An excerpt from SGI President Daisaku Ikeda's essay "The Magnificent Ceremony on March 16"
	Human Revolution Vol. XII Successor 32 to 41

SGI's President's Poem:  March 9 1988

A Blue Deeper Than the Blue of the Indigo Plant Itself

-- to my young friends on the occasion
of 'Kosen-rufu Commemorative Day'

 

Oh, eternal March 16
On that day,
Together with my lifelong master,
We displayed a scale-model of kosen-rufu.
And on that day,
Master and disciple pledged to fight for the common cause
Throughout eternity.

It is for this reason that this day of profound significance
Was named "Kosen-rufu Commemorative Day."

March 1, 1958.
One of my master's long-cherished desires was realized
With the completion of the Grand Lecture Hall
For the Essential Teaching of the Lotus Sutra,
A gesture of his utmost sincerity.

Then, as if arranged by the Buddhist gods,
Or as a sign of the appearance of Bonten and Taishaku,
Descending from heaven,
It was reported that the prime minister of our nation would come.
That day, March 16, my master declared,
Would be a dress rehearsal of kosen-rufu.

The leading performers in this grand ceremony
Would be youthful followers of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth.
With this sudden announcement, 6,000 members gathered,
Including those who belonged to the Brass Band -
Heroes of music for kosen-rufu.
And the stage was also adorned
With the magnificent and elegant march
Of the Fife and Drum Corps,
Young angels of peace.

Together, in the severe chill of early morning,
We all enjoyed the delicious taste of warm pork soup,
As our master's very heart
Penetrated and flowed throughout our bodies and minds.
Though our clothing was shabby,
We were filled with the pride and happiness
Of living for a mission.

Ah, March 16.
Though the prime minister did not come,
He sent his wife and son-in-law on his behalf.
As the ceremonies began,
In spite of his illness,
My master stood up resolutely,
As head of this array of young followers of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth,
And there he left us with his ichinen to accomplish kosen-rufu.

Mystically,
This auspicious ceremony
Became a solemn occasion when
The royal banner of succession was passed on,
Entrusted from master to disciple.
Despite his weakened body,
My master, a father of me
Dared to resolutely take leadership.

You, youth,
With the same heart as my master's,
I ask you to follow in my footsteps.

Youth,
Always forge on.
Now is the time
That we should not retreat even a step.

Youth, Sing the bright and brave song of youth,
Proudly and hopefully,
As you continuously, courageously challenge your day-by-day toils,
Studying hard and training yourselves.

And with a golden unity that will never, ever, collapse,
Dedicate yourselves to accomplish this, our sacred undertaking,
That will usher in a new day in the history of mankind.

Do not ask
Whether or not this mighty flow of kosen-rufu
Is a matter of course in human history.

Rather, always ask yourself
Whether or not you have the passion in your heart
To make kosen-rufu a matter of course
Through your own sweat and toil.

 

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March 16 celebrates the expansion of the original "circle" of 6,000 youth division, and is an opportunity for us to expand our personal commitment to kosen-rufu and increase our joy in living each year.

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On commemorating March 16, SGI President Ikeda gave the following address at the First SGI-USA Youth Div Gen. Mtg. at SF Culture Center.

To Live is to Move Forward -

Not advancing is retreating -- this is true not only of faith but also of study, work and all areas of our lives.  Students who don't study, workers who don't work -- both are retreating.  Living is moving forward, making progress on all fonts.  If you stop trying to move forward, it means you are retreating from life itself.  And since faith is the driving force of our lives, retreating in faith is the cause of all unhappiness.  That is why you must, with your fellow members and with the organization devoted to kosen-rufu, encourage each other and achieve victory in faith and in life.

Being Victorious in Life -

Life is a struggle.  Reality is a struggle.  Nichiren Daishonin teaches that Buddhism is about winning.  He exhorts us to be victorious.   So we must win in life.  To embrace the Mystic Law is to grasp the sword of victory.  We can triumph over all.  We can triumph and enjoy our lives.   "A person of faith" is synonymous with "a person of victory."   Live your lives so that you can each declare: "I have a no regrets.  I enjoyed my life.  I encouraged many others and gave them hope.  It was a good life."  The original Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin, promises us that this will be the result if we practice correctly, following the principle, "faith manifests itself in daily life."