by Adin Strauss
SGi-USA general director
Thank you for your phenomenal efforts and sincere financial offerings to advance kosen-rufu. We have worked side by side with SGI President Ikeda to create historic milestones for advancing kosen-rufu in the U.S. Now we are building on these efforts to further expand our movement for the sake of humanity.
In response to our mentor’s expectations, let’s continue to create a powerful force for change by helping others to forge their faith and transform their lives, creating waves of hope in families and communities across the country. To fuel our continuing development and activities, financial resources are needed. SGI-USA’s rapidly expanding membership requires new and larger centers in more locations, additional support for special events, online resources and other tools to support members’ practice.
Many of Nichiren Daishonin’s letters to his disciples begin with his appreciation for their offerings, which enabled him to spread his teachings.
President Ikeda writes: “The offerings and financial contributions the organization solicited were exclusively to accomplish the Daishonin’s mandate to widely propagate the Mystic Law. Offerings made toward this end were equivalent to offerings made to the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law. There was, then, no greater offering, no greater good. Certainly, nothing could bring greater benefit. This thought filled Shin’ichi[1] with a sense of immeasurable good fortune and joy at having had the chance to make such offerings as a Soka Gakkai member” (The New Human Revolution, vol. 4, revised edition, pp. 117–18).
Because making offerings is an essential part of Buddhist practice, let’s ensure that members correctly understand the Buddhist spirit of offerings, especially for the sake of our new members.
Contributions based on a sense of mission for kosen-rufu and deep appreciation for the SGI will definitely attract benefit to our lives. Many of you have wonderful experiences that attest to this.
Let’s share with one another our experiences of why we contribute. Let’s also ensure that the youth can develop fortune through participating in contribution.
In this Year of Soka Victory, we can use our May Contribution activity as the power source to strengthen our movement for kosen-rufu and achieve our greatest dreams.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all that you do. WT
References
- 1. Shin’ichi Yamamoto is the pseudonym for SGI President Ikeda in The New Human Revolution. ↩︎
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