“
The name Soka Gakkai (literally “Value Creation Society”) means an organization whose members are committed to creating supreme value and attaining the greatest happiness.
”
”
Daisaku Ikeda (The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace: Selections from the Works of Daisaku Ikeda)
“
I therefore hope you will pray about your problems in front of the Gohonzon. When we take our problems to the Gohonzon and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, courage wells forth and hope begins to shine in our hearts. “Faith for overcoming obstacles” is the same as “prayer for overcoming obstacles” and “chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for overcoming obstacles.
”
”
Daisaku Ikeda (The Five Eternal Guidelines of the Soka Gakkai)
“
Lack of wisdom does not make a fool. A fool, in the truest sense, is the man who regards his own misfortunes or those of others as a source of doubt or criticism of the infinite mercy of the Gohonzon.-Josei Toda
”
”
Daisaku Ikeda (Human Revolution)
“
Soka Gakkai positions are not positions of prestige but of responsibility. The most important duty leaders have is to devote themselves to serving the members and fully discharging their responsibilities for kosen-rufu. Consequently, the more responsibility the position entails, the more resolute the person’s inner determination must be to put aside interests of “self” and work tirelessly for the Law, for kosen-rufu and for the members.
”
”
Daisaku Ikeda (The New Human Revolution - Volume 2)
“
Those who have used political authority to promote their own interests feel greatly threatened by the growing numbers of Soka Gakkai–sponsored representatives who strive to realize a government that stands on the side of the people. They are afraid their own power base will be undermined. Other religious organizations also feel threatened by the Soka Gakkai’s progress. Because, were it to come down to a debate on doctrine, their defeat would be certain.
”
”
Daisaku Ikeda (The New Human Revolution, vol. 3)
“
Buddhism is not a religion in the Western sense but rather a practical set of ideas and approaches toward understanding the workings of life. To be more precise, it’s a system of practices and philosophical tenets designed to help people overcome their sufferings. It is to the soul what weightlifting is for muscles—it strengthens the self to the extent that a person’s spirit, through devoted practice, becomes impervious to external influences. And it’s open and available to everyone.
”
”
Jeff Ourvan (The Star Spangled Buddhist: Zen, Tibetan, and Soka Gakkai Buddhism and the Quest for Enlightenment in America)
“
Nothing exists in isolation. In fact, all beings and phenomena exist only because of their relationship with other beings or phenomena.
”
”
Jeff Ourvan (The Star Spangled Buddhist: Zen, Tibetan, and Soka Gakkai Buddhism and the Quest for Enlightenment in America)
“
T he United States is the first, and perhaps only, country in the world in which every Buddhist sect is represented. Although
”
”
Jeff Ourvan (The Star Spangled Buddhist: Zen, Tibetan, and Soka Gakkai Buddhism and the Quest for Enlightenment in America)
“
You can go on believing or not believing in God as you see fit. He, She, or They do not enter the Buddhist equation. Nonviolence
”
”
Jeff Ourvan (The Star Spangled Buddhist: Zen, Tibetan, and Soka Gakkai Buddhism and the Quest for Enlightenment in America)
“
If you nourish your hatred and your anger, you burn yourself. Understanding is the only way out. If you understand, you will suffer less, and you will know how to get to the root of injustice. . . . When you are a victim of injustice, if you get angry, you will suffer one hundred times more.
”
”
Jeff Ourvan (The Star Spangled Buddhist: Zen, Tibetan, and Soka Gakkai Buddhism and the Quest for Enlightenment in America)
“
If you want to understand the causes that existed in the past, look at the results as they are manifested in the present. And if you want to understand what results will be manifested in the future, look at the causes that exist in the present. Life,
”
”
Jeff Ourvan (The Star Spangled Buddhist: Zen, Tibetan, and Soka Gakkai Buddhism and the Quest for Enlightenment in America)