Message from SSA General Director for All SSA Members

ADVANCING WITH GRATITUDE AND HARMONIOUS UNITY TOWARDS MAY 3

Dear fellow comrades of faith,
Greetings to all in this significant month of April!
On April 28, 1253, Nichiren Daishonin at the age of 32, declared the establishment of his teachings based on his profound understanding of the Lotus Sutra, the practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This is the teaching capable of saving all people in the Latter Day of the Law from sufferings. He was prepared to face all challenges and difficulties in propagating the Mystic Law.
Our successive presidents have also demonstrated with their actions, the similar determination to spread Nichiren Buddhism to enable more people to become truly happiness. This April 2 will mark the 63rd anniversary of the passing of second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda who had selflessly dedicated himself to the great goal of kosen-rufu in the same spirit as the Daishonin; achieving the remarkable feat of 750,000 membership households in his lifetime.
It was also President Toda who had reconstructed the Soka Gakkai from the ruins in the aftermath of World War II and laid the foundation for the growth and development of Nichiren Buddhism globally. His vision to relieve this world of sufferings was inherited by his disciple, Ikeda Sensei.
Let us not forget our debts of gratitude to the Daishonin and our Soka mentors who had selflessly dedicated their lives, to show us the "unsurpassed enlightenment" and lead us to perceive the mystic truth and attainment of Buddhahood in this lifetime. At the same time, let us remind ourselves to continue this mission of kosen-rufu, the life long quest of our mentors, regardless of whatever challenges we may face.
1
SSA's Advisory No. 34 1 April 2021

Ikeda Sensei in a recent article wrote;
"As we celebrate the 800th Anniversary of Nichiren Daishonin's birth, let us as heirs to his spirit, strengthen our prayers and actions to bring peace and tranquillity to our lands and to all people throughoutthe world based on the life-affirming principles of Buddhism."
I believe all of us in Singapore are rejoicing on the improved situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and our gradual return to normalcy. We are grateful for all the efforts by the various Government ministries, the community and grassroot organisations, and the many unsung heroes in Singapore who have united in this battle against the crisis.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all your prayers and great efforts in reaching out to encourage and support all our members during this challenging period.
Let us continue to send prayers for the early return to normalcy , the safety and good health of everyone in our families and our friends .
Towards a victorious May 3, let us advance in gratitude and harmonious unity with the spirit of "many in body, in one mind".
Please take good care of yourself in the meantime. Do remain vigilant and stay safe.
Sincerely,
Tay Eng Kiat General Director

Sent from my iPhone

很棒的體驗分享👍🏻👏🏻💪🏻

來自台灣創價學會的小學校長黃麗鴻受到創價教育以人為本、以學生為中心的思想所啟發，將學生和教職員的福祉置於首位，推動校園內一系列的改變，獲得國家級獎項。
我是在2008年生了重病後開始修行佛法。那一年11月，因為嚴重腹痛、嘔吐不止，昏倒後被送醫。自此之後需要不斷進出醫院，看遍中西醫都沒有效果。除了挑戰身體狀況，我也因為和丈夫有著相同執著的個性而常起爭執。孩子為了要照顧我，必須請假，無法正常上學。當時不僅工作受到影響，連就讀的博士班也幾乎要放棄。
就在走投無路時，想到了友人曾和我提過唱念「南無妙法蓮華經（Nam-myoho-renge-kyo）」的力量。
就在走投無路時，想到了友人曾和我提過唱念「南無妙法蓮華經（Nam-myoho-renge-kyo）」（唱題）的力量。不久後，我開始修行日蓮佛法，加入創價學會。很感謝身旁一直有會員親切地陪我唱題、照顧我並且鼓勵我。他們鼓勵我透過信心，挑戰自身困難，使自己成長，也幫助與自己有同樣遭遇的人獲得幸福。記得前輩曾說，並非幸福了才掛著笑容，而是笑容魅力能把幸福吸引到身邊。從此我開始笑臉迎人地面對每場挑戰。

