The Sokagakkai is a Nichiren Based organization originating in Japan based on the Lotus Sutra and the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin. Its origins are with the Fuji School and until 1992 it was directly affiliated with a parent organization known as Nichiren Shoshu. The Teachings of the Gakkai are purportedly directly derived from Nichiren's "Gosho" or honored writings but in actuality are liberally interpreted.
For more on how it sees itself you can explore these outside links: General: Sokagakkai,http://www.etherbods.com/about/index.shtml, nice:http://www.fortunechildbooks.com/peace.htm. Britain:http://www.buddhalife.org/SGIhomepage.htm Polemical: http://www.sokaspirit.org/,http://www.gakkaionline.net/
The Sokagakkai was founded in 1930 as the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai by Tsunesuburu Makiguchi and his disciple Josei Toda(please follow the links if you want more!). It was one of many lay organizations belonging to the parent religion Nichiren Shoshu. These lay organizations were collectively known as "hokkeko" organizations and dated their existence back to the days when the founder was still alive. It was somewhat special from the beginning. Makiguchi founded the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai after he was converted to Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism by a lay member with the help of the two priests of the Fuji School1; Reverend Hori and Reverend Horigome, both of whom served time as High Priests, and both of whom had profound faith in the Daishonin's teachings and were very humble teachers. This at first differentiated it from other lay groups such as the Reiyukai or Koseikei, or even the competing Myoshinkai, who often depended on charismatic founders and distorted the teachings of Nichiren in favor of the teachings of those founders.
Makiguchi founded the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai for twin purposes. One was to propagate his educational and social ideas of "Value Creation" or "Soka". The other was to spread Buddhism among the teachers of Japan and thus contribute to "Kosenrufu." He had been raised as a Nichiren Buddhist from one of the so-called "Minobu Schools" but Buddhism hadn't been a very strong influence in his childhood. It was only after a long hard struggle promoting his pedagogical theories in the face of an authoriarian Government that he once again turned to Buddhism. He came to be impressed with Nichiren's teachings anew thanks to the wisdom of his teachers whose enthusiasm for Nichiren's teachings was pure, and because he suddenly saw the "value creation" aspect of the Lotus Sutra and of Nichiren's teachings. His own theories were relatively shallow without Buddhism. Explaining that "Value" is subjective he replaced the Kantian values of Beauty Goodness and Truth with Beauty Goodness and Gain. He wasn't diminishing the importance of Truth, just trying to create a subjective basis for these values. Unfortunately one of the results of this teaching was that it became something people could later misinterpret. Some have interpreted Value Creation theory as teaching that truth is relative, which is far from true.
Encouraged by the priests, his lay organization enjoyed some limited success, becoming an organization with somewhere around 2000 members by the time of it's near demise in 1943. Reverend Hori and Reverend Horigome had seen the need for a new lay based Nichiren Shoshu based Buddhist Movement and supported both Makiguchi and Toda in their efforts. Other Nichiren Monks and priests were less enthusiastic. Indeed many were downright opposed to such liberal nonsense as lay societies or value creation. Makiguchi may not have been a pacifist in the way we are used to the term now, but he was enough of an iconclast to get himself into trouble. And worse, he was something rare in Japan, an honest man, and that was enough to get him into trouble sooner or later.
Indeed these were the prewar years in Japan, and most Nichiren monks and believers were going out of their way to support the Government, and were not interested in anything that didn't support it. Most of them were instead crawling all over themselves to prove that Nichiren was an emmanation of the Sun Goddess and that the Divine Emperor would spread Nichirenism as he conquered the world. (See tanaka.html and ogasawara.html.) By 1943 the Government was bringing pressure on Buddhist sects to consolidate, but that wasn't the worst of Buddhism's problems. They also were pressuring Buddhists to engage in Emperor Worship and to respect the "Kami" or natural gods of Japan. Within Nichiren Shoshu, there was even a teacher (Jiko Ogasawara, who held the rank of chief instructer of priests, who taught that Nichiren was inferior to the Sun Goddess. But, his extreme views were only the worst of the fawning and synchophantic notions put out by Buddhists and non Buddhist Japanese alike. High Priest Nikkyo Shonin,laygroups such as the Myoshinkai, and Nichiren teachers such as Tanaka seemed to vie with each other to make Nichirenism the vanguard of Japanese Nationalism.
