To: All Members in London General Area

 Dear Friends in London,

We are all shocked by what has happened in recent days in our city, and many boroughs have been sharply affected. Overnight the problems have spread to other parts of the UK.

We must of course take care of ourselves and our members in these coming days and not put anyone at risk. This has meant that we have closed all the London Centres for two days, and we will have to review the situation on Thursday. We will keep you informed as to which centres are open and when. Please consider carefully whether more value is created by travelling to evening meetings, or if it is wiser and safer to stay at home.

In the guidance for today in ‘For Today and Tomorrow’, SGI President Ikeda writes:  “The course of our lives is determined by how we react – what we decide and what we do – at the darkest of times. The nature of that response determines a person’s true worth and greatness.”

What should our reaction be to this situation? Recently Katsuji Saito, the head of the SGI study department, lectured in London, reminding us of our role and purpose as Bodhisattvas of the Earth. These Bodhisattvas pledged in the Lotus Sutra to appear at a time of conflict to spread the great pure Law that can transform society. On the news this morning, politicians and journalists were discussing the possible causes of the recent problems, and the reasons that are most often given are ‘surface’ causes: to do with economics, with politics, with mistrust of authority. As Bodhisattvas of the Earth, however, we see that there is a much deeper cause which pervades all of society and which creates the age of conflict. This negative cause is the delusion that results from the ignorance of the Buddha nature in all things. This delusion can manifest itself in all sorts of ways, and in extreme circumstances as we have seen in the last few days in London it can result in anarchy and lawlessness.

Our role, our mission, our vow is to transform the world on a fundamental level, by establishing the Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in people’s lives so that all members of society are treated with respect, with equality and to give everyone the opportunity to fulfil their potential as human beings. This will create a very different world to the one we are presently seeing. This is the great movement for kosen-rufu.

In answer to the question: “But what can I do right now?”, the answer is daimoku, with a deep prayer that this situation is transformed. And following that prayer, we must take action, which in these circumstances means dialogue. In our summer course study material President Ikeda writes: “An important lesson of this writing is the fact that kosen-rufu is realised through one person reaching out and sharing the correct teaching with another – as indicated by the passage ‘two people, three people, ten people, a hundred people will join in chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo’ (WND-1p672). This is because kosen-rufu is a movement to awaken the lives of one person after another.” (Newsletter 8139). President Ikeda goes on to say “The cornerstones of our movement are one-on-one dialogue and discussion meetings.” These conversations and dialogues are the opportunities to share our experience of transformation and convince others to start to practise.

Finally, the Daishonin encourages us that negative situations are the cause for a tremendous transformation, and now that Mr Saito has reminded us of our role as Bodhisattvas of the Earth, perhaps this is the time to take this Gosho extract to heart: “Great events never have minor omens. When great evil occurs, great good follows. Since great slander already exists in our land, the great correct Law will spread without fail. What could any of you have to lament? Even if you are not the Venerable Mahakashyapa, you should all perform a dance. Even if you are not Shariputra, you should leap up and dance. When Bodhisattva Superior Practices emerged from the earth, did he not emerge dancing?” (WND-1, 1119).

With our deep prayers for your safety and happiness,

London General Area Leaders