February is a month of great significance for the Soka Gakkai.
It is the birth month of Nichiren Daishonin (February 16, 1222) and second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda (February 11, 1900). In The Human Revolution, Volume 12 “New Dawn” chapter, we learn the following,
“…It was Nichiren Daishonin’s advent that gave credence to Shakyamuni Buddha’s prophecies. And it is not too far to say that Nichiren Daishonin’s will, and intent have been actualised by the appearance of President Toda, by the Soka Gakkai…”
February is best remembered in the annals of kosen-rufu for the February Campaign. This was the unprecedented Kamata Chapter Campaign in February 1952, led by then youthful President Ikeda. In that month, 201 new households joined the practice of Nichiren Buddhism, and paved the way for the achievement of 750,000 members household.
Learning from the Kamata Chapter Campaign, let us make our discussion meetings, oases of happiness and gatherings of Buddhas, sharing the joy of this practice with our friends, giving hope and encouragement to people searching for happiness in life.
This February also marks the 30th anniversary of Ikeda Sensei’s completion of the novel, The Human Revolution.
Ikeda Sensei started writing The Human Revolution on December 2, 1964, at the Okinawa Training Centre, as his “…vow to create a record that would convey the truth about my mentor…” and “…to record his (President Toda’s) experience in the form of the novel (The Human Revolution)…” The novel was eventually completed on February 11, the birthday of President Toda, when Sensei was in Brazil in 1993. This endeavour was a great undertaking amidst Sensei’s very busy schedule and spanned over nearly three decades. We must be eternally grateful to Sensei for this.
In addition, this February marks the 35th year of Ikeda Sensei’s first visit to Singapore in 1988 and designating February 9 as SGS’s “Kosen-rufu Day”.
That afternoon, after calling on then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at the Istana, Ikeda Sensei met with SGS members at a prayer meeting at the then Telok Blangah Soka Centre (current Soka Peace Centre). He encouraged every one of us to be good citizens of society, saying,
“You are all important emissaries of the Buddha, and you are the Buddha’s children. You are also courageous Bodhisattvas of the Earth, who are born here with the pledge to bring happiness to your country.
Therefore, if you exert yourself to succeed in your daily life and contribute to society based on strong faith, you will surely be able to realise true happiness in life, to crown your life with eternal benefit and good fortune…”
Bearing this guidance in our hearts, SGS members have been striving to fulfil our mission as Bodhisattvas of the Earth, surmounting all challenges in our lives, and doing our utmost to contribute as good citizens of Singapore.
As we advance cheerfully in this Year of Youth and Triumph, to win every day, let us never forget this debt of gratitude to the Daishonin and our Soka mentors who have dedicated their lives to the happiness of all humanity and the peace of the world.
