Ikeda quote

A society that has sacrificed so much to material wealth that it has forgotton the human heart and the better human aspirations degenerates into something compassionless , doctrinaire , ignorant and ultra conservative. When this happens fundammental solutions to calamiities become impossible. If we protect the truth and are resolute , we are capable of creating peace and prosperity. And, the truth we must pprotect ought to be high and great.

Our great truth --the thing that we must protect to the utmost---involves ethics and the best of human nature. But more basic than anything else is our duty to guard the truth that we and the universe are one , and that a single  ordinary human thought contains the entirety of universal life.

Nichiren Buddhism

Nichiren Buddhism is a form of Japanese Buddhism that emphasizes repeated recitation of the mantra namu myoho renge kyo ("salutation to the Lotus Sutra") for health, happiness and enlightenment. Nichiren Buddhists believe it is possible to attain enlightenment in a single lifetime through practice of "True Buddhism" (i.e., Nichiren). Nichiren Buddhism has divided into several branches, the largest of which are Nichiren Shu, Nichiren Shoshu, and Soka Gokkai International.
Soka Gakkai was founded as the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai on November 18, 1930 by Japanese educators Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda. After World War II, the Soka Gakkai experienced a period of rapid growth in Japan. The organization was formally organized in the United States on October 13, 1960. SGI was created in 1975 to act as the international leadership of national Soka Gakkai organizations.

Shakyamuni , the historical Buddha

Shakyamuni means the "Sage of the Shakya Clan." Buddha is a title which means "Awakened One." Out of all the millions and millions of people who have lived upon this earth, we believe that he, at least, awoke from the dream of life's all too frequent sufferings and all too fragile joys and saw the Truth for himself. This Truth that he awakened to was the Truth which resolved all his previous concerns about the meaning of life and death. This Truth was the solution to the problem of suffering that he had been seeking. All of his subsequent teachings and all the efforts of the 2,500 year old community that has passed on those teachings to the present day are all for the purpose of helping us to see the Truth for ourselves as well, the very same Truth that the Buddha realized.

Centre de la SGI à Québec
360, Chemin de la Canardière
Québec (Québec)
G1L 2V2
   (Tél.) (418) 523-2219
La SGI du Canada est l’organisation canadienne de la Soka Gakkai internationale (SGI). En se fondant sur la philosophie bouddhique humaniste de Nichiren, La SGI favorise la paix, la culture et l’éducation. Elle compte plus de 12 millions de membres dans plus de 190 pays et territoires. Regroupant des personnes de tous âges et d’origines ethniques et sociales très diverses, le membership de la SGI est représentatif de la société dans son ensemble. 

Serenity

At this time of year , in the western world , everybody seems to be rushing around to prepare for christmas and various other holidays , used to be holy days. It's nice to go to a quiet place and chant nam myoho renge kyo to get in touch with what the christmas celebration ( and other celebrations ) is all about.In the northern hemisphere the days will soon start getting longer and new life will arrive with spring. The wonder of the world we live in and of the universe in it's entirety are apparent to all who want to take the time to perceive it.

Quote

« [la boddhéité] est la joie des joies. La naissance, la vieillesse, la maladie et la mort ne sont plus des souffrances, mais font partie de la joie de vivre. La lumière de la sagesse illumine l’univers tout entier, rejetant l’obscurité innée de la vie. L’espace-vie du bouddha devient uni et fusionne avec l’univers. Le moi devient le cosmos et, en un instant, le flot de la vie s’élargit pour englober tout ce qui est passé et tout ce qui est futur. À chaque instant, la force vitale éternelle du cosmos se répand telle une gigantesque fontaine d’énergie » Daisaku Ikeda

Gratefulness

This time of the year gives us an opportunity to be grateful .Whether you celebrate christmas ,or not , it is a time to remember that we are all part of the same whole.The nights are getting shorter until finally at the winter solstice they start to get longer again( i.e the amount of light). Chanting nam myo ho renge kyo puts me in touch the general mood of everybody I come into contact with and I feel grateful to be a part of humanity .

Gongyo ,Nestor Torres