59 Facts About Soka Gakkai

Soka Gakkai is a Japanese Buddhist religious movement based on the teachings of the 13th-century Japanese priest Nichiren as taught by its first three presidents Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, Josei Toda, and Daisaku Ikeda.

Komeito, a political party closely aligned with Soka Gakkai and founded by elements of its lay membership, entered a coalition agreement with the Liberal Democratic Party in 1999 and is currently a junior partner in government.

Doctrine of the Soka Gakkai derives from Nichiren, who promulgated the Lotus Sutra as he perceived its application to the epoch in which he and people today live.

Soka Gakkai gives significance to Nichiren's writings, as Gosho, and Soka Gakkai refers to the collection of Nichiren's writings that was compiled by Nichiko Hori and Josei Toda, published as 'Nichiren Daishonin Gosho Zenshu' in 1952 .

Soka Gakkai members believe that because Nichiren made actualizing this possible by inscribing Gohonzon and teaching the invocation, their prayers and actions can in a single moment pierce through limitations.

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Soka Gakkai members believe that it is one of his most important writings.

Soka Gakkai called for the leaders and people to base their spiritual life on the Lotus Sutra, "the correct teaching", which would, in turn, lead to "the peace of the land".

Soka Gakkai members believe "the peace of the land" depends on transforming the heart and mind of one individual at a time, affirming the basic good within all people, respecting human dignity and the sanctity of life, and valuing dialogue.

Furthermore, Soka Gakkai members believe these principles must become the spiritual foundation for peace in society and require joining forces with like-minded individuals and organizations.

Soka Gakkai's history is closely intertwined with the study of the Lotus Sutra.

Josei Toda began the postwar reconstruction by lecturing on the sutra, the study of which led to what Soka Gakkai considers his enlightenment After the Soka Gakkai's excommunication by Nichiren Shoshu, Daisaku Ikeda conducted dialogue sessions on the Lotus Sutra which resulted in the publication of a six-volume work called The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra.

The Soka Gakkai sponsored the Burton Watson translation of the Lotus Sutra as well as several international exhibitions about the Lotus Sutra.

Importantly, Soka Gakkai members believe effects are determined simultaneously with causes, though they remain latent until the right external influences bring them to fruition.

Soka Gakkai Buddhism teaches that even the most stubborn karma can be overcome as one reveals one's Buddha nature in this lifetime.

Soka Gakkai members believe that chanting releases the power of the universal life force inherent in life.

Therefore, chanting is not approached as a passive exercise, as Soka Gakkai literature urges practitioners to have "conviction", tenacity and perseverance and to challenge their personal problems.

Soka Gakkai, excommunicated from Nichiren Shoshu in 1991, has a custom of chanting excerpts from the Lotus Sutra and its title as part of morning and evening prayers.

Gohonzon Soka Gakkai members enshrine in their homes and centers is a transcription by the 26th High Priest Nichikan Shonin.

Soka Gakkai often uses Nichiren's metaphor of a mirror to explain its faith in the Gohonzon.

Unlike other Nichiren sects, the Soka Gakkai stresses that practicing for this enlightenment entails actual "engagement in the realities of daily life", while including the happiness of others in one's own practice.

Soka Gakkai practice includes activities beyond the ritualistic, such as meetings, social engagement, and improving one's circumstances; these have significance as religious activities in the Soka Gakkai.

Practices to improve oneself while helping others, and the study of Buddhism, combine with "faith" in what the Soka Gakkai considers "the three basic aspects of Nichiren Buddhism" – faith, practice and study.

Soka Gakkai meetings have been called "formal liturgies" in that their format – "chanting, relatos, teachings, inspiring entertainment" – is identical from place to place.

The format is an example of how the Soka Gakkai is able to "dispense with much of the apparatus of conventional church organization".

In 2014 the Soka Gakkai changed the "Religious Tenets" section of its Rules and Regulations as regards propagation.

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The belief of the Soka Gakkai, then, is that propagation activities give meaning both to the activity itself and to the personal lives of its members.

Soka Gakkai regarded Nichiren Buddhism as religious motivation for "active engagement to promote social good, even if it led to defiance of state authority".

