Hearts Ever Youthful and Filled With Limitless Hope

Congratulations on the start of the Year of Youth and Dynamic Progress, overflowing with fresh, vibrant energy!

Today, as we scale a new summit of worldwide kosen-rufu toward our centennial in 2030, new members with deep karmic bonds are emerging joyously all around the globe, and our movement for peace, culture and education continues to go from strength to strength.

Amid many serious challenges facing humanity, you, my treasured friends, have been chanting more strongly than ever for the safety and security of your societies and uniting more strongly than ever to take action for the happiness and well-being of others. Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law, would surely applaud your efforts.

In times of difficulty, the way of Soka is to summon forth the “heart of a lion king”^[1] and challenge our situation based on the “strategy of the Lotus Sutra”^[2]—that is, faith in the Mystic Law. By transforming our karma into mission and winning over all obstacles, we demonstrate the great beneficial power of the Mystic Law. We make the place where we are right now the stage for an ever-unfolding drama of joy and dynamic progress.

The key to tapping this latent power within our lives is prayer infused with a deep vow for kosen-rufu. It is chanting the lion’s roar of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. And it is uniting solidly with our fellow members in the spirit of “many in body, one in mind.”