SGI & Modern Buddhism
What is SGI? It stands for Soka Gakkai International aka Value Creating Society
It is a Buddhist lay organization founded in Japan on November 18, 1930 by its first president, Mr. Makiguchi and his disciple, Mr. Toda, who later became the second president.
Makiguchi, an educator, scholar, and an elementary school principal, regarded the creation of values that are conducive to a happy life, as the purpose of education. In 1928, he encountered the teachings of Nicherin and the Lotus Sutra and incorporated Nicherin’s philosophy with the help of Mr. Toda, also an educator, into a philosophy of education titled: The System of Value-Creating Pedagogy (is the art or science or profession of teaching, especially education). Makiguchi and Nicherin emphasized independent thinking over rote learning, and self-motivation over blind obedience, which directly challenged Japanese authority at that time. The publication date of this work is considered the founding date of Soka Gakkai. At that time, 1930, the Soka Gakkai consisted mainly of teachers and educators. By the early 1940’s, a little over 10 years later, through discussion meetings lead by Makiguchi, similar to our meeting today, the membership of Soka Gakkai had increased to 3000.
By the 1930’s, Japan was following a path of militarism pursuing a war with China, and by 1941 was involved in WWII. To unite and rally people for the war effort, the militaristic government had adopted Shinto as the state religion, as well as various measures to restrict freedom of thought and expression. In line with this, the government ordered all religious denominations to enshrine Shinto talismans in their place of worship and citizens to do the same in their homes. People were thus required to worship the Sun Goddess, the legendary ancestor of the imperial line aka Shinto. Most of the Soka Gakkai leaders or priests at that time submitted to the government demand to practice Shinto, and expelled Makiguchi and Toda from their home temple. Because Makiguchi and Toda refused to comply with the government demands, as they felt practicing Shinto would violate the teachings of Nicherin, they were both imprisoned in 1943. Makiguchi died in prison at the age of 73, in 1944, having continued to challenge the religious and political views of his captors until the end.
While in prison, Toda immersed himself in the study of the Lotus Sutra and prayers and experienced 2 kinds of realizations. First, he came to realize that the Buddha described in the sutra, is life itself. Secondly, he resolved to propagate the sutra’s teachings as widely as possible through restructuring the organization to go beyond educators to include people from all fields and strata of society. Toda was released from prison in 1945, and became the second president of Soka Gakkai in 1951, pledging to achieve a membership of 750,000 households. In 1952 the Soka Gakkai was legally established as an independent religious organization. By 1957, the membership had reached the goal of 750,000, set by Toda, who died in 1958.
In 1960, Mr. Ikeda became the 3rd president at age 32. President Ikeda had worked and studied under Toda for more than 10 years and helped Toda meet the membership goal. Under President Ikeda’s leadership, the organization grew rapidly during the 60’s and 70’s and expanded abroad, including activities in support of peace, culture, and education. In 1975, in response to the needs of an increasing international membership, SGI was established under President Ikeda. President Ikeda resigned as the 3rd president of the Soka Gakkai in 1979 becoming its honorary president, while retaining his position as the first President of SGI.
As of 2002, SGI has become a worldwide network of more than 12 million members in 183 countries and territories.
Based on the practice and philosophy of Nicherin’s teachings, the SGI advocates and individual inner reformation known as a human revolution, the ultimate goal of which is a peaceful world and the happiness of all humanity. All people possess the potential within themselves to attain Buddhahood. Buddhism and Buddhahood are not exclusive spiritual pursuits, but rather an applied philosophy of life, with an applied practice, as a means for each of us to develop the character, wisdon, and strength to improve ourselves, our circumstances, to contribute to society, and to help bring about happiness and peace in the world.
