Mr Saito's lecture and commemorative meal

Today we went to Shinanomatchi in the morning `under our own steam` (for shopping, to go to a bookshop, go to the friendship centre). The activities started in the afternoon with a lecture by Mr Saito on the Opening of the Eyes.

“The challenge Nichiren Daishonin faced at Tatsunokutchi was the devil king and the hindrance of death....only when you overcome obstacles can you manifest Buddhahood and become one with the Law”. Mr Saito then explained how the Opening of the Eyes has a lengthy theoretical and doctrinal `answer` to his disciples who question that he could be the votary of the Lotus Sutra because of the persecutions and exile to Sado. However it is in the last section (`This I will state` onwards) that the Daishonin reveals his true heart/mind and breaks through fundamental delusion based on his own life and unshakeable vow. That it is the “earnest cry of a genuine human being that has the power to shake and change peoples hearts from within” . Achieving this establishes a spirit of non-regression and we are able to change karma in our present form.

Our closing ceremony saw leaders across the world being presented with SGI awards. It was a very joyful event with clusters of members breaking up into groups, having photos taken and people beaming.

Sensei and Mrs Ikeda had for the first time on such a course placed a book of all our signatures in front of the Gohonzon placed their seals on it and asked for it to be kept `for eternity` at the new SGI HQ under construction.

All the course participants names also appeared in the Seikyo Shimbun. Mr Matsuyama told us it was `very historic` for this to happen. He continued, “Everything has been reported to Sensei, he has responded to your hearts, you have been truly encouraged by Sensei and there have been no accidents”.

It was then time for the commemorative dinner. On table 16 we had the 5 of us from the UK and two Swedish members (who will be having a course at Taplow Court in the autumn). Another Mr Saito (Kazuo "David" Saito) joined us as well as Mrs Takahashi.

The chinese food was delicious but even more delicious were David's answers to our questions. Because of his time as a YMD leader in SGI-USA he was able to give us examples where it was the determination, daimoku and perseverance of just one individual that enabled Dean Carter to make contact with the SGI or a university to recognise Sensei. And about spreading Nichiren Daishonin`s Buddhism into society “Its all about polishing your character”. “Its about members being happy and you yourself being happy and this IS achieving Kosen rufu”. In the Kansai he said, they accept any guidance from Sensei as if it is for them individually, in a high life state you always feel Sensei`s guidance is for you. In a low life state you think is for somebody else”.

Mrs Asano then came on the Video link between our tables and the members at the tables in the other part of the restaurant, “This is the best training course ever. Everyone has determined to stand up together with Sensei. There has never been such a course”.

Mr Hasegawa then appeared

How much Sensei loves the UK but he loves everywhere he goes. Truly he really likes Taplow Court and would really like to visit.

And David finished off some guidance about us having a religious and social mission. The SGI exists in society so we have a social mission too, “we work so that the people in Shananomatchi want us to be there”. “Regard each individual human being as a life being not a social being, everybody has the dignity of being”

Sayonara Japan..we are checked in and off early to fly back

Totally fab day meeting with Japanese members
in North East of Tokyo in Ibaraki Prefecture (about 3 hours drive)
First stop "Hitachi Memorial Park"
this is a 500 acres site for the ashes of deceased members
here is a small snapshot




In the restaurant in the Memorial Park where
we have lunch we had an incredible warm hearted welcome. We felt treasured. The members have prepared as if Sensei was coming.







It was a wonderful aesthetic luxury lunch. Feast your eyes and enjoy.....







Arriving at the exchange meeting "The little boy at the entrance was so sweet"

Stephanie sharing a very inspiring experience which she started with an introduction Shoko wrote in Japanese. It was much appreciated and broke the ice!






Here is a Banzai!Beautiful Japanese garden near the culture centre









Farewell Ibaraki!!









Impressions of the day overall?

"Worldwide, everybody working towards Nov 18 2010".

Sayonara!

Meeting Sensei

Its the end of the day and we`ve just come back from seeing Sensei. We are sorting out the amazing pile of presents (we pooled our 5 lots) so thank you very very much to all the members who gave us presents to take tomorrow. We are going to Ibaraki and the 5 of us are going to the same exchange meeting.

