Untold History of SSA
The purpose of this page is to keep for posterity the untold history of SSA in associating with the actions of certain central leaders.
Disclaimers:
1. All contents and information should not be misused or misquoted against Soka Gakkai International (SGI) and its affiliates in any forms.
2. All contents and information exist for the sole purpose of education.
SSA Saga
Digressions Readers' Contribution Member's Injustice
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Digressions - (Reader's Contribution)
Editor's Note - The following Reader's Contribution has been edited accordingly to protect the contributor's identitiy. Content remains unchanged.
How true is this phrase “Time and tide wait for no man”. I came across this phrase while browsing through the internet. A year has passed since the removal of the YMD leaders and the expulsion of a MD member. Has this incident been forgotten? I beg to differ and I believe the rest of us will not forget. I remembered attending one of the six sessions of meeting held to expose the evil deeds of these YMDs and MD. In that meeting, the senior leaders presented with facts, evidences and witnesses in order to justify their action. Many leaders who were sitting beside me were very badly affected. Many of them were unable to conceal their calmness, they displayed their anger. Were they angry over the senior leaders or the YMDs and MD? For myself, I was very angry over the decision of the senior leaders and the meeting was too one sided. I pondered if the facts and witnesses were fabricated. I guess no one will know the truth unless the victims are able to clarify. With all these doubts in my mind, I decided to probe into the whole saga. It has been many months since I have started out my investigation and I managed to dig out information which could be the untold story that was not revealed in official meetings.
Incident: a. Adopting big scale meeting through the use of charismatic speakers This incident happened in one of the Youth SHQ meeting in Jan 2010. One YMD Zone leader cum staff question on the reasons of not being able to achieve 50,000 membership in the year 2011. This YMD stated that this was due to the lack of good speakers that can attract people. He even suggested that we should adopt the use of good speakers, similar to what others are doing. He has even researched on how other religions have spread their teachings & we should adopt one of their methods i.e. the use of good speakers, instead of one to one dialogue which is the foundation of our practice. (Source: Facebook) b. Embarking on Large scale meetings This incident happened in one of the coffee sessions that then SHQ YMD has with Ex-General Director (Ex-GD). When Ex-GD asked about how the Shq YMDs were reaching out to the ground, they replied by conducting one to one dialogue. The Ex-GD then asked how many can they reach out in one night & went on to conclude that it will be more efficient to hold group meetings. This will speed up the reach out process. (Source: Facebook) 2. Embarking on the use of multimedia – Massive use of SMS & Emails for communication Incident: There were many instances of big scale or important meetings that were disseminated through SMS or email resulting in the lack of human touch & valuing the importance of an individual. One MD leader was given the impression that the organization was getting “cold” in spite of him having feedback about refraining of such usage of SMS. There were also instances whereby meetings arranged last minute were disseminated through machines that sent text messages to district leaders. Recently, a few YMD senior leaders were informed by text messages that they were suspended from the duties of study facilitator. (Source: Facebook) 3. Big meetings to do Shakubuku / Not reaching out to the frontline / Ground will move by itself a. Not reaching out to the frontline to inspire and lead The digression from our mentor’s spirit and values are clearly evident when the Ex-GD does not inculcate the correct practice in members. There were many feedback received by leaders and members that Ex-GD was quoted as saying in big meetings, “The ground can move by itself.” There were also feedbacks on Ex-GD doing things in his own way instead of following SGI guidelines and bringing members close to the mentor. (Source: Facebook) b. Mass platform needed to do Shakubuku When Shakubuku is no longer the focal point of members’ practice, reaching out was done out of formality. Platform to reach out to masses in a big group is preferred over one to one and face to face dialogue. There was feedback that during a session where Ex-GD met the Student Division chiefs, he dismissed the Nationwide SD YMD chief’s method of one to one dialogue to reach out to new friend as too slow. He indicates that a mass platform such as friendship concerts is faster in reaching out to new friends. (Source: Reader’s Personal Findings) 4. Singapore – “role model organization”, Japan – “no longer a yardstick for Kosen-Rufu a. Japan can no longer be the