It is now that decides the next 50 years! – SGI Taiwan, Jan 2012 (Reader's Contribution)
(This article is based on the readings of the Jan 2012 issue of
the “Fortune”(福运) magazine, a
monthly publication from SGI Taiwan)
It was a truly encouraging start of the year for SGI Taiwan, where the present General Director, Mr. Lin Zhao, published his 1st article of the year to launch this entire year of events and activities with a sublime sense of purpose and mission. What could be a better start for SGI Taiwan, whom embraced itself with its 50th anniversary of kosen-rufu?
Just before the start of the year, SGI Taiwan achieved a momentous victory in holding a district general meeting across an approximately 700 districts in Taiwan, achieving a passionate gathering of close to 300,000 in attendance. The district general meeting is an amalgamation of passion of the youth and the rock-solid experiences of the adults, imbued with the spirit of passing the baton of kosen-rufu from the parents to their children, from the predecessors to the successors who excelled the predecessors. The feedbacks received from the district general meeting were that nothing less of touching, tremendous joy and a deep sense of gratitude. Feedbacks such as “a religious meeting unlike that of other faiths, that is so filled with hope, joy and warmth”, “after encountering this organization of faith, I have become even more clear and filled with convictions regarding my problems or my goals.”A beautiful drama of passion and humanism indeed!
Mr. Lin Zhao quoted SGI President Ikeda’s guidance as follows: “Nothing moves the heart more than seriousness and true sincerity from the heart. It is a “heart” that can move another “heart”. It is a “life” that can resonate with another “life”.”Mr. Lin Zhao also shared that, “It is only by thoroughly cherishing the people directly in contact with us, treating them with utmost sincerity, can we bring about the re-vitalization within the lives of these people. What was transmitted to another person via our words, was none other than the “heart”. If we are lacking in our “heart” during our communications, no matter how good our words might seem, it is difficult to resonate and establish a common understanding with the other person. However, though our words might be simple, but when imbued with utmost sincerity towards the person, such words might become the words that arose great convictions in this person’s life.” How wonderful Mr. Lin Zhao’s insight is! And how wonderful that such fundamental became the foundation of SGI Taiwan’s advance in this year of 2012!
Mr. Lin Zhao continues by sharing the primary focus for SGI Taiwan in this year. He shared, “Expansion of the youth, expansion through shakubuku (through the propagation of Nichiren Buddhism) is the cornerstone of all activities for SGI Taiwan this year. Because of shakubuku, it places even greater importance in the area of guidance based on faith. It is only natural that the faith of our new believers would be shaken easily or developed doubts, especially in the midst of practicing among people who do not yet support their practice of faith. Hence we must be patient, sincere and manifest a heart filled with warmth to carry out dialogue and communication with them, to the extent of standing in that person’s circumstances to embrace and understand the new believers. It is by such continuous dialogue, again and again, that accumulates to form the foundation of deep faith and conviction within the new believers. At the same time, we should encourage these new believers to participate in our organizational groups such as Byakuren, Young Men’s Logistics Group (also known as the Young Lions in the context of Singapore) etc. where the new believers can be fostered to be even more excellent successors that their predecessors. This is in line with the spirit of emulating the growth which their predecessors had received and is also the traditional spirit within this organization of faith. “
Again, Mr Lin Zhao continued, “New momentum and thrust is the source of all new developments. A true victor is a capable person who continues to develop even more capable people that exceed his or her capabilities. To continue to have dialogues with our new members, taking action together, mutually inspiring and advancing together, walking together to show great actual proofs in our lives, thus developing independent faith. This should be the real and true results of propagation.”
Mr Lin Zhao continued to substantiate with SGI President Ikeda’s guidance, sharing “The relationship of shakubuku and fostering capable people are liken to be the 2 wheels of a car. Only when the 2 wheels move concurrently in the same direction, then can kosen-rufu advance.” “Once we have decided to shakubuku, we must never allow ourselves to be defeated. What is faith? It is none other than conviction, decisiveness and action.”
Mr Lin Zhao then shared the Yamaguchi Campaign which SGI President personally went all out with his entire life, embracing the unshakeable ichinen of absolute victory, based on the spirit of “concrete action”, “all-out shakubuku” and “conducting absolutely convincing dialogues” to achieve an unprecedented victory in the short span of 22 days.” Hence when leaders stagnate, it will impede the advancement of kosen-rufu. As predecessors, we have to persist even more with our seeking spirit, send out 10 times more the spirit of advancement and growth, pray and take action together with our new members.In the same spirit of seriousness and action, this is how SGI Taiwan will embark in this Year of “Year of Developing a Youthful SGI.”
The conclusion from Mr Lin Zhao was profound yet heart-warming, stating that to pioneer kosen-rufu which the predecessors had undertaken was indeed arduous, but to sustain and transmit the pioneering spirit of the organization without the slightest deviation is even more daunting. Youth! It is now the time to stand up and advance valiantly, towards the next 50 years of kosen-rufu, proudly proclaiming and practicing based on our mentor’s words.
What an inspiring and touching article, the roar of a lion’s cub, the conviction of a true disciple of our mentor! Let’s really learn from such a true disciple!
