The joy of faith - SGI-UK E-Bulletin and Podcast

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Awards
from
Sensei
Wonderful
women’s
course
Greenwich
community
tree
Buddhism
on the map
at Greenfest
Inspiration
day for HQ
administrators
Cambridge/
Newmarket
celebration
Trust through friendship. Peace through trust.
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SGI-UK online news bulletin Issue No27 7.7.2010
The joy of faith
A joyful HQ leaders assembly was held
at Taplow Court on July 3 – Mentor
and Disciple Day, writes Roy Stone.
Leaders gathered in high spirits for
the meeting, which was a springboard
towards fulfilling our goals for the 80th
anniversary of the founding of the Soka
Gakaki on November 18.
President Ikeda sent a message,
thanking us for all our hard work and
asking us to give his best regards to
everyone. It felt significant that we
were meeting on July 3 – and the spirit
of the day was represented by a series
of images of the 3 Presidents and
quotations on a screen.
Lyn Kuan and Masashi Inoue spoke
about deepening their resolve to stand
up and win with Sensei after attending a
training course in Japan in May.
We watched a video of the 40th
HQ leaders meeting where Sensei
was presented with an honorary
professorship by China’s Tsinghua
University.
turn to page 2
Let’s win in the second half!
At the Kosen-rufu gongyo at Taplow
Court on Sunday July 4, Vice-General
Director Kazuo Fujii encouraged
everyone to take a positive attitude at
this mid point of this important year.
He reminded us that on January 1
President Ikeda said: “The chance in a
million has come for us to establish a
victory that will last for ten thousand
years to come and more. Now, together
with our noble fellow members, having
youthful resolve and determination,
Future Group members peform their song Hopes & Dreams at HQLA; below, Masashi and Lyn
let’s all make this year the greatest
year of our lives!” He observed that
in football, a game of two halves, it is
the second half that decides victory
or defeat and that in a marathon race
everyone starts off full of vigour, but
it is in the second half of the race
that people begin to drop out! He
encouraged us to view obstacles as
opportunities to purify our lives and
to grow, and urged us to refresh our
resolve to win by the end of the year.
HQ leaders were given a special card at
HQLA with the following quotation:
TOWARDS THE 80th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE
FOUNDING OF THE SOKA
GAKKAI ON NOVEMBER 18 2010
First, win through strong prayer…
Second, win through solid unity…
Third, win through courageous &
persevering action…
Those linked by genuine bonds of
mentor and disciple are united and
inseparable, and their hearts are
always as one. As long as that is
true, there is nothing to fear.
– Daisaku Ikeda, June 3 2010
(from a message sent to the
41st HQ leaders meeting)
Please send your news and
pictures to our email address:
roystone55news@yahoo.co.uk
Pictures: Simon Addinsell

SGI-UK online news bulletin Issue No27 7.7.2010 Page 2
‘It starts with me. It starts from now’
from page 1
Then we had our own awards
ceremony, with SGI-UK Young Women’s
leader Lisa Cowan and Young Men’s
leader Matthew Kii presenting the
Soka Gakkai 80th Anniversary SGI
Outstanding Contribution Award given
by Sensei to Robert Harrap, Kazuo Fujii,
Mitzi Delnevo, Barbara Cahill, Akemi
Baynes and Sue Thornton. Pete Morris,
who also received an award, was unable
to attend.
Kazuo Fujii spoke about President
Ikeda’s decision not to attend the
41st HQ leaders meeting on June 3.
Kazuo said Sensei had sent a message,
explaining he was following the example
of his mentor, second president Josei
Toda, who decided not to attend every
meeting because he wanted his disciples
to take action on their own.
Kazuo said that he felt in his heart
that President Ikeda is telling us that the
time has come for his disciples to stand
up and take reponsibility for Kosen-rufu.
Kazuo also spoke about the meeting
with Sensei on March 8 that he had
attended together with representatives
of 60 countries. Sensei had talked for
nearly two hours, urging them to become
great leaders for Kosen-rufu in their
own countries, caring for the members
and never losing sight of the mentor and
disciple relationship.
Sensei had opened up the way for
Kosen-rufu in Europe, visiting many
European countries. Now he wanted
the leaders to open a fresh page of
Kosen-rufu in Europe. Kazuo said he was
determined to work for Kosen-rufu in
Europe for the rest of his life.
We then heard two great experiences
of introducing others to the practice.
Lisa Cowan told how she called a debt
collector who had been sending her
“scary red letters” after a house sale fell
through. He had been impressed by how
calm she was over the matter and she
explained to him about her practice.
“We had the most wonderful dialogue
about the difference Buddhism has
made to my life. I asked if I could send
him something about Buddhism. He
gave me his name and said he would
read what I sent.”
David Ginns, Men’s Division leader
for East Midlands HQ, gave an inspiring
experience about how dealing with
health issues had led to him creating the
opportunity to speak to many people
about the practice.
One example he gave was how he
had answered the phone one day to a
man trying to sell him land in South
Africa, and he had taken the opportunity
to tell him about his Buddhist practice.
The salesman had said that he was
having such a difficult time that he would
try chanting. He later left a message on
David’s answerphone saying: “Thanks
you, Mr Ginns. I tried the chanting and it
works. You should write a book!”
SGI-UK General Director Robert
Samuels pointed to ways in which we
will be able to contribute to Kosen-rufu
in the remainder of the year, including
Summer Courses, Grade 1 and 2 study
courses, an opportunity to contribute to
the Kosen-rufu Fund in November, and
every discussion meeting.
He congratulated everyone on the
6,000 plus attendance achieved at our
discussion meetings in May, adding that
we hope to achieve a further landmark
attendance at meetings in November.
Robert added: “I am trying to
concentrate everything I do on meeting
one person at a time, or small groups. I
feel more and more convinced that it is
not the number of people that I speak to
that matters, but the number of people I
connect with one to one.”
He announced: “We are making a
DVD of the ‘Making a Difference’ films
that are downloadable from the SGI-UK
website, showing the achievements in
society of six of our members. We are
giving one of these to each HQ. Very
soon they will be on sale in the shop for
members to buy.”
Robert also referred to an exhibition
in the foyer of Ikeda New Century Hall,
Transforming the Human Spirit, saying:
“This is something else that you might
wish to use to communicate what we are
about to friends – or a local community
group. It will be here until the second
week in September.”
Robert vowed: “I will take this
July 3 as the starting point to increase
my efforts through to the end of the
year, no matter what! With the motto of
Tsinghua University that Sensei quoted in
the 40th HQLM, which we just watched:
‘It starts with me. It starts from now’.”
Pictures: Simon Addinsell

Deborah Ripley
SGI-UK online news bulletin Issue No27 7.7.2010 Page 3
News round-up
Liza Dawson
Vonnie Huguenet
Judith Hansell
On 26 June, 200 plus women joined together at Taplow
Court for the Central London Women’s Division
Summer Course, writes Clea Myers. We studied, heard
extraordinary experiences, picnicked and redetermined
our vow for Kosen-rufu of the UK, signing a pledge card
to send to Sensei. Comments from the wonderful day
include – Fleur Claxton: “Great course but too short.”
Plavka Coleridge: “What really stood out was… don’t
leave it to them; it starts with me.” Astrid Montuire:
“Amazing organisation, warmth and a great first
experience of an SGI-UK women’s course.”
Two young men proudly
received Gohonzon during
Cornwall’s HQ course at
Taplow Court from June
11-13, writes Gabrielle
Hawkes. The course theme,
Win In Faith – Win In Life,
was beautifully reflected in
moving experiences from
members and inspiring
lectures. We went home
It was standing room only
when some 100 members
and guests attended a
Hove, Adur and Worthing
Women’s and Young Women’s
chapter meeting on June 20
bearing bay leaf crowns
created by Land’s End
district members, knowing
that with this Buddhism we
can all be victors!
Hammersmith & Fulham HQ
members took part in the
Greenfest event on June 20,
writes Joy Dunbar. We created
dialogue and friendship through
making badges and friendship
bracelets, and mapped the
spread of Buddhism from India
to Japan and the founding of
SGI in Guam.
Cambridge/Newmarket Chapter
members met on June 6 for
chapter study and to celebrate
SGI-Europe day, writes Makiko
Wimbush. Three people
received Gohonzon. We have
been welcoming new members
each month since January.
