CategoryFrontline News

by SGI-USA Future Division and Parents Group Leaders On Aug. 14, 400 elementary school, junior high and high school division and parents group members gathered at reopened SGI-USA centers for the first in-person Soka Family Day meetings since 2020. Several hundred more joined virtually. It was a lively and joyful reunion for all—an opportunity to

SALT LAKE CITY, July 3—For three years, Joel Shelton waited for this day. He had, in late 2019, searched online for “Buddhism without meditation” amid a career crisis. What he found was the SGI-USA community in Salt Lake City, where he learned how to create change and find happiness within. Mr. Shelton was among the

The discussion meetings took shape as family affairs, as gatherings of comrades emerging from an unprecedented, shared hardship. Since the start of the pandemic, the first 11 in-person, hybrid discussion meetings were held July 17–19 at the Los Angeles Friendship Center and the Chicago and New York culture centers. Each meeting was outfitted with a

by Ryo Kuroki SGI-USA Young men’s Leader On July 10th, the young men’s division of the SGI-USA celebrated the 71st anniversary of our founding by holding commemorative meetings across the country. A total of 1,190 young men and nonbinary members and guests gathered, marking the first time this many youth came together in person since

by Maya Gunaseharan SGI-USA Young Women’s Leader To the most noble members of the SGI-USA,  On behalf of the young women, I’d like to express my deep appreciation to each of you for your support of our commemorative introductory meetings held on July 24 throughout the country! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

The Florida Nature and Culture Center (FNCC) is a conference facility gifted to the members of SGI-USA by Ikeda Sensei. Since its doors opened in 1996, the FNCC has become a special place for members to strengthen their faith, report victories to their mentor and create friendships and cherished memories. And after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus

by Kevin Moncrief SGI-USA Men’s Leader The men of the SGI-USA are determined to unite and foster the victory of the young men in establishing the peace of the land. Therefore, in July, we will fully support the young men’s division general meetings and introduction meetings by planting seeds and bringing at least one young

A high school World Tribune correspondent shares what the participants took away from the first future division conference in three years.

Tucson, Ariz., May 1—In a joyful ceremony, the resilience of the Southwest Zone members shone through with the long-awaited grand opening of the new Tucson Buddhist Center.  Due to COVID-19, the grand opening had been postponed twice, once in November 2021, and again in January 2022. But, each time, the members redetermined to patiently await

At the Central Executive Committee Conference, significant changes to reopening are approved.

by Maya Gunaseharan SGI-USA Young Women’s Leader I would first like to express my deepest appreciation to all SGI-USA members for their support of the young women toward the anniversary of our division’s founding on July 19. With no shortage of crises in society resulting from the disregard of human life, the difficulty of this

by Ryo Kuroki SGI-USA Young Men’s Leader In December 2019, Ikeda Sensei conveyed the significant role SGI members would play to transform our global society toward the Soka Gakkai’s centennial in 2030. Calling forth the need to transform great evil into great good, he said, “The 10-year period from the 90th to the 100th anniversaries

On June 5, 2022, SGI-USA’s West and Central territories livestreamed kosen-rufu gongyo meetings at the Los Angeles Friendship Center and Chicago Culture Center, respectively, where new territory leadership appointments were announced. Below are summaries of the new leaders’ determinations toward the Soka Gakkai’s centennial in 2030. James Herrmann West Territory Leader Two-and-a-half years have already

No national-level Juneteenth celebration will be held in June. In lieu of this, each territory (East, Central and West) may either hold Juneteenth events or Black history commemorative events between September and November to highlight milestones in the fight for equality and justice. For more information, please contact your territory People of African Descent Group

by Adin Strauss SGI-USA General Director To our wonderful SGI-USA members, Thank you so very much for your support of our May Commemorative Contribution activity this year. Your incredible sincerity shone through even the challenging situations that we are all facing now. You are so greatly appreciated! Dean Nisha Botchwey of the University of Minnesota’s

On June 10, 2022, to commemorate the women’s division’s 71st anniversary, the SGI-USA women will conduct a gongyo and daimoku relay from their homes any time between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. in their local time zones. Collectively, they will pray for the following: 1) the peace of the land and the world; 2) to

NEW YORK, May 1—With tears of joy, the members of Queens Region celebrated the long-anticipated opening of the SGI-USA Queens Buddhist Center, with over 260 members and guests gathering in person and an additional 240 joining the festivities virtually. The meeting opened with a message from Ikeda Sensei, who called the center the result of

We are shocked and saddened by the senseless violence that is taking place, including the horrendous shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York. Violence in any form is intolerable; violence against people peacefully shopping in a grocery store because of their race is outrageous; and violence against children and those who support and protect them, in the

This month, we celebrate 65 years since second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda founded the student division on June 30, 1957. SGI-USA student division members are striving to expose their friends on campus to the power of Nichiren Buddhism to discover the great purpose of their lives. Ikeda Sensei recalled guidance from Mr. Toda on

The May Commemorative Contribution activity is an opportunity for us to renew our vow as Bodhisattvas of the Earth to advance our movement for peace by contributing financially to the SGI-USA. This year, it is being held from April 28 to June 5, with the theme “Dashing Forward With the ‘Heart of a Lion King.’”