SGI Canada Newsletter, No. 100 - March 8, 2024
SGI Canada Newsletter
Issue no. 100
March 8, 2024
Welcome to the 100th issue of the SGI Canada Newsletter, a bi-weekly summary of news, upcoming events and encouragement. If you are not subscribing to the SGI Canada Newsletter, you may do so by clicking on the button below. Subscriptions are free of charge, and the SGI Canada Newsletter will be emailed directly to you.
Encouragement
Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada’s editorial: “Shine as Youthful Successors and Bodhisattvas of the Earth”
In his March 2024 editorial in Daibyakurenge, Soka Gakkai President Harada writes about the respect with which Ikeda Sensei spoke to each person he met:
When encouraging members, President Ikeda dedicated himself to reaching out to them with empathy, trying to understand each person’s circumstances, and respecting their unique individuality. He also had a strong seeking spirit, always deepening his own thinking through his interactions with young people.
In March 1974, he travelled to North and Central America to meet with and offer guidance to members there. At a question-and-answer session held in Florida, a young member asked him what makes Buddhism unique. President Ikeda stressed that religion exists for the sake of people, not the other way round, and that Nichiren Buddhism embodies that truth. From that time on, he consistently emphasized the perspective of “religion for the sake of people” as the ultimate essence of Nichiren Buddhism.
After the meeting, he said to those of us travelling with him that the question-and-answer session had been very important and that we should make sure to remember it. Through his exchange with the youth that day, President Ikeda clarified his thinking. A half-century later, I can still recall the powerful impression that moment had on me.
In an essay published on March 16, [2000], President Ikeda encouraged members to have the awareness of being a key player in achieving kosen-rufu, in other words, to regard the Soka Gakkai as an integral part of themselves. Let’s warmly illuminate our communities and the world, with the awareness that each one of us is a Shin’ichi Yamamoto who will establish a youthful Soka Gakkai worldwide! Having overcome the harsh winter cold, let us blossom like the shining flowers of spring!
The complete editorial will be available in the May 2024 New Century.
News
International Women’s Day – March 8
Happy International Women’s Day!
The online series “Day by day, and month after month” features translated excerpts from President Ikeda’s writings, published daily in Japanese in the Seikyo Shimbun. The passage for March 8 reads:
When women shine, their communities, society, and the future shine as well. The way to peace lies in striving to realize a society where women can shine their brightest.
To subscribe to “Day by day, and month after month”, please click on the button below.
Grand Opening of Soka International School Malaysia
On February 22, Soka International School Malaysia (SISM) held its Grand Opening Ceremony at its campus in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan State, Malaysia, welcoming 138 students from nine countries and territories. The ceremony was attended by President of Soka University of America Ed Feasel; Chairman of the Soka Ikeda College of Arts and Science for Women in Chennai, India, Dr. Sethu Kumanan (later appointed as adviser to SISM); a delegation led by Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada; and youth representatives from South Asia. At the ceremony, two students shared their determinations and SISM Senior Adviser Minoru Harada expressed his appreciation to all students, their parents, faculty and staff. The opening ceremony of the Friendship House dormitory building was also held on the same day.
Watch short video clip here
(Soka Gakkai International Office of Public Information)
Upcoming events
Looking forward to March 16, Kosen-rufu Day!
To commemorate Kosen-rufu Day – March 16 – Youth Division General Meetings will be held in areas across the country between March 1 and March 23. The theme of the meetings will be “Spread the Great Light of Hope and Peace!”
Here are the meeting dates and times across the country:
|
meeting |
day |
local time |
|
Western region |
March 16 |
11.00am |
|
Edmonton |
March 16 |
3.00pm |
|
Calgary |
March 16 |
11.00am |
|
Winnipeg |
March 17 |
1.30pm |
|
Ontario West |
March 9 |
1.00pm |
|
Halton-Peel |
March 17 |
11.00am |
|
Toronto West |
March 16 |
1.00pm |
|
Toronto East |
March 17 |
1.00pm |
|
Ontario East / YSNO / CCA |
March 16 |
12.00pm |
|
Montréal F1 / F2 / E1 |
March 17 |
2.00pm |
|
Québec |
March 17 |
2.00pm |
|
Ottawa-Gatineau |
March 17 |
11.00am |
|
Atlantic |
March 23 |
TBA |
Please contact your local leaders for more details about the Youth Division General Meeting in your area.
Happy 100th birthday!
This is the 100th issue of the SGI Canada Newsletter. Since its first issue on May 19 2020, the Newsletter has been bringing you the most recent guidance from Ikeda Sensei and President Harada, news from Canada and around the world, timely reminders and announcements, and information about upcoming events.
We hope you found this newsletter beneficial. Please email your questions or comments to contact@sgicanada.org. Please note that the next SGI Canada Newsletter will appear on March 22, 2024. See you then!