Andrew Hunn
in Hove, writes Vonnie
Huguenet. Visitors came
from London, Tunbridge
Wells and Eastbourne.
Suzanne Pritchard spoke
on the theme Manifesting
Our Wildest Dreams
As Queens Of Faith,
encouraging us to believe
we have tapped only a
fraction of the boundless
power of Buddhahood that
we possess.
Peter Byron
Greenwich Chapter members
took part in the Plumstead
Make Merry festivities on
June 5, writes Jackie Rogers.
As well as handing out SGI
literature, we had a sturdy
wooden tree. On its coloured
leaves people were invited
to write what they liked
about living in Greenwich.
We got about 100 comments
like “green, open spaces”,
“friendly people”, “diversity”,
“community spirit”, “friends
and neighbours” and many
other positive responses. It
was a truly happy occasion
for all of us in the community.
Go Greenwich!
Later, at the invitation
of Councillor John Fahy,
the tree took pride of
place in the main lobby
of Greenwich town hall.
Women’s chapter leader
Yvonne Reid is pictured
at the town hall.
The Japanese Guide Group held its annual meeting at
Taplow Court on June 12, writes Tadahiko Yajima. Our
group welcomes and looks after visitors to Taplow Court
from all over the world.
An inspiration day was held for HQ administrators at Taplow
Court on June 13, writes Chris Sayers. Robert Samuels
encouraged us based President Ikeda’s editorial from the
July AoL ‘Still I am not discouraged’. Robert emphasised
the importance of not giving up but being victorious in all
situations. It was an enjoyable and informative day.
Mid Sussex Chapter held a
Women’s
.
Day celebration
attended by 31 people on
June 5 with the theme A
Young Heart For Absolute
Victory, writes Noriko
Hughes. We shared great
experiences, guidances and
food from all over the world.
Tom Bowles
Steven Teh
Doug Clinton

A Buddhist magazine
July 2010
Price £3
Issue no. 109
SGI-UK online news bulletin Issue No27 7.7.2010 Page 4
World News
July 3 messages from SGI-UK divisional leaders
Men’s leader Robert Harrap:
Celebrating July 3 led me to consider
again the significance of this day of
mentor and disciple. It is an opportunity
for me as a disciple to measure my
current actions for Kosen-rufu against
those of the great leaders of Buddhism
who have blazed a trail. I must not
assume that I can leave things to
President Ikeda, or to others, rather I
take this opportunity to redetermine
to take actions in my personal arena
that will make my mentor proud.
Sensei writes: “[The] Daishonin urges
his disciples to practise just as he
does. Only by struggling earnestly for
people’s happiness in the same manner
as Nichiren Daishonin can we attain
Buddhahood.” [WND vol 2, p177]
Women’s leader Suzanne Pritchard:
As we celebrate July 3, many of us are
grappling to understand the concept of
the non-duality of mentor and disciple
more deeply. This means working
through misconceptions derived from
language ‘heard’ within our cultural
framework to recognise that its essence
is the shared vow for the peace and
happiness of our world. In one sense,
therefore, it is absolutely not personality
centred, for this vow is the vow of all
Buddhas throughout eternity. It is the
life foundation of Shakyamuni and
Nichiren Daishonin which Tsunesaburo
Makiguchi sought to make his own and
which through the efforts of Josei Toda
in turn became the life-blood of the Soka
Gakkai. Inheriting this spirit, President
Ikeda has given us a contemporary
‘life-example’ of the power of a human
being who bases themselves on this
shared vow. For me, his greatness as a
mentor lies in the fact that he has never
for a moment stopped being a disciple!
Recognising the preciousness of this
limited time I may have to work side-byside
with my mentor, I am praying that
I and all the Women’s Division deeply
absorb this spirit to create a seismic
shift in the way we understand the
power of our lives, so that we can have
the greatest impact for happiness on all
around us.
