CategoryBuddhist Study

This study series explores Soka Spirit topics to be presented by a youth or student division member at Soka 2030 meetings. Since some locales may not hold meetings the last Sunday of this month due to the holidays, this article can be presented at Nov. 23 Soka 2030 meetings. If Nichiren’s compassion is truly great

This series, prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department, aims to answer questions about the basics of Nichiren Buddhism.  Have you ever gotten lost trying to get to a new location? Having a map—or nowadays, a map app—makes a big difference in getting where you want to go.  Life, and Buddhist practice, is often likened to

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 a world plagued by war, conflict and a pervasive disrespect for others, practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism embrace a philosophy that confronts the root causes of these

This series, prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department, aims to answer questions about the basics of Nichiren Buddhism.  The way we begin and end each day doesn’t just shape our mood—it shapes our health. Studies show that daily routines can lower stress levels and improve overall well-being. In Nichiren Buddhism, SGI members start their morning

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. At a time when trust in key public institutions has neared historic lows, the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation—fueled by the rapid development of social media and

This study series prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department aims to answer questions about the basics of Nichiren Buddhism. In this installment, we turn to Ikeda Sensei’s guidance to answer some frequently asked questions about chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.  Q: Why do we keep our eyes open when we chant? Ikeda Sensei: It’s best to keep your eyes

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. Struggles are an undeniable aspect of life. Yet, through engaging in Buddhist practice, we learn to view hardships as essential opportunities for growth.  Nichiren Daishonin teaches that

This study series by the SGI-USA Study Department aims to answer questions about the basics of Nichiren Buddhism.  Buddhism is not naïve—it does not deny the existence of “good” and “bad” friends. But it views these terms in a light that may surprise and even revolutionize one’s understanding of them. The real question for the

This new study series will cover Soka Spirit topics to be presented by a youth or student division member at Soka 2030 meetings on the last Sunday of each month. Throughout history, great movements for peace and equality have faced persecution and obstacles. Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent struggle for India’s independence and the U.S. Civil Rights

This new study series aims to answer questions about the basics of the SGI’s practice of Nichiren Buddhism. How can we create understanding when things feel stuck—or worse, when the divide between opposing sides seems to grow only wider? Often, when discussions become heated, people cling more tightly to their own views. Whether in our

This new study series will cover Soka Spirit topics to be presented by a youth or student division member at Soka 2030 meetings on the last Sunday of each month. The Soka Gakkai’s history is defined by the shared commitment to uphold life’s dignity and Nichiren Daishonin’s teachings—even amid persecution.  This spirit was exemplified during

This new study series will cover Soka Spirit topics to be presented by a youth or student division member at Soka 2030 meetings on the last Sunday of each month. Nichiren Daishonin called out: “My wish is that all my disciples make a great vow.” What is this great vow?  “The ‘great vow,’” he says,

This new study series aims to answer questions about the basics of the SGI’s practice of Nichiren Buddhism. How do I chant for this? For that?—We often hear questions about how to chant for certain things at SGI meetings.  But maybe the better question is: Is there a different way to chant about each issue

Witnessing the uncertainty and suffering in today’s world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or powerless. But precisely at such times, we can remind ourselves of what truly matters—the things we appreciate and the actions we can take right now to make a difference.  Nichiren Daishonin cites a powerful sutra passage, “If you want to understand

This new study series will cover Soka Spirit topics to be presented by a youth or student division member at Soka 2030 meetings on the last Sunday of each month. If there exists a votary of the Lotus Sutra, then the three types of enemies are bound to exist as well. (“The Opening of the

This new study series aims to answer questions about the basics of the SGI’s practice of Nichiren Buddhism. Every world religion has its sacred texts—Buddhism has sutras, Judaism the Hebrew Bible and Christianity the Bible.  In Nichiren Buddhism, we are fortunate to have the Gosho, the collected writings of Nichiren Daishonin, which serve as a

On April 28, 1253, Nichiren Daishonin first proclaimed his teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to help people overcome suffering and build a society rooted in equality and respect. He also identified erroneous religious teachings as the source of the misery plaguing the people of his day and sought to correct these errors.  His declaration was a call

This new study series will cover Soka Spirit topics to be presented by a youth or student division member at Soka 2030 meetings on the last Sunday of each month.  What is the purpose of religion? Does it support people’s growth or attempt to control them?  At this time, when many might view the idea

This new study series aims to answer questions about the basics of the SGI’s practice of Nichiren Buddhism. Sometimes, practicing Buddhism alone might seem more appealing than doing so in a group. Yet Shakyamuni Buddha himself, having tried various solitary and austere practices before attaining enlightenment, realized the importance of practicing Buddhism with others. His

This new study series aims to answer questions about the basics of the SGI’s practice of Nichiren Buddhism. The short answer is that meditation and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo both encourage self-reflection, but they have different goals and effects on our lives.  Research shows that, when done in moderation, meditation can help calm the mind, reduce stress