In January, the SGI-USA will hold chapter kick-off meetings across the country.
In volume 26 of The New Human Revolution, Ikeda Sensei describes the events of January 1978, when the Soka Gakkai introduced a new chapter system to advance the second phase of kosen-rufu. The passage below comes from the message he delivered at the launch of Honan Chapter, the first chapter to be inaugurated in Japan under the new system. In the novel, Sensei is portrayed as Shin’ichi Yamamoto.
Finally, it was time for Soka Gakkai President Shin’ichi Yamamoto’s speech. Turning to face the members who had sung the new [Honan] chapter song, he started by saying, “I would like to present this rosette I am wearing to the chorus.”
The room echoed with applause as a leader sitting nearby Shin’ichi took the rosette and presented it to a chorus representative.
When the clapping had died down, Shin’ichi told the members that they need not applaud him today. He then offered his congratulations on the establishment of Honan Chapter.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and the great ocean begins from a single drop of water,” he said. “In the same way, I strongly believe that today’s inaugural meeting marks a new step forward for kosen-rufu. It is very encouraging to see your progress so far, overflowing with benefit gained in the course of your efforts to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime. I very much look forward to seeing your progress 10 years from now.”
Shin’ichi next spoke of the significance of the chapter organization: “Most organizations have a headquarters, while larger businesses have a head office or flagship store as a hub for operations. In addition, they have outposts in the form of regional offices or branch stores.
“In the Soka Gakkai, however, a chapter is not just an outpost. In my opinion, for the area encompassed by the chapter and the people practicing Buddhism there, it has the same responsibility and mission as the headquarters. From the perspective of our organization on a national scale, the Soka Gakkai Headquarters may be the central hub, but I hope each of you will strive to establish and develop Buddhism in your respective communities thinking of the chapter as the headquarters in your area. Who agrees?”
The members responded by raising their hands.
“Thank you. But you don’t have to raise your hands just to be agreeable,” Shin’ichi joked.
Everybody laughed.
“But I suppose just sitting there, your shoulders must get a bit stiff, so raising your hands from time to time may help!”
The laughter continued. Shin’ichi wanted the members to feel at ease. It is such thoughtful little acts that can smooth the way forward for major development. (The New Human Revolution, vol. 26, pp. 298–99)
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