The creation of Soka Gakkai International(SGI) is a unque history of a common people's movement in the 20th century. Sōka Gakkai (窶蕨窶ｰﾂｿﾅ?w窶ｰﾃｯ?) ("Value-Creation Society") is the largest lay active Buddhist organization or any japan's cultural group today with more than 8 million households, derived from Nichiren Buddhism. It began with its first President, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871-1944) a teacher by profession, who embraced Nichiren Daishonin(sect) Buddhism and later founded the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (Value Creating Society) which later became the Soka Gakkai Organization. He was an educator, author and philosopher.
The Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (Value-Creating Education Society) originally comprised reform-minded educators who were dissatisfied with an education system that emphasized rote learning and the production of obedient subjects of the state. These teachers saw an effective alternative in Makiguchi's pedagogy which sought to develop independent thinking and critical judgment. The group's Buddhist emphasis steadily strengthened as it developed into a movement dedicated to the reform of society through the reformation of the inner life of individuals. By the early 1940s it had a membership of some 3,000 people, meeting regularly in members' homes.
Josei Toda like his mentor Tsunesaburo Makiguchi embraced Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism in 1928. He was an educator and entrepreneur. While in his early twenties he met his mentor while teaching in one the schools that Tsunesaburo Makiguchi was principal. He was inspired to Makiguchi's educational ideals and later became Makiguchi's protégé. Sharing a common bond with his mentor Makiguchi he shared the same fate of his mentor for by opposing Japan militarist movement to enter World War II was arrested and imprisoned.
Japan's militarist government was by now steadily tightening controls on thought and expression as part of the war effort. Makiguchi and Toda refused to bow to pressure from the state-controlled war machine and as a result, the meetings organized by the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai came under the surveillance of the Special Higher Police, responsible for the suppression of "thought crimes."
On July 6, 1943, Makiguchi and Toda were detained on suspicion of violation of the notorious Peace Preservation Law and accused of showing disrespect to the emperor. A total of 21 leaders of the organization were arrested. In prison, Makiguchi held fast to his beliefs, expounding the principles of Nichiren Buddhism to his interrogators. On November 18, 1944, Makiguchi died of malnutrition and the privations of his long imprisonment, a martyr to his convictions. He was 73.
Alone among the other leaders of the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai who had been arrested, Toda refused to recant. While in prison, he intensively studied the Lotus Sutra, considered in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition to express the essence of Shakyamuni's enlightenment, and chanted its title, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo--the practice that is the core of Nichiren Buddhism.
Through his highly focused practice, he gained two critical insights. One was that what is described in the sutras as "the Buddha" is nothing other than life itself. The other involved an awakening to his own profound mission as a bodhisattva, to share the teachings of Nichiren Buddhism widely in society to build the foundations for a peaceful world.
On July 3, 1945, Toda was released from prison. He immediately dedicated himself to continuing the work of his mentor Makiguchi, rebuilding the organization that had been effectively destroyed by the authorities.
Toda often spoke of the awakening he had experienced in prison, and this, together with the immovable confidence he had gained in the validity of Buddhism, was a driving force for the postwar development of the organization. He revived the traditional format of the small group discussion meeting, which remains at the heart of the movement's activities.
On May 3, 1951, Toda, who had been general director of the organization under Makiguchi, became its second president, announcing his determination to achieve a membership of 750,000 households. This marked the beginning of vigorous propagation activities in Japan, but Toda's determination went far beyond mere numerical expansion. He declared that his most cherished wish was to eliminate misery from the face of the Earth, with the practice of Nichiren Buddhism as the means to achieve this. In this, he sought to awaken people to the reality that our individual happiness is inextricably linked with the happiness of others and the welfare of society as a whole. This message had great appeal for the most disempowered strata of Japanese society, the common people who struggled with economic, physical and psychological distress in the wake of defeat.
In 1951, Toda began to publish the serialized novel Human Revolution. The title expresses his conviction in the transformative power of Nichiren Buddhism. The concept of "human revolution," or inner-motivated positive change, expresses the traditional Buddhist concept of enlightenment in terms accessible to people living in the modern-day world.
In December 1957, Toda realized his vow of achieving 750,000 member households. By 1957, Toda held a meeting before thousands of Soka Gakkai Youth declaring his outpouring and fervent message to work hard and dedicate SGI mission for the elimination of nuclear weapon. It becomes a fundamental movement that is based on the sacred tenents of Buddhism that sanctifies the sacredness and dignity of life. And that an act to massively destroy life into abyss is a dark and demonic nature against the very essence of our humanity and value of life itself. He laid the foundation for the next generation of SGI to carry for its movements of peace through culture and education and by the time of his death in 1958 the organization had become an proactive grass root organization for peace in Japan for over million people.On April 2, aged 58, Toda passed away peacefully.
On May 3, 1960, Daisaku Ikeda, Toda's disciple, became the third president. Within six months, he established chapters in the United States and South American countries, followed a year later by organizations in nine European countries. He continues to provide leadership for the global SGI organization, which now includes members in more than 190 countries and territories. Ikeda has founded a number of educational and cultural institutions that seek to foster the values of peace, culture and education.
Sōka Gakkai International (SGI), the umbrella organization, was founded in 1975 and characterizes its organization as both a support network for practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism and as a global movement for peace, education, and cultural exchange.
The SGI is based on the teachings and philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism, which places the highest emphasis on the sanctity of life. Members seek, through their practice of Buddhism, to develop the ability to live with confidence, to create value in any circumstance and to contribute to the well-being of friends, family and community.
Their philosophy is rooted in the concept of "human revolution," a process of inner transformation through Buddhist practice. They believe that it is a process that leads one to develop their character and to act not only for our personal fulfillment but also for the betterment of society.They believe that happiness is being able to experience profound joy that comes from never being defeated by any problem in life.
The Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (Value-Creating Education Society) originally comprised reform-minded educators who were dissatisfied with an education system that emphasized rote learning and the production of obedient subjects of the state. These teachers saw an effective alternative in Makiguchi's pedagogy which sought to develop independent thinking and critical judgment. The group's Buddhist emphasis steadily strengthened as it developed into a movement dedicated to the reform of society through the reformation of the inner life of individuals. By the early 1940s it had a membership of some 3,000 people, meeting regularly in members' homes.
Josei Toda like his mentor Tsunesaburo Makiguchi embraced Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism in 1928. He was an educator and entrepreneur. While in his early twenties he met his mentor while teaching in one the schools that Tsunesaburo Makiguchi was principal. He was inspired to Makiguchi's educational ideals and later became Makiguchi's protégé. Sharing a common bond with his mentor Makiguchi he shared the same fate of his mentor for by opposing Japan militarist movement to enter World War II was arrested and imprisoned.
Japan's militarist government was by now steadily tightening controls on thought and expression as part of the war effort. Makiguchi and Toda refused to bow to pressure from the state-controlled war machine and as a result, the meetings organized by the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai came under the surveillance of the Special Higher Police, responsible for the suppression of "thought crimes."
On July 6, 1943, Makiguchi and Toda were detained on suspicion of violation of the notorious Peace Preservation Law and accused of showing disrespect to the emperor. A total of 21 leaders of the organization were arrested. In prison, Makiguchi held fast to his beliefs, expounding the principles of Nichiren Buddhism to his interrogators. On November 18, 1944, Makiguchi died of malnutrition and the privations of his long imprisonment, a martyr to his convictions. He was 73.
Alone among the other leaders of the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai who had been arrested, Toda refused to recant. While in prison, he intensively studied the Lotus Sutra, considered in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition to express the essence of Shakyamuni's enlightenment, and chanted its title, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo--the practice that is the core of Nichiren Buddhism.
Through his highly focused practice, he gained two critical insights. One was that what is described in the sutras as "the Buddha" is nothing other than life itself. The other involved an awakening to his own profound mission as a bodhisattva, to share the teachings of Nichiren Buddhism widely in society to build the foundations for a peaceful world.
On July 3, 1945, Toda was released from prison. He immediately dedicated himself to continuing the work of his mentor Makiguchi, rebuilding the organization that had been effectively destroyed by the authorities.
Toda often spoke of the awakening he had experienced in prison, and this, together with the immovable confidence he had gained in the validity of Buddhism, was a driving force for the postwar development of the organization. He revived the traditional format of the small group discussion meeting, which remains at the heart of the movement's activities.
On May 3, 1951, Toda, who had been general director of the organization under Makiguchi, became its second president, announcing his determination to achieve a membership of 750,000 households. This marked the beginning of vigorous propagation activities in Japan, but Toda's determination went far beyond mere numerical expansion. He declared that his most cherished wish was to eliminate misery from the face of the Earth, with the practice of Nichiren Buddhism as the means to achieve this. In this, he sought to awaken people to the reality that our individual happiness is inextricably linked with the happiness of others and the welfare of society as a whole. This message had great appeal for the most disempowered strata of Japanese society, the common people who struggled with economic, physical and psychological distress in the wake of defeat.
In 1951, Toda began to publish the serialized novel Human Revolution. The title expresses his conviction in the transformative power of Nichiren Buddhism. The concept of "human revolution," or inner-motivated positive change, expresses the traditional Buddhist concept of enlightenment in terms accessible to people living in the modern-day world.
In December 1957, Toda realized his vow of achieving 750,000 member households. By 1957, Toda held a meeting before thousands of Soka Gakkai Youth declaring his outpouring and fervent message to work hard and dedicate SGI mission for the elimination of nuclear weapon. It becomes a fundamental movement that is based on the sacred tenents of Buddhism that sanctifies the sacredness and dignity of life. And that an act to massively destroy life into abyss is a dark and demonic nature against the very essence of our humanity and value of life itself. He laid the foundation for the next generation of SGI to carry for its movements of peace through culture and education and by the time of his death in 1958 the organization had become an proactive grass root organization for peace in Japan for over million people.On April 2, aged 58, Toda passed away peacefully.
On May 3, 1960, Daisaku Ikeda, Toda's disciple, became the third president. Within six months, he established chapters in the United States and South American countries, followed a year later by organizations in nine European countries. He continues to provide leadership for the global SGI organization, which now includes members in more than 190 countries and territories. Ikeda has founded a number of educational and cultural institutions that seek to foster the values of peace, culture and education.
Sōka Gakkai International (SGI), the umbrella organization, was founded in 1975 and characterizes its organization as both a support network for practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism and as a global movement for peace, education, and cultural exchange.
The SGI is based on the teachings and philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism, which places the highest emphasis on the sanctity of life. Members seek, through their practice of Buddhism, to develop the ability to live with confidence, to create value in any circumstance and to contribute to the well-being of friends, family and community.
Their philosophy is rooted in the concept of "human revolution," a process of inner transformation through Buddhist practice. They believe that it is a process that leads one to develop their character and to act not only for our personal fulfillment but also for the betterment of society.They believe that happiness is being able to experience profound joy that comes from never being defeated by any problem in life.
I love reading responses like this to religious threads...
Then they should read the earliest records of the Buddha's life and teaching to live up to his outlook on human life, and what are they? They foster self-development in certain ways. The core is meditation, then other self-help...Because he was radically more interested in how we should live in this world than notions of karma and the afterlife. Far removed from the devotional piety and fundamental religiousity of much of Buddhism as we know it today 
