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Discussions on Youth: For the Leaders of the Future
In a straightforward question-and-answer format, Buddhist teacher Daisaku Ikeda responds to the complicated issued facing American young people. Addressing adolescents as the leaders of the future, Ikeda touches on topics of peace, human rights, and environmental degredation as he urges young people with warmth and understanding to see the great potential they have as the hope for humanity. The book also provides easy-to-understand explanations of Nichiren Buddhism and the benefits of its practice.
447 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2009
91 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
About the author
Daisaku Ikeda
1,231 books522 followersDaisaku Ikeda was a Buddhist philosopher, peacebuilder, educator, author and poet. He was the third president of the Soka Gakkai lay Buddhist organization and the founding president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), which is today one of the world's largest and most diverse lay Buddhist organizations, promoting a philosophy of character development and social engagement for peace.
Ikeda was the founder of the Soka (value-creation) schools, a nondenominational school system based on an ideal of fostering each student's unique creative potential and cultivating an ethic of peace, social contribution and global consciousness. The school system runs from kindergarten through graduate study and includes a university in Tokyo, Japan, and another in California, U.S.A.
Ikeda was a staunch proponent of dialogue as the foundation of peace. Since the 1970s he has pursued dialogue with a wide range of individuals around the world in political, cultural, educational and academic fields. Over 50 of these have been published in book form, with people such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Elise Boulding, Joseph Rotblat and André Malraux. In furtherance of his vision of fostering dialogue and solidarity for peace, Ikeda has founded a number of independent, nonprofit research institutes that develop cross-cultural, interdisciplinary collaboration on diverse issues: the Boston Research Center for the 21st Century, the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research and the Institute of Oriental Philosophy. The Min-On Concert Association and the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum promote mutual understanding and friendship between different national cultures through the arts.
Ikeda was a prolific writer who has published more than 100 works, ranging from Buddhist philosophy to biographical essays, poetry, children's stories and photographic collections.
Ikeda was the founder of the Soka (value-creation) schools, a nondenominational school system based on an ideal of fostering each student's unique creative potential and cultivating an ethic of peace, social contribution and global consciousness. The school system runs from kindergarten through graduate study and includes a university in Tokyo, Japan, and another in California, U.S.A.
Ikeda was a staunch proponent of dialogue as the foundation of peace. Since the 1970s he has pursued dialogue with a wide range of individuals around the world in political, cultural, educational and academic fields. Over 50 of these have been published in book form, with people such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Elise Boulding, Joseph Rotblat and André Malraux. In furtherance of his vision of fostering dialogue and solidarity for peace, Ikeda has founded a number of independent, nonprofit research institutes that develop cross-cultural, interdisciplinary collaboration on diverse issues: the Boston Research Center for the 21st Century, the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research and the Institute of Oriental Philosophy. The Min-On Concert Association and the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum promote mutual understanding and friendship between different national cultures through the arts.
Ikeda was a prolific writer who has published more than 100 works, ranging from Buddhist philosophy to biographical essays, poetry, children's stories and photographic collections.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 4, 2013
Very encouraging and inspiring book writen by Daisaku Ikeda.
MUST READ!
Daisaku Ikeda
MUST READ!
Daisaku Ikeda
March 8, 2019
This book has so many golden nuggets in it, even if you’re not that young anymore.
I have highlighted so many areas that I found especially encouraging.
Let me share some with you.
Page 5: You are precious and irreplaceable. Please do not allow yourselves to succumb to negativity and cynicism. Suffering is to be found in any are.
Having problems, making mistakes or feeling regrets is only natural. What’s important is to be undefeated by them. In the midst of worries and struggles, always look forward and advance.
Suppose you are lost in the jungle. You want to find your way out and reach the ocean but don’t know which way to go. What do you do?
The answer is to keep moving ahead, taking a course that leads to a river.
If you follow the river downstream, you will eventually reach the ocean.
The important thing is to keep pressing forward.
While struggling with various problems, it is vital that you chant Nam-myho-renge-kyo and advance somehow - even if it’s only one or two inches. If you do so, you’ll see that you have actually made your way through the jungle in no time.
Your lives will be enriched and deepened in proportion to the pain and grief you suffer, the degree to which you struggle and how much you chant Nam-myho-renge-kyo.
Page 283: We each have a treasure that belongs to us alone. We have a mission that only we can fulfill. Everyone has a unique character, a unique identity.
Life is about expressing and developing that individuality as fully as possible-in other words, it is about self-realisation. We also call this human revolution.
The fact that we have been born into this world means that we each have a unique purpose to fulfill. If we didn’t, we would not have been born. Nothing in the universe is without value. Everything has meaning. Even plants that we spurn as weeds have a function. Each living thing has a unique identity, role and purpose-the cherry as a cherry, the plum as a plum, the peach as a peach, the damson as a damson.
There are so many relatable discussions in this book, on death, courage, illness, chanting, nature, literature...
Do yourself a favour and read this book, no matter how old you are.
I will read it again and again.
I have highlighted so many areas that I found especially encouraging.
Let me share some with you.
