Mr.Just Mark Andre J. Figuracion
YMD Chapter Chief
Youth Division Members Participated in
SGI Youth Taraining Course in Japan
The happiness felt by the disciple when he or she meets his or her mentor
is indeed profound and unexplainable. That was how we, SGI Philippines
youth division delegates all felt when we met our mentor in life, SGI President
Daisaku Ikeda, in Japan during our Youth Special Training Course.
It was the first time that SGI Philippines have sent so many youth participants
to Japan for such kind of training. There were 16 members of the Youth
Division (9 YMD & 7 YWD) in all, who had the chance to join the said
training course last April 15 – 19, 2010.
Philippine's Youth Division members
with Mr. Virgilio Fuentes, YMD General Chapter Chief,
at Tokyo Fuji Art Museum
The Bay of Tokyo, a metropolis of Japan
Philippine's Young Men's Division members
in high spirit
Philippine's Youth Division members
determines to fight for Kosen-rufu
It was a hot, sunny morning when we left for Japan from Manila by 9:30
AM on April 15 and we landed at Narita International Airport at 1:30 PM.
Unlike in Manila, the weather was very cold and it was even drizzling in
Japan when we arrived. SGI staffs in Japan and Women’s Division members
were lined up in rows to welcome us at the arrival area. They waved their
hands energetically and some of them were holding the tri-colored SGI flags.
We were very much impressed and encouraged by their sincere and happy greetings.
After the short greetings, the group directly headed to Keio Plaza Hotel
in Tokyo. At the hotel, SGI top leaders welcomed us, and Ikeda-Sensei’s
message was read before us. In the message, President Ikeda and Mrs. Ikeda
expressed their joy and excitement for the SGI Philippines youth participants.
Together with his heartfelt message, President Ikeda sent us special gift
items, which very much lifted our hearts.
At around 9 A.M. of April 16, our group together with other SGI members from other countries arrived at the SGI Headquarter Center in Shinanomachi, Tokyo. A meeting was held immediately led by SGI General Director where we received an encouragement message from President Ikeda along with other gift items. The SGI General Director also made an announcement saying that two participants from the Philippines would receive awards from President Ikeda during the 39th Headquarters Leaders Meeting, which would be held on the following day. Mr. Virgilio Fuentes (YMD) and Ms. Caroline Ng (YWD) would represent the SGI Philippines youth division for that award. After the meeting, we headed for the Soka International Women Center, which was founded by President Ikeda in dedication for all the women in the world. The center is full of artworks that really depict the significance and greatness of women. Among the artworks in the exhibit, President Ikeda’s impressive family pictures were also on display. What is more, original manuscripts of “The Human Revolution” and “The New Human Revolution” as well as other original letters of President Ikeda, which were addressed to the Women’s Division, were also displayed.
Our delegates then proceeded to the Kanagawa Culture Center in Yokohama in the afternoon. We watched a short video that explained about the history of Kanagawa and the struggles of mentor and disciple. There, we learned that Kanagawa is the place where Nichiren Daishonin and Soka Gakkai’s successive three presidents embarked their respective propagation campaigns. Immediately after President Ikeda was forced to resign as the third President of the Soka Gakkai on May 3, 1979 through the collusion by both the corrupt Nichiren Shoshu priests and their cohorts of senior leaders in the Soka Gakkai lay organization, President Ikeda went to Kanagawa Culture Center, where we visited. Here, President Ikeda spent many days to give direct encouragement to as many local members inspiring them to stand up and fight. In those days, hundreds of thousands of members gathered outside the Kanagawa Culture Center to express their undying support for their mentor. Thus, the bond of oneness of mentor and disciple was firmly engraved in the hearts of the members in Kanagawa. After the video showing, the two historic calligraphies – which were written by President Ikeda during his struggles at that time – were introduced before the participants. Respectively, the calligraphic writings were: “Shared Struggle” which was written on May 3, and “Justice” written on May 5 which represent the deep bond and vows between President Ikeda and the local members of Kanagawa. As such, the Kanagawa area has been a vital starting point of the struggle of mentor and disciple since the time of Nichiren Daishonin and Nikko Shonin. Before we left Kanagawa Culture Center, we had a commemorative picture for all the participants to renew our vows and dedication with our mentor.
In the evening on the same date, all the participants of the training course had a guidance meeting with a Soka Gakkai Vice General Director. It was a hearty and great experience where the Vice General Director emphasized the importance of mentor and disciple relationship in Buddhism. He reminded the youth that it is their mission to lead the second stage of worldwide Kosen-rufu and that President Ikeda has been expecting them of the same. Before the session ended, each of us received a special painting of President Ikeda and Mrs. Ikeda when President Ikeda was inaugurated as the third President of Soka Gakkai on May 3, 1960. The painting was given to all the participants in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of President Ikeda’s struggles that has led to worldwide Kosen-rufu.
Shortly before 10 A.M. in the morning of April 17, we arrived at Soka University in Hachioji, Tokyo where the students with their colorful banners and flags warmly welcomed us. Thereafter, we headed to Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, which was established by President Ikeda in 1983. We were overwhelmed by the artworks displayed from a wide array of genres such as paintings, sculptures, photographs, ceramics, wares, military armors and swords both from Eastern and Western countries spanning various periods in history. By noon, we proceeded to the Tokyo Makiguchi Memorial Hall to participate in the 39th Headquarters Leaders Meeting. Prior to the said meeting, the participants from different countries took a commemorative picture wearing their colorful national attire. The meeting promptly started at 1:30 pm, which commemorated the 50th Anniversary of Ikeda Sensei’s presidency as the 3rd President of Soka Gakkai and the 80th Founding Anniversary of Soka Gakkai. It was a profound experience to encounter Ikeda-Sensei and hear his guidance personally. In his guidance, President Ikeda highlighted the greatness of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism and the power of the Mystic Law. He said that by having strong faith to the Gohonzon, we could overcome and change our unhappy life into the most hope-filled and victorious one. President Ikeda also mentioned that there are no sufferings that we cannot overcome in the world of faith in Nichiren Buddhism. Throughout the course of his speech, President Ikeda strongly emphasized the importance of the oneness of mentor and disciple such relationship is the very essence of Buddhism. The Soka Gakkai will not develop for what it is today without his struggles as a true disciple to support second President Josei Toda. President Ikeda then emphatically expressed his great expectation to the youth division by graciously encouraging them to stand up as true disciples. He said that as long as we engrave the spirit of mentor and disciple in our hearts, we should fear nothing for it is the path of true victory in life and we could accordingly attain Buddhahood in this lifetime. Even after the meeting, I could not contain my emotions that I was able to receive President Ikeda’s guidance directly.
The following day, on April 18, we visited the Soka Gakkai Headquarters, where second President Josei Toda and the youthful President Ikeda made history during the tumultuous days of the organization. We also had the chance to visit the Min-On (Concert Association) Culture Center that was also founded by President Ikeda in order to promote the power of music and culture among civilizations.
The training course in Japan was indeed priceless. At the conclusion of
the training course, all the members of the Philippine delegate unanimously
agreed that we are very fortunate that we were able to receive guidance
directly from our beloved mentor, President Ikeda. We have also pledged
with one another that as youth division members, we will fight as a disciple
of President Ikeda for the sake of worldwide Kosen-rufu. Furthermore, we
will endeavor to inspire other youth division members in order to ignite
the spiritual flames in their hearts enabling them to establish the precious
“bond” of mentor and disciple with our mentor. Together with President
Ikeda, we will fight for the Banner of Justice, we Comrades in a Shared
Struggle for Kosen-rufu!
