bulletin july, 2013

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SGI-UK members stall at Glastonbury Festival Trust through friendship. Peace through trust. Summer Community Concert at Taplow Court Making the impossible possible in Wales! 2 2 4 5 5 3 Toynbee-Ikeda inspiration for youth 30th anniversary of Sensei’s first visit to Romania Women shining with actual proof in Northern Ireland e-bulletin Please send your news and pictures to our email address: roystone55news @yahoo.co.uk The deadline for items to be considered for the next issue is Sunday, August 4 SGI-UK online news bulletin Issue 100 17.7.2013 Beth Dahill WORDS OF THE WEEK We are the pillars of peace. Our victories are the light of hope for the world! By exerting ourselves, without leaving any regrets behind, in all the challenges that we now face, let’s achieve monumental victories for both kosen-rufu and our own lives! – Daisaku Ikeda, July 15-21, 2013 SGI-UK Youth Peace Committee (YPC) members gathered together on July 7, a beautiful sunny day at Taplow Court to ‘share their shadow’ in support of ICAN’s Nuclear Abolition Week from July 6-July 13, writes Beth Dahill. ICAN is the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and consists of over 300 partner organisations in over 70 countries around the world – of which SGI is one! Young and old from all over the world have been ‘sharing their shadows’ in support of a ban on nuclear weapons to be agreed in 2015. Manny Fernandez, Chair of the YPC and SGI-UK Youth Division leader, called Youth ‘share their shadow’ in Nuclear Abolition Week out: “Can we do it?” to which we shouted back: “Yes we can!” In fact, I CAN. l The Youth Peace Commitee supports President Ikeda’s calls for a world free of nuclear weapons, responding to the historic declaration by second President Josei Toda on September 8 1957. SGI-UK General Director Robert Samuels writes: This is the 100th edition of the e-bulletin! The e-bulletin succeeded the printed ‘Bulletin’, which had begun as an independent newssheet in 1988 and then found itself in the pages of the ‘Art of Living’ from 2001, before going online in 2009. As we mark the 100th edition of this twice-monthly record of the great breadth and depth of SGI-UK activities, we are also looking to its next incarnation as an online newspaper when we open a members’ website later this year or next year. This anniversary edition is a good opportunity to thank the e-bulletin’s editor, Roy Stone who has received, collected, cajoled and chased stories twice a month and then edited them to fit the four – or frequently now five – page format without cease for over four years. I am sure that together with me he would like to express great gratitude to the hundreds of members who have submitted reports of local and national activities. While the ‘Art of Living’ contains Nichiren Daishonin and Sensei’s wisdom, experiences and study in depth the e-bulletin paints the picture of the vigorous way we are putting this inspiration into action in the UK and beyond. Now we look to the further development of the e-bulletin. Thank you very much for your support. 100th edition: Thanks for all your support!

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Page 1: Bulletin July, 2013

SGI-UK members stall at Glastonbury

Festival

Trust through friendship. Peace through trust.

Summer Community Concert at

Taplow Court

Making the impossible

possible in Wales!

2 2 4 553

Toynbee-Ikeda inspiration for youth

30th anniversary of Sensei’s first

visit to Romania

Women shining with actual proof

in Northern Ireland

e-bulletinPlease send your news and pictures to our email address: roystone55news @yahoo.co.uk

The deadline for items to be considered for the next issue is Sunday, August 4SGI-UK online news bulletin Issue 100 17.7.2013

Beth

Da

hill

WORDS OF THE WEEK

We are the pillars of peace. Our victories are the light of

hope for the world! By exerting ourselves, without leaving any

regrets behind, in all the challenges that we now face, let’s achieve monumental victories for both kosen-rufu and our own lives! – Daisaku Ikeda, July 15-21, 2013

SGI-UK Youth Peace Committee (YPC) members gathered together on July 7, a beautiful sunny day at Taplow Court to ‘share their shadow’ in support of ICAN’s Nuclear Abolition Week from July 6-July 13, writes Beth Dahill.

ICAN is the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and consists of over 300 partner organisations in over 70 countries around the world – of which SGI is one!

Young and old from all over the world have been ‘sharing their shadows’ in support of a ban on nuclear weapons to be agreed in 2015.

