Dynamic development

New Year's Day gongyo at SGI London Ikeda Peace Centre this morning.  Always a great start to the year.

"New Year's Day marks the first day, the first month, the beginning of the year, the start of spring. A person who celebrates this day will accumulate virtue and be loved by all, just as the moon becomes full gradually, moving from west to east, and as the sun shines more brightly travelling from east to west."
'New Year's Gosho', Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol 1. p. 1137

The theme for the year, as shown in the photo above, is 'Year of Dynamic Development in the New Era of Worldwide Kosen-rufu.'  The literal translation of 'kosen-rufu' is 'to widely declare and spread' but more loosely it can be interpreted as working toward world peace which is what we do by propagating this Buddhism.

On a personal level, dynamic development symbolises my leap into a new life (post-retirement) for the new year.  So starting on an uplifting note!