Compared to them Makiguchi and his disciple Toda must have seemed radicals of internationalism. And indeed Makiguchi had based his earliest teachings on a "Geography of Life."
Makiguchi came to believe that Buddhism was being subsumed, and betrayed, by nativist religion (Shinto) and nationalism. This betrayal of Nichiren's message had to be protested, in the grand tradition of Nichiren himself, even at the cost of the protestors life. The current situation was proof that the admonitions in the Rissho Ankoku Ron were still applicable to Japan. If so, then the predictions would occur too. Unles the country were remonstrated with, it might indeed perish. If Buddhism had been healthy and not "destroyed from within" there would have been no danger from Shinto. Shinto is a primitive religion that has hardly any value on it's own. But because of the "slander of the sutra" of teachers like Ogasawara and others, the nation was destined to be defeated by the USA in the now joined battle. Makiguchi saw that the Japanese people were so confused that they were sure to lose the war and finally fulfil the predictions that Nichiren made back in the thirteenth century.
He hoped that his protest would make a difference. Therefore he remonstrated about the efforts to make members accept Shinto Talisman and the effort to subsume Buddhism to Japanese Nationalism and Shinto. As a consequence of this all the leaders of the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai were arrested, including Josei Toda. All but Makiguchi and Toda turned tail and were released from Prison. Nikkyo Shonin, High priest of the time excommunicated these leaders and forbade them to visit the Head Temple. Makiguchi died in prison.
(See makiguchi.html).
Josei Toda came out of Prison a changed man. He had had some revelations about the meaning of the Lotus Sutra and had finally seen the supreme relevence of it's teachings to this day and age and his own life. This gave him a broader vision of the role of the Sokagakkai than simply as a lay organization of teachers. He renamed the Sokagakkai from the "Value Creation Education Society" to simply the "Value Creation Society" and began a vigorous propagation effort. He used three themes for this propagation effort. One was the notion of "human revolution", which emphasized the value of common people and the idea that "the change in one man can influence an entire society." The second was the eternal Buddha notions of the Fuji School interpreted afresh through his prison experience. He hammered home these views by lecturing on the Lotus Sutra. And thei third theme for his propagation efforts was the notion of Kosenrufu as world peace through the spread of "correct teachings." Nichiren Shoshu had been relatively isolated for it's 750 year history, and so could claim that it was the "one true sect" that had preserved Nichiren's teachings intact, and these teachings in combination were nearly irresistable to people disillusioned with Emperors and Shinto.
Toda and Nichiren Shoshu had also developed the notions of "Fuje Fuse" (not to accept or give donations to heretical sects), to their logical extreme. For instance in October 1954, addressing the YMD at the Josei Toda, said:
"We must consider all religions our enemies, and we must destroy them."
This naturally led to a kind of "Shakubuku" that was more than critical of the moribund Buddhist Sects of it's time. New members were required to destroy all religious objects in their homes before enshrining the Gohonzon...including the family ancestral tablets(akin to the "Family Bible"). At times, overzealous Soka Gakkai members would even remove these items against the wishes of the new convert and their families.see footnote "Q"
It was only a matter of time before such an outward looking "warrior" attitude would turn within and the Sokagakkai take this attitude towards it's own source of doctrines. Indeed the Gakkai got into a public battle after Toda allowed 47 of his disciples to attack and publicly chastise the priest Ogasawara, who had been restored to his membership as a Nichiren Shoshu Priest. Even so, the Gakkai was liberal in comparison to rivals such as the Myoshinko (later Kenshokai) and it's approach seemed consistent with Nichiren's teachings as interpreted by Nichiren Shoshu. And as a result of the embarrassment caused by his actions, Toda promised to convert the entire Japanese nation. The seeds of future conflict had been planted.
