More Ikeda BS on SGI, the jewel of Buddhist democracy [I need a compazine suppository]

SGI President Ikeda's 30th Anniversary Message to theWorld Tribune

World Tribune is SGI-USA's organ newspaper.

My sincere congratulations on the 30th anniversary of the World Tribune and the publication of its 3,000th issue. The number 3,000 is profoundly significant in light of Buddhism. It corresponds to the principle of 3,000 realms in a single life-moment (ichinen sanzen), which illuminates the ultimate depths of human life. The figure 3,000 also denotes the entire world and universe as it appears in the Buddhist term 3,000 worlds (sanzen sekai). Now your newspaper is marking its glorious 3,000th issue. Accordingly, I sincerely hope that you will continue to explore the "inner universe" of the human being. It is also my heartfelt wish that the World Tribune will transmit to the entire world the essential spirit of our human renaissance. I believe you are all familiar with Yehudi Menuhin, the New York-born world-class violinist. During our dialogue together, he asked me about the secret behind the progress of the SGI. I replied by first pointing out that the SGI has been strictly abiding by the Buddhist Law and taking action in accord with its teachings. In other words, the SGI has grown into what it is today because it has been praying, practicing and advancing exactly in accord with the Gosho of Nichiren Daishonin. When we base ourselves upon this essential point, each person's potential will become manifest, and we will not veer from the correct course of advancement. Because of this strictness toward the Law in its attitude and action, the SGI has maintained its glorious, invincible tradition ever since the days of President Makiguchi. Second, I pointed out that the SGI has always placed human beings as its central focus. People exist not to serve religion; rather, religion exists for people. Many tragedies have arisen from a failure to grasp this point. We should never commit the folly of this error, which has cast a shadow on the history of the human race. For this reason, we have been deeply resolved to advance harmoniously and with courage, based on the credos: "We will thoroughly cherish each member" and "Let's side forever with the common people." Our challenge always has been to harmonize strictness toward the Law and a tolerance toward humanity. We have grown to what we are today because we have been squarely and painstakingly tackling this issue in the midst of reality. I hope the World Tribune will take this as your pivotal theme and become the eyes, ears, voice and heart of my American friends, protecting and supporting them while continually sending forth a message of courage and hope. Walt Whitman advocated a religious democracy. It is the internal spiritual energy within each individual -- that which might be termed "the religious" -- that constitutes the basis of democracy. Whitman sharply perceived this truth. By this intrinsic religiousness, however, I do not mean fanatical or blind belief. It should be, to quote Whitman, a "religious fervor, endued with the ever-present modifications of the human emotions, friendship, benevolence." May the World Tribune be a journal that enables the drawing forth of positive human forces and revitalizes the glorious tradition of American democracy! May the World Tribune be a standard-bearer of the new American renaissance that will nurture global citizens! I am praying every day that, as you aim at publishing another 3,000 issues, your paper's record of growth and advancement will be widely known to all. "Erect, inflated, and fully self-esteeming be the chant." Sharing these words by Walt Whitman, I will conclude by offering my heartfelt congratulations for this new beginning of the World Tribune, which will be instrumental in cultivating a peaceful future and a new century of humanity, and for the glorious future of the SGI-USA. August 15, 1994 Daisaku Ikeda President, Soka Gakkai International