Jeanne Abdullah's Prime Minister's wife is being conferred Highest Honorary Degree by Soka Women's College on 24th.May.2008, Saturday

Dear all YBs,
remember the news we announce that Jeanne Abdullah's Prime Minister's wife is being conferred Highest Honorary Degree by Soka Women's College on 24th.May.2008, Saturday?
Here is the mail i received from Cheng Lay, sharing from a ex-UKM student who is now study in Soka Uni, lets take our time to read it yo ;p

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The new history for all of us.. Check this out!! http://www.tv3.com.my/Shows/EpHighlight.aspx?MasterID=190&ShowID=231&MenuID=2&TemplateID=1&SubMenuID=1&VideoID=12609&EpID=15529#anchorVid*From o7:00 till 08:30 1.5mins about the ceremony...Hurray!!*

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On 5/25/08, Shanice Cheng <http://aa.mc276.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=yengcheng@gmail.com> wrote:

Dearest everyone,
I am sure everyone knows about the news that Jeanne Abdullah's Prime Minister's wife is being conferred Highest Honorary Degree by Soka Women's College on 24th.May.2008, Saturday.
We are happy to share the photos with you
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=560536511&k=Z2BUX652RZWMYEMDRKY3S
The photos doesnt look so official though, because our small multi task camera always have to sneak in between other more official cameras, hehehe...

Would like to share some of the interludes that actually took place approaching the event, and also the situatiob on the actual day.

Truly felt fortunate to be able to have this moment to welcome such important people from one's country to Soka University. Undeniably, when we first receive this news that our current prime minister will be conferred an honorary by Soka University, many mixed feeling arise not just from me, but almost all foreign students from Malaysia. You know what i mean, i guess... what clarifies our PM to receive an honorary? what's his role model or exemplary to the country besides being the pinnacle the country?

Thus not wanting to carry these doubts to meet him on Sat, two representatives went to get clarification from the International Department of the University. The personnel from the International Department actually explained to us that this conferation started from Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah who has high respect for Dr. Ikeda and his founding of the Soka School System. Datin Seri Jeanne has proposed to visit Soka Womens' College in her capacity as the Chancellor of Open University of Malaysia and will be conferred by Soka Womens' College the highest Prize of Friendship (or something like that). Datuk Seri Badawi who is also on his trip in Japan decided to accompany Jeanne to visit the university. Thus, with high recommendation from Dr. Ikeda, the founder of the university, Soka Uni decided to also confer an honorary degree to our PM.

Thus, our doubts arose from, Dr. Ikeda has always pointed to us the qualities of a human being, of a leader. What if, despite a person position, he does not pledge his duties or responsbilities as befits his leadership position, what befits him to be conferred an honorary?
The personnel said that first, for a university to be able to receive such distinguish guest from other countries is the university's pride. Also, it has been a tradition for the university to confer upon distinguish guest who visits the university. This is a sign that the university is a truly International Class university.

We showed him signs that this obviously didnt clear our doubts yet...
He continued, saying that, "In many occasions, people who were able to meet Sensei, were able to change after that encounter. What is important is to create the opportunity for "meeting"..."
He acknowledged that he cannot tell for sure the exact qualities about this man (our PM), there have been discussions about the appropriateness as well, but being the PM of a country, this honorary will be conferred upon him. What is important is that during his visit, we are truly able to display what our spirit is as Soka students, as Sensei's disciple. Hopefully, this will be able to plant a strong impression upon all who visits to see for themselves the university and the spirit Dr. Ikeda has founded. Through this encounter, and everybody's effort, in his own life, a change will definitely take place.

What strucks me was, "creating the opportunity for meeting". We know all well from Mr. Ikeda's writing and speeches, dialogues that Sensei is not a person who is there just to please his guests. Sensei addresses his conviction, his mentor's Toda Sensei's wishes, his beliefs and actions just as it is for the future. Spreading the seed of enlightenment and compassion is not a matter of who the other person is, it is what one's conviction is, what one's wants to deliver and strive for everyday or even for a WHOLE LIFE. Thus, nothing stops Ikeda Sensei to transmit hope, belief and ichinen to anyone he wants to reach out. What matters "is the opportunity for meeting". No wonder, Sensei always write, "History unfolds from meeting" or "First, it is meeting people".

Hence, we are happy that we were able to unite our heart together as one among the 10 Malaysian students representatives as well as with Ikeda Sensei. We determined, representing Sensei's spirit, we will give the heartiest and merriest welcome to all who come to visit Soka Uni on that day. Thus, all of us sang as patriotic, as melodious, smile as bright as possible when our National Anthem was played. Badawi who was at first not singing when the national anthem was played, later sang along. We even sang "Rasa Sayang" song spontaneously when we bid farewell. He turned round again when he heard this loveable song sang from behind.

Cant help, but felt deep gratitude towards Sensei. Though from the outlook, it seems that we are there to welcome some delegates, but in a deeper sense, our mentor is all the while in all ways giving training to his disciple! Training his disciple to stand up with him, training his disciple to uplift our life state higher and higher to be the same him, to the highest lifestate possible a human can strive for! Felt that my outlook was so narrow at the very beginning, leaning on just the current affairs of the "figures" in politics, unable to comprehend our mentor's vision. However, determine to continue challenge and closen the bond with Sensei. I am sure all the students who attended the ceremony felt immense gratitude to our mentor as well.

Well, i will close here.
There are still so much more to write on each detailed that we witnessed, but i leave it to you all to also discover the daily lessons we can get from following and actualizing our mentor's guidances.

love,
cheng