In June 1928, at the age of 57, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, a forward-thinking educator, took faith in Nichiren Buddhism with a friend’s urging. Writing of this decision, he said, “With an indescribable joy, I completely changed the way I had lived for almost 60 years.”[1]
With this inner awakening, he set out to realize “a bold aspiration,”[2] establishing the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (Value-Creating Education Society) with his disciple, Josei Toda, on Nov. 18, 1930.
What originally started as a group of educators focused on the happiness of students, gradually expanded its scope to the happiness of all people, growing into a bold religious movement based on the life-affirming philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism.
At first, Mr. Makiguchi hoped that his writings would be an effective means of propagating Nichiren Buddhism, but they were not. Then he tried speaking to large groups. That, too, proved ineffective. So he set out on his own to meet one individual after another—resulting in significant progress in his propagation efforts.[3]
He traveled throughout Japan despite his age to spread Nichiren Buddhism, holding discussion meetings in people’s homes. In one instance, in the summer of 1938, when he was 67, Mr. Makiguchi traveled to Kagoshima from Tokyo. It was an 18-and-a-half-hour train ride, followed by a ferry to the port city of Moji, then another 8 hours travel by express train—a 26-hour trip one way to attend a discussion meeting.[4]
During the first two years of World War II, amid increasing surveillance by the Special Higher Police, he attended more than 240 discussion meetings. And leading up to his arrest in July 1943, he had personally introduced some 500 people to Nichiren Buddhism. Ikeda Sensei says of his spirit:
[Mr. Makiguchi’s] efforts to share Buddhism with others never ceased. He would travel to the remotest areas to visit even a single member, offer encouragement and discuss Buddhism with that person’s friends and family. He did this until the military authorities arrested him. Makiguchi struggled right up to the very end, his life a true example of faith equaling action.[5]
In July 1943, at 72, Mr. Makiguchi traveled to Izu Province to attend what came to be his last discussion meeting, fully aware of the risks involved. He was arrested on July 6 on charges of blasphemy and violation of the Peace Preservation Law. Mr. Toda was arrested on the same day.
Mr. Makiguchi spent 500 days in solitary confinement and was repeatedly subjected to intense interrogation. However, he remained unshaken and firmly stood up for his beliefs, even introducing those who imprisoned him to Nichiren Buddhism.
On Nov. 18, 1944—exactly 14 years since the Soka Gakkai was founded, Mr. Makiguchi died in prison of old age and malnutrition, a martyr to his beliefs.
Upon his release from prison on July 3, 1945, Josei Toda promptly set out to avenge his mentor’s death by rebuilding the Soka Gakkai into a bastion of peace. He did so by emphasizing the importance of discussion meetings, the tradition started by his mentor, Mr. Makiguchi. It was Mr. Toda’s conviction that “one actual discussion meeting is far more effective in turning the wheels of kosen-rufu than a million fine-sounding words of theory.”[6]
It was also at a discussion meeting on Aug. 14, 1947, that a 19-year-old Daisaku Ikeda encountered Josei Toda, who would become his mentor.
With discussion meetings as the foundation and the young Daisaku Ikeda leading its expansion efforts, the movement grew to 750,000 households in Japan by the end of 1957 and, further, into a global people’s movement for peace.
Every year, SGI members celebrate Nov. 18, the Soka Gakkai’s founding, with vibrant November discussion meetings, in the same spirit as Mr. Makiguchi, who made extensive efforts to encourage a single individual. These meetings are held in some 2,400 neighborhoods around the U.S., connecting countless people in a shared vow to create a peaceful world. Sensei writes:
Mr. Makiguchi called discussion meetings “discussion meetings offering experimental proof of a life of great good.” By this, he meant demonstrating through actual examples in our lives, in a way convincing to all, the wonderful effect of putting our Buddhist faith based on the Mystic Law into practice in the real world, of a life of human revolution dedicated to the welfare of others and society. Soka Gakkai discussion meetings, from the very beginning, have been open and accessible to all. They are grassroots forums for infusing society with wisdom and vitality.[7]
This year, as we mark the one-year anniversary of Ikeda Sensei’s passing on Nov. 15, the SGI-USA is focusing on connecting and reconnecting with people—members, friends, everyone—and meeting together at their district general meetings in a show of solidarity toward peace.
In an age of division and mistrust, we can learn from the origins of the Soka movement that the most effective way to nurture bridges of friendship and trust is life-to-life.
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
Did You Know?
Tsunesaburo Makiguchi first attempted to spread Nichiren Buddhism through his writings and speaking to large groups. But only after focusing on meeting individuals one to one did he finally make significant progress.
He took a 52-hour roundtrip by train and ferry to attend a single discussion meeting.
Mr. Makiguchi attended 240 discussion meetings during the first two years of World War II and was in fact at a discussion meeting when he was arrested by the Special Higher Police.
By the time of his arrest as a “thought criminal,” he had introduced 500 people
to Buddhism.
November 1, 2024, World Tribune, p. 8
References
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