The Search for Peace in Times of Chaos—Volume underscores the sanctity of life itself—a belief that is equally central to the SGI’s Buddhist worldview Soka Gakkai is based on Nichiren Buddhist teachings, so to understand this new Japanese religion, we must delve into the old Nichiren Daishonin (1222–1282) was a Japanese Buddhist sage who determined that the was the most important of Shakyamuni Buddha’s teachings, and crystallized the essence of the sutra as the phrase “ǦǦǦ ” “ ” is the name he chose for himself when embarking on spreading his teaching on April 28, 1253 It means “Sun Lotus.” The word is an honorific meaning “great sage.” During his lifetime Nichiren stridently maintained that the contemporary teachings of Buddhism taught by other sects were mistaken in their interpretations of the correct path to enlightenment and therefore Nichiren refuted them publicly and passionately A key passage in the Lotus Sutra explains that every individual, all men and women, regardless of social class, are inherently endowed with the Buddha nature and could, therefore, achieve enlightenment Nichiren felt passionately that Buddhism should enable people living in the real world and facing real problems to become empowered and change their lives for the better Nichiren Buddhism stresses the profound connection between one’s own happiness and the happiness of others When we strive to work for the happiness of others as well as of ourselves, we are able to achieve great personal satisfaction in life Nichiren’s teachings assert that each individual, regardless of gender, ethnicity, capacity, or social standing has the power to overcome life’s inevitable challenges to develop a life of great value and creativity and to positively influence their community, society, and the world.16 In contrast to many other Buddhist schools, most Nichiren Buddhists believe that personal enlightenment can be achieved in this world within the practitioner’s lifetime Nichiren taught that by chanting ǦǦǦ to the Gohonzon, anyone could bring forth her or his inherent Buddha nature and become enlightened Literally translated, the phrase means “ ” The believer’s practice and faith are believed to call forth the power of the Buddha and the power of the dharma