Restoring the Human Connection: The First Step to ... - SGI-USA

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world’s population to be denied a legitimate seat at the UN or to lackdiplomatic ties with its neighbor Japan. Here also I was inspired by mymentor, Josei Toda, who had often voiced his conviction that China iscertain to play an essential role in world history and that friendshipbetween the two countries would be of utmost importance.Global dialogueStarting in the 1970s, I embarked on a process of dialogue with prominentleaders and thinkers from various countries in order to cast bridges offriendship across the fissures of an increasingly divided world.In 1970, I met with Count Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi (1894–1972), anearly proponent of European unity, and discussed for a total of over tenhours such issues as the prospects for a Pacific civilization. In 1972 and1973, I held a dialogue with one of the twentieth century’s most prominenthistorians, Arnold Toynbee (1889–1975). Our talks covered a broad rangeof topics, including the path toward global integration. He urged me, inlight of my relative youth, to carry on the work of dialogue in order to helpbring the whole of humanity together. I sensed that he was entrusting mewith a task dear to his own heart.Ever since, I have engaged in dialogue with leading figures from a widevariety of religious, cultural and national backgrounds, who are committedto taking action in their respective fields for the sake of our human future.To date, a total of forty-three of these dialogues have been published inbook form.In January 1973, I addressed a letter to U.S. President Richard M. Nixon(1913–94) urging the cessation of the Vietnam War, forwarding this to himvia Henry Kissinger, his National Security Advisor at the time. And laterthat year, I forwarded to President Nixon a proposal expressing my viewson America’s role in the world. I conveyed my heartfelt respect for thebrilliant spiritual heritage dating back to the country’s birth, a heritage that38
must be made manifest in leadership for peace, human rights andcoexistence if there is to be positive change in the world.It was out of a similar conviction that I founded, in September 1993, theBoston Research Center for the 21st Century, an institution dedicated topeace education and dialogue, and also Soka University of America (SUA),which opened in May 2001.During 1974 and 1975, I visited China, the Soviet Union and the U.S. inmy capacity as a private citizen, in the hope of contributing to defusing thetensions among them. At the time there was a real danger the world wouldsplit irrevocably into three hostile blocs as relations between the U.S. andthe U.S.S.R. continued to deteriorate while the Sino-Soviet confrontationescalated.On my first visit to China in May 1974, I witnessed the people of Beijingbuilding a vast network of underground shelters against the intensely feltthreat of Soviet attack. In September the same year, I visited the SovietUnion for the first time, and met with Premier Alexei N. Kosygin(1904–80). I spoke of China’s deep concern about the Soviet Union’sintentions, and asked him straight out whether the Soviet Union wasplanning to attack China or not. The premier responded that the SovietUnion had no intention of either attacking or isolating China.I brought this message with me when I next visited China in December ofthat year. It was also on this visit that I met with Premier Zhou Enlai(1898–1976), and discussed with him the importance of China and Japanworking together for global peace and prosperity.During our meeting, Premier Zhou stressed that China had no wish to be asuperpower. Taken together with Premier Kosygin’s words, this statementconvinced me that an easing of tensions between the two countries was notfar off. And indeed, this proved to be the case.39
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Page 4 and 5: participated in a wide range of eve
Page 6 and 7: therefore vital that these states t
Page 8 and 9: Dealing with North Korea—both its
Page 10 and 11: was an expression of his optimism a
Page 12 and 13: infinitely small and insignificant.
Page 14 and 15: adjustment, it should be possible t
Page 16 and 17: The inhabitants of the world of ang
Page 18 and 19: sorrow.For those upholding a faith,
Page 20 and 21: they urge us are the same, the mora
Page 22 and 23: will help achieve a change in the d
Page 24 and 25: they possess nuclear weapons, worki
Page 26 and 27: At present, under the Moscow Treaty
Page 28 and 29: In my view, this is where young peo
Page 30 and 31: Last September, five nations—Kaza
Page 32 and 33: expansion of the scope of the treat
Page 34 and 35: Characterizing Japan as one storefr
Page 36 and 37: On October 2, 1960, I embarked on m
Page 40 and 41: In January of 1975, I visited the U
Page 42 and 43: Among the political leaders and hea
Page 44 and 45: It is now thirty-five years since t
Page 46 and 47: second such summit following the De
Page 48 and 49: NOTES1 Toda, Toda, vol. 4, 565.2 Bo
Page 50 and 51: ——. 2005. “Toward a New Era o

Restoring the Human Connection: The First Step to ... - SGI-USA

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