I want it all

Today was a very beautiful day.Not really as if in weather but more as in a good time to receive a Gohonzon. One of my district members, who is an Indian woman who lives and works at this moment in Eindhoven, received her Gohonzon today. This meant that I had to leave early to our National Cultural Center in Zeist of SGI-NL. After the ceremony there where a few cultural acts of members. After the meeting we all went home to prepare us for the enshrinement on 16.00 hrs at her apartment. Besides 6 members there where also a few colleagues of her. After the official part, her colleagues started to ask questions about Nichiren Buddhism. Those we tried to answer as good as possible. During this dialogue we also talked about the origin of Buddhism. It surprised me how little my co-members knew about the origin of Buddhism. Maybe it would be a good subject for a distirct meeting.
André

Paranoid

Watching the news the last few days, it frightens me. Especially what I hear and see about a Dutch member of parliament, Mr. Geert Wilders the fraction leader of the so called Partij Voor de Vrijheid (Party For Freedom). Mr. Wilders announced that he is planning a broadcast of a movie about the way Islam is treating women. Knowing Mr. Wilders as a right winged person he is and the way he talks and thinks about Islam and non-Christian/Jewish religions who he considers as inhumane or non-humanistic. It's no wonder that a lot of people are afraid that the Netherlands will be the next target of terorrism attacks. Even our parliament warned him for retaliation of the Islamic world and that it could be very bad for international relationships, national economics, riots and so on. According to the Justice Department, they have no means to persecute him within the confinements of the law.
What really frightens me is that I see history repeating itself again and it happened only 74 years ago. A certain Mr. A. Hitler blamed the Jewish community for the bad economics in Germany and the fact that most bankers, lawyers and doctors were Jewish and controlled almost every aspect of society back then. Now we see more or less happening the same to the Islamic community. The only difference is that they get blamed for radicalization within Islam, bad economic situations and financing terrorism. Instead of learning about Islam and engaging into dialogue and see what Christianity an Jewishm have in common with Islam, Mr. Wilders calls for hate, intolerance and persecution. If you ask me,it's getting time to stop this madness before it gets out of control. A good idea would be for Mr. Wilders to read the book "Global Civilization", written by Daisaku Ikeda, cover to cover.
A few lines ago I mentioned that our Justice Department said that they can't persecute him, I beg to differ. They could try persecution Mr. Wilder for spreading hate and discrimination. That is forbidden by our National Constitution, under Act 1 of the constitution. Also he endangers a whole country because the population will be suffering under terrorism only because he thinks he can get away by the way he discredits the Netherlands. I would dare to say that he is the new Mr. A. Mussert and his pary is the new Nationale Socialistische Beweging (NSB). In English, National Socialistic Movement. The NSB was a right winged Dutch political party in the 1930's till 1945 and the Dutch version of Hitler's NSDAP or Nazi party. And our Government is acting the same as the government under prime-minister Colijn during the 1930's. Meaning, waving away the danger till it was to late.
The most frustrating is that i can't do anything except chanting my ass of, praying that this devil of a man will come to reason and that the Netherlands will be spared of bombings and so on. Even the government isn't sure if they will be able to protect Mr. wilders as he currently has the highest protection level possible to make it possible for him to continue function within the parliament. And all of this scares me. The fact that a man like Mr. Wilders can make into parliament again and calls for hate instead of dialogue, mutual understanding, respect and compassion. Showing we have learned from history.
André

Think!

Maybe you noticed already that the last blogs I've been writing have titles from songs. Actually Reading the blog of a friend of mine gave me that idea. He named all his blogs after songs. (thanks for that splendid idea, Nick).
After some ten months of naming my blogs to the events I wrote about, I became what people call, having a writers block. So after visiting his blog http://theexpat-files.blogspot.com/ , I started to copy the idea. Simply, because I liked it. I noticed that a song title was easier to remember too. people tend to remember songs easier then just words. I think, because we tend to paste certain emotions (often a peticular feeling or movie fragment) to it. Think about it for a moment. Take the title of this blog. Most people have seen the movie "The Blues Brothers", right? How may people remember that scene in the diner where Elwood and Jake come in and order just a dry toast and 4 chicken with coke and French fries, and their old guitarist comes out willing to join them when Aretha Frankin starts singing this song? Or maybe you only remember that chocomel commercials of the 1980's where a girl is alone at home playing this song on her fathers stereo set, just seconds after he told her to not to touch it? See the point?
Another reason for using song titles as blog titles is, that there is always a song that fits the story. Especially when you choose known songs.
André

