Leadership -- the essential lesson I learned in the SGI

Again, I can't be anymore thankful for having the opportunity to be a leader in the SGI. The training that I was able to receive is tremendous and most valuable of all.

We learned, again, about the quality of leaders and what it takes to create a successful team.

"Perpetrators, collaborators, bystanders, victims: we can be clear about three of these categories. The bystanders, however, is the fulcrum."

The message is that those who are the game changers are ones who is watching from behind. A great leader empowers those bystanders to take action by initiating it. 

David Roberts also talked about courage. It takes a courage of just one person. And courage stems from compassion. Just like what Sensei said, courage and compassion are two sides of the same coin. Sensei writes, "Courage and compassion are two sides of the same coin. Compassion without courage is not genuine.  You may have a compassionate thought or impulse, but if you don't do or say anything, it's not real compassion." I realized how similar these philosophies are to what I learn in the SGI practicing together with Sensei. I cannot be anymore grateful. I will continue to strive to repay this debt of gratitude I owe to him, my mom and the SGI by exerting myself for social goods until the last moment of my life and unto the future.

Nothing contradicts Buddhism.

I am who I am today because of Sensei.