SGI Canada Newsletter, No. 112 - August 23, 2024
SGI Canada Newsletter
Issue no. 112
August 23, 2024
Welcome to the 112th 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
“The Great Light of Pacifism Illuminating the World”
In his September 2024 editorial in Daibyakurenge, Soka Gakkai President Harada writes about President Toda and President Ikeda’s determination for peace:
Today’s Soka Gakkai was founded on two pillars. The first is the selfless dedication of the first three presidents to propagate Nichiren Buddhism, and the second is the philosophy of profound respect for life that underlies the denunciation of nuclear weapons as an absolute evil, articulated by second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda in his declaration calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons. In that declaration, which President Toda delivered on September 8, 1957, at Yokohama’s Mitsuzawa Stadium, he entrusted young people with the task of eradicating all nuclear weapons, calling this the foremost of his instructions for the future.
I was a first-year high school student at the time, and my older brother had taken me with him to that event. I didn’t really understand the weight of the declaration at first, but as the years have passed I have come to realize that this event has an ever-greater significance for humanity. This is entirely due to the extraordinary efforts of President Ikeda, who was determined to realize his mentor’s will.
“Nothing is more barbarous than war. Nothing is more cruel.”
“Nothing is more precious than peace. Nothing brings more happiness.”
These opening lines from The Human Revolution and The New Human Revolution respectively perfectly express President Ikeda’s firm commitment to peace.
The complete editorial will appear in the October 2024 New Century.
News
SGI Canada members at North American Study Conference
Ten SGI Canada members are participating in the annual SGI-USA North America Study Conference at the Florida Nature and Culture Centre (FNCC) from August 22 to August 25.
SGI Study Department Leader Seiichiro Harada will be lecturing on “The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life” and “The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings.” The Canadian participants will have an opportunity to meet separately with Mr. Harada during the conference. Additionally, the seven Youth Division members in the Canadian group will attend a special Youth Division meeting with Mr. Harada.
Men’s Group General Meetings
Men’s group General Meetings will be held throughout August and September with the theme of “Building Strong Connections Through Dialogue”.
In his message published in the August New Century, SGI Canada Men’s Leader, Ian Mattinson, highlights Sensei’s guidance from volume 21 of The New Human Revolution:
Human revolution is the decisive step for realizing lasting peace and happiness and is the kind of revolution sought by people the world over (The New Human Revolution, Vol. 21, "SGI" chapter, p. 45)
Please ask your local leaders about the Men’s Group General Meeting closest to you.
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.
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.
A podcast introducing this lecture is available on the SGI Canada website at:
https://www.sgicanada.org/activities/podcast-sgi-canada-level-2-study-exam
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 5 September, 2024. See you then!