Central: A Haven of Reformation, Progress!

On Sunday, Aug. 5, buzzing with excitement, nearly 900 Happy Bodhisattvas of the Earth from all parts of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota eagerly gathered at the Gates Concert Hall in Denver University to begin the Rocky Mountain Zone’s “Second Act of Worldwide Kosen-Rufu”. It was at Denver University in 1996 that President Daisaku Ikeda received his first Honorary Doctorate in North America.

Sharing her feelings on this historic gathering, Tal Mizrahi, the newly appointed zone YWD leader said, “I really could imagine world peace after seeing people from all walks of life coming together like that for a common cause. The youth dance was so dynamic and instilled the spirit of youth in the members. Strong youth inspire hope for the future. The members were deeply encouraged by the 4D Central Territory leaders’ experiences. We felt a sense of unity on this fresh departure. Guests were blown away at the diversity of the members.”

Rita Risom, the vice zone women's leader, said that members were thrilled by the change in the zone and territory. With the creation of this new zone and two new regions, she personally felt “a new energy moving,” She expressed how there is also a new energy of propagation. At the kick-off meeting, seven people received their Gohonzon, four of whom were youth.

All 12 Central Territory leaders came to Denver to open the second act together with the members in Rocky Mountain Zone. They came from various parts of the country including Chicago, Ohio, Los Angeles and Phoenix. For Martin Mathes, Young Men's Territory leader, this was his first time ever to Denver. He was shockeded at how embracing the members were.

“Everyone just opened up and treated us like they’d known us forever. It was really touching.” Every night, Martin met with the YMD and was so encouraged to see how all the young men were so seeking. They asked questions about how to create victory in propagation, how to create four-divisional unity, how to move the organization forward and to build a strong and unshakable faith.

The night before the kick-off meeting, three groups of territory leaders traveled to various parts of Colorado for informal question-and-answer meetings. One group traveled to Colorado Springs, another to Fort Collins and the third group stayed in Denver.

Shaifali Bhalla, the Vice Territory Young Women's leader, who traveled to Colorado Springs was so encouraged by the members. The exciting thing for her was in seeing members seeking to understand “What is the second act?” And this happened to be the first question that was asked by a men's member at her Q&A session.

Shaifali said she listened and learned from the men’s and women’s division, especially about the importance of creating iron-clad unity in order to achieve our great dream of kosen rufu. Shaifali said, “The youth are the driving force and passion but we need to seek and learn from the great wisdom of the adult division.” Jee Moon, the Young Women's Territory leader, said that members were all so serious about kosen rufu, about changing our society for the better.

We vowed to make Central Territory “a haven of reformation and progress for kosen-rufu” by each one of us transforming our lives first!

Central Territory youth leaders,
Shaifali Bhalla, Jee Moon, Martin Mathes, Joel Carboni