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July 2020

In This Issue

From SGM General Director

Illuminating a Society Distressed by the Pandemic
The COVID-19 catastrophe that happened at the start of the year has indeed disrupted the advance of kosen-rufu. The enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) has forced SGM to temporarily suspend all kosen-rufu activities.

Menerangi Masyarakat yangTertekan oleh Pandemik
Bencana COVID-19 yang melanda pada awal tahun ini sesungguhnya sudah menjejaskan perkembangan kosen-rufu. Penguatkuasaan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) menyebabkan SGM menangguhkan semua kegiatan kosen-rufu untuk sementara waktu.

From SGI President

Sending Forth the Brilliant Light of “Establishing the CorrectTeaching for the Peace of the Land” by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

Feature

The Brilliant Path of Worldwide Kosen-rufu: Learning from The New Human Revolution Commentary on Volume 17 by SGI Vice-President Hiromasa Ikeda

Chapter Summary for Volume 17 of The New Human Revolution from the Seikyo Shimbun

“Unforgettable Scenes” – Key Episodes from Volume 17 from the Seikyo Shimbun

Excerpts from Nichiren’s Writings of Volume 17 from the Seikyo Shimbun

Peace Proposal

Towards Our Shared Future: Constructing an Era of Human Solidarity (Part One) by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

Halaman Kanak-Kanak

Sami Abutsu-bo dan Biarawati Sennichi

Experience

Quitting Drugs through Powerful Daimoku! Tan Leong Choy, Selangor

News

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Mentor and Disciple

Buddhism Lives through Action by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

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.

The COVID-19 catastrophe that happened at the start of the year has indeed disrupted the advance of kosen-rufu. The enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) has forced SGM to temporarily suspend all kosen-rufu activities.

Originally, we had set a goal to achieve the shakubuku of 5,000 youths this year; even this has hit a bump.

As SGI President Daisaku Ikeda has pointed out, along our journey of kosen-rufu, devilish functions will appear to obstruct our progress, just like a large boulder rolling down the hill.

This COVID-19 pandemic has not only brought hardship to people worldwide, it has also taken the lives of tens of thousands of people and disrupted the development of kosen-rufu. This is truly the work of devilish functions.

President Ikeda urges us to “never give up in y[our] struggle for kosen-rufu, in carrying out y[our] Buddhist practice, as long as [we] live, no matter what happens or what y[our] situation.”(1)

He tells us: “When we are aware of our mission as Bodhisattvas of the Earth, we can find a way to fight, a way to contribute, no matter what kind of constraints or restrictions limit our actions. We must fight on with wisdom and courage.”(2)

He further added: “Our Buddhist faith and practice enable us to apply our ingenuity so that we can keep making fresh progress and move in the direction of hope, victory, and a new tomorrow.”(3)

On June 28, in commemoration of the 36th anniversary of SGM’s establishment on June 15 – a profoundly significant day – the youth division stood up and took the lead, and organised an online shakubuku kickoff meeting for all leaders nationwide. Over 10,000 leaders responded and participated in this online gathering.

Leaders from each division shared how they came up with ingenious ways to overcome the restrictions they faced, and used social media to carry out shakubuku, resulting in moving experiences.

“It is the heart that is important.” (WND-1, pg 949, 1000) What matters is our heart. Nothing can stop the indomitable spirit of kosen-rufu. Though we are in this arduous situation caused by the pandemic and our own personal challenges, as long as we cherish the spirit for advancing kosen-rufu, carrying out shakubuku and propagating Buddhism, we can definitely give rise to wisdom, break through all limitations and successfully achieve shakubuku.

This pandemic has struck a huge blow on the general populace. Each industry, business and field is affected, with many losing their jobs or taking a pay cut. Some saw their business collapse. There are now more suffering people in society.

As the days get darker, the time has now come for the brilliant light of Nichiren Buddhism to shine ever more.

Now is the time for us to manifest the spirit of compassion, relieve suffering and impart joy, and carry out shakubuku and propagation.

Let us respond to and fully support the youth’s shakubuku movement. Let us once again light up the f lame of shakubuku and illuminate our society, that has been distressed by this pandemic, bringing the light of happiness to those who are suffering.

(1) Daisaku Ikeda, The New Human Revolution, vol. 30, “Awaiting the Time” chapter. SGM booklet no. 118 (2019), pg 21.
(2) Ibid.
(3) Ibid., pg 131–32.

