Chapter 4

The SGI aims to apply a philosophy of humanism, rooted in respect for the sanctity of life, in the fields of peace, culture and education. In this way, it seeks to foster a robust and universal culture of peace. These three fields correspond to the Buddhist concept of the ‘three virtues’, those qualities inherent in humankind identified by Nichiren Daishonin as most worthy of respect: a sense of responsibility, compassion and wisdom.

A sense of responsibility refers to the responsibility to protect the right to life shared by humankind and all living things. It is a tenacious determination to work for the creation of peace. Nichiren Daishonin spoke of his own determination to block off ‘the road that leads to the hell of incessant suffering.’[1]

Compassion is the inspiration for the fostering of culture. By cultivating the inner spirit of human beings, we can nurture such positive qualities as empathy, trust and friendship, bringing the uniquely fragrant blossoms of each culture to bloom.

The third field, education, corresponds to wisdom. President Makiguchi wrote that the purpose of education is people’s happiness. He advocated ‘value-creating education’ that would allow all people to develop the infinite wisdom inherent within them. As Daisaku Ikeda explains:

Broadly speaking, creating a land of peace and tranquillity - as in the [Lotus Sutra] passage, ‘This, my land, remains safe and tranquil’ - indicates the virtue of the sovereign. Education represents the virtue of the teacher. And culture, because it cultivates and fosters people’s inner lives, relates to the virtue of the parent. We are extending this path of the three virtues throughout the entire world.[2]

Underlying Soka Gakkai’s commitment to the pursuit and promotion of peace is the Buddhist mandate bestowing life with the highest dignity. Life’s sanctity is based on the view that life in its infinite diversity inherently possesses unparalleled virtue and wisdom. Buddhism therefore rejects all forms of violence as an assault on the harmony that underlies and binds the web of being.

On 8 September 1957, less than a year before his death, Josei Toda declared to the world that nuclear weapons should be banned and that the way of Buddhism is peace. This declaration describes in simple words the Soka Gakkai’s philosophy as applied to society and is the basis of its activities for peace and culture.

SGI President Ikeda inherited this spirit from Josei Toda, who hoped to give to the Asian people the gift of the light of peace, hope and happiness. Following a promise he made to himself after hearing his brother’s account of Japanese barbarity in China during the Second World War, he has worked tirelessly to establish friendship between the peoples of Japan and China.

Shangai and all of China have overcome Japan’s invasion and many hardships. Prime Minister Zhou En Lai, also, also did not surrender to any oppression and continued to give hope and courage to the people. Following his footsteps, I am determined to make my utmost contributions to the cause of Sino-Japan friendship. This a noble mission that Zhou En Lai bestowed upon me...

Further, to help relieve tensions between China and the former Soviet Union, Daisaku Ikeda met Premier Alexei Kosygin in 1974. During this encounter, he directly asked Mr Kosygin:

At that time, the Sino-Soviet Union relations were so tense that the two countries had deployed military forces along their border and the whole world felt under the growing threat of nuclear war. Explaining his attitude at this time, President Ikeda says: ‘I am not a politician neither an economic leader nor a diplomat. But it is precisely for this reason that I can speak frankly as a civilian and also as a human being.’ When asked why a Buddhist leader should visit a country such as the Soviet Union whose very ideology rejected religion, he answered simply: ‘Because people are there.’

While undoubtedly pacifist, Buddhism is often regarded as a socially inert, rather than engaged, religion. In contrast, the Soka Gakkai, based on Nichiren Daishonin’s spiritual legacy, holds that it is in fact the duty of all religions, regardless of sectarian differences, to strive for lasting peace.

Soka Gakkai has been a consistent supporter of the UN for these reasons, registering in 1981 as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) of two UN agencies, the Department of Public Information (UNDPI) and High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Its international arm, the SGI, is an NGO of the UN Economic and Social Council and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

As part of its activities to support the UN, Soka Gakkai participates in the annual NGO Conference and has held a series of exhibitions aimed at disseminating the UN’s message for peace. Among the exhibitions are ‘Nuclear Arms: Threat to Our World’, held in twenty-five cities in sixteen countries, including Moscow and Beijing, and ‘War and Peace’, which opened in twelve cities including Geneva and Hiroshima. SGI is currently co-operating with the UNDPI in compiling an oral history of the United Nations.