Manny Fernandez, Chair of the YPC and SGI-UK Youth Division leader, called

Youth ‘share their shadow’ in Nuclear Abolition Week

out: “Can we do it?” to which we shouted back: “Yes we can!” In fact, I CAN.l The Youth Peace Commitee supports President Ikeda’s calls for a world free of nuclear weapons, responding to the historic declaration by second President Josei Toda on September 8 1957.

SGI-UK General Director Robert Samuels writes: This is the 100th edition of the e-bulletin!

The e-bulletin succeeded the printed ‘Bulletin’, which had begun as an independent newssheet in 1988 and then found itself in the pages of the ‘Art of Living’ from 2001, before going online in 2009.

As we mark the 100th edition of this twice-monthly record of the great breadth and depth of SGI-UK activities, we are also looking to its next incarnation as an online newspaper when we open a members’ website later this year or next year.

This anniversary edition is a good opportunity to thank the e-bulletin’s editor, Roy Stone who has received, collected, cajoled and chased stories twice a month and then edited them to fit the four – or frequently now five – page format without cease for over four years. I am sure that together with me he would like to express great gratitude to the hundreds of members who have submitted reports of local and national activities.

While the ‘Art of Living’ contains Nichiren Daishonin and Sensei’s wisdom, experiences and study in depth the e-bulletin paints the picture of the vigorous way we are putting this inspiration into action in the UK and beyond.

Now we look to the further development of the e-bulletin. Thank you very much for your support.

100th edition: Thanks for all your support!

Page 2: Bulletin July, 2013

SGI-UK online news bulletin Issue 100 17.7.2013 Page 2

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SGI-UK will hold a national commemorative Hiroshima Peace Day meeting on September 7 from 1.30pm-4.30pm at Taplow Court.

The theme of the meeting is: ‘Towards the abolition of nuclear weapons; the ultimate negation of the dignity of life’.

The purpose of this meeting is to remember and learn from the human tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and to look forward with hope to a world without nuclear weapons based on President Toda’s 1957 declaration for the abolition of nuclear weapons and President Ikeda’s proposals and efforts to realise his mentor’s vision.

The meeting is primarily for members and will include gongyo but if you have a guest who might be interested please feel free to invite them to come with you. More information about the meeting and how to book a place will be posted in due course in the e-bulletin and on the Youth Division section of the e-bulletin website (www.sgi-uk.info).

August 6 and 9 mark the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively in 1945.

As in recent years, the Directorate would like to propose again that we use our August kosen-rufu gongyo meetings (scheduled for August 4) across the UK to reaffirm our united prayers to realise a world without nuclear weapons or war.

The following quotation from the Gosho and extracts from Sensei’s 2013 Peace Proposal were chosen as study inspiration for those meetings by SGI-UK Youth Peace Committee. The extracts from the Peace Proposal have been sent by email to all district leaders and can also be downloaded from the Youth Division section of this e-bulletin website (www.sgi-uk.info)

The Gosho passage for August kosen-rufu gongyo meetings is “There can be no doubt that all people, from the ruler on down to the general populace, rejoice in and desire the stability of the nation and the peace of the world.” (WND-I 23)

National Hiroshima Peace Day meeting to be held on September 7

August kosen-rufu gongyo meetings to be dedicated to prayers for a world without nuclear weapons and war The evening of July 12 saw a musical exchange and demonstration of the power

of culture when local Maidenhead Community Choir and the Maidenhead Gospel Choir staged their Summer Concert at Taplow Court, together with the Glorious Life Chorus. Altogether 110 singers took part, writes Denise Roudette.

Tina Reibl, the local choir mistress, hosted the evening, which was a wonderful opportunity to welcome and embrace local choir members and friends. Taplow Court looked beautiful in the setting sun with the gentle breeze wafting through the wild flower meadow, resplendent in its many colours. Excited conversations took place as choir and audience members enjoyed the grounds. We were treated to a wide-ranging repertoire, culminating in local choir members joining the Glorious Life Chorus on stage. There was genuine warmth and excitement as the three choirs sang ‘For The Sake Of Peace’. It was a stirring community event and we all look forward to meeting again.

Summer Community Concert at Taplow Court

The fourth meeting of the ‘Choose Life’ Study Group took place at the London Ikeda Peace Centre on July 13, writes Yvette Lanfranca.

30 youth took part from all over the UK to study together chapters 8 and 9, led in this particular session by SGI- UK General Director Robert Samuels. Sue Thorton, chair of the group and one of the original young women who typed out

Toynbee-Ikeda inspiration for youth

the recordings of President Ikeda’s very first dialogue, opened the session sharing wonderful memories of that time.

In the two chapters we studied, Toynbee and Ikeda discuss different topics from choosing political systems to world unification. Even if their dialogue was addressing social issues that at first glance might have seemed quite remote from our sphere of interest, through our discussion, we found incredible inspiration.

As youth entrusted by our mentor to become leaders in society we learned what qualities we need to develop and most of all we were reminded of the incredible mission that our organisation has in ushering in a new era where all people are equally treasured and cared for. Inspired by our national youth leaders we determined to each write to Sensei something about ourselves and then compile a book that we will send as a gift to him in commemoration of November 18.

We look forward to our session in September, confident that even if it might not feel that way right now, our study group will have an incredible impact on the development of the kosen-rufu movement here in the UK!

Faith and fun for boys and girls!The third monthly Central London Area Young Eagles and Mimosa activity for boys and girls aged 7-12 was held at the London Ikeda Peace Centre on June 30, writes Moni Shrestha.

It was attended by Kenza (9), Sydney (7) and Mohan (11), supported (in daimoku or in person) by the Women’s Division ‘Children’s Champions’ from each HQ in Central London. While in the past all the Future Division activities in Central London used to be wonderfully organised by the Youth Division, the Women’s Division and Men’s Division have gradually taken over supporting the younger children, in communication with their parents. This activity was the first such meeting completely organised by the WD. We created our own story together and sent it with a report of the meeting and pictures to Sensei. We hope he will like it!

Faith

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Page 3: Bulletin July, 2013

SGI-UK online news bulletin Issue 100 17.7.2013 Page 3

Open consultation on what we want from technologyC

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l Central England Area held the second of its summer courses at Wokefield Park near Reading, writes Clifford Marcus. 300 members from all divisions attended. The theme was ‘Challenging my human revolution anew’. Lectures, presentations and experiences all brought out important aspects of this. SGI-UK Men’s Division leader Robert Harrap encouraged us to consider the importance of discarding the transient and revealing the true, while Kim Upton’s experience underlined the need for study to keep our practice dynamic, particularly apposite for myself as I celebrated 30 years’ practice on this course. All the men have a memento of the course in the shape of toy aeroplanes given to us by the women and young women. I feel more than determined to take to the skies anew. The best thing to do after 30 years is to start over again.

Summer courses

l The women of Northern Ireland gathered in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, for our summer course on June 30, writes Noelle Houston. Together with guests from SGI-Ireland and Mitzi Delnevo we lived the theme ‘Women shining with actual proof’. Collages representing visions of our actual proof were created over discussion groups and formed the course banner. Dialogues, experiences and study gave everyone the confidence to believe, as Mitzi Delnevo said, that women chanting and revealing our Buddhahood are irresistible!

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l 127 women, from Cornwall to the Cotswolds gathered at Exeter University from July 6 -7 for the South West Area Women’s Summer Course with the theme ‘My human revolution anew and my vision for kosen-rufu’, writes Gillian Hollyn. Dotty Lapham, Area leader, reminded us that Sensei suggested we “take at least one significant thing away from this course”. My ‘light bulb’ moment was Fiona Harrow, Women’s Division Secretary General, saying, “profoundly happy people don’t destroy”. Fiona’s words, “our adversaries rather than our friends power our growth; the Buddha is in our DNA” were a great inspiration. A Q & A with Barbara Cahill and Fiona looked at taking responsibility for unity and dialogue within our districts. We celebrated with poems, music and sketches. A gift of flowers from the Men’s Division and Gohonzon receiving added to a truly memorable weekend.

Jim Cowan writes about SGI-UK’s open consultation on what we want from technology:

If you would like to read about what all the six open meetings around the country came up with, they are all up on the internet (http://www.sgi-uk.info/open-meetings/). So too are the ideas members have emailed in with. If you are keen to understand what members have been saying the third piece of the jigsaw are the 113 ideas that have been put up on the Vocal Eyes site, including 142 comments. A huge 537 of the ideas have also been rated (www.vocaleyes.org/technologysgiuk). When you look at the participation overall about 150 members have said something in some way, which is fantastic. A big thank you to you all.

