Soka Gakkai is part of the spectrum of Japanese Buddhist movements that draw inspiration from the teachings of the thirteenth-century monk Nichiren Daishonin (1222-82). Trained in the Tendai school of Mahayana Buddhism […]

The central scripture for Soka Gakkai followers, as with other Nichiren Buddhists, is the Lotus Sutra, a text which is presented as taught by the historical Buddha Shakyamuni, although scholars suggest that it […]

As a lay movement that had its origins in the Nichiren Shoshu sub-school, Soka Gakkai is not founded upon completely new sources of wisdom. Rather, the establishment of Soka Gakkai helped to […]

Soka Gakkai was founded by Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871-1944), a school principal (Hammond and Machacek 2002: 1189). Makiguchi had moved south to Tokyo from Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s main islands. Makiguchi had […]

Makiguchi and his disciple, Jose Toda (1900-1958), were imprisoned during the Second World War on charges of lèse-majesté for refusing to comply with the Religious Organisations Act (1940). The Act effectively established Shinto as […]

Soka Gakkai International has an estimated 12 million adherents in 192 countries (Gebert 2017). There are SGI organisations in more than 30 European countries with a total membership of more than 135,000. […]

Soka Gakkai teachings emphasise the importance of people transforming themselves at the individual level as a means of transforming the world, through ‘mentor and disciple’ relationships (SGI-UK 2017: 3). SGI organisations are […]

The main practice engaged in by followers of Soka Gakkai is o daimoku, or the daily chanting of the phrase Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Members hold that this practice is what helps them to raise their ‘life-condition’ […]

In line with historical Buddhist teachings, the Soka Gakkai see birth and death as essential phases of a ‘changeless force’ that exists eternally, or the fundamental ‘life-force’ around us (SGI-UK 2017: 29). […]

Soka Gakkai followers do not have their own distinctive calendar of sacred events.

The biography of Nichiren Daishonin bears some similarities with that of the Hebrew prophets, who decried the decline of society with the abandonment of true religious convictions. Nichiren’s teachings involved engaging with, […]

For Soka Gakkai followers, the Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is not merely expressed through chanting – it is also embodied as an object of devotion, called the Gohonzon. Honzon means ‘object of fundamental respect’ and go means ‘worthy of honour’ […]

Soka Gakkai followers carry out individual daily worship in their own homes. Group discussion meetings in local districts are also organised in members’ homes.

Gongyo, literally ‘assiduous or constant practice’, forms the backbone of daily prayer and meditation in Soka Gakkai. It is performed each morning and evening. In Nichiren Buddhism, gongyo refers specifically to the recitation of […]

There are several temples that have been pilgrimage centres for Nichiren Buddhists throughout the centuries, including Mount Minobu, Ikegami Hommon-ji, and other sites associated with the life of Nichiren (Montgomery 1991: 198). […]

From its earliest days, Buddhism has been a missionary religion (Keown 1996: 70). The Soka Gakkai are therefore not unique in upholding their concept of kosen rufu, or the mission of converting people […]

Although Nichiren Buddhism has a reputation for being intolerant towards other variants of Buddhism, the SGI organisations in different countries have adapted to their unique contexts quite flexibly. Thus, while Soka Gakkai […]

As a lay organisation that had its origins in Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, Soka Gakkai shares some common traits with other schools of Japanese Buddhism. For one thing, in contrast to Indian expressions […]

In the post-War years, the appeal of Toda’s leadership to the more marginalised members of Japanese society meant that Soka Gakkai attracted large numbers of people who were poor and uneducated, especially […]

Soka Gakkai regards itself as the sole and true inheritor of Nichiren’s dharma, which has often placed it squarely in opposition not only to other Buddhists, but to other Nichiren-based sub-schools (McLaughlin 2015: […]

As a result of backlash against Soka Gakkai’s uncompromising interpretation of Buddhism and its controversial practices, such as shakubuku, SGI president Daisaku Ikeda toned down some of the movement’s ideals. For example, in […]

The diversity within Buddhism has resulted in diverging interpretations of common concepts, such as the ‘Middle Way’. For Soka Gakkai, drawing upon the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, the Middle Way is exemplified […]

Soka Gakkai members, especially converts in the West, are often happy to relate their religious experiences. In an interview, Tina Turner responded to a question about the relationship between singing and spirituality […]

As noted in other sections above, Soka Gakkai teaches that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo expresses the ‘universal law of life’, and that its recitation “allows each individual to tap into the wisdom of their life to […]

The relationship between religion and science is generally uncontroversial amongst Soka Gakkai followers. In fact, the movement has two universities – one in Tokyo (founded in 1971) and one in Orange County, […]

As a consequence of their beliefs about karma and the cycle of rebirth, Buddhists hold all life as sacred. This can lead to complicated positions on issues such as abortion because, according to early […]

Soka Gakkai place great importance on achieving a balance of individual health and happiness and the larger transformation of the world (SGI-UK 2017). While organisations such as SGI-UK do not pass judgement […]

SGI positions itself as a movement of ‘human revolution’ – the world will only change when the people’s individual hearts change. Small-scale activities are meant to have big impacts. Individual practices become […]

In the UK, SGI has four centres which are open to movement members and the public. The UK headquarters are located at Taplow Court, Buckinghamshire, and there are three centres in London: […]

Soka Gakkai is explicit about its deep regard for environmental sustainability. The preamble to its charter names the “degradation of the natural environment and widening economic chasms between developed and developing nations, […]

Since 1983, Daisaku Ikeda has written peace proposals which are sent to the United Nations and other world leaders. Soka Gakkai regards Ikeda’s proposals as reflecting and influencing global efforts such as […]

Soka Gakkai International – sokaglobal.org Soka Gakkai UK – https://sgi-uk.org/ Soka Gakkai USA – https://www.sgi-usa.org/ Daisaku Ikeda Website Committee. 2018. “Infusing Culture into the Soka Gakkai.” Daisaku Ikeda Website. 2018. http://www.daisakuikeda.org/main/culture/cultivating-the-human-spirit/infusing.html Lee, Minerva. 2017. “Differences in […]

Harding, Robin. 2016. “Abe’s constitution dream collides with Buddhist allies”. Reuters. 14 July 2016. Miller, Andrea. 2016. “Tina Turner: What’s Love Got to Do With It?” Lion’s Roar (blog). March 7, 2016. https://www.lionsroar.com/tina-turner-whats-love-got-to-do-with-it/

Baffelli, Erica. 2011. “‘The Gakkai Is Faith; the Komeito Is Action’: Soka Gakkai and ‘Buddhist Politics.’” In Politics and Religion in Modern Japan: Red Sun, White Lotus, edited by Roy Starrs, 240–77. Basingstoke: […]