Authorechoi

In the following, Ikeda Sensei discusses the lofty mentor-disciple spirit shared by the first three Soka Gakkai presidents. It is from Discussions on Youth, published in Japanese in March 1999 and can be found in The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, chapter 28, installment 1, pp. 241–44. Ikeda Sensei has

High in the skyline of Philadelphia stands a towering statue of William Penn, watching over the city he helped shape. The sculpture placed on top of Philadelphia City Hall, is one of its most recognizable landmarks. Alexander Milne Calder (1846–1923) created this famous monument and many other sculptures that decorate Philadelphia City Hall. Born in

This new series, prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department, features timeless stories in Nichiren Daishonin’s writings (called the Gosho) that continue to offer practical wisdom for us today. High in the snowy Himalayan mountains lived a bird called the “cold-suffering bird” (kankucho). Every night it shivered in the freezing cold and promised itself that once

by the Pennsylvania Zone team What is your zone motto? Making History With Ikeda Sensei Through a Youthful Organization! Tell us briefly about your zone’s history. Our history began in the late 1960s with a handful of pioneer women who introduced some members of the Pennsylvania Ballet Company in Philadelphia to Nichiren Buddhism. That marked

Youth from across SoCal Mojave Zone gathered on March 7 in Riverside, California, for a youth summit, themed “One,” a daylong gathering focused on dialogue, friendship and exploring the deeper purpose of one’s life in commemoration of March 16, Kosen-rufu Day. Embraced by clear blue skies and the warm Southern California sunshine, youth from throughout

Azarel Ruiz challenges herself to open her heart, share Buddhism for the first time and help other youth discover hope.

Art Golden Gate Mentor and Disciple (GGMD) Zone brought together Oakland artists to explore how Buddhism inspires artistic expression and poetic spirit in daily life. Oakland, Calif. Blank walls gradually filled with paintings and sculptures as participants arrived for “Art and Buddhism,” an event hosted in February by the Golden Gate Mentor and Disciple Zone

To show my young friends that justice prevails, I make my case for the sake of kosen-rufu.

To simplify the annual activity calendar, the SGI-USA has streamlined the study rhythm by reducing the number of exam periods offered to two, annually:  • Period 1: April 10–13During this period, both the introductory and intermediate exams will be offered, allowing local organizations to host exams on an expanded schedule from Friday through Monday for

Ikeda Sensei gave this guidance from Watakushi no ningengaku (On historical personalities and society), published in Japanese in August 1988. It can be found in The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, chapter 27, installment 2, pp. 211–13. Ikeda Sensei explains through an easy-to-grasp example that the mentor-disciple relationship is not

The following is from an interview of Ikeda Sensei commemorating the publication of the Bulgarian edition of Utsukushiki shishi no tamashii (The beauty of a lion’s heart), published in Japanese in the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun, on Aug. 10, 2000. It can be found in The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part

Waking up early in the morning to sketch gardens in delicate sunlight, and later turning these quiet moments into radiant color, Frederick Childe Hassam developed a lifelong fascination with light that would shape his art. Born in Boston in 1859, Hassam grew into one of the leading figures of American Impressionism through his atmospheric scenes.

In October 2025, the SGI-USA women and young women launched the dialogue initiative “Peace in Miniature: One Is the Mother of Ten Thousand,” which invites each of us to engage in transformative one-to-one dialogues with our friends, neighbors and one another, with the conviction that each one represents peace itself. At your monthly America Victory

by the North Zone team What is your zone motto? Flagbearers of Human Renaissance Tell us briefly about your zone’s history. North Zone was formed in June 2007, when SGI-USA updated its organizational structure, shifting from five geographic zones to three territories. Prior to this change, we were part of the New York Zone.  North

This study series covers Soka Spirit topics to be presented by a youth or student division member at Soka 2030 meetings on the last Sunday of each month. In the late 1970s, as environmental conditions worsened in rural Kenya, Wangari Maathai encouraged local women to join her in planting trees. Despite resistance from both governmental

Many Treasures members discover new ways to engage young people.

Grateful for how Buddhism transformed their lives, two members share how they are reaching out to youth and helping them begin their own journey of hope.

Transforming grief, I deepen my appreciation for life.

Mission Statement: We are “Enlighten Up Bro!” Some people don’t think Buddhism is for the bros—we’re here to prove them wrong. The hosts of this show, Shota, Grady and Kenichi, all practice Nichiren Buddhism with the SGI-USA, and believe that Buddhism offers a unique perspective on life. Brotherly, raw and punchy—this show tackles and discusses

Ikeda Sensei gave the following speech at a meeting in Santa Monica, California, Sept. 18, 1993. It can be found in The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, chapter 26, installment 2, pp. 179–81. Ikeda Sensei notes that a defining feature of Soka Gakkai leaders is their noble spirit to value