SGI-Europe Summer Courses Begin in Trets, France

The annual SGI-Europe summer courses kicked off this year with 160 men's and women's division representatives from 21 European countries gathering at the SGI-Europe Training Center in Trets, France, from July 7-11, 2007.

On July 7, SGI representatives from Germany, UK and Italy shared experiences of practicing and applying the philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism in their daily lives. This was followed by SGI-Europe Vice Chair Matthias Gröninger and Vice Women's Leader Kimiko Brummer leading a study on SGI President Daisaku Ikeda's lecture on Nichiren's writing "On Attaining Buddhahood." SGI-Europe Executive Advisor Shoichi Hasegawa and SGI-Europe Vice Women's Chair Betty Mori spoke on Mr. Ikeda's novel The New Human Revolution and stressed the importance of leading victorious lives based on strengthening one's foundation in faith. Lastly, SGI-Europe Chair Hideaki Takahashi lectured on a passage from "The Opening of the Eyes," one of Nichiren's major writings, encouraging the participants to continue studying and applying Nichiren Buddhism in their lives and to positively contribute to their respective communities and societies.

SGI-Belgium summer course (June 30-July 4, 2007)

This summer, some 10,000 SGI members from throughout Europe are expected to gather in Trets to attend the 2007 summer study sessions.

SGI-Austria's summer session was titled "Boundless Growth," focusing on a study of "The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life," one of Nichiren's major writings (July 11-15, 2007).

[Adapted from an article in the July 19 and 30, 2007 issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan]