The SGU-USA 2010 Introductory Study Exam Study Guide is available for purchase at SGI-USA bookstores for $2 or for free download at www.sgi-usa.org (click here to open the PDF)

SGI-USA members throughout the nation in October will take the new Introductory Exam as a means to develop a self-empowered practice through a correct understanding of Nichiren Buddhism.

The pass/fail exam will replace the annual self-graded Buddhist Learning Review and can be taken anytime between October 17-31, ideally at the disctrict level during study week and not in lieu of the monthly discussion meeting.

The exam will cover pasic concepts of Nichiren Buddhism, excerpts from SGI President Ikeda’s most recent lecture series and key points about soka spirit.

For more information, please see the July 16th World Tribune or visit www.sgi-usa.org and click on “2010 Introductory Exam Study Guide” under the Highlights section of the homepage.

Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Elementary School Division versions are available from the main 2010 study site.

The SGI-USA Men of Connecticut Determine to be Happy!

ROCK THE ERA

ROCK THE ERA

ROCK THE ERA

ROCK THE ERA

1. How do I get to the Liacouras Center where the event is being held?
2. What time should I arrive?
3. Where do I park?
4. How do I get my ticket?
5. What about food?

1. How do I get to the Liacouras Center where the event is being held?
a. Driving distance ranges from about four hours from Hartford to about 2.5 hours from Greenwich.
b. Get to the George Washington Bridge. One way of doing this is to take I-95 south. About 25 miles past Greenwich (you will be in NY State), look for signs and turn right to get to the George Washington Bridge. Here are directions from Greenwich. Start at #3 if you are on I-95 and just passing Greenwich.

Greenwich, CT
1. Head east on US-1 N/E Putnam Ave toward W Brother Dr 0.4 mi
2. Turn right at Indian Field Rd 0.7 mi
3. Turn right to merge onto I-95 S toward N.Y.City Entering New York 25.9 mi
4. Slight left at George Washington Bridge/Interstate 95 Upper Level S/U.S. 1 Upper Level S (signs for I-95 S/Trenton) 0.8 mi
5. Continue onto US-9 S Entering New Jersey 1.7 mi
6. Continue onto Interstate 95 Express S 2.9 mi
7. Merge onto I-95 S Partial toll road 58.1 mi
8. Continue onto New Jersey Turnpike S Partial toll road 25.9 mi
9. Take exit 4 toward NJ-73 N Toll road 0.4 mi
10. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for NJ-73 and merge onto NJ-73 N Partial toll road 4.4 mi
11. Slight left at NJ-90 W (signs for Betsy Ross Bridge) Partial toll road Entering Pennsylvania 4.3 mi
12. Take the exit onto I-95 S toward Central Phila 2.8 mi
13. Take exit 23 to merge onto E Girard Ave toward Lehigh Ave 2.2 mi
14. Turn right at N Broad St Destination will be on the left 0.6 mi
1776 N Broad St Philadelphia, PA 19121

2. What time should I arrive?
a. The doors open at 11am, so please arrive not later than 11.

3. Where do I park?
a. See the attached document, page 2. It shows the Liacouras Center, parking lots and prices for the day.

4. How do I get my ticket?
a.Once you have parked, proceed to Mitten Hall which is one block farther north of the Liacouras Center on North Broad Street (see page 2 of the attached doument).
b. Once inside, ask one of the young men or women there where the “North Zone” table is. Your name will be on a list at that table, and you will receive your ticket there.

5. What about food?
a. Outside food cannot be brought into the Liacouras Center. However, there are many restaurants nearby and, once inside, there are food concessions in the Liacouras Center.

This message contains this information for participants travelling on the bus this Sunday:

1. What are the departure points and what time do I need to be at the departure point?
2. What time will we be getting back?
3. What should I bring with me?
4. What about food?
5. How will I get a ticket to the event?
6. What bus departure point will I be using?

