SGI Canada Newsletter, No. 159 - July 3, 2026

SGI Canada Newsletter

Issue no. 159

July 3, 2026

 

Welcome to the 159^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:
“Young People, Advance in Your Own Unique Way!”

In his editorial in the July issue of Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai monthly study journal, Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada encourages young people to follow President Ikeda’s example: 

Summer has arrived, the time for young people to strive energetically with the sun of enthusiasm burning brightly in their hearts. In Japan, the young men’s division will hold a magnificent nationwide meeting during July to celebrate its 75th anniversary, while younger members of the women’s division will be attending lively “Kayo College” gatherings across the country. 

President Ikeda loved and trusted young people and devoted himself to personally fostering and training them. For countless young men, membership of the Soka Group and Gajokai has been the foundation of the mentor and disciple relationship. In Japan, the traditional functions of both these groups will be terminated this month, and a new structure will be created to inherit and carry on their spirit as we look to the future: the history of the shared struggle of mentor and disciple will remain imperishable. The Fuji Fife and Drum Corps, meanwhile, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this month, “angels of peace” nurtured by President Ikeda from his time as youth division chief of staff. 

The model for all young people is and always will be President Ikeda’s own efforts as a youth. The remarkable achievements of the Osaka Campaign^[1] under his leadership, which astonished observers of the time described as “making the impossible possible,” still shine as a golden record seventy years later. 

Twenty-eight years old at the time, the young Daisaku Ikeda devoted himself tirelessly to personal guidance and home visits, taking his place at the front line of propagation. The people of Kansai were able to witness the nobility of the spirit of mentor and disciple through the way he embodied the words of Nichiren Daishonin: “In a single moment of life, we exhaust the pains and trials of millions of kalpas” (OTT, 214). They were able to experience the greatness of Buddhist faith and practice, and rose up to fulfill their mission as Bodhisattvas of the Earth.  

^{[1] Osaka Campaign: In May 1956, the Kansai members, uniting around a young Daisaku Ikeda, who had been dispatched by second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda to support them, introduced 11,111 households to the practice of Nichiren Buddhism. In elections held two months later, the Soka Gakkai–backed candidate in Kansai won a seat in the Upper House, an accomplishment that was thought all but impossible at the time.}

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

News 

Book donation to youth organization

On behalf of SGI Canada, members of Guelph district in Ontario made a book donation on June 19 to The Grove, a Youth Wellness Centre serving Wellington-Guelph. The Grove offers local youth a multi-faith centre, music room, art room, and space for other activities. During the book donation, district members toured the centre and talked about their Buddhist practice with the young people who were present.

Members of Guelph district and Manny Singh of The Grove, June 19 2026   

Visiting the Niagara Peace Monument 

The Niagara Peace Monument, commemorating Ikeda Sensei’s strong connection to Canada, was dedicated by SGI General Director Tanigawa in October 2025. Since that time, many people visiting the Niagara region have stopped to view the monument and have been inspired by the inscription, taken from volume 1 of President Ikeda’s novel The New Human Revolution: 

Nothing is more precious than peace. Nothing brings more happiness. Peace is the most basic starting point for the advancement of humankind. 

The monument is known officially as the “Peace Monument at Locust Grove” and is listed in the Heritage section of the Niagara Parks Commission’s website. Locust Grove Picnic Area is located in the village of Queenston, high above the Niagara River. Some parking is available onsite. Additional parking, washrooms, and many other plaques and monuments are within easy walking distance. The address of Locust Grove Picnic Area is 14184 Niagara River Pkwy, Queenston, ON L0S 1J0.

Youth Division members from Ontario West Area visited the Peace Monument in June and renewed their vow to work for peace alongside Ikeda Sensei (Photo courtesy of Karan Chaudhary)  

Dialogue and Daimoku Campaign

So far this year, we’ve held almost 8,500 Buddhist dialogues and chanted over 83,000 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   

Upcoming events

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 are 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.

 

Calendar for July 

Throughout July	Dialogue and daimoku campaign
Throughout July	Local introductory activities