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".