CategoryIkeda Sensei

There is a pond that each spring turns into a flowered mirror. Cherry blossoms scatter petal by petal, wafting gently onto the water’s surface like delicately scented silk scarves. To the koi carp in the pond, the fluttering petals must look like clouds billowing across the sky. Such musings made me think the pink petals

Ikeda Sensei gave the following speech on Feb. 6, 1994, at a Soka Gakkai Thailand general meeting in Bangkok. It can be found in The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, pp. 1–5. Ikeda Sensei’s conception of happiness is an inspiring teaching for all, imparting courage to those overwhelmed by suffering

The following is an excerpt from a poem Ikeda Sensei composed in 2010 to commemorate Soka Gakkai Day, May 3, which also marked the 50th anniversary of his inauguration as third Soka Gakkai President. The original text appeared in the May 3, 2010, Seikyo Shimbun, the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper.  Ah, our May 3!Unforgettable May

The following essay appears in The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, pp. 315–19. It was translated from the May 2, 2004, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun. On May 3, 1960, two years after second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda’s death, Daisaku Ikeda became the third Soka

The following essay by Ikeda Sensei was translated from the Oct. 20, 2007, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun. It was originally published in the Nov. 30, 2007, World Tribune. Part one was published in the April 11, World Tribune, pp. 2–3.   As the Daishonin teaches,the appearance ofthe three powerful enemies proves

This section features Ikeda Sensei’s seminal guidance to the members of the United States. The following is an excerpt of his speech given at a U.S.-Japan Exchange Training Meeting, held at Soka University Los Angeles, Calabasas, California, September 23, 1991. The full speech can be found in My Dear Friends in America, fourth edition, pp.

The day was June 17, 1992, the time, past 3 o’clock in the afternoon. We were 8 miles from Cairo, a city of 10 million. Driving through the city along the west bank of the Nile, one suddenly finds oneself in the desert. Ahead, atop a plateau, stand the three pyramids of Giza. It was

The following essay by Ikeda Sensei was translated from the Oct. 19, 2007, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun. It was originally published in the Nov. 30, 2007, World Tribune.  The American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) declared: “Thought’s holy light. / Better it is than gems or gold, / And oh!

Ikeda Sensei gave the following speech on Aug. 1, 2008, at the Soka Gakkai Youth Division Representatives Conference. This guidance first appeared in the Aug. 8, 2008, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun. The first three parts appear in the March 7, 14 and 21, World Tribune, pp. 2–3. Dr. Wangari Maathai,

Chip Grossman, of Santa Monica, always thought spirituality and business were opposing goals. It wasn’t until he encountered SGI Nichiren Buddhism that he realized their deep ties. In this episode, Chip shares how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped him develop the courage and strength to go after his goals and build unshakable happiness. Click here to listen.

On Sept. 5, 1956, I was conferring with second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda about the future of kosen-rufu. The focus of our discussion was Yamaguchi Prefecture in the Chugoku region of Japan. At the time, we had only a little more than 400 households practicing Buddhism there. Yamaguchi was the starting point of events

This section features Ikeda Sensei’s seminal guidance to the members of the United States. The following is an excerpt of his speech given at a training session for divisional representatives, held at the Malibu Training Center, Malibu, California, February 28, 1990. The full speech can be found in My Dear Friends in America, fourth edition,

“Enjoy!” This is the Aloha spirit. My eyes are drawn and riveted to a particular spot on the beach. There, from the sand, emerges the figure of a white horse. Who sculpted it? It seems as if it would gallop gracefully away at any moment. I bow with respect and appreciation to the nameless beach

Ikeda Sensei gave the following speech on Aug. 1, 2008, at the Soka Gakkai Youth Division Representatives Conference. This guidance first appeared in the Aug. 6, 2008, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun. Part one appears in the March 7, World Tribune, pp. 2–3. No matter what storms may assail the Soka

Ikeda Sensei gave the following speech on Aug. 1, 2008, at the Soka Gakkai Youth Division Representatives Conference. This guidance first appeared in the Aug. 5, 2008, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun. Congratulations on this Youth Division Representatives Conference!  The Beijing Olympics will start from Aug. 8, [2008,] and I’m happy

The following are excerpts from Ikeda Sensei’s speech at the First Nationwide Young Men’s and Young Women’s Division Leaders Meeting held at the Tokyo Toda Memorial Auditorium in Sugamo, Tokyo, on Jan. 11, 1997. Video footage of the speech was broadcast during the most recent Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting on Jan. 11, 2025. It

This section features Ikeda Sensei’s seminal guidance to the members of the United States. The following is an excerpt of his speech given at the First SGI-USA Women’s Division Meeting, held at Soka University of Los Angeles, Calabasas, California, February 27, 1990. The full speech can be found in My Dear Friends in America, fourth

It was already late in the afternoon, but at that time of the year the European sky remains light until quite late. But suddenly the sky darkened with clouds, and heavy rain began to fall. It tapped on the rooftops with a thousand fingers, like a pianist playing a lively sonata. It fell like curtains

This essay originally appeared in the Jan. 26, 2023, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun, and the Feb. 10, 2023, World Tribune, pp. 10–11. My mentor, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda, placed deep trust in our pioneering members of Tohoku, centering around Sendai Chapter. He regarded them as a model for

The following are excerpts from Ikeda Sensei’s speech at the 73rd Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting, held in Tokyo, on Dec. 16, 1993. It was translated from the April 4, 2018, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun, originally published in the May 11, 2018, World Tribune. A Japanese intellectual recently remarked: “The