I just called (to say I love you)

Last night I got a telephone call from my girlfriend. She was only calling to say that she was back from her workshop trip to Delhi. Actually I was really happy to hear her voice again.
One of the first things she asked me was if I still continued our own little daimoku chain of 3.20 hrs a day, so our wishes would be fulfilled. I answered her that i did. The most beautiful thing was her reaction on my question how she would react if an Dutch (Television) organization would call her to ask her if she wanted to come over for Christmas, if they would provide her a ticket and would also provide her with a visa. She told that she would pack and would be on the plane faster then I could say Nam-Myoho-Renge-kyo, so to speak. Then she started why I asked. I told her that I had emailed to a television show that she followed from time to time in the period that she was studying for her Masters degree in Tilburg. So I went further telling her that I've got an application form to fill out and that I already returned it and that there might be a chance that we possible would be selected for the show. I told her also that I was convinced that there is a good chance but that we, and everyone we know must do a lot of Daimoku for it. So we will get selected for the show. (See also the blog All You Need Is Love for that story)
I could hear that her spirit was lifted immediately to a higher life state. She is so desperate to come back to me at this moment.
In the last 24 hrs I got some wonderful reactions from people who knows us and stating that if they can help, that they will. So for everyone who knows me and my girlfriend and living in the Netherlands, please write to the email address listed in the last blog!!! Fill out the form that they send to you and return it. And yes, we both are in possession of a valid passport. The more of you write to the show, the more likely the chance that we get selected and my girlfriend can come to spend Christmas with me. This show will be aired on December 24th, probably around 20.30 hrs. For those among you who receives the form you can contact my if there are blanks for you. I only respond to those I know personally. You have my email address.
I especially call upon the chapter members of SGI Eindhoven-Tilburg, the area members of SGI Zuid-Nederland and the Keibis who know both of us in person to respond and would like to see us together again and who knows us well. Please chant for our reunion for Christmas.
I know, this sounds pretty desperate, but at least I'm not. I can't say for my girlfriend, but we both trust Gohonzon on it and we're sure that this perticalery prayer not goes unanswered! I think it is a wonderful opportunity to proof the vality of our practice by bringing 2 loving people together, don't you think?
Let's all pray and chant that my girlfriends and mine story will be chosen for this show.
NMHRK
André

All You Need Is Love

After some hours of daimoku, I took a very deep decision. I have to write to the television program All You Need Is Love. My girlfriend and me have to be together this Christmas. No matter what. But where to begin?
First let me see if I could find the website of the program and see the add again. That was the easy part. But what to put in the email? So back to the gohonzon again to do some more daimoku. After another half an hour of daimoku I knew what to put in this email. So I wrote the presenter of the show that we wouldn't be together this Christmas and why. I also asked him if he could help bringing the both of us together for Christmas.
All i can do now is chanting to Gohonzon that this email will be answered positively. I love my girlfriend to death as most people who know me know. Of course it would help if those people who know my girlfriend and me, would also write the show. The email address is: allyouneedislove@rtl.nl
One thing, when on the Website of http://www.rtl.nl/shows/allyouneedislove/home/index.xml you have to registrate for the media passport, otherwise your email to allyouneedislove@rtl.nl will be blocked by their spam filter.
André

