Reaffirming the Fundamental Bodhisattva Way

As we prepare to go out into the world, how do we use our Buddhist practice to address these times of great uncertainty—from joblessness and hopelessness to the climate crisis, social injustices and more?

SGI-USA student division members from across the country will discuss this salient topic at their spring semester lecture, which will be held virtually on April 17 (1 p.m. PDT, 3 p.m. CDT, 4 p.m. EDT). A link to the meeting will be available soon through the line organization.

The event—themed “How Do We Make Our Dreams a Reality in These Uncertain Times?”—will be open to high school seniors and students ages 18–25 who are enrolled in a post-secondary education program or school. They will be joined by SGI-USA Senior Executive Advisor Tariq Hasan, who will focus on Ikeda Sensei’s study lecture “For Our Wonderful New Members, Part 2: Happiness for Oneself and Others—Transforming Our Life State Through Sharing Buddhism” (June 2019 Living Buddhism, pp. 48-57).

Amelia Gonzalez, the SGI-USA student division young women’s leader, said the fundamental practice of introducing Nichiren Buddhism to others is the key to transforming any suffering. “Ikeda Sensei shares how we are able to awaken our Buddha nature and break through our own weaknesses,” she added. “Then, we have the confidence to take the best action.”

Young men’s co-leader Peter Karuppiah emphasized that in this crucial first year in the decade leading to the Soka Gakkai’s centennial in 2030, the study lecture will serve as an important opportunity to return to the founding spirit of the student division, which was established by second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda on June 30, 1957. “We can deepen our understanding of how Ikeda Sensei has developed students of this group into humanistic leaders of society,” he continued, “and how, as members of the SGI-USA student division, we can transform these uncertain times by sharing the life-affirming philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism.”