"They are all beyond excited with every experience and opportunity to seek Sensei"

Sent to all zone 4D leaders in West) 

Date: Mon, Apr 16, 2012 at 8:44 AM 

Subject: April 2012 Training Course Day 1 

There are 17 members from SGI-USA on this April 2012 Training Course. This is an historic training course with participants from the islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean: 5 from Hawaii, 1 from Guam, 2 each from Puerto Rico and St. Maarten, 1 each from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Curacao. Some of the members in the Caribbean actually traveled over 24 hours in total to reach Japan!! With great pride, members from each island brought a stone from their country which will be placed among the stones of the 192 SGI countries in the new SGI Central HQ building!! 

We began the first day of activities at the SGI HQ with an inspiring message from Sensei. He said in part: "The SGI is now welcoming a new era of kosen-rufu with a groundswell of capable Bodhisattvas of the Earth emerging from every corner of the world...Towards the centennial of the founding of the Soka Gakkai and the completion of the new Central Headquarters in 2013, let us seek out and foster many individuals of ability and build a solid, Soka castle of capable people in your respective countries." 

Afterwards, we did Gongyo with SGI General Director Oba, he shared that on April 4th, Sensei had been taking photographs of the different kinds of cherry blossoms. Later in the day, the island participants were so fortunate to each receive a photograph of these cherry blossoms. Mr. Oba spent time conversing with each participant, asking in detail about their lives and their struggles for kosen-rufu in their own countries. It was moving to hear from each participant about their unique activities in their homelands. 

In the afternoon, the MD and YMD were able to have an in-depth question and answer session with Soka Gakkai Vice President Yoshihara. The WD and YWD met with SGI Vice WD leader Ms. Morimoto and also got a special surprise visit from Mrs. Hachiya. Their session was supposed to last only one hour but due to the great seeking minds of the participants, the session lasted almost 3 hours!! The WD leaders truly gave their all to encourage the visiting members. 

Most of the participants have never been to Japan and attended an SGI Training Course. They are all beyond excited with every experience and opportunity to seek Sensei and make an eternal bond with him while here in Japan. 

Thank you very much, 

From the April 2012 Training Course!