Starting with Encouraging A Single Individual (从鼓励一个人开始)
María Inés Minagawa
Argentina
I grew up in a family where both my parents have strong conviction in faith. Never has a day gone by without mentioning a topic related to Mr Ikeda. Whenever my parents came home from a Gakkai activity, they would share with me joyfully on how members experienced lots of benefits due to Mr Ikeda’s ceaseless struggles and encouragement. Under my parents’ influence, I liked Soka Gakkai since my Future Division days.
In 1993, I performed in the World Youth Peace Cultural Festival held in Argentina as a member of the Kotekitai group. I met Mr Ikeda for the first time and that encounter became the prime point of my life. What made me really ecstatic is that last month, Mr Ikeda, in his column under the “Thoughts of Our Paths of Victory”, wrote about his recollection of the 1993 World Youth Peace Cultural Festival and mentioned how he had deep memories of his meeting with me. I was very touched! I would like to thank Mr Ikeda for his love and care.
Currently, I am fighting in the frontline of kosen-rufu movement in Argentina and I clearly appreciate the tremendous struggles of my parents in opening up a path for kosenrufu movement in the early years. During the pioneering days, Argentina was under the Military Government rule and members could not hold any activities. My father was a member of musical corp and was charged with “disturbing the peace and security of the country with the use of music” and was thrown into jail. However, in my childhood days, I could not remember a single moment in which my parents felt defeated or was depressed over this plight.
My parents poured their lives into blazing a path for kosen-rufu movement in Argentina and won several actual proofs of victory. Because of the struggles and efforts of my parents and the pioneer generation of members, the SGI Argentina became what it is today. We the youth division absolutely cannot forget the painstaking efforts of the pioneering members. The Youth division’s greatest pride and mission is to inherit completely the Mentor and Disciple Spirit forged between my parents’ generation with Mr Ikeda in their struggle.
The Young Women Division has a proud tradition of being “No.1 in home-visits”. In order to build heart to heart connections and mutual encouragement, there is no other way than to expand one-to-one dialogue and trust. No matter how far the member lives, I would do my utmost to pay the member a visit to encourage her. To date, I have visited members in over 30 cities.
Whenever I plan to visit a member who lives far away, I would head to the long distance bus interchange once I knock off from work on Fridays to take a couch. The journey is about 1500 km long and would take about 22 hours to reach the member’s house. On early Monday mornings, I would return to the same bus interchange to take a bus to my office to report for work. The families I visited are mostly poor and some of them do not even have enough chairs for all family members to sit on. Nevertheless, they are all very determined to transform their karma through faith, change current circumstances and are working with gusto on it. Many families are able to witness changes in the family fortunes through the growth in faith of the YWDs in the family. Starting with encouraging a single individual, the joy that wells up in this person will create ripples and waves upon waves of courage never fail to expand outward.
The YWD of Argentina has launched an unprecedented wave of dialogue this year and by the first half of this year, we have achieved 50,000 dialogues with new friends. In commemoration of the Soka Gakkai 60th Anniversary of the formation of the YMD in July, over 10,000 YWDs attended the meeting, including new friends. The Argentinian Kayokai has achieved an unprecedented gathering!
Presently, there are many YWDs who are showing actual proof of victories in their work in businesses, government statutory boards and educational institutions. I am a lecturer in the state owned University of Bueno Aires which incidentally conferred honorary doctorate to Mr Ikeda in 1990, conducting courses for the lawyers of the university on teaching pedagogy. In addition, I am working in the taxation department of federal government in charge of coordinating the skills training of 20,000 employees. I also shared the greatness of Daishonin Buddhism with my colleagues and up to date, three of them have taken faith and two of them have expressed interest in joining Soka Gakkai.