With or without you

Writing this blog, I realize how much I miss my girlfriend. Ten months ago she left Schiphol (Amsterdam) International Airport. Only last month she got news from the University of Groningen that she didn't got a scholarship, because India isn't seen anymore as a development country by the Foreign Affairs department of The Netherlands. Still the professor who wants to guide her during her PhD study, is willing to help her look for founding to let her study here. She will be needing at least € 15,000.00 per year for each year she will be in Groningen.
Another thing that has occupied my mind lately is the abolition of a law that prevents Dutch citizens to marry foreign people. To be able to marry a foreign girl, or man, a Dutch citizen needs to urn at least € 1.485.00 per month. only last month there was an announcement that our government is thinking of abolishing this law, for the simple fact that Dutch people move to neighboring countries to marry. thus evading this unjust law. After marring, mostly after living for a year abroad, they move back to The Netherlands and then they don't have to appeal to this law anymore,because they were married as European citizen. Since moving to Belgium or one of the neighboring countries is out of the question for me, we just have to wait till this law is abolished.
Knowing how disappointed she is for the last few weeks, we talked a lot by Yahoo messenger about this. Me trying to encourage her and comforting her. It's not easy for her now, since almost everybody has giving up on her and talking in a negative way to her. Even her family is pressing her to marry. Pressing her to look for a good candidate on th internet. Telling her that she can do her PhD after marring. Even for me this is a hard thing to swallow, since I try everything possible to get her to come over to The Netherlands.Chanting my ass off, doing activities, but I guess we've to be patient and wait till this law s abolished. Even now, November 18th is coming up, it's hard to believe that my prayers are looking to fail. Ever since I got back from Trets I chanted for more then one hour daily to find a way to overcome my sufferings and sending her daimoku as weel so she would be coming to me.
Since a few weeks i with sick leave, since i got an infection in my left foot due to a bruising. When I went to see the doctor again yesterday, he told me to hold rest for another 2 weeks. So this was for me bad news, since i won't make money now but have to relay on welfare money for the time being. It's a hard time for me right now.
Anyways .... we'll see what will happen in the next time.
One thing positive has happened in the meantime. I'm getting shakabukus by the numbers. Still single digits, but they are coming.
One thing for sure, with or without you I keep going on chanting to be together with you again, my sweetheart.
NMHRK
André

Daimoku wheel

Last week i got an email from on of my keibi colleagues. It was an invitation for joining a daimoku wheel. For those of you who don't know what that is. A daimoku wheel is like a chain of daimoku.This wheel is like the day and the spokes of the wheel are the hours of the day. The general idea is that people who join this chain or wheel chant for 1 hour and by doing so represent 1 spoke of the wheel.

Well, yesterday the new daimoku wheel started. Although I didn't take the phone I started to chant from 20.00 till 21.00 hrs. Today was the 2nd day of the daimoku wheel. The person who was chanting to 20.00 hrs called me around 20.30 hrs. At first i didn't understand what she was talking about. So I asked her. She was saying that there was broken in into her place, so that was why she called to late. I explained her why i didn't answer the phone yesterday. and continued chanting. around 21.00 hrs i called the next person on the list.

Today was a bit of a strange day for me.First I woke up with a hell of a migraine attack. This meant that I had to call in that I wouldn't come to work. Then i had to call the employment agency to tell them the same. Next thing was go back to sleep and made sure that it was dark in the room.When I finally woke up again and concluded that the migraine was gone. Then I started some daimoku.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.
André

Keibi in Trets, France

Some weeks ago my Keibi coordinator Junya came to me asking if I could be Keibi at our European Center at Trets. So I told him that if my work allowed it i would go. Lucky me, my boss said it was ok because i didn't have any holiday jet. So i went together with Nick and Rob. For me it was my 3th time as Keibi in Trets. We left from Eindhoven Airport with Raynair to Marseille, France. This was on September 14th. We were due to return to the Netherlands on September 22nd 2007.Finally we arrived at the Center at 1.30 hrs. In the middle of the night. Our taxi chauffeur drove like he was possessed. Luckily we called to Trets when we would arrive so our Italian colleagues where waiting for us. Also some course members greeted us. As it turned out, they where Italians too. Coming from the Rimini area. It was so good for me to be back in Trets. I took from home a list of goals I wanted to work on while being in Trets. Also I made some new friends. The Rimini course had a very beautiful cultural festival with lots of singing and dance. They left on Sunday. In the same time some 450 French members of the area starting to arrive for the 1st level study exams which will take place the first weekend of November. There we stood, only 3 Dutch Keibis manageing 450 members. So we had to devide us between the ECC (European Cultural Center) and the CPE (Centre Par l'Etude). After this day we had a 3 day period of quietness and time for maintainance, talking to the guard of the center, Mr. and Mrs. Sugai and for lots of Daimoku. Also we had to cook for our selfs during these days and had a lot of time to talk to each other and covering for one and other when we felt tired. Of course I got some troubles with my knee. And of course I was forgotten to pack a sporting brace for my knee. So long as i could sit and chant it was ok, but as soon as I had to walk up and down over the terrain, my knee started hurting. On Thursday I Asked Mrs. Sugai for a elastic bandage for my knee. That day would arrive another Italian course from the Milan/Trieste area. So it was very important that I could move around.
During this week I was able to do 36 hrs of daimoku. that's some 5 hrs per day on average. While sitting at the reception desk this course members arrived. Among them was Roberto Baggio, the former team captain of the World cup winning Italian football team. He retired in 2004. At first I only recognized his face but couldn't place a name to it. One of the course members said that Roberto Baggio was attending the course as well.Also During the few days we had with this course before going home, I made some friends. By the time we left, we where thanked for taking excellent care of the course and making them feel save and welcome. To me it was a sad day when we left Trets. Leaving my new friends to an inexperienced German Keibi team hurted me. Still I chanted for them to grow quickly in there role as Trets Keibis. I also chanted for my friends to get home savely.

