20 MORE religions and faith practices 356

The Search for Peace in Times of Chaos—Volume Central to Ikeda’s thinking is the idea that a selfdirected transformation within the life of each individual, rather than societal or structural reform alone, holds the key to lasting peace and human happiness This is expressed most succinctly in a passage in his best-known work, Š‡ —ƒ ‡˜‘Ž—–‹‘ǣ Dz ‰”‡ƒ– ”‡˜‘Ž—–‹‘‘ˆ…Šƒ”ƒ…–‡”‹Œ—•–ƒ•‹‰Ž‡‹†‹˜‹†—ƒŽ™‹ŽŽŠ‡Ž’ƒ…Š‹‡˜‡ƒ…Šƒ‰‡ ‹–Š‡†‡•–‹›‘ˆƒƒ–‹‘ƒ†ǡˆ—”–Š‡”ǡ™‹ŽŽ…ƒ—•‡ƒ…Šƒ‰‡‹–Š‡†‡•–‹›‘ˆ Š—ƒ‹†Ǥ”10 Over the years, the Soka Gakkai experienced a period of rapid growth in Japan Then Soka Gakkai began to spread Nichiren Buddhism, initially across the country, then eventually across the globe, as practitioners relocated from Japan and as nonJapanese practitioners returned to their home countries, taking the practice with them In 1960, Ikeda made a journey that took him from Japan to the United States, Brazil, and Canada During this trip, he met practitioners in each of these countries and began laying the foundation for what would later become ‘ƒ ƒƒ‹–‡”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ (SGI) In 1975, SGI was formally founded, with Daisaku Ikeda as its president SGI characterizes its organization as both a support network for practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism and as a global movement for peace education and cultural exchange SGI Charter: Drawn up and adopted in 1995 under the direction of SGI president Daisaku Ikeda, the SGI Charter reaffirms the worldwide lay Buddhist movement’s ‘”‡ —”’‘•‡• ƒ† ”‹…‹’Ž‡• ǡ including its commitment to peace, culture and education based on respect for the sanctity of life; its ideal of “‰Ž‘„ƒŽ …‹–‹œ‡•Š‹’ ” (i.e., a sense of global responsibility); its commitment to religious freedom; and its focus on environmental protection It also ensures the independence and autonomy of the SGI’s constituent organizations in accordance with the conditions prevailing in each country.11 The basic Purpose and Principles are as follows: ‡ SGI shall contribute to peace, culture and education for the happiness and welfare of all humanity based on Buddhist respect for the sanctity of life 55 ... support network for practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism and as a global movement for peace education and cultural exchange SGI Charter: Drawn up and adopted in 1995 under the direction of SGI president... peace, culture and education based on respect for the sanctity of life; its ideal of “‰Ž‘„ƒŽ …‹–‹œ‡•Š‹’ ” (i.e., a sense of global responsibility); its commitment to religious freedom; and its focus... also ensures the independence and autonomy of the SGI’s constituent organizations in accordance with the conditions prevailing in each country.11 The basic Purpose and Principles are as follows: