Sites web

Building Cultures of Peace Through Learning and Dialogue

  • Founded in 1993 by Buddhist philosopher, peacebuilder, and educator Daisaku Ikeda, the Ikeda Center's mission is to build cultures of peace through learning and dialogue. To that end, we host events, publish books, and produce original resources for our website. Upon our founding, Mr. Ikeda presented us with these mottos: "Be the heart of a network of global citizens. Be a bridge for dialogue between civilizations. Be a beacon lighting the way to a century of life."

Daisaku Ikeda

  • Daisaku Ikeda is a peacebuilder, Buddhist philosopher, educator, author and poet. As third president of the Soka Gakkai lay Buddhist organization in Japan, founding president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) and founder of several international institutions promoting peace, culture and education, he has dedicated himself to bolstering the foundations of a lasting culture of peace.

Soka University (Japan)

  • In 1930, educator Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871-1944), the founding president of Soka Gakkai, published the first volume of The System of Value Creating Pedagogy. “Soka” in Japanese means value creation (“gakkai” means society or association). In essence, to create value means to enhance life. To strive for good, toward peace; to persevere in the challenges to uphold and protect human dignity; to be undaunted by hardship—the essential ideals of Soka education exist in the effort to nurture such creative humanity.

    Fellow educator and Makiguchi protégé, Josei Toda (1900-58), succeeded Makiguchi's philosophy of value creation; Toda's vision and values, in turn, was succeeded by Daisaku Ikeda, Soka Gakkai's third president. In 1971, Ikeda founded Soka University, actualizing the goals and ideals of Soka education and put forth the following founding principles:

    Be the highest seat of learning for humanistic education.
    Be the cradle of a new culture.
    Be a fortress for the peace of humankind.

Soka University (California)

  • Soka University is founded upon the Buddhist principles of peace, human rights, and the sanctity of life. The curriculum is non-sectarian. Educational objectives are fostered at the university through the commitment to rigorous academic endeavors, free and open dialogue, and an appreciation for human diversity. Education is an integrating process in which students gain an awareness of the interdependence of themselves, others, and the environment. Wisdom, courage, and compassion—values treasured by the university—do not exist in isolation. They emerge in individuals as they learn the importance of service to others, to the natural world around them, and to the great cause of peace and freedom.