May is a significant month in the annals of the Soka Gakkai. It has been 63 years since Ikeda Sensei took on the leadership of Soka Gakkai as the third president. Since then, he has never known a moment’s rest, expanding the network of Nichiren Buddhism to 192 countries and territories, living out the path of mentor and disciple.
For us in Singapore, this May 3 marks another fresh departure where disciples refresh our determination to strive with the shared vow of mentor and disciple for kosen-rufu. At our May 3 Commemorative Meeting, representative leaders and the successors groups pledged to strive courageously towards 2030, the centennial of the Soka Gakkai.
May was also the month when we commenced in-person district discussion meetings after three years of pandemic. By a wonderful coincidence, the World Health Organisation declared an end to the global Covid-19 health emergency on May 5. What great news for everyone!
Once again, I wish to extend my sincere appreciation for all your prayers and unstinting support in weathering this period together. I am sure Sensei is aware of your hard work. In his recent May 3 message to SGS, he shared,
“Through the remarkable efforts that you have been exerting day after day, the movement of the Soka Gakkai that upholds the people-centred teachings of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism of the Sun has expanded across the globe and has become the beacon of hope for the people around the world. You are the noble pioneers of worldwide kosen-rufu who have realised this phenomenal development and the benefit you have accrued in your lives is certainly immeasurable.”
Without any doubt, all our efforts for kosen-rufu — working for the happiness of our members, supporting the activities of SGS, engaging in dialogues of hope with new friends and members, praying for their happiness, making financial contribution, doing our human revolution and carrying out the propagation of the Mystic Law — are planting benefits and roots of goodness in our lives.
We have another six months before the Year of Youth and Triumph ends. Let us be victorious and do not leave any room for regrets! Let us win every day in our shared struggle with Sensei! Let us win in our discussion meetings! Let us support our youth to secure a victorious Let’s E.A.T. Gathering this July!
Further in his May 3 message to SGS, Sensei shared,
“Let’s set our gaze towards the Soka Gakkai’s centennial in 2030! Let’s strive together towards this goal in harmonious unity and great cheer as we fill our lives with powerful life force like the rising morning sun through chanting the lion’s roar of Nam-myoho-renge- kyo, impart heartfelt encouragement to the person standing before us, help others form connections with Nichiren Buddhism, seek out and create one true comrade after another and expand the network of happiness and peace.”
Let us reach out to 500 new friends through dialogues of hope and encouragement. Let us set off joyfully in harmonious unity with the spirit of “many in body, one in mind” towards a victorious November 18!
