Women’s Division Commemorative Meeting

The theme for the 2007 WD Commemorative Meeting is, “Today, Again, Never Be Defeated”, as announced via SGI-USA memo from Linda Johnson and Barbara Snyder dated 5 Jan 2007.

For the full text of the memo click here.

The memo reads, in part:

“The basic requirement for happiness,” according to SGI President Ikeda, “is the determination not to be defeated, the ability to stand up and fight, no matter what the difficulties or odds.” (New Human Revolution,Vol. 6, p. 246.) He explains when one establishes the state of life in which one is never defeated by trials or suffering, just being alive is a source of the greatest joy. To engrave this lesson in our lives, in 2007 our women’s theme will be:

Today, Again, Never Be Defeated

The crux of “never being defeated” lies in developing an unbreakable spiritual connection to our mentor, President Ikeda. Our mentor provides the standard by which we should challenge ourselves to live every day. We should attempt to orient our lives to his rhythm, to focus on what he is emphasizing at this moment.
We must capture his heart and spirit and then actualize it in our daily actions. President Ikeda explains: “As leaders, it is essential that we cultivate the strength never to be defeated by anything. The starting point for this is the mentor-disciple spirit. Everything hinges on us challenging our own reformation each day so that we grow more today than yesterday and more tomorrow than today.
We, as leaders, must elevate our own life-condition.” (World Tribune, November 17, 2006, Insert p. IV.) This applies, not just to leaders, but to every Myoho Sister in the United States. The challenge is to continually do our own human revolution so that we can prove to others the power of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo through the example of our own lives. This commemorative meeting is an opportunity for us to share Nichiren Buddhism with others while
simultaneously deepening every member’s conviction in the power of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This may be the only chance a guest has to hear about Buddhism. This may also be the meeting that gives people the courage to make a change in their lives. With Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we can transform our lives, we can develop a life condition that is indestructible, and we can become absolutely happy. Every human being desires these things. Therefore, let’s plan a commemorative meeting where every guest
wants to join, every returning member wants to begin practicing again, and every member leaves with a deeper conviction in the power of faith and a deeper understanding of the significance of the mentor/disciple relationship.