SGI Canada Newsletter, No. 49 - April 1, 2022
SGI Canada Newsletter
Issue no. 49
April 1, 2022
Welcome to the 49th 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
SGI President Ikeda’s April Editorial: “Cultivating Flower Gardens of Happiness in the Rich Earth of Respect and Trust”
In his April Editorial in the Daibyakurenge (Soka Gakkai study magazine), SGI President Ikeda writes about the Lotus Sutra’s message of respect for each individual “human flower”:
In “The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs” (5th) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, we find the beautiful expression “human flowers” (LSOC5, 142).
I recall my conversation with South Africa’s great humanitarian leader Nelson Mandela, after welcoming him with 500 youth. I told him about this term, and we affirmed our commitment to build a future in which “human flowers” would bloom freely, without discrimination and in rich diversity, like a vibrantly colourful garden. The memory of Mr. Mandela smiling and nodding at this prospect warms my heart.
“The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs” chapter teaches that the great blessings or benefits of the Mystic Law nourish and cause the life state of Buddhahood to blossom in “living beings of countless thousands, ten thousands, millions of species” (LSOC5, 135), equally and without distinction, just as life-giving rain falls impartially on all plants and trees.
This principle of the Mystic Law lights the way for realizing respect for diversity and peaceful coexistence, which the world so desperately needs.
It was seven decades ago (in 1952) that my mentor, Josei Toda, set forth his vision of global citizenship. Around that time, he and I studied this passage from Nichiren Daishonin’s writings: “This self has from the beginning been in possession of one’s own realm of Buddhahood and of the realms of Buddhahood possessed by all other living beings” (WND-2, 62). In other words, we contain within us not only our own world of Buddhahood but also that of all others.
The life of each one of us is infinitely respectworthy and vast in scale, connected to the Buddha nature of all other people, of all humanity, and of the entire universe. The Soka Gakkai’s grand vision of bringing humankind together as one global family is based on this profound, unwavering view of life.
That is why, whatever the circumstances, we refuse to give in to defeat or despair and keep chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for our own and others’ happiness. We tirelessly engage in dialogue to share the life-affirming principles of Nichiren Buddhism, so as to call forth and unite people’s Buddha nature with the aim of building a world of peace and happiness for all.
The full editorial will appear in the May 2022 edition of New Century.
News
Congratulations to new Gohonzon recipients!
Congratulations to the more than 200 SGI Canada members across Canada who will be receiving the Gohonzon in April. Most of these members were introduced to Nichiren Buddhishm and joined SGI Canada during the last two years of the pandemic. They were able to create a deep bond with the practice even though they were not able to meet in-person with other members.
In the editorial that we read during our March 16 Commemorative District Meetings, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda says:
“Depending on what kind of efforts you make when you find yourself in difficult or challenging times, you can create the cause for great progress and victory.”
SGI Canada members who joined over the last two years have certainly shown proof of this.
Joining and Gohonzon Receiving Ceremonies will be held as part of the Kosen-rufu Gongyo meetings on April 3, and Gohonzons will be presented to members in the days that follow. As we celebrate the enshrining of these new Gohonzons, let’s use this opportunity to talk to our friends and family about our Buddhist practice and the importance of this moment in our lifelong journey of faith.
Congratulations again to all new Gohonzon recipients and to all the members who have supported and encouraged them.
SGI Canada Members’ Online Portal
SGI Canada members now have access to an online portal in which they can create their own personal SGI Canada accounts and make secure online donations by credit card.
Members can also read the English and French-language publications to which they subscribe, and access their tax receipts and personal information online. In the second phase, to be introduced this year, additional features will become available.
Please note that the online versions of New Century, Ère nouvelle, Soka and From Today Onward are available as an extra feature for subscribers to the print versions of these magazines. There is no online-only option available at this time. The online versions are formatted for smartphones, tablets and computers, and are not downloadable.
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, receiving online versions of SGI Canada publications, and other features to be added in the coming months!
Haven’t received your publications yet?
If you haven’t received your monthly SGI Canada publications yet, they are probably still in the mail and will arrive shortly. However, if they are very late and you are worried that they may have gone astray, please contact contact@sgicanada.org to report the problem.
As a subscriber to New Century, Ère nouvelle, Soka and From Today Onward, you have access anytime to the online versions of these magazines through the Online Portal (see above).
We would like to remind you that it takes two months to start or change a subscription because of our efforts to get publications into the mail as soon as possible. If you will be changing your mailing address, please advise your local leaders or contact@sgicanada.org as far in advance as possible.
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 April 18, 2022. See you then!