World Peace Commemorative Gongyo Meeting (October 7, 2007)
Yasunori Takimoto
(SGI Vice President)
Good morning everyone! I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for coming to attend the October World Peace Gongyo Meeting coming very early in the morning and traveling from long distances in order to participate, thank you so very much!
Together with each one of you, I have prayed for world peace as well as the happiness of all humanity. Aside from this, I have also prayed for each of your good health, happiness and further prosperity of your entire family.
Now, as you all are aware of, through the warm consideration of Sensei, 5 SGI headquarter leaders were dispatched here in the Philippines from September 28 (Friday) to October 2 (Tuesday) for the sake of the new advancement of SGI Philippines with Roger Cabauatan General Director, as the center.
On October 1 (Monday), they visited this Youth Culture Center. They were very impressed with how vast, how beautiful the greeneries and how clean the air is in this place. They even enjoyed drinking the freshly-picked buko juice.
The members of the delegation had one thing in common to say in their visit.
And that is, the smiles of Filipinos are truly beautiful. Moreover, they
also agreed that Filipino hospitality is magnificent.
In particular, they said that they have strongly felt SGI Philippine members
are striving for the sake of the advancement of Philippine kosen-rufu by
practicing Sensei's guidance cheerfully and in high spirits under difficult
circumstances.
I agree with them fully on their observation. Let us all take these observations by the SGI leaders as encouragement as SGI Philippines members and unite together in vigorously advancing kosen-rufu.
Now, let us learn from Sensei's most recent guidance:
1. The prime point of everything lies in the spirit of oneness of mentor and disciple.
2. The spirit of mentor and disciple is the very foundation of the Gakkai. As such, there must neither be the slightest deviation nor impurities in it.
3. Making 2010, the 80th anniversary of the founding of Soka Gakkai as our target, let us put the finishing touches to our endeavors together.
4. Let us open the second stage of kosen-rufu together with a fervent and fresh determination.
5. It is not about the environment. It is about winning over oneself.
6. Everyone should earnestly pray to the Gohonzon as if speaking with it so that we can all joyfully and heartily advance together in enabling as many people as possible to embrace Buddhism.
7. Only by expanding one's own life condition in being able to embrace
other people with compassion can you say that you are a true champion of
life.
8. When one reaches the peak of a mountain, all of the tempestuous hardship you encountered in making the ascent will be blown off and replaced with joy from within. In like manner, if you are able to revolutionize your life condition, you will be able to live each day afresh with joy and satisfaction.
Let us engrave these 8 points in our hearts and put them into actual practice.
Aiming towards the 80th anniversary of Soka Gakkai's founding in 2010,
let us do our utmost together cheerfully and in high spirits for the sake
of the advancement of Philippine kosen-rufu and for the sake of the happiness
of each person together with our General Director Roger Cabauatan and Women's
Division Chief, Mrs. Shibata.
Photo on the top: Flowers in Nagano (Photo by Daisaku Ikeda)
Copyright (c) 2006-2007, Soka Gakkai International of the Philippines,
All rights reserved.
