Soka Gakkai International - USA
2016 Growth
2016 Quick Facts
The Soka Gakkai International (SGI-USA) is an American Buddhist
association that promotes world peace and individual happiness based on
the humanistic teachings of Nichiren Buddhism as set forth in Nichiren’s
writings and demonstrated in practice by the Soka Gakkai’s founding
presidents. The SGI-USA, with more than 560 chapters and some 100
centers, is part of the larger SGI network with more than 12 million
members in 192 countries and territories around the world. Our
members reflect a cross section of our diverse American society representing a broad range of ethnic and social backgrounds. The SGI-USA
strives to contribute to American society in significant ways, as it has for
more than five decades. Areas of focus span culture, peace activism,
disaster relief, sustainability, and education.
SGI Buddhists believe that all people have the power to lead lives of
great value and creativity and to positively influence their communities,
society, and the world. Nichiren Buddhism stresses that the greatest fulfillment in life is found in working for the happiness of others.
In 2016, the SGI-USA held more than 2,700 neighborhood discussion
groups across America each month. At discussion meetings people share
with one another how they are applying their Buddhist practice in their
lives and reaffirm their dedication for the happiness of each individual and
in so doing provide the foundation for a happy society.
Books Published
Books by SGI President Ikeda:
Happy Parents, Happy Kids
Learning From Nichiren’s Writings:
The Teachings for Victory, vol. 3
On Health and Long Life
The Sun of Youth
The Third Stage of Life
The Victorious Teen
Children’s Books:
Chanting Is Fun!
Soar Into the Skies of Hope
Other Books:
An Introduction to Buddhism,
Second Edition
Voices for the Culture of Peace, vol. 3
The Winning Life
SGI-USA Facebook page
Social Media
SGI-USA Buddhist Centers Opened
There are about 100 Buddhist centers throughout the United
States and its territories (see the back cover for a complete list).
The following centers had openings in 2016:
1. Puerto Rico Buddhist Center, April 30 (San Juan)
2. Minnesota Buddhist Center, July 10 (Minneapolis)
3. Teaneck, N.J., Buddhist Center, August 7
4. New England Buddhist Center, October 5 (Brookline, MA)
SGI-USA Home
SGI-USA Revolution in You Music
Video page
• Website: Find us at www.sgi-usa.org
• Facebook: Find us (and like us) at www.facebook.com/sgiusa.info
• Bookstore: Shop online at https://bookstore.sgi-usa.org
• YouTube: Search the “SGI-USA Channel” for several videos, especially the series “Buddhist in America,” a documentary
series that features youth applying Buddhism to their daily lives; “Composing Hope,” which profiles youth who discuss
how their Buddhist practice has informed their work as artists; and “The Buddha Beat” features interviews with everyday
people about their thoughts on Buddhism at www.youtube.com/user/SGIUSAmedia.
• Twitter: Find us at #OfficialSGIUSA
• Victory Over Violence: (the SGI-USA youth-led program aimed at building a culture of peace): Go to www.vov.com
• Revolution in You: SGI-USA’s new anthem for the abolition of nuclear weapons. This music video was spearheaded
by the SGI-USA student division as part of the “Our New Clear Future” movement, which aims to eradicate nuclear
weapons by 2030—beginning with creating public consensus that will lay the groundwork for future policy. Hashtag
at #newclear. Visit http://tinyurl.com/OurNewClearFuture.
• World Tribune: The World Tribune celebrated its 52nd anniversary in August 2016 with a dynamic new website
featuring the SGI-USA publications, World Tribune and Living Buddhism at www.worldtribune.org
A Growing Network of Life-to-Life Bonds
“The members of the SGI have worked to empathetically share the
sufferings and joys of the people in our lives and to advance together
with them in a growing network of life-to-life bonds.”
—Daisaku Ikeda
I am so pleased to introduce the 2016 Soka Gakkai
International-USA (SGI-USA) Activity Report, providing
an overview of our community engagement throughout the year. This is not meant to be a comprehensive
report, but instead an overview of the variety of ways
the SGI-USA engages with society at large.
The SGI-USA strives to contribute to American society
in significant ways, as it has for more than five
decades. Areas of focus span culture, peace activism,
disaster relief, sustainability, and education. The
ultimate aim of Buddhism and of the SGI-USA is the
establishment of a peaceful world. Toward this end, the
SGI-USA actively promotes peace, culture, and education.
Globally, Soka Gakkai International continues to be led
by its founding president, Daisaku Ikeda. The significance of his leadership as a Buddhist philosopher can
most readily be gauged in the dramatic growth of
the SGI organization and in the broad diversity that
characterizes its movement for promoting a philosophy of character development and social engagement
for peace. He has published more than 150 works,
ranging from Buddhist philosophy to biographical
essays, poetry, children’s stories, and photographic
collections. Mr. Ikeda is also the founder of the Soka
(value creation) schools, a nondenominational school
system based on an ideal of fostering each student’s
unique creative potential and cultivating an ethic of
peace, social contribution, and global consciousness.
The Soka schools span kindergarten through graduate study and include a university in Tokyo, Japan, and
another in Aliso Viejo, California.
Mr. Ikeda is a staunch proponent of dialogue as the
foundation of peace. Since the 1970s, he has pursued
dialogue with a wide variety of individuals around the
world in political, cultural, educational, and academic
fields. More than seventy of these have been published
in book form, with people such as Mikhail Gorbachev,
Elise Boulding, Joseph Rotblatt, and Andre Malraux.
In furtherance of his vision of fostering dialogue and
solidarity for peace, Mr. Ikeda has also founded a
number of independent, nonprofit research institutes
intensively engaged in work in the fields of peace,
culture, and education: The Ikeda Center for Peace,
Learning, and Dialogue (Boston, MA); the SGI United
Nations Liaison Office (New York City, NY); and the
Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research,
the Institute of Oriental Philosophy, the Min-On Concert Association, and the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, all of
which are based in Tokyo.
The SGI-USA has grown to 2,707 neighborhood discussion meetings across America in 2016. At discussion
meetings, people share with one another how they
are applying Buddhist practice in the most important
way—that is, in their lives. As religion journalist Clark
Strand notes: “At a SGI-USA discussion meeting, every
voice is heard. Such meetings are egalitarian in spirit,
democratic in practice, and decidedly life-affirming in
their vision of how Buddhist practice might contribute
to the happiness of the individual.”
This year’s Activity Report, once again, focuses on
how SGI-USA Buddhists create value in their daily
lives and play a positive role in their communities.
If you are interested in additional information about
the SGI-USA’s movement for peace, culture, and education, we more than welcome your inquiries.
Very truly yours,
Adin Strauss
General Director
Soka Gakkai International-USA
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Exhibitions Hosted by the SGI-USA
Artists as Peacemakers • April 25–26, Peace Exhibition, Augusta, Ga.
Building a Culture of Peace for the Children of the World • Jan. 18, Colorado College, Colorado Springs,
Colo. • Sept. 16–18, Spokane 2016 Compassion Games, Spokane, Wash. • Sept. 17, Dallas City Hall Plaza,
Dallas, Texas • Oct. 7–9, Glenside Public Library, Glendale Heights, Ill.
The Century of Women • Feb. 1–March 9, New York, N.Y. • May 8, Torrance, Calif. • June 4–26, Baltimore, Md.
• July 26, Santa Monica, Calif. • Sept. 13–20, Tyler Public Library, Tyler, Texas • Sept. 21–25, Texas A&M
Commerce Library, Commerce, Texas • Sept. 28–Oct. 2, Texas A&M Texarkana Library, Texarkana, Texas
• Oct. 24, Chapman University, Orange, Calif.
Children Are the Future • March 26, University of Nevada–Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nev.
Everything You Treasure—For a World Free From Nuclear Weapons • April 25–29, Nuclear Abolition at D-E,
Dwight-Englewood Jr. Sr. High School, Englewood, N.J. • July 31–Aug. 5, Oregon Society of Artists Gallery,
Portland, Ore. • Aug. 6, Spokane, Wash. • Sept 1–15, Atlanta Open House at ABC, Atlanta, Ga. • Sept. 16–30,
International Day of Peace, Kennasaw State University, Atlanta, Ga.
From a Culture of Violence to a Culture of Peace: Transforming the Human Spirit • March 13, Torrance,
Calif. • March 26, University of Nevada–Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nev. • April 10, Buddhism in America, UCLA
Pauley Pavilion Club Lounge, Los Angeles, Calif. • April 12–14, University of Massachusetts World Peace
Explored, Amherst, Mass. • April 22–May 8, Bergen Community College, Paramus, N.J. • April 25–June 1,
Santa Clara, Calif. • April 30–June 5, Santa Clara, Calif. • Aug. 6, Spokane, Wash.
