Tony Geisler - DC Region YMD Ldr, Zone YMD Secretariat Ldr

Nearly a month ago I was speaking on a teleconference attempting to promote the YMD Conference. In the back of my mind I knew that May Contribution was on the horizon, and I had to not only speak of participating in both our commemorative contribution and going to the YMD Conference, but I had to take action to do them both myself. As I was trying to encourage those I was speaking with, I was thinking to myself, how on earth am I going to be able to accomplish both?
I had been chanting to reach my goal for contribution and to have the finances to attend the Florida Nature and Culture Center (FNCC) this summer, but did not yet have the actual proof to do both. Immediately after that call I spoke my mother, who still does my taxes (I have great fortune). She told me had good news.....I would be receiving more money in my tax refund than ever before! All of a sudden I could afford to accomplish both goals and luckily still have enough money to fix my car. It was such a huge benefit. Since then I have been facing many obstacles, but I know as long as I challenge them head on I will win in the end. In this noble cause for world peace we can never quit no matter how daunting things may seem at the time.
"We are now in the process of creating an ushakable foundation meant to last for 10,000 years. For that reason, we must not be impatient, nor is there any need to try and look impressive. It is important that, person by person, we increase the size and scope of our movement by developing friendships based on humanism. Making true, genuine friends and creating a core of capable individuals is crucial. No great development can be accomplished without painstaking effort."– SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, January 11, 2007

Natalia Villegas - Miami Region YWD Ldr., Zone YWD Secretariat Ldr.

Growing up my parents always struggled financially. No matter how hard they tried, we never really had money. It was a constant hustle just to make ends meat. As I got older the dark cloud of “financial bad luck” or negative financial karma followed me everywhere. I didn’t know how to get rid of it. I would save some money and something would happen, my car would breakdown and I had to fix it, or I would get sick and have to pay hospital bills, my parents would be out of a job so I would have to support financially. It was always something.
One year a Women’s Division member encouraged me to have a donation goal for May contribution. I thought she was crazy. I was so afraid to let go of any money I had, because of fear of needing it later. When I expressed my fear, she encouraged me even more to use this May contribution as an opportunity to change my negative relationship with money into a positive and healthy one. She encouraged me to chant, and form an action plan to achieve my goal. I stayed in and cooked more, I would do my own nails instead of going to have them done. That May my behavior towards money changed. I became more cautious of how I spent my money. Sometimes it was difficult to not give into my old tendencies and waste my money on junk, but no matter what I kept on with my goal. At the end of the campaign I was able to donate all the money I set out to. I was so proud of achieving that goal. Not only because I was able to contribute to this awesome organization which promotes a wonderful mission, but also because of my ability to create a new healthy relationship with money. I was able to face my fear and win over it.
To me, the contribution campaign is not about money. It’s about winning in all aspects of our lives and proving that with this practice you can win over anything. Let’s win together!

“Nothing can match the strength of those whose lives have been shaped and forged through challenging and overcoming hardships. Such people fear nothing. The purpose of our Buddhist practice is to develop such strength and fortitude. To cultivate such an invincible core is in itself a victory. It is also the greatest benefit. Those who can succeed in this endeavor will savor unsurpassed happiness; they can manifest the supreme state of Buddhahood.” (For Today and Tomorrow- Daisaku Ikeda)

Natalia Villegas

Juan Carlos Tamarez - V. YMD Zone Leader

Ever since I was young I have been working, but all my jobs were labor intensive and offered little pay. I would always wonder if this was my destiny. My friends would tell me “just accept it or sell drugs”, so I chose to accept the fact that due to my circumstances these were the only jobs that I could get. In 1998, I started supporting youth division meetings with 100 percent effort. I would help coordinate, and participate in a variety of SGI-USA activities. At our community center I would help setup before meetings and cleanup after. In 2000, I determined to go to school for digital graphics. I was starting to get so busy with school, work and Gakkai activities sometimes I didn’t have enough time to even sleep. I still moved forward side by side with President Ikeda. Quoting a passage from Nichiren Daishonin’s writings, "Where there is unseen virtue, there will be visible reward," which began to apply to my life.

I got an offer to be a technician with a big computer company and my situation became better. I had no doubt that I was doing the right thing and that my ongoing efforts were beginning to be rewarded. In 2004 I was unemployed, but I continued to do SGI activities and with the hope to get the best job I could, but after 6 months and I still had no one call me. One day I received a call from the SGI-USA, Florida Nature and Culture Center, and was offered a position with the FNCC staff. I could not believe it, I was so excited, I was able to change my circumstances through the power of contributing through activities. I am determined to fight even harder than before side by side with President Ikeda and my fellow SGI members

Muchisimas Gracias!
Juan Carlos Tamarez

Julie Kang - V. YWD Zone Leader

"Whether you chant the Buddha’s name, recite the sutra, or merely offer flowers and incense, all your virtuous acts will implant benefits and roots of goodness in your life. With this conviction you should strive in faith” (WND, p.4). Last year I really wanted to attend a SGI-USA study conference in Los Angeles. One of the study topics for this conference was “The Opening of the Eyes,” which is one of my favorite writings of Nichiren Daishonin. At the last minute, I found out that a seat was available for this conference. I had enough money for the conference fee, but I was short on funds to pay for the plane ticket.

I was determined to go, so I asked my mother if I could use her credit card to buy my plane ticket and then pay her back. Fortunately, she agreed, and I was on my way to the study conference. Shortly after I returned from the study conference, I received a card in the mail from my former employer, who I had not worked for in about a year. In this card was a gift- a check for more than seven times the amount of my plane ticket. This experience taught me that whatever efforts we make to practice this Buddhism; they come back to us as our good fortune. Let’s use this May Commemorative Contribution as an opportunity for us to engrave fortune in our lives and refresh our determination and commitment to achieve kosen-rufu.
Sincerely,
Julie Kang – Vice YWD Zone Leader

Carlos Vigoa - YMD Zone Leader

When I started my practice people always told me that the faster way to change my karma was through contributions to the mystic law that include time, money, and concrete action. However, I thought, how come can I contribute if I don’t have even have a penny? I never forget 2003; I had been chanting for 6 months to buy a car. One night something changed in my heart, I felt this tremendous desire to use my car for Kosen-rufu. I thought if I had a car I could do more activities and can go to the community center, which was far from my home. The very next day I found the car that I was looking for (price, year, mark and even the color); also I was able to get the money as well.
It is amazing how everything changed after I made the determination to use the car for Kosen-rufu. I realized the most important thing is the heart. When I determined to support the SGI-USA with my contribution; my life totally changed. The challenges became the source of continually having victory after victory in my life. I would like to end with this writing from Nichiren Daishonin,

“In view of all this, your sincerity in sending a gift of five strings of blue duck coins whenever the opportunity arises truly entitles you to be known as one who propagates the Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra in Japan. As first one person, then two persons, then a thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand, and then all the people throughout the country come to chant the Daimoku, before you know it, their blessings will accrue to you. Those blessing will be like the drops of dew that gather to form the great ocean, or the specks of dust that pile up to become Mount Sumeru” (WND, P. 672).

Carlos Vigoa
Young Men’s Division Leader
Southeast Zone

Tami Frazier - YWD Zone Leader

As we approach the May Contribution Campaign, I am amazed at how every year presents a new opportunity for me to deepen my faith and spirit behind repaying one’s debt of gratitude, or contribution. I decided a few years ago that I would consistently increase in my participation of the May Contribution Campaign every year. And every year, I can clearly see how my life has gained such fortune due to my determination.
This year, however, I started a new job that I love but that doesn’t pay as much. And while I am able to still have quality of life, I may not be able to contribute more than I did last year. This has led me to deeply consider commentary from “The Gift of Rice” which states, “No matter the age or circumstances, what is most important in making offerings in Buddhism is our sincerity” (Living Buddhism, March-April 2007). I find myself engaged in a wonderful human revolution whereby I am confronting my attachment to money and material things, to sincerely contribute in this May Contribution campaign with the deepest sincerity.
It is the heart that matters, not the amount. In the March-April 2007 Living Buddhism, Shin Yatomi discusses Nichiren Daishonin’s intent behind writing “The Gift of Rice” and states, “Nichiren points out that the forms of offering in Buddhism may change according to the times and circumstances. What remains unchanged is the spirit behind Buddhist offerings; it comes down to one’s earnest resolve to seek and spread the truth of Buddhism.” Indeed to contribute to the SGI, is to strengthen the vehicle that ensures the happiness of all people. What joy there is in knowing that we have this opportunity to contribute, regardless of whether it’s $1, $100 or $1 million. After all, our efforts as Bodhisattvas of the Earth to ensure the happiness of all beings are priceless.

Tami Frazier
Southeast Zone YWD Leader