星落秋風五丈原

The Falls of the Autumn Star at the Wuchang Plain. A beautifully touching song depicting the scene of Zhuge Liang last battle at the Wuchang Plain. This song was performed by SGM KL Choir the other night. I was so touched by the lyric and the chorus. I remembered Sensei shared Toda Sensei's guidance to the youth division, "As youth, you should think like Zhuge Liang. Bring forth wisdom. And win victory upon victory for the sake of the people." I must fight on.

SGM Vice YMD Chief

Tonight we celebrated 2010.5.3 in Cheras BK. GD announced my appointment as SGM Vice YMD Chief together with KP as SGM Vice Student Division Chief.

My appointment on this very significant day, the 50th Anniversary of Ikeda Sensei Inauguration, tells me the mystic bond I have with my mentor. Sensei has fought for worldwide kosen-rufu for 50 years, tonight I am appointed to continue to fight on this great legacy of my mentor. I take it as my mentor has official passed on the baton of kosen-rufu to me tonight!

This I will state. Let the gods forsake me. Let all persecutions assail me. Still I will give my life for the sake of the Law.

May 3rd 2010

Tonight we celebrated this significant day of 5.3. It marks Sensei's 50th Anniversary of Inauguration. Youth Division took on the stage to organize the entire meeting. A very fresh and daring approach but the outcome was not bad. Need further polishing on this group of youth to handle future kosen-rufu of SGMS. I was especially touched by the slides presentation on 5.3. No doubt it stills have room for improvement but the overall concept was good. The efforts put in was remarkable, especially coming from this group of new leaders. Deep in my heart, I thank them for the great efforts done.

The part when individual Honbu representatives came to the stage to give their respective Honbu resolution, it was suppose to create a groundswell like response from their Honbu leaders from the floor, but it didn't. What actually went wrong? Everything seems so right but something is still lacking.

The overall event (from the preparation till the meeting proper) help me see what is our new future leaders' quality. I had in mind who will be our successor in SGMS.

Tonight's meeting gave me an indicator how to lead SGMS Youth Division in the future. They are all great leaders in their very own way, I should say!

About Unity

Tonight's R. Meeting really triggers me to re-think about Unity. Some think unity is about closeness, some think unity is about same mindset and agree on everything, some think unity is about working together and some even think unity is not to voice out differences. I think unity is about working together towards the same direction with everyone holding a very diversified background, culture and thinking. Even after much disagreement and discussion, everyone can come to a broad-based consensus and put behind all differences and move towards a same goal.

2010 SGMS Youth 3 Projects

2010, in conjunction with the 80th Anniversary of Soka Gakkai Founding, we, SGMS Youth Division has pledged to launch 3 projects centering at our mentor, Ikeda Sensei.
First project, we are compiling all Sensei's quotes about Justice from all his New Century Headquarter Leaders Meetings since Nov of 2006. This is to compile into our 2nd Soka Spirit Handbook to be given out during our National Soka Spirit Seminar. Target: 3.16

Second project, we are compiling all Sensei's quotes on Justice from all other Sensei's lectures and writings. We are going to compile them all into a daily guidance book called Living 365 days with Justice. Target: 5.3

Third project, we are reading Sensei's renowned novel Human Revolution. And our target is to celebrate this novel with a Youth Musical: Human Revolution. Target: 11.18

Now that first project is approaching its deadline and I am doing final proofread on the guidances compiled on Justice by the participating Youth Division. I can't help but to feel encouraged and feel inspired by Sensei words of encouragement. Every quotes I read, I felt Sensei is directly telling me, to be strong, to be diligent, to be courageous, to be righteous and to be victorious! To all others who may come across this blog, I strongly urge you to read Sensei guidances again and again in this significant year of 2010. We can never be more motivated and moved by his insightful words of wisdom.

India and Buddhism

Writing this blog in Ajit Bhawan Palace Resort at Jodhpul, India
I can never forget my first Indian trip to Mumbai few years ago. JC and I were both not very impressed with India.
However, this CNY break I took another trip here with KE. This time I travel to the Delhi, Agra and the Rajasthan, the land of the Maharajas. It gave me a total different impression of this land and its people again. I see India as one of the most colorful country i have visited so far. The richness of its history, culture and traditions, not mentioning its breath of religious mythologies and deities, has already captivated my photography interest by far. Their temples are decorated and celebrated highly by the people. The people flock to places of worship in thousands to make their offerings daily. These scenes quenches my photography's thirst but deep down in me, I think otherwise...
One really disheartening fact is the trace of Buddhism, one of the most profound philosophy in the world today, has lost its influence in the lives of the people at its birth place, India, today. A philosophy that liberates people from the shackles of spiritual and religious dependency has lost its appeals here. When will people start to realize the whole idea of human existence is to impart and create values into this world? We are not born to serve a religion or a deity or something. A true religion should be there to empower human spirit, a spirit for us to live a life that shines through others' lives and society. Buddhism teaches us exactly that, a philosophy that guides us to lead a value creating life. I must do more shakubuku, an act to make people realize the purpose of their life. In other words, an act to guide people to fulfill their mission in life.

Avatar

Just to share with you something about this Avatar film we shared with KF the other day.

PL & I went to encourage him the other day, and we brought him out for a cup of tea and so happen the restaurant was showing Avatar on their "big" screen. He said he has watched it and he likes the movie. He likes the main actor, just like him (on wheel chair).

Yea, we shared the significance of the director has chosen a crippled to act as the main role in Avatar is probably because he wants to tell us, no matter what happened to us, even we are physically disabled, we are still able to dream. In Avatar's 'dream', Jake is able to do wonders in his 'dream' world, and eventually he saved the world of Pandora.

We agreed we are able to do wonders too if we live true to our dreams, no matter what circumstances we are in. For KF, he knows he needs to find his dream and live true to it...

The tea session lasted for more than 1 hour. And we each went home filled very differently about this film and our dreams...

James Cameron has not only brought Avatar to a new height in the movie industry, he has also make us 'dream' that night.