This study series explores Soka Spirit topics to be presented by a youth or student division member at Soka 2030 meetings. Since some locales may not hold meetings the last Sunday of this month due to the holidays, this article can be presented at Nov. 23 Soka 2030 meetings.
If Nichiren’s compassion is truly great and encompassing, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will spread for ten thousand years and more, for all eternity.
—“On Repaying Debts of Gratitude,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 736
Sharing Buddhism with people of diverse beliefs, cultures and circumstances can be challenging. Yet, as we strive to spread Buddhism with the boundless compassion Nichiren Daishonin expresses above, the greatest barriers can actually arise within our Buddhist community. The SGI’s experience with the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood in the early 1990s exemplifies such obstacles.
After becoming high priest of Nichiren Shoshu in 1979, Nikken Abe’s disdain for Ikeda Sensei and SGI members grew increasingly apparent—reflecting the longstanding attitude of many priests who looked down on the laity.
Meanwhile, the Soka Gakkai’s movement was rapidly expanding. From Sensei’s first overseas journey in 1960, the organization grew into a global movement—culminating in the SGI’s founding in 1975, with members from 51 countries. By 1990, the SGI had expanded to 115 countries and territories. As global leaders began recognizing and praising this grassroots movement, Nikken’s jealousy deepened.
By mid-1990, Nikken devised a secret campaign called “Operation C”—“C” meaning “cut”—intended to drive a wedge between SGI members and Sensei.
In December that year, Nichiren Shoshu sent false claims that Sensei had made disparaging remarks about the high priest. Despite their 60-year association, the priests refused repeated requests to meet with Soka Gakkai representatives. On Dec. 27, 1990, without a clear explanation, they abruptly removed Sensei as head representative of all lay believers.
Throughout 1991, the SGI refuted every allegation and continued calling for dialogue. The priesthood, however, grew more authoritarian—asserting superiority over the laity and even trying to persuade members to leave the SGI.
The Priesthood’s Attempts to Control the Members
In June 1991, the priesthood suddenly changed the 40-year pilgrimage system established by the Soka Gakkai. Members could visit the head temple only after renouncing SGI membership and registering directly with a Nichiren Shoshu temple. They also stopped conferring the Gohonzon to SGI members unless they aligned with the priesthood.
These measures lacked grounding in the Daishonin’s writings, and it later became clear that they were driven by the priests’ jealousy and financial self-interest.
On Nov. 7, 1991, the priesthood issued an order for the Soka Gakkai to disband, a move with no legal or spiritual impact. Three weeks later, on Nov. 28, they issued a notification excommunicating the Soka Gakkai and its more than 12 million believers.
Lessons From Our Spiritual Liberation
Rather than despair, the “excommunication” became a moment of renewal. On Nov. 30, 1991—just two days later—Sensei addressed everyone at a special leaders meeting, declaring:
Nov. 28 is now a historic date. November is the month of the Soka Gakkai’s founding and, as you all know, the number 28 is significant as the number of chapters in the Lotus Sutra. Quite unexpectedly, yet very appropriately, this date—Nov. 28—has become the day of our spiritual independence. (The New Human Revolution, vol. 30, p. 722)
What to outsiders may have seemed a grave setback was, in fact, a liberation—the freedom to practice and spread Nichiren Buddhism in the spirit of the Daishonin and the three founding Soka Gakkai presidents—Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, Josei Toda and Daisaku Ikeda. With the rallying cry “Return to the spirit of the Daishonin!” the path to worldwide kosen-rufu opened wider than ever.
Through facing the challenges with the priesthood, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and seeking understanding through Buddhist study, members grew more capable in recognizing and overcoming devilish functions that seek to obstruct the spread of the Law.
The Soka Gakkai’s struggle revealed an essential truth: Nichiren Buddhism is open to all people, without discrimination or hierarchy. Within two decades after separating from the priesthood, Sensei announced in April 2008 that Nichiren Buddhism had spread to 192 countries and territories.[1]
Our goal toward 2028, Sensei’s 100th birthday, is to introduce 10,000 young people in the U.S. to Nichiren Buddhism. With the vow to return to the Daishonin’s spirit and to continue spreading his teaching “for ten thousand years and more,” let’s renew our determination to share this philosophy of hope, equality and boundless compassion with the world.
November 14, 2025 World Tribune, p. 10
References
- At the April 23, 2008, Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting, Ikeda Sensei announced that two countries—Solomon Islands and Montenegro—had joined the SGI network. He then added: “Our SGI network thus now extends to 192 countries and territories. Our movement truly encompasses the entire globe” (May 30, 2008, World Tribune, p. 4). ↩︎
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