Area summercourse South Netherlands at Baarlo castle

Last weekend SGI area South Netherlands had it's, now well known, summer course at Baarlo castle de Berckt. this course takes place almost 2 weeks after the Dutch Summer course at Trets.
This year the course was a weekend long. Motto of the course was: "The power of now. Eternal fighter spirit.

Also this year the course was very intensive. Knowing that the Trets course is 4 days long, try imaging to squeeze in 4 days into 1,5 to 2 days. It's great to see that this course is getting the name of being a well organized course within SGI Netherlands. This year we had some members from outside our own area.

One of the things that really moved me, was a passage of the New Human Revolution a book of SGI president Daisaku Ikeda. This passage was told by Mrs. Kotera, who was present when this passage happened. The passage tells about the unexpected visit of president Ikeda to the Netherlands in 1973. Due to engine problems Sensei's plane landed at Amsterdam and would be delayed for the next 4 hrs. Mr. Ikeda worked at that time at Amsterdam IAP/Schiphol for Japanese Air Lines (JAL). Sensei asked Mr. Kotera if he could drive him around in Amsterdam and to show him some nice scenery. In his excitement Mr. Kotera said to the few members who where presents something like "Let's go to the windmill near the airport". Forgetting that he never told the members which windmill he would drive to. finally everybody reached the windmill mentioned.

Of course I've heard this story many times in the last few years, but somehow...this time it made me aware of what importance this visit was to the members and organization of SGI Netherlands. At that time the Humbon Netherlands was established. Hearing this story from Mrs Kotera made me realize how important it was.
This story made me more determined to chant for president Ikeda. That he will visit the Netherlands again next year (2008). And of course that I'm able to be there (as a Gajokai/Keibi) to welcome Sensei.

Sunrise Scouting

Today is for me also a very special day. The 100th aniversity of the establishment of Scouting by Lord baden Powell. On August 1st 1907 B.P. held a camp for 20 boys to see if his idea of scouting for boys could work. Now, 100 years later, Scouting is still alive and played in at least 160 countries.
Today scouts of 160 countries joined together at Brownsea Island to commemorate this fact. To bad that I'm not able to be in London at the World Jamboree. Still I be there in spirit. After all these years I guess I'm still a scout. When the World Jamboree came to the Netherlands again in 1995, I was there. This event reminded me of the times I was a scout myself and made me rejoin scouting as a leader now. after 6 years i was forced to stop with scouting due to my job at that time. Jet, once a scout, always a scout.
Of course there are a lot of similarities with SGI. Both organisations are working for a better world by education, culture and peace. Of course the scouting movement is some 20 years older and I believe Makaguchi Sensei could have been influenced by Lord Baden Powell. Seeing what he tried to do with youth. Making them aware that they them selfs can change the world.
When I first encountered Nichiren Buddhism and the SGI, it struck me how much both organizations worked for peace and a better world for everyone. Although the backgrounds are different, Scouting originated from the British Army and SGI has it's roots in Buddhism, both work with the same goals in mind. Now a days both organizations are here to stay and it's not thinkable that they are not there. Often scouting is the only thing children can be active in. Especially in development countries. So is SGI. People are getting inspired by SGI or Scouting. Also the scouting pledge and the pledge of SGI are more or less similar. At least in my eyes.
Anyways, I'm in my heart both Scout and Buddhist and who knows, I might be coming back into scouting as a leader again in the near future. You never know.
HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY SCOUTING!!!