SGI Canada Newsletter, No. 51 - April 29, 2022
SGI Canada Newsletter
Issue no. 51
April 29, 2022
Welcome to the 51st 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 Daisaku Ikeda’s Editorial: “Let’s Start Anew with a Fresh Spirit, Based on Nichiren Daishonin’s Writings!”
In his May editorial in the Daibyakurenge study magazine, SGI President Ikeda encourages us to use the writings of Nichiren Daishonin in our daily life:
“Start Anew with a Fresh Spirit!”—that’s the message I imparted to our Sports Division members. Whatever your present condition, the key is to always start anew and tackle the next challenge with a fresh spirit.
We have the writings of Nichiren Daishonin, who teaches that it is our heart or spirit that is important (cf. WND-1, 949). Each time we open his writings, our hearts are flooded with fresh and revitalizing light and warmth, as if we are gazing up at the morning sun.
In “Unseen Virtue and Visible Reward,” a well-known letter addressed to his disciple Shijo Kingo, the Daishonin says: “If you simply conduct yourself as I have advised, your lands will be increased still further and people’s trust in you will be restored” (WND-1, 907). No matter how adverse your situation, if you practise just as the Daishonin teaches, you are guaranteed to open the way to a life filled with good fortune, benefit and trust.
Both Presidents Makiguchi and Toda read the Daishonin’s writings in the spirit that they were “a day-to-day record of one’s own existence” (WND-2, 843), and put them into practice by working to realize the great vow for kosen-rufu and the ideal of “establishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land.”
Let us, too, regard each word and passage of the Daishonin’s writings as encouragement personally directed to each one of us. Making the Daishonin’s heart our own, let us treasure each person we encounter and continue to reach out in courageous and confident dialogue. That is the way to bring forth the vibrant life force to continually start anew with a fresh spirit, propelling us toward attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime and helping others do the same.
The full editorial will be published in the June 2022 New Century.
News
Ikeda Studies Centre Opens at Université Laval
On April 19, 2022, the inauguration of the Ikeda Studies Centre for Education in Global Citizenship, Dialogue and Peace took place at Université Laval in Quebec City. This is the first such centre in the French-speaking world.
Rector Sophie D’Amours opened the ceremony, explaining the history of Laval’s relationship with SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, Soka University and Soka Schools. In May 2010, former Rector Denis Brière led a delegation to Japan to confer an honorary doctorate on President Ikeda, and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Université Laval and Soka University. Rector D’Amours expressed her hope that Dr. Ikeda’s philosophy of connecting people will take root at Université Laval.
SGI President Daisaku Ikeda sent a message of congratulations. He praised the university as a brilliant beacon of erudition and humanistic education, fostering an untold number of global citizens who can step out into the world to make a difference. He expressed his conviction that education is a fundamental force that unleashes the boundless potential of youth, and that dialogue above all else enables us to transcend our differences. Having arrived at a momentous crossroads in human history, the opening of the Centre—with its pursuit of global citizenship, dialogue and peace—represents a message of hope that education, as a united endeavour, will prevail over whatever violence or division riddle the world.
Dr. Fernand Gervais spoke on behalf of the three deans who are leading the Centre: Dr. Gervais, Faculty of Education; Dr. Guillaume Pinson, Faculty of Arts and Humanities; and Dr. Guy Jobin, Faculty of Theology and Religious Sciences.
Mr. Mikiya Takanashi, General Director of the Makiguchi Foundation for Education, delivered greetings and congratulations. Min-On Institute Director Olivier Urbain gave the keynote address. Both speakers presented online from Japan.
The Centre is offering an undergraduate course rooted in the study and pursuit of global citizenship, dialogue and peace, drawing on the ideas and works of Dr. Ikeda. The first course began in January of this year, led by Dr. Vincent Fauque, who was also emcee for the ceremony. Three of his students made presentations at the ceremony, based on their studies of Daisaku Ikeda’s writings.
The Ikeda Studies Centre’s website is https://www.ikeda.ulaval.ca/ , which includes a video recording of the inauguration ceremony (French language only).
SGI Canada Special Fund
The SGI Canada Special Fund is an opportunity to contribute directly to the kosen-rufu movement in Canada. Thank you so much for your sincere dedication and your support in every way for the advancement of kosen-rufu in Canada!
Contributions to the SGI Canada Special Fund can be made before and after May 1.
To contribute to the SGI Canada Special Fund, you may do so by using one of the following two options:
Online donation
You can contribute online through the SGI Canada online portal at https://sgicinfo.org/portal/login
- If you have already set up an online account, simply sign in and click on Donations.
- If you have not yet set up an online account, it is very easy to do so:
- Go to the SGI Canada website at www.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.
Donation by cheque, money order or bank draft
You can also contribute by mailing a cheque, money order or bank draft to SGI Canada.
- Please make your cheque, money order or bank draft payable to “SGI Canada”.
- Please include a completed SGI Canada Special Fund Receipt if you have one (a digital copy is available from your district leader). If you do not have a receipt, you can simply write your information (name, district, chapter, area and region) on a sheet of paper and include it with your cheque.
- Please mail all cheques, money orders and bank drafts, with attached forms, to SGI Canada at:
SGI Canada
2050 Dufferin Street
Toronto, ON M6E 3R6
Contributions through the online portal or by cheque, money order or bank draft can be made at any time. Unfortunately, we are currently unable to receive cash donations, or donations by electronic transfer.
We deeply appreciate your courageous efforts to support and encourage your fellow members, families and friends at this very challenging time in the history of humankind. Thank you very much!
COVID-19 Update - April 29, 2022
The SGI Canada National Planning Committee (NPC) reviewed our COVID-19 Guidelines at the monthly meeting on April 13. After a thorough discussion, the NPC agreed that, with the rapid rise in cases due to the sixth wave of the pandemic, SGI Canada would continue with our guidelines of no in-person meetings.
We all have family and close friends whom we visit with full awareness of their health situations; but this level of awareness is not possible among all the members. Our care in preventing infections contributes to everyone’s safety and health, and to the eventual return to in-person activities. The NPC will continue to review and discuss every month. We appreciate everyone’s patience and support, and we pray together with people around the world for the end of the pandemic as soon as possible.
Upcoming events
Women’s General Meetings in May
Our annual SGI Canada Women’s Group General Meetings will be held throughout the month of May. In every part of Canada, women will be holding online meetings by group or by district with the theme “Live so that Life Itself is a Joy”.
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 May 13, 2022. See you then!