Sokagakkai Under Attack

Sokagakkai Under Attack (midcol 1 64 – 66)1427 – 1432)

"As practice progresses and understanding grows, the three obstacles and four devils emerge in confusing form, vying with one another to interfere . . . . One should be neither influenced nor frightened by them. If one falls under their influence, one will be led into the paths of evil. If one is frightened by them, one will be prevented from practicing the correct teaching." (WND, page 501, quoting from ‘Great Concentration and Insight’ in Letter to the Brothers)

     The sudden arrests, on the morning of May 15th, on the erroneous assumption that previously resolved incidents had been part of some coordinated action, received widespread newspaper coverage. Headlines such as “Soka Gakkai – Strong Arm Religious Body” and “Soka Gakkai Kansai Headquarters Wins Believers by Strong-arm Tactics; Police to Nab Six” appeared.
     It’s likely that the actions of other religious sects contributed to the gakkai member round-up. The conversion of 9,000 households by the Osaka chapter during April came as a shock to leaders of other sects and they no doubt felt an urgent need to ‘protect’ their membership rolls. It was rumored that a federation of other sects had formed a ‘committee to cope with the Nichiren Shoshu Soka Gakkai.’
     The incident could have a serious impact on the members, in particular those newly converted. Shinichi and other top leaders in the Kansai headquarters rose resolutely to crush the devilish maneuvering of those in power.
     President Toda was in Osaka at the time and he was scheduled to give a gosho lecture on the 15th. The lecture was on the gosho, ‘On Omens.’ Some main points are:

• An event is always preceded by an omen


• When Sakyamuni was about to preach the Lotus Sutra, there appeared great omens without precedent in the previous 42 years.


• When Sakyamuni expounded the essential teaching, as huge treasure tower appeared from the earth and hung in the air.


• Greater omens exist inn the Latter Day because there are many more evil people, and more wicked, than there were in Sakyamuni’s day.


• The Daishonin severely criticized the social situation in his time from the standpoint of the inseparability of life and its environment


• Because the people of Kansai have been propagating the Lotus Sutra, omens must appear. One such occurred today with the unreasonable arrest of our friends.

Points to ponder

     Was the arrest of the six members unreasonable? Why?     Read the account of President Toda’s lecture.
     Imagine yourself being arrested in circumstances such as Shirota’s. How do you think you would react.