Seeds of Hope: Visions of Sustainability, Steps Toward Change • Jan. 8, Colorado College, Colorado Springs,
Colo. • Feb. 22–26, Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz. • Feb. 26–March 6, American University School of
International Affairs, Washington, D.C. • April 15–18, Earth Day in Chapman’s State Park, Indian Head, Md. • June
7–11, American University School of International Affairs, Washington, D.C. • Aug. 24–28, Cleveland, Ohio
Victory Over Violence • Jan. 16–23, Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Conference, ABC Annual Poetry Jam, Atlanta,
Ga. • Jan. 23, Queens CC-Unitarian School Field Trip, Queens, N.Y. • March 5–6, Oakland, Calif. • March 11,
College of San Mateo, San Mateo, Calif. • March 12, Recreation Park, Long Beach, Calif. • March 18–April 24,
Fresno, Calif. • March 22–24, Mariano Azuela Elementary School, Chicago, Ill. • March 26, University of Nevada
Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nev. • March 28–29, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis. • April 22–26, Santa
Monica Blvd. Community Chartered School/Fenton, Los Angeles, Calif. • June 12, South High School, Denver,
Colo. • July 9–24, Oakland, Calif. • July 27–Aug. 17, Seattle, Wash. • Aug. 2, Church by the Side of the Road,
Tukwila, Wash. • Aug. 7, Killeen, Texas • Aug. 14, San Carlo Park, Irvine, Calif. • Aug. 27, Milwaukee, Wis. • Aug.
27–28, Las Vegas, Nev. • Sept. 10, Concert in the Park, Columbia Park, Torrance, Calif. • Sept. 11, San Francisco,
Calif. • Sept. 15–30, VOV Toward a Nonviolent Community, Richford High School, Richford, Vt. • Sept. 17, Dallas
City Hall Plaza, Dallas, Texas • Sept. 21–23, International Peace Day, Gainesville, Fla. • Sept. 24, Irvine Global Village
Festival, Bill Barber Park, Irvine, Calif. • Sept. 24, Oahu Urban Garden Center, Pearl City, Hawaii • Oct. 4, Antelope
Valley College, Lancaster, Calif. • Oct. 18, Texas A&M University–Galveston, Galveston, Texas • Nov. 18, College of
San Mateo, San Mateo, Calif. • Dec. 11, San Marcos, Calif. • Dec. 2, Brooklyn Public Library, New York City, N.Y.
Voices of Change: Power of Youth • April 8–21, Voices of Change: Power of Youth for a New Generation,
Richford High School, Richford, Vt.
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Engaged Buddhism
“We ourselves—in the place where we are at this moment—become
the starting point for a chain reaction of positive transformation.
We are able not only to resolve our personal challenges but also to
make a contribution to moving our immediate environment and
even human society in a better direction.”
Debra Williams
—Daisaku Ikeda
Community leaders at an event honoring Martin Luther
King Jr. Day, Santa Monica, Calif., Jan. 18.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration—“Peace
Requires Justice”
Jan. 18, Santa Monica, Calif. — The 31st annual
During the event, Khamal Iwuanyanwu, a student of the Get Lit–Words Ignite, a youth literacy
program, performed spoken word poetry at the
Westside Coalition celebration. He shared his impression of the event: “This event showed that we
are still fighting for unity as a human race. Every
single person has a story, and every person should
tell their own. Me being a 17-year-old and standing
onstage helps me to tell people that there is potential beyond this moment—you just have to take the
first step.”
Guam Hosts Fourth Latte Peace Festival
Jan. 23–24, Tamuning, Guam— The fourth annual
Latte Peace Festival held Jan. 23–24 was hosted
celebration of the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. was held this year on Jan 18, sponsored by the
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Westside Coalition in
partnership with the SGI-USA.
Ms. Kuehl spoke about the inner strength needed
for peace and justice, and the disappointments that
those fighting for good may face along the way. Yet,
she urged everyone to advance in the spirit of Dr.
King: “We must accept finite disappointment, but
never lose infinite hope,” she said.
Carol Clayton
The Westside Coalition chose the theme “Peace
Requires Justice.” Los Angeles County Supervisor
Sheila Kuehl, who served as the keynote speaker,
addressed peace on three levels: in the world,
among individuals, and within oneself.
Local community leaders and SGI-USA members light the
latte stones, monoliths that ancient Chamorros carved
from coral limestone and that served as the foundation for
their homes, Tamuning, Guam, Jan. 24.
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2016 Peace Proposal
Jan. 26, Tokyo — Daisaku Ikeda, SGI president, issued
Carol Clayton
his 2016 peace proposal titled “Universal Respect
for Human Dignity: The Great Path to Peace” on Jan.
26, the founding day of the SGI.
Performers give a warm hafa adai (“hello” in native
Chamorro) at an event honoring the SGI’s anniversary,
Tamuning, Guam, Jan. 24.
by the Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon Mayor’s Office
along with several community partners such as the
SGI-USA, the International Committee of Artists for
Peace (ICAP), the Mayor’s Council of Guam, and the
Guam Visitors Bureau.
The weekend-long celebration began with a
native blessing of the land, followed by the lighting ceremony of latte stones, a stronghold of the
island culture. The latte are stone monoliths that
ancient Chamorros carved from coral limestone
and served as the foundation for their homes.
Other performances included a chorus singing a
native hymn “Saina” and young women performing a dance to the song “Hafa Adai” (“hello” in
native Chamorro).
The SGI also celebrated the 41st anniversary of
its founding—on Jan. 26, 1975, during the First
World Peace Conference, a gathering of Soka Gakkai
representatives from 51 countries and territories
established the Soka Gakkai International. Guam
was chosen as the starting point of the SGI’s world
peace movement due to the unspeakable atrocities
committed on the native Chamorro people during
World War II.
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At this year’s event, more than 3,000 Guamanian
citizens gathered to once again renew their vow to
promote peace, friendship, and cultural exchange.
In the proposal, Mr. Ikeda calls for intensified
efforts to respond to the needs of humanity’s most
vulnerable, including those displaced by conflict in
Syria and elsewhere or by natural disasters. He also
urges renewed focus on the protection of children
uprooted by conflict and their educational needs, as
well as further support to countries that have taken
in large numbers of people fleeing armed conflict
and persecution.
Mr. Ikeda stresses that dialogue is key to the genuine empathic understanding that leads to action.
Noting that “the irony of humanitarian crises is
that the deeper the gravity of people’s plight, the
less they are heard,” he encourages all to listen
to the voices of those affected, to focus on their
inherent dignity and potential rather than their
current dire status, and to “recast the world map
in our hearts.” He also highlights human rights
education as a vital tool for overcoming racism
and discrimination.
The SGI president reiterates the importance of
education and learning as a way of empowering
individuals to develop proactive responses to such
seemingly overwhelming problems.
Since 1983, Mr. Ikeda has issued proposals to
United Nations officials and leading thinkers
around the globe, addressing global issues on Jan.
26 to commemorate the founding of the SGI.
American University Hosts the SGI Seeds of Hope
Exhibition
Feb. 28–March 8, Washington, D.C.— The success-
ful opening of the SGI Seeds of Hope: Visions of
Sustainability, Steps Toward Change exhibition
on Sunday, Feb. 28, at American University in
Washington, D.C., was the result of the collaboration of the SGI-USA campus student club and the
staff of the Kay Spiritual Life Center.
toward economic and environmental sustainability that all people could put into practice in their
everyday lives and in their respective communities. The Surf Rider Foundation and the UNCW’s
Environmental Sustainability Department hosted
this event and came up with the theme “Our Green
Future.”
Local members of the SGI-USA in Wilmington
presented an SGI-sponsored video documentary
“A Quiet Revolution” about the reforestation efforts
in Kenya, Africa, that was started by Professor
Guests view the SGI Seeds of Hope exhibition at American
Wangari Mathaai. In 2004, Ms. Mathaai won the
University, Washington, D.C., Feb. 28.
Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts, and her movement became known as the Greenbelt Movement.
The Seeds of Hope exhibition was created by
the SGI in partnership with the Earth Charter
International as a resource for the U.N. Decade
of Education Development (DESD). SGI President
Daisaku Ikeda introduced the “Learn, Reflect,
Empower” formula in a proposal on education for
sustainable development for the World Summit
on Sustainable Development in 2002, which is
used in the exhibition.