So where to from here? Among those 150 members are some who are going to be involved over the weekend of September 21-22 where we use everything that has come through from the open consultation to create a ‘first rough draft’ of what a new SGI-UK information system needs to look like.

But there are two weeks left until the consultation closes at the end of July. Can I ask the 150 of you to take a look at a second Vocal Eyes site (www.vocaleyes.org/technologysgiuk2). While the consultation has been going on some of the core group organising it have been finding out in detail how the databases in India and Brazil work. This has been very fruitful and illuminating. So technologysgiuk2 is a synthesis of the really major things coming through from the open consultation with the key points coming through from understanding how India and Brazil do things. It is a first rough attempt at pulling things together in preparation for September 21-22. Can I ask those of you who are registered with Vocal Eyes to go on and have a look at these ideas, comment on as many as you can and rate as many as you can? This will really help us in September. If you are not registered with Vocal Eyes you can still go and have a look at this site and read all the ideas, you just won’t be able to add comments or rate them. If you don’t want to register with Vocal Eyes you can email in to [email protected].

Time is now running out so if you have things still unsaid, now is the time.

Page 4: Bulletin July, 2013

SGI-UK online news bulletin Issue 100 17.7.2013 Page 4Ra

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Summer coursesOn the last weekend in June, bicycles, cars, taxis, buses, trains and planes brought 127 women from South West London HQ and overseas to Wokefield Park, Berks, to learn how to become ‘Experts in the art of happiness’, writes Antonia Macarthur.

It was apparent from the opening ceremony that the course was grounded in hours of organisation, human revolution and daimoku, daimoku, daimoku.

We were encouraged to have great dialogue together, praise each other’s efforts, and reminded that listening is part of dialogue for it is when we learn. President and Mrs Ikeda’s message touched our hearts: “Every day, my wife and I are earnestly praying for the good health and happiness of all of you”, adding “We are always, always, watching over you.” How could we now fail? Our MCs, ‘experts in the art of happiness’, informed, joked, sang, and laughed. Members gave experiences sharing their struggles and triumphs.

We in turn cried, rejoiced and saluted their human revolution. With Jane Orr, Vice WD leader of SGI-UK, we studied ‘The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra’ and looked at the essence of human revolution through casting off

the transient and revealing the true and highest potential of life. Jane spurred us on to “break sweat” when we chant, with her life-changing experience of supporting and winning within her family.

The sun could not outshine the beautiful, radiant women who gathered at Taplow Court on July 6 for the North London ‘Inner riches’ Women’s Division summer course, writes Sally Summers.

We kicked off with two experiences based on the eternity of life. Natalie Paris and Meena Jacques challenged and won over their fears when confronted with the death of loved ones. These courageous women are proof that when we transform our destiny, we pass on the benefits to our families, eternally.

Michiko Samuels urged us to deeply take to heart the spirit of the Daishonin

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and win over our personal obstacles by November 18. In this way we can ‘cast off the transient and reveal the true’ potential we all possess. A Q & A

inspired us to strengthen our faith in our Buddhahood. The women, creating eternal treasures, will continue to lead victorious lives for kosen-rufu.

29 Women’s Division members and naitoku from Cardiff West, Valleys and Vale HQ gathered in the Dare Valley Country Park for our summer course from June 29-30 with the theme ‘Making the impossible possible’, writes Judith James.

In his summer course message, Sensei urged us to “expand the circle of trust and friendship” in our local community and by holding our course in this popular outdoor centre we took our vibrant spirit into the heart of the community. Powerful and poignant experiences created a ‘tissue fest’ and reminded us how the mentor disciple spirit will overcome illness, transform relationships and open up new horizons and careers. The entertainments, with a new pub style quiz, were hilarious!

On a gloriously hot sunny day, 37 women from all over Mid Wales, Herefordshire and Shropshire assembled at Aston on Clun village hall on July 6 to celebrate and study together under our theme of ‘My actual proof – my human revolution’ on the Mid Wales and the Marches Women’s Division summer course, writes Jenny Bartlett.

Michele Lamb inspired us with a brilliant lecture on ‘The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra’. She shared with us memories of early pioneering days, encouraging us not to be defeated, but to reveal our incredible life state and always follow the mentor disciple path, never begrudging our lives.

After invigorating group discussions, we enjoyed a magnificent cream tea. The day was rounded off with a joyful double Gohonzon receiving ceremony.

