Published by Soka Spirit Editor
Posted on June 29, 2012
By SGI President Ikeda
“The reason Nichiren repeatedly denounced the slander of the Law committed by the various Buddhist schools of his day was because their erroneous teachings prevented people from revealing their full inner potential. He was not driven by a self-righteous, out-of-hand rejection of other sutras apart from the Lotus Sutra as representing slander of the Law. Rather, his actions can be seen as a manifestation of his fervent wish to restore, through religious rejuvenation, the true spirit of Buddhism in Japan, where the Buddha’s teachings had become thoroughly confused and distorted. He aimed to bring back true vitality to people and society.
“In contemporary terms, it is the spirit of truly open and humanistic religions to engage in dialogue with other religions that are dedicated to people’s welfare and inner development while mutually respecting one another’s strong points. Through such communication and effort, people can work together for the peace, happiness and the prosperity of humanity. In fact, SGI members around the globe are carrying out just such dialogues with groups and individuals of different faiths and cultures, and are cooperating with them for the sake of peace and to build a better world.
“At the same time, within our own tradition, we have a moral duty to speak out against religious corruption and abuses that obstruct human potential, that turn religion into something that exists only for religion’s sake and that deprive people of the respect and dignity that is inherently theirs.
“The basis for the SGI’s religious revolution is actualizing the ideal of people-centered religion and restoring religion’s fundamental goal of people’s happiness. Our organization’s commitment to this path has never faltered since its establishment. Thus, our SGI movement for peace, culture and education today enjoys the highest respect around the world that inspires both praise and hope. Let us continue on this great path of humanistic religion—of religion for the sake of human beings. This is what the 21st century demands of us” (Dec. 2011, Living Buddhism, p. 31–32).