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!!!

A car for Kosen-Rufu.

Last Wednesday I had a big case of sansho shima, or devilish functions. First of all, it was a very wet and rainy day and because of the weather my motorbike ceased to function (moist in the electrical system). This happened at only 1 mile of the gardening company I work for. So I called that I had a problem with my bike together with my location. My foreman came with a small trailer and so I went to the company. There I left it to let the engine dry.
There I was in my van, waiting till it would become dry again. No luck. After 1 hour the boss called us back to the company. Only to sent my foreman and me back to cut some branches of a tree. after returning to the company I was allowed to go home again. This was a very difficult drive back with 2 near engine stalls due to moist.
So when I finally got home i decided that I definably needed a car that was both cheap and reliable. The day before I spotted already a car that looked in my eyes nice. It was a Peugeot 205 Diesel , build in 1989 for only € 350.00. So I wrote the owners cellphone number down and I decided to call him. No such luck. His phone was switched off and he never retured my call or voice mail. How rude! About sansho shima. When I told this on thursday to my parents, my father said that a diesel engine was maybe not the wised choice for me because of the hight road tax on it. When I reached home , after visiting my dentist and my father returned with my front tire who needed a refurbish, my father called to inform if € 400.00 was within my budget. When I told him that it was, he told me that he might found a car for me. A Skoda Favorit build in 1990 or 1991 with only 60,000 km on the clock. It belonged to a elderly man who bought a new car. He already called for it and would check it the next day. So when came on Friday, he told me that this car was in a better shape than his own Skoda Favorit! Lol. So, he gave me the number of the man who wanted to sell this car and I called right away. I asked him if it was ok for him that this Monday I came to collect the car and to put it on my name (registration) and pay him. He agreed. Also I called my insurance agent to make sure my car is insured on Monday, otherwise it's illegal to drive it in the Netherlands. My parents even called my uncle who helps me a bit with financial matters. He said that it was inportant that i could reach my job so i was allowed tobuy this car. Downfall is that I have to going to sell my bike :-((
So it's a bit of a difficult weekend for me. I drove this bike, a Yamaha XJ700 Maxim water cooled, for 10 years. So it's only natural that I feel a bit sad. It has survived 3 different relationships, a financial crisis for the last 5 yrs. Brought me to a lot of jobs, meetings. Seen a lot of different weather types and with this bike I met my current girlfriend. You could say that it served me very well those last 10 yrs. If i may put it a bit different, it was my companion for the last 10 years. I can only hope and pray that this car will serve me equal as good as that my bike did. It's a bit double, this feeling I have now. On the one hand I feel sad, on the other hand I'm happy to have found a car that is reliable. And that I can use for Kosen-Rufu activities as well. Still I will the kind of freedom that I had with my bike. Passing traffic jams, feel the weather, winds, smell the countryside. At the same time I'm happy that from Tuesday onwards I don't have to jump into a motor suit anymore. This don't mean that I never ride a bike again. Thank the Buddhist gods for the rent-a-bike stores. This also implies that I will keep my suit and helmets. Purely for in case I have the urge to feel truly free and have the need to ride a bike when the weather is good for a weekend or longer period. Once a biker, always a biker. At least it gives me an opportunity to ride different types of bikes. Like maybe a Harley-Davidson, a Kawasaki Vulcan, a Yamaha Wild star or something like that. So when the urge get to much or I can't resist the feeling to ride a bike, I can always rent one.

