On the 80th Anniversary of Soka Gakkai Founding

I'm on my way back from HK after my week-long business trip. Tired but feel really exited on this special day. I was reading the novel Human Revolution on the plane and can't help but to think of the determination both the Founding President Makiguchi & his successor President Toda hold on to were so powerful that even the militarist government in Japan couldn't bend them an inch.

However, today there is a scholar, BV, in University of Adelaide claimed Makiguchi Sensei was a supporter of Japan's militarism in his "Engaged Buddhism: A Skeleton in the Closet?"!! How on earth did he came to this conclusion? According to DB, an article contributor to IOP, BV had only partial view of President Makiguchi's writings and he didn't even refer to his most important work, The Pedagogy of Value Creation. Hence it can be very misleading and even dangerous to just have to believe whatever being published even by some "scholar".

Soka Gakkai has come so far in the past 80 years. Ikeda Sensei has successfully built the foundation of kosen-rufu around the world. It is now Sensei's disciple, SGI comrades around the world including myself to move SGI towards 2030, the 100th Anniversary of its Founding.

Let the gods forsake me

Let all persecutions assail me

Still I will give my life for the sake of the Law

Close with Sensei

JN briefed us on his Japan SGI 80th Anniversary General Meeting, saying the entire SGI is moving towards the a great shakubuku campaign, great discussion meeting, fostering capable youth to build a youthful Gakkai. The only way to ensure Gakkai development is through human revolution.
I remembered telling all these to KP and all our YMD Region leaders that this should be our direction for post 80th anniversary 1 month ago. Furthermore our 80th Anniversary Youth Projects are in exact accord with the direction of Soka Gakkai whereby our quotes of Justice compiled from Sensei's guidances and lectures and Human Revolution Musical are exactly JN's 80th Anniversary's General Meeting emphasis in Japan.
Never before for me to feel so close to Sensei as my thought and plan was exactly what Sensei wanted the rest of us to do.
Thank you Sensei for your great compassion to let me, your disciple, to feel how you feel and allowing me to walk into your world with greater confidence.

Human Revolution, the Musical

SGM Selangor Youth Division is putting up the "Human Revolution, the Musical" in conjunction with the 80th anniversary of Soka Gakkai Founding. I went to see their practice today. I was really touched by a few scene together with their music composed and arranged. Towards the end I encouraged them to continue finish reading the Human Revolution novel and chant more daimoku for the great success of the musicals. I am too challenging the same. Must finish the novel within 2010! My promise to my Mentor.

Rise! YMD! Rise!

Read about how Sensei expand the rank of the YMD to 1000 during his First Corp leadership assignment in 1953. Coincidentally it is also the target I set for gathering 100 YMD per Honbu for our new 10 Honbus start next year 2011. We are talking about launching a campaign to gather 1000 YMD strength for SGM Selangor.

Tonight I shared this vision with the other YMD Region chiefs and the way how Sensei prepared for this great campaign. Urging them to give it a good thought on how well we can achieve this epoch breaking record for YMD in Selangor. KP, YL, GH & JN enthusiastically shared their thoughts on how we can make it for 2011.

2011, YMD in Selangor must rise! Rise to a level we have never imagine before. To be able to report to Sensei on our Ever-Victorious YMD story.

Lion Roar of a Chief

Tonight we watched the SGI 39th HQ Meeting together in kaikan. LP, VC & CM shared their experiences attending the meeting themselves together with mentor. Especially touched by VC on his frank sharing that he cried so many times during his entire kenshukai in Japan.

Both JC & I had a chat with our Region Chief after the video session. Listening to his lion roar-liked encouragement on how youth should challenge our weaknesses and cowardice. Being a great chief in Gakkai does not mean problem-free. But a great chief will face his problem boldly and challenge head on without any pretense. Encouraging everyone who are facing problems now to challenge together and win. He shared this with us tonight:

When problem arise, the wise will rejoice and the fools will retreat.

I must fight on to develop myself to be able to have such life condition. A life condition that encompasses all those are challenging their individual problems and circumstances.

24-Hour Duty @ SGMS

Yesterday was my second 24-hour duty in kaikan for the year. Got a news from Region Chief in the morning JL got violent again and chanted an hour Daimoku for him. GW group on duty was YK. We both went to a few photography trips together. We shared our opinion on the importance in photographing Gakkai activities to leave a track record of kosen-rufu history in Malaysia. Read an article on how Sensei train the Suiko-Kai in 1960. Sensei was very strict but his affection for his youthful disciples has never been a question. The article truly make me think of how a true mentor foster his disciples.

Night Duty on the 15th of Seventh Month

According to Chinese saying, on the 15th of Seventh Month of the Lunar Calendar, the hell breaks free!
GH & I were supporting C3 kaikan night duty on the 3rd shift. Didn't manage to sleep the whole night but managed to dialogue with JY & KS. Got to know both of them are doing well in their lives and careers. Feel really happy for them.
It was a calm and quiet night for GH & I to talk about what we should be doing from 2010 onwards. The direction on where should Gakkai's Art & Culture movement heading. Deep in night & deep in thoughts, well alert!
That very moment, I feel like I'm in the Land of Tranquil Light

Neither the pure land nor hell exists outside ourselves; both lie within our own
hearts. Awaken to this truth, one is called a Buddha; deluded about it, one is
called common mortal. The Lotus Sutra reveals this truth, and who embraces the
Lotus Sutra will realise that hell is itself the Land of Tranquil Light.

{Reply to the wife of Late Lord Ueno}

Feel like a Buddha on the 15th of Seventh Month! Haha!!