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September 2020

In This Issue

From SGM General Director

The TPNW Needs to Enter into Force Urgently
August 6 and 9 recently saw the 75th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

TPNW Perlu Berkuatkuasa Segera
Tarikh 6 dan 9 Ogos baru-baru ini merupakan hari ulang tahun ke- 75 Hiroshima dan Nagasaki dimusnahkan dengan bom atom.

From SGI President

Illuminate the World with the Sun of Your Youthful Vow by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

Feature

The Brilliant Path of Worldwide Kosen-rufu: Learning from The New Human Revolution Commentary on Volume 19 by SGI Vice-President Hiromasa Ikeda

Chapter Summary for Volume 19 of The New Human Revolution from the Seikyo Shimbun

“Unforgettable Scenes” – Key Episodes from Volume 19 from the Seikyo Shimbun

Excerpts from Nichiren’s Writings of Volume 19 from the Seikyo Shimbun

The New Human Revolution

“The Treasure of Life” by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

The SGI, an Alliance for Peace by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

Letters from Our Readers

Letters from Our Readers by Bernard Leong, Kuala Lumpur

Halaman Kanak-Kanak

Budak Lelaki Gunung Salji dan Hantu Garang

Experience

Overcoming Fear and Defeating Depression with Faith Julie Chan Yoke Keng, Kuala Lumpur

Art

Dr Cheng Haw Chien – The Consummate Scholar-Artist by Lee Khai

News

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Mentor and Disciple

One Person of Firm Resolve Can Change Everything 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.

August 6 and 9 recently saw the 75th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Though it has been 75 years since these two tragedies, humankind have yet to learn its lesson, and the global nuclear weapons situation is worrying. Nuclear weapon states continue to develop nuclear weapon and are committed to modernising their nuclear arsenal. Currently, there are 13,865 nuclear weapons, and the risk of regional proliferation of nuclear weapons is increasing.

On July 7, 2017, the United Nations (UN) adopted the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) – which makes nuclear weapons illegal – and realised the historic first step in abolishing nuclear weapons.

But in order to enable the TPNW to enter into force, it has to be ratified by 50 countries. Currently, 44 countries have ratified it and we are close to seeing this treaty enter into force.

As SGI President Daisaku Ikeda states in his 2020 Peace Proposal:“TheTPNW goes beyond highlighting how nuclear weapons pose a risk to the security of all humanity…. at the treaty’s heart is a vision of how efforts to advance nuclear disarmament are inextricably linked with and advance the work of creating a world that safeguards human rights and champions gender equality, a world that protects the health of current and future generations, a world that prioritises ecological integrity.”(1)

As an organisation that has creating world peace as its main objective, Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) is actively making efforts to enable Malaysia to ratify the TPNW as soon as possible.

For example, last year in September, SGM held Run for Peace in 28 locations nationwide and issued a peace declaration to the public: “We support the government’s effort to abolish nuclear weapons, including the ratification of the TPNW.”

In February, SGM created the Rakan TPNW Facebook and Instagram pages, increasing the public’s awareness on the threat posed by nuclear weapons.

In addition, SGM has in recent years held the “Everything you Treasure – For a World Free from Nuclear Weapons” (EYT) exhibition, constantly promoting anti-nuclear weapons awareness among the people.

Malaysia’s anti-nuclear weapons stance has always been clear, and is one of the countries actively promoting the abolitions of nuclear weapons, including pursuing the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, expanding nuclear weapons-free zones and supporting UN nuclear disarmament treaties.

At this stage, we hope that our government will exert more effort into resolving legal and technical issues that will allow our country to become one of the first fifty countries to ratify the TPNW, in order to prohibit the use of nuclear weapons and ensure the survival of humankind.

The true nature of nuclear weapons has its roots in the devilish functions that exist in our lives. In the 1950s, second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda made his Declaration Calling for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, exhorting us to fight against the evil, violence, ignorance and prejudice that threaten the dignity of life, and rip out the demonic claws that lie hidden in the very depths of nuclear weapons.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN and the 50th anniversary of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) entering into force. Let us work as one and work to abolish nuclear weapons – before they annihilate us – and create a beautiful future for the survival of humankind.

(1) COSMIC, July 2020, pg 36.

Tarikh 6 dan 9 Ogos baru-baru ini merupakan hari ulang tahun ke- 75 Hiroshima dan Nagasaki dimusnahkan dengan bom atom.

