• Daisaku Ikeda Biography

Daisaku Ikeda has authored or co-authored over 100 books. As considerable as his literary achievements are on their own terms, they are, in a broader sense, a reflection of his energetic engagement and accomplishment as a philosopher, an active proponent of peace and an educator. These are roles which Ikeda has pursued amidst his responsibilities as founding president and leader of the, one of the largest, most engaged and diverse lay Buddhist movements in the world today.This leads to what perhaps is the first remarkable feature of Ikeda as a writer: that he has managed to remain so prolific over a half-century career that essentially has been subsumed by his other responsibilities. His body of work-he has in some years composed over a thousand poems alone-includes dialogues, essays, peace proposals, university lectures, poetry, children's literature and articles. The bulk of it, however, has been written on the move, in trains, planes and cars, or between meetings and even over meals. He maintains this grueling pace and regimen to this day, at an age when many peers have retired.'

Writing is as precious to me as life itself,' he says. 'My only wish is to provide a glimmer of hope, to light the torch of courage, for as many readers as possible.' In 1965, Ikeda published the first volume of which is regarded as his magnum opus (released in Japan as a 12-volume series; and in six volumes in the English edition). A novelized account of the founding and development of the Soka Gakkai lay Buddhist association in Japan, it contains this passage that describes the core of Ikeda's philosophy: 'A great revolution in just a single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of a society, and further, will enable a change in the destiny of humankind.'

President(26 January 1975–present)AffiliationsWebsiteThe Soka Gakkai International (SGI—'Value Creation Association International') is an international organization founded in 1975. The SGI is the world's largest Buddhist lay organization, with approximately 12 million Nichiren Buddhist practitioners in 192 countries and regions. It characterizes itself as a support network for practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism and a global Buddhist movement for 'peace, education, and cultural exchange.' The SGI is a (NGO) with consultative status with UNESCO since 1983. An SGI center inThe SGI was created in part as a new international, and its founding meeting was held in Guam in a symbolic gesture referencing Guam's history as the site of some of World War II's bloodiest battles, and proximity to, launching place of the, Japan.The Soka Gakkai's initial global expansion began after, when some members married mostly American servicemen and moved away from Japan. Expansion efforts gained a further boost in 1960 when succeeded as president of the Soka Gakkai.

In the first year of his presidency, Ikeda visited the, and, and the Soka Gakkai's first American headquarters officially opened in in 1963.In 2000, honored the 25th anniversary of the SGI's founding with a commemorative postage stamp. The stamp was issued on October 2, the anniversary of SGI President Ikeda's first overseas journey in 1960.In January 2015, the director of the reported that the SGI had been nominated for the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize, as confirmed by a Nobel Peace Laureate.In May 2015, the SGI-USA was one of the organizing groups for the first-ever Buddhist conference at the.In June 2015, the was recognized by the Italian government with a special accord under Article 8, acknowledging it as an and eligible to receive direct taxpayer funding for its religious and social activities. It also recognizes the Soka Gakkai as a 'Concordat' (It: 'Intesa') that grants the religions status in 'a special 'club' of denominations consulted by the government in certain occasions, allowed to appoint chaplains in the army – a concordat is not needed for appointing chaplains in hospitals and jails – and, perhaps more importantly, to be partially financed by taxpayers' money.' Eleven other religious denominations share this status. Organization The Soka Gakkai International comprises a global network of affiliated organizations. As of 2011, the SGI reported active national organizations in 192 countries and territories with a total of approximately 12 million members. The SGI is independent of the Soka Gakkai (the domestic Japanese organization), although both are headquartered in.National SGI organizations operate autonomously and all affairs are conducted in the local language.

Many national organizations are coordinated by groups such as a women's group, a men's group, and young women's and young men's groups. National organizations generally raise their own operational funds, although the SGI headquarters in Tokyo has awarded funding grants to smaller national organizations for projects such as land acquisition and the construction of new buildings. SGI-affiliated organizations outside Japan are forbidden to engage directly in politics.While the national organizations are run autonomously, the Tokyo headquarters of SGI disseminates doctrinal and teaching materials to all national organizations around the world. The Tokyo headquarters also serves as a meeting place for national leaders to come together and exchange information and ideas.The election or nomination of the leaders is typically not decided by the SGI's general membership but by a. Leadership below national staff, however, has been liberalized; in the United States for instance, the nomination and approval of leaders includes both members and organizational leaders in the process. Dobbelaere notes the election of the presidents, as well as a process of 'nomination, review and approval that involves both peers and leaders' in choosing other leaders.

Beliefs and practice. Nichikan enshrined in a.SGI members practice as interpreted and applied by the Soka Gakkai's first three presidents:,. SGI members believe in and that the most expedient path to enlightenment is through the practice of Nichiren Buddhism. Pole shift.

Daisaku Ikeda Biography

SGI members identify three basic elements for applying Nichiren Buddhism to daily life:.The daily practice of SGI members centers on chanting the ' ' which translates to 'Devotion to the Mystic Law of Cause and Effect through Sound', or 'Glory to the Sutra of the Lotus of the Supreme Law' (cf. Detailed meaning of in ). Once in the morning and again at night, SGI members do gongyo (' assiduous practice'), during which members chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and recite selections from two chapters of the, 'Expedient Means' (chapter 2) and 'The Life Span of the Thus Come One' (chapter 16).

