Whatever trials may descend upon us, we, the members of Soka, always embark anew toward victory from the starting point of May 3, the sun of time without beginning shining forever in our hearts.[1]—Ikeda Sensei
On May 3, 1951, Josei Toda became the second president of the Soka Gakkai, at which time the lay Buddhist movement had little more than 3,000 members and was derided as a gathering of the sick and the poor.
In his inaugural address, Mr. Toda told his fellow Soka Gakkai members to throw his ashes into the bay at Shinagawa if, before his death, he did not accomplish his goal of introducing 750,000 families to Nichiren Buddhism—a goal so daunting that some were sure he’d meant to say 75,000.
Introducing others to Buddhism, President Toda said in his address, is about “emulating the compassion of Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law, and taking action in his place. I hope you will never forget this spirit, not even in your sleep!”
The young Daisaku Ikeda, sharing his mentor’s vow to rid the world of suffering, led intensive efforts to introduce others to Buddhism in the Soka Gakkai’s Kamata, Bunkyo and Osaka chapters, triggering a powerful groundswell of propagation throughout Japan that culminated in the Soka Gakkai’s achievement of 750,000 families practicing Nichiren Buddhism by the end of 1957.
President Toda died peacefully on April 2, 1958, having accomplished his lifetime goal and having bequeathed the mission and responsibility to accomplish kosen-rufu to the youth.
After his passing, the Japanese media predicted the lay Buddhist movement’s collapse. It was under these circumstances that Ikeda Sensei, at age 32, assumed the presidency on May 3, 1960, declaring, “Although I am still young, as a disciple of President Toda, I am resolved to take the lead toward realizing world peace” (May 3, 2015, World Tribune, p. 1).
May 3 is a day that not only commemorates the inauguration of the Soka Gakkai’s second and third presidents; it honors the profound vow shared by mentor and disciple. Sensei says:
As SGI members, we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, refusing to be defeated or daunted by any painful trial or harsh karma. We rise above all sadness and grief. And while warmly encouraging and supporting those who are struggling or suffering, we seek to build and spread a realm of wisdom and compassion. This is our network of boundless and endless joy.
May 3, Soka Gakkai Day, is the eternal starting point for making our lives and those of others shine even more brightly—like the sun of time without beginning—radiant with “the greatest of all joys” (The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, p. 212). (May 3, 2014, World Tribune, p. 8)
Carrying forward the spirit of the oneness of mentor and disciple into the present, Sensei encourages us:
This time is ripe. This moment and the place where you are right now is what matter. When committed disciples rise into action with a self-reliant spirit, the sure flame of Soka will burn and spread brightly from where they are, from that very moment. I hope all of you, our members everywhere, will stand up with a vigorous, youthful spirit. (May 3, 2008, World Tribune Special insert, p. B)
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
May 3, 2026 World Tribune, p. 9
References
- May 3, 2015, World Tribune, p. 1. ↩︎
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