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March 2020

In This Issue

From SGM General Director

The Boundless Benefits of Making Sincere Offerings
For the sake of fostering capable global citizens, SGM has decided to build the Soka International School (SIS) in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

Sumbangan Kewangan yang Ikhlas Membawa kepada Rezeki yang Tidak Terbatas
Dengan matlamat untuk memupuk dan mendidik warga dunia yang berkebolehan, SGM telah membuat keputusan untuk membina Sekolah Internasional Soka (SIS) di Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

From SGI President

Our Soka Districts Embody the Assembly on Eagle Peak by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

SGI Honorary Women’s Leader’s Message

Shine as Bright Suns of Kosen-rufu by SGI Honorary Women’s Leader Kaneko Ikeda

Financial Offerings Special Feature

The Significance of Our Financial Offerings Campaigns by COSMIC Editorial Board

Gosho Passages on the Spirit of Offerings

President Ikeda’s Guidance on Making Offerings

Feature

The Brilliant Path of Worldwide Kosen-rufu: Learning from The New Human Revolution Commentary on Volume 13 by SGI Vice-President Hiromasa Ikeda

Chapter Summary for Volume 13 of The New Human Revolution from the Seikyo Shimbun

“Unforgettable Scenes” – Key Episodes from Volume 13 from the Seikyo Shimbun

Excerpts from Nichiren’s Writings of Volume 13 from the Seikyo Shimbun

Guidance

Confidently Sharing Our Ideals and Convictions with Others by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

Halaman Kanak-Kanak

Kumarajiva – Menterjemah Ajaran Buddha

Experience

Inheriting My Father’s Spirit Irene Qua Lee Cheng, Kuala Lumpur

Art

Yusoff Osman:“Is it abstract? Abstract is it?” by Cosmic and Chung Li

News

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Mentor and Disciple

With the Heart of a Lion King 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.

For the sake of fostering capable global citizens, SGM has decided to build the Soka International School (SIS) in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

When this was announced, members nationwide rejoiced. Upon learning that another institution devoted to realising Soka education and fostering capable people who will contribute towards the happiness of humanity and world peace would be built, members and leaders were overjoyed.

To complete this once-in-a-lifetime great endeavour in education, SGM will hold a special financial offerings campaign that will span six sessions over three years, beginning this April.

The benefits from making sincere offerings is truly immeasurable. The Lotus Sutra states: “The benefits one gains thereby will be such that even the buddha wisdom could never finish calculating their extent.” (LSOC23, pg 328) How immeasurable and boundless are the benefits of making offerings, that even the Buddha’s wisdom is unable to calculate them. The benefits accrue not only to ourselves. Nichiren Daishonin teaches: “The benefits from this will extend to your parents, your grandparents…” (WND-1, pg 533) Our family members and also future generations will receive benefits.

As the benefits of making financial offerings are so great, we hope not one of our members will be left behind during this campaign. Let everyone accumulate great good fortune. The current economic situation is gloomy and the Covid-19 outbreak are also affecting many businesses as well. However, as long as we uphold sincere faith, make a firm determination and strive against all obstacles, we will be able to attain boundless good fortune and advance towards the path of Buddhahood.

SGI President Daisaku Ikeda said: “The ‘time’ is important in the development of kosen-rufu…By striving wholeheartedly in our practice, without ever missing the ‘time,’ the crucial moment, we will be able to fulfil our mission and attain Buddhahood in this lifetime.”(1)

Now at this time when SGM is building the SIS, we hope our members will seize the rare opportunity at this wonderful time to lend a hand towards the realisation of this great endeavour in education.

Looking back at the establishment of the SGM Culture Centre (1988), Tadika Seri Soka (1995), Wisma Kebudayaan SGM (2001) and the SGI Asia Culture and Education Centre (2016), members who took part in the financial offering campaigns then were glad they had the opportunity. Their meritorious deeds have become for them “the only memory of [their] present life in this human world” (WND-1, pg 64) and a golden memory.

President Ikeda believes that building humanity is the noblest endeavour, and that fostering our children is building the future. Thus, he regards education as a most noble endeavour and had declared that education will be the final undertaking of his life.

Education is indubitably the foundation of human happiness and driving force for creating peace. From this perspective, the ultimate aim of education and kosen-rufu are one and the same.

Let us embrace the ironclad unity of many in body, one in mind and strive to ensure the completion of the SIS in 2023, and create history from moment to moment!

(1) Daisaku Ikeda, The New Human Revolution, vol. 26, chapter 4 “Bold Advance.”

