SGI-USA ALABAMA
"If you wish to free yourself from the sufferings of birth and death you have endured since
time without beginning and to attain without fail unsurpassed enlightenment in this
lifetime,you must perceive the mystic truth that is originally inherent in all living beings.This
truth is Myoho-renge-kyo.Chanting Myoho-renge-kyo will therefore enable you to grasp the
mystic truth innate in all life"
What We Believe. . .
"Our task is to establish a firm inner world,a robust sense of self that will not be swayed or shaken by
the most trying circumstances or pressing adversity. Only when efforts to reform society have as their
point of departure the reformation of the inner life-human revolution-will they lead us with certainty to a
world of lasting peace and true human security."
Daisaku Ikeda
Our philosphy is rooted in the concept of "human revolution",a process of inner transformation through
Buddhist practice.It's an awakening that leads us to develop our character;to cultivate
wisdom,courage,and compassion;and to act not only for our personal fulfillment,but also for the
betterment of society.
The SGI charter,
adopted in 1995,gives voice to our beliefs and sets forth our guidelines for social engagement.The
basic principles of the Charter are:
*promote an understanding of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism
*contribute to peace,culture,and education within society
*safeguard fundamental human rights and eliminate discrimination
*respect and protect freedom of religion and religious expression
*work together with other religions to resolve issues affecting humanity
*respect cultural diversity and promote cultural exchange
*encourage the protection of nature and the environment
Building a Culture of Peace
Soka Gakkai International-USA (SGI-USA)
is an American Buddhist association that promotes peace and individual happiness based on the
teachings of the Nichiren school of Mahayana Buddhism.Our members reflect a cross section of our
diverse American society,representing a broad range of ethnic and social backgrounds.
With 71 centers throughout the country,SGI-USA makes its headquarters in Santa Monica,California.
SGI-USA is affiliated with the worldwide SGI organization that has 12 million members in 163
countries,with its headquarters in Tokyo,Japan.
A Modern Heritage. . .
Founding president,Tsunesaburo Makiguchi,first used the term Soka Gakkai(Society for the Creation of
Value) in 1930 when he published his insightful "Value Creating Educational Theory" He asserted that
the purpose of education should not be the mere training of workers for Japan's growing industrial
machine,but the development of the human being's ability to create "value"(i.e.improvement,beauty,and
social good) in their daily lives.His humanistic,student-centered views often brought him into conflict
with authority.Arrested with other Soka Gakkai leaders during World War II as a "thought criminal"for
his unyielding opposition to the Japanese militarist regime and its forced imposition of State
Shinto,Makiguchi died in prison of malnutrition and mistreatment at the age of 73 in November 1944.
Makiguchi's close disciple,Josei Toda,survived the ordeal and was released from a Tokyo prison just
weeks before the first use of the atomic bomb in July 1945.Determined to rebuild the Soka Gakkai,Toda
set about developing its membership from less than 3,000 families when he assumed the presidency in
1951 to more than 750,000 before his own death in 1958.The Soka Gakkai's remarkable early growth
stemmed from its commitment to help people overcome their suffering in the postwar chaos.Toda
confirmed the Soka Gakkai's pacifest stance in 1957 by taking a strong-and at that time
pioneering-public position against the use of nuclear weapons.
On May 3,1960,Daisaku Ikeda became the third president.Within six months,he established chapters in
the United States,and South America,followed a year later by organizations in nine European
countries.He continues to provide leadership for the global SGI organization,which now includes
members in more than half the countries of the world.
Inheriting the pacifest commitment of his predecessors,Mr.Ikeda has worked tirelessly to develop a
broad-based peace movement.He has traversed the globe,conducting exchanges with many of the
world's leading thinkers,policy-makers,and scholars;and has founded a number of educational and
cultural institutions,(see links below),which seek to foster the values of peace,culture,and education.
What We Do. . .
The core activity for all SGI-USA members is the neighborhood discussion meeting.These informal
gatherings ,usually held in members'homes,bring together a wide range of people to pray together,to
study Buddhist principles,and discuss how they can best be applied to the challenges of daily life.
In addition,through youth activities,educational seminars,and exhibiits,we address urgent issues facing
the individual and humanity as a whole.Nonsectarian activities have included:
VICTORY OVER VIOLENCE:A grass-roots campaign to raise awareness about violence,its
causes,and solutions.In August 1999,at 1,700 neighborhood meetings throughout the U.S.,10,000 people
pledged themselves to the principles of non-violence.The program is now expanding to schools and
community organizations.
