by Lillian Koizumi
Special to the Tribune
At a time when political and social polarization is perceived by many as nearing crisis level in the U.S., a capacity crowd of more than 130 people gathered at the Ikeda Center in late September to consider ways out of this dilemma. The occasion was the 21st Annual Ikeda Forum for Intercultural Dialogue, this year addressing the topic “Engaging Difference in an Age of Division: The Power of Dialogue and Human Revolution in Restoring Our Shared Humanity.”
Moderated by Catia Confortini of Wellesley College, the forum featured a panel discussion with Nadya Hajj, also of Wellesley College, Anna Ikeda of Soka Gakkai International and James McCarty of Boston University. The forum also included a video presentation by the center’s youth steering committee on a month-long experiment they conducted to see how applying the concepts of human revolution[1] and dialogue could bring positive results in their personal challenges.
During the discussion, the panelists shared their own experiences of engaging with difference during these divisive times. They also reflected on Daisaku Ikeda’s perspectives on human revolution and dialogue, and how they feel these ideas can contribute to restoring our shared humanity. With students, Hajj emphasizes three mental processes that she has found useful: First is “open acceptance,” learning to see that difference is normal. Second is to embrace difference, letting go of the ego response that always wants to control things and “impose my rightness on other people.” This is an endeavor that she sees as closely related to Mr. Ikeda’s notion of human revolution. And third, address conflicts by acting in coordination with others.
Another question posed by Confortini was how do we restore our shared humanity when we feel the “other” has lost their humanity? Referring back to Daisaku Ikeda’s quote about dialogue starting with “the courageous willingness to know and be known by others,”[2] McCarty talked about how being vulnerable and taking risks are components of courage. The openness to change, McCarty believes, embodies courage.
The last activity of the evening invited attendees to brainstorm their personal journeys to peace. They reflected on what they learned about human revolution and dialogue so far and how they could approach and transform difference in their own lives using these two concepts.
November 21, 2025 World Tribune, p. 4
References
- Human revolution is the term used by second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda to describe a fundamental process of inner transformation by breaking through the shackles of the “lesser self,” bound by self-concern and the ego, growing in altruism toward a “greater self” capable of caring and taking action for the sake of others—ultimately all humanity. ↩︎
- Sept. 28, 2007, World Tribune, p. 2. ↩︎
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