CategoryFrontline News

An opportunity for our retired men’s division members to protect our kosen-rufu movement.

Duy Dao grew up in Vietnam, where he recalls his parents and most people being generally Buddhist. When he joined the SGI last year in Los Angeles, he took the Introductory Exam soon after. Studying for it, Dao said, enabled him to grasp Buddhism in a new light. “The idea that the Buddha nature is

A roundtable discussion on the real benefits of participating in the May Commemorative Contribution Activity.

The May Commemorative Contribution activity is an expression of our vow to practice and spread the Mystic Law and our gratitude for the benefit we have gained from doing so. It allows us to financially protect and extend our kosen-rufu movement far beyond our lifetimes. This year’s activity, themed “Advancing Toward 2030 With Joy and

“In the seven years leading to our centennial [in 2030], let us tap even greater wisdom to help people form a connection with Nichiren Buddhism. Let us awaken even greater numbers of people around the world to their Buddha nature. And let us joyfully and courageously bring many new friends to join us in the

Transforming our communities from within

Try your hand at five sample questions from the upcoming introductory exam material.  1. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the heart and essence of the Buddha, which is expressed in wise and compassionate actions to lead all people to enlightenment. In this phrase, nam means to __________.(HINT: See The Basics of Nichiren Buddhism, p. 19)a) completely cut all ties

Words cannot quite express how deeply we appreciate each of you for your unwavering support of kosen-rufu. Every year when this time comes around, we reflect on how our lives have been transformed through encountering Nichiren Buddhism with the SGI, and we make a fresh determination to advance our movement and its aim to bring

Message from SGI-USA General Director Adin Strauss In Buddhism, we have three treasures that we revere as central to our practice: the Buddha, the Law and the sangha. The third of these, the sangha, corresponds to the Buddhist Order or community of believers—our Soka community. This year marks my 40th year of practice. Through thick

The SGI-USA Introductory Exam will be held on April 13 and 14.  Preparing for and taking the exam is an opportunity for members and guests to study Nichiren Buddhism, a vital element of Buddhist practice, and deepen their understanding of its philosophy and history.  Regarding SGI study exams, Ikeda Sensei writes:  How highly Nichiren Daishonin,

Meet some of the youth leading the charge toward the chapter-led March Youth Peace Festivals.

by SGI-USA youth leaders Amelia Gonzalez Tesch and Shota Okajima On March 30, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of Ikeda Sensei’s appointment as youth division chief of staff. Although he was just 26, it marked the time when he took on a more central role in the Soka Gakkai’s development. In his diary, he wrote

The SGI-USA will hold its first introductory exam of 2024 on April 13–14. This will also be the first exam on new introductory material and will be offered in English and Spanish. Here is everything you need to know to get started! ELIGIBILITY This exam is for all new members, and everyone who has not

Learning from the passion of the SGI-USA youth.

To illustrate the rarity of encountering the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni likened it to a one-eyed turtle finding, in the vastness of the ocean, a floating sandalwood log with a suitable hollow to warm its belly and coolits back. Nichiren Daishonin noted that “it is rarer still to find the hollow of the Mystic Law of

The SGI-USA will hold its first introductory exam of 2024 on April 13–14. This exam is for all new members, and everyone who has not taken or passed the Introductory Exam in previous years. Guests are more than welcome to take the exam as well!  This will be the first exam on a new introductory

WESTON, Fla.—When the new Ikeda Hall exhibition “Daisaku Ikeda and America” opened on Jan. 20 at the Florida Nature and Culture Center (FNCC) in Weston, Florida, the members saw this significant element in the 60-year advancement of the SGI-USA: themselves. The exhibition takes viewers through six decades of the kosen-rufu movement in the U.S. in

Toward the March Youth Peace Festivals, the SGI-USA youth coined the motto “Advance With 10 Friends.” This was based on Ikeda Sensei’s guidance, “If each of you can cultivate 10 genuine friendships, then kosen-rufu will surely advance!” Focused on friendship and held at the chapter level, these peace festivals are about each member turning their

Michigan is on a winning streak. The University of Michigan clinched the 2023 college football championship, while the Detroit Lions won its first playoff game in 32 years. For local SGI-USA members, add to that excitement the purchase of the SGI-USA Detroit Buddhist Center, which will now serve as a permanent castle of kosen-rufu in

The following is a report on the 1st Soka Headquarters Leaders Meeting Toward Our Centennial Marking the Fresh Departure for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide, held on Jan. 7, 2024. It was adapted from the Jan. 8, 2024, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun. The Year of Fresh Departure for a Youthful