December 2020 Living Buddhism

On October 4, the SGI-USA held virtual general meetings across the country to commemorate 60 years since Ikeda Sensei’s first visit to the United States, which marked his maiden voyage to spread Nichiren Buddhism throughout the world. Living Buddhism met with Reiko Aragon, of Denver, who shared her experience at one of the October 4

This monthly encouragement by Ikeda Sensei was originally published in the November 2020 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal. “Those who believe in the Lotus Sutra are as if in winter, but winter always turns to spring” (“Winter Always Turns to Spring,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 536),

by SGI Vice President Hiromasa Ikeda

Chapter Summary The Sapporo Soka Kindergarten in Sapporo, Hokkaido (the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands), opened its doors on April 16, 1976. As its founder, Shin’ichi Yamamoto participated in the entrance ceremony, greeting each pupil as they arrived. The day before the ceremony he had a chance to engage in a discussion with the

Chapter Summary The opening ceremony for Soka University’s Division of Correspondence Education was held on May 16, 1976. Although desperately wanting to attend the ceremony, because he could not attend in person, Shin’ichi Yamamoto sent a recorded message. He stated in his message, “You, the members of the first Division of Correspondence Education class, are

Chapter Summary On the night of May 16, 1976, a Working Students Forum was held for the Soka Gakkai young men’s student division night school section. In August 1975, Shin’ichi Yamamoto had named this group of students the Soaring Group. These youth burned with the pride that they were following in the footsteps of their

Chapter Summary On July 23, while in Nagoya, Shin’ichi Yamamoto encouraged young women’s division members of a training group called the Seishun-kai (Spring of Youth Group). That evening, he traveled to Mie Prefecture for his first visit to the Chubu No. 1 General Training Center. He toured the facility and viewed an exhibition of items

This installment, published in the September 16, 2020, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, focuses on passages from Nichiren Daishonin’s writings that Ikeda Sensei discusses in volume 23 of The New Human Revolution. Passage 1 “Therefore I should first of all learn about death, and then about other things.” (“The Importance of the Moment of Death,”

A: Many dictionaries define prayer as a request or petition to a higher power. Based on this common understanding, prayer can seem passive. Nichiren Daishonin redefined prayer as a rigorous effort to reveal our innate enlightement— and to help others do the same. For instance, he states that his “determination has perhaps acted as a

“As long as the African people continue to struggle with daunting challenges, then as fellow human beings and global citizens we should share their sufferings.” —Ikeda Sensei In this month’s issue, we feature an interview with Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, co-president of the Club of Rome. Table Mountain in South Africa, home to Dr. Ramphele, graces

Those who believe in the Lotus Sutra are as if in winter, but winter always turns to spring. Never, from ancient times on, has anyone heard or seen of winter turning back to autumn. Nor have we ever heard of a believer in the Lotus Sutra who turned into an ordinary [unenlightened] person. The sutra

Creating a Century of Humanism in Which All Can Shine—Part 3 [59]

A Dialogue—Aurelio Peccei and Daisaku Ikeda