Thanks for reading, and do look out for our next article, reporting more on what the true disciples of our mentor, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, are boldly and valiantly advancing kosen-rufu on our mentor’s behalf!
It was a truly encouraging start of the year for SGI Taiwan, where the present General Director, Mr. Lin Zhao, published his 1st article of the year to launch this entire year of events and activities with a sublime sense of purpose and mission. What could be a better start for SGI Taiwan, whom embraced itself with its 50th anniversary of kosen-rufu?
Just before the start of the year, SGI Taiwan achieved a momentous victory in holding a district general meeting across an approximately 700 districts in Taiwan, achieving a passionate gathering of close to 300,000 in attendance. The district general meeting is an amalgamation of passion of the youth and the rock-solid experiences of the adults, imbued with the spirit of passing the baton of kosen-rufu from the parents to their children, from the predecessors to the successors who excelled the predecessors. The feedbacks received from the district general meeting were that nothing less of touching, tremendous joy and a deep sense of gratitude. Feedbacks such as “a religious meeting unlike that of other faiths, that is so filled with hope, joy and warmth”, “after encountering this organization of faith, I have become even more clear and filled with convictions regarding my problems or my goals.”A beautiful drama of passion and humanism indeed!
Mr. Lin Zhao quoted SGI President Ikeda’s guidance as follows: “Nothing moves the heart more than seriousness and true sincerity from the heart. It is a “heart” that can move another “heart”. It is a “life” that can resonate with another “life”.”Mr. Lin Zhao also shared that, “It is only by thoroughly cherishing the people directly in contact with us, treating them with utmost sincerity, can we bring about the re-vitalization within the lives of these people. What was transmitted to another person via our words, was none other than the “heart”. If we are lacking in our “heart” during our communications, no matter how good our words might seem, it is difficult to resonate and establish a common understanding with the other person. However, though our words might be simple, but when imbued with utmost sincerity towards the person, such words might become the words that arose great convictions in this person’s life.” How wonderful Mr. Lin Zhao’s insight is! And how wonderful that such fundamental became the foundation of SGI Taiwan’s advance in this year of 2012!
Mr. Lin Zhao continues by sharing the primary focus for SGI Taiwan in this year. He shared, “Expansion of the youth, expansion through shakubuku (through the propagation of Nichiren Buddhism) is the cornerstone of all activities for SGI Taiwan this year. Because of shakubuku, it places even greater importance in the area of guidance based on faith. It is only natural that the faith of our new believers would be shaken easily or developed doubts, especially in the midst of practicing among people who do not yet support their practice of faith. Hence we must be patient, sincere and manifest a heart filled with warmth to carry out dialogue and communication with them, to the extent of standing in that person’s circumstances to embrace and understand the new believers. It is by such continuous dialogue, again and again, that accumulates to form the foundation of deep faith and conviction within the new believers. At the same time, we should encourage these new believers to participate in our organizational groups such as Byakuren, Young Men’s Logistics Group (also known as the Young Lions in the context of Singapore) etc. where the new believers can be fostered to be even more excellent successors that their predecessors. This is in line with the spirit of emulating the growth which their predecessors had received and is also the traditional spirit within this organization of faith. “
Again, Mr Lin Zhao continued, “New momentum and thrust is the source of all new developments. A true victor is a capable person who continues to develop even more capable people that exceed his or her capabilities. To continue to have dialogues with our new members, taking action together, mutually inspiring and advancing together, walking together to show great actual proofs in our lives, thus developing independent faith. This should be the real and true results of propagation.”
Mr Lin Zhao continued to substantiate with SGI President Ikeda’s guidance, sharing “The relationship of shakubuku and fostering capable people are liken to be the 2 wheels of a car. Only when the 2 wheels move concurrently in the same direction, then can kosen-rufu advance.” “Once we have decided to shakubuku, we must never allow ourselves to be defeated. What is faith? It is none other than conviction, decisiveness and action.”
Mr Lin Zhao then shared the Yamaguchi Campaign which SGI President personally went all out with his entire life, embracing the unshakeable ichinen of absolute victory, based on the spirit of “concrete action”, “all-out shakubuku” and “conducting absolutely convincing dialogues” to achieve an unprecedented victory in the short span of 22 days.” Hence when leaders stagnate, it will impede the advancement of kosen-rufu. As predecessors, we have to persist even more with our seeking spirit, send out 10 times more the spirit of advancement and growth, pray and take action together with our new members.In the same spirit of seriousness and action, this is how SGI Taiwan will embark in this Year of “Year of Developing a Youthful SGI.”
The conclusion from Mr Lin Zhao was profound yet heart-warming, stating that to pioneer kosen-rufu which the predecessors had undertaken was indeed arduous, but to sustain and transmit the pioneering spirit of the organization without the slightest deviation is even more daunting. Youth! It is now the time to stand up and advance valiantly, towards the next 50 years of kosen-rufu, proudly proclaiming and practicing based on our mentor’s words.
What an inspiring and touching article, the roar of a lion’s cub, the conviction of a true disciple of our mentor! Let’s really learn from such a true disciple!
Thanks for reading, and do look out for our next article, reporting more on what the true disciples of our mentor, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, are boldly and valiantly advancing kosen-rufu on our mentor’s behalf!