The campus has an overall theme of sustainability this year inspired by the opening of their
new Center for Environmental Policy. The exhibit
serves to increase the awareness of sustainability on the part of the American University
students and to support Daisaku Ikeda’s intent
to “open new avenues for engagement with social
and global issues that can be fully developed by
future generations.”
The exhibition opening featured words by Bob
Tansey of The Nature Conservancy and Coleman
McCarthy, a journalist and peace activist.
“Our Green Future”—Earth Day Event at the
University of North Carolina–Wilmington
April 22, Wilmington, N.C.— The second Annual Earth
Day event held at the University of North Carolina–
Wilmington (UNCW) was at the outdoor amphitheater with 10 other organizations participating
on April 22. The goal of this event was to promote
an opportunity for cultural community outreach
Fatima de Oliveira
Philip Rosenberg
Engaged Buddhism
Local SGI-USA member Spring Harkins from Wilmington,
N.C., participates in the second Annual Earth Day event
at the University of North Carolina–Wilmington, April 22.
Learning a New Tune
April 26, Washington, D.C.— As a teen, legendary
pianist and composer Herbie Hancock was
continually inquisitive and loved tinkering with
watches and clocks, trying to find out what made
them tick, and he continued this nature into his
exploration of jazz.
“I would always try to figure out how things
work,” Mr. Hancock said. “It was that same instinct
that I have that made me learn jazz more quickly
. . . It wasn’t a talent for music. It was a talent for
being able to analyze things and figure out the
details.”
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Mr. Hancock, who is an SGI-USA member,
joined a group of educators and researchers
at the U.S. Education Department’s headquarters to discuss how to best integrate music
with lessons on math, engineering, and even
computer science.
At the Pentagon, SGI
members held an introductory Buddhist meeting,
Washington, D.C., May 3.
member Col. Ken Valcourt (USAR) and other
defense employees—both uniform and civilian—
supported this event.
John King via Twitter
@johnkingated
“I am extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to
help share the humanistic principles of Nichiren
Buddhism and the SGI with the Pentagon community,” Col. Valcourt said. “I am confident the efforts
being made will have a tremendous positive impact.”
Jazz icon and SGI-USA member Herbie Hancock discusses
integrating music into lessons on math, engineering, and
computer science at the U.S. Education Department’s
headquarters, Washington, D.C., April 26.
He has developed MathScienceMusic.org, a website
that offers teachers the resources and apps to use
music as a tool to teach other academic subjects.
Mr. Hancock sees value in touching students’ hearts
through music, teaching empathy, creative expression, and the value of working together and keeping
an open mind.
Interfaith Meeting at the Pentagon
May 3, Washington, D.C. — SGI members held an
introductory Buddhist meeting on May 3 at the
Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Department
of Defense and the nation’s military symbol.
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The meeting was sponsored by the Office of the
Pentagon Chaplain and was well attended. SGI
U.S. Army Photos by Mr. Leroy Counc
il. AMVID/RELEASED
Having studied electrical engineering at Grinnell
College before starting his jazz career full time,
Mr. Hancock says that there is an intrinsic link
between playing music and building things, one
that he thinks should be utilized in classrooms
across the country as now there is a renewed
emphasis on science, technology, engineering,
and math (STEM) education.
The event was part of the Pentagon’s celebration
of Faith and Prayer week, in which a number of
religious organizations held observances. The
meeting opened with words from Chaplain Col. Ken
Williams, followed by Col. Valcourt. William Aiken,
director of Public Affairs for the SGI-USA, then gave
a presentation that traced the origin and lineage of
Buddhism from Shakyamuni to the SGI’s modern
movement.
The meeting culminated with all participants
chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
Planting Seeds of Peace
May 22, Denver— SGI-USA members inplanted 50
cherry trees at the city’s iconic City Park on May 22.
Since 1989, when the SGI-USA Denver Culture Center was first opened, members have been planting
cherry trees as a symbol of inspiration and hope at
SGI-USA members of Rocky
Mountain Zone honor the 20th
anniversary of SGI President
Ikeda’s last visit to Denver with a
cherry-tree planting ceremony at
City Park, Denver, May 22.
various locations throughout the Mile High City.
In 1996, members joined SGI President Daisaku
Ikeda in planting a cherry tree in the city. This
event celebrated the 20th anniversary of that
visit and enabled the local members to refresh their
determination to bring hope to their community for
many more years to come.
The Courage of Application
June 7, New York— On June 13, 1996, Daisaku Ikeda,
the founder of the Soka schools system, spoke about
a paradigm shift in education in his talk “Thoughts
on Education for Global Citizenship” at Teachers
College, Columbia University, in New York. He outlined the interlocking features of global citizenship
education, which aims to make the human being
the consistent focus and to foster global citizens
who use knowledge to further the cause of human
happiness and peace.
Commemorating the 20th anniversary of that pioneering lecture, more than 150 educators gathered
on June 7 at Teachers College for a seminar titled
“Thoughts on Education for Global Citizenship:
The Courage of Application.”
The event, co-sponsored by the SGI-USA and the
Department of Arts and Humanities at Teachers
College, was held inside the historic Milbank Chapel, where the SGI president delivered his lecture
two decades before.
Yvonne Ng
Photos: Rayna Manger Tedford
Engaged Buddhism
Commemorating SGI President Daisaku Ikeda’s 1996
lecture at Teachers College, Columbia University, more
than 150 educators gather at the school for the
seminar “Thoughts on Education for Global Citizenship:
The Courage of Application,” New York, June 7.
Four seasoned educators described from various
angles the application of principles that Dr. Ikeda
outlined in his 1996 lecture.
In his message to the seminar, Dr. Ikeda recalled
both his 1975 and 1996 visits to the university,
referring to Teachers College as “the alma mater of
America’s wisdom and conscience.”
Among the distinguished educators attending
the seminar was Betty Reardon, founder of the
International Institute on Peace Education, who,
in an interview following the seminar, noted the
practical benefits of the event for the presenters
themselves. “They all have their regular areas of
concern, but they had to focus in and around a particular set of ideas,” she said. “That did two things:
It enabled them to look at their own work within a
different perspective and to make a contribution
to the original work. It was a way to take forward
what President Ikeda offered in his 1996 Teachers
College lecture.”
Becoming an Oasis of Courage and Hope
Orlando, Fla. — The SGI-USA Orlando Region
members wrote an open letter in response to the
senseless tragedy that, on June 12, took 49 innocent
lives at the Pulse nightclub in their city.
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with their respective police precincts, community
leaders, and governmental officials.
Seiko Yamaguchi
Each borough hosted a variety of events featuring
art, music, dance, and food of their respective
community as a means for bringing people together—
learning about their neighbors, creating friendships
among diversity, and developing tolerance.
The members resolved to eradicate the evil that
caused such a tragedy by strengthening the forces
of good and widely propagating the teachings
of Nichiren Buddhism as taught in the SGI. They
resolved to become an oasis of courage and hope,
to advance the ideals of Buddhist humanism, which
uphold and protect the sanctity of all life. They
continued to hold chanting sessions and host introductory Buddhist meetings at the SGI-USA Orlando
Buddhist Center for people to connect with one
another.
The Orlando Region members stated that they have
been forever changed by this tragedy and that the
loss of 49 precious individuals awakened them to
their mission to remove misery and suffering from
their community, one person at a time.
National Night Out Against Crime Initiative
Aug. 2, Brooklyn and Queens, N.Y.— The communities
8
of the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, New
York, participated in the Annual National Night Out
Against Crime initiative event on Aug. 22, along
SGI-USA members participate in the National Night
Out Against Crime Initiative to help bring peace and
create friendships in their community,
Queens, N.Y., Aug. 2.
About 150 SGI-USA members participated at the
events as “ambassadors of peace”—volunteering
as hosts at SGI-USA booths at the event and performing as dancers, musicians, and members of the
chorus.
Mike Curtis
In the letter, the SGI-USA members expressed their
appreciation to everyone for their support and
prayers and described how they, after learning of
the tragedy, began chanting for everyone’s safety
as they reached out to fellow members. One by one,
they were able to verify that none of the SGI-USA
members had been injured or killed.
Yin Ping Low
SGI-USA members in Orlando, Fla., respond to the June 12
shooting that took 49 lives by holding a chanting session
and introductory Buddhist meeting to reconfirm their
mission in bringing hope and peace to the community.
SGI-USA members describe their activities for peace
and introduce the SGI-USA: An Engaged Buddhist
Community exhibition, Falls Church, Va., Sept. 10.
