SGI Canada Newsletter, No. 140 - Oct 10, 2025

SGI Canada Newsletter

Issue no. 140

October 10, 2025

 

Welcome to the 140th 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.

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Encouragement 

Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada’s editorial: “Illuminating and Manifesting Our True Nature on the Stage of Our Mission” 

In his editorial in the October issue of Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai monthly study journal, Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada describes Ikeda Sensei’s efforts to show the power of Buddhist dialogue and practice in everyday life: 

In October of 1967 and again in 1970, President Ikeda engaged in a series of dialogues with Count Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi (1894–1972), renowned as a pioneer of European integration. These discussions, later published [in Japanese only] as Bunmei: Nishi to higashi (Civilization: East and West), marked the true beginning of President Ikeda’s numerous dialogues with leading thinkers worldwide. 

At the time, the Soka Gakkai was embroiled in the so-called Freedom of Speech Incident of 1970 [when it sought to defend itself against malicious libel].^[1] Despite the surrounding controversy, President Ikeda’s gaze was set firmly on bringing true happiness to people throughout the world. Through profound insight and leadership, he set a powerful example of how the Soka Gakkai could open itself to the wider world. 

At a time when people everywhere are beset with problems and crises, the sight of members praying morning and evening for “peace throughout the world and the happiness of all living beings” and taking action for the sake of others shines as a powerful resurgence of the Buddha’s compassion. It is a force that infuses society with fresh hope, inspires human renewal, and can rightly be called a modern-day miracle. The Soka Gakkai, in Count Coudenhove-Kalergi’s words, represents “a revival of Buddhism, the world’s first fraternal movement.”^[2] 

This month, many specialized divisions and departments within the Soka Gakkai, including the Academic and Science Division, the Victory Isles Division, and the Business Professionals Division, mark their respective anniversaries. It is deeply inspiring to see members of all such groups—artists, writers and authors, medical workers, scholars, business professionals, those involved in community activities, educators, and members with international experience and interests—winning trust by demonstrating actual proof in their lives, causing flowers of benefit to blossom in their diverse fields of endeavour. 

A true actor in the grand drama of the Mystic Law does not seek the spotlight. Rather, they brighten the world from within—through the principle of “illuminating and manifesting [one’s] true nature” (WND-1, 746). In the Afterword to The New Human Revolution, President Ikeda affirmed: “As long as suffering and misery exist anywhere on our planet, . . . our mentor-disciple journey to realize the great vow for kosen-rufu will continue forever.” In the spirit of Shin’ichi Yamamoto, the novel’s protagonist, let us each make our lives a magnificent stage for fulfilling the mission of worldwide kosen-rufu—and joyfully dance upon it together with our treasured fellow members!  

^{[1] For further details, see the “Fierce Winds” chapter of The New Human Revolution, vol. 14.}

^{[2] Translated from the September 23, 1967, evening edition of the Tokyo Shimbun.} 

You’ll find the complete editorial in the November issue of New Century.

  

News 

SGI Canada Day Commemorative Meetings 

Happy SGI Canada Day! 

This month we are celebrating the 65th anniversary of Ikeda Sensei’s first visit to Canada. Kosen-rufu in Canada began with President Ikeda’s arrival in Toronto in October 1960 and his meeting with Elizabeth Akiko Izumi, who was not a Soka Gakkai member at the time. 

At commemorative meetings and other special events across the country on October 5, we marked this anniversary by showing how much Canadian members are continuing to grow and flourish with Sensei’s guidance and vision in their hearts. 

Open House - Vancouver Culture Centre, October 4-5, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Megumi Takahashi)   

 

Open House - Vancouver Culture Centre, October 4-5, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Megumi Takahashi. )  

 

Open House - Vancouver Culture Centre, October 4-5, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Megumi Takahashi )  

 

SGI Canada Day Commemorative Meeting - Toronto West area, October 5, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Antonio Choi)  

 

SGI Canada Day Commemorative Meeting - Ottawa-Gatineau area, October 5, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Michael Sunderland)     

“Everything You Treasure” exhibit at University of Guelph-Humber

The ”Everything You Treasure: For a World Free From Nuclear Weapons” exhibit was recently hosted at the University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto. The exhibit was part of a research project by students at the Soka Education Research Centre on Global Citizenship (SERC-GC). The research project will be presented in October at the Winnipeg Youth Nuclear Peace Summit, and at Kansai Soka High School in February 2026. 

(Photo courtesy of Paul Sherman)  

(Photo courtesy of Paul Sherman)   

Upcoming events

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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 October 24, 2025. See you then!

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