See toda.html
One of the leaders of that propagation effort was his disciple, Daisaku Ikeda, who galvanized the Youth Division and led major efforts in Kansai. The Sokagakkai became famous (or infamous) for their "shakubuku methods" which in typical Japanese style were methods that took no quarter. They also became famous for getting involved in Politics. The Kansai campaign was also a political campaign as well as an effort to make conversions among the people living there. Generally the seeds of future political involvement were planted with President Toda's declaration that Nuclear Weapons should be wiped off the face of the earth, and with their involvement in the "Komeito"(clean Government party). For more on Josei Toda see toda.html Toda was a passionate man, and that passion led him to make a declaration against war and nuclear weapons that was to endure to this day. He died in 1958
The Gakkai vigorously criticized and "refuted" most of the Buddhist and Non-Buddhist, mainly "shinto" religions in Japan and vigorously recruited people from other Nichiren Sects and all walks of life. The vehicle for this was the "shakubuku campaign" the "discussion meeting" and an emphasis on indoctrination and study, actual proof, and a simple practice of chanting "Daimoku"(Nam Myoho Renge Kyo) prayer to the "Gohonzon" scroll that is the central object of worship. This was "exclusive practice" of chanting to an exclusive object of worship. They specifically criticized the other Nichiren Sects, claiming that their religions lacked actual proof of Buddhism because they slandered Nichiren's teachings rather than practicing them and that that was because their founders had failed to follow the correct teachings handed down through his disciple Nikko Shonin. This effort awakened many people to faith in Nichiren's teachings but it also alienated and scared many Japanese who are as a whole afraid of direct confrontation "within" their society. It alienated people who might otherwise have been receptive to the Gakkai's message. And some of these people were to later continue to express hostility towards the Gakkai even after it made efforts to improve its image. Worse, the "method" of this argument was based on fear, what turned out to be oral traditions, and documents that were alleged to be forgeries.
for more on this visit sgissue page or embedded links
Toda passed away in 1958 and two years later Daisaku Ikeda emerged to become President in 1960. Ironically President Ikeda claimed an oral inheritance from Josei Toda and used this "lineage" credentials to win out over more senior potential successors in the Gakkai and to transform the Gakkai from a committee directed organization to one pretty much under his personal and complete control. President Ikeda continued this effort, and led major campaigns all over Japan, expecially continuing in the "Kansai" (Kyoto area) region Southwest of Tokyo. He created a cadre of translators and assistants to help him turn out dozens of books and wrote one series in particular named "The Human Revolution" which was designed to galvanize the members. During his time, members started to appear in other countries. Expecially in the USA. The Sokagakkai helped rebuild Nichiren Shoshu after it's near destruction during world War II, and eventually donated many wonderful buildings, including one the "Sho Hondo" that was later torn down specifically because it reminded the 67th high priest of President Ikeda. For more on him visit this page Ikeda.html and for a discussion of what happened to the Sho-Hondo, follow the link: shohondo.html. You should also be able to visit the page prior.html. Building the Sho Hondo was the high water mark for both Nichiren Shoshu and the Sokagakkai. Even so, it was built at the cost of Nittatsu Shonin being forced to excommunicate the rival Myoshinko organization.(for more follow the embedded links)
The Japanese organization also got involved in politics rather early. The above mentioned Kansai campaign was as much a political one as a shakubuku one. The Gakkai is officially seperate from this organization, but members are so heavily involved that this separation is often paper thin. See this faq:
- http://www.komei.or.jp/eng/about/view.htm for more
After World War II, Japan was occupied by the USA. Many US GI's were stationed in Japan. Initially regulations and societal mores of the Japanese tried to keep the two groups seperate. But nature took it's course anyway and many GI's ended up marrying Japanese Women. Sometimes called "war-brides. These women, for the most part, formed the kernel of what was to be known as NSA or Nichiren Shoshu of America. Later the name was changed to SGI-USA. Under the leadership of these women and some Japanese students and immigrants such as Masayasu Sadanaga (George M Williams), NSA grew into a fairly large organization with a mix of Military men, assorted native speakers, and set a model for development in other countries. Indigineous organizations also developed in Britain, under Mr. Causton, Germany, under Peter Kuhn, Europe as a whole under Dr. Yamazaki (not the same as that other Yamazaki), and various places all over the earth. This led to the formation of SGI international. Often these men were married to Japanese wives. Sometimes the leaders were Japanese emmigrants.
