by Naoko Leslie, Maya Gunaseharan and Olivia Saito
SGI-USA Women’s Leader, Young Women’s Leader and Youth Leader
To the most wonderful members of the SGI-USA, thank you for your efforts toward the great success of the Ikeda Wisdom Academy Exam III! On Jan. 27, more than 1,600 youth leaders across the country took the exam, and over 90 percent passed! (See p. 8 for further coverage.) We heard many reports of men and women studying together with the youth, as well as proctoring exams and providing transportation. It was truly a four-divisional victory.
In this same spirit of joyful unity, preparations are underway toward creating the most encouraging district discussion meetings in February. This month, we honor SGI-USA Women’s Day (Feb. 27), as well as the births of Nichiren Daishonin (Feb. 16, 1222) and second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda (Feb. 11, 1900).
With these significant anniversaries, let’s welcome 50,000 members and guests to our February discussion meetings across the country.
How can we accomplish this? It will be through our one-to-one, heart-to-heart dialogues. As SGI-USA frontline leaders, let’s initiate a great wave of personal encouragement through visiting members at their homes, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with them, listening to their challenges and encouraging them, with great conviction, that attending and contributing to their discussion meeting will bring great fortune to their lives.
SGI President Ikeda writes: “The network of life-to-life bonds that is the Soka Gakkai was built through the efforts of individuals to visit and personally encourage their fellow members. Just as a broad interwoven nexus of roots that sink deep into the earth supports a mighty tree, it is the consistent and painstaking actions of members to offer personal guidance at the grassroots level that hold up the Soka Gakkai” (The New Human Revolution, vol. 8, p. 91).
For the friends we are introducing to Buddhism, the warm and familylike atmosphere of the district is one of the best places to begin one’s Buddhist practice and receive the Gohonzon! Let’s welcome many new members to our Soka family this month, fulfilling our great mission as Bodhisattvas of the Earth.
With SGI-USA Women’s Day fast approaching, we declare that the women and young women will take the lead to ensure the victories of our districts! See you on the frontlines!
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