Re: Former SGI members:Code of Conduct
Date: October 27, 2009 11:26AM
SPECIAL ISSUE • WORLD TRIBUNE C where "C" stands for contribution.
Nichiren Daishonin says that in their present lives their offering will become a “prayer” and a “treasure.” He thus indicates that, through the protective
functions of all Buddhas, their sincere faith in offering a robe will become a cause for the fulfillment of all their desires and the accumulation of immense benefit… For an offering of but a single unlined robe, the Daishonin promises eternal good fortune and benefit. This is because he perceives the sincerity with which the robe is imbued. (Learning From the Gosho, p. 23)
BY KIMBERLY HERRMANN
I often think about our SGI-USA pioneers and the tremendous efforts they made in the early days of the Soka Gakkai. I picture them working so hard for kosen-rufu day and night, and I feel such great appreciation. Because of their selfless dedication and that of SGI President Ikeda, we can all work together toward kosen-rufu in America. I often also grapple with how I can repay my debt of gratitude to all of them and to the members of our precious organization. What can I give back to ensure that others’ lives can be affected in the same way mine has? Thinking about these questions is what inspires me to contribute all I can without hesitation during our yearly May Commemorative Contribution. But I won’t lie. There are times when I feel stressed out about my goals for the contribution activity. My husband, James, and I make our personal contribution goal every year, but I sometimes freak out about how we’re going to actually accomplish this. I think: There’s not enough time. Where is the money going to come from? Maybe we should change our goal. But then I remember how, when I was younger, my family would make a goal every year, too, and I had no anxiety about it. Back then it seemed so simple. I appreciated making friends at the community center and having youth performing groups practice every week. I loved practicing Buddhism with my family, and I loved telling other people about the SGI. So making contributions seemed natural. I would do chores, save some of my lunch money and gather as much as I could so I’d have something to offer when the time came. As a family, we would go to the community center and each of us would make our own contribution. I remember feeling so excited to go, and I’d be welcomed so warmly by the men’s and women’s division members and pioneers. The people at the contribution table would always thank me for my sincerity and encourage me that my donation would help keep the community center open, keep the lights on or even buy toilet paper. And they would say that because of my offering others could change their lives, and kosen-rufu could continue to advance.
Our appreciation and sincerity lead to our taking action for kosen-rufu, which includes making financial contributions. As Nichiren writes, “When one encounters this sutra, one will overflow with happiness and shed tears of joy” (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 1027).
In one SGI-USA region, the Jr. High and High School students like to contribute together during the May activity. Just like my family did when I was that age, they all make their goals and work to accomplish them. They save up their allowances and maybe do extra things around the house, but the greatest thing to witness is how they move toward their goal with a sincere spirit to show their appreciation, fully enjoying the activity. I know for myself when I have this same sincere heart of contribution, my life expands even more. That’s why I feel it’s so wonderful if each of us can make a determination to contribute—so we can experience the joy of offering and even more benefit in our practice. All our sincere offerings to advance kosen-rufu help us build our great fortune. For my husband and I, the May Commemorative Contribution has also been a time when we can share Buddhism with others. We have held garage sales at our home on the weekends during the contribution month so we could contribute even more—and do a little spring cleaning! During that time, we have met all of our neighbors; and making new friends, of course, gives us the opportunity to
share Nichiren Buddhism. Without fail, at least one person is interested in learning more about our Buddhist practice and the SGI. When people practice Nichiren Buddhism, they can change their lives forever. I always imagine:
What if no one had shared Buddhism with my mom? What if our pioneers didn’t work so hard or people didn’t make contributions to Nichiren or the Soka Gakkai in its founding days? I then remember the faces of our pioneers and the pride they have in making extraordinary financial sacrifices in true Spirit of Offerings. It is ten thousand, million times greater than one would by offering countless treasures to the Buddha for one million kalpas.(p. 1097)
