E-news: Dialogue nights, the future of Soka education, and more

Jay OwenGlobal Citizen

Center Hosts
First “Dialogue Nights” Event

On Wednesday, September 27, the Ikeda Center hosted its first ever dialogue night for students and young professionals. Conceptualized and moderated by the Center’s Lillian I, the event was the first in what will become a regular series. The purpose is to provide ongoing opportunities for young people to discuss their concerns about the world and to find ways to transform these challenges through the power of dialogue and positive action. The initial dialogue built off of Daisaku Ikeda’s thoughts on the importance of “soft power,” with an emphasis on how philosophy and genuine friendship can enhance individual lives while creating the foundation for widespread peace and wellbeing. Our next Dialogue Nights for young professionals and students will be on Wednesday, October 25th.

View a photo gallery of the event!

The Future of Soka Education

The field of Soka education studies took a big step forward this summer. In late June, fourteen education scholars gathered at the Ikeda Center to discuss how the practice of Soka, or value-creating, education can revitalize US education. The seminar was moderated by Jason Goulah, Director of the Institute for Daisaku Ikeda Studies in Education at DePaul University. He led participants in an exploration of first, how Soka education can uniquely address the most pressing issues in contemporary education, and second, the related question of how it intersects with each scholar’s individual research interests. And what did the scholars identify as the most pressing issue facing US educators? They didn’t point to test score achievement, but rather to the anxiety and lack of joy that pervade the American school system. Anything done to revive that joy is value creation of the first order.

Read our report, called “Can Education Be Joyful?”

Shaping A New Society

The newest publication from our Dialogue Path Press is Shaping A New Society: Conversations on Economics, Education, and Peace, by the esteemed economist Lawrence J. Lau and Center founder Daisaku Ikeda. The book opens with an exploration of the financial challenges and opportunities of our time, including close analysis of lessons to be learned from the 2008 financial crisis and keys for shared prosperity across East Asia. These discussions are rounded out by conversations focused on the attributes of successful humanistic higher education, a topic of intimate knowledge and concern for both authors. At the heart of the dialogue is the conviction that success and prosperity cannot be considered apart from the educational systems that mold our citizens.

Learn more and purchase here!