Determined to create a summer of hope, courage and victory, SGI-USA youth have launched the #SummerChallenge, encouraging all members to share Buddhism with young people while striving toward personal breakthroughs over the next 100 days.
Ikeda Sensei says: “It is a Soka Gakkai tradition to use summer as a time for developing ourselves, fostering capable people and working toward a hope-filled future” (Aug. 20, 2021, World Tribune, p. 2).
This summer, the SGI-USA is launching the #SummerChallenge to create as many opportunities as possible for young people to encounter Buddhism. At the same time, we can challenge ourselves to break through our own limitations and transform our lives.
Whether through a dialogue with a friend, an invitation to a meeting or introducing someone to chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, every effort counts. In fact, Buddhism teaches that whether or not someone decides to begin practicing, we still accumulate immeasurable benefit through our sincere efforts to encourage others.
So the challenge is not only to introduce young people to Buddhism. It is also to do our own human revolution.
As we make causes to share Buddhism, we are challenging ourselves to break through longstanding obstacles and transform our karma. Sharing our practice with others and personal breakthroughs are deeply connected—enabling us to transform our own karma.
With this spirit, youth are encouraging every member to set a personal goal for the summer—especially one that feels difficult or even impossible.
One youth said: “I know what I want to break through this summer. Honestly, it is something I have struggled with for many years, and maybe I have given up on it a little. But I want to challenge it again.”
What is your determination for the next 100 days? What challenge have you been avoiding? What dream have you put on hold? What breakthrough would you like to achieve in your faith, family, work, school or personal life?
Let’s have courageous dialogues with youth. And let’s challenge ourselves to accomplish goals that may have once seemed beyond our reach, for ourselves and for kosen-rufu.
The #SummerChallenge starts now. We hope you’ll join us.
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