The World Tribune sat down with the SGI-USA youth leaders to discuss their bold new vision toward 2028.
Thank you for taking the time to speak with us about the SGI-USA’s new two-year focus. At the Central Executive Committee (CEC) Conference in June, the SGI-USA youth introduced the bold new vision to enable 10,000 youth to begin practicing Buddhism by Jan. 2, 2028, Ikeda Sensei’s 100th birthday. The original goal had been to gather 100,000 youth in cities and towns across the U.S. in 2028. How did this new focus come about?
Amelia Gonzalez-Tesch (SGI-USA young women’s leader): The main point is that helping 10,000 youth awaken to their mission as Bodhisattvas of the Earth is more foundation-building than a single gathering. Especially with three essential activity focuses—shakubuku rooted in friendship; strengthening our youth; and strengthening our community—this goal can set the stage for the next generation of youth.
Shota Okajima (SGI-USA youth leader):Yes, we not only want 10,000 youth to join this practice but also for them to awaken to their mission as Bodhisattvas of the Earth and to make an impact on our country.
Kenichi Hackman (SGI-USA young men’s leader): I understand the benefit of engaging in shakubuku because growing up, I never believed I had much capability. When I tried to share Buddhism with others, I had this small voice inside me that said I couldn’t help another person practice.
But as I continued to study Nichiren Daishonin’s writings and Sensei’s guidance, I realized that there would be no possible way for me to repay my debt of gratitude without doing shakubuku. That’s when I started to eagerly challenge myself. Now, because of it, I no longer feel like a victim. I’m determined now to visit as many young men as possible and share my recent experiences with shakubuku.
A senior leader mentioned that each generation of youth must tackle the challenge of doing shakubuku in a new era. I think many members recall when members throughout America rallied around the goal of introducing 3,000 youth to the practice in 2013.
Amelia: Yes, we were inspired by the unity that was created around the focus of introducing youth. There was so much joy and excitement, and advancement that really built toward the 50,000 Lions of Justice Festival (in September 2018). Likewise, we see our new goal as a launching pad for this next era of youth. It’s a goal that we want to share together with them.
Shota: We are in a new era. We want to tackle this head on. But it’s definitely not going to be like any other shakubuku campaign we’ve done before. How we go about it is by focusing on those three essential guidelines. For us, this means to be really rooted in the community, in the districts.
At the CEC, it was mentioned that 8,000 young people have attended at least one discussion meeting so far this year.
Shota: I think that sometimes when you hear a goal, the first thing you notice is the gap between the reality and the goal. But this shows there isn’t a scarcity of youth interested in this Buddhist practice.
In July, we will hold youth-led district discussion meetings, similar to the ones we held in March. Whether a district brought out many youth or none at all, this is another opportunity to take a step forward. If you had 12 guests, for instance, maybe you try for 15. If you had no guests, maybe you try for two.
This is where it becomes important to make one-to-one encouragement our foundation. Reaching out and visiting young people toward July is just as important, if not more so, than how many attend a single meeting.
Looking at the state of our society, some people wonder how difficult it will be to reach a generation of young people who are wary of organized religion.
Amelia: Sensei’s book Discussions on Youth has a whole chapter on why we have an organization. This is a great resource to study. Also, when we meet with youth one to one, we can find out why youth are wary and confidently address their concerns.
Kenichi: Many times, when they come to an SGI meeting, it’s not really what they thought an organized religion would be.
Shota: Yes, the atmosphere of the district matters. Is it something that people want to come to?
Amelia: Adin Strauss, our general director, shared at a recent Soka 2030 meeting about his own experience of being a deeply cynical youth when he was introduced to the practice. What changed him in the end? It was that the people who encouraged him were very sincere.
A young man recently joined in my district. He shared his own hesitation with organized religion. But he eventually decided to join because of the steady efforts of a men’s leader. I think in the end, sincerity is what matters.
How has doing shakubuku changed you?
Shota: Before I started sharing Buddhism, the circle of people I cared about was so small. But now it’s being extended. I’m also taking more action to connect with my mom and my sister. I think doing shakubuku is deepening my compassion. It’s helping me strengthen every connection I have.
Amelia: Sometimes when I did shakubuku before, I felt like I had to appear a certain way. I’m learning that it’s not about how charismatic you are, or how cool you seem or how relatable you are or any of those things. It really is about deepening my prayer for that person’s happiness. That’s when I’ve felt things start to change.
I think one thing that everyone shared at the CEC is that our efforts need to be rooted in friendship. This is such an important point.
Shota: Yes, agreed. Shakubuku rooted in friendship—that’s what I’m determined to do.
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