The following is from the September 2026 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal.
In Japan, autumn has arrived, with cosmos flowers swaying in the breeze and a clear moon lighting the roads at night. Our “autumn of dialogue” has begun—a season to forge new bonds of friendship through lively conversation and bring the light of encouragement to friends facing difficulties.
When second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda set forth on his first regional guidance tour after World War II, in September 1946, four individuals in what was then Ryogo Village, Tochigi Prefecture, expressed their wish to join the Soka Gakkai. At a lecture held that day, one member’s candid account of her experience of practicing Nichiren Buddhism deeply moved those in attendance. At the same time, the local members had been steadily engaging in dialogue beforehand, working to sow the seeds of Buddhism more widely. These dedicated efforts, too, were a significant factor in bringing the propagation efforts to fruition.
Nichiren’s Buddhism is the Buddhism of sowing. With the conviction that “only the seven characters of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are the seed for attaining Buddhahood” (“Daimoku as the Seed of Buddhahood,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 2, p. 804), we sincerely talk with others. The benefit we gain is the same whether they start practicing right now or not. Let us therefore sow the seeds of happiness—the seeds of the Mystic Law—in the fields of our own hearts and the hearts of others alike, trusting that in time they will surely blossom into smiles and yield the fruits of benefit.
This month, young people are challenging themselves to share Buddhism with others in preparation for the Soka Youth General Meeting in Japan, which will welcome SGI members from around the world. “A new age will be created by the passion and power of youth”—the solidarity President Toda so earnestly called for in his “Guidelines for Youth” is now expanding worldwide.
Many of the Daishonin’s important writings, including “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land,” take the form of a dialogue. Inheriting this spirit, the three founding presidents of the Soka Gakkai, united by the bonds of mentor and disciple, placed the highest importance on small-group discussion meetings and one-to-one dialogue. Ikeda Sensei broadened this spirit, engaging not only with members but also with leading thinkers around the world, including the eminent historian Arnold J. Toynbee.
In September 1991, Sensei delivered his first lecture at Harvard University. Soka Gakkai members at the time drew tremendous encouragement from seeing him speak about Buddhist philosophy at one of the world’s foremost academic institutions. He continued to engage in dialogue with scholars affiliated with Harvard, and many of these discussions have been subsequently published in book form. Dialogue rooted in wisdom and sincerity, inspiring understanding and joy, is the golden rule of Buddhist humanism.
Sensei once said: “Encouragement entails putting ourselves in another’s shoes, seeking to understand their suffering and sending them the light of hope.” Putting this humanistic philosophy of our mentor into practice lays the foundation for creating a new history.
So, let’s talk! With courage and compassion, let’s bring our friends the winds of happiness and the light of hope!
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