修行日蓮佛法大約半年，我的病已完全痊癒。看到我的改變，丈夫也開始信仰。
人本教育
2012年7月，我順利取得國立嘉義大學教育學博士學位。之後參加校長考試，獲得第三名佳績。

在創價教育之父，也是創價學會第一任會長牧口常三郎的心中，教育的目的是為了孩子的幸福。擔任台灣雲林縣一個小學的校長後，自我期許本著創價教育的人本理念辦學，創造正面的改變。

我每天都先唱題，祈求學校師生團結一致、孩子幸福快樂，才展開一天的奮戰。每天早上，我都會站在校門口跟每一個孩子、老師及家長打招呼。我也盡全力關心老師，給予支持，增進信賴。

剛接任該校的校長時，面對沒有經費、資源的窘況，只能唱題祈求自己能帶領教職員積極投入教學及改善環境。

有一位原本完全不與同事們互動，家長反映不好的老師，我鼓勵他要發揮生命的價值，當孩子們的貴人，並開設中午數學創意班，讓他能發揮所長，嘉惠學生，因而重新贏得家長的信賴。後來這位老師主動擔任訓導組長，由於他用心培育學生，學校因此獲得台灣教育部「品德教育特色學校」的表揚。
積極行動
創價教育的理念也啟發我成立愛心志工隊，從1位領頭羊到現在26位成員，共同合作幫助孩童學習。為了幫助這群偏鄉弱勢的孩子得到更多照顧，我開辦每天免費課後才藝班，以減輕家長的經濟壓力，建立孩子們的自信。才藝班贏得了社區的支持，部分校友或善心人士得知才藝班的消息後，竟出錢贊助。
將原來「又醜又不好玩」的校園，改造成「又美又有趣味」的生態繪本花園，隨處可見學生的創意結晶。
由於受到創價學會推動環境可持續性（或稱環境永續）的影響，6年來，我帶著學校推動生態、節能教育，打造生態池，設計綠色電力課程。2014年，獲得生態有機校園甲等認證，隔年獲得校務評鑑特優、教師專業和課程教學、學生學習表現第一名、縣課程計畫特優等表揚。此外，致力於將老舊廢棄的公共設施重新打造成閱讀空間、藝廊等，陳設學生的美術作品。將原來「又醜又不好玩」的校園，改造成「又美又有趣味」的生態繪本花園，隨處可見學生的創意結晶。
2018年，我陸續獲得教育部及縣政府頒發的數個獎項，包括全國性殊榮「師鐸獎」、教學卓越金質獎，我何德何能獲獎！這完全要歸功於大家的努力。

池田大作鼓勵我們要充分發揮自己的天分，在各自的領域成為一流的人才，如此一來，我們就能為世界和平貢獻己力。

佛道修行是成就我做為一個教育工作者的動力，我決心在利他的人生大道上再接再厲，讓更多人獲得幸福。


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Jenny Cook talks about using her Buddhist practice to rebuild a life of appreciation, courage and hope following a life-threatening accident.



Jenny Cook talks about using her Buddhist practice to rebuild a life of appreciation, courage and hope following a life-threatening accident. 

When my mom left Okinawa, Japan, to marry my dad, an American Navy seaman, her sister asked her to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo whenever she was struggling.

Life as a Japanese immigrant in middle America was difficult—she didn't understand English, my dad developed a drinking problem and the two struggled financially. Keeping her sister's words in her heart, she chanted earnestly and read every day the one book by President Daisaku Ikeda that she had.

As a child, I felt embarrassed about our Buddhist practice and wanted to be normal like my friends. At the same time, I saw how happy the practice made my mom. It wasn't until I was in a life-threatening car accident that I fully embraced Buddhism.

It was the day after Thanksgiving Day in 2006, and I had just turned 18. I was in the car with my dad and brother, when an SUV cut us off. My body flew into the back of the headrest—crushing my face and breaking my mandible—before I slammed into the side door.

I was rushed to the hospital, and although my heart had stopped for two minutes, I survived. Laying on the gurney, I looked up at a round, mirrored light above me and saw the reality of my face. Ironically, it was exactly how I had felt on the inside for many years—unappreciative, cold and lifeless. At that very moment, I smiled genuinely for the first time. I was so grateful to be alive.

