As with all the other religions, SGI offers its members a "Get out of punishment free" card

One of the most important criticisms of religion is that it does not promote good behavior amongst its devotees. There is no penalty for wrongdoing; the faithful are let off the hook by thinking a single effortless thought. Even that isn't necessary, technically - by "believing" in the first place, they're permanently off the hook!! Yippee!!

Traditionally, one has found the most despicable scoundrels and villains within believers' ranks. Nothing a believer can do, no matter how vile, can alter his "saved" status. As you might imagine, Christianity's "Good News" is very BAD NEWS for the rest of us - as history has demonstrated!

Nichiren Buddhism/SGI-ism are no different. In the Nichiren Shoshu flavor of Nichiren Buddhism that Ikeda and the SGI first sought to commandeer and then simply copied, there is the concept of "lessening one's karmic retribution". In a nutshell, this means that, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

No, wait, that's physics.

What it means in the nutty woo-woo Nichiren world is that, while everything one thinks/says/does creates a corresponding karmic entry in one's karmic storage (the 8th or alaya consciousness - go look it up), simply chanting can change this! Ordinarily, in order to change one's karmic "balance", one would have to actually do something nice for others or for the planet in order to create an "offset" for the negative karma of doing something dickish.

But not in the Nichiren realm! No, THERE, sitting on your FAT ASS and mumbling some magic sounds - THAT's the BEST kind of "action" anyone can take! Here - see for yourself!

The Nirvana Sutra teaches the principle of lessening one’s karmic retribution. If one’s heavy karma from the past is not expiated within this lifetime, one must undergo the sufferings of hell in the future, but if one experiences extreme hardship in this life [because of the Lotus Sutra], the sufferings of hell will vanish instantly. And when one dies, one will obtain the blessings of the human and heavenly worlds, as well as those of the three vehicles and the one vehicle. Bodhisattva Never Disparaging was not abused and vilified, stoned and beaten with staves without reason. He had probably slandered the correct teaching in the past. The phrase “when his offenses had been wiped out” indicates that, because Bodhisattva Never Disparaging met persecution, he was able to eradicate his offenses from previous lifetimes. (This concludes my first point.) Blah blah blah, in other words

A modern translation:

LESSENING ONE’S KARMIC RETRIBUTION EQUALS ATTAINING BUDDHAHOOD IN THIS LIFETIME

– Nichiren cites two points”

1. Even heavy karma that gives rise to hellish retribution can be expiated immediately by manifesting our innate Buddhahood.

When we revere Myoho-renge-kyo inherent in our own life as the object of devotion, the Buddha nature within us is summoned forth and manifested by our chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This is what is meant by “Buddha.” Nichiren

That whole "expiated immediately" - THAT's the problem here and in all the other religions. The whole "get rid of guilt without actually doing anything meaningful" angle. And no, mumbling the magic chant doesn't count as "effort".

2. Lessening karmic retribution is the gateway to attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime; it implies a fundamental transformation in our lives.

Uh...you just said that it was manifesting the Buddhahood that caused the lessening of the karmic retribution. Now it's the opposite???

– How we change our attitude or inner resolve at this moment is crucial. We can freely create our future through our determination and action right now.

THE BENEFIT OF PROTECTING THE LAW

– Shakabuku – is the driving force for lessening karmic retribution Source

How convenient for Das Org, right? Finding new patsies to get hooked into the cult - THAT's the way you get to heaven! Yeah!!

So, what does it mean to “lessen one’s karmic retribution?” Daisaku Ikeda writes:

“Present effects are due to karmic causes from the past. However, future effects arise from the causes we make in the present. It is always the present that counts. It is what we do in the present moment that decides our future; our past causes do not govern our future as well. Nichiren Buddhism emphasizes that no matter what kind of karmic causes we have made in the past,[it is] through the causes we make in the present we can achieve a brilliant future.”

Well, then, Daisaku, perhaps you can explain why you and your organization are so fixated on Nichiren Shoshu and the fact that they excommunicated your sorry asses almost 25 years ago. Why can't YOU focus on the present instead of brooding and festering over the past? Where's YOUR "brilliant future"???