yardstick for Kosen-Rufu In a training course held in 2010, Ex-GD shared with a Japan leader that Singapore has an active youth attendance of 40%. When the leader humbly complimented Singapore’s situation as being better than Japan, Ex-GD immediately decided that Japan can no longer be the yardstick for Kosen-Rufu thinking we are better than them. He shared that we should follow countries that are progressing such as Brazil and Italy. (Source: Reader’s Personal Findings) b. Singapore – “role model organization” Ex-GD had also repeatedly shared since the year 2008 in youth prayer meetings and dialogues that Singapore must strive to be the true model organisation for worldwide Kosen-rufu. He also arrogantly made the following remark to belittle senior leaders in Japan. He mentioned that the Japanese senior leaders were born close to Sensei in this lifetime because they did not receive strict training from Sensei in their past lives. In retrospect, we are born far away from our mentor because we had received strict training from our mentor in our past lives. (Source: Reader’s Personal Findings) 5. Shakubuku has threshold Incidents: a. There is a threshold for Kosen Rufu and we should slow down shakubuku At a youth leaders’ dialogue with Ex-GD, EX-GD mentioned that during a Japan training course in 2009, he asked the other General Directors from other countries present at the conference on how to propagate the Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism without inviting attention from the authorities. Those General Directors present were shocked and dumbfounded. Ex-GD further shared that there is a threshold for the pace of Kosen Rufu movement in Singapore in several meetings. He mentioned that if membership expands too fast, it will attract unnecessary attention from the authorities. However, I clearly remember Sensei guidance: “He knew that if he fought in earnest to achieve Kosen Rufu, the three obstacles and four devils and the three powerful enemies were bound to arise in great number to hinder him. But if the Gakkai were weak and spiritless as it had been during the war, if it quailed and trembled before opposition, he would never be able to avenge his mentor’s life. He had to build an organisation of people whose resolve and commitment would remain unshaken, irrespective of the great persecution and oppression they might face. And he was determined to foster champions of justice who would be willing to put their lives on the line to fight staunchly against evil and injustice, never flinching at the fiercest storm.” Does he think he is better than his mentor? (Source: Reader’s Personal Findings) b. Shakubuku is not our current focus In 2010, when Student Division shared about their goal of achieving 80 Gohonzon conferment target, Ex-General Director told them to focus on the discussion meeting attendance instead. Ex-General Director was quoted as saying these exact words during the meeting, “We will still allow 1000 people to receive Gohonzon this year.” (Source: Reader’s Personal Findings) 6. Contorted interpretation on the understanding of Sensei Guidance. Incidents: a. Interpret Sensei guidance “between the lines. Ex-General Director shared that there are hidden meanings in Sensei’s guidance. Different countries have to interpret it differently and have to read Sensei’s guidance between the lines. He also mentioned that to understand deeper meanings in Sensei Guidance, it has to depend on individual’s capacity. (Source: Facebook) In 2011, During a Youth Zone and above dialogue with Soka Gakkai Study Department Chief Morinaka, he shared that : Ikeda Sensei has always put Toda Sensei’s guidance into practise and make it a reality. As for Ikeda Sensei’s guidance, Youth should read the words well first, put it into practice and show actual proof in their lives. Rather than reading in between the lines, we should put Sensei’s guidance into practice and see how much we have broaden our life state. 7. Usage of funds Incidents: a. Big scale friendship concert Welfare should be the first priorities to our members, why do members have to pay for concerts that are held in ICA? Tickets need to be purchase at $10 for local concerts and $20 for overseas invited artist. Some members already have financial difficulty, and in order for them to shakubuku their new friends to watch the concerts, they have to fork out money. (Source: Facebook) b. Year‐end 80th Anniversary at Singapore Indoor Stadium In 2009, earlier plans have been made to hold the Soka Youth Musical (SYM) at Singapore Indoor Stadium, but due to the economic downturn the SYM was held at SSA HQ. The Nationwide Youth Chief at that time voiced out that the change of venue would relieve the financial stress on members and changes had to be made to stage a total of 18 shows. But in Aug 2010, announcements have been made to hold an 80th anniversary celebration at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. And the 80th anniversary celebration at the Indoor Stadium was just a commemorative meeting for only members and leaders