In 1975 the Sokagakkai founded SGI -- Sokagakkai International -- and under that rubric President Ikeda was able to ride out the "stormy furor" that was created by rivals and the priests in the late seventies over various issues. The Gakkai was also protected by the late High Priest Nittatsu Shonin who wanted only that it adhere to correct Nichiren Shoshu Doctrines. When he died in 1979, his successor Nikken Shonin at first supported the Gakkai and continued his policies. In 1985 SGI World got a charter and eventually organizations like NSA were renamed as constituents of this parent organization. Thus the current Gakkai organization in the USA is SGI-USA. This organization is supposed to be an equal partner with Sokagakkai Japan according to it's charter.
- For more on this visit:
- sgissue.html or IRGissues.html
- For events:
- http://www.sgi.org/english/News/calendar.htm
The SG and SGI during their development used a pyramid structure that starts with a capable few at the top and then goes down the line with ever more local leutenants close to the people. The SG in Japan also got involved in politics which was such a hot potatoe that the SG is now seperate from the Komeito, though they continue to be involved with that political party informally. As a lay group of Nichiren Shoshu it was sheltered against charges that it was a "cult" but now it is subject to them. There were also tensions and internal contradictions. For the period between 1979 and 1990 these tensions had been papered over, but they proved Irreconcilable. In 1990 the priests heard news of the content of the 35th Anniversary Leaders meeting of the Gakkai. The High priest was very upset and fired Ikeda from his position as "Honorary head" of the Hokkeko. A Communique was sent out to the members about him and members were asked to "re-register" with their local Temples. The Gakkai and NST quickly squared off, and both let loose with charges and countercharges about internal corruption and "deviations from doctrine." Ikeda was soon "excommunicated" and those who chose to follow him eventually were disenrolled as well. The results got to be very personal as the "temple issue" spun out of control.
These legacies are the reason that Sokagakkai is sometimes controversial (See sgissue.html). There is an internal contradiction between a pyramidal top down structure and any pretense to democracy or "bottom up" movement. In fact the notions of "democracy" that SGI expouses sometimes seem to be more the notions of "democratic centralism" than the kind of democracy we associate with the USA. The SGI is continuously trying to change it's image here, though I see little hope for this to be more than cosmetic unless it actually changes it's formal structure -- and that will not happen as long as the organization is directed from Japan and doesn't see through the personality cult that some of the members have built around Ikeda.
- See IRGissues.html, and reform.
- For more on the "split" see the link to:
- temple.html >and to SG issues page.
- For more detail on the issues related to the SGI see these pages:
- Start: sgissue.html and temple.html
- You can also see the destructive nature of this fight at
- personal.html
- Outside Readings related to official pages:
- Official homepage
- SGI USA homepage
- Outside Readings related to SGI:
- http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/nichiren.html
- Buddhajones
- http://www.buddhajones.com/SGI/NewsJuly03.html
- Gakkai sponsered:
- Etherbods
- http://www.gakkaionline.net/
- Jinzainet
- Fortunechild
- Illuminated Gosho Passages
- "Temple Issue Related Pages"[warning read all content regarding every party below with a lot of salt]
- Gakkai sponsored:
- http://www.sokaspirit.org/
- "Association of Youthful Priests"
- http://www.ssabuddhist.org/newsns.html
- http://campross.crosswinds.net/NShoshu.html
- http://users.erols.com/miyoko/
- Nichiren Shoshu member sponsored:
- "Proud Black Buddhist
- http://www.cebunet.com/nst/
- http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/jqpublic/lectures1.html
- More official:
- http://www.nst.org/
- http://www.taisekiji.net
- http://www.nichirenshoshu.or.jp/
- Other:
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