By living in rhythm with the Mystic Law, we are always able to energize and invigorate our lives.
Nichiren Daishonin metaphorically describes the unstoppable flow of kosen-rufu: “Though the trees may desire to be still, the wind will not cease to blow; though we may wish for spring to linger, it must give way to summer” (“The Blessings of the Lotus Sutra,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 672).
Likewise, moving forward continually, our members throughout Japan and around the world have celebrated May 3, Soka Gakkai Day, by making a fresh start with ever greater energy and enthusiasm.
The congratulations we have received from people in diverse spheres of endeavor are testimony to the immense trust placed in the Soka family today. They are accolades won through the shared struggle of mentor and disciple, and I dedicate them all to our first and second presidents, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda.
I am delighted to see our Fife and Drum Corps and Music Corps members bringing joy to many through their inspiring performances at parades in Yokohama, Fukuoka, Wakayama and Osaka, as well as in Hachioji, Tokyo.
This month, SGI-Brazil’s Music Corps celebrates the 60th anniversary of its founding. All over the world, Bodhisattvas Wonderful Sound of Soka are playing melodies of hope and inspiration.
Enriching people’s hearts through the power of culture and bringing people together through the power of dialogue—this is the essential focus of our efforts for value creation.
This green month of May brings back memories of the shared struggles I waged with my fellow members in Kansai, each leading to our movement’s dynamic development.
In May 1956, through everyone exerting themselves powerfully and positively, with the heart of a lion king, amid a swirling onslaught of obstacles and devilish functions, Osaka Chapter accomplished the brilliant record of introducing 11,111 households to Nichiren Buddhism in a single month.
In May 1960, after I became the third Soka Gakkai president, the very first place I visited was Kansai.
On May 11 the following year, Hyogo and Kobe chapters were established. The joint meeting commemorating that event took place under driving rain, but the members’ energy and excitement outshone the stormy weather. United in one heart, we vowed together to strive with courageous faith that puts practice first.
It was at this meeting in Hyogo, a pioneering center of culture, that we announced plans to start producing films documenting our activities for kosen-rufu. This was an important starting point for today’s Soka Channel video on-demand (VOD) service and the Seikyo Shimbun’s online videos.
It was also in Kansai [in 1976] that I designated May 5 as Soka Gakkai Successors Day, out of a wish for the happiness, growth and success of our future division members.
This May, our members in mighty Kansai will once again set forth to achieve bold and dynamic progress,[1] spearheaded by the youth embodying the principle of “from the indigo, an even deeper blue.” Our organization in Kansai is my pride, my hope, my treasure.
When my wife, Kaneko, and I were married 70 years ago (on May 3, 1952), Mr. Toda gave us a traditional Japanese ox cart ornament as a wedding present, saying it was meant to symbolize the great white ox cart described in the Lotus Sutra.
The Daishonin writes, “These large carriages drawn by white oxen are able to fly at will through the sky of the essential nature of phenomena [the Dharma nature]” (“On the Large Carriages Drawn by White Oxen,” WND-2, 976).
My wife and I share the unchanging wish and prayer, based on our gratitude for our mentor and on our vow for kosen-rufu, that all our precious members, in step with the development of our movement, will make dynamic progress toward attaining a magnificent life state of boundless good fortune, of eternity, happiness, true self and purity.
References
- On May 11, 2022, Kansai held a lively general meeting attended by 100,000 members at the Osaka Dome. ↩︎
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