An Engaged Buddhist Community
Sept. 10, Falls Church, Va.— At the recreational center
Engaged Buddhism
Putting Beliefs into Action
of Falls Church, Va., on Sept. 10, local SGI-USA
members held an introductory event about the SGI
and Nichiren Buddhism.
proclamation declaring Sept. 10 “Nuclear Weapons
Free Zone Day.”
Lucy Estephanos
It was an opportunity for the general populace to
learn about the global peace movement of the SGI
based upon the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin.
In addition, visitors viewed the SGI-USA: An
Engaged Buddhist Community exhibition, watched
videos of members’ faith experiences, picked up informational brochures, and engaged in one-to-one
dialogue with local SGI-USA members.
Yugi Green
A Kennesaw State University student views the SGI
Everything You Treasure—For a World Free From Nuclear
Weapons exhibition, Atlanta, Sept. 27.
Celebration of Peace, Atlanta: SGI-USA Atlanta
chorus members perform for a “Celebration of Peace”
to declare the day to be a “Nuclear Weapons Free Zone
Day,” Atlanta, Sept. 10.
Everything You Treasure—For a World Free
From Nuclear Weapons
Sept. 10, Atlanta— SGI-USA members in Atlanta
held a commemorative meeting on Sept 10 titled
“Celebration of Peace” to declare this day to be a
“Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Day.” In addition to
the meeting, an opening ceremony of the Everything You Treasure —For a World Free From
Nuclear Weapons exhibition was available for
viewing at the SGI-USA Atlanta Buddhist Center.
At the beginning of the program, Congressman
Hank Johnson, an SGI-USA member, spoke briefly
and later participated in the youth-hosted panel
discussion. In addition, Nazeera Dawood, the
deputy chief of staff for operations for Fulton
County, and John Eaves, the chairman for the
Fulton County Board of Commissions, presented a
Also on the program was Kennesaw State
University Professor Tom Pynn, who is the
coordinator for the university’s Peace Studies
Program. He spoke about his reaction to the
Everything You Treasure — For a World Free
From Nuclear Weapons exhibition and joined
in a youth-hosted panel discussion. At his
request, the exhibition was on display at the
Kennesaw University campus from September 23
to October 4.
Peace Day Dallas
Sept. 16–21, Dallas— Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings
and City Councilmember Adam McGough with his
wife, Lacy, chaired the annual event: Peace Day
Dallas, a grass-roots initiative, to recognize the
United Nations International Day of Peace.
The city of Dallas hosted a variety of events from
Sept. 16–21 using art, music, dance, sports, and
food to help bring the members of the community
together in celebration of Peace Day Dallas 2016!
More than 50 members of the Soka Gakkai
International-USA from the Dallas and Fort
Worth communities joined in the activities of the
Peace Day Dallas’s weekend as exhibit docents,
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Putting Beliefs into Action
craft instructors, and performers.
Barry Villamil
Many attendees viewed the SGI-USA’s Victory Over
Violence and Building a Culture of Peace for the
Children of the World exhibitions at the Dallas City
Hall Plaza. Both generated immense interest and
sparked conversations about promoting peace,
overcoming violence, and creating hope for the
future.
Also, SGI-USA elementary-school age children
presented an energetic dance to “Surf.”
Marie Pitts
Participants join “Peace Day Hawaii: Uniting With
Aloha” to honor Sept. 21, the United Nation’s
International Day of Peace, Pearl City, Hawaii, Sept. 24.
Peace Day Dallas: At the SGI-USA booth, more than 40
children, police officers, city officials, and festivalgoers
learn how to make origami peace cranes, a symbol of hope,
to commemorate the activism of peace, Dallas, Sept. 17.
At the SGI-USA booth, more than 40 children, police
officers, city officials, and festivalgoers learned
how to make origami peace cranes, a symbol of
hope, to commemorate the activism of peace.
Celebrating a Day of Peace and Aloha
Sept. 24, Pearl City, Hawaii— Local SGI-USA Hawaii
Region members, together with community peace
groups, participated in “Peace Day Hawaii:
Uniting With Aloha” at the University of Hawaii’s
Oahu Urban Garden Center on Sept. 24. The event
attracted some 1,000 people to commemorate Sept.
21, the United Nation’s International Day of Peace.
The celebration opened with an oli, a traditional
Hawaiian chant, and graceful hula performances.
10
People from all walks of life, ranging from kupuna
(seniors) to keiki (children), soaked in activities
spread across more than 50 community booths
with interactive games and crafts. Participants
engaged in topics like health and wellness,
sustainability, bullying, and dealing with the
trauma of violence. They also viewed the SGI-USA
Victory Over Violence exhibition and joined local
dignitaries in dedicating the Peace Path, a 100-yard
stretch of peace-themed gardens that connect with
the Soka Peace Garden Theater, which opened in
January 2015.
Among the speakers was Paul K. Chappell, West
Point graduate and peace leadership director for
the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. He gave a talk
on “Waging Peace,” stressing the importance of
mutual respect and listening with empathy, and
the call to fulfill individual potentials—aspects to
consider on individual and global levels.
The crowd then joined a “Universal Dance of Peace,”
forming concentric circles in dance to celebrate
everyone’s efforts and contributions to the day and
every day toward building a community, society,
and world filled with the spirit of peace and aloha.
The Future Is Youth
“Networks among young people fostered through face-to-face
encounter and exchange are ultimately the most critical factor
in building a more peaceful and humane world
in the twenty-first century.”
—Daisaku Ikeda
Students View Transforming the Human Spirit
Exhibition
Jan. 23, Queens, N.Y. — Seventh-graders from the
Unitarian Universal Church visited the Queens, N.Y.,
Buddhist Center on Jan. 23. SGI-USA youth leaders
explained the basics of the Buddhist practice
and showed a Buddhist in America video, then
answered questions. The seventh-graders then
viewed the SGI-USA Victory Over Violence exhibition.
Gerry Hall
The adults accompanying the students were very
impressed with the SGI-USA youth leaders who
engaged the students in conversation about their
dreams for the future.
Creating True and Lasting Change
April 10, Los Angeles— Nearly 200 students
and guests joined UCLA’s SGI-USA student
campus club symposium “Buddhism in
America” on April 10, featuring a talk by
SGI-USA General Director Adin Strauss.
Mr. Strauss stated: “It’s undeniable that we
are living in times of tremendous instability and change. This is particularly visible
in American society. . . . More than ever,
American society is crying out for another
way, a different way to truly solve our problems
At the symposium, students have small group discussions
and read material about Nichiren Buddhism.
Emily Terada
The event commemorated SGI President
Ikeda’s 1974 lecture at UCLA, which became
the first of his many overseas university
lectures. April marked the 42nd anniversary.
11
Gerry Hall
Voices of Change: Power of Youth
Emily Terada
Emily Terada
April 18, Richford, Vt.— SGI-USA members partici-
Nearly 200 students and guests join UCLA’s SGI-USA
student campus club symposium “Buddhism in America,”
featuring a talk by SGI-USA General Director Adin Strauss
(top photo), Los Angeles, April 10.
and create lasting peace without resorting to
either passive acceptance or instinctive blame.”
He explained that there is a third option—the
Buddhist concept of human revolution—and
described it as “a fundamental process of inner
transformation whereby, through Buddhist
practice, we bring forth our happiest and most
noble state of life. While remaining the same
person, we move away from a life state bound by
concern only for oneself, and cultivate a ‘greater
self’ capable of caring and taking action for the
sake of others.”
12
He noted that there are three keys to creating
true and lasting changes rooted in President
Ikeda’s encouragement: challenging your own
inner transformation; engaging in heart-to-heart
dialogue; and striving to live as a global citizen.
pated in the Voices of Change: Power of Youth for
a New Generation event to celebrate the victory
of young musicians and artists as they give back
to their local communities and the world. The
celebration was held April 18 at Richford Junior
Senior High School in Richford, Vt. The SGI-USA
Voices of Change: Power of Youth exhibition was
available for the young people to view. The
event was well received by the students, staff,
and community members, including the Richford
Junior Senior High School principal who wants
to bring the SGI-USA Victory Over Violence
exhibition to the high school. Herbie Hancock, a
Grammy award-winning musician and longtime SGI-USA member, sent a message to the
students.
Peace Starts in the Heart
April 20, Los Angeles, Calif.— SGI-USA participated in
the Earth Day celebration at the Santa Monica Blvd.
Community Charter School/Fenton Public School on
April 20.
