A Call for Inner Transformation DAISAKU IKEDA- FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE

In September 1957, my mentor Josei Toda issued a declaration calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons. In it he condemned them as an "absolute evil," a threat to the collective right of humankind to exist. He stressed the importance of confronting and eliminating the fundamental evil that lies hidden in the depths of people's lives--the urge to manipulate and exploit others for our own benefit. It is this deep-rooted impulse that allows people to use weapons that instantly reduce so many lives to smoking ashes.related articlePeace Proposal 2012
Human Security and Sustainability: Sharing Reverence for the Dignity of Lifeby Daisaku Ikeda, President, Soka Gakkai InternationalSGI President Daisaku Ikeda's annual peace proposal for 2012 calls for 2015 Nuclear Abolition Summit in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and end to Japan’s reliance on nuclear power

Toda's appeal demonstrates a remarkable insight; it signifies the transformation of our inner lives, the revival of a concrete and vivid awareness of the existence of others. The historic challenge of abolishing nuclear weapons begins with the actions we initiate within our own lives.

Ultimately, the key lies in reestablishing a raw sense of reality, which can breathe new life into this stifling virtual world. If we could but learn to feel the wound and shock of others" pain as our own... I believe that such awareness and sensitivity represents the single greatest deterrent to war.

This concern is central to Buddhism; indeed, Shakyamuni's decision to dedicate himself to seeking truth was motivated by his confrontation with the four human sufferings--birth, aging, sickness and death. For Shakyamuni this meant not only the direct impact of suffering on people's lives but the deep-rooted indifference, arrogance and discriminatory consciousness that prevent us from feeling others" pain as our own.

Contemporary civilization has averted its eyes from death, seeking to make it "someone else's problem." This collective turning away from personal confrontation with death has fundamentally weakened restraints against violence. This is the deeper meaning of my mentor's call for the abolition of nuclear weapons--the most horrific manifestation of a civilization that treats death as someone else's problem.

Just as there is no unhappiness strictly limited to others, happiness cannot be hoarded or kept to ourselves. We are faced with the challenge and opportunity to overcome our narrow egotism, to recognize ourselves in others as we sense others within us, and to experience the highest fulfillment as we mutually illuminate each other with the inner brilliance of our lives

Daisaaku,s book is awesome what a wonderful human best read



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/20/2017 10:12AM by riverhousebill.