Throughout January, SGM members held members general meeting in their respective areas to usher the Year of Brilliant Achievement in the New Era of Worldwide Kosen-rufu. The meetings reviewed the achievements in 2017 and set the direction for 2018.

SGM General Director Koh Sia Feai attended the meeting in Section 17, Petaling Jaya, Selangor (part of Kuala Lumpur Region 2), held on January 8, where he urged all present to do their best in shakubuku to ensure that SGM achieves another 10,000 Professors of Happiness in this year. He stressed that shakubuku is an indispensable part of our Buddhist practice as it is the surest way of expanding the solidarity of Bodhisattvas of the Earth, which in turn will transform society.

In Perak, a meeting was held at the SGM Perak Culture Centre with some 540 in attendance, 60 of whom were Soka friends. SGM Women Division Vice-Leader Wendy Yee related her experience of overcoming various challenges through faith, such as obtaining her doctorate and family karma, which included her son overcoming a serious eye condition.

Sekinchan, Selangor	Kuala Lumpur Region 2

In a meeting in Kedah on December 29, 2017, Men Division member Lim Chiew Guan spoke about overcoming family and financial problems, including meeting debtors to settle heavy debts. In Kuala Lumpur Region 5, Yong Chee Meng from the Men Division shared his experience of overcoming injuries brought on by an accident and a lung condition. After chanting abundant daimoku, he summoned courage to carry out shakubuku, and successfully enabled 29 people to begin practising, including his son-in-law and members of his family. One of his friends decided to join SGM on New Year’s Day this year after his constant encouragement.

Many members shared victory reports in these meetings, adorning these gatherings with great joy. A new member remarked that these meetings are so joyful, and this makes him want to be more actively involved in SGM activities.

Members also studied the Gosho passage “Employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra before any other” (WND-1, p. 139), learning the correct path to leading a life based on faith and the mentor-disciple spirit. They also resolved to share Buddhism with more people around them and expand the solidarity of good.