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September 2021

In This Issue

From SGM General Director

Expanding the Solidarity of Hope and Victory – Launching the “My Dialogue, My Victory” Campaign
On August 14, in the shadow of this severe pandemic, we have launched the “My Dialogue, My Victory” campaign, following the CARE campaign.

Memperluas Solidariti Harapan dan Kemenangan – Melancarkan Kempen “Dialog Saya, Kejayaan Saya”
Pada tarikh 14 Ogos, dalam bayangan pandemik yang teruk, kita telah melancarkan kempen “Dialog Saya, Kejayaan Saya” (“My Dialogue, My Victory”), selepas kempen Prihatin (CARE campaign).

From SGI President

Together, Let’s Scale a New Mountain of Kosen-rufu! by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

Feature

The Brilliant Path of Worldwide Kosen-rufu: Learning from The New Human Revolution Commentary on Volume 29 by SGI Vice-President Hiromasa Ikeda

“Unforgettable Scenes” – Key Episodes from Volume 29 from the Seikyo Shimbun

Excerpts from Nichiren’s Writings Found in Volume 29 from the Seikyo Shimbun

Winning Over the COVID-19 Pandemic Compiled by the SGM Beacon Group

Wisdom and Courage by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

Peace — The Foundation for Lasting Human Happiness by Shin’ichi Yamamoto

Courage — The Key to Victory in Life by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

Culturewatch

Hidden Figures (film, 2016) Review by Looi Sherynn

Halaman Kanak-Kanak

Ikan Kap yang Melompat Menuju Gerbang Naga

Experience

Grace Under Pressure Rajesh Shahani, India

News

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Editor’s Note

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In his 39th Peace Proposal issued on January 26, Value Creation in a Time of Crisis, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda addressed major issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, building a global culture of harmony and human rights, the need to get rid of nuclear weapons and the climate crisis. He proposed solutions for overcoming these challenges and called on the global community to together build a society realising “happiness for both oneself and others through bringing into full play the human capacity to create value.” [1]

When we look at the world today, people are only concerned about their own interests. Most people only care about themselves and their own families, placing their personal concerns above all else. People even resort to unethical methods, even damaging and sacrificing the needs of others in order to fulfil their own interests.

Looking at our pandemic-stricken society as an example, we can see that many people have had their spirits crushed and livelihoods destroyed – they are in dire straits. But the cruel reality is that they are ignored or discriminated against, – even excluded – leaving them isolated and helpless.

Even where the supply of vaccines is concerned, we see that countries only take care of their own needs and turn a blind eye to the needs of other countries.

On this, President Ikeda stressed that we must have the determination to never leave behind those struggling in the depths of adversity, lending them a helping hand, and shine the warm glow of concern in their lives. We must enable them to bring forth the strength to live with dignity and strive to build the foundations for a society where the word “misery” is eradicated.

In “The Three Virtues of Food,” Nichiren Daishonin writes: “If one gives food to others, one will improve one’s own lot, just as, for example, if one lights a fire for others, one will brighten one’s own way.” (WND-2, pg 1060) This teaches us that when we contribute to the wellbeing of others, we ourselves will receive benefit too.

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings states: “‘Joy’ means that oneself and others together experience joy.” (OTT, pg 146) True joy is when we and others enjoy happiness.

On this, President Ikeda says: “Happiness is something that we must each achieve for ourselves and experience in our own lives. But at the same time, one’s own happiness to the exclusion of others is not true happiness. Just being content with one’s own welfare with no concern for others is selfish. By the same token, brushing aside one’s own happiness and caring only about the happiness of others is not sufficient either. True happiness is a condition when both we ourselves and others are happy.” [2]

He also points out: “We cannot steal happiness from someone or attain it by sacrificing others for our own gain. It is something that must be shared – which is why I have always insisted that our happiness must not be built upon the misfortune of others.” [3]

We cannot live alone and isolated. Humankind has always been a community where we share joy and sorrow together. The thinking that helping others will only hurt our interests is the main reason for the terrible state that society is in today.

There is no life more noble than one dedicated to caring for and helping others, and enabling people to become happy.

Let us learn from this pandemic and transform this crisis into opportunity, and together build a society that realises happiness for both oneself and others!

[1] Pg 42 of this issue.
[2] FLOW No. 661 (01.10.2017), pg13–14.
[3] Ibid., pg 14.

On August 14, in the shadow of this severe pandemic, we have launched the “My Dialogue, My Victory” campaign, following the CARE campaign. We are calling upon leaders and members nationwide to participate and achieve five million dialogues from August 14 till before November 18 next year (2022).

This dialogue campaign is one where we, through our voices, soothe the hearts of those who have been tormented by the pandemic and rouse their fighting spirit and courage to overcome adverse situations. At the same time, we aim to pierce the gloom shrouding our surroundings and illuminate society.

The voice carries out the work of the Buddha.” (OTT, pg 4) Through our voices, we do the work of Buddhas, chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for our friends and carry out sincere dialogues. We also spread the great philosophy of the Mystic Law, inspiring and enlightening our friends, and also imparting hope and courage. Our voice has the power to revitalise people’s lives.

Dialogue and encouragement may seem inconspicuous, but they have tremendous power. They can bring people’s hearts together and are down-to-earth actions for kosen-rufu. One dialogue after another, one encouragement after another – this can create countless Buddhist connections. Expanding and accumulating such good bonds is the eternal formula for the development of kosen-rufu.

In fact, what SGI President Daisaku Ikeda has done the most in his life are dialogue and encouragement. He says his life is one based on dialogue and that “most of my time is spent encouraging and supporting others.”(1)

It is President Ikeda’s conviction that each dialogue helps expand Buddhist connections and creates peace. As long as we ceaselessly carry out dialogue, we can definitely open up a beautiful, great path of coexistence for humanity.

