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The Soka Gakkai International is the umbrella
organization for affiliate lay organizations in over 186 countries
practicing the
Buddhism of
Nichiren Daishonin. Founded as the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai on
November 18,
1930 by Japanese educators
Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and
Josei Toda, the Soka Gakkai experienced a period of rapid growth
after
World War II in
Japan. The organization was formally organized in the
United States on
October 13,
1960. SGI was created as the international organization in
1975.
SGI has been guided since its inception by its president,
Daisaku Ikeda. A disciple of Second Soka Gakkai President Toda,
Mr. Ikeda succeeded him in 1960 as Soka Gakkai President. He became
SGI President in 1975. Founder of
Soka University and the
Soka School System, Mr. Ikeda is the author of numerous books
and has held dialogues toward peace, education and culture with
numerous scholars and world leaders.
Nichiren Daishonin (1222-1282;
"Nichiren" is the name he chose for himself when embarking on
spreading his teaching on
April 28,
1253. It means "Sun Lotus." The word "Daishonin" is an honorific
meaning "great sage."), was a Japanese Buddhist sage who determined
that the
Lotus Sutra was the most important of
Shakyamuni Gautama's teachings, and crystalized the essence of
the sutra as the phrase "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo".
Nichiren taught that by chanting this phrase to the "Gohonzon"--a
scroll with
Chinese and
Sanskrit characters representing the enlightenment and life of
the common mortal--anyone can activate her or his "Buddha nature" and
become enlightened.
The basic practice of SGI members is based on chanting
"Nam-myoho-renge-kyo" daily, reciting two short sections of the
Lotus Sutra, introduction of others to the practice, and study of
important Buddhist teachings. Most important in this study are the
collected writings of Nichiren, recently compiled and issued in a
single English volume titled "The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin."
The Japanese edition of the writings, the "Nichiren Daishonin Gosho
Zenshu," was issued in
1952. Translations are available, or are being done, in other
languages.
More information and details about Nichiren Buddhism can be found
at
[1], the home page for SGI-USA, the American affiliate lay
organization. The website contains links to several dozen SGI-USA
community centers as well as affiliate SGI organizations, including
the Soka Gakkai in Japan, the
Boston Research Center for the 21st Century, Soka University,
and others. Information about SGI-USA publications is also available
at the site.
SGI-USA also has established a book publishing company, which
distributes titles related to Buddhism to commercial booksellers.
"Middleway Press" can also be accessed through a link at the site
above.
The organization holds weekly meetings throughout the United
States, both at local SGI-USA community centers and in members'
homes. Local meeting information is available through the various
community centers, whose addresses and telephone numbers are also
available at the website above.
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