Soka Gakkai Society (Japanese _ _ __ – „Society for the creation of values") – the largest Japanese organization of secular Buddhists. A characteristic feature of the society is active participation in Japanese politics and proselytizing outside Japan. From 1960 to 1979, the president of the society was a major lecturer and author of books on Buddhism, Daisaku Ikeda, now the honorary president. Soka Gakkai is often ranked among the new religious movements in Japan.

Story

The Soka Gakkai Society grew out of the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (Pedagogical Value Creation) association of enthusiastic teachers founded in 1930 by educator Makiguchi Tsunesaburo (1871-1944). Makiguchi argued that the purpose of education is to develop a person’s ability to create value in everyday life. The teachings of the Nichiren Buddhist school became the religious foundation of Makiguchi’s educational philosophy.

The humanistic views of Makiguchi, who valued students and defended religious freedom, led him to conflicts with the authorities. In 1943, Makiguchi, along with other leaders of the Soka Gakkai, was arrested as an „ideological criminal" for opposing the militarist regime and disagreeing with state religious policies. Makiguchi died in prison.

Makiguchi was succeeded by Toda Josei, who survived the prison and was released in July 1945. Toda revived the Soka Gakai organization, which in the post-war years brought together not only teachers, but also representatives of many other professions. In 1951, he became the second president of the Soka Gakkai.

In 1960, Daisaku Ikeda became the third president of the Soka Gakkai. Under his leadership, the organization began to actively develop not only in Japan, but also abroad. In 1975, the international organization Soka Gakkai International (SGI) was founded, which has spread to more than 192 countries and territories around the world.

In 1964, members of the society formed the Komeito political party ("party of pure politics"), which adheres to a centrist political line and advocates the observance of ethical norms in political activity; the basic principles of the party – cleanliness, well-being and peace… She was represented in the country’s parliament, was in opposition to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP).

In 1994, the party disbanded itself.

In 1998, the „New Komeito" was created, which entered the government coalition with the LDP.

In the 1990s, the society came into conflict with the Nichiren-shoshu, a traditional Buddhist school that included a mandatory monastic hierarchy and exclusively conducted worship for the Soka Gakkai members. Previously viewed as a lay movement under Nichiren-shoshu, Soka Gakkai gradually lost contact with the organization, and its members were excommunicated from Nichiren-shoshu.

Belief

The object of worship of the Soka Gakkai society is the mandala located in the Taisekiji Temple, the main temple of the Nichiren Buddhist school. The followers of Soka Gakkai believe that she belonged to Nichiren himself, and therefore they attribute to her miraculous properties that can help achieve enlightenment. All Soka Gokkai adepts have a copy of this mandala, which even in this form is considered sacred.

Spreading

Soka Gakkai organizations cover all of Japan. The majority of members are concentrated in large urban centers.

The number, according to various estimates, is from 4 to 18 million people.

There are foreign branches in 115 countries of the world, the largest in the USA, Southeast Asia and Latin America.