Page 5: You are precious and irreplaceable. Please do not allow yourselves to succumb to negativity and cynicism. Suffering is to be found in any are.
Having problems, making mistakes or feeling regrets is only natural. What’s important is to be undefeated by them. In the midst of worries and struggles, always look forward and advance.
Suppose you are lost in the jungle. You want to find your way out and reach the ocean but don’t know which way to go. What do you do?
The answer is to keep moving ahead, taking a course that leads to a river.
If you follow the river downstream, you will eventually reach the ocean.
The important thing is to keep pressing forward.
While struggling with various problems, it is vital that you chant Nam-myho-renge-kyo and advance somehow - even if it’s only one or two inches. If you do so, you’ll see that you have actually made your way through the jungle in no time.
Your lives will be enriched and deepened in proportion to the pain and grief you suffer, the degree to which you struggle and how much you chant Nam-myho-renge-kyo.
Page 283: We each have a treasure that belongs to us alone. We have a mission that only we can fulfill. Everyone has a unique character, a unique identity.
Life is about expressing and developing that individuality as fully as possible-in other words, it is about self-realisation. We also call this human revolution.
The fact that we have been born into this world means that we each have a unique purpose to fulfill. If we didn’t, we would not have been born. Nothing in the universe is without value. Everything has meaning. Even plants that we spurn as weeds have a function. Each living thing has a unique identity, role and purpose-the cherry as a cherry, the plum as a plum, the peach as a peach, the damson as a damson.
There are so many relatable discussions in this book, on death, courage, illness, chanting, nature, literature...
Do yourself a favour and read this book, no matter how old you are.
I will read it again and again.
March 21, 2015
2010 edition - a very inspiring read! Guidance given in very simple language on variety of topics. High impact thoughts and humane approach to human revolution.
October 22, 2013
I've read the Chinese version 《青春对话》，inpriring! Even suitable for parents to read.
October 13, 2013
Very inspiring... Must read.
September 10, 2015
Oh man, where was this book when I was 12? Better late than never... :-)
January 14, 2018
2.5 stars.
My mom was given this book to pass on to me by a Japanese woman who visited her workplace, and so I started reading it. It has taken me a long, long time as to finish this heavy work of writing, as it differs a lot from the non-fiction writing I usually read and takes a long time contemplating each topic.
The book was ok. It didn't present any revolutionary knowledge or views, however, it was my first meeting with Nichiren Buddhism, and it was interesting to learn a bit about that as well as seeing how Japan views the outside world. A few parts of Discussions on Youth made me think, but far from enough for me to recommend it to others. At the end of the day it was mostly boring, but then again, maybe I'm a little too old too fully enjoy it. Or maybe the book is simply too old to have much relevance anymore if taken out of its religious context.
My mom was given this book to pass on to me by a Japanese woman who visited her workplace, and so I started reading it. It has taken me a long, long time as to finish this heavy work of writing, as it differs a lot from the non-fiction writing I usually read and takes a long time contemplating each topic.
The book was ok. It didn't present any revolutionary knowledge or views, however, it was my first meeting with Nichiren Buddhism, and it was interesting to learn a bit about that as well as seeing how Japan views the outside world. A few parts of Discussions on Youth made me think, but far from enough for me to recommend it to others. At the end of the day it was mostly boring, but then again, maybe I'm a little too old too fully enjoy it. Or maybe the book is simply too old to have much relevance anymore if taken out of its religious context.
January 13, 2023
A must-read for teens and tweens! The discussions on all kinds of subject matters that young adults think about like friendship, love, work, the future, and the environment are very insightful. I often read from passages in the "Bringing Out Your Best" and "Finding Happiness in Your Work" chapters as guidance material.
November 2, 2017
This book is amazing with huge ideas and how anyone can implement in their life. Must read book for youth .
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.!!
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.!!
October 5, 2020
Fantastic book, a must read
August 8, 2025
Read and referred back to this through the years. Awesome for understanding yourself and environment.
December 13, 2016
This book is the answer to all the questions that I was searching. It is a must read for the youth. One of my favourite quotes from the book,
"Sometimes people laugh at brave acts in the beginning. They may see an act of courage as strange or peculiar. But later, they recognize it for what it was."
I hope this book is your answer to your questions as well.
#NMHRGK
"Sometimes people laugh at brave acts in the beginning. They may see an act of courage as strange or peculiar. But later, they recognize it for what it was."
I hope this book is your answer to your questions as well.
#NMHRGK
May 26, 2016
superb and youth must read it
December 1, 2015
I recommend this book to every single youth. It has ways by the following of which one can inherit compassion, wisdom and courage in on's life and become better individual.
Read
March 24, 2016An inspiring book I keep coming back to whenever I doubt or am scared or worried about anything. You always find answers and encouragements in it! Thank you President Ikeda!
January 15, 2017
Gave me a new perspective on life. Ikeda Sensei has the wisdom of Buddha and I'm blessed to be his disciple.
April 22, 2020
Book specially for those who practice daishonins philosophy..but others can also read to get general perspective about how to behave during their youth time
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews