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Distilled from Ikeda Sensei’s encouragement, here are five reasons to practice gratitude.

by Cassie Colby  SGI-USA Byakuren Leader Congratulations to all of the newly inducted Byakuren Group members! Throughout April, joyful dialogues and interviews were conducted across SGI-USA, culminating on April 23, when we welcomed 277 young women and nonbinary members into the young women’s division training group. It has been amazing to hear many wonderful reports

But your faith alone will determine all these things. A sword is useless in the hands of a coward. The mighty sword of the Lotus Sutra must be wielded by one courageous in faith. Then one will be as strong as a demon armed with an iron staff.  —“Reply to Kyo’o,” The Writings of Nichiren

Nichiren Daishonin envisioned a society of respect, equality and happiness enjoyed by all. This was a far cry from the feudal, class-based society of 13th-century Japan in which he lived. Yet he tirelessly worked to fulfill his vision based on the Lotus Sutra’s teaching that all people inherently and equally possess Buddhahood.  This tenacious pursuit

Quebec is the only North American city to preserve its colonial ramparts. The defensive walls, along with bastions and gates, still surround Upper Town. Samuel de Champlain, a French explorer, founded the city in the 17th century, and it served as the capital of New France until 1760 when it briefly came under British colonial

When the skies are clear, the ground is illuminated. Similarly, when one knows the Lotus Sutra, one understands the meaning of all worldly affairs. —“The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind,”The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 376 When the skies are clear, the ground is illuminated”—founding Soka Gakkai President Tsunesaburo Makiguchi cherished

The following essay was written by Ikeda Sensei as part of the series “The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin and the Mentor-Disciple Relationship.” It was originally published in the Nov. 13, 2009, World Tribune.  “Nichiren declares that the [shared] sufferings that all living beings undergo … all these are Nichiren’s own sufferings.” (“On Reprimanding Hachiman,” The

This month is National Poetry Month, an opportunity to celebrate poetry and the integral role of poets in our culture. Enjoy these beloved poetry books by Ikeda Sensei, who was named poet laureate by the World Academy of Arts and Culture in July 1981. Buy these titles at your local SGI-USA bookstore or online at

This episode talks about what it really takes to face your reality, especially when it requires taking a hard look at yourself. Miho Saito, of Long Beach, California, shares the ups and downs of a journey in which she continually left home in search of herself in an effort to avoid things that felt too

Supported by my parents and embraced by friends in faith, I take a stand for my life and help others do the same.

Commemorating 770 years since Nichiren declared his teaching for the happiness of all humanity.

by Dinesh Sajnani Plano, Texas A member back in India told me a story I could never forget. They were visiting a Soka Gakkai center in Japan when another member’s shoe broke as they walked. Noticing them struggling, a young man staffing the center—a Gajokai—rushed over and handed them a spare shoe in exactly the

ORLANDO, Fla., April 2, 2023—The members poured in from every part of Orlando—from Daytona Beach to Palm Bay to Kissimmee—filling the new Orlando Buddhist Center to capacity for its grand opening.  It was the region’s first in-person gathering in three years, and so the 295 members and guests entered their new center with an irrepressible

In the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni tells this story: There was once a very poor man who had to search for food every day to survive. One day, his friend invited him to dinner, where he ate his fill. After staying up talking, laughing and drinking with his friend, he fell asleep.  The friend had to

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a world-class center for botanical and horticultural research, conservation and education. A group of “public-spirited citizens” established the botanic gardens in 1859. After being handed over to the colonial government in the late 1870s when Singapore was part of British Malaya, the park was used to support the colony’s rubber

The following was written by Ikeda Sensei as part of the series “The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin and the Mentor-Disciple Relationship.” It was originally published in the Oct. 16, 2009, World Tribune. Part one, “Soka: Never Being Defeated,” appears on pp. 2–3 of the April 7, 2023, World Tribune.  “Employ the strategy of the Lotus

James Eleby, of New York, talks about how a consistent practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helps him navigate some of the toughest moments of his life from dealing with addiction to finding his place and purpose. Click here to listen. April 14, 2023, World Tribune, p. 4

Making our home a bastion of kosen-rufu, I wage a battle to bring hope to the members of New Mexico.

On raising capable young people.

The following is from Ikeda Sensei’s guidance in My Dear Friends in America, third edition, pp. 432–34. To Lead Victorious Lives Is the Purpose of Buddhism Prayers based on the Mystic Law will definitely be answered. The 26th high priest, Nichikan, writes: “If you take faith in this Gohonzon and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo even for a