SGI Canada Newsletter, No. 117 -November 1, 2024
SGI Canada Newsletter
Issue no. 117
November 1, 2024
Welcome to the 117th 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
Stand Up with the Resolve, “I Am the Soka Gakkai!”
In his editorial in the November issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai monthly study journal, Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada describes how President Toda and President Ikeda respectively dealt with the passing of their mentor:
Through their selfless struggles to spread the Mystic Law, the Soka Gakkai’s three founding presidents paved the way forward, demonstrating that obstacles are a springboard to enlightenment. As Nichiren Daishonin writes, “Difficulties will arise, and these are to be looked on as ‘peaceful’ practices” (OTT, 115).
On November 18 this year, we will mark the 80th anniversary of President Tsunesaburo Makiguchi’s death in prison for his beliefs. At the ceremony observing the first anniversary of his death, his successor Josei Toda proclaimed: “I unequivocally declare that I will carry out kosen-rufu, even if I have to do it alone.” Then, on the third memorial (second anniversary), with tears in his eyes, he said: “In your vast and boundless compassion, you let me accompany you even to prison” and “Could there be any greater happiness than this?”
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In a speech at the Autumn Headquarters General Meeting held on November 8, 1959, the year after Mr. Toda’s death, President Ikeda stressed that it was the time following the mentor’s death that was important: “Earnestly and thoroughly communicating and putting President Toda’s guidance into practice is the genuine Soka Gakkai spirit and our true mission as Bodhisattvas of the Earth.”
At that meeting, the establishment of the Hiroshima Chapter was announced. Four days later, President Ikeda went to Hiroshima, which Mr. Toda had hoped to visit but was never able to. There he attended the chapter’s inaugural meeting and wholeheartedly encouraged the members in his mentor’s place. This is the attitude of a genuine disciple.
The complete editorial can be found in the December 2024 issue of New Century.
News
SGI Canada Men’s Group General Meetings
The following article and photograph were published in the October 21 2024 edition of Seikyo Shimbun:
Gatherings commemorating “Men’s Division Day” were held in August and September in various places in Canada. The gathering for Calgary Area was held on September 14 at the Calgary Community Centre and online. There was a cello performance by a representative, and SGI Canada Men’s Group Leader, Ian Mattinson encouraged everyone to engage in heart to heart dialogues in their communities.
Golden Memories on the Journey of Mentor and Disciple: Niagara Falls, Canada (part 1)
Seikyo Shimbun is featuring a series of articles on places in the world mentioned by Ikeda Sensei in his writings. In an article which appeared on October 24 2024, Sensei’s visit to Niagara Falls is described. Here is the first part of that article (we will include the rest of the article in the next editions of the SGI Canada Newsletter).
Canada, the second largest country in the world, is blessed with an abundance of beautiful natural settings. Ikeda Sensei first visited this country on October 11th, 1960. During his first overseas trip for peace, which started on the 2nd of the same month, Sensei visited Toronto with several objectives in mind including the wish to observing local conditions in Canada.
At the time, there were no SGI members living in Canada. One woman who was not a member greeted Sensei at the airport. After receiving a letter from her mother, a Soka Gakkai member in Japan, she welcomed the group as a way to show appreciation to her mother. Sensei expressed his heartfelt appreciation to her and warmly encouraged her, thinking her mother must be worried about her too.
Two years later, she joined the SGI and soon developed into the central figure for kosen-rufu in Canada, holding various important responsibilities in that country’s SGI organization. Together with her children and later, her husband whom she introduced, she strove in faith for a harmonious family and spread the network of happiness across the county.
On October 12th, 1960, Sensei visited Niagara Falls, one of the world’s three largest waterfalls. Composed of three waterfalls, the Canadian Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, the Canadian Falls is over 50m high and 675m wide. Near the falls, a thunderous, almost earth-shattering roar of the falls can be heard. Under the clear blue sky, the mist from the crashing water danced into the air, creating a vivid rainbow. Sensei said with deep feeling to the accompanying youth, “The rainbow above this waterfall would disappear in an instant if the flow of water were to stop. Similarly, the rainbow of hope in our lives shines only when we advance energetically toward kosen-rufu.” (The New Human Revolution vol. 1, 183) Some years later, this day was designated as “SGI Canada Day” and has been an indestructible prime point for members.
(To be continued)
Upcoming events
Level 2 Study Exam
The SGI Canada Level 2 Study Exam can be written online anytime up to the end of the day on Sunday November 3.
If you are eligible, you can still register for the exam by completing the short form at: https://forms.gle/mBu4gexhoC6yYEyb8. Anyone who passed the SGI Canada 2019 Basics Exam or the SGI Canada 2023 Introductory Exam is eligible to write the Level 2 exam. Anyone wishing to write the exam must first register.
Please let your district leader know that you have registered. If you are eligible, your district leader will be able to give you the link to the online exam.
In-person exam, Mount Pleasant District, Toronto East Area
In-person exam, Unity and Capital District, Beautiful Victoria Area
“The Growing Danger of Nuclear War and What We Can Do To Prevent It”
The Soka Education Research Centre on Global Citizenship (SERC-GC) at the University of Guelph-Humber will hold its 7th Annual Lecture on November 18 at 7.00pm Eastern.
The guest speaker will be Dr. Ira Helfand, co-Founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), and member of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). Dr. Helfand will speak on the topic "The Growing Danger Of Nuclear War And What We Can Do To Prevent it."
To register and for more information, please click here.
SGI Canada Online Bookstore Closed in December for Inventory Audit
SGI Canada’s popular Online Bookstore will be closed from December 3 to January 2 for the annual inventory audit. If you are hoping to order books or other items before the end of the year, we encourage you to visit the bookstore as early as possible this month. You can visit the Online Bookstore at: https://sgicanada.myshopify.com/
Thank you for your understanding.
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 November 15, 2024. See you then!