Gongyo is typically performed in front of a, a scroll considered to be the supreme object of devotion on which is written the daimoku (in other words, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo) and signs of buddhas and who are prominent in the Lotus Sutra. The Gohonzon itself is housed in a, an altar that is opened during chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and gongyo. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the name of this potential or Buddha nature within our life. To chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, then, is to call forth your Buddha nature. SGI President Daisaku Ikeda once wrote, 'Daimoku (Nam-myoho-renge-kyo) is a universal language that is instantly understood by Buddhas.'

SGI members also incorporate social interaction and engagement into their Buddhist practice. Monthly neighborhood are generally held at the homes of SGI members.

In the United States, for example, a study characterizes these organizational practices as socially inclusive Buddhism.Since 1995, the SGI has formally officiated same-sex marriages. In 2008, the SGI-USA, which is headquartered in California, publicly opposed that state's (which sought to prevent same-sex marriage), and the SGI coordinated with other progressive religious groups to support same-sex couples' right to legally marry. Demographics The Soka Gakkai International is notable among Buddhist organizations for the racial and ethnic diversity of its members. It has been characterized as the world's largest and most ethnically diverse Buddhist group. Professor Susumu Shimazono suggested several reasons for this: the strongly felt needs of individuals in their daily lives, its solutions to discord in interpersonal relations, its practical teachings that offer concrete solutions for carrying on a stable social life, and its provision of a place where congenial company and a spirit of mutual support may be found. Peter Clarke wrote that the SGI appeals to non-Japanese in part because 'no one is obliged to abandon their native culture or nationality in order to fully participate in the spiritual and cultural life of the movement.' In 2015, Italian newspaper reported that half of all Buddhists in Italy are SGI members.

Initiatives promoting peace, culture and education According to Yoichi Kawada, director of the Tokyo-based Institute of Oriental Philosophy, the SGI defines itself as a 'movement for contributing to peace, culture and education' based on its 'interpretation and practical application of the ideas in the Lotus Sutra.' SGI engagement as a religious affiliated with the United Nations in policy discussions on issues including human rights, sustainable development and peace building is similarly described, in the phrasing of its Charter, as contributing to peace, culture and education.: 15,16,30 Nuclear disarmament Since 2007, the SGI has collaborated closely with the (ICAN) to develop educational programs and raise awareness on nuclear disarmament, particularly among young people. The SGI also partnered with ICAN to promote the, which was adopted at the in July 2017, and for which ICAN was awarded the 2017. Beatrice Fihn, executive director of ICAN, stated in a July 2017 interview that the 'SGI has been one of our greatest partners in the fight to abolish nuclear weapons.'

To further increase public awareness of the, the SGI also created 'The People's Decade' campaign, which since 2007 has developed a global grassroots network of people dedicated to abolishing nuclear weapons. In 2014, an SGI youth delegation met with the (UNODA) regarding coordination of the SGI's efforts and the efforts to increase grassroots movements for nuclear abolition.In 2008, then-High Representative for Disarmament Affairs characterized SGI's work toward nuclear disarmament as linking with the fundamental goal of eliminating nuclear weapons.According to, on March 28, 2017, a joint statement of Faith Communities Concerned about Nuclear Weapons, initiated by the SGI, was delivered by Pax Christi Philippines during the first UN negotiating conference for the. More than 20 religious leaders affirmed through the joint statement their shared 'aspirations for peace and for a world where people live without fear,' praising world leaders in attendance for 'the courage to begin these negotiations' and calling on States not in attendance to join the June–July session of the conference. Environmental awareness The SGI also promotes environmental initiatives through educational activities such as exhibitions, lectures and conferences, and more direct activities such as tree planting projects and the SGI's Amazon Ecological Conservation Center, which is administered by SGI-Brazil. The center is engaged in reforestation, the creation of a regional seed bank, and experiments in sustainable agroforestry.One scholar cites, SGI's president, describing such initiatives as a Buddhist-based impetus for direct public engagement in parallel with legal efforts to address environmental concerns.In India, the Bharat Soka Gakkai (the SGI of India) debuted the traveling exhibit 'Seeds of Hope,' a joint initiative of the SGI. At the exhibit's opening in, the state capital of, regional planning head Edgar Ribeiro spoke of lagging efforts to implement environmental laws and stated that 'Only a people's movement can take sustainability forward.' In Malaysia, President Datuk Dr Tan Chik Heok said that this exhibition helped 'to create the awareness of the power of a single individual in bringing about waves of positive change to the environment, as well as the society.'

In November 2015, the SGI signed on to the Buddhist Climate Change Statement representing 'over a billion Buddhists worldwide' in a call to action submitted to world leaders at the talks held in Paris. The statement affirms that Buddhist spirituality compels environmental protection and expresses solidarity with Catholic and Muslim leaders who have taken a similar stance. Described as 'one of the most unified calls by a religion's leadership,' the statement draws on the 2009 pan-Buddhist statement, 'The Time to Act is Now: A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change,' to which SGI-USA among others became a signatory in early 2015. Aid work The SGI conducts humanitarian aid projects in disaster-stricken regions. After the, local Soka Gakkai facilities became refugee shelters and distribution centers for relief supplies.

Efforts also included worldwide fundraising for the victims, youth groups, and spiritual support.In 2014, SGI-Chile members collected supplies to deliver to emergency services and refugee centers after that country's devastating. Interfaith dialogue In 2015, SGI-USA was part of the organizing committee that convened a day-long conference in Washington, DC of 125 Buddhist leaders to discuss Buddhism and civic activism in the United States. The conference identified climate change and the environment, education and peace and disarmament as popular priorities.