Though one may perform meritorious deeds, if they are directed toward what is untrue, then those deeds may bring great evil, but they will never result in good. On the other hand, though one may be ignorant and make meager offerings, if one presents those offerings to a person who upholds the truth, one’s merit will be great. How much more so in the case of people who in all sincerity make offerings to the correct teaching! (p. 1134)
From SGI President Ikeda
In the first place, it says, “far and wide they offer alms to my relics.” This should not be taken as encouragement to make offerings to relics in a literal sense. Rather, it teaches the importance of having direct connection in faith with the Buddha. The highest offering to the Buddha is not to worship something reminiscent of the Buddha. Rather, it is to inherit the Buddha’s spirit. In other words, the highest offering lies in struggling to manifest, as one’s own way of life, even a part of the spirit of the Buddha. For us today, this means chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon and developing activities for kosen-
rufu. (Lectures on the Expedient Means & Life Span Chapters, vol. 3, p. 116)
[Regarding the gift of an unlined robe from a sincere couple, From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Those who offer even a flower or a stick of incense to such a sutra have offered alms to a hundred thousand million Buddhas in their previous existences. (p. 654)
Shakyamuni Buddha teaches, however, that one who makes offerings to the votary of the Lotus Sutra in the latter age for even a single day will gain benefit a hundred, thousand,
MESSAGE FROM THE SGI-USA YOUNG WOMEN’S LEADER
Overflowing With Joy
Making financial contributions, even with limited means. It is because of their strong conviction that the development of the Soka Gakkai will change the world, giving people an opportunity to transform their suffering.
That’s why I feel our contributions of goods and of the Law are so important. Now is the time, especially for youth, to repay our debt of gratitude and realize this is our organization and its development and protection is our responsibility. As disciples of President Ikeda, let’s take pride in our opportunity to take full responsibility to challenge and win in this May Commemorative Contribution.
WT Appreciation and sincerity help build fortune. Because of the selfless dedication of many precious pioneers, writes Kim Herrmann,we can ‘work
together toward kosen-rufu in America.’ (Above) A discussion after an event, Santa Monica, Calif.
LISA HOLLIS D SPECIAL ISSUE • WORLD TRIBUNE
Buddhism traditionally refers to three kinds of offerings—offerings of goods, of fearlessness and of the Law. The offering of goods refers to material gifts, including money, that are made to the Buddha and the Buddhist community. It also includes the offerings of water,candles, incense, etc., which we make to the Gohonzon. An offering of fearlessness means relieving others’fears and giving them courage. An offering of the Law means sharing the teachings of Buddhism with others.
All of these offerings are part of our practice. We give of our time and energy as well as our material resources through our efforts in faith, practice and study. As Nichiren Daishoninaffirms, “It is the heart that is important” (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p.949), so our intention when we give a gift is key. As we continue to exert ourselves to propagate Nichiren Buddhism— to realize kosenrufu—we create value that will become apparent in our lives as absolute victory.
The SGI-USA conducts a May Commemorative Contribution each year that begins April 28—the date Nichiren first proclaimed Nam-myoho renge kyo in 1253. This activityends this year on June 11.That period also encompasses Soka Gakkai Day on May 3,the June 6 birthday (in 1871) of the first Soka Gakkai president, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, and Soka Gakkai Women’s Day on June 10.
Financial contributions can be made in person by cash, check or money order; by mail with a check, money order or by credit card using a postage-paid Business Reply Envelope; or by credit card online at www.sgiusa. org. (A contribution link will be activated during the contribution period.)
In addition to the May Commemorative Contribution, financial offerings can be made in any amount at SGI-USA facilities and at monthly world peace prayer meetings throughout the year.
All contribution income is used to promote our religious activities in the United States based on the Buddhist values of peace, culture and education. Funds are used to develop additional facilities and provide operating expenses for existing ones, such as rent, utilities, maintenance, office supplies, insurance and administration.
Soka Gakkai International- USA is a religious nonprofit organization, and gifts to it are tax-deductible under the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Our Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) is 95-2265667.
Basic Guidelines for the SGI-USA May Commemorative Contribution
BY MELISSA MAREK East Stroudsburg, Pa.