Ian McIlraith, SGI-USA Community Relations
Director, presented the Victory Over Violence
exhibition and explained that the VOV campaign
envisions a global movement of ordinary people
becoming the driving force for building the
culture of peace through dialogue and action in
their daily lives. Its mission is to inspire people,
especially young people, to identify and counteract the root causes of violence in their lives,
homes, schools, and local communities through
The Future Is Youth
General Director Adin Strauss and
Alex Boling, a Courageous Freedom
Group leader.
Patty Hager
The discussion centered on the
Buddhist concept of equality of life
based on the belief that everyone—
just as they are, without having to
change their form or character—has
the innate potential to at tain
enlightenment.
Ian McIlraith, SGI-USA community relations director,
speaks to the students at the Santa Monica Blvd.
Community Charter School/Fenton Public School about
the Victory Over Violence campaign,
Los Angeles, Calif., April 20.
awareness, introspection, individual empowerment, and a creative commitment to dialogue and
action.
The students participated in
the VOV pledge for peace and
viewed the exhibition.
The talk then turned to SGI President
Ikeda’s 1993 Harvard lecture
“Mahayana Buddhism and TwentyFirst-Century Civilization,” in which
he discussed the root cause for
upheaval, conflict, and war: intolerance arising from “an unreasoning
emphasis on individual differences,”
found in the “invisible arrow” of “a
prejudicial mind-set.”
General Director Strauss emphasized that
Buddhahood is not found somewhere outside of us,
but is a state of life that we bring forth from within
through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
“Nam-myoho-renge-kyo represents the intent of
the Buddha, the name of the Buddha nature,” Mr.
Strauss said. “The intent is to enable every person,
without exception, to become happy.”
Let’s Talk Equality
Buddhists for World Peace
student campus club at Cal State
Northridge welcomed nearly
80 members and guests to an
intro-to-Buddhism meeting that
explored the topic of equality.
The event was held on April 26
in collaboration with the SGIUSA Courageous Freedom Group, which comprises
LGBTQ members. They were joined by SGI-USA
Travos Whitcher
April 26, Northridge, Calif.— The
SGI-USA General Director Adin Strauss discusses
equality and Buddhism at an intro-to-Buddhism
meeting at Cal State–Northridge, Calif., April 26.
13
Vickery Meadow Community International
Sharing Festival
Sept. 22, Dallas— To commemorate the United
Nations International Day of Peace (Sept. 21),
on Sunday, Sept. 22, SGI-USA members in Dallas,
Texas, joined the Peace Day Dallas’s Vickery
Meadow Community International Sharing Festival at the Sam Tasby Middle School. The Sharing
Festival hosted more than 300 refugee children
and their families from across Texas. The other
groups who collaborated with the SGI-USA were:
Vickery Meadow Youth Development Project, Dallas
Awareness Adventure, the Children’s International Summer Villages/CISV-DFW, 29 Pieces/
The Dallas Love Project, Neighbor Up Dallas, and
Gateway of Grace.
SGI-USA Dallas members hosted an origami peace
crane table with 10 volunteers. They taught both
children and adults how to make origami cranes,
the symbol of hope and healing during challenging times. About 200 people attended the event
where families enjoyed many activities, including
soccer and a potluck-picnic. Several Dallas Council
members and their staff, along with community
group leaders from the Dallas area, thanked the SGI
members for their participation and expressed how
much they enjoyed the origami table and the message of peace it conveyed.
The Imagery of Peace
Sept. 22, Beverly Hills, Calif.— Yvonne Ng, an SGI-USA
member in Queens, N.Y., won the silver medal in the
“alternative” film category for her thesis film, Cloud
Kumo, at the 43rd Student Academy Awards, held on
Sept. 22 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly
Hills, Calif.
14
In her interview with the SGI-USA World Tribune
staff, Ms. Ng explained how her Buddhist practice
inspired her journey to become an awardwinning filmmaker: “’Kumo’ means “cloud” in
Japanese, and in talking to many people about
the atomic bombings, usually the first thing that
comes to their minds is the image of a mushroom
cloud. So I think people see that image as a symbol
of tragedy, but for me, making this film was my
way of turning it into a symbol of humanity
rising above devastation.”
She described the film as a fictional piece about a
grandmother and granddaughter finding meaning
amid the devastating effects wrought by nuclear
weapons and, together, facing the future with hope
and perseverance.
Ms. Ng shared what inspired her to create the film:
“In May 2014, I had the opportunity to join other
SGI representatives at the United Nations
to observe preparations leading up to the 2015
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. This treaty is considered the cornerstone of
global nuclear non-proliferation. I realized then
how little the media was shedding light on the
subject of nuclear disarmament and the very real
threat nuclear weapons are to humankind.
“In my personal creative journey, film seemed like
a natural progression of my photography career, so
I decided to make a film that shed light on the
imminent threat of nuclear weapons. My prayer
was that my future work in film would become a
large platform to spread President Ikeda’s message
of humanism and the inherent dignity of life.”
When asked about making the film, Yvonne
explained that she had zero background in film, but
soon after making her determination to produce
the film, she was asked to support two film productions—these unexpected opportunities enabled her
to submit a portfolio to the City College of New York
master’s film program. She explained that after
three months, in August 2014, she went from only
having a vision to starting graduate school.
In recounting the obstacles she faced in the
course of achieving her goal, Yvonne states: “I
always thought I was a confident young woman,
but when I started film school, everything in my
life crumbled. I was often at the bottom of my
class and received a lot of criticism for my work.
This triggered in me a lack of self-worth. At the
time, I experienced severe panic attacks and
couldn’t sleep, eat, or even focus on the most
basic tasks. In my first year of school alone, I
The Future Is Youth
Yvonne also explained how she had harbored
great pain from her parents’ divorce and that she
had not spoken to her father in 15 years. She had
wanted a relationship with him but did not feel
worthy enough. When she thought about how SGI
President Ikeda entrusted the youth, including
her, with the mission of bringing about peace and
happiness for the world, she then realized that she
needed to trust herself. After recognizing her
tendency to belittle herself, she found newfound
confidence. Then the pain that she had toward her
father turned into deep appreciation for giving her
life. She recognized that he was a hard worker, a
brilliant photographer, and that she was able to do
what she does because of him.
In January 2016, she flew to Singapore to see her
father and had a four-hour dialogue with him. On
June 3, she graduated from her master’s program,
Yvonne Ng
uncovers the power
of her life through
her shared dream
of realizing world
peace and
happiness for all
humankind by
establishing the
humanistic
ideals of Nichiren
Buddhism in society.
(Inset) Ms. Ng gives
her acceptance
speech at the 43rd
Student Academy
Awards, Beverly Hills,
Calif., Sept. 22.
Richard Harbaugh
“One day, I started reading about President Ikeda’s life when he was 31 years
old, the same age I was at the time. Reading about his struggles and perseverance
gave me the strength and motivation to
push through. I would chant, write, and
chant again, and that’s how I came up
with Cloud Kumo. Through the process
of making this film, I determined to
repay my debt of gratitude to my
mentor in life, SGI President Ikeda, by
becoming the happiest young woman
in the world. Ultimately, making this
film was an expedient means to change
all aspects of my life. And in doing so, I wanted to
be a role model for other young woman and show
them that we can transform any situation with this
practice.”
Debra Williams
went to urgent care seven times, and
with no health insurance, my medical
bills piled up. But through chanting
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, I realized that
my anxiety was rooted in my fear of
failure. I feared that I wouldn’t ‘make it’
and would end up disappointing everyone who had high hopes for me.”
and both her
mother and father attended her graduation ceremony, where they took a photo together.
Yvonne is so happy that she had created a platform
for more people to see President Ikeda’s vision for
peace, and that she is helping him fulfill his work
toward abolishing nuclear weapons.
15
To Develop the Culture of Peace
“In contemporary terms, truly open and humanistic religions converse
with other religions dedicated to people’s welfare and inner development,
while respecting one another’s strong points and working together for
the peace, happiness, and prosperity of humanity. In fact, SGI members
around the globe are carrying out just such dialogue with groups and
individuals of different faiths and cultures, cooperating with them
for the sake of peace and to build a better world.”
—Daisaku Ikeda
The eight action items are:
1) Fostering a culture of peace through
education,
2) Promoting sustainable economic and social
development,
3) Promoting respect for all human rights,
4) Ensuring equality between women and men,
5) Fostering democratic participation,
6) Advancing understanding, tolerance, and
solidarity,
7) Supporting participatory communication
and the free flow of information and
knowledge, and
8) Promoting international peace and security.
