After a gap of eight months, SGI Study Vice-Leader Sei-ichiro Harada returned to Malaysia to conduct three sessions of study seminars at the SGM Culture Centre on December 25 and 26, 2017. By referring to the guidance and lectures of SGI President Ikeda, Mr Harada enlightened SGM members throughout the country. On the evenings of December 25 and on December 26, the seminars were broadcasted live to 28 and 43 venues respectively, benefiting the audiences greatly especially in faith.
President Ikeda always pays great attention to study seminars. In his congratulatory message to these study seminars, he hoped that all participants would engrave deeply in their hearts the true meaning of “many in body, one in mind” as described in the Gosho “The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life”: “Shakyamuni Buddha who attained enlightenment countless kalpas ago, the Lotus Sutra that leads all people to Buddhahood, and we ordinary human beings are in no way different or separate from one another.” (WND-1, p. 216) He hoped that SGM would uphold the brilliant tradition of “unity first” in expanding the ranks of Bodhisattvas of the Earth and becoming a role model of worldwide kosen-rufu. This is the great vision President Ikeda has set for Malaysia.
In the afternoon of December 25, Mr Harada studied the Gosho passage, “On Practising the Buddha’s Teachings” with Youth Division representatives nationwide as well as SGM Kuala Lumpur leaders. He explained the true attitude that practitioners of the Buddha’s teachings should uphold towards faith and practice. In the evening, he conducted a study session of the five eternal guidelines of the Soka Gakkai, with 1,852 leaders nationwide (on-location and via broadcast), emphasising that the purpose of practising Nichiren Buddhism was to realise the five guidelines.
The study session on the second day was conducted for leaders and members nationwide, and Mr Harada spoke about the true significance of the Gohonzon, with 4,585 leaders and members nationwide. Exploring the Gohonzon from various perspectives, he provided the audiences with a clearer understanding of the object of devotion in our practice.
The three study sessions brought the participants back to the prime point of faith, to make the determination that “change has to start from oneself.” Sang Huey Ching from the Kedah Young Women Division (YWD) shared that she had rediscovered her drive to battle challenges and vowed to set forth with a fresh start, striving courageously towards her goal. Tan Yan Yun from Pahang YWD described that the five eternal guidelines of the Soka Gakkai is a crystallisation of the oneness of mentor and disciple between President Toda and President Ikeda. As a disciple, she would strive to study and actualise these guidelines. Lau Kar Kit from the Kuala Lumpur Young Men Division hoped to actualise the five guidelines to inspire his friends to join the family of Soka in achieving absolute happiness.
Mr Harada has also conducted dialogues with two hundred representatives from the Youth Division on the morning of December 25. He has provided much valuable guidance to improve our study of Buddhism.
