Editing Soka Gakkai (section)

==Beliefs==

The beliefs of Soka Gakkai center on recognizing that all life has dignity with infinite inherent potential; this immanent [[Buddhahood]] exists in every person and can be awakened through the Buddhist practice prescribed by [[Nichiren]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Strand|first1=Clark|title=Faith in Revolution: An Interview with Daisaku Ikeda|journal=Tricycle|date=2008|volume=Winter|quote=To chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is to call out the name of the Buddha-nature within us and in all living beings. It is an act of faith in this universal Buddha-nature, an act of breaking through the fundamental darkness of life—our inability to acknowledge our true enlightened nature. It is this fundamental darkness, or ignorance, that causes us to experience the cycles of birth and death as suffering. When we call forth and base ourselves on the magnificent enlightened life that exists within each of us without exception, however, even the most fundamental, inescapable sufferings of life and death need not be experienced as pain. Rather, they can be transformed into a life embodying the virtues of eternity, joy, true self, and purity.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Susumu|first1=Shimazono|editor1-last=Yoshinori|editor1-first=Takeuchi|title="Soka Gakkai and the Modern Reformation of Buddhism" in Buddhist Spirituality: Later China, Korea, Japan and the Modern world|date=1999|publisher=Crossroads Publishing|isbn=978-0-8245-1595-9|page=439|quote=Therefore, when you sit before the Gohonzon and believe there is no distinction among the Gohonzon, Nichiren and you yourself,{{nbsp}}[...] the great life force of the universe becomes your own life force and gushes forth.}}</ref> Further, a person's social actions at every moment can lead to {{transliteration|ja|soka}}, or the creation of value (the theory of the interdependence of life). Societal change is facilitated through "human revolution", a way of living in the world that creates value.<ref name=Fisker-Nielsen>{{cite book|last1=Fisker-Nielsen|first1=Anne-Mette|title=Religion and Politics in Contemporary Japan: Soka Gakkai Youth and Komeito|date=2013|publisher=Routledge|location=[S.l.]|isbn=978-0-415-74407-2|page=46|quote=Ikeda's reading of Nichiren always returns to this point of seeing the potential of "Buddhahood" present in each person, in each social action and at each moment (the theory of ''ichinen sanzen'').  Emphasizing the potentially positive and mutually beneficial outcome to any situation is the basis for the concept of soka, creation of value, which is the name of the organization. The most fundamental idea is that to facilitate social change it is necessary to develop a way of being in the world that creates value. The daily morning and evening chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and the study of Nichiren Buddhism is advocated as the practice for such self-development...}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Macioti|first1=Maria Immacolata|last2=Capozzi (tr)|first2=Richard|title=The Buddha within ourselves: blossoms of the Lotus Sutra|date=2002|publisher=University Press of America|location=Lanham|isbn=978-0-7618-2189-2|page=73|quote=It is a matter of a "human revolution" that begins with the individual, etends to the family, and then, if possible, spreads to entire nations; social peace would come about as the summation of many single "human revolutions".}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Strand|first1=Clark|title=Waking the Buddha: how the most dynamic and empowering Buddhist movement in history is changing our concept of religion|date=2014|publisher=Middleway Press|location=Santa Monica, CA|isbn=978-0-9779245-6-1|page=25|quote=From the beginning, the Soka Gakkai's approach to Buddhism was focused on the fundamental dignity of human life—affirming it, protecting it, and convincing others to do the same.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Bocking|first1=Brian|title=Soka Gakkai|url=http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/easia/soka.html|website=Overview of World Religions|publisher=University of Cumbria, Division of Religion and Philosophy, Philtar (Philosophy, Theology and Religion)|quote=Central to Soka Gakkai's philosophy are the ideas of 'human revolution' (i.e. personal and social transformation) and the Tendai concept of 'one thought, three thousand worlds'. According to Soka Gakkai, human beings can change themselves, and through changing themselves change the world. Change for the better is brought about by chanting the powerful ''daimoku'' ("great invocation") – 'Nam-myoho-renge-kyo'. The effect of chanting this phrase, which embodies the essence of the enlightened mind of the Buddha, is radically to elevate one's mental and spiritual state within the 3,000 possible states of mind, which range from the experience of hell to perfect supreme enlightenment. Since 'body and mind are not two' (i.e. they are a unity), the transformation of the 'inner' or mental state is reflected in transformed behaviour and therefore social influence. If enough people practice, whole societies and eventually the whole world will be transformed.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Morgan|first1=Diane|title=The Buddhist experience in America|date=2004|publisher=Greenwood Press|location=Westport, Conn. [u.a.]|isbn=978-0-313-32491-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/buddhistexperien0000morg/page/127 127]|edition=1. publ.|url=https://archive.org/details/buddhistexperien0000morg}}</ref>

The doctrine of 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.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Buck|first1=Christopher|title=God and Apple Pie|date=2015|publisher=Educator's International Press|location=Kingston, NY|isbn=978-1-891928-15-4|page=274}}</ref> Soka Gakkai gives significance to Nichiren's writings, referred to as {{transliteration|ja|gosho}},{{refn|{{transliteration|ja|Go}} is an honorific prefix and {{transliteration|ja|sho}} means 'writings'; thus, literally, 'honorable writings'.}} and refers especially to the collection of Nichiren's writings that Nichiko Hori compiled and [[Jōsei Toda]], published as {{transliteration|ja|Nichiren Daishonin Gosho Zenshu}} in 1952.

