Soka Movement's Birthdate: 18 November

Significance of November 18th

The birthday of Soka Family: The emergence of Soka International organization was contained within the event that took place on Nov 18, almost 100 years ago (in 1930).

The event started with a declaration of a document: The Value Creating Pedagogy – aimed initially at revolutionizing the educational system in Japan.  In a dramatic development it expanded into revolutionizing the lives of ordinary people worldwide.

Both founders of Soka movement, P. Makiguchi and Toda - were firmly convinced of their beliefs that humanity deserves better than what ignorant authorities think and plan.  They opposed Emperor Worship, at a time that priests of all Buddhist traditions caved in – and for their refusal to bend to authority – were taken as “Though Criminals” to prison.   Soka movement was banned and its publication forbidden for not supporting the war.

If you are in a society which considers “Thinking” as a criminal activity – then you’d appreciate the courage of Makiguchi and Toda in standing up against authoritarianism.

During about 2 years of imprisonment – two major events occurred:

The first dramatic event was: president Makiguchi died of malnutrition on 18 November 1944, on exactly the date of his founding of the Soka Movement. It was as if an implication of his life as “mission completed”.

Then, while his disciple, Mr. Toda was deeply studying the Lotus Sutra in his prison cell, he recorded later that there, he was awakened to his mission as a Bodhisattva of the Earth.

This enlightenment led to the core energy or power behind Soka Movement was that of Mr. Toda realization:

My life has a meaning, I have a mission, I am not random. I was not born by accident, but I have meaning in my life – to wipe out misery and suffering from peoples life.

This is what brings all Soka people together: the belief that your life has a great meaning. 

When Toda was released from prison, the whole Soka Movement counted of just one person: himself. No one else.  Probably only his wife supporting his fragile health – but no activities and no one around.

Then Mr. Toda started lecturing on the Lotus Sutra in post war devastated society.  He was in his forties when a young disciple, Daisaku Ikeda joined his lecture.  The number of Soka members when P. Ikeda joined was 600. This alone can give us an actual proof of how  the correct teachings can energize over 10 million in a relatively short time in historical development.

Soka Family all over the world – is entrusted with the misssion of spreading the teaching of happiness and lifeforce, inherited by the Three Founders.

Nichiren predicted this widespread of his teachings in his statement: “If Nichiren’s compassion is truly encompassing, NamMyohoRngeKyo will spread for ten thousand years, for all eternity, because it has the power to open the eyes of ordinary people to their Buddhanature”.