Who is Daisaku Ikeda of the published Toynbee-Ikeda dialogue, quoted in the last post?
He was born (in 1928) into a poor family of seaweed farmers near Tokyo. In his late teens he came across the teachings of the Japanese monk Nichiren (1222-82). Nichiren Buddhism has had strong influence at several points in Japanese history, especially after the Second World War. It emphasises each individual’s ability to attain Buddhahood in his present lifetime. Nichiren was persecuted for his optimistic teaching. Ikeda joined a lay organisation which propagated Nichiren Buddhism, especially among the rootless urban, called Soka Gakkai, which had been founded in 1930. He became its President in 1960. In 1975 he set up Soka Gakkai International as an umbrella organisation for Soka Gakkai-affiliated groups around the world. He resigned as President of SG in 1979 because of a dispute with the Nichiren Buddhist priesthood, but remains its Honorary President and President of SGI. Nichiren Shoshu cut off relations with both SG and SGI in 1991, making the breach complete, and excommunicated
