BUDDHISM IS DAILY LIFE" : SOKA GAKKAI'S BELIEFS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS"

Abstract

The Japanese lay Buddhist organization, Soka Gakkai (Value Creation Society) is today one of the world's most rapidly expanding religious movement. The overseas branches of Soka Gakkai have since cultivated their own national traditions whilst continuing to draw solely upon Nichiren' s Buddhism as their source of religious enlightenment. The Singapore Soka Association (SSA) has grown from strength to strength as well. Like the rest of its affiliated Soka Gakkai organizations, it emphasizes "Buddhism equals daily life" as one of the fundamental tenets. This tenet encompasses some of the most salient beliefs and practices required of its adherents. This thesis attempts to understand what "Buddhism equals daily life" means to individual adherents of SSA, who "practice" and apply the precepts of Nichiren Buddhism in their living environment. This thesis has shown that the religious milieu is conducive for the existence of "protestantized", this-worldly ascetic belief systems. SSA fits into the highly rationalized society of Singapore while providing for its adherents a belief system that is self-empowering and world-affirming in orientation to the world. Individual adherents have also demonstrated how they have applied the teachings of Nichiren Buddhism in their daily existence, thus supporting the statement that "Buddhism is daily life".