Buddhist Social

BGP organized the new students' welcome event at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Total 15 guests including new students attended the event, and had a free discussion on Buddhism and shared their experiences in daily lives each other.

SGI Liberia

Soka Gakkai International has spread to 192 countries and territories including Liberia, West Africa whose people suffered from 14-year civil war until 2003.

Many SGI members fled to the US and neighboring countries during the war. Currently, there are about 15 members in the capital city, Monrovia.

While most Liberians are strong Christians and Muslims, SGI members meet every Sunday to chant for the country's development, peace and happiness of fellow citizens. They also share experiences in faith, study Nichiren Daishonin's writings and bring their friends to introduce this Buddhism.

Members are especially encouraged by reading Human Revolution which depicts how the 2nd President Toda stood alone in faith to develop the Soka Gakkai from scratch and changed members' destination toward happiness in post-WWII era.

I'm a TC student in MA International Educational Development Program and visited Liberia for internship and research this summer. It's a great feeling to be able to meet with local SGI members wherever I go, chant with them for human revolution and to know that we are striving for the same grand goal of achieving world peace. There is another TC graduate in Sierra Leone doing her research and enjoying local SGI activities as well.

- Takako Shimizu