I smiled genuinely for the first time. I was so grateful to be alive.

I came out of the haze, immobile and unable to speak, with no movement in my face. While I was laying there in bed, my mom chanted beside me. For the first time, I heard Nam-myoho-renge-kyo so clearly and powerfully. I knew she was pouring her whole life into chanting for me.

I didn't want to let my parents down, and I didn't want to take anything for granted anymore. I determined to become a daughter who could fulfill her mission in life. Despite the immense pain, I pushed myself to chant, syllable by syllable.

After a little over a month of fighting in this way, I was finally able to say, "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo." It felt like a real victory.

My dad, who had fallen into a depression from the regret of putting his daughter in harm's way, started practicing Buddhism earnestly. He began to take responsibility for his life and stopped drinking. Looking back, this accident awakened my appreciation for life and brought my family closer.

Dreams and Challenges

When I returned to school, there was one hurdle after another. I was so behind on schoolwork that I wasn't sure whether I would graduate. Some classmates made fun of me for not having teeth—they were shattered in the accident. On top of that, my application to my dream school, Soka University of America (SUA) in California, founded by President Ikeda, was wait-listed.

I saw this as a test to see how serious I was about fighting for my life's mission. President Ikeda writes:

"Real life . . . is filled with an unending series of problems, including such things as financial troubles, sickness and family disharmony. But even though, at such times, your circumstances may seem unfortunate on the surface, if you keep chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo throughout, you will definitely transform all that is negative into something positive in accord with the Buddhist principle of 'changing poison into medicine.' You can ride out every difficulty, turning it into an opportunity for growth."

Photo by John Deters

Together with my mom, I determined to wake up every morning to chant before school. With the abundant life force that came from this and with clear goals, I no longer cared if people made fun of me. I still smiled, because I was just so happy to be alive. I overcame each hurdle, graduated on time with the support of my teachers, and I was accepted into SUA!

Back when I was 15, a friend in my local Soka Gakkai community went to SUA and blossomed into such an open person, full of life. I wanted to experience what he did, and it sparked my interest in what Soka education, education centered on the happiness of the student, could really do.

Finding My Mission

My first year was a struggle with my doubts and self-worth. But I was reminded by my mom that the purpose of education was to help students bring forth their own potential—not to bring together students who were already perfect.

During my study abroad in Peru, I saw firsthand the lack of education accessible to children. This strengthened my sense of responsibility to serve those who are in need.

In my final year of school, I worked at an institution that supports students with behavioral impairments, and it changed my life. A young girl whom I had wholeheartedly supported passed away from a brain aneurism. I was overcome by immense sadness, but vowed in my heart to never stop working for children and to become an educator who would never give up on her students. I determined to treat each student as a Buddha.

When I look back in this way, I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Ikeda Sensei and SUA for helping me awaken to my life's mission and teaching me the essence of education.

Currently, I am a learning behavior specialist who works with children with trauma related to incarceration, drug abuse and domestic violence. I help them connect their experiences in life to the value of education.

For example, one of my students struggles with depression and often shuts down during class. Rather than judging him, I looked into his interests. When I found out he liked maps, I incorporated them into our lesson. He became more engaged and began to open up. He shared that he wanted to leave home and live somewhere else. From there, we engaged in dialogue, which resulted in him realizing the importance of where we are now.

A Humanistic Educator

My utmost priority is to build relationships with my students, accept whatever behavior they display and, in turn, embrace them with care. I believe it's my responsibility to encourage them, rather than punish them, and to provide an education they see as valuable. I feel there is no separation between my Buddhist practice, what I've learnt through taking part in Soka Gakkai activities and my role as an educator.

When we went into quarantine and the students couldn't physically come to school, it was difficult to keep them on track. I took my lead from how our local Soka Gakkai community was striving to keep each member encouraged. I chanted for the safety of my students and to come up with new and creative ways to continue engaging with them. The most important thing I could do was to continue reaching out, one to one, to see how each of them was doing. I knew that no amount of reading assignments would shift their hearts; only life-to-life connections could give them hope.