1. What are the departure points and what time do I need to be at the departure point?

a. Hartford: Somerset Square shopping mall in Glastonbury, CT in the parking area behind the Starbucks:
. Be there at 5am Sunday.
. Directions:
. Heading south from north of Hartford: Take 91 south to exit 25N (Glastonbury). The road, Rte 3, passes over the Connecticut River. Take the first exit after the river. Somerset Square is directly in front of you.
. Heading north from direction of Middletown: Take 91 north to exit 25/26 (Glastonbury). The road, Rte 3, passes over the Connecticut River. Take the first exit after the river. Somerset Square is directly in front of you.
b. Orange: The Activity Center at 518 Boston Post Road in Orange.
. Be there at 5am Sunday.
c. Westport: The Park and Ride off of I-95 exit 18.
. Be there at 5:45am Sunday.
d. Greenwich: The commuter parking lot off of exit 3 in Greenwich.
. Be there at 6:15am Sunday.

2. What time will we be getting back?
These are only estimates and dependent on variables we either can’t control (traffic) or don’t know (exactly what time will the bus depart). For now, though, let’s assume that the buses will depart by 4pm, that there will be a 45 minute dinner stop and traffic will delay us by 30 minutes. In that case we could be back in Greenwich by about 8pm, in Westport by 8:30, at the activity center by 9:15 and in Hartford by 10pm. Just estimates based on those assumptions.

3. What should I bring with me?
a. Please dress comfortably for the bus.
b. You may want to bring a pillow or cushion for the bus.
c. Isolated thundershowers are forecast for Sunday in Philadelphia. A small umbrella may come in handy.
d. If we are seated early we may be waiting a bit for the show to begin. You may wish to bring something to read or music to listen to.

4. What about food?
a. Please bring food to eat on the bus.
b. We cannot bring outside food into the Liacouras center where the show will take place. The doors to the arena will open at 11am. Food concession stands will be open from that point.
c. The bus will stop on the way home for dinner. Expect a typical rest stop on an interstate highway where there is a collection of fast food restaurants.

5. How will I get my ticket to the event?
a. Tickets will be distributed on the bus.

6. What bus departure point will I be using?
In the lists below which reflect information received as of the end of the day, Tuesday, 7/20, we have made some assumptions which need to be verified by the passengers. The assumptions are:
a. Charter Oak and Gateway Chapters and Bristol and Central CT districts of Rising Star chapter: depart from Hartford
b. New Haven and New London chapters: depart from the Orange Activity Center
c. Fairfield chapter and Northwest Corner district of Rising Star chapter: depart from Westport. Note that Westport leaves later in the morning than the activity center and, on the way home, you will get dropped off earlier to start your drive home.
d. Greater Stamford chapter: depart from Greenwich.

We hope wherever possible youth guests can be brought to the meeting. A theme of presentations will be the performing group preparations that are taking place for the Youth Festival in Philadelphia on July 25th. This will be the last WPP prior to Philadelphia.

Thank you for your understanding.

The CT region team

Rock the Era happens on the second and fourth Sunday mornings at the Connecticut Region Activity Center.  If you know a young person between the ages of 12 and 35 that wants to check out our Buddhist youth movement for peace, culture, and education, there will never be another group of dedicated young people like this.

The SGI-USA is the American branch of the SGI network, with more than 2,600 neighborhood discussion groups and nearly 100 SGI-USA centers throughout the country.  Our Connecticut Region Activity Center is at

518 BOSTON POST ROAD, ORANGE, CT PHONE : 203-799-0512

Every Weekday!

Toward the July Rock the Era  Meetings

6:00-7:30am (Gongyo at 7:00)

All members and guests are welcome.

“Employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra before any other.”

(Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol 1, p.1001)

Dear Members of Connecticut Region

There have been a number of inquiries about the Activity Center and 28 April. I am delighted to announce that the Activity Center will, in fact, be open for gongyo and diamoku. The hours will be 7:00–8:30 PM. All members and guests are invited to participate!

In 1253 on 28 April, Nichiren Daishonin proclaimed his teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Today, due to the efforts of the SGI members united with Sensei, this teaching of hope, courage, compassion and empowerment has spread to over 190 countries and territories.

Those who wish to make Contributions for the May Commemorative Contribution activity may do so. And, those who wish to drop off payments for the Youth Festival may do so as well.

“How incredible it is to chant this wonderful daimoku each day! Nichiren Daishonin writes, “There is no greater happiness for human beings than chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. The sutra [Lotus Sutra] says, ?The people there [in my land] are happy and at ease”

- Daisaku Ikeda (For Today and Tomorrow, April, 28)