November marks the founding month of the Soka Gakkai.
On Tuesday, November 18, 1930, founding president Makiguchi Sensei, with the support of his 30-year-old disciple Josei Toda, published Soka Kyoikugaku Taikei (The System of Value-Creating Education). The date appearing on the last page of the book, carrying the publication information, became the date of our organisation’s founding.
Amidst the global turmoil of the Great Depression, the founding of our organisation was a beacon of hope for “establishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land”, the decree of the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law, Nichiren Daishonin. It was a banner for kosen-rufu – the widespread propagation of the Law – unfurled in opposition to the inhumane tide of militarism sweeping Japan. It was a courageous declaration for the eternal transmission of the Law.
At that time, the priesthood had completely lost sight of the struggle for kosen-rufu and were engaged in various activities that constituted slander of the Law. The correct teachings of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism were in grave danger of being lost. It was at precisely that crucial moment that the Soka Gakkai, a gathering of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Earth, made its appearance, vowing to revitalise the flow of the correct teaching and doctrines of Buddhism.
Makiguchi Sensei and Toda Sensei propagated the Law, confronted the enemies of the Lotus Sutra, and shared the correct teaching with others, without begrudging their lives – all with the same spirit and intent as the Daishonin. As a result, they were harshly persecuted by the authorities. Makiguchi Sensei died nobly in prison for his unwavering belief in the Mystic Law. He was truly an example of selfless dedication to propagating the Law. It was on the anniversary of the Soka Gakkai’s founding, November 18, 1944 – shortly after six in the morning as the sun was beginning to rise that Makiguchi Sensei passed away.
Toda Sensei, who later became Soka Gakkai’s second president, delivered this impassioned cry:
“Without Makiguchi Sensei and the Soka Gakkai, the true spirit of the Daishonin would have been lost. This is an undeniable reality, and it is one of the reasons why the Soka Gakkai accords with the Buddha’s intent and decree.”
From its inception to the present, the Soka Gakkai has achieved victory after victory in the advancement of kosen-rufu, overcoming every obstacle that threatened its existence through the intrepid and dedicated efforts of our first three presidents. We are eternally grateful to our three founding
presidents for enabling us to practise this transformative philosophy and live a purposeful
and value-creating life.
Ikeda Sensei states in his guidance:
“Mr Toda sternly warned: When the founding spirit of an organisation is forgotten, cliques and factions emerge, power struggles proliferate, and disorder reigns. Continuing to uphold and reinforce the spirit of mentor and disciple, which is the starting point of the Soka Gakkai, is the very essence and core of our organisation dedicated to the widespread propagation of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.'”
As we commemorate the first Soka Gakkai Founding Day on November 18 after Ikeda Sensei’s passing, let’s renew our resolve as proud members of this beautiful organisation to dedicate our lives to this starting point as we advance towards 2030 and beyond. And striving in our propagation efforts, let’s
enable more and more people to walk this path of happiness and value creation together.