Dengan matlamat untuk memupuk dan mendidik warga dunia yang berkebolehan, SGM telah membuat keputusan untuk membina Sekolah Internasional Soka (SIS) di Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

Apabila diumumkan, ahli di seluruh negara bergembira. Setelah mendapati bahawa satu lagi institusi yang akan berdedikasi untuk merealisasikan pendidikan Soka dan memupuk serta mendidik orang yang berkebolehan yang akan memberi sumbangan kepada kebahagiaan manusia dan keamanan dunia akan dibina, para ahli dan pemimpin SGM sangat gembira.

Untuk menyempurnakan usaha besar dalam bidang pendidikan yang sekali sahaja dalam hayat ini, SGM akan mengadakan kempen sumbangan kewangan khas untuk enam sesi dalam masa tiga tahun, bermula dari bulan April ini.

Rezeki yang diperoleh daripada sumbangan kewangan yang ikhlas benar-benar tidak terhingga. Sutra Teratai ada menyatakan: “Manfaat yang diperoleh oleh seseorang itu akan menjadi suatu takat yang tidak akan selesai dikira walaupun dengan kearifan Buddha sekali pun.” (LSOC23, hlm. 328) Betapa tidak terhingga dan terbatasnya rezeki yang diperoleh daripada memberi sumbangan kewangan, hingga kearifan Buddha juga tidak berupaya untuk mengiranya.

Rezeki yang diperoleh bukan terhad kepada kita sendiri sahaja. Nichiren Daishonin mengajar: “Rezeki daripada sumbangan ini bukan sahaja akan dilanjutkan kepada ibu bapa tetapi juga kepada datuk dan nenek anda.…” (WND-1, hlm. 533) Ahli keluarga kita dan juga generasi yang akan datang juga akan turut menikmati rezeki.

Rezeki hasil daripada memberi sumbangan kewangan sangat menakjubkan, kita berharap agar tiada seorang pun ahli kita yang akan tertinggal semasa kempen ini diadakan. Biarkanlah setiap orang berpeluang mengumpul rezeki yang besar. Keadaan ekonomi semasa adalah suram dan wabak Covid-19 juga memberi tamparan terhadap banyak perniagaan. Namun begitu, selagi kita berpegang pada kepercayaan agama yang tulus ikhlas, mempunyai azam yang teguh dan berusaha menentang segala aral yang melintang, selagi itulah kita akan dapat memperoleh rezeki yang tidak terbatas dan mara menuju laluan Alam Buddha.

Presiden SGI, Encik Daisaku Ikeda berkata: “‘Waktu’ adalah penting dalam perkembangan kosen-rufu…Berusaha gigih dengan sepenuh hati dalam amalan kita, tanpa melepaskan satu pun ‘waktu,’ detik yang sangat penting, kita akan mampu menunaikan misi kita dan mencapai Alam Buddha dalam hayat ini.”(1)

Sekarang, pada masa ini, apabila SGM sedang membina SIS, kita berharap agar ahliahli kita akan merebut peluang yang jarang ada pada masa yang indah ini untuk menghulurkan sokongan ke arah merealisasikan usaha besar dalam bidang pendidikan ini.

Menyingkap kembali pembinaan Pusat Kebudayaan SGM (1988), Tadika Seri Soka (1995), Wisma Kebudayaan SGM (2001) and the Pusat Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Asia SGI (2016), para ahli yang mengambil bahagian dalam kempen sumbangan kewangan pada ketika itu gembira mereka berpeluang berbuat demikian. Bagi mereka, tindakan yang terpuji ini telah “kekal sebagai satu-satunya memori dalam hayat semasa [mereka] di dunia ini.” (WND-1, hlm. 64) dan juga suatu ingatan keemasan.

Presiden Ikeda percaya bahawa pembinaan kemanusiaan adalah usaha yang paling luhur dan memupuk serta mendidk anakanak kita adalah usaha untuk membina masa hadapan. Oleh yang demikan, beliau menganggap pendidikan sebagai usaha yang paling luhur dan telah mengumumkan bahawa pendidikan akan menjadi usaha yang terakhir dalam hayatnya.

Tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa pendidikan adalah asas kebahagiaan manusia dan daya penggerak untuk mewujudkan keamanan. Daripada perspektif ini, matlamat muktamad pendidikan dan kosen-rufu adalah satu dan sama.

Marilah kita mewujudkan perpaduan yang utuh, sekukuh besi, bersatu padu dalam banyak tubuh tetapi satu hati dan berusaha untuk memastikan penyudahan SIS dalam tahun 2023, dan mencipta sejarah dari satu detik ke satu detik!

(1) Daisaku Ikeda, The New Human Revolution, jil. 26, bab 4 “Bold Advance.”

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