Rev 04jan10
Rev 04jan10
This month's integrated schedule is brought to you by Jenni, Eve, Henry, Dee, Stephen, Jane from Woking, Jane from North Downs and Juliette, with my thanks -- Rick.
| Mon | Tues | Weds | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 28 |
29 |
30
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31 |
1
Farnham January New Year’s Gongyo at home this time Western Weald New Year Gongyo at Henry 1030 Chichester Harbour New Year Gongyo at May-Ellen, 1030 North Downs New Years Day Gongyo 10.30-12.30 Hookwood Hall, Withey Meadow, Horley |
2 Surrey Chapter Chapter Tozo Hosted by Farnham 10.30 @ Jenni & Nigel’s |
3
Thames Wey KR gongyo 10.30 am at Taplow Court Farnham Kosen Rufu Gongyo 10.30 @ Debbie’s Western Weald KR Gongyo at Kanae, 1030 Chichester Harbour KR gongyo at home 1030 Chichester Harbour Ceaseless flow of daimoku at Tim, 1945. Woking Kosen Rufu Gongyo at SGI-UK National Centre, Taplow Court, Taplow, Berkshire, SL6 0ER, 1030 North Downs Kosen Rufu Gongyo and Study 10.30-12.45 Hookwood Hall Hartfield Road K.R. Gongyo 1030-1200 at Juliette’s |
| 4 Farnham District Tozo 1930 at Shirley's Chichester Harbour Planning at May-Ellen, 1930 |
5 Hartfield Road Open chanting 0830-1000 tbc Western Weald Dist Planning at Kanae, 1930 |
6 Farnham District Planning for February 7.30 @ Jenni & Nigel’s Chichester Harbour Ceaseless flow of daimoku at Gilly, 1945 Wokinging District Members Planning 1930 at Poury’s. North Downs Planning 7.30pm Jane's 4 Norman House, North Road, Reigate. RH2 8NB |
7 Hartfield Road District Planning for all 1930-2100 Joan’s North Downs Daimoku Tozo (Chanting for the happiness and growth of the district) 10.00-11.00 Nancy's in Reigate |
8
Weald and Downland postponed to 15thChapter Study with Jim Cowan |
9
Hartfield Road Chanting together 0900-1100 Emma’s |
10 Chichester Harbour Ceaseless flow of daimoku at Tim, 1945. |
| 11 Farnham District Tozo 1930 at TBA Gatwick Airport World Peace Daimoku at London Gatwick South Terminal Multifaith Chapel, 1900, all welcome. North Downs Basics Slow Gongyo 1930 at Karen's in Merstham |
12
Surrey Chapter Chapter Study, 1930 at the Friends Meeting House, Ward Street, Guildford GU1 4LH. January Gosho: Lessening One’s Karmic Retribution WND-1, p 199-201 and January 2010 AOL. Lecturer: Jim Cowan Hartfield Road Open chanting 0830-1000 Juliette’s |
13
Chichester Harbour Ceaseless flow of daimoku at Gilly, 1945. |
14
Surrey Chapter Divisional Meetings (venue info will be sent separately): Women’s: TBC in Thameswey District, 7:30pm-9pm. Young Women’s: Monica’s in Weybridge, 7:30pm-9pm. Men’s: Mark’s in Guildford, 7:30pm-9pm. Young Men’s: Dave’s in Farnborough, 7:30pm-9pm. Mid-Sussex Chapter Study 1930-2100 Forest Row Community Ctre |
15
Chichester Harbour Basics of Buddhism, Louise's, 1930 - cancelled Weald and Downland reinstated Chapter Study with Jim Cowan: "Lessening One's Karmic Retribution" at Belinda's in Greatham, 1930. |
16
Woking Daimoku Tozo 10:30am-11:30am Venue TBC, please let Jane know if you would like to host this. North Downs Daimoku Tozo and Sensei's Video 10.00-12.30 Eileen's, Tenbury, Mill Lane, Hookwood Hartfield Road Chanting together 0900-1100 Doug & Isabelle’s |
17
Eastbouorne 10.30am Gongyo and Chapter Study At Sidley Community Centre, Turkey Road, Bexhill Chichester Harbour Ceaseless flow of daimoku at Tim, 1945 |
| 18
North Downs Discussion Meeting 1930 at Katy's in Smallfield. Farnham District Tozo 1930 at TBA. |
19
Western Weald Dist Discussion at Kanae Hartfield Road Open chanting 0830-1000 am Juliette’s Hartfield Road Discussion Meeting 1930-2100 Juliette’s |
20
Farnham Discussion Meeting January Topic: Goals for 2010. How will you sustain your determination until your goals are achieved? 1930 @ Jenni & Nigel’s Chichester Harbour Ceaseless flow of daimoku at Gilly, 1945. Woking District Discussion 1930 at Lyn’s. Topic: Can people change for the better? If so, what would you like to change about yourself? Moderator: Poury. Gosho: Jane |
21
