Because of the H1N1 flu epidemic, SGM had to implement the fourth stage of preventive measure which is to suspend all activities, this included the Junior Group meetings. Junior Division chiefs decided to make use of this opportunity to conduct dialogues and exchange meetings with Junior Group PIC’s throughout the region. All the while we are aware of the various challenges faced by different regions; some regions did exceptionally well where as some regions needed improvement. Thus, to be able to amass everyone’s strength and capability, from October onwards, we will conduct a more comprehensive mutual coordination and understanding of the situation encountered. As Junior Division chiefs, the three of us have started a succession of regional dialogues. At present, we had dialogue in 9 honbus and with 94 exceptional PICs.

From our conversation, I could use a ‘complete combination savoury experience’ to describe my feelings then, because the Junior Division PICs brought in all the sour, sweet, bitter, in short, all the distressing and gratifying moments they encountered during their Junior Group meetings to share with us. From the dialogue, it was truly an eye opener for us.

Sour – means sad, this region’s PICs lacked the vitality in traditional teaching and study, where something which was of no problem eventually became a big problem. And whenever a problem arises, it will develop into an even greater problem especially when there is no mutual encouragement between the PICs and no positive impetus to progress, it will result in Junior Group members lacking in enthusiasm to participate in meetings. Finally, the entire organization will become dispirited and would start to decline.

Sweet – region under this category is the place of tranquility filled with happiness and joy where all four divisions are very harmonious and whenever a problem arises, through everyone’s discussion and the power of daimoku the problem can be perfectly solved. As long as there is a chance to work or do activities together, everyone will be very excited. They will say: ‘When children are happy, we will be very happy!’ and it is because everyone cooperates joyfully, young children will feel more at ease and happily join us.

Bitter – Junior Group meetings aren’t valued by members of all four divisions as well as parents understanding. Here the PICs have to bear all the problems they encountered, say for example, transportation problems, meeting venue issues and problems with short handedness. Finally, resulting in PICs moving on one after another and take charge of other groups. The word to express the remaining feelings would be the word ‘bitter’.

Spicy – PICs in charge of this region possess visions and high hopes for the future of Junior Division members. No matter how tough it is, their passionate spirit will never cease to burn and that for as long as they are together, they can inspire enthusiasm. Even though the Women Division is involved together with them in this group, their youthfulness shines and they can bring forth boundless creativity. But the main point is that these PICs haven’t even reached their 20s, they are young spirited little chilies. They need Men Division and Women Division’s experience in parenting where as the Men Division and Women Division needs to learn new points / directions from the younger generation’s activities. As long as both generations could mutually collaborate, they can create a fresh vitality in their group and communities.

Before the start of every meeting, we must request all PICs to introduce themselves: How long they have been involved in Junior Group meetings and share their happiest, saddest and most unforgettable moments they encountered in the meetings. As for those groups categorized under ‘Sour’ and ‘Bitter’, no matter whether they are introducing themselves or when they are sharing their thoughts, they are constantly complaining, within their hearts they cannot find any incident which is worth the joy to share. I am not criticizing these PICs because we cannot overlook the numerous problems they encountered which they cannot solve and that no matter what; they still persist in the group with a resolved fighting spirit. As for those groups categorized under ‘sweet’ and ‘spicy’, although those Women Division as well as those experienced youths may share the problems they previously encountered, at present, more youths become involved, therefore their problems are surmounted so whatever they shared are the feelings of joy derived from it. As for the PICs, they don’t have any problems which distresses them because all the problems they encountered are solved by their seniors. Under this situation, it isn’t difficult for us to spot the mutual respect and appreciation among the PICs.

I’m sure all of you PIC know the slogan ‘fostering the future, placing high hopes on the future’. I believe all of you are making every effort to foster the bearer of our future. But most of the problem arises from a lot of PICs using their own reasoning or understanding to solve something and not using ‘The strategy of the Lotus Sutra’ as the main driving force to confront it. This lead us to the ‘sour, sweet, bitter and spicy’ category. The cause of these categories is not based on the number of people or how innovated their plans are, the prime point is whether everyone is united and chants together for the same goal. No matter what, we can always use Gosho and Ikeda Sensei’s guidance as our starting point.

Ikeda sensei said: ‘How we foster the seeds of hope, how we bring forth a fresh dynamism will affect the destiny of the 21st Century’. Fostering the Junior Division is a struggle to open up the ‘good’ within their young lives. If PICs only carry the formal method of fostering them with the thoughts of just to finish off their responsibility, how can we bring out the ‘good’ in these young children? To bring forth the goodness requires the determination to persevere until the end in order to able to successfully foster them. The main point here is ‘the heart that matters’.

A senior gave me this guidance saying: ‘The spirit of a firm unwavering faith lies in ones resolute conviction.’ Regardless whether upon encountering countless piercing thorns, perilous mountains or rapid flowing rivers, a person with unshakable faith will possess the courage and strength to surmount it. Conviction brings forth the super power of courage and strength. Therefore we must overcome our self-centeredness, egoism, arrogance and naivety and triumph over various obstacles which come before us. In the course of our Buddhist practice, we must persist with unshakable faith and always bear in mind and fully equip ourselves with thoughts, actions and deeds in our practice. Everyone has 24 hours a day, besides sleeping, resting and work. In actual fact, our encounter with Buddhism is very short (basically it is just morning and evening gongyo, attending meetings, discussion meet and leaders’ meeting, we are able to come in contact with Buddhism). We spend most of our time on societal activities, hence, the society’s (worldly affairs) can greatly influence on us causing our faith to fluctuate all the time. Sometimes impatient, anxious, at times naïve, insecure, skeptical, lost, doubtful and so on along our course in faith. All these results because we are easily affected by the changes in our surroundings. In short, we are easily influenced by our surroundings, forgetting what we learnt in our Buddhism, forgetting the fundamental practice and importance of our thoughts, actions and deeds. In other words, we cannot put Buddhism into practice in our daily lives or activities through our thoughts, actions and deeds, to demonstrate the actual proof of highest and noblest the dignity of life and upbringing of one’s integrity through human revolution.

During my dialogue with some pure hearted and dedicated PICs, I am deeply touched by their genuineness and sincerity, they are like a mirror of me enabling me to review and self reflect. Well, I can say that they taught me the unchanging truth of the dictum ‘the heart is the most important’. Consequently, to enable our fellow young members to understand Buddhism, the most direct approach would be through us, as their role model, so that they are able to deeply sense and understand its significance through our earnest and dedicated efforts.

Ikeda sensei said: ‘Religion exists for the happiness of the people. Whether the religion one is practicing brings about strength or weakness? Whether one becomes good or bad? Whether one becomes wise or foolish?’ Let us all come back to the regional problems we mentioned above, if we still remain obstinate using our shallow judgement, we are indirectly limiting their growth there won’t be unity among the PICs and they will continue to split. Therefore we must reflect and questions ourselves, all this while why do we practice, what is our true purpose of practicing?

We practice to enable ourselves and others to attain happiness, so therefore no matter what happens all of us must maintain empathy, concern and mutual encouragement among ourselves and with PICs. To anticipate an even better and ideal organization, there may be numerous approaches along the way but for as long as we have faith in each other and as we challenge our problems and at the same time we shout out the voice of courage and advance together step by step resulting in the comprehension of victory and harmony.


(To be continued)


Boys Division Chief
Foo Keh Chong

Labels: f. thoughts of chief