The more I develop my Buddhist practice, the stronger I become and the more able I am to fully embrace my students and give them hope.

Before the shutdown, I had a student who stopped attending school. I kept chanting and writing him letters, determined to never give up on him. I was so happy when he emailed me, letting me know that he hadn't given up.

In my years of teaching, I've lost students to gun violence, drug abuse and suicide. This reality has brought out deep sadness and doubts about the impact I can have.

Every day is a battle. Sometimes my students will curse at me or tell me that I have no idea what they've gone through. But I know that to help my students grow and develop, I need to have a strong and expansive heart, overflowing with life force. The only way to do so is to win in the morning with abundant prayer. The more I develop my Buddhist practice, the stronger I become and the more able I am to fully embrace my students and give them hope.

My students teach me the power of our lives and the importance of persevering in our efforts. As someone who was fortunate enough to receive wonderful opportunities, I have an obligation to give back to my community. That's why my dream is to build a special education school in America based on the principles of Soka education. I want to transform the apathy in our society by empowering the youth to live contributive lives.

Adapted from an article in the July 2020 issue of Living Buddhism, SGI-USA.

https://www.sokaglobal.org/practicing-buddhism/personal-experiences/tragedy-to-treasure.html

Sent from my iPhone

Jenny Cook talks about using her Buddhist practice to rebuild a life of appreciation, courage and hope following a life-threatening accident.

Jenny Cook talks about using her Buddhist practice to rebuild a life of appreciation, courage and hope following a life-threatening accident. 

When my mom left Okinawa, Japan, to marry my dad, an American Navy seaman, her sister asked her to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo whenever she was struggling.

Life as a Japanese immigrant in middle America was difficult—she didn't understand English, my dad developed a drinking problem and the two struggled financially. Keeping her sister's words in her heart, she chanted earnestly and read every day the one book by President Daisaku Ikeda that she had.

As a child, I felt embarrassed about our Buddhist practice and wanted to be normal like my friends. At the same time, I saw how happy the practice made my mom. It wasn't until I was in a life-threatening car accident that I fully embraced Buddhism.

It was the day after Thanksgiving Day in 2006, and I had just turned 18. I was in the car with my dad and brother, when an SUV cut us off. My body flew into the back of the headrest—crushing my face and breaking my mandible—before I slammed into the side door.

I was rushed to the hospital, and although my heart had stopped for two minutes, I survived. Laying on the gurney, I looked up at a round, mirrored light above me and saw the reality of my face. Ironically, it was exactly how I had felt on the inside for many years—unappreciative, cold and lifeless. At that very moment, I smiled genuinely for the first time. I was so grateful to be alive.

I smiled genuinely for the first time. I was so grateful to be alive.

I came out of the haze, immobile and unable to speak, with no movement in my face. While I was laying there in bed, my mom chanted beside me. For the first time, I heard Nam-myoho-renge-kyo so clearly and powerfully. I knew she was pouring her whole life into chanting for me.

I didn't want to let my parents down, and I didn't want to take anything for granted anymore. I determined to become a daughter who could fulfill her mission in life. Despite the immense pain, I pushed myself to chant, syllable by syllable.

After a little over a month of fighting in this way, I was finally able to say, "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo." It felt like a real victory.

My dad, who had fallen into a depression from the regret of putting his daughter in harm's way, started practicing Buddhism earnestly. He began to take responsibility for his life and stopped drinking. Looking back, this accident awakened my appreciation for life and brought my family closer.

Dreams and Challenges

When I returned to school, there was one hurdle after another. I was so behind on schoolwork that I wasn't sure whether I would graduate. Some classmates made fun of me for not having teeth—they were shattered in the accident. On top of that, my application to my dream school, Soka University of America (SUA) in California, founded by President Ikeda, was wait-listed.

