SGI-USA Vice General Director Ian McIlraith wrote, in the 1 October World Tribune, about his perspective on SGI President Ikeda's discussion of prospects for the SGI-USA in the 21st century. President Ikeda had met with several top SGI-USA leaders on February 13th in Tokyo.
Mr. McI, deeply pondering President Ikeda's guidance and chanting abundant daimoku, came to the realization, he says, that the keys to the success of SGI-USA are daimoku and caring for the members. Or, as SGI leader Matilda Buck called it, 'Soka Care'.
But what, exactly, IS Soka Care? Some seem to think that it's visiting members at their home, doing gongyo with them, encouraging them to participate in activities, engaging them in dialog. This has been the SGI-USA mantra for years. Is it working? The slow growth of the PG area seems to indicate that it is not. The faces at kosenrufu gongyo each month are very familiar. Old friends greet old friends. Members have their favorite spot to sit. But maybe I shouldn't 'speak' for the area but, instead, look at the Bowie district. Are we growing? Not really. How come? That's the 64,000 dollar question. Our district chief isn't around much. This isn't necessarily a problem except that a crucial link with the SGI-USA heirarchy may be broken. This can't be a good thing. Maybe we're not on the receiving end of the much vaunted Soka Care.
Here are some questions that merit discussion:
1. What do the members expect from the leaders?
2. What kind of discussion meetings should we have? Can we expect members to prepare for the meeting?
3. How can we genuinely promote study?
4. How can the membership be invigorated to participate?
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Sunday, September 26, 2004
The Need for Philosophy
In a recent Living Buddhism interview with philosopher and author of 'Plato, not Prozac' Lou Marinoff, Mr. Marinoff explains his view.
Everybody has a philosophy of life, he says, but if you ask people what their philosophy of life is, most peolpe don't know. If they don't know what their own beliefs are, then they're blind. They're stumbling through life. The purpose of dialog, then, would be to remove the blindfold.
He says that all of us are going to experience things that are not pleasant. We know this, and yet the question remains, "What do you do with it?" Buddhism is so valuable because it teaches us to let go, to disown these harmful things. We don't have to act on our inpulses, we don't have to act on our anger. We can disown them.
But before we can disown them, we have to own them; sit and see where they come from and how to let them go, then you can disown them.
People need to have more opportunity to understrand how to deal with circumstances. Many teachings exist for handling success, but not many good teachings exist for handling failure.
Buddhism is different from other major religions by its compatibility with them all, whereas they're not compatible with each other. In Buddhism we find people who come from Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and other traditions. Buddhism is not contending against anything - it's embracing humanity.
Everybody has a philosophy of life, he says, but if you ask people what their philosophy of life is, most peolpe don't know. If they don't know what their own beliefs are, then they're blind. They're stumbling through life. The purpose of dialog, then, would be to remove the blindfold.
He says that all of us are going to experience things that are not pleasant. We know this, and yet the question remains, "What do you do with it?" Buddhism is so valuable because it teaches us to let go, to disown these harmful things. We don't have to act on our inpulses, we don't have to act on our anger. We can disown them.
But before we can disown them, we have to own them; sit and see where they come from and how to let them go, then you can disown them.
People need to have more opportunity to understrand how to deal with circumstances. Many teachings exist for handling success, but not many good teachings exist for handling failure.
Buddhism is different from other major religions by its compatibility with them all, whereas they're not compatible with each other. In Buddhism we find people who come from Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and other traditions. Buddhism is not contending against anything - it's embracing humanity.
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Destined to Triumph
The conclusion of President Ikeda's address at the 40th Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders meeting appears in the 3 September World Tribune.
After some remarks about the growth of the SGI in several small island communties, he paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King.
He then talked about a book by Giuseppe Mazzini, a leader of the 19th century movement for Italian independence and unity, in which he chronicled the betrayal of youth who had been fighting for justice and liberty. Mazzini called upon the youth of Italy to fight and win.
Nichiren Daishonin states, "It is not one's allies but one's powerful enemies who assist one's progress". Only by struggling against opposing forces can we grow stronger.
Mazzini also stated to never give in to despair or dejection. What matters is the present and, even more importantly, the future.
Mazzini further states, "There can be ... no possible violation of the laws that rule the universe." Nothing in the universe, President Ikeda says, is a match for us since we uphold the Mystic Law and are dedicated to truth and justice.
After some words about SUA, President Ikeda encourages us to live courageously and live victorius lives.
After some remarks about the growth of the SGI in several small island communties, he paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King.
He then talked about a book by Giuseppe Mazzini, a leader of the 19th century movement for Italian independence and unity, in which he chronicled the betrayal of youth who had been fighting for justice and liberty. Mazzini called upon the youth of Italy to fight and win.
Nichiren Daishonin states, "It is not one's allies but one's powerful enemies who assist one's progress". Only by struggling against opposing forces can we grow stronger.
Mazzini also stated to never give in to despair or dejection. What matters is the present and, even more importantly, the future.
Mazzini further states, "There can be ... no possible violation of the laws that rule the universe." Nothing in the universe, President Ikeda says, is a match for us since we uphold the Mystic Law and are dedicated to truth and justice.
After some words about SUA, President Ikeda encourages us to live courageously and live victorius lives.