[SGI-ToMyFriends-Wagatomo] 16th March To My Friends & Daily Gosho + 17th March Daily Enc.

* Here in Tokyo today we had our graduation ceremony and President Ikeda sent us a very long and in-depth message, most encouraging. Only those graduating, their parents and students living nearby came. We started the ceremony off with a minute's silence and then the whole building shook... as we continue to experience many earthquakes although less and less. Power outages are going on very irregularly in the suburbs to keep things going in central Tokyo.

A translation of President Ikeda's "To My Friends" published in the Seikyo Shimbun and more.

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011
-- TO MY FRIENDS --
To the great youth of Soka.
In the very midst of the tempest
be the lighthouse of hope for those around.
I am entrusting the baton of succession to you.

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion. What sickness can therefore be an obstacle?"
(Reply to Kyo'o - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 412)
Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, March 16th, 2011

Thursday, March 17th, 2011
---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"I offer my sincerest condolences to those of you who have been affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunamis that struck north-eastern Japan five days ago (March 11th, 2011) and have left many people still missing and unaccounted for. I can only imagine the fatigue and exhaustion you must be suffering. My wife and I, along with the members throughout Japan and the world, are sending daimoku to you with all our hearts, earnestly praying for your health and well-being and that all Buddhas and bodhisattvas--the positive forces of the universe--will rigorously protect you.

"I wish to deeply thank those of you who are selflessly devoting yourselves to the rescue and relief efforts in the stricken areas. I also truly appreciate those of you who are supporting your communities as solid and reliable pillars during this difficult time. Takuboku Ishikawa (1886-1912), a renowned, youthful poet who hailed from Tohoku, the north-eastern region of Japan, declared: 'Helping one person is a far greater achievement than becoming the ruler of a country.' I, therefore, express my deepest respect and gratitude to all of you.

"Nichiren Daishonin writes that even if we should meet with disasters and calamities, they cannot destroy our hearts (cf. WND-2, 135). Nothing can destroy the treasures of the heart. Every adversity is but a trial for us to overcome so that we can attain eternal happiness. The Daishonin's Buddhism, our practice of faith in the Mystic Law, enables us to transform all poison into medicine without fail.
SGI Newsletter No. 8182, SGI President Ikeda's Message, Never Be Defeated! Have Courage! Have Hope!, from the March 16th, 2011, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, translated March 16th, 2011

* The Japanese kanji for To My Friends, Daily Gosho & Daily Encouragement is available by clicking on Seikyo Shimbun's web-site address at
http://www.seikyoonline.jp/news/index.html

--- WAGATOMO NI OKURU ---
IDAI NARU
SOKA NO SEINEN TACHI YO!
ARASHI NO NAKA NI ATTE
KIBO NO KOGEN TARE!
KOKEI NO "baton" O KIMI NI.

-- KYO NO GOSHO --
"NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO WA SHISHIKU NO GOTOSHI IKANARU YAMAI SAWARI O NASU BEKIYA"
(Gosho Zenshu, page 1124)

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