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.

Happy 82nd Birthday Sensei!

Benefits

HL & I discussed over internet chat today on whether will Danto members receive benefit when they chant.
We came to a conclusion that the Danto members will not receive benefits even if they chant NMHRGK. It is because they are chanting with a total different intend from Nichiren Daishonin.
The whole tenet of Daishonin Buddhism is to make common people realize the great potential in us called Buddhahood. This was quite a revolutionary philosophy on how one should look at Buddhism and religion as a whole in the 13th century. It was because of this revolutionary view about the truth of Buddhism that created jealousy and hatred among the well established religious leaders and priests. They noticed their position and importance in the religious world has been threatened. Hence, they plotted unscrupulous schemes with the government to bring Nichiren Daishonin down. However, Nichiren Daishonin with his great compassion to bring to light the real truth about Buddhism, he did not compromise a single bit. Daishonin taught as long as one realize they possess this Buddhahood in them and recognize this truth, one is called a Buddha; the ignorant ones are common mortals. This is the real benefit of practicing Daishonin's Buddhism, recognizing we are the Buddha.
However, the Nikken Sect denied this truth from its believers, the Dantos. They were taught their Buddhahood in them are different from the Buddhahood Daishonin mentioned. They still need the priests to bring them the real benefits of Daishonin's Buddhism. Isn't this the total opposite of what Daishonin was fighting for?
The so-called benefits the Dantos claim that they receive are mere results of action they took to overcome their problems. Even people with a strong confident but without chanting will be able to achieve that.

Happy 11.18

Received a call from KP telling me a "super" good news. Our local TV station has finally signed the agreement to air Sensei's animation in the month of Dec for 4 continuous saturdays. Great victory for SGM. Even better to hear they are gearing to promote this series of animation through different public media like newspapers. KP has also told me, despite the short notice given to SGI & Sensei, Sensei has agreed to accept the media's interview!
I just can't hold back my tears when I got to know this. I can truly feel Sensei's compassion for his disciples everywhere in the world. We, in Malaysia, has been very fortunate to receive Sensei's direct encouragement & protections through many incidences. It is very significant to celebrate 11.18 this way.
Today starts the countdown for our 80th anniversary of of Soka Gakkai founding! I resolve to fight even harder alongside with mentor for this coming year.

This Is It

True to its title, MJ has really lived true to his legendary life. His dedication to his music, to his performance, to his passion, to his fans, and to his life. Through this documentary movie of his preparation for his supposedly last concert "This Is It", I can really see and feel he has really put his all for this rounds of performance. I think he must have told himself this, "This Is It"!!
Next year, 2010 will the 80th anniversary of Soka Gakkai founding and 50th anniversary of Sensei's inauguration as President. It will be the year I shall break through, the year the entire YMD organization shall revolutionize, the year Selangor organization shall achieve total victory, and the year the entire SGM shall set a new phase for future kosen-rufu! And we shall tell ourselves, "This Is It", this is the only time we will achieve total victory with Sensei!

"The Nature has been tolerating very hard for the mismanagement of humankind to the environment!", MJ