is cult worshiping class of asians here in olympia wa, and tacoma wa. You talk about fighting racism, you compare Ikeda to him which is blasphamous to me! Your group is the biggest bunch of racist I've ever met. That's why majority of your group members are white. I came seeking a safe place to restore my spirit dealing with life.

[utogus]

to: BodhisatvaOfTheEarth

you said "I always give opinions based on its objectivity"

>>malign criticisms only prove that SGI is on right track.....

What kind of objectivity is this based upon??

[tubecut]

>malign criticisms only prove that SGI is on right track

Your self-righteousness is extreme.

Where did you get this from, Ikeda or Gosho?

[byakurain]

--malign criticisms only prove that SGI is on right track--

What is your base for being so self-righteous?

[BodhisatvaOfTheEarth]

Cultnews and others...i just make laugh your bunch of quoting press articles posted here...false stories and twisting articles....the intention is clear--defamation... i feel sorry with you guys....may we all find peace in our hearts....nam myoho renge kyo

[chocobutch]

When I didn't return a half jap and colonist dykes advances she went around as the term goes, SLANDERED ME. YOU people are soul murders. You use "chanting" as a means to retaliate against those who are spiritual and not relgious. By the way you ever use King's name again, when you people are nothing like Ghandi or Dr. King. You are honorary racists. You are spiritually immature. Cliquish and unethical.

[BodhisatvaOfTheEarth]

---I've heard this stupid comment many times from SGI members. They all think alike from junior high kids to seniors. This is a sign of totalistic herd psychology. They believe criticism and attacks make them righteous. Cultish religions use this mind control method.---- Wrong!! it is on the other way around people who criticizez mostly uses this mind control method because they lack proof.Proof can never be twisted in the minds of people....

[BodhisatvaOfTheEarth]

--malign criticisms only prove that SGI is on right track??

What an illogical and subjective delusion!

If we are quiet about evil power, human race will suffer. History has proven that also. --- And u think SGI movement and its peace activities are evil...that is a great delusion...

[BodhisatvaOfTheEarth]

It is not new to me how these people qouting and painting the gakkai in such a way. This website explains some of the factors behind Soka Gakkai's controversial reputation in Japan and its occasional negative media coverage.....sokaissues dot info--- will tell about this...

[banuary]

--malign criticisms only prove that SGI is on right track...

I've heard this stupid comment many times from SGI members. They all think alike from junior high kids to seniors. This is a sign of totalistic herd psychology. They believe criticism and attacks make them righteous. Cultish religions use this mind control method.

[CultCop]

Soka Gakkai is toxic to our society due to its extreme self-righteousness, totalistic mentality and ideological uniformity.

>malign criticisms only prove that SGI is on right track??

What an illogical and subjective delusion!

If we are quiet about evil power, human race will suffer. History has proven that also.

[tom57]

Ask it to Mr Carter...

[BodhisatvaOfTheEarth]

people here are qouting the gakkai and the sgi leader out of ocntext...great people are succumb to great criticism...history proves it..

[chocobutch]

I had done the research after being in AA for 8 years and finding that as soon as you think for yourself, you become a target.

[FGBCflava]

Dean Carter is an amazing man. My favorite sermon that he preaches is "The Glory Of The Unrequired."

[CultNews]

Ikeda is the leader of a multi-billion dollar Japanese political and religious group, Soka Gakkai International; SGI is on almost every cult list around the world.

They make no secret of their mission to create peace through converting people to (True) Buddhism.

[CultNews]

Ikeda's self-promotion as a "peace activist" is disgusting. King and Gandhi never pimped themselves around the globe handing out millions of dollars to legitimize themselves.

King and Gandhi struggled against injustice. They did not push, buy, bribe their way into credibility. Neither King nor Gandhi had to spend millions of dollars on public relations and propaganda.