Thames Wey Discussion Meeting 7.30 pm at Maggie Lear’s. What are your determinations for the year ahead? Moderator: Philippa Gosho: Dee Hartfield Road Discussion Meeting 1930-2100 Emma’s |
22
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23
Chichester Harbour Dist Discussion at Lisa, 1930 Hartfield Road Chanting together 0900-1100 tbc |
24
Surrey Chapter Women’s Meeting 10.30 am at Ali’s. Please bring a dish to share afterwards. Chichester Harbour Ceaseless flow of daimoku at Tim, 1945. |
| 25
Farnham District Tozo 1930 at TBA Chichester Harbour WD Meeting May-Ellen TBC 1930. North Downs WD meeting 1930 at Mel's in Redhill Mid-Sussex MD 1930 venue TBA |
26 West Surrey Leaders Meeting 7.30 @ Petra’s Western Weald MD Meeting at Mark, 1930 Chichester Harbour MD Meeting at Mark, 1930 Mid-Sussex WD mtg 1930-2100 venue TBA Hartfield Road Open chanting 0830-1000 Juliette’s |
27 Farnham Basics 7.30 @ Carolyn’s Chichester Harbour Ceaseless flow of daimoku at Gilly, 1945. Woking District Basics of Buddhism 1930 at Lindsey‘s. Topic: How do I chant? Led by: Nigel |
28 Western Weald Daimoku Tozo at Henry Thames Wey Basics 7.30 pm at Larissa’s Hartfield Road Basics of Buddhism – study for all 1930-2100 Lucy’s |
29 |
30 WSWS 10:30am to 11:30am Shared HQ Tozo Please join in with everyone in the HQ and chant for Kosen rufu and the happiness of all the members, in the comfort of your own home. Hartfield Road Chanting together 0900-1100 tbc |
31 Chichester Harbour Ceaseless flow of daimoku at Tim, 1945. Gongyo 1945 followed by chanting 8-9pm |
| 1 Feb |
2 |
3 Wokinging District Members Planning, 1930, Venue TBC |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 West Surrey and West Sussex New Era HQ Kick Off: 7 February, all day, Shackleford Village Hall. |
Study Basics
West Surrey and West Sussex New Era HQ Kick Off: 7 February, all day, Shackleford Village Hall. Peace Daimoku at Gatwick: Monthly gongyo and daimoku for World Peace will start again from January 11 at 1900 in the South Terminal chapel. Student Division Training Course 12-14 February at the Kingswood Centre, Wolverhampton , WV7 3AW. Details from Estelle, Monica or Will. |
Happy New Year! I’m delighted to see all of you, my beloved fellow members in 192 countries and territories, filled with fresh vitality and united in a shared desire for world peace, embarking on a new year of positive contribution to your communities and societies. The foundation for worldwide kosen-rufu—the cherished wish of both Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin—has now been solidly secured. This has been achieved through the dedicated efforts of you and all our fellow members throughout the globe—noble Bodhisattvas of the Earth who have fought hard and triumphed over countless obstacles along the way.
The year 2010 is a profoundly significant one, marking many major milestones in our kosen-rufu movement. It is the 110th anniversary of the birth of second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, who sought to eradicate misery from the face of the earth. It is also the 80th anniversary of the Soka Gakkai’s founding and the 35th anniversary of the SGI’s establishment.
The Daishonin writes: “What a joy it is for us to have been born in the Latter Day of the Law and to have shared in the propagation of the Lotus Sutra!” (WND-1, 1026). How fortunate we are to be alive at this auspicious time! With this as a source of even greater joy and inspiration, let us exert ourselves bravely and vigorously and lead unsurpassed lives dedicated to fulfilling the noble vow for kosen-rufu. The Daishonin declares: “Can there be any doubt that . . . the great pure Law of the Lotus Sutra will be spread far and wide throughout Japan and all the other countries of Jambudvipa [the entire world]?” (WND-1, 550). It is the mentors and disciples of Soka who have boldly embarked on this undertaking in the modern day, by venturing forth to share their convictions and beliefs with others through one-on-one dialogue.