Soka Gakkai's health had been severely compromised and businesses destroyed.

Soka Gakkai immediately set out to rebuild the organization that had been repressed and dismantled by the government during the war.

Soka Gakkai used both aggressive hyperbole and melodrama while at the same time cautioning overzealous followers to be sensible in their propagation efforts.

The then prime minister Nobusuke Kishi attended the funeral – something that scandalized "quite a few Japanese" but was a testament to how the Soka Gakkai had grown to a force to be reckoned with under Toda.

Murata claims that for two years after Toda's death, there was a leadership vacuum and the Soka Gakkai had no president, as it was unclear if anyone was able to replace him.

Soka Gakkai encouraged attendees to become good American citizens, learn English, and get driving licenses.

Religious scholar and political analyst Masaru Sato explains that there is nothing surprising about Komeito becoming a member of a ruling coalition as the Soka Gakkai has become a world religion and history shows a link between ruling coalitions and world religions.

Soka Gakkai explains that in postwar Japan there were two major parties, the Liberal Democratic Party representing financial interests and large corporations and the Japan Socialist Party largely advocating the interests of labor unions.

Soka Gakkai committed the organization to the rights of free speech and freedom of religion.

Soka Gakkai stated that Nichiren's message could be understood as absolute pacifism, the sanctity of human life, and respect for human dignity.

In 2014, the Soka Gakkai rewrote its bylaws to reflect that it no longer had any relationship with Nichiren Shoshu or its doctrine.

Soka Gakkai was included in a collective Buddhist response to UNESCO's "Declaration on the Role of Religion in the Promotion of a Culture of Peace", established in Barcelona in December 1994.

Soka Gakkai uses its financial resources for a number of civic activities.

Soka Gakkai has been active in public education with a focus mainly on peace and nuclear weapons disarmament, human rights and sustainable development.

Soka Gakkai contributed to The Earth Charter Initiative with the "Seeds of Change" exhibit, "a 'map' showing the way towards a sustainable lifestyle".

In India, Bharat Soka Gakkai debuted the traveling exhibit "Seeds of Hope", a joint initiative of SGI and Earth Charter International.

Soka Gakkai has established multiple institutions and research facilities to promote its values of peace.

Soka Gakkai's pacifist stand has been questioned, along with the group's support of Komeito, without denying that the group is very active in "trying to establish the basis for world peace".

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Soka Gakkai has said that Ikeda and the Soka Gakkai, with activities such as Victory Over Violence, have helped in his work to "revive the King legacy".

Rabbi Abraham Cooper headed its efforts in the Pacific Rim, and in co-operation with the Soka Gakkai opened a Japanese version of the Center's Holocaust exhibit.

Soka Gakkai considers dance and other genres of performance art to be a major aspect of its peace activities.

The Soka Gakkai perceives these activities as vehicles for its members to experience the skills of cooperating with others, opportunities to engage in the personal discipline that performing arts provide, and occasions to overcome obstacles and to undertake one's own "human revolution".

Educational activities of the Soka Gakkai are often subsumed under the title of Soka education.

Several educational institutions were either founded by the Soka Gakkai or were inspired by the educational writings of the Soka Gakkai's three presidents.

Formally, the Soka Gakkai International is the umbrella organization for all national organizations, while Soka Gakkai by itself refers to the Japanese arm.

Soka Gakkai maintains an international political presence as a registered non-governmental organization with the United Nations.

Soka Gakkai has, together with its international offshoot Soka Gakkai International, been described as "the world's largest Buddhist lay group and America's most diverse".

Soka Gakkai conducts humanitarian aid projects in disaster stricken regions.

Since the Komeito Party joined the ruling government coalition in 1999, widespread criticism by the media of the Soka Gakkai has abated and the Soka Gakkai is gaining acceptance as part of the Japanese mainstream.

James R Lewis claims the Soka Gakkai's perception has suffered from sensationalist and often irresponsible treatment by the media even though the group has matured into a responsible member of society.

Press criticism of the Soka Gakkai should be seen against the backdrop of negative press coverage of new religious movements in general.

In India the Soka Gakkai is associated with a renewed interest in Buddhism among urban, upper middle class, English-speaking youth.