Good morning everyone!
I would like to wholeheartedly extend my thanks to everyone of you for participating in the December World Peace Gongyo Meeting for coming very early in the morning and traveling from far away places, thank you very much!
Together with all of you, I have offered prayers to the Gohonzon for the realization of world peace as well as for the happiness and health of all the participants today.
Well, the long-awaited novel, The New Human Revolution has finally restarted from November 18, 2008 – commemorating the foundation of Soka Gakkai.
In the opening of the newly started chapter, entitled "New Century"
of The New Human Revolution, Ikeda-Sensei has cried out: "New Century
--. That is "The century of peace"; "The century of the
people"; "The century of victory"; "The century of
glory"; moreover, it is "The century without war" and "the
century of life."
Sensei also
stated, "Soka Gakkai which aims for world peace is brimmed with a
youthful energy of new advancement."
Furthermore,
Sensei stated, "The strength of the Gakkai is found in the unity of
the people. It is found in the wisdom of
the people."
For the sake of realizing a new advancement, we ourselves should stand up; for the sake of the victory of the people,
I believe that
we should take it upon ourselves to open the curtain of a new era.
Concerning
this, Ikeda-Sensei gave the following guidance:
"The Daishonin
wrote: 'Even if you are not the Venerable Mahakashyapa, you should all
perform a dance. Even if you are
not Shariputra,
you should leap up and dance. When Bodhisattva Superior Practices emerged
from the earth, did he not emerge
dancing?' (WND, 1119)
When Shakyamuni’s
most venerable disciples Mahakashyapa and Shariputra (who was foremost
in wisdom) heard
Shakyamuni
preach the Lotus Sutra, the supreme teaching for attaining enlightenment,
they leapt to their feet, their
hearts dancing
with joy.
And when, during
his preaching, Shakyamuni called forth the great legions of bodhisattvas
from the earth, entrusting them
with the mission
of propagating the Lotus Sutra after his death, in the Latter Day of the
Law, Bodhisattva Superior Practices, their
leader, sprang forth joyfully.
They leaped exuberantly to their feet from the tremendous joy of learning the supreme truth of the universe and deciding
to spread that
truth, to bring happiness to all living things.
In such a deep,
spontaneous expression of joy, which arises from the essence of one’s being,
we find the flowering of art."
(The New Human
Revolution - The Flower of Culture 36)
Now, towards next year’s theme of “Year of Youth and Victory” and as members of SGI Philippines, let us advance with
our utmost effort
in our endeavor for shakubuku in high spirits, in a joyous and cheerful
manner together with our General Director
Cabauatan and Women’s Division Chief Rosita!
Thank you very
much for patiently listening to me today!