Yamaha XJ700 Maxim, licenceplate MS-77-TG
"My friend, thanks for being there for all these years. Where we traveled for so many miles, seen so many roads, met so many different and nice people. Thanks to you I've met my current girlfriend. Too bad that you won't see the day that I will merry her or see the day that she will return to the Netherlands.
With pain in my heart I say farewell to you. Looking forward to the day that I have to hand over your keys makes me feel sad. I know that I will miss your power, your smell, the vibrations and sounds that you produced when I started you and revved you up.
For 10 years I took care of you. Fed you gasoline, kept you in shape by putting new brake pads and tires on your wheels. Gave you an 'new' exaustsystem or pipes, gave you a few times new spark plugs and clutch cable. Gave you new oil and filters. Let you service by a mechanic so you could make more miles. Even after a crash or two I nourished you back to life. Making sure that you brought me where ever I needed to go. That I could enjoy your company.
Thanks my friend, for never let me down all this time. I bought you when you only clocked 4000 miles. In those 10 years you've clocked some 51,000 miles together with me. Becoming a 'Kosen-Rufu' bike 6 years ago. With a heavy heart i have to retire you, my dear Maxim. I huts me to let you go. To have to sell you after all this time. How much I wanted to see that you turned 25 years in 3 years, while in MY possession. Too bad, too sad that this probably won't be the case. Too bad, too sad that your next owner will have that privilege. Who knows, somehow, I'll be able to buy you back in the near future.
In the mean time , the only thing I can do is making sure you come into the hands of someone who cares and love you as much as I did and still do. Someone who takes good care of you and will nourish you with the same love as i did. Lucky for you. I know such a person. He will take very good care of you and hopefully will not sell you to someone elsebut me after restoring you to your original state.
Well we will see.
So long, goodbye and farewell for now. May I be able to buy you back.
In the meantime, May the (Buddha)force be with you."

André

Avaaz.org - The World in Action

Avaaz.org - The World in Action

Remarkable experience of Congolese SGI member

Last weekend (Easter weekend) I was Keibi again at SGINL Cultural Centre at Zeist. During the Gohonzon receival ceremonies a Congolese man received his Gohonzon at SGINL. this man became the 5th SGI member in Kongo with a Gohonzon. This man told that he was introduced by a young woman who lived in Netherlands, but is French. After starting chanting he got the assignment from his Congolese National SGI director to put down the statues of the organisation and start the process of getting SGI Congo recognised as an official religious organisation. Which happened within 24 hrs after he took up this task. Shortly after this the Civil war in Congo started. He and his family was trapped in the house and they fled to the bathroom, where he started chanting for protection of his house and family members. His oldest daughter called from boarding school that the school was under attack by soldiers. Killing teachers and students. After a while the Congolese army liberated the school and sent them home. After this, this man fled with his family to Netherlands. His sons both started practicing on their own. And now received Gohonzon. This experience got a standing ovation from the members who attended the ceremonies.
After the ceremonies everybody wanted to talk to this man.

First General Dutch Keibi meeting at SGINL Cultural Centre at Zeist.

Last weekend I went to be Keibi during the first general keibi meeting. A keibi is a person who takes care of the National Gohonzon, the centre and the members of SGI. for me the weekend shift started on Friday evening. I just arrived at the center and put my stuff in the Keibi room, when one of my teammates arrived. this Keibi, Radboud, was 12,5 yrs Keibi and announced that it would be his last weekend shift. So we started by writing down our names in the Keibi-log and made our security round through the building. After that we drunk a glass of wine and went to sleep.
On Saterday I started with Centerkeeper Mitsu to finish the new Keibi badges. We had to cut them out and laminate them. After that we put a slot in it and put in a clip. Radboud found it a good idea to put all badges onto a tie. So we did and put the tie in the main Butsuma in front near the Gohonzon. The Keibi trainingmeeting started at 15.30 hrs. with a hour of chanting followed by a awarding and appointment ceremony by the SGINL General Direcetor Mr. Kotera. Both Radboud and Yajaira received the Champion of humanity certificate. this, because they were 12,5 yrs (Radboud) and 15 yrs (yajaira) Keibi for SGINL. After that the appointments for Keibi responsabele and coördinator followed. Then Radboud told us why he decided to stop bein Keibi at the center and he encouraged us by telling how important our work is and that we always have to greet everyone in the way we would greet President Ikeda.Also we took a groupphoto who will be sent to President Ikeda. Then the new Keibi badge was presented by Mitsu and me. After explaining why and how, we handed out the badges to the Keibi's who attended the meeting. Also we received from 2 keibi's who are abroad at the moment a message. The message printed below was sent by My girlfriend, who is also Keibi.