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE THROUGH DIALOGUE:At both the local and national levels,SGI-USA
sponsors and participates in a number of inter-religious conferences and symposia,including the
Society for Buddhist Christian Studies(SBCS),the National Buddhist-Catholic Dialogue,and the
Parliament of the World's Religions.
EDUCATION FOR A CULTURE OF PEACE: SGI-USA travelling exhibits have gained recognition for
their ability both to inform and to evoke a sense of personal responsibility for the important
peace,human rights,and environmental issues facing our planet.Recent exhibits sponsored by SGI-USA
include:
Treasuring the Future-Children's Rights and Realities: An interactive look at the state of children's
rights.
Ecology and Human Life: Exploring the human dimension of the environmental crisis.
Nuclear Arms-Threat to Our World: Promoting disarmament through raising public awareness.
Linus Pauling and the Twentieth Century: Explores the life of the Nobel Prize winning chemist and
pacifest.
THE EARTH CHARTER: SGI-USA members have sponsered more than 30 conferences involving
some 1,800 participants to educate the American people about the international Earth Charter
project.An SGI-USA representative participates in the Earth Charter USA Network,the national
coordinating group.
FRIENDSHIP THROUGH KNOWLEDGE:An SGI-USA eductional project that collected and shipped
more than 14,000 books to schools and colleges in Ghana.
SGI-Affiliated Institutions
The Boston Research Center for the 21st Century
Toda Peace Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research
Soka University of America
Soka University of Japan
Institute of Oriental Philosophy
Pacific Basin Research Center
Tokya Fuji Art Museum
The Min-on Concert Association
An Ancient Tradition. . .
The origins of the SGI-USA worldview can be traced to the teachings of the Buddha,Shakymuni,who
lived some 2,500 years ago in what is modern-day Nepal.
Born Gautama Siddhartha,he abandoned his sheltered,princely life and sought instead to understand
the inescapable sufferings of every human being-birth,aging,sickness,and death-and the means by
which these sufferings could be overcome.
Following his enlightenment at age 32,he traveled throughout India for 50 years,sharing the wisdom he
had discovered.The term Buddha,or "enlightened one",is applied to any human being who realizes the
eternity of life and the operation of cause and effect throughout the three existences of past,present,and
future.
Shakyamuni's intuitive realization of this universal Law (Skt:Dharma)is most succinctly articulated in the
Lotus Sutra,widely considered his most definitive teaching.Here the existance of the innate and
universal truth,known as the Buddha nature,was revealed as inherent in all forms of being. The Lotus
Sutra affirms that the realities of daily life provide both motivation and oppurtunity for spiritual
transformation.
One of the most significant proponents of the Lotus Sutra was the 13th-century Japanese
reformer,Nichiren Daishonin,of whom the late Masaharu Anesaki,wrote:
"He stands almost a unique figure in the history of Buddhism,not alone because of his persistence
through hardship and persecution. . .(but that also)an eloquent speaker,a powerful writer,and a man of
tender heart."
In one of his earliest writings,Nichiren declares both the purpose of his teachings and its conclusion: "If
you wish to free yourself from the sufferings of birth and death you have endured since time without
beginning and to attain without fail unsurpassed enlightenment in this lifetime,you must perceive the
mystic truth that is originally inherent in all living beings.This truth is Myoho-renge-kyo.Chanting
Myoho-renge-kyo will therefore enable you to grasp the mystic truth innate in all life"
The workings of the universe are an expression of a single principle or Law,expressed as
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.By putting their lives into harmony with this Law,people can unlock their hidden
potential and achieve creative harmony with the environment.This is the ultimate expression of
individual empowerment-that each person can transform the inevitable sufferings of life into sources of
growth and fulfillment,becoming a positive influence in his or her family and community.
--WORDS OF THE WEEK--
Youth should stand up, speak out
and pave the way.
Engage in an unprecedented struggle
to open the path of mentor and disciple
toward victory in the new phase [of kosen-rufu].
--TO MY FRIENDS--
Live out your lifetime
together with the Mystic Law
and with the SGI.
Therein lies exhilarating and
invigorating happiness.
time without beginning and to attain without fail unsurpassed enlightenment in this
lifetime,you must perceive the mystic truth that is originally inherent in all living beings.This
truth is Myoho-renge-kyo.Chanting Myoho-renge-kyo will therefore enable you to grasp the
mystic truth innate in all life"
What We Believe. . .