We were very privileged and honoured to be able to invite Nobel Prize for Peace Laureate Professor Gbowee to attend the Argentina leaders meeting commemorating May 3rd this year. In her speech, Professor Gbowee sincerely sent her regards to the survivors of the massive Tokyo earthquake and cheered them on. Heaping praises on the SGI, she said, “Even in the face of the unprecedented crisis, the SGI as well as the youth division who are trained by Mr Ikeda continued to shout out “We have hope!” As long as the youths of SGI are around, the future is bright.” The society of Argentina is placing boundless trust and hope on the youths of SGI.
This morning, we received an unbelievably fantastic news: The city of Bueno Aires has decided to name the garden of the Sabiaona Square within the Argentina Culture Centre as Ikeda Kaneko Kayokai Garden. Congratulations to all the women of Soka of the world!
Although Argentina is the country that is farthest away from Japan, the heart of the Mentor and Disciple knows no distance of separation. We pride ourselves in following the heart of the Mentor the closest!
I resolve to develop the Argentina YWD to become foremost in achieving happiness and joy for all members. As an educator, my dream is to prove the greatness of Buddhism and Mr Ikeda to society and that a Soka University can be set up in Argentina. I will do my utmost from now on once again in response to the hope and expectation of Mr Ikeda!
[Cosmic January 2012]
Translation Disclaimer: The original testimonial is in the Chinese Language. It has been translated to the English Language for our readers’ convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however the editorial team acknowledged that the translation may not be perfect to the author’s original and seeks our readers understanding. Please note that all guidance and quotes are loosely translated.
(编辑注释: 以下是中文翻译)
从鼓励一个人开始
玛丽亚・伊妮丝・皆川
阿根廷
我在父母皆信心强盛的家庭中成长，在家里没有一天不提到有关池田先生的活题。父母在活动结束回到永后，总会高兴万分地向我诉说全赖池田先生不惜生命的奋斗和鼓励，让会员们获得了许许多多的功德！受到父母的影向，我从未来部开始就很喜欢学会了。
1993年，我作为鼓笛队的一员，在阿根廷举办的世界青年和平文化节中演出，跟池田先生刻下了人生的原点。更令我感到富出望外的是，池田先生在上个月的随笔《我们的胜利大道昉笔》中回忆了当年参加阿根廷文化节的情景，并提及深深怀念与我的会面。我无比感动！在此衷心感谢池田先生的关爱。
现在，我站于阿根廷的广布前线奋斗，清楚体会到父母为开辟广宜流布作出如何了不起的奋战。在草创时期， 因为阿根廷处于军政府的统治，会员有一段期间无达举办活动。当时父亲是音乐队成员，曾被扣上“演奏音乐扰乱治安”的罪名，被拉进监牢。但是回想童年的岁月，我却不曾留下半点父母曾被悲伤打敗或感到诅丧的记忆。
父母竭力奋斗开辟阿根廷的广宣流布，赢取了许多胜利的实证。因为有我们父母和草创前辈的奋战，才有今曰的阿根廷SGI。我们青年部绝不可忘记父母及草创前辈的辛劳。彻底地继承父母辈与池田先生共战的“师弟精神”，就是我们青年部最大的自豪与使命。
阿根廷女子部拥有“家访笫一”的优秀传统。为了与每一位女子部员缔结心与心的联系，互勉互励，除了扩大一对一的信赖之外别无他法。无论部员住在多么遥远的地方，我都会努力去探访，赠予鼓励。至今我已到过三十几个城市进行家庭访问。
每当要到偏远的地方家访时，我就在星期五下班后立即前往长途巴士站，接踏上距离1500公里，车程需时22小时的旅程，去探访部员家。到星期一的大清早，再回到长途巴士站去乘车直接到公司上班。家访的多数是贫穷的家庭，有些家庭甚至没有足够的椅子可让一家人齐齐坐下。然而大家都决心要以信心转换宿命，改变现状，明朗地努力奋斗着。如今以女子部员的成长为契机，创造了许多转换一家宿命的体验。只要鼓励起一个人，这个人感受到的欢喜就会产生波动，成为充满勇气的千波万浪扩展开去。
阿根廷女子部于今年掀起了前所未有的对话浪潮，前半年已经达成向5万名朋友展开对话。在7月举行的纪念创价学会女子部成立60周年的总会，连同新朋友在内，更有超过一万人参加。阿根廷池田华阳会达成了前所未有的大结集。
现在有许多女子部员在企业、国家机关和教育机关等各个领域中，生气蓬勃地展现胜利的实证。而我自己也在1990年授予池田先生名誉博士称号的国立布宜诺斯艾利斯大学担任讲座讲师，
向该校的律师讲授教学技巧。另外，也在与税务有关的省政府部门，统筹拥有两万名职员的研修部门的工作。我也在工作岗位向同事和朋友畅谈佛法的伟大，至今已有三位友人入信，两位朋友
希望加入学会。
今年召开的纪念5・3的阿根廷干部会，承蒙诺贝尔和平奖得主埃斯基维尔博士莅临参加。博士致词时由衷慰问东曰本大地震的灾民，为灾民打气，更赞扬学会说：“即使身处前所未有的危机，创价学会以及受到池田先生熏陶的青年仍然强而有力地呐喊‘我们拥有希望’！只要有创价青年在，未来就会一片光明。”阿根廷社会对我们创价的世界青年部寄予无限的期待与信赖。
今天上午，我们收到了一个无比高兴的消息：布宜诺斯艾利斯市政府将比邻阿根廷文化会馆的萨比奥拿广场的庭园命名为“池田香峰子华阳庭园”。全世界的创价妇女，恭喜恭喜！
虽然阿根廷是距离曰本最遥远的国家，但是师弟的心是毫无距离的，我们拥有最紧贴师心的自豪！
我决心要构建让人人也辉耀幸福与欢喜的世界第一的阿根廷女子部。身为教育工作者，我拥有一个梦想，就是向社会证明佛法及池田先生的伟大，在阿根廷建设创价大学。今后也会全力奋战，一定要回报池田先生的期待！
［宇宙 2012年1月］
María Inés Minagawa
Argentina
I grew up in a family where both my parents have strong conviction in faith. Never has a day gone by without mentioning a topic related to Mr Ikeda. Whenever my parents came home from a Gakkai activity, they would share with me joyfully on how members experienced lots of benefits due to Mr Ikeda’s ceaseless struggles and encouragement. Under my parents’ influence, I liked Soka Gakkai since my Future Division days.
In 1993, I performed in the World Youth Peace Cultural Festival held in Argentina as a member of the Kotekitai group. I met Mr Ikeda for the first time and that encounter became the prime point of my life. What made me really ecstatic is that last month, Mr Ikeda, in his column under the “Thoughts of Our Paths of Victory”, wrote about his recollection of the 1993 World Youth Peace Cultural Festival and mentioned how he had deep memories of his meeting with me. I was very touched! I would like to thank Mr Ikeda for his love and care.
Currently, I am fighting in the frontline of kosen-rufu movement in Argentina and I clearly appreciate the tremendous struggles of my parents in opening up a path for kosenrufu movement in the early years. During the pioneering days, Argentina was under the Military Government rule and members could not hold any activities. My father was a member of musical corp and was charged with “disturbing the peace and security of the country with the use of music” and was thrown into jail. However, in my childhood days, I could not remember a single moment in which my parents felt defeated or was depressed over this plight.
My parents poured their lives into blazing a path for kosen-rufu movement in Argentina and won several actual proofs of victory. Because of the struggles and efforts of my parents and the pioneer generation of members, the SGI Argentina became what it is today. We the youth division absolutely cannot forget the painstaking efforts of the pioneering members. The Youth division’s greatest pride and mission is to inherit completely the Mentor and Disciple Spirit forged between my parents’ generation with Mr Ikeda in their struggle.
