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Dialogue, interaction and
discussion have always been crucial to the process by which
people come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of
Buddhism.
Large gatherings may be an effective means of transmitting
information; likewise, print and other media can provide
important sources of information and inspiration. But they
also hold the risk that they will become one-way avenues of
communication. Within religious movements, in particular,
even with the best of intentions one-way communication can
establish a sense of hierarchy--between those who teach and
those who learn. The result can be the disempowerment of
believers, who become reliant on their leaders or teachers.
If the true mission of religion is to enable people to enjoy
the highest happiness, it is vital to make efforts to avoid
such outcomes.
Small group discussions provide an opportunity for
questioning, for voicing and responding to doubts. It is a
shared process of learning that proceeds at the pace that is
genuinely comfortable and effective for all the
participants. From the perspective of Buddhist humanism,
truth is not the exclusive possession of a select individual
or group. Rather, truth is something to which all people
have equal access. It is discovered through our committed
engagement with our fellow human beings and is shared and
transmitted through an expanding web of empathetic
connection among people. Such interactions, on the basis of
equality, are the crucible in which our humanity is forged.
Nichiren (1222-82), the Buddhist reformer whose teachings
inspire the SGI's activities, valued this form of dialogue
and study. From his writings, it is clear that his disciples
gathered on a regular basis to study a wide range of
Buddhist texts. Nichiren saw such discussion as crucial for
the correct transmission of his own intent. He begins one
letter written at a time of severe persecution with these
words: "Those resolved to seek the way should gather and
listen to the contents of this letter."
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Small group discussion meetings have been the foundation of
the Soka Gakkai since the 1930s. Founding president
Tsunesaburo Makiguchi traveled widely throughout Japan to
participate in such meetings, attending some 240 small group
discussions during a two-year period near the end of his
life, even as religious freedom was being suppressed by the
militarist authorities of his day.
Today, SGI discussion meetings are held in all corners of
the globe, usually on a monthly basis. The vast majority of
these are held in the homes of members who make them
available for this purpose. Participants are women and men,
children and the aged from all walks of life, educational
and economic backgrounds.
The meetings are in principle held on a geographical basis
and give people the opportunity to develop the kind of
relations that are increasingly rare in contemporary urban
environments--where people may live for years as neighbors
without developing any personal connection. Discussion
meetings are open to all and bring together people who might
never otherwise encounter each other in societies divided
along various seen and unseen lines. Everyone, including
children or those for whom speaking in front of others does
not come easily, is encouraged to speak, to offer their
comments or reactions.
The sharing of faith experiences--the transformation in
people's lives realized through Buddhist practice--is a
central element of discussion meetings. There is perhaps
nothing more heartening for people struggling with problems
than the example of others who have successfully confronted
and overcome their own challenges. The best discussion
meetings are filled with a bright mood of mutual
encouragement. Buddhist study is another important feature;
an individual or group of individuals may prepare a
presentation on a theme or concept, which then sets the
stage for further discussion. Guests or others interested in
learning more about Buddhism are encouraged to comment and
question.
SGI President Ikeda has described the significance of the
modern-day discussion meeting in these terms: "The culture
of the spirited, resilient common people is found in the
exchange and interaction of voice with voice, the coming
together of people in their raw humanity, the contact of one
life with another. Contemporary society is a flood of
soulless information. It is for just this reason that
sharing of living language, the actual voices of people, can
make a crucial contribution to the health of society."
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