SGI Canada Newsletter, No. 144 - Dec 5, 2025

SGI Canada Newsletter

Issue no. 144

December 5, 2025

 

Welcome to the 144^th 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: “Let Songs of Joy Resound from the Depths of Our Hearts” 

In his editorial in the December issue of Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai monthly study journal, Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada says that we of the Soka Gakkai are practising Buddhism in the true spirit of Nichiren Daishonin:

The Soka Gakkai’s greatest pride is its unbroken lineage all the way back to Nichiren Daishonin. 

The three founding presidents, bound by the deep and unshakable bond of mentor and disciple, have boldly actualized the Daishonin’s lion’s roar—his desire to lead all people to happiness—steadily advancing kosen-rufu throughout the world. Walking in their footsteps, each of us, as fellow members of the Soka Gakkai striving together with our mentor, are none other than Bodhisattvas of the Earth, sharing a profound mission. 

The true nobility of Soka Gakkai members lies in our sincere efforts to embody Nichiren Daishonin’s teachings in our daily lives. A powerful expression of this spirit appears in the passage: “‘Joy’ means that oneself and others together experience joy” (OTT, 146). This is from The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, in which the Daishonin encapsulates the essence of mentor and disciple. 

For the sake of the genuine happiness of others, our fellow members spare neither time nor effort. We understand that such selfless actions form the very foundation of our own human revolution and the transformation of karma. Without calculation or thought of reward, we simply reach out with heartfelt sincerity to support and encourage those around us. 

The record of achievement we have created over the past year—forging ahead tirelessly while engaging in a continuous inner dialogue with our mentor—is indestructible. Please be assured that the good fortune we have accumulated is absolute and will shine on brilliantly into the eternal future. 

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

 

News

Statement by SGI - Mobilizing Global Solidarity to Meet the Challenges of the Climate Crisis 

The SGI Global Perspectives Committee issued a statement on November 5, 2025, ahead of the thirtieth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Belem, Brazil. 

Here are excerpts from the statement: 

Brazil, the host of COP30, was also the venue of the Earth Summit in 1992, where the UNFCCC and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) were first opened for signature. These landmark agreements, along with the international cooperation seen in recent years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, serve as powerful reminders that human beings inherently possess the capacity to unite across national borders and pursue a shared path forward. Even in the face of unprecedented crises, we are capable of upholding a spirit of mutual solidarity, joining hands to protect one another’s lives and dignity and refusing to give in to despair.

Guided by this conviction, the SGI has worked to raise public awareness of the climate crisis and other environmental issues. As part of these efforts, we have held the exhibition “Seeds of Hope & Action: Making the SDGs a Reality,” a joint initiative of the SGI and the Earth Charter International highlighting pathways to sustainable living, in ten languages across twenty-four countries and territories. In addition, the Soka Gakkai has worked with the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) since 2021 to support reforestation efforts in West Africa. These initiatives are part of our broader commitment to building a sustainable global society. 

On this occasion, we would like to offer two proposals, one focused on civil society and the other on youth, aimed at strengthening international solidarity to help catalyze progress in addressing the climate crisis, drawing upon the experience we have gained through our ongoing efforts.  

The complete statement is available on the Soka Global website in English at:

https://www.sokaglobal.org/contact-us/media-room/statements/sgi-statement-mobilizing-global-solidarity-for-climate-crisis.html

 

SGI Canada Online Bookstore Closed in December for Inventory Audit

SGI Canada’s popular Online Bookstore will be closed from December 7 to January 1 for the annual inventory audit. If you are hoping to order books or other items before the end of the year, we encourage you to visit the bookstore as early as possible this month. You can visit the Online Bookstore at: https://sgicanada.myshopify.com/

Thank you for your understanding. 

Going paperless with your official income tax receipt!

You now have two options for obtaining the official income tax receipt for your donations to SGI Canada:

• SGI Canada can mail the receipt to you
• You can go paperless and download the receipt yourself from the SGI Canada website

Choosing to download the receipt yourself will allow SGI Canada to reduce its use of paper and devote more resources to activities for members. Once you choose to go paperless, you will no longer receive a receipt in the mail from SGI Canada.

In order to go paperless and download the receipt yourself:

• Sign in to your SGI Canada account at https://sgicinfo.org/portal/login. (If you do not have an SGI Canada account yet, please see the instructions below)
• On your personal information page, you will see a section titled Official Tax Receipt
• Click on the button in front of Your current option, and follow the instructions

You can change the way in which you receive your income tax receipt at any time between March 16 and December 30 each year.

Your tax receipt for 2025 will be available online by February 28, 2026.

Have you set up your online account yet?

SGI Canada members now have access to an online portal in which they can create their own personal SGI Canada accounts, subscribe to publications and make secure online donations.

Members can also use their online account to read the English and French-language publications to which they subscribe, and access their tax receipts and personal information.

How to set up your online account:

• Go to the SGI Canada website at sgicanada.org and click on the Online Portal button near the top right corner of your screen.
• Click on I have not created an online account and then Submit
• Fill out the personal information fields and click on Submit
• You will receive an email from accounting@sgicinfo.org . The email will confirm your username and password (which you can change once you log into the site the first time). For assistance with setting up your account, please contact support@sgicinfo.org.
• Once your username and password have been confirmed, you will be able to log into the online portal from the SGI Canada website at any time.

Many SGI Canada members have already registered. We hope you will also take advantage of this convenient method of making online donations, printing your tax receipts, subscribing to SGI Canada publications and reading them online.

 

Upcoming events 

Calendar for December and January

December 30	Deadline for changing way to receive your income tax receipt
January 1	New Year’s Gongyo meetings