What is the correct way of life?
What is a true patriot?
What is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo?
On Aug. 14, 1947, Daisaku Ikeda attended his first Soka Gakkai discussion meeting and posed these three questions to second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda.
Amid the ruins of a war-torn, defeated Japan, 19-year-old Daisaku was earnestly searching for a sound life philosophy and a mentor to guide him.
He was moved by Josei Toda’s straightforward and honest responses. “When I think of our family, our country and our turbulent world,” Mr. Toda told him, “I want to eliminate all misery and suffering from the face of the earth. This is what the movement for kosen-rufu is all about. Will you join me?” (Oct. 16, 2009, World Tribune, p. 4).
Ten days later, on Aug. 24, 1947, Daisaku joined the Soka Gakkai and began practicing Nichiren Buddhism in earnest.
Though in poor health, he exerted himself tirelessly to seek out and support Mr. Toda, who as general director was fighting to rebuild the Soka Gakkai from scratch, which at the time had roughly 500 members.
Postwar Japan was marked by economic uncertainty, and Josei Toda’s business also faced severe difficulties. Not wanting his business troubles to reflect poorly on the Soka Gakkai, he resigned as general director on Aug. 24, 1950.
Ikeda Sensei later recalled of that day: “Bewildered and perplexed, I asked Mr. Toda, ‘If you resign as general director, does that mean that the next general director will be my mentor?’ He said: ‘No. Though I cause you nothing but hardship, I am your mentor.’ This is an unforgettable scene from my life” (Feb. 10, 2006, World Tribune, p. 2).
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
My Starting Point
The following is an excerpt from an essay by Ikeda Sensei that was translated from the Aug. 14, 2002, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun. It can be found in its entirety in the Aug. 2, 2024, issue of the World Tribune, pp. 2–3.
It was a quiet night. Families had likely finished their evening meals, and the neighborhood was still and serene that Aug. 14, 1947—save for a number of people hurrying eagerly through the darkening streets. They were headed for the Miyake family home in Kojiya, in the Kamata area of Tokyo’s Ota Ward, to attend a Soka Gakkai discussion meeting.
How quickly 55 years have gone by! That day was the most fateful day of my life. It was the day that I made a promise to Josei Toda to join the Soka Gakkai. And 10 days later, on Aug. 24, I entered the path of faith.
On the day of that momentous first encounter, I was 19 years old. Mr. Toda, my mentor, awaited me like a kindly father. It was a solemn, timeless moment spanning the three existences. It was the day of a disciple’s vow—of my pledge to become Mr. Toda’s disciple and devote my life to kosen-rufu.
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