CategoryFrontline News

by Betsy EppsteinerFlorida Zone Vice Women’s Leader On behalf of SGI-USA Caribbean Region, I am overjoyed to report the victory of the members in Emerald Isles Chapter! On a recent visit to the eastern Caribbean island nations of St. Lucia and Barbados, I had an opportunity to meet the members and attend district activities together with

“Home Visit Week” Established

Youth hold a Buddhist seminar at UCLA to mark SGI President Ikeda’s historic lecture 45 years ago.

Nichiren Daishonin declares: “‘Joy’ means that oneself and others together experience joy … Both oneself and others together will take joy in their possession of wisdom and compassion” (The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, p. 146). Both ourselves and others matter. Caring only about one’s own happiness is selfish. Claiming to care only about

With only a few days’ notice, over 300 members from eight southern states gathered on March 15, 1974, for a spontaneous guidance meeting with SGI President Ikeda at the University of New Orleans. It would be his only visit to the southeast outside Florida. President Ikeda named the members in attendance that day the Happiness

“Home Visit Week” is established to support the development and victory of each member.

The SGI-USA is pleased to announce that the Central Executive Committee, our national planning body, recently approved important changes to our guidelines for accepting financial contributions: 1) Any person who joined the SGI-USA on or after Jan. 1, 2019, must wait one year before making a financial contribution to the organization. 2) On or after

by Naoko Leslie, Maya Gunaseharan and Olivia Saito SGI-USA Women’s, Young Women’s and Youth Leaders Congratulations on holding the most joyful women’s and young women’s commemorative gongyo meetings throughout the SGI-USA in February! We have heard incredible reports about the inspiring gatherings that took place to celebrate Feb. 27, SGI-USA Women’s Day. The power that

This month marks the beginning of our May Commemorative Contribution activity. Living Buddhism spoke with SGI-USA youth across the country about the spirit of making offerings and their role in moving the kosen-rufu movement forward as successors. Living Buddhism: How did you first learn about the May Commemorative Contribution activity? Jeff Foster: When I was

by Adin Strauss SGI-USA General Director Thank you for your phenomenal efforts and sincere financial offerings to advance kosen-rufu. We have worked side by side with SGI President Ikeda to create historic milestones for advancing kosen-rufu in America. Now we are building on these efforts to further expand and strengthen our movement for the sake

by Adin Strauss SGI-USA General Director To our most precious Many Treasures Group members, Thank you for your ceaseless efforts to support kosen-rufu through your activities in the district, the personal encouragement you offer and the abundant daimoku you chant! This is an extraordinary time for kosen-rufu in America. Since the successful 50,000 Lions of

WESTON, Fla.—One hundred and ninety-three youth representatives from the U.S., Canada and New Zealand confirmed the spirit and significance of studying SGI President Ikeda’s 30-volume lifetime work, The New Human Revolution, at the North America and Oceania Study Conference, led by SGI Vice Study Leader Nobuo Fukase. The conference, held Feb. 1–4 at the Florida

February pays tribute to significant anniversaries: SGI-USA Women’s Day on Feb. 27, as well as the births of Nichiren Daishonin (Feb. 16, 1222), second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda (Feb. 11, 1900) and SGI Honorary Women’s Leader Kaneko Ikeda (Feb. 27, 1932). In this commemorative month, members across the country will focus on two major

WESTON, Fla., Feb. 2—Celebrating the SGI-USA’s great achievement of gathering 50,000 Lions of Justice on Sept. 23, 2018, SGI President Ikeda gifted a stunning eight-piece Chihuly glass sculpture to the youth of America. He asked that it be displayed as a symbol of the “shared triumph of mentor and disciple.” This significant artwork was last seen

Over 1,600 youth leaders take the Ikeda Wisdom Academy Exam, ready for dynamic advancement in the Year of Soka Victory.

Let’s welcome 50,000 members and guests to our February district discussion meetings through doing home visits and sharing Buddhism!

—SGI President Ikeda

Every year on Feb. 27, the women of America celebrate SGI-USA Women’s Day and the birthday of SGI Honorary Women’s Leader Kaneko Ikeda. Together, they renew their vow with their mentor, SGI President Ikeda, to “become the happiest people in the world” (My Dear Friends in America, third edition, p. 92). On Feb. 27, 1990,

The Ikeda Wisdom Academy, comprising district through national youth leaders, was founded on January 26, 2013, and named by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda. The academy motto, “Protecting the Mentor and the Teachings,” underscores its mission to raise capable leaders for kosen-rufu who have a correct understanding of the lineage of Buddhist humanism, who are committed