Dear Friends,

Congratulations for organizing and attending this Keibi training course on 24, 25 march 07.

How I deeply wish I was a part of it and be with you all. But I am sending daimokus for the success of this course. This only deepens my prayers and determination to be Keibi again in Zeist !!!

I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every Keibi for helping me understand, imbibe the Soka staff spirit. Everyone in SGI NL has helped me in imbibing the true Soka spirit, training me and helping me in deepening my faith and trust in the Gohonzon. This is the Soka family which treasures every individual and helps to realize full potential. I am so glad to be a part of it.

In new year’s message Ikeda Sensei said “Fear is contagious but courage is contagious too.” he also said “those who walk the correct path of mentor and disciple throughout their lives will know no impasse or stagnation. This is the essence of genuine victors in life- people of profound spiritual, depth, strength and nobility.”

Trying to understand and apply this guidance in my daily life I am determined to really grow as a true disciple of my mentor. Like Sensei went to challenge the toughest areas in realizing Toda Sensei’s vision of a global family, I am also trying to challenge the toughest areas of my life to truly grow and understand his spirit. This one line or one word that really motivates me is that courage is the key to win…to advance and show actual proof !!!

Another fuel for me to understand my mentor’s heart is:

The struggles of a “disciple who volunteered” and dared to fight.

“I want to win. I have to win. And report this victory to my mentor”. The disciple exerted a hundred million eons of efforts in a single moment of life.

For only herein lies the path of mentor and disciple. And now, who will tread the way? The only path that makes the “impossible” possible! (Osaka campaign 1956)

This makes me think that Sensei is counting on me; he wants me to be proactive in his vision of Kosen Rufu so how am I as his disciple responding to his call? What responsibilities am I taking to achieve his vision?

I redetermine to take the full responsibility and walk alongside with my mentor by courageously challenging the toughest areas and win in every area of my life.

I thank once again specially Mitsu, Kuniko, Ashwini, André, Richard, Omiljko, Andrea, Ingrid, Junya, Ann, Charlie, Martin (and dear friends whose names I can’t spell. ) I also miss words of everyone’s wisdom at breakfast and dinner tables. The rich discussions and interactions are great cherished experiences for me.

I take your training and spirit wherever I am. I am sure of my mission so I hope to see you all very soon and be with you all very soon.

I hope and pray that every one of you courageously realizes his wishes in this significant year of advancement and victory.

Thank you , Soka family NL for giving me an opportunity and nurturing me to be a part of Keibi Group. We (keibi’s) are many in body , at different places but one in mind !!!

This is the most memorable and cherished treasure of my stay in the NL.

Take care,

Warmest regards,

Meenakshi
23.3.07.
( Bharat Soka Gakkai , India)

After dinner we toured with the new keibi's the building giving them instructions about what to do and how to handle. then we sat down and talked about what was said during the day. Answering a lot of questions from the new Keibi's.

On sunday we had besides the Keibi training the monthly video meeting. Shown was the video of January 2007. This was for the new Keibi's the time to look if this was what they really want. As weekend teamleader i had to maintain supervision and write the log. Round 13.30 hrs we went for lunch and Radboud finsihed his shift. After changing he came to say goodbye tous. He also wished us lots of good shifts. Of course we made fun of him, saying things like "you can't leave", "Keibi_one_kanobi has left the building".

Anyways....I know I will sertainly gonna miss my mate. Each time we runned shifts together we had a lot of Kosy Rufu, lots of joking and fun and most important a relax posture and doing a lot of daimoku. The best shift ever with Radboud was for me the Trets Keibshift of January 2005. A whole week at the European Study Centre of SGI-Europe. It was lots of fun with from time to time a strict word or encouragement. After 2 yrs, I still remember it vivitly.

