Thoughts on 2008 Junior Division’s Graduation Camp 


The two days of Junior Division graduation camp have passed, everyone has put in so much effort and here I wish to express my most sincere gratitude.

I wish to share with all of you my thoughts and feelings on this Graduation Camp.

Have we achieved the main objective of this Graduation Camp?

First of all, our first objective is to strengthen the Junior Division’s sense of belonging in our organization.

Sense of belonging is something which can only be acquired through one person touching another. Therefore, to enable the Junior Division members to feel this way, first of all, the person who is closest to them must first ask themselves whether they feel the same way too. Whether they cherish everything about our organization like how they cherish their own family?

Ikeda Sensei said: ‘within every child is the most revered and precious life which is comparable to the whole universe. Everyone possesses the exceptional wisdom and potential. There is no child without mission.’

Toda Sensei also similarly exclaimed: ‘For the sake of humanity, we must earnestly foster young capable people and enable them to be proactive. This is the objective of Soka Gakkai’.

Generally speaking for the above two points, in the process of preparing for the Graduation Camp the most important thing is whether we place the benefits of the children on the forefront and not for the sake to effortlessly complete our task. The more dedicated we are, the more they will grow. If we treat the Graduation Camp as a program to pass their time during the holidays, then what we get will only be the exhaustion of entertaining others but not ourselves. But if we devote ourselves to foster them like how our both mentors mentioned above, then what we will attain is the actual proof of happiness and joy which no one can take away from us.

There is a Young Man Division member in my region that is moving back East Malaysia settle there. This is his first and last experience to take part in the Graduation Camp but he missed the opportunity of applying to participate in the Graduation Camp. After that, the numbers of PICs applicants have exceeded. Although on one occasion he felt sorry for missing that opportunity but nevertheless he is constantly supporting and helping others in the region with their work throughout the graduation camp, one instance was in the preparatory works for the design of eco friendly robot. Then, three people from the same region quit the camp. And as a result, he finally joined in and he was appointed as a the person to look after the children, initially, he was worried that he’s not competent for the job. Whoever took notice of him during that day will think that he is a very proficient in his area and he meticulously cared for the children. Particularly in game activities, looking at his tensed expression is just like as if his own children are sitting for university examination. When he was asked what his most memorable feelings are, he said: ‘It’s every single moment I spent together with them, especially when I see them putting all their effort in their task and complete it one after another, I feel very happy. At the beginning, I was worried because I don’t know how to communicate with them, so I earnestly chanted daimoku to challenge myself and chanted for their health and good weather. Finally, I am very grateful of the contributions and efforts of all PICs, I feel that this Graduation Camp not only fortify the children but also fortifies us as PICs. To take care of the protagonists of the future isn’t easy, so may everyone do their best!’

I believe people who are as dedicated as him aren’t just him alone. Therefore, we must all learn from each other and encourage one another. There is no born loser but victors who unrelentingly works hard. As long as we are willing to strive, together, we can create infinite miracles. When we agree that every child’s life is very precious, simultaneously we are also entrusting ourselves the noblest dignity. As long as we earnestly implement such spirit to the end, we are already marching on the path of mentor and disciple together with the children. This is also the second important point of our Graduation Camp.

We may give a very lively eloquence of speech on the greatness of mentor and disciple to enable the children to know more but this method won’t bring about a lasting and deep impression to them. It is only through our dedicated attitude in our life that we are able to establish the foundation of their life. Because of Nichiren and our three presidents’ resonant determination, Nichiren Buddhism and Soka Gakkai are able to open up this path and achieve our present accomplishment. This is the kind of spirit in which we as disciple must inherit. And for that reason I organized the board games for ‘Nichiren Daishonin’s life struggles towards the end’, ‘sports games activity’ and ‘following the path of the spirit of Daisaku Ikeda’. The purpose of this is to grasp the opportunity to enable the children to absorb more and at the same time to train the PICs on how they should introduce our mentor. Just like what I’ve mentioned earlier, this isn’t something which can be achieved through ones eloquence but it is through the PICs earnest and sincere attitude. We are now in the second chapter of our kosen rufu era; it is the era of whether others can perceive Ikeda sensei’s spirit through us. For the sake of our happiness, our mentors had been meticulously put into consideration and strive for our happiness. Therefore, to enable ourselves to be able to respond to our mentors beckon from deep within our hearts, we must share our mentors’ greatness to others not just once but 200 or 500 times. Carrying the desire of wanting to share with others and enable them to feel the joyous struggles we have together with our mentor.

Ikeda sensei said: ‘I wish to entrust my life’s final undertakings to all the young and righteous friendship between the youth division and the future division to carry the common aspiration to open up the path for the eternal victory of Soka.’ I feel that these are our mentor’s hopes and expectations for us. Hence, regardless of any problem, we mustn’t worry or be afraid because our mentor is confronting it together with us. We must eternally uphold our mentor’s slogan that is: Hope, Courage and Friendship! With hope we have the future, with courage we can triumph over everything and with friendship our life is meaningful.

Let us do our utmost! Foster the future and pin our hopes on the future courageous heroes!

SGM Boy’s Junior Division Chief
FOO Keh Chong

Labels: f. thoughts of chief