The Journey of Mentor and Disciple—Advancing Toward Victory

From the Jan. 8 issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper.

Soka University’s track and field team put in an inspiring performance at this year’s annual Hakone Ekiden^[1] men’s relay marathon (from Jan. 2–3). As the university’s founder, I am delighted by their achievement. [Soka University finished in the top 10 for the first time to secure automatic qualification for next year’s race.]

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all the runners, coaches, staff and everyone else who supported the team throughout, and to all those who cheered them on. Thank you so much!

Members around Japan and the world have started the New Year, leading toward the Soka Gakkai’s 90th anniversary [on Nov. 18], with united prayer.

As Nichiren Daishonin declares, the united spirit of “many in body but one in mind” is the basis for the “universal transmission of the ultimate Law of life and death” and the means for fulfilling the “great desire for widespread propagation” (see “The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 217).

I am endlessly grateful for the noble efforts of the members of our behind-the-scenes groups—including those of the Soka Group, Gajokai and Byakuren Group—and everyone dedicated to ensuring that our activities take place safely and without any accidents.

I have received detailed reports on the New Year’s gongyo meetings that took place throughout Japan—from Hokkaido in the north, where members built snowmen to welcome the participants, to Okinawa in the south, where cherry blossoms are already in bloom. Our members living in areas still recovering from natural disasters also gathered undefeated.

I was delighted to hear that many new members joined our ranks at the New Year’s gongyo meetings, and family members, friends and leading thinkers were also present at the gatherings.

One of my dear friends, Harvard Divinity School professor emeritus Harvey Cox, attended a New Year’s gongyo meeting held in Boston. He warmly applauded an experience shared by a young women’s division member and a performance by the future division.

In our dialogue, Dr. Cox praised the Soka Gakkai spirit of supporting ordinary people by reaching out to those who are suffering and imparting hope to them. He commented that this spirit evident since the organization’s pioneering days lives on in the SGI movement, which is now spreading across the globe.

This year again, let’s help many people savor the great joy of human revolution!

Building a network of global citizens dedicated to peace starts here and now.

Congratulations on the young women’s small-group general meetings [that were held in Japan from Jan. 13 to Feb. 2].

In The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Nichiren Daishonin says: “The blessings and wisdom of the objective and subjective worlds [that is, life and its environment] are immeasurable. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo has these two elements of blessings and wisdom” (p. 218).

The vibrant presence of young women who embrace the Mystic Law opens the gateway to “blessings and wisdom” for their families, societies and the future.

“Thanks to your being here … ” “Thanks to your words … ”—dialogue filled with friendship and words of encouragement can empower and uplift people.

I hope everyone, especially the women’s division, will support the young women so that they can shine freely in their own way like the evening star.

My wife, Kaneko, and I will continue chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo so that all our beloved fellow members of the Soka family can advance each day in good health and youthful spirits.

The journey of mentor and disciple—
advancing toward victory
with my friends.