who had tickets. Why was there a drastic change in the organization spending especially when the economy has not fully recovered yet? It was only in Sep 2010, 6 months after the SYM that we heard another explanation from the Ex- General Director – It is not appropriate to promote our mentor at an external public venue. Why was Ex – GD’s explanation different from the Youth Chief? Is this because they cannot remember the standard answer and thus, giving different answers in different occasions. (Source: Facebook) 8. Collaboration with external organizations may have conflict of interest Incidents: a. Tohoku Earthquake donation With regards to the donation towards the Tohoku Earthquake, donation could yield better values by donating through the Japan Embassy as it does not incur any administrative fees, as compared to the NPO with administrative fees incurred. Is holding similar responsibilities in multiple organizations allowed in our organisation? This will, in turn, invite speculations as there will be conflict of interests. (Source: Reader’s Personal Findings) b. Go Carnival Incident At the Go Carnival last year, the awareness of our practice, our organization and our mentor were downplayed or even disallowed by our top leaders due to sensitivity of the venue and the collaboration with a external organization. The significance of the Youth Formation Anniversary was lost as the event could no longer support the original intent of attesting the youths’ vow for Kosen-Rufu. Yet, there were still announcements in big meetings to encourage members to buy coupons for the event in the name of our mentor and the Kosen-Rufu movement in Singapore. (Source: Facebook) 9. Misconception that the General Director is absolute Incidents: a. Misconception that the General Director is absolute There are statements such as the following shared from top leaders: i. “On what basis can you say that the General Director is wrong?” – MD Senior Leaders ii. “Even if the General Director is wrong, you must also follow” – MD Senior Leaders iii “When you point out the mistakes of the General Director, it is equal to faulting the entire organization” – MD and YMD Top Leaders iv. “The General Director is appointed by Sensei, so how can the General Director be wrong!” – Top Leaders Such statements indicate the misconceptions that the General Director is infallible and absolute. It creates a wrong perception that by pointing out the mistakes or disagreeing with the General Director, one is going against Sensei. A senior Japan leader once mentioned: “When we follow Sensei, we are supporting the General Director”. This statement is so true and not the other way round, which is what the top leaders claimed! (Source: Reader’s Personal Findings) 10. Senior Leaders making Junior Leaders their scapegoat of their failures Incidents: a. Senior Leaders making Junior Leaders their scapegoat of their failures In some meetings where attendance and members’ responses were poor, YMD senior leaders had a discussion among themselves (YMD Zone & above leaders meeting headed by a former YMD zone leader). The following question was posted by this leader: Which level of leadership is the weakest and has resulted in the poor attendances and responses? They all unanimously declared that the district leaders were at fault as they were the weakest link within the leadership because the district leaders were the closest to the members. If the district leaders do not make the effort to reach out to the members, the chapter and above leaders cannot do anything. However, I have always learned that Sensei has always emphasized that it is the frontline leaders that are the one closest to the members and working the hardest. (Source: Reader’s Personal Findings) 11. Abuse of Power The Ex-GD who is also the Vice Chairman of a Non-Profitable Organization (NPO) has the tendency of seizing opportunities to his advantage. At one Sunday Morning Gongyo where It was supposed to be a regular chanting session with the members, the chanting was abruptly cut short to accommodate a ceremony of this NPO. The cause was for world peace, however there were no prior announcement made that there will this NPO ceremony held at HQ that morning. The members who attended were surprised that they were there observing the ceremony instead of normal full session chanting. The members were not against the ceremony but they were puzzled over the miscommunication of information that was not passed down. This information was only disseminated a few days later. Is the Ex-GD abusing the trust of the members that he could make alteration without disseminating the information or, to make matters worse, disseminate the information later? Conclusion: There are always two sides to a coin and it is these two sides that make up a coin. In this entire saga, there is only one side of the story being revealed. My hope of writing this untold version could help us to understand more towards the entire saga. I also hope that it could open up the eyes of those in doubt and those who blindly follow. |