16
Some of the events held nationwide in 2016
Abigail Disney (left) with SGI members in New York
after viewing Ms. Disney’s film The Armor of Light,
New York, May 27.
include:
The Armor of Light With Abigail Disney
May 27, New York— On May 27, the Culture of Peace
Distinguished Speaker Series lecture and dialogue
focused on the profound and complex issue of
gun violence in America. At the SGI-USA New York
Culture Center, some 350 SGI members and guests
viewed the full length, award-winning documentary
film, The Armor of Light, which was followed by a
moderated dialogue with the film’s director, Abigail
Disney, and concluded with a question-and-answer
session with the audience.
Manual Elias
The Culture of Peace Distinguished Speaker
Series provides a forum for experts in a broad
range of topics, all ultimately addressing global
issues of peace to foster a culture that rejects
violence and addresses the root causes of conflict through dialogue. This series commenced
in 2007, with lecturers focusing on one or more
of the eight action areas defined by the 1999
United Nations Declaration and Programme of
Action on a Culture of Peace.
The evening opened with the
moderator sharing some statistics
that the gravity of gun violence in America has
become an alarming issue that directly and
indirectly impacts and infiltrates all of our daily
lives and interactions with others. She also
shared how the application of core values of
Soka Buddhist philosophy—
respect for the absolute dignity of every human
life, the limitless potential inherent in every
person, the human capacity to change poison
into medicine, and the power that one individual
transforming their karma into mission can
generate to change the trajectory of history—resonated with the dynamics seen in this documentary.
The Armor of Light presents gun violence through
the lens of Evangelical Christians and documents a
courageous journey of self-reflection, inner reformation, dialogue, and sustained engagement—all
rooted in a realization of our shared humanity. It
has been hailed as “the most important discussion
of gun violence in America in the past decade.”
The director, Abigail Disney, is a filmmaker, philanthropist, and activist with a longtime passion
for women’s issues and peacebuilding. Ms. Disney
observed that people of faith behave as their conscience dictates whether in their own self-interest
or not. Then the Sandy Hook shooting happened.
Convinced that there is no faith tradition that
supports what happened at Sandy Hook, she was
compelled to launch her documentary project,
determined to create a film that would make a
Philip Rosenberg
The participants agreed to consider the
evening as a new departure point for
each individual to continue to reflect
and talk with others about this important issue in their homes and communities. The evening’s lecture served as
a catalyst for deeply considering the
question of gun violence in America.
How can we each employ our own creative energy, our unique talents, and
our abilities to contribute to a peaceful, secure, and just world?
Leading diversity
experts (inset)
René Redwood
and Howard J.
Ross discuss how
we can transform
the unconscious
workings of bias
to contribute to
peace, Washington, D.C., July 16.
Philip Rosenberg
To Develop the Culture of Peace
difference. She wanted to make a difference with a
genuine call to the conscience, a cry from the heart.
So she dug deeply into her own heart and decided to
go forward.
The film documents the influence of dialogue,
profound listening, and how a single individual’s
experience can ignite the flame of justice and courage
in the heart of another person. It reconfirmed that
we can bravely open our hearts, engage in productive conversations, and make a conscious decision
to discover common ground—the common ground
of our shared humanity—regarding important and
complex issues that Americans and America must
face and deal with.
A Conversation on Hidden Bias
July 16, Washington, D.C.— As part of the SGI-USA
Culture of Peace Distinguished Speaker Series, “A
Conversation on Hidden Bias—How It Shapes Our
Lives and World” was held July 16 at the SGI-USA
17
Washington, D.C., Culture Center. This program
aimed to support the community by addressing the
troubling outbreaks of violence in our society.
How do our experiences shape what we see in the
world — and what we don’t? Depending on our
filters, said Howard J. Ross, author of Everyday
Bias—Identifying and Navigating Unconscious Judgments in Our Daily Lives, “the same thing can appear
differently. We see the world the way we expect
to see the world. Background creates context,
and context is everything—we don’t think the way
we think we think.”
Mr. Ross, a leading diversity consultant and
expert on the workings of unconscious bias, said
that having bias helps us survive. “It can be lifesaving or life-destroying. The question is what
do we do with it, how aware are we of how it
impacts our behavior?”
Describing how we are constantly being fed messages
by the media, accentuated by social media, we need
to understand “the echo chamber we’re living in”
and take personal responsibility, he said. We can do
so by: 1. acknowledging the reality people are dealing with; 2. exploring how fear is impacting us;
3. practicing telling the truth about our biases free
of guilt; 4. engaging “the other”—asking someone
you disagree with what experiences led them to
feel the way they do; 5. admitting or apologizing for
misunderstanding another; and 6. being an ally.
“Our joint liberation is what we’re after,” he concluded, “and the only way we can do that is by
creating communities of mutual support.”
18
René Redwood, who has been honored as a top
African American business leader and is an expert
on diversity and cultural competence, engaged the
audience in thinking of ways we can contribute
to peace, such as being open to others. “When we
become aware of our bias, we get to choose what
we do with it,” she said. “We can continue behaviors
that deny the humanity of others, or we can change
that to welcoming, embracing, and seeing the value,
dignity, and love in others with unconditional positive regard.”
“As a nation, we’re grieving,” she continued.
“I would venture to say that anyone who’s been
paying attention to the news has at least some
pain, some fear, some moments of thinking:
‘I can’t believe this is still happening. How do we
begin to heal?’ We want to be able to have an
honest exchange, to listen not only with our ears
but also with our hearts. As long as we continue
to recognize that we’re here together, one
people, one earth, we have an opportunity to
move beyond the grief, the fear, the terror. Our
challenge is how do we instill that [awareness] in
our institutions?”
In response to the resignation people in society
have, Mr. Ross projected onto a screen images of
men and women in history—from Ralph Waldo
Emerson to Martin Luther King Jr., Harvey Milk, and
Shirley Chisholm—who have helped create positive, lasting change.
“And in the center are you and I,” he said, emphasizing that there is a community of people striving
for positive change. “It’s a community and the real
question we need to ask ourselves is what legacy
will we leave? I know it’s hard, but the one thing we
have is our ability to believe that something else is
possible—hope. Don’t stop believing.”
Mr. Ross later said: “My own explorations into
Buddhism have taught me new ways to see myself
in relationship to the world and have convinced me
that the only hope we have is that each of us works
on the peace within ourselves, while we are trying to address the ills of society. As long as we are
unconsciously coming from our own wounding, we
will be stuck in the cycle of fear.”
Ms. Redwood said of the Culture of Peace event:
“I could sense a true willingness and desire for us
to find a way to be at peace, not only individually,
but importantly, together, as a collective. That’s so
different from many of the places in which I speak.
The feedback I’ve gotten is that I spoke to the heart.
That was my goal, because we are feeling people,
not just head people. So often this conversation is
just based in our heads, even with the anger. Sometimes we just don’t have the language to translate
To Develop the Culture of Peace
The Beauty of Love Survives
Panelists discuss how female athletes can usher in a new
era of exercising and healthy living, Santa Monica, Calif.,
Oct. 12.
what we feel, so being able to give people more
language on how to talk about the grief, the angst,
and the sadness around the issues of race or whatever the differences might be—here I sensed a true
will. I wanted it to be heartfelt, because that’s how
we create peace.”
Media Re(Presents) Women & Sport
Oct. 12, Santa Monica, Calif.— SGI-USA partnered
with the LA Chapter of the United Nations Women
to host their panel “Media Re(Presents) Women &
Sport: A panel discussion on the media’s portrayal
of women, their bodies, and active lifestyles” at the
SGI-USA Pacific Peace Center in Santa Monica, Calif.,
on Oct. 12. Moderated by Carole Oglesby, professor
emeritus, Temple University, a pioneer in championing women’s athletics at the collegiate level, the
panel included athletes discussing their experiences
and academics reporting the conclusions of studies
on the subject. Panelists also included Professor
Michael Messner, University of Southern California,
Professor Faye L. Wachs, Polytechnic University,
Pomona, Calif., and Julia Landauer, professional
NASCAR driver.
An important conclusion to the panel’s dialogue
was that while the sexualization of women in
sports is not new, women’s participation in sports
can alleviate some of the stress around body policing. Instead of dieting to meet a beauty standard,
female athletes can usher in a new era of exercising
and healthy living aimed at success in sports and
de-emphasize the focus on one’s appearance.
