Signiicance

OFTHE MONTH

NOVEMBER 18TH: FOUNDING DAY OF SOKA GAKKAI

THE BIRTH OF
ORDINARY PEOPLE'S
MOVEMENT
Coming back to the significance of major Soka Gakkai days is like revisiting the prime point
of one's faith. For us, the Soka Gakkais tradition of commemnorating significant dates is
important (1) to understand our mentors' heart and spirit, and the efforts they have made
for humanity's happiness and (2) to determine to live the same spirit through our own
actions and further expand our movement of kosen-rufu

SIGNIFICANCE AT A GLANCE
(FOR YOUR DISCUSSION MEETINGS)
November 18th is observed as the founding day of Soka Gakkai. On this day in 1930,
59-year-old Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, with the support of his 30-year-old disciple Josei
oda, published Soka Kyoikugaku Taikei (The System of Value-Creating Education).
This event marked the founding of the Soka Gakkai, which paved the way to
stablishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land' in an age marredby
political and economic upheavals.
Oncidentaly, Makiguchi Sensei, who had been incarcerated bythe Japanese
tarist authorities, died in prison in 1944 on the very same date as the Soka
Gakkai's founding, November 18th.
01 President Ikeda writes, "Treasuring the starting point, represented by the
ounder, is the lifeline of any organization or institution. The Soka Gakkai's starting
n ies in the selfless struggle to propagate the Law undertaken by Mr Makiguchi
and Mr Toda. And, it was through the united struggle of Mr Toda and me that the
oka Gakkai has today grown into a global organization" (Vc, Jan 2009, 27)

On November 18, 1930, our Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (Value-Creating

founding president Tsunesaburo Education Society), which is the
Makig chi, with the help of his forerunner of the Soka Gakkai.
iple Josei Toda, published the Two years earlier [in 1928], they
first volume of Soka had taken faith in Nichiren
Buddhism.
Taikei (The Kyoikugaku Daishonin's
System of Value-Creating And responding to the
Pedagogy The publisher was listed as call, "Mydisciples, form your ranks

November 2021 77
Significance OF THE MO NTH

Soka Kyoikugaku Taikei (The Systerm of Value-Creating

Pedagogy)

A First Soka Gakkai president Tsunesaburo Makiguchi's

smile captured in a 1930 photograph at the time of the The founding of the Soka Gakkai
founding of the Soka Gakkai
was "a courageous declaration for the
eternal transmission of the [Mystic)
and follow me" ('The Actions of Law, revitalizing the flow of the correct
the Votary of the Lotus Sutra', teaching and doctrines of Buddhism
WND-1, 765), Makiguchi Sensei and at a time when they had become
Toda Sensei took on the mission obscured and lost" (vc, Nov 2010, 5).
entrusted by Nichiren Daishonin thus unfurling the banner for kosen-
and vowed to propagate the Mystic rufu for the eternal future.
Law and accomplish worldwide
kosen-rufu. Ikeda Sensei writes, Roots in education
"My mentor, second Soka Gakkai
president Josei Toda, articulated The priority of the prevalent edu-
that vow as 'eradicating misery cational system in Makiguchi Senseis
from the face of the earth'. As Time was economic growth. However,
misery exists this planet,
on basing himself on his years of expe
long as

the stru9gle of the Soka Gakkai rience teacher, Makiguchi Sense

as a
continues" (Vc, Feb 2011, 73). conceptualized a child-centered

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 Significance
O FTHE MONTH

educational philosophy that aimed at the birth of Nichiren Daishonin, the

fostering children into value-creating founders of our Soka movement
individuals outlined in the Soka were imprisoned during World War II
Kyoikugaku Taikei. Ikeda Sensei writes: for refusing to abandon their faith
in Nichiren Buddhism. Ikeda Sensei
The first volume is a crystalliza writes, "Mr Makiguchi remained
tion of the concept of the unflinching in the face of persecution
creation of value in pursuance by Japan's wartime militarist
of the happiness of the common authorities. Even when imprisoned for
people and the flourishingof his beliefs, he dared to speak with the
society. Soka is a shortened prison guards about his unwavering
form of the Japanese word conviction in the power of Nichiren
kachisouzou, which translates as Buddhism" (vc, Mar 2018, 40). And
"creation of value". Makiguchi on November 18, 1944, Makiguchi
came to realize the deeper Sensei's exemplary life came to a close.
meaning behind the principles Toda Sensei was released from
of Soka education through his prison on July 3, 1945 and resolved
study of the Lotus Sutra and the to vindicate his mentor's greatness
teachings of Nichiren, and he by rebuilding the Soka Gakkai. He
endeavored to widely promote accomplished this with the help of
Nichiren's teachings, which his able disciple, Daisaku lkeda. Toda
cOver the universal values of the Sensei, who was inaugurated as the
human being. (vc, Aug 2011, 158) second president of Soka Gakkai on
May 3, 1951, accomplished his goal
The Soka Kyoiku Gakkai of 750,000 member-households in
(Value
Creating Education Society), which Japan by 1957. Carrying on the legacy
Originally comprised reform-minded of his mentor and exemplifying the
educators, eventually grew into a indomitable spirit of mentor and
movement that expanded its focus disciple, Ikeda Sensei, who became
Deyond education and strengthened the third president of Soka Gakkai,
its
emphasis on the reform of society expanded the membership beyond
based on the Japan and accomplished worldwide
transformation of the
inner life of
individuals. kosen-rufu.

Invi
"Vincible in the face of persecution Preserving the founding spirit

Having set into motion unprece

an About the significance of Novem-
dented people's ber 18th, Ikeda Sensei writes, "[It] is the
more than
movement for peace
seven centuries after prime point for all disciples of Soka to

November 2021 79
Significance O FT HE MONTH

centennial, responsibility as
our
blaze with the spirit of not begrudging
disciples of Ikeda Sensei is not only
one's life and selfless devotion to
to keep the river of kosen-rufu
propagating the Law" (vc Mar 2010, 88).
to strengthen it.
For practitioners of the Mystic Law flowing but also
Ikeda Sensei writes, "The presence
and members of the Soka Gakkai,
of disciples determined to realize
each day must be lived with the spirit
that it is November 18th. Ikeda Sensei the mentor's vision is crucial to the
Soka Gakkai's eternal victory. Every
says, "Every day marks a fresh start,
a time for fresh progress and fresh age needs genuine disciples who will
stand up and demonstrate proof of
efforts to communicate our
message our movement's ongoing success. Even
meet with others, and foster capable
people. Every day is a new day of just one person is enough... True
victory means to continue winning.
founding for the Gakkai. This is the
Soka spirit of mentor and disciple in Holding high the banner of Nichiren
which we exert ourselves bravely and Daishonin's Buddhism, the supreme
vigorously in accord with Nichiren teaching of value human
creation and
Daishonin's teaching of 'strengthening revolution, let us forever triumph
our faith day by day and month after and prosper" (VC, Feb 2011, 75). Such a
month' (cf. 'On Persecutions Befalling stand-alone spirit based on the Great
t h e S a g e ' , WND-1, 997) " ( v c , Mar 2010, 8 2 ) .
Vow of Nichiren Daishonin and our
In this era of disciples, as we founding mentors is the eternal spirit
progress toward the Soka Gakkai's of November 18th. e

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