The day started with a visit to Soka University. We had a warm, sincere and vibrant welcome from the young students

And we went into this huge foyer of an auditorium to have our photos taken along with statues of Victor Hugo and Leo Tolstoy.........here`s Stephanie and Jim in front of it

Seeing Sensei.....Stephanie and Jim went off early to rehearse going up on stage to receive a huge framed photo of Taplow Court on behalf of the UK (one of 5 given to different countries). The meeting started with junior school boys and girls singing delightfully, absolutely gorgeous. And then they were joined by the mens division and they sang together. The meeting was a joint meeting of the mens division general meeting and the HQ leaders. It was also attended by representative arts division famous in their fields. The brass band played two numbers. The Youth Division report from Cambodia was very impressive, where members have only appeared in the last 10 years.

Sensei was very excited, in good health and happy seeing members from all over the world to welcome the people on the spring course. He was vibrant and on form. It seemed familiar because of the videos we have been showing in the UK.

There was far too much to put up on the blog so we can share some impressions....

It was a very very significant meeting. He was really stressing the human revolution of the leaders. Dont become arrogant or big headed as leaders. It was as if he was saying come on Europe leaders stand up (that does include in the UK!). Do your human revolution or the members will suffer. The leaders have to win for the members not the other way round.

We all really felt how much Sensei treasures and respects the members. He wants to make sure the spirit carries on pure. “Don't be swayed, stand up”. And for the MD treat the YM like young brothers and when the men stand up everyone feels different. Its the young people that really matter, to really nurture. The members must always come first. We really felt Sensei trusts us. He was just so happy to have all those people from the world there. He was really clear to try to secure the final touches. We cannot be complacent. He made reference several times to the UK and Europe. We all felt it was direct personal guidance.

We chanted with Sensei at the end of the meeting.

When we came out of the meeting the 5 pictures that had been given to countries were hanging up on the walls for people to see up close. And yet again Sensei showed his great thoughtfulness. The 250 representatives were given a box of sushi, a banana, and bottle of water and a grapefruit off the butsudan

See you tomorrow!

Question and Answer with President Harada

Today was a glorious sunny, warm day. In the morning we visited the Min-on music museum and the International Soka Womens Centre. And then wandered around the area in Tokyo with all the key Soka Gakkai buildings called Shinanomatchi. This is the first time we`ve seen someone selling the Human Revolution on the street!

After lunch we went by train to the International friendship centre (where we were yesterday) for a question and answer with President Harada.

Mr Harada started with a very short introduction explaining Sensei is really consolidating the foundation of the Soka Gakkai to ensure the Mystic Law prevails. We`ve just taken very key points from much longer answers

Question 1 from from Jim( hooray): Can you help us get a little closer to our mentor? What does Sensei do day to day.....what is a day like for Sensei?

He was describing Sensei responding to an area which might not win its local campaign.

If we even just make one phone call it can have a ripple effect. It can influence up to 30 people. This is a way leaders can lead. “Sensei doesnt like to wait”.

Question 2 How and when can we tell we have definitely changed our karma?

We `deliberately assumed the appropriate karma`. It was your wish to be born with these problems and through the power of faith overcome them. Prayer with the pledge to realise Kosen rufu. When you are able to pray with this kind of pledge, thats when we know we have changed karma to mission.

Question 3 How can we bring Sensei the greatest joy and assure him the future of Kosen rufu is secure?

Its securing the total victory of the 80^th anniversary. Having set goals and achieved them, when you celebrate 18^th November “I have been able to win all my challenges and report that with pride”.

Question 4 How to protect our members and respond to the mentor?

“I have thoroughly made effort to meet each person and ignite a flame in their hearts”. Instill the spirit of Kosen rufu in their hearts. We have a tendency to focus too much on how to mobilise the organisation. Sensei did not try to do that. To truly activate the organisation, to protect the members, the important thing is to meet each and every member.

Suddenly 45 minutes had gone by and it was time for President Harada to have a meeting with the national leaders of the Japan.

During the break we met with Mr Kitano and explained the formation of the South of England General Area.

