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SGI President Ikeda’s Message for Soka Gakkai Foundation Day, November 18, 2012
I would like to offer my congratulations to all my beloved SGI members around the world on the occasion of their festive gatherings celebrating the 82nd anniversary of the Soka Gakkai’s founding. My wife and I here in Tokyo are thinking of you, envisioning your bright, smiling faces.
Thanks to your dedicated efforts during 2012—the Year of Developing a Youthful SGI—our organization has achieved even greater growth, entering an unprecedented age of kosen-rufu where capable young Bodhisattvas of the Earth are emerging in ever-increasing numbers all across the globe.
With the announcement of our theme for next year—the Year of Victory for a Youthful SGI—our SGI organizations everywhere are advancing powerfully toward 2013. The coming year will mark many significant milestones, including the 760th anniversary of the establishment of Nichiren Daishonin’s teaching (in 1253), the 85th anniversary of first and second Soka Gakkai presidents Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda embracing faith in Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism (in 1928), as well as the 70-year anniversary of their arrest for refusing to compromise their beliefs (in 1943). Next year will also bring the long-awaited completion of our new Soka Gakkai Headquarters, currently under construction.
With a renewed pledge to repay our gratitude to our mentors, let’s strive wholeheartedly to show actual proof of our Buddhist practice by further developing our movement and achieving victory in all our endeavors, thereby solidly securing the foundations for a new eternally youthful SGI.
In September 1951, two months after the establishment of the young men’s division and young women’s division in Japan, Mr. Toda issued his “Guidelines for Youth,” which opens with the words, “A new age will be created by the passion and power of youth.”1 It was a call to all members, especially the youth, to achieve dynamic progress and development toward a new age.
Youth are our greatest hope and treasure. This is the time for youthful Bodhisattvas of the Earth, awakened to their mission, to stand up, one after another, and broadly expand our movement. In the same spirit as my mentor, I now call out to you with the highest hopes: Bring forth the youthful power of the SGI to illuminate the hearts and minds of people around the world and usher in a new age that shines with infinite brilliance!
1 Translated from Japanese. Josei Toda, Toda Josei Zenshu (The Collected Writings of Josei Toda), (Tokyo: Seikyo Shimbunsha, 1981), vol. 1, p. 58.The great vow of Nichiren Daishonin is kosen-rufu—in other words, world peace. The Daishonin writes: “If you care anything about your personal security, you should first of all pray for order and tranquillity throughout the four quarters of the land, should you not?” (WND-1, 24). He also says: “From the time that I was born until today, I have never known a moment’s ease; I have thought only of propagating the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra [Nam-myoho-renge-kyo]” (WND-1, 965).
Mr. Makiguchi, Mr. Toda, and I, and all of the dedicated members who have struggled alongside us past and present, including each one of you, have practiced in exact accord with this spirit of the Daishonin, blazing trails where none before existed and building the grand stage for kosen-rufu. Please never forget this indisputable fact.
When we consider that the great path of worldwide kosen-rufu will continue infinitely into the distant future, this present time is the pioneering age of our movement. As such, each and every one of you without exception has an important role to play as a model for our members of future generations.
I hope you will all create outstanding records of triumphant achievement in your respective places of mission. Always win where you are right now, not some place or some time in the future. Achieving one solid victory after another in your life as good citizens of your communities is the sure and certain way to advance kosen-rufu, carry out your human revolution, and attain enlightenment in this lifetime.
Let’s make the sun of time without beginning rise brilliantly in our lives each day, sending forth and spreading the great light of hope to illuminate our communities, societies, and the future. United in the spirit of “many in body, one in mind,” let’s show people the world over the nobility and strength of those who stand up to transform the karma of humankind.
Let us now stride forth with joy and energy toward 2013—the Year of Victory for a Youthful SGI—and further toward the triumphant centennial of the Soka Gakkai in 2030. Let us do so with vibrant daimoku and boundless courage, with youthful hearts and youthful vitality, and in the most wonderful harmony.
My wife and I continue to chant earnestly that all of you, our most dear and precious members around the world, will lead long, healthy, fulfilling lives and that your families will prosper and triumph through all.
Best wishes!
Daisaku Ikeda November 18, 2012
