The Buddhist View of Peace

Is Daisaku Ikeda’s philosophy of peace still relevant today?

Olivier: I would say that it is more relevant than ever, and that Ikeda Sensei’s philosophy is becoming imperative for humanity’s survival on this fragile planet. I would like to emphasize two major updates that have emerged from the 2010 text, partly due to the quickly transforming global situation, and partly generated by intense self-reflection.

Firstly, the basis for inner transformation, dialogue and global citizenship must be the joy of being alive. This might seem paradoxical in a world that gives us more good reasons to be terrified, alarmed, desperate or outraged, but this is exactly what is needed today.

In 2009, I had a chance to meet Sensei in person in Tokyo, and to have a short dialogue with him. One of the most powerful pieces of advice he gave me was when he declared, several times: “I’m so happy, this is wonderful, thank you!” 

After many years of ups and downs and pondering the deeper meaning of this message, I realized with full clarity that it was encouragement for me to base my life on “a sense of joy, of wonder and of gratitude.” And this had to be “played from the inside” like a song.

What was your second realization?

Olivier: That a deepening and expansion of the principles of inner transformation, dialogue and global citizenship can be useful in this new era. This was proposed in the article “Peacebuilding 2020” as inner peacebuilding, communicative creativity, planetary awareness and preventive peacebuilding.

From a Buddhist point of view, what is happening today throughout the world is a massive takeover of humanity by the three poisons of greed, anger and foolishness. The SGI, based on Sensei’s guidance, is proposing the antidote: the promotion of courage, wisdom and compassion—three virtues that mitigate the destructiveness of the three poisons.

On a personal level, these qualities have come to imply, fundamentally, to me, joy, wonder and gratitude.

The point of departure of all these efforts is to bring out the joy of being alive from the inside, no matter what is happening outside.

What does this look like?

Olivier: There is no guarantee that we will quickly be able to transform the three poisons into the three virtues worldwide but it is absolutely sure that we can transform them within ourselves. By going back to the principle of inner transformation, which we call in the SGI human revolution, we can find the location of the real struggle between the three poisons and the three virtues within ourselves. And we can do this with joy, wonder and gratitude. I feel that this has become imperative. 

Peace Is Something We Bring Into Being

The World Tribune spoke with Kevin Maher, executive director of the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue, to discuss what he learned from Ikeda Sensei’s ethos of peace.

Hello Kevin, thank you for talking with us. Today, peace has become a controversial word. What should we bear in mind today, when thinking about Ikeda Sensei’s view of peace?

Kevin Maher: An important question. And such a big one that it might be best if we begin by discussing what peace, for Sensei, is not. For him, peace is not merely the absence of conflict or war, but rather, a dynamic state expressed through human solidarity, mutual respect and compassion. His was an active peace, brought to life through engagement with others. Namely, through dialogue. 

What kind of dialogue is this?

Kevin: We’re talking about dialogue that is more than a mere means of communication, of informational exchange. It is, for our purposes, a way of life—a profound way of being in relationship with the world. Those interested in true dialogue engage with a willingness to challenge their own assumptions, a recognition of the humanity of another and an openness to the possibility of being moved and enriched by the life of another human being. 

Genuine dialogue, then, seeks out genuine transformation—of oneself and another—what Sensei’s mentor, Josei Toda, called human revolution. Lasting societal change must begin with such a fundamental transformation in the hearts and minds of human beings. Societies, after all, are themselves made up of human beings. And genuine dialogue—with oneself and with others—is what fosters the kind of human revolution that can serve as the basis for meaningful, lasting change. It equips us with the wisdom, knowledge and passion to effectively address common challenges and threats. 

In a world rife with conflict, what motivates this kind of dialogue?

Kevin: We’ve mentioned that for Sensei, true peace is found among people. Given this, we can grasp Sensei’s understanding of peace only when we grasp his understanding of people, in whom he had extraordinary belief. Specifically, he believed people hold in common a unifying quality, spanning all our countless differences, which binds us on a fundamental level. And this is an innate, universal goodness. 

An innate, universal goodness… You’d agree that today’s news cycle corroborates another view of humans.

Kevin: That we’re prone to violence and division, sure. Certainly, the potential for both exists in all of us. Yet throughout his life, Sensei emphasized another, equally available possibility within reach of every individual—to choose compassion and contribute to peace. This emphasis is born, I believe, from a profound belief in the inherent dignity within all people. This is, I think, the foundation of Sensei’s global ethic of harmonious coexistence. This optimism, rooted, of course, in Buddhist principles, challenges the fatalism that so often colors discussions of global conflict. If it is true that humans are destined to choose belligerence in conflict, then conflict does indeed become a dog-eat-dog, winner-takes-all affair. But what if new possibilities exist? Sensei has shown that another path is possible—it’s a path he walked throughout his life.

As someone working in the peace field for many years, what remains distinct to you about our Soka movement?

Kevin: Just as striking as its worldwide reach I’d say is the fact that, from the Soka Gakkai’s early days, young people have led at the forefront. As we’ve seen from every social movement that has changed society, it has been young people who stand at the vanguard. As you’d imagine for someone who believes profoundly in the potential of all people, Sensei keenly perceived and encouraged the potential of youth. And the youth have repaid that trust with trust, demonstrating their potential to the fullest. In this respect, our movement today exists as an expression of Sensei’s conviction in the potential of young people to shape the times. 

What would you tell a young person who is skeptical about Sensei’s view of peace?

Kevin: Consider this—why are we talking now? Sixty-five years ago, Sensei came here to the United States, where there were just a handful of Soka Gakkai members. And he came not with some tepid hope of effecting a little change, but with total conviction, absolute determination: People long for peace; I myself will bring it to being. And this was the cause he made not once but many, many times. Again and again, he set out to meet with people the world over. Because he believed tirelessly in what he was doing, because he believed in people, he didn’t give up. And because he didn’t give up, neither did the people he believed in and who believed in him. And that’s why we’re celebrating this 65th anniversary of a global peace movement. It’s why you and I are talking today. 

Believing in Humanity

by Matilda Buck
Los Angeles

I began practicing in 1972 to save my marriage, to learn to love my husband again. I was taken with the idea that the SGI was talking about world peace, but I wasn’t looking for that when I first started chanting. I was looking to find the solution to my everyday sufferings. 

As I participated in SGI activities and interacted with many kinds of people doing their human revolution and transforming their lives, I saw how Buddhism could help all people. Then, as I read Ikeda Sensei’s peace proposals, I realized that our individual human revolution is directly connected to peace on a global scale. That’s when I decided I wanted to devote my life to this movement.

For me, peace begins with respecting our own lives and then seeing the beauty in the lives of all others. Sensei speaks about how the person in front of you is the most important person and that dialogue between two people—the smallest unit of communication—is the most potent kind of communication.

At heart, I think all people cherish peace. But many things cover that up—like anger and blame. Our movement is about each person breaking through those layers so they can feel connected to all humanity.

In 2003, I was serving as the SGI-USA women’s leader. In the beginning, I didn’t have much confidence. I thought they picked the wrong person. I was in Japan when U.S. troops were sent to Iraq. I was invited to speak at a large meeting in Tokyo and thought: What could I possibly say? I felt so horrible that we had invaded this country.

On that trip, I was invited to Soka University in Hachioji, Tokyo, where Sensei was welcoming his friend and comrade for peace, U.N. Under-Secretary-General Anwarul K. Chowdhury. 

As we were waiting for them to arrive, I confided in an SGI leader that I didn’t know what I was going to say. And, as if I were telling a dirty little secret, I said that my husband thought going to war was the correct thing to do.

This leader told me not to judge my husband because, given his age and experience, it was probably natural for him to have that view. He reminded me that I could judge the situation without creating a wedge between me and others based on our viewpoints, and I felt that was so important.

I’ll never forget the moment Dr. Chowdhury stepped out of the car. Sensei came down the steps, and they hugged each other like schoolboys, smiling, laughing, almost dancing. They declared, “Now is the time for a century of peace.” 

In that joyful moment, I saw how deeply they believed in humanity. Even amid such a horrific time, they had absolute confidence that people would awaken to the importance of peace—that this struggle itself was part of the process. Their conviction made me realize how small my own perspective was.

Later that evening, hundreds of people streamed into the meeting, coming in from work with their briefcases, grandmas in their kimonos, mothers carrying babies on their backs. When I saw all these people unite as ordinary people for the sake of peace I thought: There is nothing to worry about. The SGI will actualize peace. 

Sensei teaches us to always be grounded in reality yet move everything in a positive direction. I’ve come to believe that my existence, my daimoku and my outreach are actively transforming the environment around me. And when I think of millions of people doing the same, I feel certain: Together, we are changing the world.

October 2, 2025 World Tribune, pp. 6–7