“The Soka Gakkai Headquarters general meeting on May 3 that year was held at the gymnasium of Soka University, taking place in the very midst of a firestorm of insult and defamation that can only be described as pure madness. The top leaders of the Soka Gakkai could not conceal their uncertainty and anxiety. They were hesitant and restrained in their applause for me, out of fear of incurring the displeasure of the priests present. It was a sad sight indeed; no, it was pitiful.”