Thank you for all your efforts in the month of January!  Last month the
St. Louis Area SD held their first meeting in St. Louis, the University of
Michigan continued their awesome newsletter and propagation activities,
and the San Diego SD held a great kick-off meeting for the year 2000.
Already this month, San Francisco and Oregon State have held very

successful meetings in the Pac-Northwest Zone. We wish to give a shot out
to all the SD Region Leaders who supported these events and who continue
to support Sensei's vision for the Student Division.
There are many more activities which we haven't mentioned, and perhaps,
there are activities which we do not yet know about.  Please let us know
how you are doing! We will continually work to support all of you in your
tenacious endeavors.
Let's amaze the world!
Maggie, Boston, Daisaku, and Wendy.

 PART ONE
by WENDY DESOUZA
The more students I talk to the more I have become increasingly aware of
the prevalence of depression among youth. This issue has particular
meaning for me since I faced a difficult bout with depression in high
school.  During high school I was overwhelmed by self-doubt. I thought I
was a failure.  It seems that everyone in my environment agreed with this
conclusion.  My father even told me I was a worthless bum as a way to
"motivate" me. It didn't work.
At first it was difficult to recognize I was depressed.  I wasn't chanting
at the time, and my mother had quit practicing a few years earlier. I did
not consult my "mirror of life" (the Gohonzon). Instead I looked for a
diagnosis in my environment. At first I called it "laziness," then
discontentment with school and family. I was dropping out of high school,
and my mother had thrown me out of the house because of our disagreements.
My feelings of frustration and helplessness multiplied, and eventually I
fell into despair.  I stayed home from school more often than I went, I
slept for hours in a long pattern of sleep-depression, and I watched the
same five movies in our 5-movie video collection ad infinitum. They
weren't even very good movies.
One day I just collapsed on the floor and cried the most agonizing tears.
I really wanted to disappear forever. I had hit rock-bottom.  Somewhere
inside my life, however, was the will to live. Reading President Ikeda's
guidance over the years programmed me to believe in myself, and idea
planted in the depths of my life. Somehow I knew I had a mission, and from
that moment of realization I had to take "baby steps" to accomplish what
seemed the impossible-- getting out of bed and graduating from high
school. I didn't chant a million daimoku, yet the simple action I took
came from some kind of stubborn decision to be happy.
It's been about ten years from that difficult time.  With this practice I
have been able to accomplish everything I set out to do. Most importantly,
I am convinced that Sensei's guidance enabled me to change my very
pessimistic view of life. The optimism I learned from Sensei and my
actions based on his guidance enabled me to graduate with a B.A. from UC
Berkeley, earn a Master's degree from the U of Chicago, and travel to
Iran, Ghana and Egypt as an exchange student. In all honesty, I am
convinced I never would have done any of these things without President
Ikeda's encouragement.
For those of you who would rather suffer in isolation, please seek out
encouragement from your friends and seniors in faith. You will come to
find that your struggle, like mine was, is common and can be overcome.
Thank you so much!

Perspective
Lori McDaniel, an SGI-USA member in Chicago, recently wrote a
"Perspective" in the January 28, 2000 World Tribune entitled, "Using
Common Sense in Facing Depression." Her main point is that while we should
keep our practice central to overcoming depression, we shouldn't rule out
seeking professional help. She stated that depression is an illness in
which many Americans seek treatment.

Excerpts from an unpublished article, "Exodus from Depression," by Ted
Morino, Editor-in-Chief of the World Tribune

"What can we do to overcome depression and not fall back into it? These
are crucial questions in life especially in times when fierce competition
is commonplace and the strong usually win over the weak and heart-to-heart
human connections are hard to achieve."

"Buddhahood is a dynamic life-condition that is full of joy and life
force. In this regard, the differences between Buddhahood and depression
is like that between heaven and earth."

"Buddhism is a teaching of the mind (ichinen). It delves into the deeper
realms of oneìã life that dictates the workings of oneìã mind. Buddhism
has discovered the world called Buddhahood within life and reveals how to
tap and solidify it so that we can stay depression-free. Moreover,
Buddhism teaches that when oneìã Buddhahood is strong, oneìã mind is
healthy. In other words, Buddhahood is expressed as a healthy mind.
Buddhism further teaches that Buddhahood manifested in oneìã mind will
manifest itself in oneìã body and environment as well. Thus Buddhism views
that oneìã body and environment are a reflection of oneìã mind."

"By taking action, Buddhism says, we can enhance ourselves from the
inside. Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the direct way to elevate our
lives. Also, encouraging others to do the same is a way to battle
depression. By focusing on anotherìã life, people have already taken the
first step to rid themselves of depression."

"Depression can also be defined as lack of life force. Just as we have to
exercise our muscles to train them, we need to exercise our mind and heart
to strengthen them. The best way to use them is to shift our attention to
something outside our consciousness. When we are absorbed in something
outside ourselves, a natural healing process will begin to function
within. The Buddhist message is "Letìã use our mind and body to the point
where we can tap the brightness and joy within, or to the point where our
entire existence becomes full of vitality and secure to the fullest
extent."
"It is only natural for one to get depressed from time to time. However,
remaining depressed is not Buddhist, for Buddhism is a teaching of
incessant value creation."

There are now six months and some-odd days to go until our Student
Division conference at the FNCC (August 17-20).  We want to make this
conference da bomb, hot, cutting edge, futuristic, visionary, warm,
copasetic, inspiring, fragrant, informative, moving, colorful,
celebratory, and life-changing. The only way this conference can become
all things to all people, a complete smorgasbord of talent, intellect and
heart (we had to find an excuse to use the term "smorgasbord"), is to have
participation in the planning by as many of you as possible.  Hint, hint.
If you have any ideas on how to make this conference a true celebration of
friends, and a kick-off towards May 3, 2001, please send your ideas and
vision to studentdiv@sgi-usa.org. We also looking for a fresh theme for
the conference.  Topics will include the mentor-disciple relationship,
developing confidence and courage to introduce others to Buddhism, and our
theme for this year, Soka Spirit.  Sound the call to all you creative
people out there!

"Studies show that reading the World Tribune during your college years
increases your chances of getting a high-paying job and meeting an ideal
partner." --Jeff Farr
Subscribing to the World Tribune may not bring you fame and fortune, but
it will definitely enhance your life.  The World Tribune carries President
Ikeda's most recent guidance, current activities, not to mention the Youth
Division Seize the Day  pullout, where Student Division features and
activities are highlighted. To subcribe to the World Tribune, send your
payment ($15/3 months, $28/6 months,$50/1 year) to
SGI-USA Subscriptions
P.O. Box 54628
Los Angeles, CA  90099-9168
For a Subscription Order Form envelope, please write to
studentdiv@sgi-usa.org.