Discussions on Youth, Volume 1

by Daisaku Ikeda

Volume 1 of a two volume series of dialogues between SGI President Daisaku Ikeda and Soka Gakkai high school students. Topics discussed are: The Worries and Hope of Youth, Youth: A Time of Challenge, Friendship and Perspectives on Life During Youth, What is Love?, Finding Happiness in Your Work, What is a World Citizen?, Bringing Out your Best, and The Meaning of Being Considerate.

224 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1998

About the author

Daisaku 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.

Reviews

[Ananya Layek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discussions on youth by Daisaku Ikeda is a revolutionary book. A collection of conversations between Sensei and the youth division, on a number of topics from value creation to love and friendship, from career to nature and art. A beautiful read for the development of a young soul. While reading this, I was thinking, why didn't I read it earlier?? 😃

I am looking forward to reading the second volume of the same series. Inspiring, motivating and immensly valuable which brings out the best in you.

[Antara Bhattacharjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once in a while we come across jewels in the form of a good book.
This book is one of those books, which brings the readers out of the darkness & shows the light of life.
If I could have my way, I would have made this 9& the remaining 2 volumes) a must-read for the youngsters. Rather, the parents should read the contents of this book out loud to their children & engage in an analytical discussion with them & help them become good human beings. The book is full of intense one-liners & I list below my top 8 –
1. The 3 kinds of value – beauty, benefit & good.
2. The wise may be called human, but the thoughtless are no more than animals – Nichiren Daishonin
3. The place where we are now is exactly where we should be to realize our highest potential.
4. If winter comes, can spring be far way? – Shelley
5. The mind has a thousand eyes
And the heart but one
Yet the light of a whole life dies
When love is done
-“Light” by Francis W Bourdillon
6. Reading good books cultivates & nourishes one’s life.
7. Life is a chain. All things are related. When any link in that chain is harmed, others will be affected.
8. Treat the Earth well. It is not a gift from your parents, it is a loan from your children. – Kenyan saying.

This book has more than this to offer, so read & explore.
Happy Reading!!

[Srija Soni · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the one of the most insightful book I have ever read. Even after going through hust two or three pages of this book, I always felt so energetic and vigorous. It broadened my perspective in various ways.