SGI Canada Newsletter, No. 63 - October 14, 2022
SGI Canada Newsletter
Issue no. 63
October 14, 2022
Welcome to the 63rd 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 speech: “Moving from a Focus on Self to a Focus on Others”
This is an excerpt from President Ikeda’s speech at a youth division leaders meeting held at the Soka International Friendship Hall in Tokyo, on April 13, 1993. Video footage of the speech was broadcast during the 10th Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting, on August 27, 2022.
At the time of the harsh crackdown on the Daishonin’s followers known as the Atsuhara Persecution, the young Nanjo Tokimitsu stood up fearlessly. In a letter, the Daishonin encourages the 21-year-old Tokimitsu [by sharing a passage from the Lotus Sutra]: “We beg that the merit gained through these gifts [the benefit gained through making offerings in Buddhism] may be spread far and wide to everyone, so that we and other living beings all together may attain the Buddha way” [LSOC7, 168] (WND-1, 1003).
Your dedication to kosen-rufu is the greatest offering you can make to the Buddha. The benefit you derive from taking action for the Mystic Law enables not only you, but also your parents, your siblings, and all those connected to you, to attain Buddhahood. You can help move everyone’s life in the direction of happiness.
That’s why all it takes is one person. Everything starts with one individual. Everything is decided by that person’s courageous and confident faith. I want to strongly impress this upon you today.
Also, the more you pray for others’ happiness, the greater happiness you will come to enjoy yourself. When you pray for the health of others, your own health will also be protected. This is the wondrous power of the Mystic Law.
A person’s greatness is determined by whether they are focused on benefiting themselves or benefiting others. This also determines whether one’s faith is genuine or not.
I hope you will take action based on sincere prayer for the sake of the Law and the happiness of your friends and fellow members and achieve a dynamic inner transformation—a great human revolution—moving from a focus on self to a focus on others.
Excerpts from the speech will be available in the December edition of New Century.
NEWS
Soka Gakkai announces theme for 2023
Soka Gakkai has announced that the theme for 2023 will be “Year of Youth and Triumph”.
Visiting members at home
SGI Canada thanks everyone for their efforts to get together with members outdoors, online or by phone over the past few months. Members have successfully and safely visited one another, using caution and common sense to protect everyone’s health. As we move into fall and winter, we believe that we can apply the same principles to visiting members in their homes.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) recognizes that community-based public health regulations have eased across the country, but continues to recommend that individuals practise their own individual public-health measures.1
Considering the above, and after discussion with regional leaders, we believe that it is now possible for SGI Canada members to safely visit other members at home.
We recommend that home visits involve only a small number of members (3-4 maximum), and that members consider wearing masks and practising physical distancing where possible. Chanting for long periods of time is not advisable.
In all cases, the safety and comfort level of all members is most important, and we ask everyone to continue to use caution and common sense, particularly when around vulnerable people. We should recognize that not everyone will be comfortable visiting other members in person at this point, and that online visits or telephone calls are always an alternative.
In a 1995 speech broadcast at the April 16, 2022, Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting, President Ikeda says:
Day after day, today and again tomorrow, personally taking action, meeting with others, and engaging in dialogue – this is what Shakyamuni did. This is the path of right action as a human being and the path of true honour for a Buddhist.2
Whether in person or online, let’s visit our fellow members, friends and family, to encourage them and share our experiences in faith.
Indoor home visits are another step closer to resuming full in-person activities. However, for the moment, all other activities will remain online, and SGI Canada centres will remain closed. SGI Canada’s national leaders continue to monitor the public health situation and adjust SGI Canada guidelines accordingly, always keeping members’ safety first and foremost. Thank you for your support.
SGI Canada National Leaders
1 Covid-19: Prevention and risks, Public Health Agency of Canada, August 12 2022, <https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks.html>
2 Daisaku Ikeda, “Making Good Causes Day after Day”, New Century July 2022, p.5
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 at any time by using one of the following two options:
- You can contribute online through the SGI Canada online portal at https://sgicinfo.org/portal/login
- You can also contribute by mailing a cheque, money order or bank draft to SGI Canada at: SGI Canada, 2050 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON. M6E 3R6
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!
Third SGI Online Study Lecture now available
SGI Canada members and friends are now able to watch the third SGI Online Study Lecture given by SGI Vice-President Hiromasa Ikeda in two 29-minute segments.
Mr. Ikeda’s lecture is entitled “Learning from The New Human Revolution” and is based on passages from several volumes of The New Human Revolution. It is not necessary to have read these volumes recently in order to get full benefit from Mr. Ikeda’s lecture.
The online lecture is open to SGI Canada members and their friends and family.
The lecture will be available for viewing until November 21 (11.59 pm Japan Time). In Canada, the lecture will close on Monday November 21 at:
6.59 am Pacific
7.59 am Mountain
8.59 am Central
9.59 am Eastern
10.59 am Atlantic
11.39 am Newfoundland
We encourage leaders to make as many opportunities as possible for members and guests to view the online lecture and to have discussions together after viewings.
Please consult your local leaders to see when the lecture will be shown in your location.
Upcoming events
SGI Canada Online Bookstore Closed in December for Inventory Audit
SGI Canada’s popular Online Bookstore will be closed from December 4 to January 2 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/
We remind you that the bookstores at SGI Canada centres remain closed until further notice.
Thank you for your understanding.
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 October 28, 2022. See you then!