SGI Canada Newsletter, No. 110 - July 26, 2024
SGI Canada Newsletter
Issue no. 110
July 26, 2024
Welcome to the 110th issue of the SGI Canada Newsletter, a bi-weekly summary of news, upcoming events and encouragement. If you are not subscribing to the SGI Canada Newsletter, you may do so by clicking on the button below. Subscriptions are free of charge, and the SGI Canada Newsletter will be emailed directly to you.
Encouragement
“Nurturing the Future Division and Youth Toward a Century of Peace!”
In his speech to the 3rd Soka Gakkai Headquarters Meeting in Sugamo, Tokyo on June 29 2024, Soka Gakkai President Harada spoke of the importance of the bond with our mentor Daisaku Ikeda, even though we may never have met him in person:
In an essay [in 2001], President Ikeda wrote: “Human revolution is meeting with people. Kosen-rufu is talking with people.”
It is true indeed that “the seeds of Buddhahood sprout through causation” (LSOC2, 75). Exerting ourselves joyously throughout our respective nations, let’s meet with and speak to even one more person and make this a summer where each of us advances in our efforts toward our own human revolution and kosen-rufu.
In the days of his youth, President Ikeda dedicated himself to meeting, encouraging, and training as many members as he could in Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward. He once said to the members there: “There are those who have never spoken with me or met me who are wholeheartedly supporting the Soka Gakkai and striving their hardest. As far as I’m concerned, they have genuine faith.”
This is the essence of the mentor and disciple relationship and the key to building a youthful Soka Gakkai worldwide. It is also in tune with President Ikeda’s message at the third entrance ceremony at Soka University [in 1973], where he declared: “From here on, education will be my central work and preoccupation. I am determined to build the foundation for 30 years after my death.”
By the time the second series of Seven Bells reaches completion in 2050 and the third series of Seven Bells—with the aim of establishing the philosophy of respect for the dignity of life as the spirit of the age and the world—begins, some 30 years will have elapsed since President Ikeda’s death.
Our ability to nurture individuals with genuine faith today, even though they never met with President Ikeda personally, will determine whether great numbers of capable people will emerge at that time, dancing joyfully on the true stage of worldwide kosen-rufu.
Genuine faith can only be polished by genuine faith. Taking President Ikeda’s determination as our vow, let us raise our precious Future Division and youth members into champions of kosen-rufu directly linked to President Ikeda, as we resolutely open the way to a century of peace.
The complete speech will appear in the September 2024 New Century.
News
“Dialogue for Peace” continues
Across Canada, districts are talking this month about the power of one person to create change, as seen in the SGI exhibit “Seeds of Hope and Action” which highlights the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
To view the “Seeds of Hope and Action” exhibit:
https://www.sokaglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/seeds-of-hope-and-action-en.pdf
To find out more about the Sustainable Development Goals:
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/
Changes to Monthly Pre-Authorized Payments (PAP) starting on October 1, 2024
If you are using monthly Pre-Authorized Payments (PAP) to pay for your publication subscriptions or to make financial contributions to SGI Canada, please note that the following changes will take effect on October 1, 2024:
- If you would like to make any changes to your Pre-Authorized Payments for subscriptions or financial contributions (including cancellations) in a particular month, SGI Canada must receive the changes no later than the 1st of that month (previously it was on the 10th of the month).
- Funds for PAP will be withdrawn on the 17th of each month (previously it was on the 28th of the month). If your Pre-Authorized Payment is drawn from a chequing account, and if the 17th falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the bank will process the payment on the next business day.
- If your Pre-Authorized Payment is declined by your bank, you will need to pay the amount owing by either:
- using a valid credit card (this is only for a one-time clear-out of the declined payment)
- mailing a cheque to SGI Canada (at SGI Canada’s National Office in Toronto) to be received within five business days
- If the declined payment is not settled, the PAP agreement will be cancelled, and you will be invited to use your SGI Canada online portal account to continue your subscriptions and make contributions.
We thank you for your continued support and understanding.
Upcoming events
Study Exam in October
Registration
Registration for the SGI Canada Level 2 Study Exam is now open.
The exam will be held on Sunday, October 27, 2024 and will be offered in English, French and Chinese. Everyone who passed the 2019 Basics Exam or the 2023 Level 1 Introductory Exam is eligible to write the Level 2 exam in October.
You can register for the exam by completing the short form at: https://forms.gle/mBu4gexhoC6yYEyb8
or by using the QR Code below:
Anyone wishing to write the exam must first register.
Study Materials
The study materials for the Level 2 Exam are:
- The Basics of Nichiren Buddhism for the New Era of Worldwide Kosen-rufu: chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10
- SGI President Ikeda’s lecture entitled “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land”—Engaging in Dialogues of Hope to Bring Happiness and Peace to All People
PDF File
The Level 2 Exam materials are now available in PDF format with highlighted key passages. You can obtain the PDF file through your local district leaders.
Printed Versions
The Basics of Nichiren Buddhism for the New Era of Worldwide Kosen-rufu is available from the SGI Canada Online Bookstore and local SGI Canada bookstores in English, French and Chinese. It is also available online in English and Chinese at the Soka Gakkai Global website: https://www.sokaglobal.org/resources/study-materials/buddhist-study/the-basics-of-nichiren-buddhism-for-the-new-era-of-worldwide-kosen-rufu.html
President Ikeda’s lecture on the Gosho “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land” is contained in the August issue of NEW CENTURY.
More information about the exam is available on the SGI Canada website at:
https://www.sgicanada.org/activities/sgi-canada-level-2-study-exam
We hope you found this newsletter beneficial. Please email your questions or comments to contact@sgicanada.org. Please note that the next SGI Canada Newsletter will appear on August 9, 2024. See you then!