By age 31, I was unemployed and collecting Social Security disability. My life had spun out of control. I had reached the limits of a lifelong battle with an eating disorder. I was binging and gorging on food on a daily basis to numb the feelings of worthlessnessthat had always haunted me. I was an addict, and my drug of choice was food. Because of all this, I was too obese and depressed to hold down a job. My work history was spotty and unreliable. I took low paying, unskilled jobs and quit them shortly after I began. But none of this mattered much. After all, my mother was taking all the financial responsibility for both of us, and I was free to wallow in self-pity and curse my unhappy life. I had allowed myself to grow from an emotionally and verbally abused child into a selfish ingrate of an adult. I had a large chip on my shoulder and felt the world owed me a break. During the first 10 years of my Buddhist practice, I carried this attitude into the SGI-USA.
As far as I was concerned, SGI USA meetings just happened. The community center was always open, and the lights were always on. They’d better be. I needed to be encouraged, darn it. So you can imagine the eyerolling and arm-folding I did when it was time to discuss financial contributions. Please! This was clearly not my concern. I had my own problems. I needed to get my own benefits.
I never made a financial contribution to the SGI-USA because I never saw a reason to. I was afraid to part with what little money I had. I also had the convenient excuse of not having the “proper attitude.” I always heard that one should give out of a sense of appreciation, not for the expectation of a large financial reward. Well, forget it then. If I was going to give, I had best be assured that I was going to get. My SGI-USA district is in a spread-out rural area. When asked to contact other district members or give them rides to activities, I would often do so, but only when I was asked; I never took the initiative. I also felt as though I were somehow less than them. When I heard other people sharing their experiences in faith, I thought that I could not practice the way that they did or have experiences like theirs. As the years went by, I got more involved in planning my district’s annual women’s meeting (held in February). I would help by calling and writing women in my district and encouraging them to attend. As I did this, I found that it felt good to help. During the first two months of 2004, I made a lot of efforts for the success of the women’s meeting, as well as for my own happiness. The day after the meeting, my life changed drastically. My mother’s job of 52 years closed its doors for good. At first, I was glad that my mother and I could spend more time together. That feeling didn’t last long. I was increasingly irritated that she was always around, angry that she wasn’t trying to get another job. And I was mean and nasty to her for not putting aside a nest egg for us to live on. The anger gave way to fear as the days became weeks, and the weeks became months, and still no money was coming in. I whined to a senior in faith, who pleasantly suggested that I chant and reflect on my attitude, as well as my part in all this. I hung up on that leader, completely insulted. My attitude? My part? Don’t they know I am the victim here?
With no one else to feel sorry for me and no one else to whom I could complain, I began chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in front of the Gohonzon. I cried, Why me? Why am I so poor? As I chanted, I slowly realized how other SGI-USA members were always there for me, and I felt grateful for the relationships that I had formed in the organization. The wisdom I derived from chanting was that my material poverty was a physical manifestation of my poor attitude and lack of appreciation for all the benefit I had received through my practice of Nichiren Buddhism. I was embarrassed and ashamed of my behavior, and vowed to develop the utmost appreciation for the SGI-USA, my practice and my life.
Over the next several months, I also chanted for the courage to repair my relationship with my mom. We had many heart-to-heart talks, during which I shared with her things that I had read in Nichiren Daishonin’s writings. I expressed how my Buddhist philosophy inspired me to make conscious efforts to take more responsibility for my life and to improve my relationships with others. By May 2004, my relationship with my mother was better than it had ever been, and on May 23, my wanting to move her life forward, Melissa Marek deepens her appreciation for all those around her.
Giving With a Grateful Heart by my 32nd birthday, my mom became a member of the SGI-USA. The next day, I was hired at one of the highest-paying jobs in my area. I vowed that, no matter what, I was going to make a financial contribution to the SGI-USA during the May Commemorative Contribution that year. I was going to give with a grateful heart. I chanted passionately and wracked my brain for where I was going to come up with the money to make a contribution. With new confidence, I decided to contribute some money I had been saving. In the years since, I have eliminated every debt. I conquered my eating disorder and lost quite a bit of weight. I learned to love and value myself, and I overcame my feelings that other people are better than me. As a result, I have made lasting friendships with some very special fellow members.
I also made a new friend who has shown me a great deal of kindness and gentleness of spirit, with no ulterior motives. He makes me feel loved and very special, and his friendship has become one of my greatest and profoundest joys. I feel I am the richest, most fortunate woman." WT