Today we arrived at this honbu which comprised of two chapters. The first chapter mainly consists of Women Division in charge whereas the second chapter mainly consists of High School Division in charge. When we were introducing ourselves, most of the Women Division members’ expressed the need of more youth involvement because they feel that the content of their planning aren’t as fresh as the Youth Division, subsequently they repeatedly expressed their anticipation for a younger generation of PICs. As for the group with the high school division in charge, all of them are self contained and they have nothing to say. They only said that Women Division’s are just supporting them behind the scenes and that all meeting activities are planned by them. They consider drama as the best approach to appeal to young children; hence almost every month they will show one drama and as a result, their Junior Division meet becomes a drama / stage play appreciation meeting instead. And because this group of high school students are studying in the same school, they meet up every after school time to practice their drama. Hence, all of them formed a very close relationship.

Once again from our dialogue we touched on whether we should place importance on the Youth Division or Women Division as the PIC for Junior Division. After our discussion, we came upon this conclusion: the younger generation lack life experience and that the ideas they come up with may be immature; therefore they need Women Division members alongside them to earnestly encourage and support them. Younger PIC’s should relentlessly learn from Women Division members by continually seizing any opportunity to grasp more experience on parenting and when it comes to facing children, we must allow ourselves to be perceptive and develop an in-depth mutual understanding with them and become accustomed with their lives and at the same time overcoming challenges and grow up with them.

After that, we had dialogue with another honbu. The Vice Woman Division leader proposed that we let the Women Division to conduct the meetings. When Junior Division was initially established 30 years ago Woman Division entrusted the responsibilities to the youths. Many years later the youth were starting to pay less attention to the expansion of the Junior Division where Junior Division meetings became something which is organized only when their time permits. Thus after formally appointing PICs for Junior Division as well as a Junior Division chief, witnessing the whole KL’s Junior Division continually achieving a momentous progress at present is a truly joyful matter.

Junior group activities which can actively flourish in a region will bring about a tremendous leap towards advancement. The year 2030 is the year of achieving kosen rufu’s noble ambition. Beforehand, what kind of capable people do we wish to foster is the most important issue. At present, we are well equipped and ready, but lacking in fostering of capable people. Therefore, the bridge to undertake kosen rufu is very important; we must construct it strong and stable. Previously, Junior Division meetings are held for six times within a year only and now, some conduct meetings up to 24 times a year, this marks a great growth and expansion. When Junior Division members are promoted to High School Division, their seniors who are like their elder brothers and sisters will still treat them like their younger brothers and sisters and when they return to Junior Division activities, they will then become the elder brother of the junior members. For them, that kind of feeling is truly out of the ordinary. Therefore, some of the High School Division members may not enjoy participating in High School Division meetings for the first few years. Besides that, there are more Junior Group meetings than High School Division activities, hence we must encourage them to participate in High School Division meetings to enable them to be able to bring about and share the things they have learnt to the younger Junior Division. There was one instance when a Woman Division member in charge represented Junior Division attended a UNESCO conference, they asked her why are the people who are responsible for children’s education looked so old. This gap will get distant as the children nowadays are more mature and a lot of youths are starting to participate in meetings hence this organization can gradually move towards a proper Junior Division.

As for the points mentioned above, I feel that no matter what our organization is still a big family, regardless of who’s in charge of which group or division, the ‘heart’ is the most important. The expansion of some Junior Divisions in KL are taken charge by the Women Division whereas some are taken charge by the Youth Division, I don’t feel the priority is whom or which division is in charge but our mindset is what that counts. The development of kosen rufu cannot lack ‘fostering people’. Both the women division and youth division should work together and mutually inspire and encourage each other in Junior Group activities. Everyone plays an important role in our organization, everyone of us are supporting our mentor in caring for and fostering capable people for the future of kosen rufu. The happiest thing is that there is one honbu which I want to address them as Junior Division’s Utopia. It is because the Women Division here still maintains a youthful and lively spirit always giving opportunities to the youths to share their opinions freely. The youth respects the Women Division and always take to heart the Women Division’s concerns to plan every meeting activities main focus. Ultimately, the activities the youths organized always received good commendation from them.

There was once in a meeting where a young PIC asked whether he can bring the young children to a shopping centre to organize an exploration activity. When he proposed this idea, I could see that he has some feelings of apprehension as he is constantly aware of his seniors’ reaction. As for me, I don’t find any activities which cannot be planned or are impossible to organize; the most important thing is the intention of those people who plans to organize it. I personally think that this activity is a very good opportunity for youths to seriously think about what to expect and the outcome of bringing the children for an outdoor excursion. Besides taking note of everyone’s safety, they should think about how to approach the children’s parents to talk about it and obtaining their consent, understanding and trust, after that review what we expect to learn throughout the whole excursion. Therefore, from boarding the transportation all the way to reaching the destination or what we will see along the journey, on how we educate them all these coherent with one another. I believe if we could put in more thoughts on planning it, this idea can definitely inspire and encourage everyone involved. Can you imagine a place where you’ve always regarded it as a shopping destination can be turned into a joy filled and educational playground, this is also a form of creativity! Nevertheless, this isn’t an easy task and we have to consider many areas of responsibility. But instead of protesting a young people’s creative idea, isn’t it more meaningful to give them the chance to truly think about their plans and letting them to grasp new experiences along the way. There is no such creation or invention in this world which is successful on the first attempt. Ikeda Sensei said: ‘Everyone possesses the potential to create value.’ This is humanistic education!

Regardless if you are young or more mature, to foster capable people in our organization is the most important matter. Another thing is that we must have a broad vision for our organization and to advance towards a broader and insightful vision and ideals and gradually push forward towards the future. With a big goal, we lose our direction as we progress. How you wish your group to turn out to be in the next 5 years? And what sort of capable person will you become in the next 10 years? Make use of a short time everyday to think about it and from here you will be able to grasp more thinking experience.

As for now, with the halt of meeting activities, we are unable to put into consideration what the children are thinking and how they feel and how can we change our approach to liaise with the children’s needs and to assertively to challenge our way forward for the sake of other people’s happiness is the most joyous thing. We must never exert ourselves only for the purpose of wanting others to complete our task for us. General Director of Soka Gakkai Mr. Harada said: ‘A leader and an authoritarian are two different people, a leader is someone who would work hard and contribute for others, as of an authoritarian makes use of others for the sake of his own benefit. Ikeda Sensei is humanity’s genuine leader; hence that is why there are a lot of people who are willing to tirelessly work alongside him.

There are a lot of people who are earnestly working and contributing behind the scenes, our mentor empathizes everyone’s’ efforts. It doesn’t matter if no one acknowledges your efforts, our mentor appreciates it. All our efforts to strive all out going through all the pains and sufferings together with our mentor, will definitely become a joyful endeavour.

(To be continued)

Labels: f. thoughts of chief