New ReligionsNew Religions#6#6

Soka GakkaiSoka Gakkai （創価学会）（創価学会）

Masayo Urasaki

24 July 2012

Today’s Class GoalToday’s Class Goal

1)To understand Soka Gakkai （創価学会）’ s brief history and background.

2)To understand the characteristics of Soka Gakkai’s social impact

3)To consider “Non – verbal communication” in today’s workshop.

KeywordsKeywords

Mr.Tsunesaburo Makiguchi （牧口常三郎） Mr.Josei Toda （戸田城聖） Mr.Daisaku Ikeda( 池田大作） Nichiren Sho-shu （日蓮正宗） Shaku buku （折伏） Zadan-kai （座談会） Ko-mei party （公明党） SGI （ Soka Gakkai International 創価学会イ

ンターナショナル）

What is Soka GakkaiWhat is Soka Gakkai （創価学（創価学会）？会）？

Largest New Religious Organization in Japan Soka Gakkai 　（創価学会）　　　創　 So 　→　　 Create　　　価 Ka 　→ Value　　　学会 Gakkai → 　 Institute “Value Creating Society” ・ Founded by Mr. Tsunesaburo Makiguchi　　 on 1930 at Tokyo .・ Official membership count is 8,270,000

Worship and symbolsWorship and symbols

Adhere to the Nichiren shoshu Buddhism （日蓮正宗）

The idol

Gohonzon （ご本尊） Mandala

　　　　 曼荼羅

Human 　revolution

（人間革命）

8 Lotus leaves

　→ 　 Open your hearts to Dhamma

Blue (Peace)

Yellow (Glory)

Red (Victory)

From Education institute to From Education institute to Religious OrganizationReligious Organization

At first, Mr.Makiguchi

　 established “Soka

　 Education Institution

for the human life is

happiness.

　 Three Greatest Values

　　　 　① Beauty 　（美） ②Gain and antithesis as evil ugliness and loss （利） ③Goodness （善）

Three Key-personThree Key-person(Founder and Presidents)(Founder and Presidents)

・ 1st Mr.Tsunesaburo Makiguchi　（牧口常三郎） (1871-1944) a former elementary school teacher and principle 　　　　　　　　 ・ 2nd Mr.Josei Toda （戸田城

聖）　　　　　　　　　 (1900-1958)　　　　　　　　　 a former elementary school teacher・ 3rd Mr.Daisaku Ikeda( 池田大作） (1928 -)

Daily practicesDaily practices

Shakubuku （折伏） persuasion to the people Zadankai （座談会） talking at small circles by

members about Dhamma and daily practices. Gongyo （勤行） Twice a day(Morning and

Evening), 　 Lotus 　 Sutra only two chapters and “Namu- myou- ho-ren ge kyou （南無妙法蓮華経）”　

Studying Nichiren’s textbooks （教学の研鑽） Funeral Ceremony by only friends （友人葬）

Soka Gakkai and Soka Gakkai and Komei partyKomei party （公明党）（公明党）

1964 　 Soka Gakkai organized Political Party “Komei-tou （公明党）”

First aim to establish national Religions as Soka Gakkai /Kokukitsu kaidan 国立戒壇

Under the unstable politics in Japan, Komei party has a lot of grassroots power (particularly, poor people and Korean living in Japan)

1999-2009 success Coalition Regime with LDP (Liberal Democratic Party)

SGISGI （（ Soka Gakkai International Soka Gakkai International 創価学会インターナショナル）創価学会インターナショナル）

World wide network

(192 countries)

・ Social Activities

Anti-nuclear weapon campaign

Keep Environmental movement

Human relations

Interfaith

Characteristics of Soka Gakkai Characteristics of Soka Gakkai

Compare with other Religious Groups

1) Passionate Invitation

2) Political Power

3) Keep out other Religion( but gradually changing)

4) Tight network domestic and worldwide

5) Emphasis Education/ Soka University

WorkshopWorkshop

The characteristics point of Soka Gakkai is how to guide (or communicate) the teaching to others.

So, let’s do role playing about the “non- verbal communication” with your friends.