Under the banner “One Youth. Infinite Hope.” the SGI-USA youth reintroduce its hope-filled focus to share Buddhism with many young people and help them begin practicing Buddhism.
by Shota Okajima, Amelia Gonzalez Tesch and Kenichi Hackman
SGI-USA Youth Leaders
Dear SGI-USA members,
In 2020, the youth of America launched the campaign “One Youth. Infinite Hope.” to initiate efforts to introduce youth to Buddhism, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Ikeda Sensei’s first steps for worldwide kosen-rufu.
That year, Sensei shared the following guidance:
The decade from the Soka Gakkai’s 90th anniversary to its centennial in 2030 will be crucial. We must be even more determined to show victorious proof of our own human revolution, to transform all great evil into great good and to effect a powerful change in the destiny of all humankind. (September 18, 2020, World Tribune, pp. 2–3)
With this message as a clarion call from our mentor, we felt that now is the time to reintroduce this most important truth: that one youth realizing that their mission as a Bodhisattva of the Earth is the infinite hope of America and the world.
In his novel The New Human Revolution, Sensei recounts the first discussion meeting he attended in Hawaii and how he put his all into encouraging one person after another. (Sensei appears in the novel as Shin’ichi Yamamoto.)
Shin’ichi’s voyage for world peace thus began by lighting a flame of courage in those who had lost hope and were being crushed under the weight of life’s vicissitudes. Though such efforts might seem insignificant and far removed from the goal of world peace, the essential basis for peace lies only within the human being. Shin’ichi was deeply convinced that genuine peace could not be achieved without the revitalization of all individuals and the establishment of true joy and happiness in their lives. (vol. 1, revised edition, p. 45)
At a time when it can be easy to feel powerless, we have Sensei’s example as the blueprint for how to advance kosen-rufu no matter the circumstances.
This year marks 30 years since Sensei’s last visit to the United States in 1996. What better way to repay our debt of gratitude to our mentor than by joining him in the struggle for peace, one person at a time.
To finish what we started, let’s change the destiny of humankind by winning in our human revolution with the motto “One Youth. Infinite Hope.”
Determining and taking action to introduce youth to Buddhism generates infinite hope.
Let’s enjoy making friendships in our community and have the most enjoyable discussion meetings!
From the SGI-USA National Team
You are reading {{ meterCount }} of {{ meterMax }} free premium articles