CategoryIkeda Sensei

Originally published in the August 2022 Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal. In the letter Nichiren Daishonin wrote to the lay nun Myoichi containing his famous words “Winter always turns to spring” (“Winter Always Turns to Spring,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 536), he expresses his appreciation for her sincere support

On July 22, 1951, right after the establishment of the young men’s and young women’s divisions, a profoundly significant special general meeting was held with the Soka Gakkai Kosen-rufu Gohonzon for the first time. Before this Gohonzon dedicated to the “Fulfillment of the Great Vow for Kosen-rufu through the Compassionate Propagation of the Great Law,”

The Song of Human Victory

In [founding Soka Gakkai President Tsunesaburo] Makiguchi’s copy of the collected writings of Nichiren Daishonin, many passages in “The Opening of the Eyes” are underlined in red and the margins are filled with notes, such as “Propagation,” “Great vow” and “What is the mark of a genuine practitioner?” These notes reflect his solemn spirit to

The following essay by Ikeda Sensei was originally published in the June 30, 2022, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun. Today, June 30, is the 65th anniversary of the student division, a proud gathering of young Bodhisattvas Universal Worthy—people of broad-ranging wisdom. This year is also the 60th anniversary of the start

Originally published in the July 2022 Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal. Dynamic progress in human revolution begins with the fierce courage to surmount hardships. Amid unrelenting persecution while in exile on Sado Island, Nichiren Daishonin called out to Shijo Kingo: “Bring forth the great power of faith, and be spoken of by all

The Song of Human Victory

The following encouragement from Ikeda Sensei was originally published in the July 2018 Living Buddhism, pp. 4–5. Part one appears in the May 20, 2022, World Tribune, p. 10. Interestingly, some plant seeds can remain viable for centuries or even millennia. In 1951, the year that my mentor, Josei Toda, was inaugurated as second Soka

The Lay Nun Myoshin

Originally published in the June 2022 Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal. Nichiren Daishonin writes, “If the [source] is inexhaustible, the stream will never run dry” (“Flowering and Bearing Grain,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 909). It is the Soka Gakkai’s unsurpassed honor to have an everlasting source in its founding

The following new essay by Ikeda Sensei was published in the May 24, 2022, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun. Time is nothing other than the mystic rhythm of cosmic life. Hence, when we chant and spread the Mystic Law, our lives will accord with the time, and time will be on

This new essay by Ikeda Sensei was published in the June 9, 2022, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun. June is the birth month of our founding president, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi. It is also the month celebrating the women of Soka, our shining suns—with SGI Ikeda Kayo-kai Day on June 4 and Women’s

By living in rhythm with the Mystic Law, we are always able to energize and invigorate our lives. Nichiren Daishonin metaphorically describes the unstoppable flow of kosen-rufu: “Though the trees may desire to be still, the wind will not cease to blow; though we may wish for spring to linger, it must give way to

Ikeda Sensei’s acceptance message for his honorary doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

Originally published in the May 2022 Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal. “Start anew with a fresh spirit!”—that’s the message I imparted to our Soka Gakkai Sports Division members. Whatever your present condition, the key is to always start anew and tackle the next challenge with a fresh spirit. We have the writings of Nichiren

The Lay Nun Toki

This encouragement from Ikeda Sensei was originally published in the July 2018 Living Buddhism, pp. 4–5.  We, the members of the Soka family, are the sowers of seeds. We sow the seeds of the Mystic Law, the supreme seeds of happiness and peace, spreading them far and wide.  Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha of the Latter

These are excerpts from Ikeda Sensei’s speech at the 88th Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting, which was held at the Chubu Culture Center in Nagoya, on May 17, 1995. Video footage of the speech was broadcast during the most recent Soka Gakkai headquarters leaders meeting, on April 16, 2022. This was translated from the April

Ikeda Sensei sent this message to the Ninth Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting Toward Our Centennial—commemorating May 3, Soka Gakkai Day and Soka Gakkai Mother’s Day—at the Toda Memorial Auditorium in Sugamo, Tokyo, on April 16, 2022. This message was originally published in the April 17, 2022, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo

Originally published in the April 2022 Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal. In “The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs,” the fifth chapter of the Lotus Sutra, we find the beautiful expression “human flowers” (The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening and Closing Sutras, p. 142). I recall my conversation with South Africa’s great humanitarian leader