The student division is now creating a joint
resolution to SGI President Ikeda about the temple issue. Today's the
deadline for sending in your thoughts on the following three questions:

1) How aware am I about the temple issue in general? Am I aware of any
temple activities on or near my campus? Am I aware of the misinformation
being spread by the temple about the SGI either in print or on the
Internet? Do I fully understand the crux of the issue and why I personally
need to protect the purity of Nichiren Daishonin's teachings?

2) What have I done to better inform myself about the issue? What does the
issue mean to me? Do I know how to refute the erroneous positions being
spread by the temple? In other words, what approaches or techniques can I
personally use to stand up for the truth? And what lessons can I draw from
my education or life that have prepared me to protect the Daishonin's
Buddhism?

3) What types of activities should the student division do in the regions
and on the campuses about this issue? In other words, given this
opportunity to develop a resolution from the student division to President
Ikeda, what specific actions can we pledge to take as individuals and as
the student division in our respective areas?

Send your ideas to Jeff Farr at jfarr@sgi-usa.org. The student division
national leaders will compile everyone's input into a resolution to
present to President Ikeda for Nov. 18, Day of the Soka Gakkai's Founding.
We'll also publish the resolution in next week's Student Waves. If you
have any questions, please e-mail Jeff Farr. And a big thanks to all the
people who have already sent in their answers!

 SGI President Ikeda has written a new essay on
"The Great Power of the Gohonzon." He explains how "Nichiren Daishonin’s
successor and second high priest, Nikko Shonin, says in 'Guidelines for
Believers of the Fuji School' that the five senior priests who betrayed
the Daishonin 'one and all denigrated this object of fundamental respect
[the Gohonzon].' He clearly points out their grave offense. It is the
spiritual descendants of those five senior priests who make up today’s
Nikken sect. The Daishonin’s Buddhism is the Buddhism of the sun,
illuminating the entire world. In the Daishonin’s writings, there is the
passage 'The king of the asuras, angered at the deity Taishaku, shot an
arrow at the sun god, but the arrow came back and struck the king himself
in the eye' (The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 4, p. 240).
This is an apt description of the Nikken sect, which is shooting arrows at
the Buddhism of the sun -- and of what will happen as a result of their
folly. In other words, since the negative effects of their actions will
return to them without fail, they are advancing inexorably down the path
of self-destruction. This is the destruction warned against in the
admonition 'their heads will split into seven pieces.' The Daishonin also
declares, 'If we surmise the degree of benefit according to that of
punishment, then there can be no doubt that my followers will enjoy "good
fortune surpassing the ten honorable titles"' (MW-6, 226). The beneficial
power of the Gohonzon is indisputable! The triumph of Buddhism is clear!
The benefit accruing to the SGI, which acts in accord with the Buddha’s
will and decree, is immeasurable." The full essay will be in the Nov. 19
World Tribune. For information on subscribing to the World Tribune, call
1-800-835-4558 or e-mail SGISUBS@aol.com.