==={{transliteration|ja|Ichinen sanzen}}===

[[Zhiyi|T'ien-t'ai]] (538–597), a [[Chinese Buddhist]] scholar who upheld the Lotus Sutra, developed a theoretical system to describe the infinite interconnectedness of life translated as "the principle of the mutually inclusive relationship of a single moment of life and all phenomena" or "[[Zhiyi#Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment|three thousand realms in a single moment of life]]" (Japanese: {{transliteration|ja|ichinen sanzen}}). This theory demonstrates that the phenomenal world exists in a single moment. Soka Gakkai members believe that because Nichiren made actualizing this possible by inscribing {{transliteration|ja|[[Gohonzon]]}} and teaching the invocation, their prayers and actions can, in a single moment, pierce through limitations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life|url=https://www.sokaglobal.org/resources/study-materials/buddhist-concepts/three-thousand-realms-in-a-single-moment-of-life.html|website=Soka Gakkai International |date=24 August 2020|access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref>

=== "Life force" and "Human Revolution" ===

Soka Gakkai teaches that this "self-induced change in each individual" – which Josei Toda began referring to as "human revolution" – is what leads to happiness and peace.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joseitoda.org/religious/hr.html|title=Human Revolution|website=www.joseitoda.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Dobbelaere|first1=Karel|title=Soka Gakkai|date=1998|publisher=Signature Books|isbn=978-1-56085-153-0|pages=9, 70}}</ref>

Josei Toda studied a passage from the Immeasurable Meanings Sutra (considered the introduction to the Lotus Sutra) that describes Buddhahood by means of 34 negations – for example, that it is "neither being nor non-being, this nor that, square nor round". From this, he concluded that "Buddha" is life or life force.<ref name="Encountering the Dharma">{{cite book|last1=Seager|first1=Richard|title=Encountering the Dharma|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-24577-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/encounteringdhar0000seag/page/48 48]|date=2006-03-16|url=https://archive.org/details/encounteringdhar0000seag}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite book|last1=Tamaru|first1=Noriyoshi|editor1-last=Macachek and Wilson|title="The Soka Gakkai In Historical Perspective" in Global Citizens|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-924039-5|page=37|year=2000}}</ref>

Toda considered the concept of "Buddha as life (force)" means that Buddhism entails transforming society.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Seager|first1=Richard|title=Encountering the Dharma|page=53}}</ref> Ikeda has been quoted as saying, "Faith is firm belief in the universe and the life force. Only a person of firm faith can lead a good and vigorous life{{nbsp}}[...] Buddhist doctrine is a philosophy that has human life as its ultimate object, and our Human Revolution movement is an act of reform aimed at opening up the inner universe, the creative life force within each individual, and leading to human freedom."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Shimazono|first1=Susumu|title=Buddhist Spirituality: Later China, Korea, Japan and the Modern world|page=436}}</ref>

The concept of life force is central to the Soka Gakkai's conception of the role of religion and the application of Nichiren's teachings. Ikeda states that "[o]ur health, courage, wisdom, joy, desire to improve, self-discipline, and so on, could all be said to depend on our life force".<ref name="Winning In Life With Daimoku">{{cite journal|last1=Ikeda|first1=Daisaku|title=Winning In Life With Daimoku|journal=Living Buddhism|date=September 2014|page=51}}</ref>

=== Oneness of mentor and disciple ===

The Soka Gakkai liturgy refers to all of its first three presidents – Tsunesabura Makiguchi, Josei Toda, and Daisaku Ikeda – as "the eternal mentors of {{transliteration|ja|kosen-rufu}}".<ref>{{cite book|title=The Liturgy of the Soka Gakkai International|date=2015|publisher=SGI-USA|isbn=978-1-935523-81-9|page=18}}</ref> The organization's current leader, Ikeda, is revered by members.<ref>Chilson, Clark (2014). "Cultivating Charisma: Ikeda Daisaku's Self Presentations and Transformational Leadership". Journal of Global Buddhism, Vol. 15., p. 67</ref> The relationship between members and their mentors is referred to as "the oneness of mentor and disciple". The mentor is to lead and thereby improve the lives of his disciples. The mentor's actions are seen as giving disciples confidence in their own unrealized potential. The role of disciples is seen as supporting their mentor and realizing his vision using their unique abilities and circumstances.

