THE

SPIRIT
OF MAY
3RD


"May 3, Soka Gakkai Day, is the eternal starting point
for making our lives and those of others shine even
more brightly"
(President Ikeda, Newsletter 8982, 3 May 2014)


It is the day that Josei Toda became the second
president of the Soka Gakkai in 1951 announcing his
determination to achieve a membership of 750,000
households during his lifetime (which he achieved). It
is also the day that Daisaku Ikeda became the third
president in 1960, and vowed to march boldly on a
journey for worldwide kosen-rufu in which he would
ensure Buddhism spread to the farthest reaches of the
earth.


"3 May is a day infused with commitment, action, unity,
gratitude, hope, victory, fresh departure and new
progress. Each 3 May is a day when we strengthen
and deepen our commitment to kosen-rufu more than
the year before."
(President Ikeda, Newsletter 8538, 13 June 2012)
"[At] the Soka Gakkai General Meeting held on May 3,
1954, ... President Toda declared that the essence of
the Soka Gakkai spirit is "to return to the time of the
Daishonin." What he meant by this, he said, is for
each of us to take the Daishonin's spirit as his own and
strive to help others embrace faith in the Mystic Law
and realize genuine happiness."
(Daisaku Ikeda, Newsletter 8982, 3 May 2014)

"Our goal is to actualize the vision of Nichiren
Daishonin and bring about lasting peace and prosperity
for all humanity. I therefore hope you will become
champions of faith who never retreat a single step, and
that you will continue to struggle valiantly together
with me as we advance into the future."
(Daisaku Ikeda, NHR12, p7, 3 May 1967)


"Nichiren Daishonin constantly called out to his
disciples:

You must summon up the great power of faith
more than ever. (WND-1, p1000)

Strengthen your resolve more than ever. (WND-1,
615)

You should therefore strive in faith more than
ever to receive the blessings of the Lotus
Sutra" (WND-1, 33)

Our courage is limitless and our efforts know no
bounds. As long as we have that spirit and continue to
press forward, cherishing the great ideal of kosen-rufu
in our hearts, the path to victory will open up endlessly
before us."
(Daisaku Ikeda, Newsletter 8759, 7 May 2013)


"To dedicate our lives to the great vow of kosen-rufu,
just like the Daishonin - this is the very heart of 3
May."
(Daisaku Ikeda, Newsletter 8538, 13 June 2012)


"Let us ensure that this vow of May 3 - embodying the
Soka Gakkai spirit and directly connected to the spirit
of the Daishonin - is transmitted to the future and
endures for all eternity."
(Daisaku Ikeda, Newsletter 8982, 3 May 2014)









In April 1988 at the first national Soka Gakkai Women's
Division meeting held in Tokyo, President Ikeda also
proposed that in recognition of their sincere efforts and
their contribution to the growth of the organisation,
May 3 should also be celebrated as "Soka Gakkai's
Mother's Day" in honour of the "mothers of kosen-rufu".