My heartiest congratulations to the Men Division members, who are the Golden Pillars of Soka, on the 50th anniversary of the Men Division Day.
The Men Division members are always close to Ikeda Sensei’s heart. He once said: “I am also a member of the Men Division.” On another occasion, Ikeda Sensei stated: “You, the members of the Men Division, are my comrades in struggle, my noble friends, and champions of humanity in whom I place utmost trust.”
That was clearly reflected by establishing the Men Division Day on August 24, 1976. August 24 is the day that Ikeda Sensei took up faith in 1947 and began his journey of the oneness of mentor and disciple with his mentor Toda Sensei.
His earnest wish for every Men Division member is for them to arise with the shared vow of mentor and disciple, dedicating their lives to the great mission of kosen-rufu, just as he had. To him, this was the noblest way of life.
Ikeda Sensei in his poem, “The Noble Voyage of Life” he calls out to all the Men Division members:
My friends in the Men Division,
It is vital that you win in society
And in the workplace,
That you form bonds of trust and friendship with many others,
That you be a citadel that provides a happy haven for your family,
And that, with vigorous good health,
You triumph in the arduous struggle of daily life!
Your life, your being,
Is yours for all time — past, present and future.
Thus everything depends on
How you forge yourself,
How you improve yourself,
How you live a happy life —
This is the aim of human revolution
Based on Ikeda Sensei’s guidance, let us Men Division members live the most fulfilling lives by taking full responsibility as golden pillars in every aspect of our lives and become people who are trustable, reliable and indispensable.
This issue marks the 700th issue of the Soka Times. We are truly proud that it has reached this significant milestone this month that also marks the 79th anniversary of Ikeda Sensei taking up faith. We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our subscribers and readers.
First published in January 1996, Soka Times was established to serve as an indispensable source of faith encouragement for members. Over the years, it has featured the Gosho, Buddhist fundamentals, faith guidance, and other inspiring content. Since its inaugural issue, Ikeda Sensei’s serialised novel The New Human Revolution — our textbook of faith — has remained its cornerstone.
Soka Times also showcases the diverse expressions of faith and practice of our members across all four divisions and every generation. It has also chronicled value-creating activities within and beyond the organisation, capturing the vibrant progress and spirit of our movement.
Our heartfelt appreciation goes to everyone who has contributed to this remarkable journey — the staff and volunteers, past and present, including reporters, photographers, illustrators, proofreaders, translators, and members of the Rainbow Group, comprising Women and Men Division members who have faithfully packed each issue for delivery to our subscribers.
As Soka Times marks this important milestone, we will reaffirm our mission of supporting the advancement of Singapore kosen-rufu, as we continue to inspire, encourage, and connect our readers of all ages for many years to come.
