The principal of PS 24 in the Bronx faces charges of leading "Buddhist hate chants" against his enemies. John Landis reports for CBS News that "Philip Scharper is under investigation by the city's Department of Education for potentially crossing the line between church and state with Buddhism."
Scharper, a member of Soka Gakkai International, is charged with proselytizing on school property by handing out "chant cards," favoring SGI members in hiring, and holding "prayer circles" in his office in which people did the alleged Buddhist hate chants. UPI reports, "One teacher said she and others would get together on weekends for chants and sometimes would be called into the principal's office for more chanting."
I will try to reach Principal Scharper for his side of the story. I suspect there's a certain amount of hysteria coming from people who find Buddhist practices alien. The "hate chants" are more likely sections of the Lotus Sutra.
On the other hand, I do subscribe to all versions of the Golden Rule. The version to be applied here is "Whatsoever would creep me out if a bunch of Christian fundamentalists were doing it, neither will I do." Proselyting on school grounds or any workplace, if that was what Principal Scharper was doing, is unacceptable.
I agree with you on your “Golden Rule” take. there are so many misinformed people in America about Buddhism the last thing we need is this kind of press.
My thought is how can any follower of Tibetan Buddhism even meditate to a Mantra like this? In my years of following HH the Dalai Lama, actions like this are completely backward of his teachings. I see someone with a slight distortion in their level of Karma.
tony bennett————Free Tibet
Tony — Soka Gakkai isn’t Tibetan. It’s a lay organization that practices a form of Nichiren Buddhism, a school that originated in Japan.
Thank you for the information. However, I was only commenting on the fact that we all need to follow the same rules, ones personal religious veiws aside. Once we start doing or acting in a fashion that makes people look at us like fools, then the entire group then looks like fools, Soka Gakkai has little or nothing to do with it.
This Principal was wrong because he obviously wasn’t Christian. We all know that if he was it would have been okay. How do I know? Because my wife’s principal (where she teaches) gets away with it. Some of her faculty meetings end up as “Holy Ghost Revivals” where even a Christian is allowed to sing a gospel song to open the meeting. School Board and City Council meetings are opened up in prayer “in the Name of Jesus”. And the money I spend declares my trust in “God”, not because it violates the separation of Church and State, but because this is a Christian Nation and it’s our tradition.
Not that the principal was right by no means, but me thinks this is a little hypocritical.
I’m wondering just what happened. I’m a long time SGI member and never would do this. I have SGI friends who are educators – they would never do this. I wonder if we have a slightly off principal or if we have some anti-buddhist folks just taking aim?
I’m with you Bryan. I too am a long time SGI member. Our actions for world peace through individual happiness leaves no room for “hate chants”. Good Grief!
Sadly, the Soka Gakkai’s campaign against their parent sub-school (Nichiren Shoshu) may have set a precedent for “hate chanting.” I was once a member of the Gakkai. I have long sense moved on to a more eclectic mix of main line Nichiren Shu (not the same as Nichiren Shoshu ) chanting and traditional Theravadin meditation.
Buddhism teaches one to be mindful of the social situation. In my view, we should be forbearing toward those who find Buddhism alien and perhaps frightening. It is best to radiate the warmth of “metta” and compassion.
In regards to hate chanting, I hear from very good sources that Soka Gakkai staffers have
organized chanting vigils for the failure of Nichireen Shoshu rituals. It would not surprize me one bit if some have taken to making enemy lists, and sending hate vibes to them. How sad that such a thing has become thinkable!
Well, I shall get of my soap box now.
It may just be dissatisfied parents. Or, he may be proselytizing on school property – in which case, he should not be allowed to stay on. I am with Barbara on that.
As for “hate chanting”, sadly, the SGI has indeed been “waging a war” against the Nichiren Shoshu school of Buddhism for over a decade. The New York Flushing SGI was chanting to close down the Shoshu temple in New York and publicized that as little as a year ago even while they were sponsoring a celebration of the Flushing Remonstrance Anniversary (a celebration of freedom of religion – the irony is pretty thick). I was a member of the SGI in another location, and we were asked to chant for things to “get in the way” of construction of new temples, for building licences to get revoked or canceled, or for “bad weather” if the Shoshu group had a planned outdoor meeting. A number of members rejoiced when bad things (illness, death of family members) happened to Nichiren Shoshu members.
Praying or chanting in that manner probably qualifies as “hate chanting.” So in my personal experience, it does indeed happen. I have long since moved away from SGI. I certainly hope that Philip Sharper didn’t go down this road, but it would not be unexpected. This chanting to close down rival religions and shadenfreude at others’ misfortunes – not in keeping with fundamental Buddhist principles, much less the golden rule.
Bryant, and Maureen, I hope it is just parents with an ax to grind, but sadly, I have witnessed the “dark side” of the SGI, so I am taking a “wait and see” attitude. The guy is innocent until proven guilty.
It sounds like you feel your daily practice is open heartedly compassionate, and entirely free of the wish to restrict freedom of religion. I fervently hope so.
Well, I’ll climb off my soapbox now, too.
Haven’t heard of “hate chanting”, but it could happen. Not all of us in the SGI are enlightened.
I’ve seen the dark and the light of the SGI, and the light eventually overcomes. The problem is always in the interum, eh?
Hate chanting leads to hate results, and it sometimes takes a while for folx to understand that. If I run across it, I’ll be sure to point it out; haven’t seen that problem here in the NW, but I’m sure it exists. That’s the problem with taking people as they are and trying to enlighten them, as opposed to only taking the enlightened ones.
it’s one thing if he was chanting in his office. it’s another if he was openly promoting his belief system to staff and students, making them feel uncomfortable. there is a way to share faith with people without bullying them or making them feel pressured. i don’t know if he crossed the line or not. but i do know that if you are not practicing protestant christianity in this country, you are always suspect in your religious practice. the haters will come forth…..
In my time with Soka Gakkai I was taught that whatever you chant for could only have good results. Any one who believes that you can cause harm to another through ‘religious’ chants or ‘prayers’ is obviously warped and any ‘religious’ organisation that promotes, condones or even tacitly supports such behaviour is seriously flawed. It would be better to sincerely chant/pray for their happiness!!
SGI members (like myself) have cards to give to anyone who is interested in the faith. Buddhism, Christianity, whatever, does not belong in school though. I understand the Golden Rule completely.
Of course, this “harm” chant thing is completely false. Buddhism is probably the most peaceful of the religions. It is not perfect…but if you look at the world now with Christianity and Muslim at war with the world again…
Very interesting story. Did you manage to speak to Principal Scharper for his version of events?
No, I never did get hold of the principal. I should try to find out what has happened since this post was written, though.