HKSGI

Peace Proposal by SGI President Daisaku IKeda

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:25:04 +0000

In his 30th annual peace proposal, released on January 26, Daisaku Ikeda, president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Buddhist association, calls for a nuclear abolition summit to be held in 2015 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to ensure that the growing momentum toward abolition of nuclear weapons becomes irreversible.

Holding this summit on the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of these cities, and in the year of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, would bring home to world leaders the terrible destructive capacity of nuclear weapons and help ensure the necessary action toward their abolition, thereby marking the effective end of the nuclear weapons era.

In this year’s proposal, titled “Human Security and Sustainability: Sharing Reverence for the Dignity of Life,” Ikeda points to the possibility of a more hopeful phase in the struggle to realize a nuclear-free world, seeing signs of a tipping point where a “cascade” of governments will support adoption of a Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC) to comprehensively ban nuclear weapons.

Ikeda, who has been engaged in the antinuclear movement since the late 1950s, strongly reaffirms his endorsement of the idea of an NWC, stating that we must take “the determination … that humanity and nuclear weapons cannot coexist, and give it concrete form as a binding legal agreement expressing the shared conscience of humankind.”

He calls for formation of an action group for an NWC, comprising supportive governments and NGOs, and urges that if arguments from the perspectives of human rights and sustainability are mustered alongside those from international humanitarian law, this will expand the groundswell of grassroots efforts pushing for nuclear weapons abolition.

Reflecting on the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011, Ikeda urges Japan to make a rapid transition to energy policies not reliant on nuclear power generation, and to intensify its involvement in renewable energy technology and research, both domestically and to support efforts in developing countries. He calls for a strengthening of the global role of the IAEA in dealing with the impacts of nuclear power plant accidents and the decommissioning of obsolescent reactors.
Considering the suffering caused by an increasing prevalence of natural disasters around the world, Ikeda calls for responses to be centered on a human rights approach and proposes that UNHCR’s mandate be officially expanded to include provision of relief for people displaced by such disasters. He also stresses the importance of empowering women to play a greater role in disaster prevention, mitigation and recovery efforts.
Toward the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development being held this year in Rio de Janeiro, Ikeda calls for a broader debate on the concept of Sustainable Development Goals to follow the Millennium Development Goals from 2015. He urges a comprehensive approach that will address the full range of sustainability and human security concerns in both developing and developed countries.
Read a synopsis of the proposal at: http://www.sgi.org/sgipresident/proposals/peace/2012.html

Daisaku Ikeda, 84, has issued proposals analyzing the key issues facing humankind on January 26 every year since 1983, commemorating SGI’s founding on that date in 1975. He offers insight from a Buddhist perspective and makes concrete suggestions in a spirit of contribution to the global dialogue centered around the United Nations. Many of his proposals have borne fruit.
Soka Gakkai International is a socially engaged Buddhist association with over 12 million members around the world.

HARMONY - Feb 2012

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:18:28 +0000

Special Feature: Sharing the Happiness

2012 Feb Harmony

This month we look at the way we can help people become absolutely happy and overcome any suffering or negative situation they might be experiencing.

Let’s face it, the world today is a difficult and challenging place. The headlines are full of people and nations doing unspeakable things to each other. The respect and care for another person’s dignity and life seems to stop with ones immediately family and sometimes it doesn’t even extend that far.

Anywhere you turn, you can find people who are at a loss as to how to fundamentally change their circumstances, let alone positively impact the lives of others.

It seems that people are all to often ruled by greed, anger or foolishness. But they don’t have to be.

As Nichiren Buddhists, we know that the key to be able to transform our lives, the lives of our family and friends and the people around us, lies in the heart of the Lotus Sutra, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

When we chant we tap into our inherent Buddhahood, and as a result we manifest our hope, courage and confidence. We realize that we can definitely change any situation. Unless we share this transformative ability with others, they will never know that they also have the key within to change any situation and possess the ability to be absolutely happy.

As President Ikeda says:

“Each person possesses a precious inner treasure of infinite worth. To remain unaware of this and stumble about in spiritual poverty is a tragic waste. In contrast, a person fully awakened to the jewel-like dignity of their own life is capable of truly respecting that treasure in others.”

If we are to change the direction of the world from its current situation, we must help others awaken to the inherent value of not only their own life but the lives of others.

Let’s share the happiness of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with others.

Robert “Skip” Williams
Editor-in-chief

Available at all HKSGI Culture Centres

January 26: SGI Day

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:25:41 +0000

It was on January 26, 1975, that Soka Gakkai International (SGI) was inaugurated at the First World Peace Conference on the island of Guam (more)

Learning about dignity by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:44:08 +0000

Learning about dignity

By DAISAKU IKEDA

Special to The Japan Times

On Dec. 19 the United Nations General Assembly, meeting in New York, adopted a historic new U.N. Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training. (more)

HARMONY - Jan 2012

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:31:46 +0000

Special Feature: Creating Hope

2012 Jan Harmony

One of the greatest benefits of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is that, quite naturally, a sense of hope is created within us. ?Regardless of the circumstances, with a strong Buddhist practice, anyone and everyone can be triumphant. ?This is a natural result of chanting. We are challenging and overcoming our fundamental darkness and opening the door that allows our inherent Buddhahood to shine forth.

When we lack hope, we allow our negativity to take hold. We question ourselves, our worth; we succumb to the situations around us, and can feel that there is no way out or that no better future lies ahead.