Fisch, a retired pediatrician, author, and artist,
delivered a lecture at the SGI-USA Minnesota
Buddhist Center titled “Lessons of Love From the
Holocaust: Remaining Humane Even in Inhumane
Circumstances.” After his talk, the SGI-USA’s World
Tribune staff spoke with him about his life, work,
and the meaning of humanity.
Dr. Fisch escaped from Hungary after he participated
in the 1956 revolution and came to America. In
1958, he became a medical intern at the University of Minnesota. When he finished his pediatric
training, he studied
drawing and painting for 10 years.
His message to
the audience of
mostly students at
these schools was:
“Respect others
as you expect to
be respected.
Dr. Robert O. Fisch shares his experiences
Stand up for
about the Holocaust at the SGI-USA
your principles,
Minnesota Buddhist Center,
because comproMinneapolis, Minn.
mise is the first
step toward actions you eventually regret. The only
change you can expect in this life is the change you
are personally able to make.”
Robert Evans
Patty Hager
Nov. 10, Minneapolis— On Nov. 10, Dr. Robert O.
“Young people growing up in the United States have
an incredible opportunity. The future is in their
hands, and they can go as far as they are able.”
Dr. Fisch was asked about what he would like to
impart to young people, and he said: “To me, the
most important thing is to respect everybody—
regardless of rank, education, wealth, religion, or
race—and think of yourself as a thread in a colorful carpet. Without the thread, there is no carpet,
and without the carpet, the thread has no function.
In the same way, your existence is meaningless
without others. Remain humane even in inhumane
circumstances!”
19
Buddhism in Daily Life
“What I would like to stress is the far-reaching impact of the life story of a
single individual who has succeeded in discovering a sense of purpose from
within the depths of personal suffering. These life stories transcend national
boundaries, connect generations, and offer courage and hope to many.”
—Daisaku Ikeda
Never Stop Smiling
Kumiko Miyake
Chicago
President Ikeda’s encouragement to me at this time
would carry me through a series of setbacks once I
moved to Chicago in 1983. I had three miscarriages
before giving birth to a daughter Naomi and second
daughter, Mikki, just five years later. Three years after
Mikki was born, I learned I had IgA nephropathy, a
serious kidney disease. Doctors told me that with no
cure, I would need dialysis and a kidney transplant.
I wasn’t ready to accept this as my reality, so I
continued working full time, taking care of my
family, and participating in SGI activities, almost as
if nothing had changed.
Finally, three years after my diagnosis, I went in for
my first dialysis treatment. I didn’t believe I had the
will or strength to overcome my circumstances. I
was too angry and was wallowing in self-pity.
20
My husband chanted abundantly each day for my
recovery, and so I began pushing myself to chant as
well. As I studied the writings of Nichiren Daishonin,
the founder of Nichiren Buddhism, and SGI President Ikeda’s encouragement, I realized that the
Kumiko Miyake (front) with her husband, Stan;
daughter Mikki (far left) and her partner, Sara; and
daughter Naomi (far right) and her fiancé, Kurt. Through
facing an incurable illness, Kumiko learns the power of
living with unbridled hope.
problem wasn’t my illness, but that I was letting
it rob me of my hope—that I was sick at heart. To
defeat this true enemy, I decided that no matter
what happened, I would never give up hope. As long
as I’m smiling, I decided, I’m winning.
I also began chanting to understand the Buddhist
teaching of changing karma into mission. I soon felt
that I chose to have this problem in this lifetime,
so that I could encourage my family and fellow
members with my victory.
Though I continued dialysis, I felt joyful and even
Laura Hamm
I had always dreamt of moving to America and
helping people there learn about the SGI and this
practice of Nichiren Buddhism. In 1982, I supported SGI-USA members who were visiting Japan
for a training course. There, I met a wonderful man
named Stan. We exchanged letters for a year and
decided to get married.
Buddhism in Daily Life
In 2010, Naomi, who was 26, asked if she could give
me one of her kidneys. I had mixed feelings at first,
but the doctor said she would be fine. Just as we
were about to go forward with it, we learned of an
antibody in Naomi’s system that would attack my
body. The surgery was called off.
That fall, we found an incredible program at a
nearby hospital that would allow Naomi to donate
her kidney and, in return, I would be given another
kidney that matched me perfectly.
As I prepped for the transplant, my doctor discovered I had breast cancer. “Do I have to deal with this
too?” I thought. As I continued to chant, I realized
how fortunate I was that the doctors had caught
my cancer at such an early stage. In December, my
cancer was completely removed. Soon after, my
daughter and I had the kidney transplant surgeries,
which were complete successes.
Five years have passed, and I remain perfectly
healthy. Naomi is now engaged to the perfect person for her, Kurt, and will get married in May. Mikki
also has a wonderful partner, Sara, whom we are
very fond of. In 2015, both my husband and I were
able to help two young people begin their practice
of Nichiren Buddhism in the SGI.
I am determined to spread happiness and victory
to all the members here alongside SGI President
Ikeda. I want to help create a warm, humanistic
organization that fosters many youth toward the
100th anniversary of the Soka Gakkai in 2030,
as I continue to challenge my life, always smiling,
always filled with hope.
Brandon Nicholson
Oakland, Calif.
My parents, Bruce
and Bernadette
Nicholson, were SGI
members before I
was born, so I’ve
been practicing
alongside them all
my life. Early in my
childhood, Oakland
Challenging himself to be
Children’s Hospital
victorious
in many different
was my second home.
circumstances during his youth
As a baby, I experiforges in Brandon Nicholson a
enced the first of 22
desire to become a person who
ear infections, which
works for social justice.
required multiple
surgeries. At two, I developed seizures after my mom
and I were broadsided in a car accident. I had to take
seizure medication for seven years, and during this
time, my parents encouraged me to win over my
illnesses. Even from a young age, I challenged myself
to continue my daily practice of Nichiren Buddhism.
I eventually overcame my ear infections and stopped
taking medication for my seizures and remain
seizure-free.
phy
I eventually underwent a transplant, but my new
kidney wouldn’t function properly. My doctor said
the kidney was bad and that I would need a new
one within a month. I never wanted to go on dialysis again and chanted for a breakthrough. That new
kidney ended up lasting 10 years.
Seeing the Potential
in Others
Mary McHenry Photogra
laughed during my treatments. I also brought my
daughters to the hospital with me, so I could show
them that, even in great pain, I would never be
defeated.
Over the years, I have been able to use my Buddhist
practice to overcome numerous other significant challenges. I have chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo many
times to defeat additional health ailments as well as
interpersonal challenges including: chronic asthma,
heart murmur, (benign) tumors, bullying, poverty,
divisive family and relationship issues.
Challenging myself to be victorious in these many
different circumstances during my youth forged in
me a desire to become a person who could work for
social justice. As a first step, I resolved to attend a
university that would enable me to create a just and
peaceful society. I have learned so much from SGI
President Ikeda about the true value of education, and
I owe so much to my parents for always supporting
me. I wanted to show my appreciation and deep
21
ting
Milagro Marke
Group
our intensive programming, including youth in the juvenile justice system,
youth in foster care, and high-intensity
student athletes. This is our best effort
to make sure we can encourage as many
young people in our target population as
possible to see the great potential they
possess, and not give up on themselves.
Students of the Hidden Genius Project are learning
computer science and software development along with
entrepreneurship and leadership training.
gratitude to them by receiving a great education and
doing my best to help others.
I graduated from Princeton University, majoring
in public policy, and then obtained my Ph.D. in education policy from the University of California–Berkeley.
I am excited about my most recent career opportunity
to help others. I am now the first executive director
of a nonprofit, community-based organization called
The Hidden Genius Project, whose mission is to train
and mentor young black males in technology creation,
entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to transform
their lives and communities.
22
The core component of The Hidden Genius Project
is a 15-month intensive program in which we
serve a cohort of black male high school students
for nearly 800 hours, to teach them to develop
software, be entrepreneurs and community
leaders. While the technology education component is significant, our chief aim is to create
a fun and safe space for young men to challenge
and improve themselves, and commit to creating
value within their respective environments. The
program culminates in each student building his
own software application from start to finish. We
also continue to build programs for young people
who might otherwise have difficulty accessing
As I continue to fight for the well-being
of the youth in our communities, I am
determined to teach people the same
fundamental values I have learned
through a lifetime of practice with
the SGI: to build peace through inner transformation,
valuing life, and promoting humanism through
the revelation of each individual’s immense potential.
My Son, My Hero
Steven Powers
Jacksonville, N.C.
I was born into a family that practices SGI Nichiren
Buddhism in North Carolina.
