SGI President Ikeda's New Year's Message

SGI President Ikeda's New Year's Message

                                                  “Opening a Path of Brilliant Victory”

My sincerest congratulations to everyone on the start of the Year of Advancement and

Victory! The SGI's broad network of peace, culture and education based on the philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism has today spread to 190 countries and territories around the globe. I

wholeheartedly thank all of our dedicated members who have made possible this unprecedented achievement in the annals of Buddhism.

I am sure that not only Nichiren Daishonin but also Shakyamuni Buddha, the Great Teacher

T'ien-t'ai and all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas throughout the universe, would be delighted at what we have accomplished.

My wife and I offer our most heartfelt prayers for the health and happiness of all of you, our

dear friends and readers of the World Tribune. We wish you and your families a year filled with bright hope, joy, peace and fulfillment.

René Huyghe, the French art historian with whom I met a number of times, strongly hoped

that people of the 21st century, spurred by the difficult problems confronting them and elevated by an overflowing sense of awareness, would be protagonists of “Reformation and Renaissance.”  Many serious global problems do indeed continue to cast a dark shadow over the world today.  But the deeper the darkness, the more brilliantly all of you who uphold the humanistic ideals and principles of the SGI shine as a source of hope. You are truly the forerunners of “Reformation and Renaissance” in the new century.

Kosen-rufu constitutes an unsurpassed path to lasting peace and happiness based on the

principle that the human revolution of an individual can lead to a global revolution-that is, a

fundamental change in all humankind.  The realm of kosen-rufu is one of bright, lively dialogue and inspiring life-to-life encounters. It is pervaded by an enthusiastic spirit of good citizenship to create a better society.  It is a community of human harmony spanning the globe, in which people of diverse cultural backgrounds come together as one big family, sharing each other's joys and sufferings.

Humanity today is thirsting for a sound philosophy of coexistence and harmony.  Such a

philosophy, by its very nature, must be rooted in values that uphold the sanctity of life. The

respect for others found in Buddhism, which teaches that all human beings are infinitely precious and worthy because they possess the Buddha nature, is a source of immense hope in this regard.  All people yearn for ideals and actions that are genuinely dedicated to peace and equality and are based on this fundamental spirit of respect.

Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, Indian plant geneticist and driving force for the creation of a

“sustainable green revolution,” has stressed the need for forging a network, an international alliance, of human revolution. Just as he says, real hope for humanity's future lies in building a spiritual global community committed to human revolution-the inner transformation of human beings themselves.

In The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Nichiren states, “Both oneself and others together will take joy in their possession of wisdom and compassion” (p. 146). Each of you is a Buddha who is demonstrating the nobility of the Buddha nature.  There are no Buddhas who do not possess wisdom or compassion, and there are no Buddhas who are defeated by misfortune.  Please unite harmoniously, warmly supporting and encouraging one another, and extend the SGI's circle of friendship widely throughout society with courage and wisdom.  Please actively reach out to others in dialogue with the aim of helping them become happy, and become outstanding leaders of kosen-rufu, winning as trustworthy individuals in your communities and societies.  This will bring you vast, everlasting benefit and activate the state of Buddhahood in your lives.

Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Prize winner, has kindly described the women of the SGI as her heroines.  Her admirable life is driven by the conviction embodied in these words: “Fear is contagious. It cripples and engulfs societies. But courage is contagious, too.” Difficulties are inevitable in a life of great mission, but courageously surmounting the obstacles that arise can propel one toward wonderful new possibilities.

In the Lotus Sutra, the bodhisattvas who are disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha pledge before him in a mighty lion's roar to courageously “travel here and there, back and forth through theworlds in the ten directions” (The Lotus Sutra, p. 193) in order to spread the Law in the evil age after his passing. Those who walk the correct path of mentor and disciple throughout their lives will know no impasse or stagnation. This is the essence of genuine victors in life-people of profound spiritual depth, strength and nobility.

I am confident that, as we continue to press on toward the Soka Gakkai's 80th anniversary

and the SGI's 35th anniversary in 2010, you will make each day shine with even greater

brilliance and golden significance in the history of kosen-rufu.  Please join me and all our fellow members around the world in making a fresh departure toward realizing wonderful, triumphant achievements for yourselves, your families, your communities, your societies and your countries.

Let's cheerfully advance with the united spirit of “many in body, one in mind.” Let's leave a

joyful and exhilarating record of “brave and vigorous exertion” (see LS, 10).  Let's energetically and enthusiastically foster capable fellow Bodhisattvas of the Earth.

When we are solidly united, the skies of the future will stretch on infinitely, with the sun of

Soka brightly illuminating a hope-filled horizon. A throne of eternal happiness lies ahead for

you, along with a sparkling crown of glory.  Gazing together at the dawn sky of worldwide kosenrufu, let us set forth toward new victories this year.