Jane

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Page 5: Bulletin July, 2013

SGI-UK online news bulletin Issue 100 17.7.2013 Page 5

Can you help once a month or at a moment’s notice to serve lunch in the canteen at weekends at SGI-UK National Centre, Taplow Court? If so, please call Annemarie Smith on 0118 9455412 for more details or email [email protected] with your details.

Can you help in the canteen?

World News

A Buddhist magazineAugust 2013Price £3Issue no. 146

Creating a towering life-state

August AoL: creating a towering life state

Tokyo, Japan: On July 6, President Daisaku Ikeda conducted gongyo together with Mrs Kaneko Ikeda, Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada and General Director Masaaki Masaki at the Soka Gakkai Mentor and Disciple Memorial Hall in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the persecution of founding presidents Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda.Tokyo, Japan: Soka University founder President Ikeda visited the university on June 29. He visited the newly established Faculty of Nursing, the Student Centre and the General Education Building. He met with the university’s president, Yoshihisa Baba, chair of the Board of Trustees Yasunori Tashiro and Keiko Ishikawa, Soka Women’s College president, and expressed his gratitude to all those contributing to the university’s development.Osaka, Japan: An exchange group from Timboon P-12 School in Australia presented a Founder of Global Citizenship Education Award for Soka High School founder Daisaku Ikeda on July 10 at Kansai Soka High School.

News round-up

August’s AoL explores what it means to create a towering life-state with an emphasis on the function of study in supporting us to achieve this.

Nichiren Buddhism provides a universal way for any person to raise their life-state and change how they experience difficulties and obstacles.

SGI-UK member Ilinca Cantacuzino writes: I visited Bucharest on June 8 to support members marking the 30th anniversary since Sensei first visited the country!

In 1983 Sensei gave a lecture at the University of Bucharest. At this point there were no members. It was only after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 that Buddhism was free to spread, aided by the inspirational support of Italian members.

As well as Romanian members and their guests, the meeting was supported by members from other countries. It was extremely moving to witness this activity. The emphasis was on communicating the joy of this practice to newcomers. A message from Sensei was read out, and SGI-Europe Chairman and general women’s leader Mr and Mrs Takahashi were present.

The experiences were remarkable, with great energy and a strong sense of the mentor disciple relationship. Three women received Gohonzon during the afternoon. Songs were sung with gusto, and we enjoyed a gift of refreshments from Sensei. Over the weekend, discussion meetings were held, again with extraordinary experiences.

I was overjoyed to be present at this historic occasion, especially as it marked a victory for my family, exiled from this country until 1989 and also, mystically, my own 30th anniversary of practice this year.

l Seven SGI-UK members from West London took part in a pioneering activity at the Glastonbury Festival, writes Phil Craigie. The group determination was: “Through the colossal power of daimoku we determine to draw to us as many people as possible who are open to hearing about the Mystic Law, that every member of the group has a personal breakthrough and experiences great joy from engaging in sincere dialogue,

l Under sunny clear skies, 30 valiant young men from East London Area came together for a three-day course at Taplow Court with the theme ‘Awakening

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Work is taking place all this week and the next (but not at the weekend) to resurface the drive from the main gates at Taplow Court. The main gates will be closed and access to car parks will be through the north gate. The service road between the north gate, north car park and the main car park which is usually one-way will be two-way for the duration of the work. Pedestrian access to the house will be through the gardens. Exact routes may change as work progresses so look out for signs.

Resurfacing drive at Taplow Court

to your true mission through actual proof’, writes Dominic Virgo. We heard great lectures on the oneness of mentor disciple and on the spirit of unity, and six brave young men shared immense experiences of joyfully overcoming daunting obstacles. This, combined with plenty of good food, discussion meetings and heartfelt entertainments, made for a truly profound course where heart-to-heart bonds were forged and we deepened our vow to keep fighting alongside Sensei.

and that the activity opens the way for similar events in future, including a regular SGI presence at Glastonbury.” We set up a stall stocked with introductory literature and a gazebo which doubled as a butsuma in the green futures field, a beautiful and relaxed corner of the festival. We received a warm welcome from fellow stall holders and members of the public, whom we were able to engage in dialogue about Nichiren Buddhism. A number of SGI members were delighted to discover the SGI presence and would join the group for gongyo. The stall was open for seven hours a day from Wednesday to Sunday, affording plenty of opportunity for dialogue.

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