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Human Revolution

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The concept of Human Revolution stands for inner transformation of the individual towards enlightenment, as understood in Nichiren Buddhism of SGI. The expression ‘Human Revolution’ was introduced by the second president of the Soka Gakkai, Josei Toda (1900 – 1957), as a means to explain in contemporary language his views on the process of Buddhist Enlightenment. The term is used as to indicate action of the individual for manifesting the "Buddha nature" in daily life, considered as the basis for realising happiness and peace of the individual and society .[1]

The process of Inner Change towards Enlightenment of the individual implies the awakening of the individual to the interconnectedness with all living beings and the environment. Toda used the term Human Revolution to indicate that attaining enlightenment in one's current circumstances is possible through the individual's inner transformation that could actively change their circumstances and their environment” [2]

Parallel to the teaching of Human Revolution in Nichiren Buddhism SGI, a concept of “Inner Revolution” was introduced in Indo-Tibetan studies (1998) by Robert Thurman, an American professor and a Buddhist monk: “The experience of selflessness as freedom from alienated ego-addiction is a revolution in the deepest heart of the individual” [3]

Other Usage of the Term

In other domains, the expression “Human Revolution” can be found in some articles in Anthropology, where it refers to factors associated with the origin of modern humans. [4]

There is also a contemporary music band called The Human Revolution, which performs in a style is called Mystic Americana Roots Music.[5]


History

Throughout many centuries various radical changes in society - or revolutions - took place in many fields of human activities, such as politics, science, medicine, information technology and others. All these radical changes, however, did not alter the repetition of the basic problems facing humanity, such as wars, violence, lack of inner security as well as the serious problem of destruction to many species and the environment. As the 19th century Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) observed, such “external revolutions” did not solve the problems facing the individual: “People want only special revolutions, in externals, in politics, and so on. But that’s just tinkering. What really is called for is a revolution of the human mind…”[6]. The view of the validity and importance of the “inner change” in the attitude and thinking of people was also expressed in the UNESCO’s Constitution : “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed”, implying that external conventions has failed in securing peace in the global human society.[7]

A similar insight into the need for inner transformation of the individual to affect the surrounding world was expressed by Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) in his famous quote: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” [8].

The background of the concept of inner transformation of the individual was known and understood on the intellectual level. It became also widely practiced among ordinary people as a basic principle in the activities of the Buddhist organisation of the Soka Gakkai. The term Human Revolution is a translation of the Japanese title Ningen Kakumei of a novel by Josei Toda, published in the Soka Gakkai newspaper Seiko Shimbun in serialised form between 1951 and 1954, [9] and was published later in a book form in 1957.[10]

The third president of the Soka Gakkai, Daisaku Ikeda continued his predecessor’s work using the same title of Human Revolution, first in serialised articles (1965), expressing the application of the principle of Human Revolution in the daily life of ordinary people, leading to development in their life and expansion of the organisation. In 1966 the book form of the work appeared and was forwarded by the British historian Arnold Toynbee. The essential motif of the work is that a change of heart in even one individual -a "human revolution"- can effect change in an entire society.

In1993, Ikeda began work on the manuscript “The New Human Revolution”, detailing the growth and transformation of the Soka Gakkai into an international Buddhist society. [11]

Human Revolution as Self Mastery

Another explanatory expression about the concept of Human Revolution is found in Ikeda's book "Seven Paths to Peace", in which he used the term "self-mastery". Simply put, human revolution means winning over one’s inner negativities and achieving mastery over one's desires, behaviour and direction in life, overcoming the "small self" that is dominated by narrow self-interest and awakening to the "greater self" that works for the good of all humanity. The process of expansion of the lesser self into the greater self is referred to as the path of human revolution.[12]

Other views

Dr. N. Radhakrishnan of the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti Institute refers to the concept of Human Revolution in the life of the individual as an “inner transformation that is reflected in one's environment”, and finds similarity with Gandhi’s concept of Satyagraha :”In both the concepts of ‘Satyagraha of Gandhi’ and in ‘Human Revolution’ of Dr. Ikeda we can see a call for action besides emphasis on individual transformation, empowerment and nonviolent social change”.[13]

