Hello Facebook friends. Today is November 18, an important date in SGI history. This is an article about SGI President Makiguchi and the founding of the Soka Gakkai. I hope you enjoy it. This Month in Our History – The Founding of the SGI – November 18, 1930 By Chuck On November 18, 1930, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, published the Soka Kyoikugaku Taikei (The System of Value-creation Pedagogy). This work was the basis for his humanistic value-creating educational system. The publisher was the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (Value-Creating Education Society), the forerunner of the present-day SGI. This event marked the founding of our organization. Makiguchi pioneered a new system of education in a country that regarded rote-learning and memorization as the ultimate in learning. “…the learner is perceived as empty, a passive recipient who must be filled up by one who has been previously filled and who is in possession of knowledge. The key element in this model is authority. However, in the open, or dialogical, model, the learner is perceived as a dynamic organism interacting with his environment and being changed in significant ways by that interaction. (Makiguchi the Value Creator, pg. 18) As a child, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi was so poor that he had to go to work right after he finished elementary school. Eventually, he became a teacher and soon became increasingly critical of the prevailing teaching philosophy in Japan. The authorities, for their part, also began to disapprove of Makiguchi for so severely criticising Japan’s educational philosophy. Makiguchi was a great educator, as well as a kind and humanistic person. But one quality of Makiguchi’s stood out above all else and thus ensured his place in history. This was his conviction to stand up for his beliefs no matter what. He did so when it cost him his job…and he never wavered, even when it cost him his life. Because of his anti-authoritarian stance, Makiguchi was eventually forced from the field of education. But an even greater challenge was yet to come. In June 1943, Makiguchi and his disciple Josei Toda were summoned to the Head Temple of Nichiren Shoshu. In the presence of the then High Priest Nikkyo, Makiguchi as president of the lay organization was urged to accept the Shinto object being pressed on all religions in Japan by the militarist government. It would have been so easy to say “yes.” If he had, he would not have had to suffer and die in prison. But he could not, and would not compromise. Makiguchi then spoke the words that would launch the Buddhist lay organization on the path of justice. We will never accept them!” he cried. (The Human Revolution, Vol. 1) The head temple had already enshrined the Shinto object. They had given in completely. Soon afterward, Makiguchi and Toda were arrested, their only crime, standing up for their beliefs. Makiguchi died in prison from malnutrition on November 18, 1944, the same date as the founding of the lay organization. Makiguchi had the courage to stand up for what he knew was right, even at the cost of his life. This became the proud legacy of today’s SGI.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 06:30:19 +0000
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