“A great human revolution in just a single individual will enable a change in destiny of all humankind.” Daisaku Ikeda

On January 26, 2014, Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda  set forth his annual peace proposal. Rather than attempting to go into even a synopsis of the 2014 proposal, I prefer to note that the need for an effective means to bring peace and understanding to the world continues unabated. Witness the UN report on unspeakable horrors committed by the current and former leaders of North Korea. Syria. Sudan. Countless countries in Africa, Asia, Latin and South America. Armed intervention seems justified in protecting innocent civilians, yet, how often is it successful? Should we then ignore it–feeling it does not concern us directly. No. Diplomatic solutions are often no more successful than wars. Yet they must be pursued. Unfortunately, the world’s ills did not materialize overnight and alleviating them will not happen quickly either. The hope in Buddhism is that a recognition of shared humanity, accompanied by a determination to exert oneself for good rather than evil through elevating one’s life condition will cause the change in the world which we all wish could happen.  Continue reading Daisaku Ikeda’s 2014 Peace Proposal →