Young Women’s leader Lisa Cowan:
To the precious young women of SGI-UK,
let’s remember these words of Sensei –
“You Have Already Won!” Something we
can perhaps find a little hard to believe. I
was deeply encouraged by the response
of so many of you to the message I sent
in June about remembering on June 4
that we are Ikeda Kayo Kai and as such
we can overcome anything that life
throws at us. In this “once in a million”
year our victory will be such that the
devilish functions are likely to be having
a good go at distracting us from the
fact that “we have already won”. I am
fighting with all my being to transform
any such distractions (of which as you
know, there are many!) The reality is, we
are disciples of a mentor who teaches
us that “There is no way that all of you,
who chant daimoku to the Gohonzon
and earnestly strive for Kosen-rufu, will
fail to become happy.” That even if our
circumstances may look unfortunate on
the surface “if you keep chanting Nammyoho-renge-kyo
throughout, you will
definitely be able to transform all that
is negative into something positive in
accord with the Buddhist principle of
‘changing poison into medicine’.” I am
sincerely chanting that each of us can
know this in the depths of our being,
particularly as we move into the second
half of this year. Let’s show the world the
greatness of a life as Ikeda Kayo Kai and
enjoy the freedom and joy this brings.
Young Men’s leader Matthew Kii:
My dear comrades in faith, My deepest
appreciation for all your wonderful
contributions and support. On July 3,
Mentor and Disciple Day, I have renewed
my vow that I will become strong and
give my very best to serve the SGI-UK
members on behalf of Sensei. The YM
Division was founded on July 11 1951.
At the inaugural ceremony, President
Toda stressed that young people shall
have the stand-alone spirit. Exactly 750
years ago on July 16, Nichiren Daishonin
submitted his treatise ‘On Establishing
the Correct Teaching for the Peace of
the Land’ in the form of dialogue, hoping
to save Japan based on the principle of
individual human revolution. Recently,
Sensei emphasised the importance of
making a great vow to realise Kosenrufu.
He said, “To achieve this great
vow, we need to challenge ourselves
wholeheartedly and courageously.
When we do so, we will break out of
our tiny shells, and be able to develop
a boundless state of life as vast as
the ocean, an indestructible state of
life as solid as the earth… The key to
breaking through obstacles on the most
fundamental level is found in exerting
ourselves in faith based on the mentordisciple
spirit.” [NL8021] Let’s win
together and use our Summer Course
to deepen our faith and bring this spirit
back to our local district. I am praying
every day for your good health and
happiness and for you to win no matter
what in this significant year.
New York, USA: The Independent Book
Publishing Professionals Group’s Indie
Book Award for Religious Non-fiction was
presented to SGI President Ikeda’s The
Flower of Chinese Buddhism at a book
expo in New York from May 25-27.
Tokyo, Japan: Former Philippines
president Fidel V Ramos visited Soka
University on June 19 to donate books
to the university on behalf of his Ramos
Peace and Development Foundation.
Seoul, Korea: President Ikeda’s photo
exhibition, Dialogue with Nature, opened
at a museum in Uijeongbu on June 17,
the tenth venue in the country to host
the exhibition that has drawn more than
530,000 viewers to date.
Rio Negro, Argentina: The SGI
exhibition, Seeds of Change: The
Earth Charter and Human Potential,
was held from June 1-11 as part of the
commemorative events of the city’s
centennial anniversary.
The
roots
of good
fortune
July Art of
Living:
The Roots
of Good
Fortune
Against the backdrop of the introduction
of ‘austerity packages’ both throughout
Europe and around the world and
statements of UK politicians about
painful cuts that will affect “our
whole way of life”* July’s Art of Living
considers – ‘The Roots of Good Fortune’.
Continuing SGI President Ikeda’s
lectures on ‘Letter to the Brothers’ which
offer insight and guidance on how to
overcome any and every obstacle or
aspect of negativity, Sue Thornton also
looks at how Buddhist practice leads
to benefit and good fortune. And as we
hit the halfway point in the year Sanda
McWilliam looks at goals and how to be
unstoppable!
* David Cameron as quoted by
bbcnews.co.uk Monday June 14
Working parties
An invitation is extended to all members
to help maintain the grounds at Taplow
Court. Daimoku starts at 10am. Evening
gongyo at 5pm. For daimoku venue
please ask at Seven Seas room in Ikeda
New Century Hall. The next dates are
July 10 and 24. Call the estate office on
01628 591 219. The nature of the work
makes it unsafe for children. We look
forward to seeing you.