Ultimately, worldwide kosen-rufu begins with encouraging the person right in front of us. This is because the fundamental spirit of the Lotus Sutra is to enable each person to awaken to the supreme nobility of their own life, and allow them to freely tap the wisdom and power of their innate Buddhahood.
Among the members I met on my first visit to the United States in October 1960, five decades ago, were numerous Japanese women who had married American men after World War II. The endless challenges and hardships of life in a new land had left many of them so weary and disheartened that they longed to return home. I listened intently to their troubles and encouraged them wholeheartedly: “Don’t envy others or belittle yourself. You have a great mission. From the perspective of Buddhism, you are more noble and important than any queen. Through faith, please bring the brilliant sun of happiness to shine in your heart.” Many of these women responded by challenging themselves earnestly. Realizing the profound mission they had, they stood up resolutely. As the Daishonin writes: “Then two, three, and a hundred followed, chanting and teaching others” (WND-1, 385). These women, Bodhisattvas of the Earth who were joined together by deep karmic ties, became the noble pioneers of worldwide kosen-rufu.
That first overseas trip in 1960 took me to the United States, Canada, and Brazil over a period of 24 days. During that time, 17 districts were formed, along with chapters in Brazil and Los Angeles, as well as a general chapter for North and South America. These events were like tiny pebbles tossed into the vast ocean, and went unnoticed by the world. But the first small ripples they created were the starting point for the countless waves now taking shape as a mighty groundswell for world peace based on Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.
In the half-century that has passed since then, we have built a vast network of rich diversity transcending national and ethnic boundaries and encompassing people from all walks of life. We have done so in the respectful and persevering spirit of Bodhisattva Never Disparaging, engaging in dialogue and offering encouragement to one person after another. The remarkable growth and positive energy of the youth division in particular are a great source of joy and hope for members everywhere. The bright unity of our young women’s division SGI Ikeda Kayo-kai is also beautiful and inspiring to see. Active in every part of the world—Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, Oceania—the young men and women of the SGI are walking the path of mentor and disciple with confidence and joy.
The Brazilian astronomer Dr. Ronaldo Mourão, with whom I have published a dialogue, remarked that an individual’s innate potential can blossom in a much more vigorous form through the mentor-disciple relationship, and he said that he considered this to be the most correct “orbit” for human beings to travel. The life-to-life bond we share with our mentor in faith and the character building we gain through putting our mentor’s teachings into practice enable us to grow, break out of the narrow confines of our ego, transform our karma, and achieve brilliant victories in our communities and societies. For many decades, through my annual SGI Day peace proposals and in various other forums, I have continuously urged the importance of eliminating nuclear weapons—my mentor’s fervent wish and final injunction. Today, there is a new global momentum for peace, for a world free of nuclear weapons. I believe this is a sign that our planet is beginning to move in the direction of making this a century of life and peace—a goal that the SGI has long worked toward.
There are still many challenges facing humankind, but the key to solving all our problems—whether it be building a secure and lasting peace, protecting our environment, or overcoming economic difficulties—is to cast off apathy and preconceived notions that lead us to view a situation as unsolvable or unavoidable. It is my firm belief that problems caused by human beings can be solved by human beings.
We need to tap and develop the infinite potential within our lives and put it to use for the happiness of humanity. The philosophy of the SGI is a philosophy of hope and courage that makes this possible. It is a philosophy of compassion that offers a way to genuine happiness for all people.
It is important that we foster the youth. While doing our utmost to raise young successors, let us all take on every challenge with a fresh, vibrant, ever-youthful spirit and achieve an expansive, confident life-state of complete fulfillment. My wife and I pray with all our hearts that each of you, our precious fellow members, will be protected by the heavenly deities, enjoy boundless benefit and good fortune, and be safe and secure in the coming year. Our proud mission as members of the SGI is the realization of kosen-rufu and world peace. With that in mind, let’s make each day one of “dynamic development” and “total victory”!
Daisaku Ikeda President, Soka Gakkai International