It’s time for a human revolution!

A historic conference co-organised by the Soka Gakkai, SGI-UK, the Centre for Applied Buddhism, the Club of Rome and the 50 Percent, took place at Taplow Court and online, on 9 October, writes Natsuha Kataoka.

Youth played a central role in the event and intergenerational dialogue and collaboration was promoted. The conference welcomed 130 people in person and 450 online. The participants included youth leaders, academics, activists, professionals, students, educators, and representatives from NGOs and international organisations from nineteen countries.

We engaged in dynamic discussions, honouring the fortieth and forty-fifth anniversaries of the publications Before It Is Too Late and No Limits to Learning. These dialogues focused on the critical theme of inner transformation, referred to as ‘human revolution,’ and mutual learning.

SGI-UK General Director Justine Marchant expressed gratitude for our openness to learning and our courage in sharing and respecting different views. We were encouraged to enjoy the space and co-create a positive learning environment together.

The Secretary of the Club of Rome, Carlos Álvarez Pereira emphasised the importance of asking challenging questions to overcome blind spots. He stressed the human potential for learning as key to fostering realistic yet hopeful approaches to global issues.

Co-Chair of SGI Europe Robert Harrap provided an introduction to Before It Is Too Late, the dialogue between Daisaku Ikeda and Aurelio Peccei, whose friendship was the foundation of the gathering.

He echoed other speakers in highlighting the pivotal role of human revolution, noting that it is a process of accessing the deepest level of consciousness to live responsibly, whether one interprets it in a scientific or spiritual sense.

Lively dialogues took place throughout the event as we freely exchanged ideas. Given the complexity of today’s global issues, which require careful approaches at all levels – individual, collective, and environmental – conflicting opinions naturally emerged. However, the central message of the conference was clear: it is imperative not to remain in echo chambers or engage in adversarial debates, but rather to connect with others beyond differing opinions, with a firm determination to respect humanity and build world peace.

In these challenging times, we are urged to ask ourselves a critical question: ‘What is my personal human revolution which, in the words of President Ikeda, will “help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and, further, will enable a change in the destiny of all humankind”?’[[1]] ●

References

[[1]]: Daisaku Ikeda, The New Human Revolution (Eternal Ganges Press, 2020) Vol. 30, Part 2, p. 479.