A hearty congratulations to the hundreds of young people who took their first steps in Buddhist practice by receiving the Gohonzon and joining the SGI-USA at September kosen-rufu gongyo meetings throughout the country.
They included Dayten Ordenstein, who received his new member certificate at the SGI-USA Hawaii Culture Center, with his entire Honolulu Little League baseball team cheering him on.
Countless such dramas have unfolded since June, when the SGI-USA youth presented a bold vision of enabling many young people to join our movement for peace by Ikeda Sensei’s 100th birthday in January 2028.
As more and more young people are exposed to the empowering philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism, it becomes a profound cause for creating peace in our communities and country.
With the spirit of “shakubuku rooted in friendship,” members throughout the country have been focusing first on creating genuine friendship with those around them.
The next step is the SGI-USA October Introductory Exam, which will be held Oct. 11 and 12, 2025, at Buddhist centers and rental facilities across the country, as it offers new members and their sponsors the opportunity to study the basics of Nichiren Buddhism together.
Kenichi Hackman, the SGI-USA young men’s leader, said that the idea of “shakubuku rooted in friendship” doesn’t end once our friend decides to receive the Gohonzon and become an SGI member.
“It represents a starting point—an opportunity to deepen bonds of trust with them, ensure the Gohonzon is enshrined and see how their practice is progressing,” he said. “In that regard, we want to focus on connections through visits and hangouts, building on connections and deepening genuine trust.”
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
September 19, 2025 World Tribune, pp. 6–7
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