But as President Ikeda reminds us, “A life filled with hope is strong. Hope is the greatest weapon in the world.”?(DOY p. x)

As is discussed in our special features, hope is something that we create; it is something that comes from within us, not from outside ourselves.? Sure, we all respond to our external environment, but to seek hope just from the outside is setting us up for disappointment. Especially when we are constantly bombarded by news reports that seem to focus only on negative events or the dark side of humanity.

So again the question becomes, how do we create hope, especially when things look so bleak? How do we find and open that door, revealing the beauty and wonder that awaits us on the other side? Simple, we chant.

“Whether in suffering or in joy, even in the face of an insurmountable deadlock, if one continues to chant daimoku (Nam-myoho-renge-kyo) wholeheartedly, then tremendous hope will naturally well up from within.” (Daily Guidance vol. 2 p. 352).

Hope is optimism.?

“There is no pessimism in Buddhism-not in the past, present or future. There is only optimism.? Therefore, let us advance eternally with hope and optimism, come what may.” (FIA p. 127)

Nichiren Daishonin teaches us how to live our life to the fullest and reminds us that courage and perseverance are essential qualities to attain happiness. Let’s create hope and encourage others as we move along this path.
Robert “Skip” Williams
Editor-in-chief

Available at all HKSGI Culture Centres

This week on SGI YouTube Channel -Mexico Antinuclear Exhibition

admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:17:08 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/user/SGIVideosOnline

HARMONY - Dec 2011

admin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:30:00 +0000

Special Feature: The Difference Between Buddhism And Positive Thinking

2011 Dec Harmony

Dear members and friends of SGI,

As always, we would like to thank you for reading this month’s Harmony.

In this issue we take a look at the difference between Buddhism and positive thinking.

My father was a strong believer in the power of positive thinking and the power of a positive mind. Throughout my childhood I was bombarded with the slogans and sayings of his favorite motivational speakers. Until the day he died, he would always respond with an enthusiastic “GREAT” when anyone asked him how he was - regardless of how he was actually feeling.

My father was a voracious reader and our house was filled with all types of self-help books. One of the first books I can remember him giving me (beside Dr. Seuss) was “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill and “How to Win Friend & Influence People” by Dale Carnegie.

I grew up on the stuff and I have seen first hand the power of such a thought process. Positive thinking has a lot of value and can add benefit to one’s life. My father was a very determined man who grew up very poor and was able to better his life and that of his family by holding such views.

But he was also a man who suffered a lot and was at a loss how to change himself, not just superficially but fundamentally. His positive thinking was a kind of band-aid, a way to cover up the wounds but never getting at the core problem. He was not able to change his karma through his positive mental attitude, regardless of how often he said “GREAT!”.

That is, of course, until he started to chant.

As is explained in our Special Features, Buddhism goes beyond just positive thinking and offers a means to change ones life at the core.

I feel grateful for having been exposed to a lot of the modern-day pioneers in the area of positive thinking. Having read books by many of them, I can honestly say that I find the very best inspirational speaker of our day to be Daisaku Ikeda. Whether a practicing Buddhist or not, his words touch one’s heart and offer hope to anyone willing to listen.

He teaches us how to use our Buddhist practice, not merely to change our attitude, but to understand and change our lives. Thus providing us with the never give up spirit than enables us to be happy and really win. Now that’s GREAT!

Robert “Skip” Williams
Editor-in-chief

Available at all HKSGI Culture Centres

Nov 18: Celebrating the founding of the Soka Gakkai

admin — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:59:25 +0000

November 18 is the anniversary of the establishment of the Soka Gakkai.

full text

HARMONY - Nov 2011

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:43:18 +0000

Special Feature: Beauty, Gain & Good

2011 Nov Harmony

Dear members and friends of SGI,

Each November we celebrate the founding of the Soka Gakkai.

In honor of the occasion, this month our Special Features will look at Mr. Makiguchi’s perspective on creating value. It is important for us, as an organization promoting peace, culture and education, to examine our roots.

On November 18th, 1930, two years after embracing Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, together with his disciple and fellow teacher Josei Toda, published the first volume of The System of Value-Creating Pedagogy. It is from this date that we recognize the establishment of our organization.

When I first learned that educators had formed the Soka Gakkai, I was unsure as to the correlation or how this came about. After all, we are lay believers of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism, not teachers, professors or academics, not most of us anyway. So what was the connection, that through education we lay the foundation for future life experiences and behavior?

As President Ikeda explains:

“Mr. Makiguchi found that Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism recognizes and seeks to develop the wisdom inherent in all human being. It correlated with his personal views on education and thus he considered it a philosophy of popular education. Mr. Makiguchi felt that in Buddhism he had found the means by which to realize the ideals he had pursued throughout his life–a movement for social reform through education.”

With the happiness and wellbeing of humanity at the core, Mr. Makiguchi & Mr. Toda worked tirelessly to lay a solid foundation for the firm establishment of the Soka Gakkai. They had the courage to stand up for their beliefs, even in the face of sever persecution, including imprisonment. It is because of this conviction that the Soka Gakkai exists today.

Under the leadership of our current president, Daisaku Ikeda, our organization has expanded to 192 counties and territories along with the establishment of the Soka Education System.

We hope that in this issue you will gain a greater understanding of how and why a pair of educators came about to establish what is now a dynamic organization that gives hope to people the world over.

Robert “Skip” Williams
editor-in-chief

Available at all HKSGI Culture Centres

October 2: SGI World Peace Day

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:01:35 +0000

October 2 is celebrated within the SGI as World Peace Day, marking a key milestone in the international development of Nichiren Buddhism, with its goal of contributing to building lasting peace throughout the world.
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