Bencana COVID-19 yang melanda pada awal tahun ini sesungguhnya sudah menjejaskan perkembangan kosen-rufu. Penguatkuasaan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) menyebabkan SGM menangguhkan semua kegiatan kosen-rufu untuk sementara waktu.

Pada mulanya, kita menetapkan matlamat untuk mencapai shakubuku seramai 5,000 orang belia tahun ini; tetapi sasaran ini turut terhalang.

Seperti yang pernah disebut oleh Presiden SGI Encik Daisaku Ikeda, sepanjang perjalanan kosen-rufu kita, fungsi-fungsi syaitan akan muncul menghalang kemajuan kita umpama batu besar mengguling turun dari bukit.

Pandemik COVID-19 bukan sahaja mendatangkan kesusahan kepada semua orang di seluruh dunia, wabak ini juga meragut beratus ribu nyawa manusia dan menjejaskan perkembangan kosen- rufu. Ini sesungguhnya adalah angkara fungsi-fungsi syaitan.

Presiden Ikeda menggesa kita supaya “jangan putus asa dalam perjuangan anda untuk kosen-rufu, dalam melaksanakan amalan- amalan agama Buddha, selagi kita masih hidup, tanpa mengira apa yang terjadi atau apa keadaan anda.”

Kata beliau kepada kita: “Apabila kita sedar akan misi kita sebagai Bodhisatva Bumi, kita akan mencari jalan untuk berjuang, cara memberi sumbangan, tanpa mengira sekatan atau halangan apa yang membataskan tindakan-tindakan kita. Kita mestilah terus berjuang dengan bijaksana dan berani.”(1)

Beliau selanjutnya kata bahawa: “Kepercayaan dan amalan agama Buddha kita membolehkan kita menggunakan kepintaran kita supaya kita berupaya terus menghasilkan kemajuan baharu dan bergerak menuju ke arah harapan, kejayaan dan hari esok yang baharu.”(2)

Pada 28 Jun, dalam sambutan menyambut ulang tahun ke-36 penubuhan SGM (15 Jun) – suatu hari yang amat penting – bahagian belia bangun dan menerajui dengan mengendalikan perjumpaan permulaan shakubuku dalam talian bagi semua pemimpin di seluruh negara. Lebih 10,000 orang pemimpin menyahut dan menyertai perhimpunan dalam talian ini.

Pemimpin-pemimpin dari setiap bahagian berkongsi pendapat mengenai cara-cara bijak mereka mengatasi halangan- halangan yang dihadapi oleh mereka, dan menggunakan media sosial untuk meneruskan shakubuku yang menghasilkan pengalaman-pengalaman yang mengharukan.

Hatilah yang penting.” (WND-1, hlm. 949, 1000) Apa yang penting ialah hati kita. Tiada ada apa-apa yang berupaya membantutkan semangat gigih kosen-rufu. Meskipun kita berada di dalam keadaan yang sukar akibat pandemik dan cabaran- cabaran peribadi kita, selagi kita menghargai semangat mengembangkan kosen-rufu, melaksanakan shakubuku dan menyebarkan Buddhisme, kita pasti berupaya menghasilkan kebijaksanaan, mematahkan segala halangan dan akhirnya berjaya mencapai shakubuku.

Pandemik telah memberikan tamparan hebat kepada masyarakat umum. Setiap industri, perniagaan dan bidang tergendala, dan ramai yang kehilangan pekerjaan atau menghadapi pemotongan gaji mereka. Ada yang menyaksikan keruntuhan perniagaan mereka. Sekarang terdapat lebih ramai manusia yang menderita dalam masyarakat.

Ketika hari-hari menjadi semakin gelap, masanya sudah tiba bagi cahaya cemerlang Buddhisme Nichiren menyuluh ke seluruh dunia dengan lebih terang lagi.

Sekarang inilah juga waktunya bagi kita mewujudkan semangat belas kasihan, meringankan penderitaan dan mengagihkan keriangan, serta melaksanakan dan menyebarkan shakubuku.

Marilah kita menyahut dan menyokong penuh gerakan shakubuku belia. Marilah kita sekali lagi menyalakan api shakubuku dan menerangi masyarakat kita yang sudah tertekan oleh pandemik ini, membawakan cahaya kebahagiaan kepada mereka yang sedang menderita.

(1) Daisaku Ikeda, The New Human Revolution, jil. 30, bab “Awaiting the Time”. Buku kecil terbitan SGM No. 118 (2019), hlm. 21.
(2) Ibid., hlm. 131–32.

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