Soka Gakkai International - USA, Santa Monica CA

Excellent organization.fostering world peace and personal contentment. It is not a temple and it is a lay organization. Amazing people, truly!

I was invited to a meeting by a neighbor. She didn't give many details as far as it being a buddhist event (perhaps a clue or an oversight idk) but I looked up the address and decided to give it try - as I was interested in trying a new type of meditation and in buddhism, in general.

I did end up joining after a couple of meetings because the cost was the same as a magazine subscription so, "why not? " The membership gave me access to more meetings and reading materials, which led me to finally discover that this style of buddism is just not for me.

I actually do think chanting or any type of music or vocalization is a valid meditative practice, but I found a lot of members are more into the magic side of things.

I also would often get early morning calls concerning recruiting other members, and I felt pressured to attend more and more meetings, or to take leadership positions - but not really for my own good.

After a year, I decided to step away and told my group that I was doing so. Yet, I still got a couple meeting invites afterwards.

I am glad I tried it out for the time I did. The facilities seem nice and peaceful, but I find that the organization focuses on recruiting numbers a little too much. I just don't relate to nichiren buddhism and the political ties the organization has at all.