"Our task is to establish a firm inner world,a robust sense of self that will not be swayed or shaken by
the most trying circumstances or pressing adversity. Only when efforts to reform society have as their
point of departure the reformation of the inner life-human revolution-will they lead us with certainty to a
world of lasting peace and true human security."
Daisaku Ikeda
Our philosphy is rooted in the concept of "human revolution",a process of inner transformation through
Buddhist practice.It's an awakening that leads us to develop our character;to cultivate
wisdom,courage,and compassion;and to act not only for our personal fulfillment,but also for the
betterment of society.
The SGI charter,
adopted in 1995,gives voice to our beliefs and sets forth our guidelines for social engagement.The
basic principles of the Charter are:
*promote an understanding of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism
*contribute to peace,culture,and education within society
*safeguard fundamental human rights and eliminate discrimination
*respect and protect freedom of religion and religious expression
*work together with other religions to resolve issues affecting humanity
*respect cultural diversity and promote cultural exchange
*encourage the protection of nature and the environment
Building a Culture of Peace
Soka Gakkai International-USA (SGI-USA)
is an American Buddhist association that promotes peace and individual happiness based on the
teachings of the Nichiren school of Mahayana Buddhism.Our members reflect a cross section of our
diverse American society,representing a broad range of ethnic and social backgrounds.
With 71 centers throughout the country,SGI-USA makes its headquarters in Santa Monica,California.
SGI-USA is affiliated with the worldwide SGI organization that has 12 million members in 163
countries,with its headquarters in Tokyo,Japan.
A Modern Heritage. . .
Founding president,Tsunesaburo Makiguchi,first used the term Soka Gakkai(Society for the Creation of
Value) in 1930 when he published his insightful "Value Creating Educational Theory" He asserted that
the purpose of education should not be the mere training of workers for Japan's growing industrial
machine,but the development of the human being's ability to create "value"(i.e.improvement,beauty,and
social good) in their daily lives.His humanistic,student-centered views often brought him into conflict
with authority.Arrested with other Soka Gakkai leaders during World War II as a "thought criminal"for
his unyielding opposition to the Japanese militarist regime and its forced imposition of State
Shinto,Makiguchi died in prison of malnutrition and mistreatment at the age of 73 in November 1944.
Makiguchi's close disciple,Josei Toda,survived the ordeal and was released from a Tokyo prison just
weeks before the first use of the atomic bomb in July 1945.Determined to rebuild the Soka Gakkai,Toda
set about developing its membership from less than 3,000 families when he assumed the presidency in
1951 to more than 750,000 before his own death in 1958.The Soka Gakkai's remarkable early growth
stemmed from its commitment to help people overcome their suffering in the postwar chaos.Toda
confirmed the Soka Gakkai's pacifest stance in 1957 by taking a strong-and at that time
pioneering-public position against the use of nuclear weapons.
On May 3,1960,Daisaku Ikeda became the third president.Within six months,he established chapters in
the United States,and South America,followed a year later by organizations in nine European
countries.He continues to provide leadership for the global SGI organization,which now includes
members in more than half the countries of the world.
Inheriting the pacifest commitment of his predecessors,Mr.Ikeda has worked tirelessly to develop a
broad-based peace movement.He has traversed the globe,conducting exchanges with many of the
world's leading thinkers,policy-makers,and scholars;and has founded a number of educational and
cultural institutions,(see links below),which seek to foster the values of peace,culture,and education.
What We Do. . .
The core activity for all SGI-USA members is the neighborhood discussion meeting.These informal
gatherings ,usually held in members'homes,bring together a wide range of people to pray together,to
study Buddhist principles,and discuss how they can best be applied to the challenges of daily life.
In addition,through youth activities,educational seminars,and exhibiits,we address urgent issues facing
the individual and humanity as a whole.Nonsectarian activities have included:
VICTORY OVER VIOLENCE:A grass-roots campaign to raise awareness about violence,its
causes,and solutions.In August 1999,at 1,700 neighborhood meetings throughout the U.S.,10,000 people
pledged themselves to the principles of non-violence.The program is now expanding to schools and
community organizations.
