SOKAHAN & GAJOKAI Training Course
was held at Grand Culture Center
The core groups of the Young Men’s Divison:
the Sokahan & Gajokai group held their 2009 Training Course
at the Grand Culture Center in Tagaytay City
last August 23, 2009.
Upon arriving at the venue proper, all the participants were very energetic
and attentive for the much-awaited training. The meeting program included
three (3) main activities.
First of the three sessions was about “Unity”, which is the most important
key in order to develop the respective groups as well as to develop the
organization of SGI Philippines as a whole. SGI Philippines HQ Young Men’s
Division Chief Harry Cruz, also the Gajokai Group Officer-in-Charge, lectured
on the Gosho entitled “Many in Body, One in Mind” together with his assistant,
Vice Gajokai Chief Jefferson Co.
In the second session, an open forum was conducted between the Sokahan and Gajokai participants. The members of each group voluntarily and enthusiastically made opinions on how to deal with the present set of problems that their respective group is confronted with in carrying out their daily duties. Moreover, the mission of both Sokahan and Gajokai as a behind-the-scene group was also discussed by both Sokahan and Gajokai in charges.
Being a youth, it is very significant to know the history of the Soka Gakkai as well as its 3 presidents. On the third and final session, after watching the video entitled, “The Great Path of Soka”, one of the Unit Chief of Sokahan together with the Sokahan Vice Chief clearly explained the history of the Soka Gakkai, especially the famous struggles that our SGI President Daisaku Ikeda went through in his youth. The lecturers also emphasized the Mentor-Disciple relationship, which is the most fundamental element of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.
The activities of the day however did not end here. The 2 groups even conducted
"a cavalry battle – a Sokahan VS. Gajokai game" at the playground
area of the center where blue skies shined gloriously up above. "A
cavalry battle" is a Japanese popular game, which is conducted in
many schools during its sport festival; so all the members played this
game for the first time.
In the first round, the Sokahan group won an overwhelming victory over the Gajokai group. However, in the second round, the Gajokai group came out victors by beating the Sokahan group. After the games, group photos were taken with the beautiful Taal lake in the background.
This one-day event was not only replete with extensive transfer of knowledge but was also served with a mouthful of refreshments. As the event came to a close, passionate conviction and impressions were shared by the members of both groups giving rise to a renewed determination in all the participants.