[CultNews]

Besides linking his name with King and Ghandi, Ikeda has also had his name linked with convicted cocaine trafficker Manuel Noriega. When Noriega named a statue in Panama after Ikeda, Ikeda returned the favor by presenting Noriega with a "humanist" award.

Ikeda's chumminess with and admiration for Fidel Castro is also well-documented.

(Imperial Valley Press Thursday, May 20, 2004)

[CultNews]

'What we are talking about is not open organizations or democratic structures, but something like a Communist Party or worse,' said Seizaburo Sato, deputy director of the National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies.

'We are dealing with a dictatorship built around the person of one man'

(The New York Times, November 14, 1999)

[tubecut]

---SGI status as NGO (non-government organization) at UN was essentially bought by paying dues, not because UN actively sought out SGI.

The charitable activities SGI performs are generally used as PR opportunities.

As far as democracy, there is no formalized voting system for leadership. Leaders are appointed by other leaders. The current president, Daisaku Ikeda has appointed one of his sons as vice-president.

[jayynee1]

Isn't it also true that leaders of the Anglican and Catholic churches are appointed by other leaders? Secondly, where is you source of information to support your assertion that SGI "bought" its way into the UN.

[tubecut]

When members complain about SGI policy or practice, a typical response from leadership is to question the members' faith in Buddhism and accuse them of slandering the organization.

Publications are heavily filtered to keep any critical materials to question SGI off from the members. ---

*Rick Ross Institute for Cults 2003

[jayynee1]

Are you honestly expecting SGI leadership to say "you know, you are absolutely right - let's change it all just on the say-so of one dissatisfied member!" - If people don't like the organisation they can vote with their feet.

Finally, publications being heavily filtered from members how? By whom? Aren't members allowed access to the internet? Or are they not allowed to buy newspapers or watch the TV? Gimme a break. Silly scaremongering 4tl.

[snowbeaurd]

Dr. Carter is such an amazing speaker. Very inspiring.

[Oriddler]

Nichiren (1222 -- 1282) was adamant about

His teaching, lotus sutra to be the national religion of Japan.

He denounced other Buddhist teachings including Zen as hellish and evil.

[Oriddler]

His theology is often considered as a right wing nationalism due to its extreme aggressiveness and self-righteousness.

Many scholars find it questionable to apply Nichiren Buddhism in its entirety to 21st century diversity.

Soka Gakkai members ignore Nichiren's detrimental teachings or they are simply ignorant.

[Oriddler]

In four dictums (shika-no-kakugen in Japanese ),

Based on his understanding of the supremacy of the Lotus Sutra,

Nichiren strictly denounced the four most influential Buddhist schools(Pure Land, Zen, True Word and Precepts) of his time in Japan as follows:

(1) "Pure Land(Nembutsu) leads to the hell of incessant suffering"

(2) "Zen is the invention of the celestial devil"

(3) "True Word(Shingon) will ruin the nation"

(4) "Precepts(Ritsu) is a traitor to the nation"

[Oriddler]

Also, refer to another appalling quote from Gosho, letter to Akimoto page 1019

"grave as are these prohibitions against taking life,

it is stated that,

if a person acts as an enemy of the Lotus Sutra,

then to put such a person to death is to perform an act of outstanding merit.

And if this is so,

then how could it possibly be right to

offer alms and support to that person."

[CultCop]

Disturbing speeches by Daisaku Ikeda:

"All who have harassed, persecuted and betrayed Soka gakkai have all incurred- and will definitely continue to incur- strict retribution."

(World Tribune Sept. 25, 1998 page 6)

[CultCop]

"Those who criticize and attack SGI will

incur negative effects in accord

with the uncompromising workings of the Mystic Law, and strict Buddhist law of cause and effect.

Some have said that

the hard times Japan is now suffering are part of those adverse consequences"

(World Tribune Aug 14, 1998, p 8 )

[CultCop]

Herein lies the biggest reason the world media considers SGI to be such a self righteous, intolerant and dangerous cult. This has been the tone of Soka Gakkai for over 50 years.

