Visiting members and offering personal encouragement form the cornerstone of the Soka Gakkai’s human network. But it’s not easy to know what constitutes an effective home visit. Below are helpful tips on what to keep in mind before, during and afterward.
Before
• Chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for the happiness of the person you are visiting.
• Be on time! If you are running late, however, please let the individual know.
• Bring the World Tribune or Living Buddhism to use as the basis for faith encouragement.
• Feel free to bring an offering for the Gohonzon, such as fruit.
• If the person you are visiting is comfortable, bring a leader or a someone you are fostering.
During
• Please greet the family and thank them for letting you visit their home.
• Whenever possible, chant and do gongyo together.
• Be considerate of the person you are visiting and their family. Make sure the visit is not too long or late at night.
• Listen and offer guidance based on faith.
• If they are not subscribed to the World Tribune and Living Buddhism, encourage them to subscribe so they can be synced up with their Soka community and have access to faith encouragement.
• Update the person on SGI activities happening locally and the latest organizational initiatives.
• If he or she asks you to keep the conversation confidential, please honor their request.
Don’t worry if you can’t answer every question. Arrange a follow-up visit with a senior in faith.
After
• Chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for the member’s victory and growth.
• Continue to follow up with them until they have a breakthrough.
Food for Thought
“The key to encouraging others is being able to move and inspire them through your own conviction. That way, logical explanations will have an impact. That’s why it’s important to chant a lot and bring forth powerful life force before going to offer guidance.” (The New Human Revolution, vol. 27, p. 280)
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“In working together with seniors in faith, younger members can learn how to give guidance in faith and share Buddhism with others. This joint struggle is indispensable to fostering people who can genuinely contribute to kosen-rufu.” (NHR-27, 319)
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“Sincerity is expressed through considerate behavior, which fosters trust and confidence.” (NHR-25, 158)
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“Among your friends and fellow members, some may suffer from illness, financial troubles, family discord or other hardships. Some may have even had their families or relatives turn their backs on them.
“We have a mission to listen to their problems, pray for their happiness and talk with them about Nichiren Buddhism. And in fact, that is what we have always done. We have shed tears with them, studied the Daishonin’s writings and chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo together, and persistently offered encouraging words. As a result, many have stood up in faith and overcome their difficulties.” (NHR-27, 338–39)
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“You must never share with anyone else what somebody has told you in a personal guidance session.
“Leaders in the realm of faith, in particular, have a responsibility to protect others’ privacy. If the things you were told in confidence were to get out, it would lead people to mistrust the Soka Gakkai as a whole. It is also a very serious offense in terms of Buddhism, because it obstructs the progress of kosen-rufu.” (NHR-27, 280–81)
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“The most valuable treasure in life is the experience of struggling beside others, encouraging them, and inspiring them until they awaken and act with strong faith. I hope you become people of whom countless others will say, ‘I will never forget that person for facing my problem with me and chanting for me’ or ‘Thanks to that person, I am happy today.’ There is no greater honor for a human being. Such a person is a champion of life worthy of the highest respect.
“The Soka Gakkai organization is formed of such heart-to-heart connections built through personal guidance and encouragement.” (NHR-27, 339)
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