SGI PHILIPPINES CELEBRATES THE 90TH FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOKA GAKKAI
November 18 is the founding day of the Soka Gakkai. SGI members around the world are celebrating November 18 with a profound awareness that the organization was established based on the shared commitment of mentor and disciple.
Mr. Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, first president of the Soka Gakkai, published the first volume of his educational theory in a work titled Soka kyoikugaku taikei (The System of Value-Creating Education) with the assistance of his disciple, Josei Toda, on November 18, 1930 which marks the Soka Gakkai’s founding.
When Japan government joined the war efforts during the Second World War, Mr. Makiguchi and Mr. Toda, were openly critical to the militaristic authority that led to their imprisonment as “thought criminals” in July 1943. Mr. Makiguchi, who laid down his life for his beliefs, died in prison in November 18, 1944.
Mr. Toda vowed to vindicate his mentor’s greatness and launched a fresh struggle to rebuild the Soka Gakkai.
After Mr. Toda’s death, Daisaku Ikeda, was inaugurated as the third president of the Soka Gakkai in 1960, and who expanded it into a global organization, Soka Gakkai International (SGI) in 1975, which currently has reached to 192 countries and territories whose members are actively engaging in the achievement of peace and happiness.
At this very crucial time, SGI Philippines celebrates the 90th founding anniversary through a commemorative video under the theme, “My Own Human Revolution toward 2030”. The video features breakthroughs in faith and the performances of the youth division including the rendition of the new Gakkai song, “Eternal Journey with Sensei”, the recitation of the Youth Division Pledges to Ikeda Sensei, and the launching of the personal ‘human revolution journal’. Most importantly, the highlight of the celebration is the reaffirmation that each and every member without exception, who pledged to be born in this country as a Bodhisattva of the Earth, renews his or her own determination and sense of responsibility to contribute to the welfare of society, happiness, and peace based in the mentor-disciple spirit of the three founding presidents of the Soka Gakkai.
Ikeda Sensei writes, “The decade from the Soka Gakkai’s 90th anniversary [in 2020] to its centennial in 2030 will be crucial. We must be even more determined to show victorious proof of our own human revolution, to transform all great evil into great good and to effect a powerful change in the destiny of all humankind.”1
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My Own Human Revolution Journal (Click to download the journal)
- You may write in this journal about your Activities for the Month, Daily Struggles Narrative, Insights, Realizations, etc.
- There is also a page allotted for your wishes and convictions.
- At the bottom of each page, there is a daimoku chart where you can personally set your target minutes and challenge yourself to achieve them every day. One (1) block is equal to ____ minutes/day.
Footnote:
1 – Pres. Ikeda’s Message to the 46th Soka Gakkai HQ Leaders Meeting in August 26, 2020
MY OWN HUMAN REVOLUTION TOWARDS 2030
Online Commemorative Video for the 90th Founding Anniversary of Soka Gakkai