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One by One: The World is Yours to Change
The leader of the SGI Nichiren Buddhist movement herein conveys to young people a rare message of optimism about our common future. This Japanese Buddhist leader and peacebuilder challenges readers to examine stereotypes, overcome prejudices and keep open minds to the possibility of a world without violence or war. In intimate essays, the author introduces his personal friends to the reader--friends who have demonstrated that sincerity and perseverance can achieve dreams of peace. These friends range from household names such as Gandhi to obscure Japanese scholars and priests from El Salvador. He challenges young people to dare to believe that, like these individuals, they can live their ideals.
- GenresBuddhism
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
11 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Daisaku Ikeda
1,231 books520 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 30, 2021
One doesn’t have to skim the news for very long to come to the conclusion that we really, really need to talk about peace. That’s what this book is all about.
Daisaku Ikeda is a prolific writer, and activist. The art of conversation, or dialog has been quite central in a lot of what he’s done throughout his career. A lot of these conversations have become books. The essays in this book are mostly based on, or center around conversations he’s had with people that have had an impact on the world.
He’s not spoken to all the people he talks about here, Mahatma Gandhi is one of those he never met, but most of the others he has met and had conversations with, some more frequently than others.
It’s a beautiful book, with an important message. I enjoyed all the essays, some more than other as happens, and I will at least have to add one book to my ever widening to be read list because the subject of one essay, Hazel Henderson, interests me so much.
I’ll probably dip into this book again.
Daisaku Ikeda is a prolific writer, and activist. The art of conversation, or dialog has been quite central in a lot of what he’s done throughout his career. A lot of these conversations have become books. The essays in this book are mostly based on, or center around conversations he’s had with people that have had an impact on the world.
He’s not spoken to all the people he talks about here, Mahatma Gandhi is one of those he never met, but most of the others he has met and had conversations with, some more frequently than others.
It’s a beautiful book, with an important message. I enjoyed all the essays, some more than other as happens, and I will at least have to add one book to my ever widening to be read list because the subject of one essay, Hazel Henderson, interests me so much.
I’ll probably dip into this book again.
July 19, 2009
Having read much of Daisku Ikeda's writing, I was particularly impressed by this collection of essays and observations on peace and conflict, on both the grand political stage and the daily life human stage. Much writing about peace is overwhlemed by politics, sentimentality, guilt or rage. His writing is plain, relateable, and a sincere expression of someone's genuine views and firshand experience. A good, heartening, inspiring and quick read.
August 17, 2015
"I want to work with you for peace, so that we do not repeat the tragedies of the past. I will fight. To the very end, to the moment of my death, I will fight for human victory." Osvaldo Pugliese to Daisaku Ikeda
Inspiring set of short essays by the author describing friendships he has made, and dialogues he has had, with many different people sround the world. Great lessons for all of humanity!
Inspiring set of short essays by the author describing friendships he has made, and dialogues he has had, with many different people sround the world. Great lessons for all of humanity!
September 21, 2017
Amazing philosopher, peace activist, writer, poet.
July 29, 2022
Such a beautiful book about peace! Culturally educational and beautiful small examples of how amazing people left the world more loving of each other. It really is a book of hope and inspiration.
January 10, 2010
Reminded me of Sasa sensei's lessons...lol..
June 5, 2011
كتاب لطيف يجعلك تريد تغيير العالم، و يحمسك لفعل ذلك. أنصحكم بقراءته.
September 14, 2019
I have read the Arabic copy long time ago. But now i have just finish the english One i liked it.
December 28, 2014
In this book, is a thought, that needs to be shared.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews