Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Other young people began their support for Komeito with a more
'
objec-
tive
scrutiny of its policies, still mostly ending up supporting the party after
studying its policies. Tobi, who I introduce below, is an example of this
'
'
third
group
. While their humanistic ideals and political convictions about social
justice clearly originated from Soka Gakkai literature, by
'
I mean
that their views were more widely informed by alternative viewpoints such as
those acquired through their university study. They used such knowledge to
compare what they were learning in Soka Gakkai about Komeito. Interest-
ingly, many of the students who scrutinised Komeito and Soka Gakkai more
critically had often been through the Soka School system. However, while
they were at times critical of particular policies and comments made by cer-
tain politicians, who they subsequently began to distrust, they believed in a
collective political response as a necessary process to social change. Although
they did not agree with all of Komeito
'
objective
'
s political decisions, they supported the
party. Thus even for supporters who disagreed over some of the speci
'
cs of
policies, their common objective to work for improving social welfare,
coupled with their trust in Ikeda, generally ended in their coming to terms
with such disagreements. However, reaching a point of acceptance for some
young people involved a process of inner turmoil and uncertainty, as we shall
see below, re
ecting the clash between their own ideals inspired by their religious
philosophy and the realm of compromise that constitutes the politic arena.
While there was some disagreement over speci
c policies, a strong ethos of
the importance of taking action prevailed. This created a sense of dynamic
unity as each person felt responsible for the political outcome. At one of the
nightly gatherings before the November 2003 election, someone summed this
up,
fine to sit at home and chant and have great ideals, but to carry them
into reality is altogether a di
'
It is
erent story
'
. Someone else continued,
'
Ikeda-
Sensei is the person who makes the most e
ort in putting Buddhist ideals into
practice [which is why we respect him so much]
. He was clearly their
inspirational example of a person who puts ideals into practice. Ikeda
'
s itin-
erary, which they read about in the Soka Gakkai newspaper Seiky
-
Shinbun,
has revealed an astonishing level of activity over the more than 50 years he
has lead the organisation. Soka Gakkai members are proud of and look
towards Ikeda as a model whose behaviour they want to emulate. They see
him as an emissary for peace and goodwill in the world as he meets with
numerous peace and environmental activists, human rights advocates, poli-
tical leaders or imminent scholars from around the world.
'
'
It [Ikeda
'
s beha-
viour] makes you look at yourself and think,
“
I can do a lot more
”'
, another
explained. Young people, just as their parents did, although in di
erent ways
as the current generation have grown up with more opportunities and further
education, strive to view their own social spheres as the place for creative,
socially positive actions.
In broader terms, Ikeda
is behaviour is transferred to supporting politicians
who aim to create a society with more political, social and economic equality,
and a society that looks after its weaker members. Although many of the
'
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