by Adin Strauss
SGI-USA General Director
To our wonderful and irreplaceable SGI-USA members,
It’s hard to find the words to fully express our gratitude for your sincere participation in this year’s May Commemorative Contribution activity, especially amid times that no one could have anticipated.
I am reminded, once again, that the Soka Gakkai remains strong because of the dedicated efforts and determination of each member to respond to Ikeda Sensei’s vision for peace and happiness throughout the world.
Among many stories, I heard about a precious women’s division member whose initial reaction to May Contribution was along the lines of “Oh no, I can’t possibly this year!”
As an immigrant rights attorney, her clientele and income had dropped significantly due to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This filled her with deep anxiety, but she chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to understand the significance of this year and transform her hesitation.
Through fervent prayer, her anxiety turned into appreciation for being a part of our Soka Buddhist community and having a mentor who demonstrates with his own life how to win over adversities. She joyfully participated in this year’s contribution activity, and instead of feeling anxious about her income she began chanting to support her clients in this time of crisis. Her financial situation stabilized, and she is now striving to encourage others based on this personal breakthrough.
This experience truly exemplifies the “treasures of the heart.”
Sensei states: “Nichiren Daishonin writes that even if we should meet with disasters and calamities, they cannot destroy our hearts. Nothing can destroy the treasures of the heart. Every adversity is but a trial for us to overcome so that we can attain eternal happiness. Nichiren Buddhism, our practice of faith in the Mystic Law, enables us to transform all poison into medicine without fail” (March 25, 2011, World Tribune, p. 1).
Going forward, let’s advance through these challenging times with our amazing youth in the forefront, engaging in dialogue and spreading our Buddhist philosophy of peace and justice with our motto “One Youth. Infinite Hope.” More Than Ever!
And together with our mentor, let’s achieve victory after victory toward Oct. 2, the 60th anniversary of worldwide kosen-rufu, and Nov. 18, the 90th anniversary of the Soka Gakkai’s founding!
Thank you again, and please stay well!
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