The Young Women Division has a proud tradition of being “No.1 in home-visits”. In order to build heart to heart connections and mutual encouragement, there is no other way than to expand one-to-one dialogue and trust. No matter how far the member lives, I would do my utmost to pay the member a visit to encourage her. To date, I have visited members in over 30 cities.
Whenever I plan to visit a member who lives far away, I would head to the long distance bus interchange once I knock off from work on Fridays to take a couch. The journey is about 1500 km long and would take about 22 hours to reach the member’s house. On early Monday mornings, I would return to the same bus interchange to take a bus to my office to report for work. The families I visited are mostly poor and some of them do not even have enough chairs for all family members to sit on. Nevertheless, they are all very determined to transform their karma through faith, change current circumstances and are working with gusto on it. Many families are able to witness changes in the family fortunes through the growth in faith of the YWDs in the family. Starting with encouraging a single individual, the joy that wells up in this person will create ripples and waves upon waves of courage never fail to expand outward.
The YWD of Argentina has launched an unprecedented wave of dialogue this year and by the first half of this year, we have achieved 50,000 dialogues with new friends. In commemoration of the Soka Gakkai 60th Anniversary of the formation of the YMD in July, over 10,000 YWDs attended the meeting, including new friends. The Argentinian Kayokai has achieved an unprecedented gathering!
Presently, there are many YWDs who are showing actual proof of victories in their work in businesses, government statutory boards and educational institutions. I am a lecturer in the state owned University of Bueno Aires which incidentally conferred honorary doctorate to Mr Ikeda in 1990, conducting courses for the lawyers of the university on teaching pedagogy. In addition, I am working in the taxation department of federal government in charge of coordinating the skills training of 20,000 employees. I also shared the greatness of Daishonin Buddhism with my colleagues and up to date, three of them have taken faith and two of them have expressed interest in joining Soka Gakkai.
We were very privileged and honoured to be able to invite Nobel Prize for Peace Laureate Professor Gbowee to attend the Argentina leaders meeting commemorating May 3rd this year. In her speech, Professor Gbowee sincerely sent her regards to the survivors of the massive Tokyo earthquake and cheered them on. Heaping praises on the SGI, she said, “Even in the face of the unprecedented crisis, the SGI as well as the youth division who are trained by Mr Ikeda continued to shout out “We have hope!” As long as the youths of SGI are around, the future is bright.” The society of Argentina is placing boundless trust and hope on the youths of SGI.
This morning, we received an unbelievably fantastic news: The city of Bueno Aires has decided to name the garden of the Sabiaona Square within the Argentina Culture Centre as Ikeda Kaneko Kayokai Garden. Congratulations to all the women of Soka of the world!
Although Argentina is the country that is farthest away from Japan, the heart of the Mentor and Disciple knows no distance of separation. We pride ourselves in following the heart of the Mentor the closest!
I resolve to develop the Argentina YWD to become foremost in achieving happiness and joy for all members. As an educator, my dream is to prove the greatness of Buddhism and Mr Ikeda to society and that a Soka University can be set up in Argentina. I will do my utmost from now on once again in response to the hope and expectation of Mr Ikeda!
[Cosmic January 2012]
Translation Disclaimer: The original testimonial is in the Chinese Language. It has been translated to the English Language for our readers’ convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however the editorial team acknowledged that the translation may not be perfect to the author’s original and seeks our readers understanding. Please note that all guidance and quotes are loosely translated.
