Message for the SSA Men Division Day Commemorative Meeting
To my trustworthy members of SSA Men Division,
My heartiest congratulations on your grand SSA Men Division Meeting commemorating 8.24 Men Division Day!
I'm keenly aware that each and every one of you are challenging yourselves continuously towards achieving victory with sheer perseverance amidst the harsh waves and severe realities of society today. As your fellow member of the Men Division, I'm writing you this message with utmost respect and admiration for the courageous struggles you are undertaking everyday.
Nichiren Daishonin says, "Were they not Bodhisattvas of the Earth, they could not chant the daimoku." (WND-1, p 385) Every single one of you who embrace the Mystic Law are the most precious and cherished child of the Buddha. All of you have the noble mission to spread the Buddhist ideal of upholding the dignity of life for the construction of a peaceful society. For this reason, please treat each other with respect and encourage one another as you move forward together with joy and courage.
It is none other than the act of advancing together with fellow members in harmonious unity based on the spirit of many in body, one in mind centered on faith that accords with the original spirit of the Daishonin, who taught us that our goal is the realization of worldwide kosen-rufu. I hope that you, the members of the Men Division in Singapore, will take it upon yourselves to construct with your very own hands, "a beautiful, great castle of Soka", in which a spirit of true friendship and goodwill prevails, thereby creating a model organization for worldwide kosen-rufu.
During the time of Nichiren Daishonin, it was also his middle-aged male disciples who played central roles in the community of his disciples. For example, Shijo Kingo was about 40 years old when he accompanied the Daishonin during the Tatsunokuchi Persecution, prepared to give his own life to protect his mentor. The other core followers of the Daishonin were all men in their prime, including Toki Jonin and Ota Jomyo who were in their 50s, and Soya Kyoshin who was in his mid-40s.
Because these men rose up to struggle valiantly and encouraged their fellow practitioners to do the same, many fellow disciples of the Daishonin were inspired to persevere in faith amidst great persecution and eventually surmount all obstacles that stood before them.
Men Division are the "golden pillars of kosen-rufu". Individually, you are the pillar in your family and the backbone supporting your respective communities. Where there are Men Division members who possess absolute conviction in faith, others feel reassured. When well-trusted men stand up, it gives others courage to do the same.
Members of the SSA Men Division, whom I cherish with all my heart: I sincerely hope you will join me in the endeavour to continue illuminating the lives of fellow members with the light of hope, show splendid actual proof of victory for the realization of a harmonious family of faith and the development of society as a whole, while contributing your utmost for the betterment of your country as excellent citizens.
I am earnestly praying every moment that all my fellow comrades in Singapore, without a single exception, will strive with greater vigour and continue to enjoy excellent health.
In closing, let me proclaim:
May the Singapore Men Division whom I trust with all my heart, achieve great victory!
May the Singapore Soka Association, the model organization for worldwide kosen-rufu, be blessed with glory.
May my beloved land of Singapore enjoy continuous prosperity!
Please convey my warmest regards to your friends in faith who are not present today. Please take care!
August 19, 2011
Daisaku Ikeda
President
Soka Gakkai International
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新加坡创价学会壮年部纪念大会池田SGI会长的贺词
我信赖的新加坡壮年部的各位，
由衷恭喜举行盛大的“8·24壮年部之日”纪念大会！我作为壮年部员之一，对于在严峻的社会中，忍耐、坚忍不拔地为赢取胜利而继续挑战到底的各位，谨此致以最高的敬礼。
日莲大圣人教示：“皆是地涌菩萨之出现，若不然，题目难唱也。”（《诸法实相抄》御书1430页）奉持妙法的每一位都是尊贵、至为重要的佛子。你们是构筑和平的社会连带，拥有弘扬生命尊严思想的尊贵使命的人。请大家务必互相尊敬、互勉互励地喜悦勇敢前进吧！只有以信心为根本展开“异体同心”的团结前进，才是体现了教导“世界广宣流布”的大圣人的精神姿态。不论如何，请新加坡的壮年部成为世界广布的模范，建构彼此间友好关系的美丽“创价大城”！
大圣人的时代也有优秀的壮年部活跃的榜样。比如有在龙口法难时，觉悟要与大圣人一同殉教的四条金吾。他当时大约40岁左右。还有作为弟子的中心人物，50多岁的富木常任和大田乘明，以及40多岁的曾谷教信等弟子。正是因为有这些壮年的弟子们，挺身奋起，果敢地奋战，竭尽心力地鼓励信心同志，才使到无数大圣人的弟子能贯彻信仰，跨越克服所有逆境。
壮年部不仅是“一家之主”，也是社会与地域的“骨干”，更是“广宣流布的黄金支柱”。只要有壮年部屹立不摇的信心确信，大家就会感到安心。只要有人人信赖的壮年部奋起，大家都能备受振奋，鼓起勇气。
我最为重要、珍惜的新加坡壮年部员们，衷心吁请和我一起，一边努力地在许多同志的心，照耀希望之光；一边为了一家和乐，以及社区与社会的发展，作为优良市民、良好国民活跃着，展示自身的胜利实证。
我也时时地诚心祈求，新加坡同志的每一位，一个也不遗漏地，愈益朝气蓬勃、
愈益健康。
最后，衷心致予以下的祝福：
我信赖的新加坡壮年部，胜利连连！
广布模范的新加坡创价学会，光荣辉耀！
挚爱的新加坡国土，繁荣昌盛！
请代我问候大家。请多多保重！
2011年8月19日
国际创价学会会长
池田大作
