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Human Revolution in SGI Buddhism

In Nichiren Buddhism of SGI the concept of Human Revolution stands for inner transformation of the individual towards enlightenment: “The expression ‘Human Revolution’ was made famous by the second president of the Soka Gakkai, Josei Toda (1900 – 1957). It is a way of expressing in contemporary language the process of Buddhist Enlightenment.[1] The process of Human Revolution requires exerting efforts in Buddhist practice for self-mastery and inner transformation aimed at attaining an enlightened state of life, which would create a positive effect on the surrounding environment. “Toda used the term "Human Revolution" to express the central idea of Nichiren Buddhism, which is that all people are capable of attaining enlightenment in this lifetime. He also asserted that an individual's inner transformation could actively change their circumstances and their environment”.[2]


Inner Revolution

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Parallel to the teaching of Human Revolution in Nichiren Buddhism of 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

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In other domains, the expression “Human Revolution” can be found in some articles in Anthropology, where it refers to the factors associated with the origin of [1] modern humans. There is also a contemporary music band called The Human Revolution, which performs in the[2] style called Mystic Americana Roots Music.

Overview

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Along many centuries various types of radical changes or revolutions took place in many fields such as society, politics, science, medicine, information technology and others. All these radical changes, however, did not alter the repetition of the basic problem facing humanity, such as wars, violence, lack of security as well as the serious problem of deterioration of the environment. “The 19th century Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) remarked on the failure of “external revolutions” in solving 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…”[4]

A similar insight into the need for inner transformation of the individual to affect a positive change in the surroundings was expressed by Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) in his famous [3] quote: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” The spirit of this quote reminds with the Buddhist principle of Interconnectedness between the individual and the surrounding circumstances, considered as a reflection of the people’s mind.


History

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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, http://www.joseitoda.org/president/publications and was published later in a book form in 1957.[5]. 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) about the application of the principle of Human Revolution on the life of pioneering members and on the establishment of the organisation. The book form of the work (1966) 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. In 1993, Ikeda began work on the manuscript “The New Human Revolution”, detailing the growth and transformation of the Soka Gakkai into an international Buddhist society.[6]

Human Revolution as Self Mastery

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In his book Seven Paths to Peace, Daisaku Ikeda talks about human revolution in terms of self-mastery. Simply put, this means winning mastery over one’s desires, behaviour and goals, overcoming the small self that is dominated by narrow self-interest and awakening to the larger self that works for the good of all humanity. From this standpoint what limits one’s growth and happiness is only one’s narrow minded ego-based self, and the major obstacle to developing ourselves is to pursue a way of life bound by our small ego or self. Expanding from the lesser self to the greater self is the path of human revolution.[7]

Other views

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Dr. N. Radhakrishnan of the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti [4] 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”.[8]

Human Revolution and transformation of Karmic effects

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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”.[9]

Explanatory Quotes on the concept of Human Revolution

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- 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.[10]

- The most intense sufferings, unbearable agony and seemingly insurmountable deadlock - are actually brilliant opportunities for doing our human revolution.[11]

- 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.[12]

- 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. [13]

External Websites

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1. http://www.daisakuikeda.org/main/philos/buddhist/buddh-06.html

2. Josei Toda: Reviving Buddhism in today’s world http://www.joseitoda.org/

3. Human Revolution and Overcoming Obstacles http://www.sgi-uk.org/index.php/buddhism/humanrevolution


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.toda.org/conferences/TIAC.Speech.19.Jul.08.html
  5. ^ Ref. The Human Revolution, vol.1, Preface, World Tribune Press ISBN 0-915678-77-2
  6. ^ Introduction page, The New Human Revolution, ISBN 0-915678-32-2
  7. ^ http://www.sgi-uk.org/index.php/buddhism/humanrevolution
  8. ^ http://www.transnational.org/Resources_Nonviolence/2007/Radhakrishna_IkedaGandhi.pdf (page 6)
  9. ^ Choose Peace, Galtung Ikeda dialogue, Ch. 4, page 73, ISBN 0-7453-1040-0, 1995)
  10. ^ My Dear Friends in America, page 253, World tribune Press, ISBN 978-1-932911-81-7
  11. ^ Faith into Action, page 128. World Tribune Press, ISBN 978-0-915678-66-2
  12. ^ Faith into Action, page 18-19. World Tribune Press, ISBN 978-0-915678-66-2
  13. ^ Faith into Action, page 130. World Tribune Press, ISBN 978-0-915678-66-2
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