Also, this is a classic method of cult mind control,

that is to instill a fighting morale against enemies to reinforce the bond among the cult.

Fear programming for divine retribution is another effective cult method.

[CultCop]

Just to mention Ikeda along with Gandhi and King is deplorable.

Gandhi, King and Ikeda exhibit was the ultimate insult to the world

Even though it was sponsored by SGI.

Ikeda deserves Nobel Fraud Prize!

[trailblazer0405]

Buddhism teaches that common mortals are common mortals because they do not believe in the good nature they or others inherently possess. Instead, they are clouded by greed, anger and stupidity.

Nobel prize or not; time will tell. All too often, people only appreciate the greatness of people (or things) only when they lost them. (They were many opposing voices against Gandhi and King while they were alive, weren't there?)

[trailblazer0405]

Quoting from Nichiren Daishonin, "Iron, when heated in the flames and pounded, becomes a fine sword. Worthies and sages are tested by abuse." To understand further, please continue to read the World Tribune.

[ConsensuOmnium1]

so im assuming that was recorded and aired in Japan?

[trailblazer0405]

No, this was aired from Singapore to a number of countries in Asia.

[SGIuk1980]

if people could just see that world peace goes beyond the topic of religion, colour or creed

Peace can only benefit the whole world!

trust though friendship peace though trust

[towanasakura]

I love how they showed pics of Ghandi and Dr. King, but no pic of Daisaku Ikeda. What's up with that?!

The man refers to Ikeda many a times! Who was in charge of displaying the photos at that news station...they're fired!

[marcusbarr]

Get a spell-check, Edd. King was a genius and full of grace. We could all borrow a page out of his book. Myself included. Listen to Dr. Lawrence E.C. "Peace is an inside job." True power is forged in humility and strength of character. "Militarism" and "chaos" are BOTH "outmoded." "Faith not fear, people not profit$."

[BigEdd34]

this is is talking shit...be peaceful in the face of choes?? fuck that and eye for an eye...a tooth for a tooth.

Malcolm X's way is the right way...martin luther king was a pussy.

[marcusbarr]

Get a spell-check, Edd. King was a genius and full of grace. We could all borrow a page out of his book. Myself included.  Listen to Dr. Lawrence E. "Peace is an inside job." True power is forged in humility and strength of character. "Militarism" and "chaos" are BOTH "outmoded." "Faith not fear, people not profit$."

[sitjib]

"An eye for an eye and soon teh whole world is blind."

It may already be.

Acting like that just continues the cycle of violence and hate, when you do that to someone else, they will do it back to you. Your children and relatives will just suffer the same as you have done.

We need to change how we deal with chaos.

[sitjib]

Thank you for putting this on.

This is a profound and important message, I hope many people will hear it and we can have some true discussion about what matters, from individuals, to communities, to global politics.

[prowilder]

Peace from within..Hope many people get Dr Carter's message. Great video. Thanks!

[lilhalosoldier]

outstanding.... great thanx a lot =)

[washington2008]

Soft power and dialogue is a part of my plan when it comes to dealing with the international community. Iam a SGI member and candidate for the 2008 Presidential election and I tell you the movement has begun. Feel free to email me if you want to see a 9min youtube clip. This is great! Thank you so much Mr. Carter!

President Hopeful Lanakila Washington

[bryantpierpont]

very nice even handed comments

[jeewj]

nice video,anyone from SSA here?

[RandyChoy]

I am SSA Member err, district ldr hehe.. In Teck Ghee Chater... :)

[myohomojo]

Beautiful! Soft power and dialog will change the world. Thank you!

[FoodB12]

i agree with him, we need more dialogue

[brandilyn100]

Excellent! Thank you for that.

[sinansalar]

Awesome video. Peace and dialogue are possible. Gandhi, King, Ikeda rock!

[touchingstoves]

Thank you for putting this up!