This section features Ikeda Sensei’s seminal guidance to the members of the United States. The following is his speech given at a gongyo meeting commemorating World Peace Day, Soka University Los Angeles, Calabasas, California, October 2, 1991. The full speech can be found in My Dear Friends in America, fourth edition, pp. 196–99.
On this day 31 years ago, here in the United States, I took the first step toward the achievement of worldwide kosen-rufu. I am very glad to celebrate the anniversary of that day together with all of you.
May you live
a thousand years
like the phoenix
soaring through the heavens.
My mentor, Josei Toda, gave this poem to me in July 1953. I have lived my life based on its spirit, spreading my wings throughout the world.
“To protect my beloved friends, the SGI members! To spread the Mystic Law! To give people hope and courage and help them accumulate the treasures of life!” These have been my only desires for these 31 years.
The time has now come for the full-fledged realization of worldwide kosen-rufu and for the spread of peace, with America at the forefront.
Today, I would like to briefly go over the main guidelines for leaders:
First, never be haughty. Leaders must be modest through and through.
Second, never reprimand others. You should always treat others gently. In Nichiren Daishonin’s writings we find the statement “One who rids the offender of evil is acting as his parent” (“The Opening of the Eyes,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 286). Naturally, it will sometimes be necessary for you to admonish or encourage others with a spirit of compassion. But you must not scold people in a fit of emotion.
Third, never raise your voice with fellow members. Leaders should be people of reason who always seek to win others’ understanding through discussion.
Fourth, do not lie. Because we are common mortals, we make mistakes. There is no reason to feel that we have to cover up these errors. The world of faith is a world where things can be discussed frankly, without any concealment. Honest people will win the trust of those around them.
Fifth, never betray the privacy of another individual. In the organization, leaders are often called upon to counsel members with personal problems. Those who betray this trust and fail to safeguard individual privacy demonstrate irresponsibility—as leaders, as people of faith, and as human beings. Leaders must be discreet, sincere people who respect the rights of others.
Sixth, do not look down on others. Leaders who have an inflated sense of self-importance, who look down on and discriminate against others, will eventually reach an impasse in life. All people are equally precious, regardless of their position. Excellent leaders have a heartfelt respect for everyone.
Seventh, do not be unfair. All of the members—whether rich or poor, prominent or lacking in social standing—are irreplaceable children of the Buddha. I hope all of you will become impartial and just leaders.
Eighth, never overly strain yourselves or force members to push themselves beyond reasonable limits. You cannot maintain such a pace for very long. Pushing yourselves too hard is not necessarily a reflection of strong faith. Members can fully display their abilities only if they are allowed a certain amount of latitude.
The last two items I want to mention are included in the qualifications I have just outlined.
Ninth, do not be arrogant. Arrogance undermines humanity and destroys faith.
Tenth, do not be unkind. Spiteful leaders make members miserable. On the other hand, those who can warmly support their juniors—to the point of enabling their juniors to eventually surpass even themselves in ability—are great leaders.
I hope you will become leaders who possess common sense, sophistication, conviction, sympathy and the spirit to encourage others. I hope you will be people who have warm affection for others, able to share their sorrows and pains; who are brimming with confidence and can instill hope and courage in others; who are always vivacious and give an indescribable sense of peace of mind and courage to those they meet. With leaders such as this, members can carry out vigorous activities and realize prodigious growth.
As we bear these points in mind, making a fresh start toward the goal of the SGI-USA becoming the foremost organization in the world, I would like to suggest that Enjoyable Meetings and Meaningful Discussions be adopted as the new motto for the American organization.
Every meeting should be lively and cheerful, the type of gathering where everyone leaves feeling: “That was fun. I’m glad I came.”
Significant discussions that foster mutual understanding are much more valuable than the self-complacent pronouncements of one person. Please conduct discussions that deeply penetrate the hearts of the participants—the kind that make them want to say: “That was really refreshing. I have so much hope now. That gave me confidence. I now have the strength to advance.”
We who are advancing together for kosen-rufu are in a sense brothers and sisters traveling together aboard the one ship of the Mystic Law. No matter what happens in the course of the journey, the ship will unfailingly reach the shore of eternal happiness. I hope you will advance cheerfully and majestically, fully convinced of this fact.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your support during the past two weeks. Thanks to your sincere daimoku, all the events during my stay in the United States have been a great success. To conclude, I would like to reiterate my sincere desire that you should work together to create an SGI-USA that is the number one organization in the world.
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