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Key Points / Summary:
Soka Gakkai carried forward the legacy of Nichiren Daishonin by spreading kosen-rufu in later day of the law.
It was made reality by the relentless efforts of its first three presidents. Let’s learn about the life, struggles and mentor-disciple relationship of the first three presidents of Soka Gakkai.
First Three Presidents
Tsunasaburo Makiguchi
Josei Toda
Daisaku Ikeda
We refer to the three founding presidents with the honorific title - Sensei.
Makiguchi Sensei
Toda Sensei
Ikeda Sensei
“Sensei” in Japanese means “Teacher”
Let’s learn about each of the first three Soka Gakkai Presidents
Makiguchi Sensei:
He was born on June 6, 1871
In his early teens, he moved to Hokkaido, under the care of a relative.
He worked hard in his studies while working and able to entered into Hokkaido Normal School.
After graduation, he became a schoolteacher.
In 1901, he moved to Tokyo and held the post of principal at several elementary schools in Tokyo.
He had keen interest in philosophy and how to implement it in day to day life. Infact, he wrote one book - “The Geography of Human Life” which we published in 1903, when he was just 32 years old.
His hope and vow was to focus on “happiness” as a key driver.
He based on the principle of focussing on happiness and linking it to daily life also put forth one theory of value that could serve as a foundation for the unique pedagogy.
He encountered Nichiren Buddhism which is based on Lotus Sutra at 1928, at the age of 57.
He joined Nichiren Buddhism through Nichiren Shoshu, a Buddhist school that derived its teachings from the lineage of Nikko Shonin, the Daishonin’s direct disciple and successor.
Being philosopher himself, he immediately realized the essence of Lotus Sutra. In his words - “ Encountering the Lotus Sutra, I realized the teachings of the sutra in no way contradict the principles of philosophy and science that form the basis of our daily life”
Also “With an indescribable joy, I completely changed the way I had lived for almost 60 years”
Josei Toda:
He was born on Feb 11, 1900
Can you tell me the age gap between Makiguchi Sensei and Toda Sensei? (29)
When he was 2 years old, his family moved to Hokkaido region.
After the age of 14, he started studying on his own while working.
He cleared teaching certification and started his career as a teacher in Hokkaido town of Yubari.
Mentor Disciple Relationship Between Makiguchi Sensei and Toda Sensei
A young Josei Toda of 19 years old met Tsunasaburo Makiguichi in Tokyo.
Young Toda was seeking a mentor in his life which he saw in 48 years old Mr Makiguchi.
They two readily took to each other.
Soon young Josei Toda started to regard Makiguchi Sensei as his mentor and supporting him in every possible way.
They both were educators and used to discuss in length on value creation and during one of those discussion word “Soka” came about.
Soka means creation of value.
In 1928, when Makiguchi Sensei took faith in Nichiren Buddhism by becoming member of Nichiren Shoshu, Toda Sensei also followed him and he also took faith in Nichiren Buddhism and became member of Nichiren Shoshu.
Establishing Soka Gakkai - November 18
As we discussed earlier, Makiguchi Sensei was an educator and philosopher.
He already published his book way back in 1903 and was working on how can education be used for value creation and happiness.
Based on his education methods and using education as a means to create values, on November 18, 1930, Makiguchi Sensei published his work under the title “Soka Kyoikugaku Taikei”
Soka Kyoikugaku Taikei = The System of Value-Creation Pedagogy.
Total 12 volumes were intended to be published but eventually 4 were published.
This is how books credentials looked like
Book Name - Soka Kyoikugaku Taikei
Author - Tsunasaburo Makiguchi
Publisher & Printer - Josei Toda
Publishing House - Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (Value-Creating Education Society)
Soka Kyoiku Gakkai later became Soka Gakkai.
This was the first time, the name Soka Kyoiku Gakkai name had appeared in public.
For this reason, November 18 is celebrated as Soka Gakkai’s Founding Day.
Journey of Soka Kyoiku Gakkai
Initial idea of Soka Kyoiku Gakkai was to be an association of educators interested in value creation through education initiatives.
However, being deeply influenced by Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism, non educators also started joining Soka Kyoiku Gakkai and soon it became a group of people practising Nichiren Buddhism.
Though, they all were members of Nichiren Shoshu as well but Soka Kyoiku Gakkai used to work independently and did not rely on priests for its management or for providing guidance pertaining to faith.
Unlike typical religious organisation (Nichiren Shoshu), which focuses to visit temples, participate in ceremonies such as funeral, memorial etc, Soka Kyoiku Gakkai focussed on holding open discussion meetings, leaders going to member’s place and providing guidance and encouragement in faith.
Soka Kyoiku Gakkai membership eventually increased to 3,000 members.
Makiguchi Sensei stood up to authority
During world war-2, Japan military government was under tremendous pressure to put more citizens into war.
In order to get citizen around the military government, to make them support the actions of military government, they started to control the thoughts of citizens
To do so and to make sure, all start thinking alike, military government mandated everyone to follow same religion of Shinto Talisman.
Govt declared it as state religion and everyone had to follow it. Pressuring citizens to visit and offer prayers at Shinto shrines and worship Sun Goddess.
Soka Kyoiku Gakkai’s discussion meetings and activities were put under surveillance.
Nichiren Shoshu Succumbed to Govt Pressure
In June 1943, Nichiren Shoshu mandated Soka Kyoiku Gakkai through Makiguchi Sensei to also accept Shinto Talisman.
Makiguchi Sensei adamantly refused to accept it as the same was equivalent to slander of the law.
Challenging Japan’s Military Govt
Finally, on July 6 1943, Makiguchi Sensei and Toda Sensei were arrested for violating the dignity of the emperor and charges of violating the preservation of peace.
21 more leaders of Soka Kyoiku Gakkai were also arrested.
In the end only Makiguchi Sensei and Toda Sensei persisted while others left faith and accepted Shinto Talisman.
He didn’t accept Shinto Talisman and took all the torture and interrogation even at such old age.
He even preached Nichiren Daishonin’s teachings to interrogators.
On Nov 18, 1944, Makiguchi Sensei, at the age of 73, passed away in prison.
He didn’t succumb to interrogation and tactics of authorities even at such old age for more than 16 months !!
He lived his life true to Daishonin’s teaching and never hesitant to risk his life to do so.
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