So, let me talk now on Toda Sensei, in terms of founding Soka University, because I am a staff at Soka University, I am in charge developing this movement in terms of Soka University education.
Soka University founding is a dream of the first president of Soka Gakkai International, Makiguchi Sensei .As, you know, Makiguchi Sensei is a great educator and scholar in geography and education and philosophy. And, President Makiguchi’s complete writing , education pedagogy which we call new system of education , Soka education system. This means value creation education.
He always wanted to publish a book of this education, philosophy and methodology, the system of Soka education. This was published by full support of second president and disciple Toda Sensei.
Toda Sensei was a business man and primary school educator .He had business of publishing books and he gave all support to Makiguchi’s book .The book was released on November 18,1930.Later on this became memorable date of founding of Soka association .So, how important is education in Soka movement? Makiguchi Sensei said, “Education is a methodology and technique to make children happy.”
And Makiguchi Sensei had a dream to found a University, in which his theory and methodology is applied practically in education.
Makiguchi Sensei always asked Toda Sensei,” if I couldn’t establish a Soka university, please take over my dream.”
And Toda Sensei always had this dream in his mind. Makiguchi Sensei died in prison during World War second. But , fortunately Toda Sensei came out from jail just before the end of World War second and he saw there were only a few members there. Toda Sensei made up his mind to start again this peaceful movement, this Buddhist movement, humanistic movement, which would prevent any war like world war second.
And after war, Toda Sensei had a chance to become SGI president, Dr. Ikeda, Daisaku Ikeda, only 19 years old. Toda Sensei always worked to develop the SGI and at the same time thought how to establish Soka Primary School, Soka High school and ultimately Soka University.
One day, in the most hard time of Toda Sensei, when his business failed, Toda sensei and Ikeda Sensei, mentor and disciple, happen to take lunch out, at a private University’s festival, In Tokyo Toda Sensei confided to Ikeda Sensei, “Daisaku, lets establish one great university in the future. Please realize this as my dream.” And he discussed in the seminar in 1957, declaration Toda sensei, on abolition of nuclear weapons .he died next year, in 1958, April 2nd, in the midst of cherry blossoms.
And then Dr. Ikeda succeeded him and became third president of SGI and he established Soka Primary school and Soka high school in 1965.And in 1971 Soka University was established, on the memorable day of 2nd April, Toda Sensei’s death anniversary.
On this day the first entrance ceremony was held. All the three presidents have fought to establish education system, this is very important, because without education religion cannot lead people to peace. Lasting movement to realize peace in this different and vast world .It is needed to educate from primary school to University and if we didn’t have philosophy of education, philosophy of peace, our movement can’t last eternally.
Now, we have Soka University in America, Orange County and we have one research Institute, Boston research Institute for the twenty first century and in Hawaii we have Toda Peace Research institute. Such is the fortress for people of humankind.
It is very important to take our movement all over the world. So, lastly I am very honored and its great pleasure to speak at this memorable place of a great person, Mahatma Gandhi. |
