Human Revolution, Vol. 5

by Daisaku Ikeda, Kenichiro Uchida (Illustrator)

Through this novelized history of the Soka Gakkai—one of the most dynamic, diverse, and empowering movements in the world today—readers will discover the organization's goals and achievements even as they find inspiring and practical Buddhist wisdom for living happily and compassionately in today's world. The book recounts the stories of ordinary individuals who faced tremendous odds in transforming their lives through the practice of Nichiren Buddhism and in bringing Buddhism's humanistic teachings to the world. This inspiring narrative provides readers with the principles with which they can positively transform their own lives for the better and realize enduring happiness for themselves and others.

Genres: Buddhism

296 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1997

About the author

Daisaku Ikeda was a Buddhist philosopher, peacebuilder, educator, author and poet. He was the third president of the Soka Gakkai lay Buddhist organization and the founding president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), which is today one of the world's largest and most diverse lay Buddhist organizations, promoting a philosophy of character development and social engagement for peace.

Ikeda was the founder of the Soka (value-creation) schools, a nondenominational school system based on an ideal of fostering each student's unique creative potential and cultivating an ethic of peace, social contribution and global consciousness. The school system runs from kindergarten through graduate study and includes a university in Tokyo, Japan, and another in California, U.S.A.

Ikeda was a staunch proponent of dialogue as the foundation of peace. Since the 1970s he has pursued dialogue with a wide range of individuals around the world in political, cultural, educational and academic fields. Over 50 of these have been published in book form, with people such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Elise Boulding, Joseph Rotblat and André Malraux. In furtherance of his vision of fostering dialogue and solidarity for peace, Ikeda has founded a number of independent, nonprofit research institutes that develop cross-cultural, interdisciplinary collaboration on diverse issues: the Boston Research Center for the 21st Century, the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research and the Institute of Oriental Philosophy. The Min-On Concert Association and the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum promote mutual understanding and friendship between different national cultures through the arts.

Ikeda was a prolific writer who has published more than 100 works, ranging from Buddhist philosophy to biographical essays, poetry, children's stories and photographic collections.

Reviews

[Lora Shouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, this is the kind of book I read for inspiration.

The New Human Revolution is a work in 30 volumes by Soka Gakkai International President, Daisaku Ikeda. The book was originally published in serialized form in the Soka Gakkai’s Japanese newspaper, the Seikyo Shimbun, with the English translations appearing in the SGI-USA newspaper, the World Tribune. The latest volumes are still being serialized in the World Tribune and the SGI-USA magazine Living Buddhism and will be published in book form once the serialization is complete.

The New Human Revolution is a novelized version of actual events in the history of the Soka Gakkai International. According to statements by President Ikeda at the time of the publication of the first installments of the first volume, most names have been changed (including his own – President Ikeda appears in the novel as Shin’ichi Yamamoto), and the experiences of several people may be attributed to one person, or one person’s experiences may be told as belonging to several people. One of the major purposes of the novel is to pass along President Ikeda’s guidance to the Soka Gakkai members.

This volume begins in the middle of the first trip by the Soka Gakkai leaders to Europe. In each country they visit, they meet with one or more members in that country and encourage them to spread Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism where they are living. In many places, they establish districts or chapters of the Soka Gakkai. Shin’ichi Yamamoto also encourages the local members and the leaders traveling with him by citing examples of outstanding courage or kindness on the part of various historical figures from the countries they are passing through. Mr. Ikeda’s knowledge of history – not just the history of the Soka Gakkai, but of almost every country he has visited – is truly astounding.

[Brenda Oroza · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In the beginning, woman was truly like the sun. She was a real person. But today, woman is like the moon. She depends on others to live and shines through the lights of others. This moon has an ashen pallor, like that of a sick person. We must regain the sun, which has been hidden for so long. Let us reveal our hidden sun, the latent genius within us”!

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pillole di saggezza introspettiva in ogni capitolo!