Daily Life
About Sharing Buddhism
In this Summer of Shakubuku, let’s clear out the questions and make way for a determination.
Daily Life
Until They Become Happy
Member care, the painstaking efforts to awaken one friend after another, is the heart of the Soka Gakkai spirit.
The Benefit, Joy and Purpose of Sharing Buddhism
Key guidance on shakubuku
Planting Seeds That Take Root
As we continue our Summer of Shakubuku, some readers have asked what it means to plant seeds of the Mystic Law. Sharing Nam-myoho-renge-kyo cards with others is a noble effort, yet Ikeda Sensei explains that the deeper purpose lies in engaging in genuine exchange rooted in our concern for others. The following is an excerpt
The Power of Informed People
On Sept. 8, 1957, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda issued his Declaration for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, marking the start of the Soka Gakkai’s broader peace movement. In the six decades since, the SGI’s peace movement, grounded in monthly local neighborhood discussion meetings, has expanded to encompass dialogue and activity in the realms
Juneteenth, Buddhism and a Brighter Future
Representatives of the SGI-USA Practicing Buddhism as People of African Descent Group recall the history of Juneteenth and how we can honor it as Buddhists. by Carolyn Colby and Dave GoodmanSGI-USA Practicing Buddhism as People of African Descent Group Women’s and Men’s Leaders At this time of year, we are reflecting on Juneteenth, a day
Raising the Future
A discussion with parents on fostering successors for peace.
Lessons
Believing in the Inherent Goodness of Human Beings
Ikeda Sensei: The heart of the practice of Nichiren Buddhism is our practice for self and others—that is, reciting gongyo and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo ourselves and sharing Buddhism with others. Amid the realities of society, we chant and spread the Mystic Law and engage in dialogues that respect the dignity of each person’s life and impart
We Grow Amid Human Relationships
In a discussion with young people, Ikeda Sensei underscores the importance of polishing our character through the mutual support and inspiration that come from engaging with many people. Though you may dislike organizations, is remaining alone really freedom? Can you guarantee that you won’t lose sight of yourself if you’re on your own? That’s hard
Virtue Victorious and the Mud Pie
Making Offerings Sows Seeds in a Field of Fortune The following excerpts are from Ikeda Sensei’s novel The New Human Revolution, vol. 4, pp. 116–118. Sensei appears in the novel as Shin’ichi Yamamoto. In a letter addressed to Lord Matsuno, Nichiren Daishonin describes how a child named Virtue Victorious was reborn as King Ashoka
Q&A
Obstacles Are No Match for the Many Treasures Group
Q: I often hear people talking about “kosen-rufu.” But what does it mean?
Q: When I try introducing my friends to Buddhism, they usually say that organized religion isn’t for them. Why do we practice in an organization?
Q: It’s hard to say if my life is changing for the better. How can I tell?
Q: What is the Buddhist approach to asking people to chant for me?
Q: I’ve been feeling discouraged. How can I make a fresh start?
Q: What is the Sangha?
Q: Why do we chant to the Gohonzon?
In Society
It Is 90 seconds to Midnight
Shortly after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists created the Doomsday Clock—a symbolic piece that conveys the time that remains before the extinction of the human race. This year, the hands of the Doomsday Clock moved to 90 seconds to midnight, largely because of the war
A Buddhist Take on History
A middle-school U.S. history textbook from one of the top three educational publishers in the country features a quote from Daisaku Ikeda in its 2023 edition. McGraw Hill Education describes the primer United States History: Voices and Perspectives as designed to “empower students to make connections between the past and present as they experience history
Home run!
On Aug. 28, Hawaii’s Honolulu Little League won the Little League World Series championship with a 13-3 win against Curaçao. This was the the fourth time in 17 years a team from Hawaii has won the youth baseball tournament and the second championship for Honolulu, who won the title in 2018. Gerald Oda, head coach
Baggio Takes Flight
Italy’s national airline, ITA Airways, dedicates a plane to Roberto Baggio, Italian soccer legend and longtime SGI member. The only Italian to score in three World Cups, Baggio is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. His journey is chronicled in the Netflix documentary Baggio: The Divine Ponytail. As an homage