SGI believes that the role of NGOs can only grow as the UN attempts to meet new challenges to global stability. NGOs around the world, for instance, are already laying the groundwork for a truly international civil society by working in fields that transcend national boundaries and interests, from human rights and humanitarian aid to peace education.

Soka Gakkai maintains that culture is a manifestation of human creativity and a medium that serves to help people appreciate the dignity of their lives. It is capable of linking the hearts of people throughout the world by imbuing life with richness and inspiration. Cultural exchanges, meanwhile, promote the spirit of coexistence and mutual appreciation, not just for the arts but for the vast body of human thought and vision.

To promote exchange between peoples of diverse cultures and celebrate their diversity, Soka Gakkai has founded a number of affiliated non-profit organisations, from the Min-on Concert Association to the Institute of Oriental Philosophy. It has also sponsored numerous activities, including exhibitions and goodwill exchanges with other countries, as part of SGI multi-faceted movement to respect and share humanity’s cultural heritage.

The Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, founded in 1983 as ‘a museum creating bridges around the world’, is dedicated to cultivating international cultural exchanges. With this objective, its staff and directors have undertaken a prodigious program of collaboration with museums all over the world. As a result, the museum has introduced people to a wide range of artwork, such as French masterpieces, ancient Greek artefacts, and Buddhist artwork from the caves of Dung Huang, as well as thematic exhibitions such as ‘Napoleon: His Life and Times’ and ‘Healing Touch: Ashoka, Gandhi and Nehru.’

The emphasis on developing the inherent capacity of human beings highlights the importance of a lifetime of learning. Whatever form this may take, from formal education to leisurely reading of great literary works, education nurtures the ability to think critically, make informed choices, and appreciate life in all its diversity. In its appeal for the development of the whole human being, Soka Gakkai strives to create educational opportunities for citizens of all ages and backgrounds through discussion forums, seminars, exhibits and intercultural exchanges, and the founding of several affiliated educational institutions.

Tsunesaburo Makiguchi wanted to give young people in early 20th century Japan an alternative to a rigid and repressive pedagogical environment that was designed to emphasise conformity over creativity. He believed that the purpose of life is the creation of value, central to which he posited the values of beauty, good and gain that would enable the individual to attain personal happiness. Education’s role then, is to help develop the unique creative potential of each child to prepare him or her for a life-long pursuit of value.

A concrete expression of this philosophy has been found through the establishment of a system of schools and an educational fund that seek to nurture independent thinkers who are morally and socially responsible, and who can dedicate themselves to the welfare of society.

An example of the Soka educational system is Soka University, founded in 1971 with the mission to provide an educational environment that will nurture people of wisdom and humanity, who can contribute to the realisation of a peaceful world. Special emphasis is placed on appreciation of diverse cultures and traditions, and the development of a global outlook. The curriculum includes no religious instruction and admission is open to all qualified students without regard to religious affiliation. Its mission is summed up in three ambitious goals:

It now has six faculties : economics, law, letters, business administration, education and technology, as well as graduate programs in economics, law and letters. Soka University has educational exchange programs with forty institutions of higher education worldwide, including the University of Arizona, Moscow State University, Glasgow University, Beijing University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

In addition to the main campus, there is a language training centre in the suburbs of Paris, an American campus located near Los Angeles and a new campus in Aliso Viejo in Orange County, California.

[1] WND, p. 736

[2] Extract from a lecture on ‘The Opening of the Eyes’, printed in UK Express, August 1996, pp. 21-23)

[3] From Keiko Kimura, ‘A Profile of Daisaku Ikeda’

Chapter 4 : The Founding and Development of the Soka Gakkai

3. Activities of the SGI in the Fields of Peace, Culture and Education