Even though I had traveled to Japan with my
parents, both strong members, and actually met
SGI President Ikeda in my youth, I didn’t really take
the practice seriously.
But it was that resolute spirit that I saw in my
parents that helped me when my own son, Clark,
was born on May 24, 2004.
Even when he was a newborn, I could look into his
eyes and know that something was wrong. He was
suffering, I just didn’t know from what. With the
encouragement from President Ikeda and Nichiren
Daishonin’s writings, I would literally hold him all
night long so he could sleep, chanting under my
breath the whole time. Every night was like that.
We were inseparable.
When he turned one, Clark’s motor skills stopped
developing completely. It was a struggle figuring
out what was wrong.
Different doctors, different specialists—everyone had a different theory, but with no effective
Buddhism in Daily Life
treatments to offer. Eventually, my wife,
Kristy, and I learned that he was legally
blind, deaf in one ear, autistic, and epileptic.
By then, he was having between 60 and 80
seizures a day, and doctors did not know how
to treat them because he was unable to communicate. There were times where he was like
a limp rag on my lap, as we drove the hour and
45 minutes to the hospital, me chanting in his
ear the whole way.
We rushed him to the hospital and learned
that a seizure had caused temporary paralysis on the left side of his body. We were told
that, in some circumstances, this kind of seizure
proved fatal. Even in this darkest moment, I still felt
the protection of our Buddhist practice.
Together with my wife, I chanted with intensity to
find a doctor who would have the compassion and
wisdom to lead us toward an effective treatment
for Clark’s conditions. I threw myself into SGI
activities, doing anything and everything to
support the youth.
In July 2010, I supported the SGI-USA youth in
their cultural festival and witnessing the courage
and determination of those young people shifted
something deeply inside of me. I saw, even more
clearly, that absolutely every single youth in the
SGI-USA is capable of greatness, without exception. I became a chanting machine, praying ceaselessly for the advancement of the SGI-USA youth,
while keeping my own children in the forefront
of my vision for the future.
Turner-White Photography
One day, when I came home from work,
Kristy and our daughter, Kaitlin, came running to the front door, saying, “Call Clark!”
Due to his blindness, he wouldn’t know
I was home until he heard my voice. So I
called out his name, and he could only drag
himself toward me, using his right arm
and leg, elbow down to the ground like a
crutch. He was crying out: “Dada! Dada!”—
the only word he could say.
Steven Powers with his wife, Kristy, and their son, Clark,
who has autism. “Every day is a gift,” says Mr. Powers.
“And I am eternally grateful to my son for teaching me
about life, perseverance, and never giving up.”
As I broadened my prayer to encompass all youth,
things began moving in the right direction for my
son, as well. The doctors started to apply labels
that made sense. After five years of experimenting, they found a combination of eight medications, three times per day, that stabilized Clark’s
seizures. The doctors also implanted a vagal
nerve stimulator above his heart, connected at
the base of his brain stem.
This reduced the seizures to 10 per day, and
dramatically reduced their severity. Before, his
seizures would often lead to vomiting, paralysis,
and long-term dysfunction. Now they would only
last a few seconds to a minute at most and were
easy to manage, even by his teachers.
23
Today, Clark is a highly functional autistic 12-yearold, who can take the bus to school on his own,
participate in classes, and live a happy life.
All the hospitals we visited in our local area have
a nickname for him: Smiley! Even in his darkest
moments, lying on a stretcher, he would be smiling.
When he wakes up each day, he is so happy. Even with
his disabilities everybody in his school, everyone in
the community, knows him. He pierces your heart
with love and joy. He inspires me to chant and when I
do, I am bursting with joy in my heart.
I am eternally grateful to my son for teaching
me about faith, perseverance, and never giving
up. I am so profoundly grateful to the members
and to President Ikeda.
In 2018, the SGI-USA youth will gather to take a
stand for the dignity of life. Clark will be 14 years
old then; the doctors said he would never live this
long. I envision lifting him up so he can be part of
everything! I want him to feel the love and power he
brings to whatever he touches.
This is my vow. I will be there with my son, my hero.
My Family Revolution
Cynthia McCright
Queens, N.Y.
When I attended my first SGI meeting three years
ago, I learned that people have the power to change.
And there were so many things I wanted to change
about my family and myself. To name just a few:
• Whenever my mother and I had a discussion, it
ended in an argument.
• My brother, Justin, was in prison. When he sent me
letters, I rarely responded. And if I did, it was with
anger and blame.
• I had never met my father. Because of that, I suffered from a feeling of inferiority when I compared
myself to other girls.
24
But after beginning my Buddhist practice on
March 3, 2013, I had some hope that things might
shift. One of my first benefits was that I had a
respectful, argument-free conversation with
my mother. Then something else also changed:
I began to look forward to my brother’s letters.
Instead of ignoring or criticizing him as I had
before, I would respond to him by sharing SGI
President Ikeda’s encouragement.
As a major step toward my family revolution, I
decided to surprise my brother—whom I hadn’t
seen in two years—with a birthday visit on Feb. 22,
2014. To my surprise, my mother, who had sworn
she would never visit him in prison, accompanied
me. We had a wonderful time filled with laughter
and smiles, and the three of us chanted Nammyoho-renge-kyo together.
With my family situation looking up, I also started
focusing on my career. Before I started chanting,
I’d had terrible work experiences. I quit my last
job, gave up my apartment, and spent a year couch
surfing and dabbling in drugs. In the very first job
interview after I started chanting, I found an ideal
position at the wellness center where I work today.
As time went on, patients and doctors praised me
for my kindness, patience, and efficiency. I have
received raises and been entrusted with more
responsibility.
I also love to work out at the gym. My trainer
was so impressed with the improvement in
my strength that he encouraged me to enter a
Strongman weightlifting competition. I took first
place in June 2014 and qualified for nationals. My
trainer asked if either of my parents was a competitive weightlifter, but since I didn’t know my
father, I couldn’t say.
Finally, it was time to look for him. A good friend
suggested that my father might be too ashamed to
look for me, and that, since he was only 22 years
old when I was born, he might have felt incapable of
parenthood. I chanted about this insight and summoned the courage to face my fear of rejection.
As I chanted to meet my father, I felt a deep sense
of appreciation for his role in my existence. The
Buddhism in Daily Life
I was stunned to
learn that he is a
bodybuilder and was a two-time National Powerlifting Champion! He was so happy that I’d had the
courage to find him. He has been kind and supportive ever since, and has even come to a few Buddhist
meetings.
When Justin was released from prison in May of
this year, our family revolution continued. I invited
him to live with me and soon sensed that something was troubling him. I encouraged him to chant
with me and come to a meeting, but he declined,
saying, “The streets don’t care about religion.” I
told him he had to change his karma, but he got
angry and called me selfish.
As I chanted for my brother’s protection—and to
transform the negative qualities he saw in me—his
attitude gradually changed. He agreed to attend an
intro-to-Buddhism meeting. Although he showed
up when the meeting was ending, I introduced him
to some young men’s leaders. Later that same night,
he went out. When I woke up the next morning,
I learned that he had been arrested for burglary.
My compassion quickly turned to anger.
My leaders encouraged me, and I determined to
transform the part of me that doubted my brother’s
Buddha nature. A few days later, he called to say
Yvonne Ng
next morning, when
he accepted my
f r iend request and
commented on one
of my weightlifting
videos, I realized
that he still didn’t
know w ho I w a s . I
w r o t e t o e x pl a i n ,
a nd he r e sponded
that he was shaking and excited, and
wanted to meet me.
A few days later, we
sat across from each
other at a restaurant in Brooklyn.
Cynthia McCright helps her brother, Justin, begin his
Buddhist practice following his brush with death.
that his arrest had been a case of mistaken identity,
and that he was coming home. I waited for him, but
a few hours later, my sister called with the news
that, in another case of mistaken identity, he had
been shot.
When I arrived at the hospital, my brother was
awake and alert. Six bullets had entered his body,
but missed every vital organ and nerve. That same
evening, he checked himself out of the hospital and
invited a young men’s leader to our home. He said
he knew he needed a change and determined to
have a better life through Buddhism. After their
heart-to-heart dialogue, he decided to join the SGI
and begin his Buddhist practice that night.
I’m happy to report that my brother is doing incredibly well.
A few weeks ago, in my biggest competition ever, I
came in fourth place in the world and became one
of the first Pro Strongwomen in the United States.
I vow to continue doing my own human revolution—and my family revolution—so we can live
lives of absolute happiness.
25
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