After a break we heard amazing and inspiring country reports from Canada, Netherlands, Taiwan, Argentina, and Korea. We just focus on 2 here because they centre on growth through the youth division. It started with their core youth leaders in the Netherlands coming to Japan and having guidance with Mr Hasegawa. They all felt Sensei`s strong presence and from that point have based all their prayer and action on Sensei`s heart, creating unity and a new starting point. They have focused in on the districts and encouraging district leaders to directly report their victories to Sensei, to establish a connection with Sensei. Youth division stood up and there was incredible growth.

Argentina have 25,000 members at present because of their discussion meeting campaign in 2008 where they achieved 25,000 at discussion meetings. Led by the youth division they decided to be ready to have a visit from Sensei at any time. Their youth festival had 2,300 youth participating, 6,300 guests, 3,000 watched via the internet so it was 11,000 youth across the nation.

Here`s a quiz...whose feet do you think these are?

A Giuseppe

B Kazuo

C Mr Kitano

Big day tomorrow......if you chant from 6-6.30 am on Saturday morning UK time it will be the time we are with Sensei

Opening Ceremony

Dotty was interviewed by the Seikyo Shimbun and will appear they think on 11th March, going out nationwide to millions of households...putting the South of England on the map, again.

This afternoon we went to the International Friendship Centre..here we are at the train station

We had an opening ceremony and Sensei sent us another message and Mr Hasegawa told us Sensei had instructed all the Japanese senior leaders to make this course and overwhelming success. We were 223 members from 54 countries. Chilean members were unable to attend because the airport was closed. But no Chilean members were killed or harmed in the earthquake. They are coming to the next course.

We met with Mr Matsuyama, Mrs Asano, Mr Oba and Mr Hasegawa. And this is the essence of the guidance we received:

“The lives of all of you who chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and exert yourselves for Kosen rufu are infinitely noble and respectworthy. You have as yet tapped only a fraction of the boundless power of Buddhahood you possess, and revealed only a tiny portion of your limitless Buddha wisdom.

This 80^th anniversary year is a time for each of us to freely and unstintingly manifest our Buddhahood. There`s nothing to hold us back. Lets allow the 80 characteristics of a Buddha to shine forth from our lives with their full untrammelled brilliance. ...........

Everything starts with prayer infused with a deep vow or commitment for Kosen rufu. And we must make this most fundamental prayer a living and integral part of our actions and behaviour each day.

The Daishonin`s Buddhism teaches the principle of “cause and effect in a single moment of life.” The moment we make a firm and unshakeable resolve in the depths of our being we have already won, already achieved total victory. (from Sensei`s new essay series Our Brilliant Path to Victory)

Half way through the afternoon we each received from Sensei a very large SGI banana individually

wrapped from Equador

“It was amazing to be in the room with leaders from the whole world”.

“We felt Sensei`s prayer and care for each of us throughout the day”

Have a great course at Taplow Court Dorset, perhaps you can pass on the above guidance.

Here`s Stephanie forging bonds

Yesterday (Tuesday)...we arrived.......was a very good journey...met at the airport. We were very touched to receive a bottle of water each from Sensei...very interesting food....met up with Giuseppe

...have done lots of daimoku......4 of us got guidance today and they really stressed the importance of strong prayer at this time. "It is the starting point of everything, then we take the action"....we are in good spirits

We had our first meeting tonight....60 of us in a meeting of all of Europe...reps from 18 countries.. Sensei and Mrs Ikeda sent us a message......

"I`m genuinely grateful that you have worked so hard to be here. That you are in Japan having braved every challenge for the sake of Kosen rufu - that is the very essence of our Buddhist practice......I pray from my heart that this training course will be a truly grand experience, one that will lay the groundwork for the further progress and victory of your respective SGI organisations"

More tomorrow




and the course as a whole has members from 50 countries from all the continents...we are in great spirits.......

Welcome to South of England Japan training course March 2010

Hello

We will be updating this blog every day from 3rd March.
If you want to find out on a daily basis what's happening on our training course please stay tuned in!

This is the draft schedule of the course (subject to change):

Thurs 4th
Open Ceremony
Guidance with SG Vice General Director Hasegawa

Fri 5th
Study Session

Sat 6th
Commemorative Meeting

Sun 7th
Exchange Meetings in Kanto Area

Mon 8th
Guidance Session with Pres. Harada
Closing Ceremony

Tue 9th
Departure