The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated isolation and loneliness for people the world over, but the veterans of kosen-rufu and life—the SGI-USA Many Treasures Group members—knew what to do. Amid lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, they quickly organized Zoom meetings, doubled down on their daimoku and strengthened their efforts in member care.
On June 17, 2023, over 200 region, zone and territory Many Treasures Group leaders gathered over Zoom with national leaders to unite around the goal to introduce one precious youth in every district in 2023 and make a fresh departure toward the latter half of the year.
In her opening words, Matilda Buck, SGI-USA Many Treasures Group vice women’s leader, remarked how fortunate they were to receive clear guidance from their mentor, referencing the April 7, 2023, World Tribune. Ikeda Sensei writes:
My focus now is on earnestly training the youth for the sake of the next 50 years. The Soka Gakkai will only continue to flourish in the future if we succeed in fostering an unending stream of youthful disciples who will carry on the spirit of the oneness of mentor and disciple and who will have the strength to champion the cause of good. (p. 3)
The Many Treasures Group members heard activity reports and experiences in faith from their peers who are championing the cause of good on the frontlines of kosen-rufu.
SGI-USA Women’s Leader Naoko Leslie thanked the participants for building the foundation of the SGI-USA together with Sensei over the many decades of their Buddhist practice. She encouraged them to invite their youth guests, children and grandchildren to the July young men’s and young women’s gatherings and share Nichiren Buddhism with many others to overcome their problems and transform their karma.
With renewed determination, the Many Treasures Group members on the call vowed to wholeheartedly raise the youth and support the SGI-USA’s Each District, One Precious Youth campaign, doubling down on their admirable efforts to develop and extend the kosen-rufu movement in America toward 2030 and beyond.
The Joy of Practicing With Real Bodhisattvas of the Earth
by Phyllis Goodson
Chicago Zone Many Treasures Group Women’s Leader
With the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, our zone quickly adapted our regular Many Treasures Group meetings. We connected to the members through scheduling monthly Zoom meetings centered on Ikeda Sensei’s guidance and sharing heartfelt experiences. To this day, over 250 Many Treasures Group members join by Zoom or phone every month.
To actualize Ikeda Sensei’s spirit to foster successors, we include youth in every meeting. Combining their youthful energy with the confident resiliency of the Many Treasures Group members inspires both. We develop confidence in the leaders of the future, and the youth get a glimpse of the benefit and fortune accumulated by practicing with the heart of a lion king throughout your life.
Personally, the road to 2030 has been quite a bumpy ride, but what makes this rollercoaster to the centennial bearable is the joy I feel practicing among real Bodhisattvas of the Earth, a family of supportive comrades in faith who actualize Sensei’s words.
Ask our members about their roles as Many Treasures Group members and you will immediately feel their strong sense of pride, shared commitment through the oneness of mentor and disciple, and a mission-driven determination to plant seeds of Buddhism and foster the next successors. Chicago Zone Many Treasures Group members are engaged; they show up for district activities, study, Soka 2030 and kosen-rufu gongyo meetings!
Going forward we want to instill a sense of responsibility in our Many Treasures Group members to have one precious youth join in every district in Chicago Zone, taking
to heart Sensei’s words from the April 14, 2023, World Tribune:
Even if no one else is aware of our efforts, the important thing is that we chant wholeheartedly to support our mentor and for the realization of kosen-rufu. … Our own life, our Buddha nature, also knows the profound meaning of what we are doing. … To be people who can “assure victory a thousand miles away” (“The Day before Yesterday,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 2, p. 391) requires courageous and united efforts. (p. 3)
That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.
Encouraging People Across the Land
by Steve Jaekle
Central Territory Many Treasures Group Men’s Leader
It is inspiring to see and learn of the places where Many Treasures Group members are practicing across the nation and throughout Central Territory, some living and practicing in quite remote locations.
One example is a group of four Many Treasures Group members living in a small northwest Alabama town. They live up to three hours from their district and drive up to an hour to meet as a group. It’s not an easy drive, over small country roads, winding through hills. Due to distance and age, most of them have not been to an SGI-USA Buddhist Center in over a decade. Yet they continue to fight with support from the members in their district and chapter, overcoming obstacles like cancer, heart disease and family discord. They chant daimoku, study, plant seeds, contribute financially, and one has sponsored four new members in their area. They are a community of believers, Bodhisattvas of the Earth, unshaken in their faith, sharing Buddhism in their province together with Ikeda Sensei!
There is an amazing 96-year-old member living alone on the eastern side of Alabama. Visiting her is a drive of three hours on the interstate, 30 minutes on a state highway, 30 minutes on a country road, then 5 miles on a single lane road to reach her home. She has traveled many times to the Hall of the Great Vow, recently attended a conference at the Florida Nature and Culture Center and chants many hours each day.
There are many similar stories of Many Treasures members chanting and sharing Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in remote cities and towns everywhere. How profound are their efforts for kosen-rufu!
We learned some things during the pandemic about the Many Treasures Group members. One most important fact: They do not give up! They are stalwart practitioners.
Sensei says the districts are the foundation. Continuing to develop districts and groups, building bridges to these remote locations, is the best way forward. The districts are the Soka families supporting Many Treasures Group members. They are the cause for youth to emerge in these places. A happy and dynamic Many Treasures Group serves as an example of actual proof, encouraging people in communities across the land.
July 14, 2023, World Tribune, pp. 10–11
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