I saw this as a test to see how serious I was about fighting for my life's mission. President Ikeda writes:

"Real life . . . is filled with an unending series of problems, including such things as financial troubles, sickness and family disharmony. But even though, at such times, your circumstances may seem unfortunate on the surface, if you keep chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo throughout, you will definitely transform all that is negative into something positive in accord with the Buddhist principle of 'changing poison into medicine.' You can ride out every difficulty, turning it into an opportunity for growth."

Photo by John Deters

Together with my mom, I determined to wake up every morning to chant before school. With the abundant life force that came from this and with clear goals, I no longer cared if people made fun of me. I still smiled, because I was just so happy to be alive. I overcame each hurdle, graduated on time with the support of my teachers, and I was accepted into SUA!

Back when I was 15, a friend in my local Soka Gakkai community went to SUA and blossomed into such an open person, full of life. I wanted to experience what he did, and it sparked my interest in what Soka education, education centered on the happiness of the student, could really do.

Finding My Mission

My first year was a struggle with my doubts and self-worth. But I was reminded by my mom that the purpose of education was to help students bring forth their own potential—not to bring together students who were already perfect.

During my study abroad in Peru, I saw firsthand the lack of education accessible to children. This strengthened my sense of responsibility to serve those who are in need.

In my final year of school, I worked at an institution that supports students with behavioral impairments, and it changed my life. A young girl whom I had wholeheartedly supported passed away from a brain aneurism. I was overcome by immense sadness, but vowed in my heart to never stop working for children and to become an educator who would never give up on her students. I determined to treat each student as a Buddha.

When I look back in this way, I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Ikeda Sensei and SUA for helping me awaken to my life's mission and teaching me the essence of education.

Currently, I am a learning behavior specialist who works with children with trauma related to incarceration, drug abuse and domestic violence. I help them connect their experiences in life to the value of education.

For example, one of my students struggles with depression and often shuts down during class. Rather than judging him, I looked into his interests. When I found out he liked maps, I incorporated them into our lesson. He became more engaged and began to open up. He shared that he wanted to leave home and live somewhere else. From there, we engaged in dialogue, which resulted in him realizing the importance of where we are now.

A Humanistic Educator

My utmost priority is to build relationships with my students, accept whatever behavior they display and, in turn, embrace them with care. I believe it's my responsibility to encourage them, rather than punish them, and to provide an education they see as valuable. I feel there is no separation between my Buddhist practice, what I've learnt through taking part in Soka Gakkai activities and my role as an educator.

When we went into quarantine and the students couldn't physically come to school, it was difficult to keep them on track. I took my lead from how our local Soka Gakkai community was striving to keep each member encouraged. I chanted for the safety of my students and to come up with new and creative ways to continue engaging with them. The most important thing I could do was to continue reaching out, one to one, to see how each of them was doing. I knew that no amount of reading assignments would shift their hearts; only life-to-life connections could give them hope.

The more I develop my Buddhist practice, the stronger I become and the more able I am to fully embrace my students and give them hope.

Before the shutdown, I had a student who stopped attending school. I kept chanting and writing him letters, determined to never give up on him. I was so happy when he emailed me, letting me know that he hadn't given up.

In my years of teaching, I've lost students to gun violence, drug abuse and suicide. This reality has brought out deep sadness and doubts about the impact I can have.

Every day is a battle. Sometimes my students will curse at me or tell me that I have no idea what they've gone through. But I know that to help my students grow and develop, I need to have a strong and expansive heart, overflowing with life force. The only way to do so is to win in the morning with abundant prayer. The more I develop my Buddhist practice, the stronger I become and the more able I am to fully embrace my students and give them hope.

My students teach me the power of our lives and the importance of persevering in our efforts. As someone who was fortunate enough to receive wonderful opportunities, I have an obligation to give back to my community. That's why my dream is to build a special education school in America based on the principles of Soka education. I want to transform the apathy in our society by empowering the youth to live contributive lives.

Adapted from an article in the July 2020 issue of Living Buddhism, SGI-USA.

https://www.sokaglobal.org/practicing-buddhism/personal-experiences/tragedy-to-treasure.html

Sent from my iPhone