SGI Canada Newsletter, No. 156 - May 22, 2026

SGI Canada Newsletter

Issue no. 156

May 22, 2026

 

Welcome to the 156^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: “Be Leaders of Wisdom and Poetic Spirit”

In his editorial in the June issue of Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai monthly study journal, Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada writes about the power of the poetic spirit: 

The verse section of the “Life Span” chapter of the Lotus Sutra, which we recite each day during gongyo, beautifully expresses the eternal nature of life through sublime poetry. In this sense, all members of the Soka Gakkai who carry out vibrant and resonant gongyo may truly be called “poets of life.” 

President Ikeda, a world-renowned poet laureate, often remarked, “Leaders must cultivate a poetic spirit.” A poetic spirit has the power to unite people and inspire a hopeful vision for the future. For this reason, he yearned for leaders overflowing with humanity and poetic sensibility to emerge in politics, economics, and the realm of kosen-rufu alike. 

From his youth, President Ikeda found joy in composing poetry and familiarized himself deeply with the works of poets from around the world. The Victor Hugo House of Literature, which he founded in Bièvres, south of Paris, celebrates its 35th anniversary this month. Among its treasured collection is a handwritten manuscript by Victor Hugo, penned just three days before his death and designated a national treasure of France. Inscribed within it are the words, “To love is to act”—a phrase that President Ikeda cherished. 

Thirty years ago, on June 8, 1996, President Ikeda attended a graduation ceremony at the University of Denver, where he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Education degree. Unexpectedly, he was called upon to offer a few remarks. Pointing toward the sky, the poet laureate declared: “The sun shines brightly. The moon also showers you with its radiant light. The sun represents passion, the moon intellect. Against this magnificent natural backdrop, the majestic Rocky Mountains warmly watch over you with steadfast conviction.” His graceful response and extemporized poem, born from his deep love for young people, left a profound impression on his listeners. 

You’ll find the complete editorial in the July 2026 issue of New Century. 

  

News

Calgary featured in Seikyo Shimbun

The following article appeared recently in the Seikyo Shimbun Online News in Japan on May 21. 

Canada – Women’s Group Leaders Gathering Held in Calgary

On March 22, a bright and cheerful Calgary Area Women’s Group leaders meeting was held at the Calgary community centre in Western Canada. 

Nine representative leaders shared their fresh determinations. Saori Brewer, who was newly appointed as the Calgary Area Women’s Group leader reported on her actual proof of overcoming struggles, such as challenges in relationships with others based on the Gosho. She expressed her determination to shine with the vow of shared struggle of mentor and disciple and to build warm and harmonious unity.

SGI Canada Women’s Group leader, Helen Izumi-Choi encouraged everyone to continue chanting daimoku no matter what and to offer warm encouragement to friends, like the sun.

Introductory exam in October

Registrations are now open for the SGI Canada introductory exam on October 25. The exam is open to all members and interested friends who have not yet taken an SGI Canada study exam, and to those who have not yet passed the Introductory Exam. The Introductory Exam will be available in English, French and Chinese. Please see the June issue of New Century, Ère Nouvelle and Chinese New Century for more information. 

The Introductory Exam will be based on The Basics of Nichiren Buddhism for the New Era of Worldwide Kosen-rufu, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10.   

The study material will be available in English, French and Chinese as a free PDF file, with key passages highlighted to aid your study. The PDF files will be available in June from SGI Canada district leaders, and from all other SGI Canada leaders. 

To register for the Introductory Exam, you can use the QR code that appears in the published announcement, or through the SGI Canada website.

Dialogue and Daimoku Campaign

So far this year, we’ve held over 5,500 Buddhist dialogues and chanted over 56,000 hours of daimoku.

Don’t forget to record your Buddhist dialogues and your hours of daimoku!

Whenever we talk about Buddhism or about SGI with someone who is not an SGI member, we can register that dialogue online. In the same way, whenever we have completed an hour or more of daimoku, we can record the number of hours online.

You can record your dialogues and daimoku by clicking on this button:

RECORD YOUR DIALOGUES / DAIMOKU

If you are having trouble logging in, you can ask someone else in your district to enter the information for you.

SGI Canada is keeping track of the total number of dialogues and hours of daimoku. You can see how many dialogues and how much chanting has been done so far, across the entire country by clicking on this button:

DIALOGUE / DAIMOKU COUNTER 

For more information, please visit the SGI Canada website at:

https://www.sgicanada.org/activities/dialogue-and-daimoku-campaign  

SGI Canada Special Kosen-rufu Fund

Thank you very much for your generous donations to the SGI Canada Special Kosen-rufu Fund.

Members can contribute at any time through their SGI Canada online portal account (by credit card or debit card) at https://sgicinfo.org/portal/login or by mailing a cheque to SGI Canada at 2050 Dufferin Road, Toronto, Ont. M6E 3R6.

Monthly contributions from a chequing account can also be made by completing a Pre-Authorized Payment (PAP) form available from district leaders.

If you have any difficulties making a donation online, please contact support@sgicinfo.org. For all other enquiries (including subscriptions to publications) please email contact@sgicanada.org. Help is available in English and French.

Thank you so much for your sincere donation and for your support in every way for the advancement of kosen-rufu in Canada! 

Upcoming events

Calendar for May and June 

Throughout May	Dialogue and daimoku campaign
Throughout May	Women’s Group General Meetings
Throughout June	Young Lions Group General Meetings
June 21	45th anniversary of Ikeda Sensei’s second visit to Canada