ZAIMU contributions

Zijing: Hey Jenny…have you made any Zaimu contributions this month?

Jenny: No…I dun really know how to go about doing it.

Zi Jing: I see. Well, you could drop by at the centres during office hours on weekdays and weekends.

Jenny: I dun really have the time lately. Work has been hectic. I heard our leaders will be facilitating the zaimu donations later in our discussion meetings for busy but sincere members like you.

Zijing: Actually, the financial contribution methods have improved a lot throughout the years. Now, besides walk-in cash donations, we can also contribute through credit card, NETS and cheque transfer. I also heard our leaders will be facilitating the zaimu donations later in our discussion meetings for busy but sincere members like you.

Jenny: Wow. That’s sounds really convenient. I can even do bank transfer! But is it safe?

Zijing: Yes. Actually, due to the number of charity-fraud cases, some members might feel uncertain whether to contribute monetarily to the association. But SSA has always been detailed when reporting the annual amount of monetary contributions and make it a point to be meticulous and careful in the allocations of fund expenses. Our contributions pay for the new SSA centers, renovation of older ones, ensure general maintenance and also support a wide range of activities. If fellow members have any questions, they can also clarify their questions with senior leaders or the SSA HQ.

Jenny: That’s true. We can encourage our members to donate during the Zaimu month in September, but members should not feel pressurized and should donate sincerely. In a sense, Buddhist practice starts and ends with appreciation.

Over the years, I’ve witnessed many joyful experiences of overcoming one’s situations through challenging oneself to contribute to kosen-rufu. Besides financially, there are also members who open their homes for discussion meetings, sent refreshments to commemorative meetings and those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our centers clean and safe are really the unsung heroes we have to credit. Even our daily practice of sharing this wonderful Buddhism with someone who needs it is a way of contribution. These different offerings help support the spread of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.

Zijing: Yes. We make contributions out of appreciation for the benefit and growth we and our families have achieved through our practice in SSA. At the same time, its also extremely important we show appreciation to those who contribute their time, effort and cash.

Jenny: Just like Nichiren Daishonin. He never failed to expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his followers for each offering through long, long letters of appreciation. Because of the SINCERE offerings from his disciples, the Daishonin was able to fulfill his mission to spread the Mystic Law far and wide. Those offerings of clothes, food, money and writing materials arose from the disciples profound respect for their mentor who had lead them out of their sufferings. They might be facing famines and droughts but the followers continue to support the Daishonin throughout his persecutions.

Zijing: Our members too!! Though struggling to make ends meet, the members had scrimped and saved to contribute to the funds. It’s our dream and pride to construct or prepare our facilities that would be used to nurture able individuals for the accomplishment of kosen-rufu. When we make offerings to SSA, we are also supporting fellow members and to the future of our world peace movement. Ikeda Sensei once said, “When we look after and care for others, our own life expands as well. When we light a candle for others, our own path is lit up too.” This is the Bodhisattva way. Actions to benefit others cannot be separated from the action to benefit oneself.

Jenny: Of course. We must not forget that every lightbulb, window and door of our centers was paid from the contributions of our SINCERE members. But we must never allow ourselves to think that a unit of contributions will yield us a unit of benefit. One's life gains benefit when one is delighted to do so. It is not "give and take." Neither is it the spirit of self-sacrifice. Our practice should be self-reliant. Of course, Nichiren Daishonin assures us that when we make contributions for out true sincerity for the happiness of others and gratitude to the Gohonzon, we naturally accumulate Treasures of the heart.

Zijing: How true. I just read a testimonial about this YWD, Sabrina. Surprising things happen when she sets a determination to contribute to SGI-USA. When she was 17, she and her brother decide to volunteer at the SGI-USA headquarters. They had to get up early and drive two hours to and fro the center. After a week of work, she was fully exhausted. She didn’t realized before that how much every effort each SGI member made – seen or unseen – for the sake of kosen-rufu could add up to the current organization they have now. Everyday, she witnessed so many ppl working tirelessly to spread Nichiren Buddhism, to make a more peaceful world. It’s easy to notice those big SGI-USA cultural events but who takes care of the day-to-day operations? No institution can function without financial resources and the same is true for SGI. She felt indebted and decide to give back to the organization, including financially.

She started to challenged herself, chanted many hours of daimoku and save up daily. It was her first time making a financial goal and it was not easy. She had to pay for her school fees and some home necessities too. But daimoku helped her renew her determination daily and stick to her commitment. At the end, when she donated her savings to the center, she was so excited and felt empowered to do anything. At the end of the year, her uncle called to congratulate her. He had entered her entire family to apply for a job at the new shipping port workers’ union. And out of 3,000 selected qualified candidates, she was 2,041. Even though she wasn’t interested in the industry, but still, decided to look into it after encouragements from her family. The training process was tough for her mentally and physically but with daimoku and her renewed determination, she passed every test and now, she is qualified to take up any job at the shipping ports. As a college student, it was perfect as she can work whenever she’s free and as often as she wants. She can keep this part-time job for life and the pay is more than decent for her to pursue her dreams too! Through these actual proofs of faith, she studied harder and recently received two scholarships to support her through her remaining years at Soka University.

Jenny: WOW! Thanks for sharing that! I’m sure its through her constant efforts and practice and her sincerity to contribute to the organization that she learnt the importance of not giving up and doing her best.

Zijing: YES!! I’m very encouraged by her too. Let’s work hard in our own endeavors to contribute back to SSA through our efforts, time and financially too.

Jenny: Speaking of that, we’d better hurry. Don’t wanna be late for our zadankai! I’m so happy I can do my Zaimu today too! :D