The Headquarter Leaders Meeting ( December 17, 2006)
Yasunori Takimoto
(SGI Vice President)
Good afternoon everyone!
I would like to heartily congratulate all of you on receiving a very warm message of encouragement from Sensei and on holding a grand and greatly victorious SGI RP Leaders Meeting that is overflowing with joy!
Now, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank each one of you as leaders of SGI Philippines for your efforts for the entire year because we were able to greatly advance on all fronts in our endeavors for kosen-rufu. Thank you so much!
As all of you are well aware, our SGI theme for 2007 is
"Year of Advancement and Victory".
In the Gosho entitled The Problem to Be Pondered Night and Day, the Daishonin
states: "You must not spend your lives in vain and regret it for ten
thousand years to come." (WND, p. 622)
According to Sensei, "We should always read this Gosho passage and make it our foundation
in drawing up our plan for one year
with the spirit of striving to
even deepen our strong faith today more than yesterday, next month more
than this month
and next year more than this year – this will become
our foundation in our lifetime plan.
Therefore, we should make up our mind in dedicating
our life for the noble cause of kosen-rufu.
And let us advance towards that endeavor in high spirit."
Besides, Sensei also gave guidance concerning " Brave and vigorous practice" (Jap. Yumyo Shojin): "The character `Yu’ of the word Yumyo means to take action in high
spirit."
In other words, it is to take courageous action for the sake of kosen-rufu without hesitation.
It is to willingly work for the sake of happiness of others and to dedicate
our lives in that endeavor.
"The character 'Myo’' of the word Yumyo means to exert our utmost
to the limits of our wisdom.
The character 'Sho’' of the word Shojin means the
spirit of untainted purity.
And the character `Jin’ of the word Shojin means to advance unceasingly."
It is to continuously advance without retreating.
This "spirit of struggling against devilish functions" of "Yumyo
Shojin" is the ultimate spirit of Buddhism
and it is the figure of the Buddha striving to realize the happiness of
humanity.
That's why in 2007, "The Year of Advancement and Victory," let
us win in all of our endeavors with this "brave and vigorous practice"
Together as SGI Philippine members under the leadership of General Director
Niitsu and Women's Division Chief, Mrs. Shibata,
let us all win great victory by advancing in a bright, amicable and cheerful
manner for kosen-rufu!
Photo on the top: Flowers in Nagano (Photo by Daisaku Ikeda)
Copyright (c) 2006-2007, Soka Gakkai International of the Philippines,
All rights reserved.