Meskipun 75 tahun sudah berlalu bagi kedua-dua tragedi itu, namun umat manusia masih belum mengambil iktibarnya, dan keadaan ledakan senjata nuklear sekarang sangat membimbangkan. Negara-negara pembuat senjata nuklear terus-menerus mengeluarkan senjata nuklear dan nekad untuk memodenkan gudang senjata nuklear mereka. Pada masa ini terdapat 13,865 senjata nuklear, dan risiko percambahan senjata nuklear serantau semakin meningkat.

Pada 7 Julai 2017, Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (PBB) menerima-pakai Triti Mengenai Pengharaman Senjata Nuklear (TPNW) – yang mengharamkan senjata nuklear – dan mencapai langkah pertama yang bersejarah bagi penghapusan senjata nuklear.

Namun, bagi tujuan penguatkuasaan TPNW, Perjanjian itu hendaklah diratifikasi oleh 50 buah negara. Setakat ini, 44 buah negara sudah berbuat demikian dan kita sudah hampir untuk menyaksikan Perjanjian ini berkuatkuasa.

Seperti yang dinyatakan Presiden SGI, Encik Daisaku Ikeda dalam Usul Keamanan 2020 beliau: “TPNW sebenarnya melangkaui gambaran bagaimana senjata nuklear memberikan risiko terhadap keselamatan umat manusia. …pokok Perjanjian itu ialah wawasan bagaimana semua usaha yang saling berkaitan dilancarkan bagi pelucutan senjata nuklear dan dimajukan langkah membentuk dunia yang melindungi hak manusia dan menjuarai persamaan jantina, dunia yang melindungi kesihatan generasi sekarang dan mendatang, dan dunia yang mengutamakan integriti ekologi.”(1)

Sebagai sebuah pertubuhan yang matlamat utamanya untuk membentuk keamanan sedunia, Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) sedang aktif mengorak langkah membolehkan Malaysia meratifikasi TPNW itu dengan secepat mungkin.

Contohnya, pada bulan September tahun lalu SGM menganjurkan Larian Keamanan (“Run for Peace”) di 28 tempat di seluruh negara dan mengeluarkan sebuah Pengisytiharan Keamanan kepada khalayak ramai: “Kami menyokong usaha kerajaan untuk menghapuskan senjata nuklear, termasuk meratifikasikan TPNW.”

Pada bulan Februari pula SGM membuka laman Facebook dan Instagram Rakan TPNW untuk tujuan mempertingkatkan kesedaran khalayak ramai tentang ancaman senjata nuklear.

Selain itu, dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini SGM telah menganjurkan pameran “Semua yang Anda Hargai – Sebuah Dunia yang Bebas Senjata Nuklear” (EYT) untuk sentiasa mempromosikan kesedaran anti senjata nuklear di kalangan rakyat.

Pendirian Malaysia yang anti senjata nuklear sentiasa jelas dan merupakan salah sebuah negara yang secara aktif mempromosikan penghapusan senjata nuklear, termasuklah usaha menyekat penularan senjata nuklear, memperluas zon bebas senjata nuklear dan menyokong perjanjian- perjanjian pelucutan nuklear anjuran PBB.

Pada peringkat ini kita berharap agar kerajaan kita akan berusaha keras dalam menyelesaikan isu-isu perundangan dan teknikal untuk membolehkan Malaysia menjadikan salah sebuah 50 negara pertama yang meratifikasikan TPNW, supaya senjata nuklear dapat diharamkan demi memastikan kelangsungan hidup umat manusia.

Sifat sebenar senjata nuklear berakar pada fungsi kejahatan yang wujud dalam hidup kita. Dalam tahun-tahun 1950an, presiden kedua Soka Gakkai Encik Josei Toda melancarkan Pengisytiharan Gesaan untuk Menghapuskan Senjata Nuklear, mendorong kita memerangi kejahatan, keganasan, kejahilan dan prejudis yang mengancam maruah hidup kita, serta memusnahkan kuku-kuku syaitan yang bersembunyi sedalam-dalamnya di tengah-tengah senjata nuklear.

Tahun ini menandakan ulang tahun ke-75 penubuhan PBB dan ulang tahun ke-50 berkuatkuasanya Perjanjian Pengawalan Senjata Nuklear (NPT). Marilah kita bekerja keras sebagai sepasukan untuk menghapuskan senjata nuklear – sebelum senjata itu membinasakan kita – dan mewujudkan masa hadapan yang indah bagi kelangsungan hidup umat manusia.

(1) COSMIC, Julai 2020, hlm. 36.

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