Mid-Atlantic Zone Expands

As announced at the Zone Kickoff Meeting on 28 Feb, the Mid-Atlantic Zone has expanded to five regions: Virginia South, Virginia, Capital, Washington DC and Maryland. Region and area leaders were announced during the meeting. Prince George's Area has divided into the Central Area and the Southern Maryland Area of the Capital Region.

PG Central Chapter has divided. Cheverly, Broad River, Fortune and Mt Rainier Districts are in the Central Area. Bowie and Prince George's Districts are in the Southern Maryland Area along with the districts of Potomac Chapter. 

Leadership positions were announced as follows:

Capital Region: MD Ken Hodge; Vice MD Jason Feinman; WD Karen Howe; Vice WD Tina Smith, Jennifer Bryant and Angela Baden; YMD Damien Bryant; YWD Ayanna Wilson.

Southern Maryland Area: MD Mac Ewell; WD Jennifer Bryant; Vice WD Sarah Fultz.

Until chapter and district leaders are announced at the April Kosenrufu Gongyo, we will continue with the current organizational setup. 

Shijo Kingo - Trusted Disciple

The study material for March is the gosho "The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra".

Shijo Kingo was the recipient of this gosho. Shijo lived in Kamakura with his wife and two daughters. As a samurai well versed in medicine and martial arts he was in the service of the Ema family. Lord Ema was a follower of Ryokan, a priest of the True Word Precepts school who bitterly opposed Nichiren Daishonin. Shijo urged Ema to take faith in the Lotus Sutra resulting in a loss of favor with Ema to the point that Ema threatened to confiscate Shijo's fief. Later, Ema grew ill and Shijo was able to nurse him back to health thus restoring Ema's trust. Shijo was granted a fief three times larger than the original one. Even so, out of jealousy and resentment, Shijo's enemies (fellow samurai) attacked him. Shijo escaped unharmed. This letter is a reply to Shijo's report of the attack.

Shijo, recipient of 29 of Nichiren's writings, was a most trusted disciple. He accompanied Nichiren to Tatsunokuchi where Nichiren was to be beheaded. He also visited Nichiren during his exile to Sado. When Nichiren was on his deathbed, Shijo attended him and he participated in his funeral.

October Review

Study is the third leg of Buddhism as practiced by SGI members. Its purpose is to deepen our faith in Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. This year the primary study effort has been the series of lectures by SGI President Ikeda published in Living Buddhism.

 

This week we'll have the October Review 'test'. The review consists of a 40 minute test period followed by a 40 minute self-grading discussion. The purpose is not so much to ace the review but to encourage study of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. There will be three sessions: Fri 7pm at the Cooper's, Sat 10am and Sun 2pm at the Wolpert's. Please plan to participate in one of these sessions.