Thank you Radboud for training me and for being "Keibi_one_kanobi" for such a long time. We will miss you an I hope you will want to continue training us from time to time. Your experiences as a keibi are so usefull for the whole team. I really hope that we all can keep using the encouragements and experiences Radboud can share. Also he transfers the group ownership to me as well. Now he isn't a keibi anymore.

I had a really good shift and weekend.

NMHRK

André

It's cold at night.

Yesterday (February 19th 2007) my girlfriend had to go back to India after a 3 month holiday. Remarkably how fast time flies when ones has fun.I brought her to Schiphol International Airport where we finaly had to part.Of course it got emotionaly and we both shed some tears. So my girlfriend went trough customs and I went to the promanade platform so that I could she her plane leave in time.
Now, for the first time in 3 months my bed is cold and I'm lonely at night. And for that matter also during daytime when I don't have to work. Coming home and finding no-one at the rooms is quiete strange after 90 days of being together. For at least 6 months I'll be alone again before I'll be together with her again. That would be around September 1st 2007. Hopefully she can start then with her PhD study at Groningen. Only thing i can do now is chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo and pray that we'll be together soon and that I'll be able to go to India by the end of this year.
NMHRK
André

Times, they are a changing

Well, today was a very special day indeed. After seeing the video of president Ikeda's speech of 18 November 2006, we had a general responsible meeting of SGI Netherlands. There were 215 members attending this meeting in our Cultural Center at Zeist. As special guests we had the SGI Europe General director Mr. Takahashi and former general director, and now adviser, Mr Hasagawa.
We where told that we got a new layer in our organization. All of the regions became areas. So a lot of new appointments followed. In essence nothing changed and everything chanced. Same leaders, different responsibilities. Also, a whole lot of new chapter-, district- and group leaders where appointed. There were a lot of encouragements from our special guests and our general director Mr. Kotera. In between there was a lot of Culture in the form of music. Even Mr. Kotera sung a song.
This year is crucial for our growth of SGI Netherlands for Kosen Rufu Netherlands and for Kosen Rufu worldwide. Our main goal till January 2nd 2008, President Ikeda's Birthday he becomes 80 then, is to have 2,000 Gohonzon members in the Netherlands and of that 600 youth division members. Mr.Hasagawa told us that he believed that not 2,000 new Bodhisattva's of the earth were waiting to emerge, but 10,000 Bodhisattva's. He also told us that,when this happens, it would be like an eruption of a volcano and that growth would be unstoppable. That would be a real big victory. Mr. Hasagawa told also about the news that Cuba recognized the SGI as a religious organization. This is a big step for our members in Cuba. Fidel Castro met Sensei in 1996. Castro received Sensei not as usual in his uniform, but in a suit. This was a true historical moment. And this happened never again.
It was a truly great day and I'm happy that I was a part of it. Next week we will have our yearly responsible course. This year only 1 day and at the Cultural Center at Zeist.
Today my girlfriend was a byakuren (hostess of the Young womens division) and next week she is a Keibi or Gajokai (protector of the National Gohonzon, the Center and the members).
NMHRK
Andre

New years Gongyo at Zeist

This weekend me and my girlfriend went to the SGI Cultural Center at Zeist. We arrived on December 31st. round 15.45 hrs at the Center. Since we where the first to arrive there. The Center keeper, Mitsu, asked me to be Keibi because I was there to support the Keibi open days in this special weekend. Luckily I brought my Keibi-uniform. Eventually we where with 8 Keibies and trainees. So we made dinner and did the tour through the center giving instructions.

At 0.00 hrs we did gongyo with everybody who was there. We wished each other happy New Year and we ate and drink for a few hrs. then we went to sleep. At 9.00 hrs we did the Keibi-gongyo and then we prepared our selfs to receive the guests who would come for the new Years Gongyo. This was very nice to experience. So many guests and members (around 200 people). After the meeting we did our evening gongyo and had our own new Year party at the center, together with some Sokahans and Byakurens who stayed and joined us.

Of course we had our difficulties within the group who was keibi. This is only natural. Not every-one has the same high life condition. After a year of problems within the Keibi group we're sure that this year we will have a good group and that everybody will be motivated to do Keibi shifts so we can protect the center,the Gohonzon and the members and guests.

Happy New Year.
Andre