Since the mid-1990s, the issue of the oneness of mentor and disciple has received more prominence in Soka Gakkai. There is a strong emphasis on "cultivating all members{{nbsp}}[...] in discipleship" through forging "affective one-to-one relationships with Ikeda".<ref name=McLaughlin2012>{{cite journal|first=Levi |last=McLaughlin |title=Did Aum Change Everything? What Soka Gakkai Before, During, and After the Aum Shinrikyo Affair Tells Us About the Persistent "Otherness" of New Religions in Japan, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies |journal=Japanese Journal of Religious Studies |volume=39 |issue=1 |pages=51–75 |date=2012 |url=http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/4110 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131223213130/http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/4110 |archive-date=2013-12-23}}</ref>{{rp|70}}

==="On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land"===

Nichiren wrote a treatise, "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land," in 1260 and submitted it to the regent.{{who|date=July 2024}} Soka Gakkai members believe it is one of his most important writings. In it, he claimed that the source of the natural disasters Japan faced at that time was due to the weakened spirit of its people, caused by attachments to religions that disavow the primacy of the people themselves. He 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".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ikeda|first1=Daisaku|last2=Abdurrahman|first2=Wahid|title=The Wisdom of Tolerance|date=2015|publisher=I. B. Tauris|isbn=978-1-78453-091-4}}</ref>{{rp|61–62}}

=== Five "Eternal Guidelines of Faith" ===
In 1957, Josei Toda proclaimed three "Eternal Guidelines of Faith". In 2003, Daisaku Ikeda added two more guidelines. The Five Guidelines of Faith are:

# Faith for a harmonious family;
# Faith for each person to become happy;
# Faith for surmounting obstacles;
# Faith for health and long life;
# Faith for absolute victory.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Buddhist Concepts|journal=Living Buddhism|date=December 2014|volume=18|issue=12|page=8}}</ref>

===Relation to the Lotus Sutra===
Soka Gakkai members pray to Nichiren's {{transliteration|ja|Gohonzon}} (see section on [[#Gohonzon|Gohonzon]]), which "embodies [[Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō|Nam-myoho-renge-kyo]], the essence of the [[Lotus Sutra]]".<ref>{{cite book|title=The Liturgy of the Soka Gakkai International|date=2015|publisher=SGIUSA|isbn=978-1-935523-84-0|page=18}}</ref> The {{transliteration|ja|Gohonzon}} includes the Sutra's teaching that all life inherently possesses dignity when "illuminated by the light of the Mystic Law",<ref>{{cite book|last1=Nichiren|title=The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin|date=1999|publisher=Soka Gakkai|location=Tokyo|page=832|quote=The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon}}</ref> and depicts the ceremony in which [[Bodhisattva|bodhissatvas]] embrace "their mission to teach and preach to suffering people the path to happiness and freedom".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Seagar|first1=Richard|title=Encountering the Dharma|date=2006|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley, CA|isbn=978-0-520-24577-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/encounteringdhar0000seag/page/33 33]|url=https://archive.org/details/encounteringdhar0000seag}}</ref>

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 (see "[[#"Life force" and "Human Revolution"|Life Force and Human Revolution]]"). After Soka Gakkai's ex-communication by [[Nichiren Shōshū]], 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''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daisakuikeda.org/sub/books/books-by-category/buddhist-philosophy/wisdom_lotus_sutra.html|title=The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra I -VI - Daisaku Ikeda Website|website=www.daisakuikeda.org}}</ref>

=== Karma (as "changing karma into mission") ===
The concept of [[karma]] is based on the law of causality. It refers to consequences created through actions, words, or thoughts.
Both early Buddhists and Hindus believed that to redress karma accumulated throughout many eons, one must be reincarnated numerous times.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nanda and Ikeda|first=Ved and Daisaku|year=2015|title=Our World to Make |publisher=Dialogue Path Press |location=Cambridge, MA|page=94}}</ref> The concept of karma then often became a source of despair as well as a tool for Buddhist clergy to instill fear and guilt in the minds of believers. Soka Gakkai Nichiren Buddhism, however, believes that the fundamental cause for revealing the ultimate potential of life, or Buddha nature, can diminish the influence of negative karma in the present lifetime.<ref>{{ Cite book |last=Yatomi |first=Shin|year=2006|title=Buddhism in a New Light|url=https://archive.org/details/buddhisminnewlig00yato |publisher=World Tribune Press |location=Santa Monica|page=[https://archive.org/details/buddhisminnewlig00yato/page/164 164]|isbn=978-1-932911-14-5}}</ref>

Ikeda explains that negative karma is subsumed in the world of Buddhahood and is purified by its power.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Daisaku Ikeda |author2=Katsuji Sato |author3=Masaaki Morinaka |year=2004|title=The World of Nichiren Daishonin's Writings |volume=3 |publisher= Soka Gakkai Malaysia|location=Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia|page=62}}</ref> 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.