President Ikeda has encouraged countless people around the world. Over the course of his life, which is devoted to kosen-rufu, he has striven tirelessly in conducting dialogue with world leaders and leading intellectuals from all over the world, numbering over 7,000 people in total.

Nichiren Daishonin once wrote the words “Winter always turns to spring” (WND-1, pg 536) to encourage the lay nun Myoichi, who was frail and had lost her husband. This infinitely warm encouragement must have given her great strength. This phrase, “winter always turns to spring,” as President Ikeda says, “will continue to impart boundless hope to billions of people around the world who are searching for true happiness.”(2) This shows that words of encouragement can help manifest great power and create great value!

Our society is one that has been hit hard by the pandemic, and all around we see people who are troubled and burdened. Let us eradicate the insecurity and sorrow in people’s hearts through dialogue and encouragement, bring out the indefatigable fighting spirit within our lives, and expand the solidarity of hope, victory and Soka (value creation)!

(1) FLOW 649 dated 01.04.2017, pg 11 / SGI Newsletter No. 9371 dated 18.03.2016.
(2) SGI Newsletter No. 9095 dated 25.09.2014.

Pada tarikh 14 Ogos, dalam bayangan pandemik yang teruk, kita telah melancarkan kempen “Dialog Saya, Kejayaan Saya” (“My Dialogue, My Victory”), selepas kempen Prihatin (CARE campaign). Kita menyeru para pemimpin dan ahli SGM di seluruh negara untuk turut serta dan mencapai lima juta dialog dari 14 Ogos hingga sebelum 18 November tahun hadapan (2022).

Kempen dialog membolehkan kita menggunakan suara kita untuk menenangkan hati golongan yang diseksa oleh pandemik di samping membangkitkan semangat juang dan keberanian mereka untuk mengatasi keadaan yang buruk. Pada masa yang sama, kita bertujuan untuk menembusi kesuraman di sekeliling kita dan menerangi masyarakat.

Suara itu melaksanakan kerja Buddha.” (OTT, hlm. 4) Menerusi suara kita, kita melaksanakan kerja Buddha, meratib Nam-myoho-renge-kyo demi rakan-rakan kita dan mengadakan dialog yang tulus ikhlas. Kita juga menyebarkan falsafah Hukum Mistik yang mulia, memberi inspirasi dan kesedaran kepada rakan-rakan kita, juga turut memberikan harapan dan semangat. Suara kita berupaya mencergaskan semula kehidupan orang lain.

Dialog dan dorongan mungkin tidak menarik perhatian, tetapi mempunyai kuasa yang amat kuat. Dialog dan dorongan mampu menyatupadukan hati manusia dan merupakan tindakan yang realistik untuk kosen-rufu. Dialog demi dialog, dorongan demi dorongan – usaha ini mampu menjalinkan hubungan agama Buddha yang tidak terkira jumlahnya. Mengembang dan mengumpulkan ikatan yang baik ini adalah formula yang abadi untuk pengembangan kosen-rufu.

Sebenarnya, apa yang dilakukan oleh Presiden SGI, Encik Daisaku Ikeda dalam sebahagian besar daripada hidupnya ialah mengadakan dialog dan memberi dorongan. Encik Ikeda berkata bahawa hidupnya adalah berasaskan dialog dan “sebahagian besar daripada masa saya dihabiskan dengan memberi dorongan dan sokongan kepada orang lain.”(1)

Memanglah menjadi keyakinan Presiden Ikeda bahawa setiap dialog membantu mengembangkan hubungan agama Buddha dan mewujudkan keamanan. Selagi kita tidak henti- henti mengadakan dialog, selagi itulah kita pasti akan menerokai satu jalan besar yang indah untuk kewujudan bersama umat manusia.

Presiden Ikeda telah memberi dorongan kepada bilangan orang yang tidak terkira jumlahnya di seluruh dunia. Sepanjang hidup beliau, Encik Ikeda mendedikasikan sepenuh hidupnya kepada kosen-rufu, beliau telah berusaha dengan tidak mengenal penat lelah untuk mengadakan dialog dengan pemimpin-pemimpin dunia dan golongan intelektual yang terkemuka dari seluruh dunia, bilangannya melebihi 7,000 orang.

Nichiren Daishonin pernah berkata bahawa: “Musim dingin sentiasa akan bertukar menjadi musim bunga” (WND-1, hlm. 536) untuk memberi dorongan kepada biarawati Myoichi, yang berbadan lemah dan kehilangan suaminya. Dorongan mesra yang tidak terhingga ini pasti memberi kekuatan yang besar kepadanya. Ungkapan ini, “musim dingin sentiasa bertukar menjadi musim bunga” seperti yang dinyatakan oleh Presiden Ikeda, “akan terus memberi harapan yang tidak terhingga kepada berbilion-bilion manusia di seluruh dunia yang mencari kebahagiaan sejati.”(2) Ini menunjukkan bahawa kata-kata perangsang berupaya membantu untuk menyerlahkan kuasa yang hebat dan mencipta nilai yang besar!

Masyarakat kita adalah masyarakat yang teruk dilanda pandemik, dan di sekeliling, kita melihat manusia yang bermasalah dan terbeban. Marilah kita menghapuskan rasa tidak tenteram dan dukacita di hati manusia melalui dialog dan dorongan, menyerlahkan semangat juang yang kental dari dalaman hidup kita, dan memperluas solidariti harapan, kemenangan dan Soka (penciptaan nilai)!

(1) FLOW No. 649 bertarikh 01.04.2017, hlm. 11 / SGI Newsletter No. 9371 bertarikh 18.03.2016.
(2) SGI Newsletter No. 9095 bertarikh 25.09.2014.

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