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE THROUGH DIALOGUE:At both the local and national levels,SGI-USA
sponsors and participates in a number of inter-religious conferences and symposia,including the
Society for Buddhist Christian Studies(SBCS),the National Buddhist-Catholic Dialogue,and the
Parliament of the World's Religions.
EDUCATION FOR A CULTURE OF PEACE: SGI-USA travelling exhibits have gained recognition for
their ability both to inform and to evoke a sense of personal responsibility for the important
peace,human rights,and environmental issues facing our planet.Recent exhibits sponsored by SGI-USA
include:
Treasuring the Future-Children's Rights and Realities: An interactive look at the state of children's
rights.
Ecology and Human Life: Exploring the human dimension of the environmental crisis.
Nuclear Arms-Threat to Our World: Promoting disarmament through raising public awareness.
Linus Pauling and the Twentieth Century: Explores the life of the Nobel Prize winning chemist and
pacifest.
THE EARTH CHARTER: SGI-USA members have sponsered more than 30 conferences involving
some 1,800 participants to educate the American people about the international Earth Charter
project.An SGI-USA representative participates in the Earth Charter USA Network,the national
coordinating group.
FRIENDSHIP THROUGH KNOWLEDGE:An SGI-USA eductional project that collected and shipped
more than 14,000 books to schools and colleges in Ghana.
SGI-Affiliated Institutions
The Boston Research Center for the 21st Century
Toda Peace Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research
Soka University of America
Soka University of Japan
Institute of Oriental Philosophy
Pacific Basin Research Center
Tokya Fuji Art Museum
The Min-on Concert Association
An Ancient Tradition. . .
The origins of the SGI-USA worldview can be traced to the teachings of the Buddha,Shakymuni,who
lived some 2,500 years ago in what is modern-day Nepal.
Born Gautama Siddhartha,he abandoned his sheltered,princely life and sought instead to understand
the inescapable sufferings of every human being-birth,aging,sickness,and death-and the means by
which these sufferings could be overcome.
Following his enlightenment at age 32,he traveled throughout India for 50 years,sharing the wisdom he
had discovered.The term Buddha,or "enlightened one",is applied to any human being who realizes the
eternity of life and the operation of cause and effect throughout the three existences of past,present,and
future.
Shakyamuni's intuitive realization of this universal Law (Skt:Dharma)is most succinctly articulated in the
Lotus Sutra,widely considered his most definitive teaching.Here the existance of the innate and
universal truth,known as the Buddha nature,was revealed as inherent in all forms of being. The Lotus
Sutra affirms that the realities of daily life provide both motivation and oppurtunity for spiritual
transformation.
One of the most significant proponents of the Lotus Sutra was the 13th-century Japanese
reformer,Nichiren Daishonin,of whom the late Masaharu Anesaki,wrote:
"He stands almost a unique figure in the history of Buddhism,not alone because of his persistence
through hardship and persecution. . .(but that also)an eloquent speaker,a powerful writer,and a man of
tender heart."
In one of his earliest writings,Nichiren declares both the purpose of his teachings and its conclusion: "If
you wish to free yourself from the sufferings of birth and death you have endured since time without
beginning and to attain without fail unsurpassed enlightenment in this lifetime,you must perceive the
mystic truth that is originally inherent in all living beings.This truth is Myoho-renge-kyo.Chanting
Myoho-renge-kyo will therefore enable you to grasp the mystic truth innate in all life"
The workings of the universe are an expression of a single principle or Law,expressed as
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.By putting their lives into harmony with this Law,people can unlock their hidden
potential and achieve creative harmony with the environment.This is the ultimate expression of
individual empowerment-that each person can transform the inevitable sufferings of life into sources of
growth and fulfillment,becoming a positive influence in his or her family and community.
--WORDS OF THE WEEK--
Youth should stand up, speak out
and pave the way.
Engage in an unprecedented struggle
to open the path of mentor and disciple
toward victory in the new phase [of kosen-rufu].
--TO MY FRIENDS--
Live out your lifetime
together with the Mystic Law
and with the SGI.
Therein lies exhilarating and
invigorating happiness.
Learn More About Nichiren
Buddhism
Culture of Peace-Distinguished
Speaker Series
World Tribune Previews
Podcast-The Human Revolution
volume 10
Buddhism
Culture of Peace-Distinguished
Speaker Series
World Tribune Previews
Podcast-The Human Revolution
volume 10
Contact us for further
information or meeting times in
your local area
information or meeting times in
your local area
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