February 2020 Living Buddhism

Evelyn CarrOrange, California Living Buddhism: Thank you, Evelyn, for sharing your experience with us. How did you begin your Buddhist practice? Evelyn Carr: Thank you for the opportunity. In 1983, I moved to Southern California as a student, leaving behind the comfort of my home in Taiwan. This was a big change, and I struggled

This monthly encouragement by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda was originally published in the January 2020 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal. A treasure trove of hope for opening the way forward for humanity is actually to be found quite close at hand. It is the youth—young people who are ready to

Deeply committed to the education and development of children and youth, SGI President Ikeda, as the third Soka Gakkai president, established the high school division in June 1964, the junior high school division in January 1965, and the boys and girls division in September 1965—which together comprise the future division. The present generation of future

The Ikeda Wisdom Academy is an SGI-USA youth division movement to engage youth leaders in advanced study. This month, academy members will study chapter 8 of The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life: SGI President Ikeda’s Lecture Series. While the Ikeda Wisdom Academy is a youth leaders study program, all SGI-USA members are invited

by SGI Vice President Hiromasa Ikeda

Chapter Summary In 1968, great efforts were being made to develop the student division, including forming university groups on campuses nationwide. During this time, Shin’ichi Yamamoto proposed the normalization of Japan-China relations at the September 8 Student Division General Meeting. At the time, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), with a population of more than

Chapter Summary In September 1968, Shin’ichi Yamamoto flew to Asahikawa, Hokkaido, on his way to Wakkanai, one of Japan’s northernmost cities. On the 13th, he urged the members in Asahikawa to dedicate their lives to the great vow of kosen-rufu in order to achieve eternal prosperity and happiness. On the 14th, Shin’ichi visited Wakkanai and

Chapter Summary On November 13, 1968, Shin’ichi Yamamoto traveled to Amami Oshima. Since his visit five years prior, the organization there had expanded from one joint chapter to a headquarters comprising two joint chapters. The previous year, Soka Gakkai members living in one of the island’s villages had for a time been subjected to harassment

Chapter Summary In 1969, Shin’ichi Yamamoto’s poem “Song of Construction” was published in the New Year’s issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper. He felt that now was the time for all members to stand up with courage and energy, and establish a lasting foundation for kosen-rufu. On February 15, Shin’ichi attended

This installment, published in the November 20, 2019, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, focuses on passages from Nichiren Daishonin’s writings that SGI President Ikeda discusses in volume 13 of The New Human Revolution. Passage 1 “Though you remain in Sado, your heart has come to this province.” (“The Drum at the Gate of Thunder,” The

A: We all have the same 24 hours in a day. Yet, given that each person has differing priorities and time demands—as students, workers, parents, caregivers, retirees and so on—there isn’t just one way to balance our lives. Buddhism, however, teaches us how to bring forth the wisdom necessary to make the most of each

“I have no choice. I am a Buddhist. The social mission of a Buddhist practitioner is to work for world peace and the happiness of all people. Whatever happens, I must act with firm resolve! History will prove whether I am right.” —SGI President Ikeda Second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda often shared his belief

Q: Isn’t it enough for me to just chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo? One’s own happiness to the exclusion of others is not true happiness. We cannot be happy while others are suffering. Seeking happiness for oneself and others is genuine happiness. The original purpose of Buddhism and the profound wish of the Buddha is to help those

Part 3: Kosen-rufu and World Peace—The Future Division: The Key to the Ongoing Development of Kosen-rufu

“The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace” is a three-part series that features key selections from SGI President Ikeda’s collected works, which thus far have been compiled into 150 volumes in Japanese. These selections introduce core concepts expressing the wisdom and universal message of Nichiren Buddhism. Through this series, SGI members throughout the world are

One who listens to even a sentence or phrase of the sutra and cherishes it deep in one’s heart may be likened to a ship that crosses the sea of the sufferings of birth and death. The Great Teacher Miao-lo stated, “Even a single phrase cherished deep in one’s heart will without fail help one

Buddhism of the Sun Installment 49