From conflicts abroad to division at home, we are constantly exposed to narratives that can weigh heavily on our hearts. Today, many—especially young people—find themselves caught in cycles of “doomscrolling,” endlessly consuming distressing news on social media. What begins as staying informed can quietly deepen feelings of anxiety, isolation and powerlessness.
As Ikeda Sensei has observed: “Looking at the world today, it is easy to feel despair. A kind of powerlessness seems to be the prevailing mood… The current of the times can seem so fast flowing and complex as to be overwhelming” (Hope Is a Decision, p. 3).
But Buddhism offers a fundamentally different perspective. Rather than turning away from reality, it teaches that the very challenges we face are the means through which we reveal our highest potential. Sensei continues:
I do not believe that people are powerless. The philosophical tradition that I embrace teaches on the most fundamental dimension—that of life itself—that each human life partakes of the limitless life force of the cosmos. The same power that moves the universe exists within our lives. Each individual has immense potential, and a great change in the inner dimension of one individual’s life has the power to touch others’ lives and transform society. Everything begins with us. (p. 3)
Second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda exemplified this spirit. After enduring imprisonment during World War II, he emerged to find Japan devastated by loss and hardship, yet he did not give in to despair. Instead, he vowed to spread Nichiren Buddhism to empower people and rebuild society from within. Together with his disciple Daisaku Ikeda, he took action—encouraging one person after another through dialogue rooted in respect for the dignity of life—growing their efforts into a movement of hundreds of thousands by the time of his passing. They did not wait for better circumstances—they created them.
This spirit continues today.
Under the banner of “One Youth. Infinite Hope.” SGI-USA youth are leading this movement forward—sharing Buddhism, fostering friendships and igniting hope in a new generation. At a time when it may feel easiest to lose hope, Buddhism teaches us something different: hope is not passive—it is something we actively create.
Sensei states:
Hope, in this sense, is a decision. It is the most important decision we can make. Hope changes everything, starting with our lives. Hope is the force that enables us to take action to make our dreams come true. It has the power to change winter into summer, barrenness to creativity, agony to joy. (p. 5)
Despite the conflict and division plaguing our society and the globe, the direction of our lives—and the future of our world—is not determined by present circumstances. It is something we decide—and something we create, day by day. Across the SGI-USA, members are demonstrating this with action, bringing hope and courage to one person at a time and positive change to their communities, while transforming their lives through faith.
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
Hope Is a Decision
$15.95
In these intimate essays—selected from more than 50 years of his works—Ikeda Sensei guides the reader on an inspirational journey to find answers to such fundamental questions as: Can one person really make a difference? How do we remain optimistic when the world seems to be falling apart around us?
Each essay suggests ways in which each of us can connect our personal search for strength, wisdom and hope to the collective desire to bring about a just, humane and caring society.
Available at your local SGI-USA bookstore or online at bookstore.sgi-usa.org
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