“In one sense, how we approach life and our Buddhist practice depends on whether we have a perspective of ‘true effect’ or ‘true cause.’ A perspective of ‘true effect,’ only sees enlightenment, or happiness, a result of past causes. From the perspective of ‘true cause,’ enlightenment, or happiness, is an ever-present potential; the cause for bringing it forth can only be made right now, in the present moment. The moment we make the ‘true cause,’ enlightenment reveals itself.” (Jeff Kriger, SGI-USA Study Department vice Leader) Source

"Original cause and original effect" in this passage are the same as "true cause" and "true effect." The "Life Span" chapter of the essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra overturns the concept of Buddhahood stated in the pre-Lotus Sutra teachings as well as those of the first half, or theoretical teaching, of the Lotus Sutra. Later in the same letter, Nichiren Daishonin refers to the "true cause" of the Buddha's enlightenment, stating, "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the heart of the 'Life Span' chapter, is the mother of all Buddhas" (WND, 184).

Regarding the spirit of true cause, SGI President Ikeda said in a dialogue with young people, "The past is the past and the future is the future. You should keep moving forward with a steady eye on the future, telling yourself, 'I'll start from today!' 'I'll start afresh from now, from this moment!' This is the essence of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism of True Cause, the spirit of starting from the present moment. This is the heart of our daimoku" (World Tribune, November 1, 1996, p.11). SGI Source

So how does Ikeda's and the SGI's pathological obsession with the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood (see "Soka Spirit") factor into all this lofty windbaggery?

The practice of upholding the Mystic Law is mystic and incomprehensible. That's because it contains both the true cause and the true effect of attaining Buddhahood-that is to say, the fundamental principle for becoming happy. This is the "mystic principle of true cause."

In the Latter Day of the Law, therefore, Nichiren Daishonin, who is identical with Shakyamuni the practitioner of the true cause, should be revered as the object of worship. SGI Source

Wha...? The wha... of wha...???

Shakyamuni in the remote past, who practiced the true cause, is identified with Nichiren Daishonin, the original Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law. This is the principle of "the remote past is itself the Latter Day."

This is complete horseshit!

This practice of Bodhisattva Never Disparaging --- lighthearted, persistent and among the people --- is the true cause for attaining Buddhahood.

SGI members are SOOOOO doin it rong!

It seems to me, in other words, that his practice must typify Shakyamuni's original practice of the bodhisattva way in the remote past.

Yes! Let's just make up whatever we like!! And then we'll say that's Buddhist doctrine!

Once the brilliant sun of the "mystic principle of true cause" rises in our hearts, the causality of fate or karma originating in the past rapidly loses its glow, as do the stars and other celestial bodies at daybreak.

Time and again President Toda explained that when we dedicate ourselves to the Mystic Law, the causes and effects created in the interim all disappear and the "common mortal of kuon ganjo" appears.

And the frolistan barlblach with the urplicious martery will plinsterate the blabbister! Get out of hell free card!!!

Therefore, while we each have a unique destiny, by exerting ourselves for kosen-rufu based on faith, we can use all the circumstances we encounter lessen karmic retribution and transform destiny. The Daishonin says, "The sufferings of hell will vanish instantly" (MW-1, 17). When we embrace the Mystic Law, our karmic impediments cease to be karmic impediments.

By MAGIC!! LIKE I WAS SAYIN'!!!!

Therefore, while we each have a unique destiny, by exerting ourselves for kosen-rufu based on faith, we can use all the circumstances we encounter [to] lessen karmic retribution and transform destiny. The Daishonin says, "The sufferings of hell will vanish instantly" (MW-1, 17). When we embrace the Mystic Law, our karmic impediments cease to be karmic impediments.

But through the benefit of devoting ourselves and leading others to the Mystic Law, the heavy consequences of our karma can quickly be lightened. That is, we can effectively rid ourselves of all our negative karma in this lifetime by experiencing its results in much lightened form as obstacles and troubles we challenge for the sake of kosen-rufu. SGI Source

Ah, the magic of the kosen-rufu!!! Whatever happens - KOSEN-RUFU!!

For example, in “Letter to Niike,” Nichiren writes: “Our worldly misdeeds and evil karma may have piled up as high as Mount Sumeru, but when we take faith in this sutra, they will vanish like frost or dew under the sun of the Lotus Sutra” (WND-1, 1026).

Oh, brother eye roll

So SGIers can do whatever the hell they like, with full confidence that their chanting the magic mantra and going to the SGI activities ("for kosen-rufu!!") is all they have to do to get out of the established penalties. And that's how you get serial SGI pedophiles like Walter Lee Williams and that SGI-USA District MD leader I knew who had started a new hobby: raping his 10-yr-old stepdaughter. Hooray for the freedom of the Mystic Law!!