(编辑注释: 以下是中文翻译)
从鼓励一个人开始
玛丽亚・伊妮丝・皆川
阿根廷
我在父母皆信心强盛的家庭中成长，在家里没有一天不提到有关池田先生的活题。父母在活动结束回到永后，总会高兴万分地向我诉说全赖池田先生不惜生命的奋斗和鼓励，让会员们获得了许许多多的功德！受到父母的影向，我从未来部开始就很喜欢学会了。
1993年，我作为鼓笛队的一员，在阿根廷举办的世界青年和平文化节中演出，跟池田先生刻下了人生的原点。更令我感到富出望外的是，池田先生在上个月的随笔《我们的胜利大道昉笔》中回忆了当年参加阿根廷文化节的情景，并提及深深怀念与我的会面。我无比感动！在此衷心感谢池田先生的关爱。
现在，我站于阿根廷的广布前线奋斗，清楚体会到父母为开辟广宜流布作出如何了不起的奋战。在草创时期， 因为阿根廷处于军政府的统治，会员有一段期间无达举办活动。当时父亲是音乐队成员，曾被扣上“演奏音乐扰乱治安”的罪名，被拉进监牢。但是回想童年的岁月，我却不曾留下半点父母曾被悲伤打敗或感到诅丧的记忆。
父母竭力奋斗开辟阿根廷的广宣流布，赢取了许多胜利的实证。因为有我们父母和草创前辈的奋战，才有今曰的阿根廷SGI。我们青年部绝不可忘记父母及草创前辈的辛劳。彻底地继承父母辈与池田先生共战的“师弟精神”，就是我们青年部最大的自豪与使命。
阿根廷女子部拥有“家访笫一”的优秀传统。为了与每一位女子部员缔结心与心的联系，互勉互励，除了扩大一对一的信赖之外别无他法。无论部员住在多么遥远的地方，我都会努力去探访，赠予鼓励。至今我已到过三十几个城市进行家庭访问。
每当要到偏远的地方家访时，我就在星期五下班后立即前往长途巴士站，接踏上距离1500公里，车程需时22小时的旅程，去探访部员家。到星期一的大清早，再回到长途巴士站去乘车直接到公司上班。家访的多数是贫穷的家庭，有些家庭甚至没有足够的椅子可让一家人齐齐坐下。然而大家都决心要以信心转换宿命，改变现状，明朗地努力奋斗着。如今以女子部员的成长为契机，创造了许多转换一家宿命的体验。只要鼓励起一个人，这个人感受到的欢喜就会产生波动，成为充满勇气的千波万浪扩展开去。
阿根廷女子部于今年掀起了前所未有的对话浪潮，前半年已经达成向5万名朋友展开对话。在7月举行的纪念创价学会女子部成立60周年的总会，连同新朋友在内，更有超过一万人参加。阿根廷池田华阳会达成了前所未有的大结集。
现在有许多女子部员在企业、国家机关和教育机关等各个领域中，生气蓬勃地展现胜利的实证。而我自己也在1990年授予池田先生名誉博士称号的国立布宜诺斯艾利斯大学担任讲座讲师，
向该校的律师讲授教学技巧。另外，也在与税务有关的省政府部门，统筹拥有两万名职员的研修部门的工作。我也在工作岗位向同事和朋友畅谈佛法的伟大，至今已有三位友人入信，两位朋友
希望加入学会。
今年召开的纪念5・3的阿根廷干部会，承蒙诺贝尔和平奖得主埃斯基维尔博士莅临参加。博士致词时由衷慰问东曰本大地震的灾民，为灾民打气，更赞扬学会说：“即使身处前所未有的危机，创价学会以及受到池田先生熏陶的青年仍然强而有力地呐喊‘我们拥有希望’！只要有创价青年在，未来就会一片光明。”阿根廷社会对我们创价的世界青年部寄予无限的期待与信赖。
今天上午，我们收到了一个无比高兴的消息：布宜诺斯艾利斯市政府将比邻阿根廷文化会馆的萨比奥拿广场的庭园命名为“池田香峰子华阳庭园”。全世界的创价妇女，恭喜恭喜！
虽然阿根廷是距离曰本最遥远的国家，但是师弟的心是毫无距离的，我们拥有最紧贴师心的自豪！
我决心要构建让人人也辉耀幸福与欢喜的世界第一的阿根廷女子部。身为教育工作者，我拥有一个梦想，就是向社会证明佛法及池田先生的伟大，在阿根廷建设创价大学。今后也会全力奋战，一定要回报池田先生的期待！
［宇宙 2012年1月］