Jimi Wallace, on behalf of Soka Gakkai International New Zealand (SGINZ), expressed his deepest condolences for the loss of lives and recited the ‘Life Span’ chapter of the Lotus Sutra offering prayers to the victims, their families and those recovering. 

Buddhist teachings emphasise the sacredness and preciousness of life.  

Soka Gakkai International New Zealand absolutely condemns any form of violence  or terrorism, not only that perpetrated in the name of religion. 

Following the 11 September 2001 attacks against the United States, in which SGI members and friends were among the victims, our mentor SGI President Daisaku Ikeda wrote:

“It is the function of evil to divide; to alienate people from each other and divide one country from another.  In the end, the evil over which we must triumph is the impulse toward hatred and destruction that resides in us all.

Unless we can achieve a fundamental transformation within our own lives, so that we are able to perceive our intimate connection with all our fellow human beings and feel their sufferings as our own, we will never be free of conflict and war.

Now, more than ever, we must reach out in a further effort to understand each other and engage in genuine dialogue.

We must expand our efforts to promote dialogue between and among civilizations.

To this end, we must strive to make a profound reverence for life the prevailing spirit of our times and our planet. I believe that this is the greatest and most enduring way to honour the memory of the victims of this enormous tragedy.” (The Evil Over which We Must Triumph from From the Ashes, A Spiritual Response to the Attack on America)

We are committed to work together with other faith, community and like-minded groups to overcome the challenges of division, hatred and intolerance and promote harmonious coexistence, respect for diversity and social cohesion. 

Image by Éva Kaprinay

Ikeda was born in Tokyo on January 2, 1928. He was inaugurated as third President of the Soka Gakkai in 1960 and for almost two decades led the lay Buddhist movement in dynamic growth that also saw important international development. He became Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President in 1975 and Soka Gakkai Honorary President in 1979. He is survived by his wife Kaneko and his sons Hiromasa and Takahiro.

“As Buddhists whose core value is the dignity of life, we sincerely pray for an immediate ceasefire, and hope that efforts will be focused on ensuring people’s safety and restoring peace.

“We add our voices to appeals by the international community for the safe release of all hostages, the protection of civilians based on international humanitarian law, and a humanitarian ceasefire to enable provision of vitally needed assistance.”

—Soka Gakkai Council on Peace Issues, October 26, 2023

https://www.instagram.com/sgi.info/

Tena Koutou Soka Whanau!
To get us all through, we are launching our new, brief daily encouragement video, based on excerpts from the New Human Revolution.
Let’s rock this lockdown together with Sensei!

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Guneet Sachdev from Auckland sharing from NHR Vol 11

Jimi Wallace from Wellington sharing from NHR Vol 8

Elser from Auckland sharing from NHR Vol 24

Jatin Puri from Auckland sharing from NHR Vol 23

Jillian Scammell from Christchurch sharing from NHR Vol 12

Kenric Ma from Auckland sharing from NHR Vol 21

Hui Ling from Auckland sharing from NHR Vol 24

Tomo from Christchurch sharing from NHR Vol 24

Vincent Leong from Auckland sharing from Volume 2

Bee Choo from Auckland sharing from NHR Vol 26

Sung Yong from Dunedin sharing from NHR Vol 16

Pat Lim from Auckland Sharing from NHR Vol 26

Odair Silva from Auckland sharing from NHR Vol 4

Heather Simpkin from Auckland/Whangarei sharing from the NHR Vol 8

Yu Ito from Christchurch sharing from NHR Volume 10, Page 216.

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