Human Revolution and the transformation of karmic effects

The process of human revolution is basically a process of transforming one's karma, or accumulated causes of the past. In his dialogue with the founder of the International Peace Institute, Johan Galtung, Ikeda states: “It is of utmost importance to transform negative karma into positive karma on the individual level. The transformation of karma of one individual evokes a similar transformation in other individuals. This process can expand to make possible similar transformations in entire societies, in all humankind and even in the natural environment. This is the meaning of the Soka Gakkai human revolution movement”.[14]

Explanatory quotes on the application of the term

. The human revolution is the road to bringing about a reformation in our families, local regions and societies. An inner revolution is most fundamental and - at the same time - the ultimate revolution for engendering change in all things.[15]

. The human being is the point to which we must return and from which we must depart anew. What is required is a human transformation, a human revolution.[16]

. The most intense sufferings, unbearable agony and seemingly insurmountable deadlock - are actually brilliant opportunities for doing our human revolution.[17]

. Human Revolution is the path to "Transform your personal worries and sufferings and transform yourself in such a way as to contribute to your due share to society and humanity”.[18]

. To possess both wisdom and compassion is at the heart of our Human Revolution. If you have wisdom alone and lack compassion, it will be a cold perverse wisdom.If you have compassion alone and lack wisdom, you cannot give happiness to others. You also won’t be able to achieve your own happiness.[19]

. It doesn’t matter in what area, just keep working on your personal revolution to transform and improve yourself in the way most natural for you. The important thing is that you change in some positive way. There is surely no more exhilarating life than one in which we write our own unique history of human revolution each day.[20]

. A great human revolution in the life of one person can change the destiny of humankind and our planet. It is Buddhism, the Lotus Sutra, that encourages and enable people to become aware of their great power, to draw it forth and use it. [21]


References

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  1. ^ http://www.tricycle.com/interview/faith-revolution?page=0,2
  2. ^ http://www.joseitoda.org/religious/hr
  3. ^ http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-PHIL/ew103933.htm
  4. ^ http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/anthro/programs/csho/Content/News/human_revolution.pdf.
  5. ^ http://www.thehumanrevolution.org/the-band.html
  6. ^ http://www.toda.org/conferences/TIAC.Speech.19.Jul.08.html
  7. ^ http://www.icomos.org/unesco/unesco_constitution.html
  8. ^ http://www.arungandhi.org/
  9. ^ http://www.joseitoda.org/president/publications
  10. ^ Ref. The Human Revolution, vol.1, Preface, World Tribune Press ISBN 0-915678-77-2
  11. ^ Introduction page, The New Human Revolution, ISBN 0-915678-32-2
  12. ^ http://www.sgi-uk.org/index.php/buddhism/humanrevolution
  13. ^ http://www.transnational.org/Resources_Nonviolence/2007/Radhakrishna_IkedaGandhi.pdf (page 6)
  14. ^ Choose Peace, Galtung Ikeda dilaogue, Ch. 4, page 73, ISBN 0-7453-1040-0, 1995)
  15. ^ My Dear Friends in America, page 253, World tribune Press, ISBN 978-1-932911-81-7
  16. ^ My Dear Friends in America, page 443, World tribune Press, ISBN 978-1-932911-81-7
  17. ^ Faith into Action, page 128. World Tribune Press, ISBN 978-0-915678-66-2
  18. ^ Global civilisation, A Buddhist Islamic Dialogue, Ikeda-Tehranian, 2004, page 6, ISBN i-86064-810X
  19. ^ Faith into Action, page 18-19. World Tribune Press, ISBN 978-0-915678-66-2
  20. ^ Faith into Action, page 129. World Tribune Press, ISBN 978-0-915678-66-2
  21. ^ Faith into Action, page 130. World Tribune Press, ISBN 978-0-915678-66-2
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