From: Sociology of Religion | Date: September 22, 1996| Author: Barker, Eileen | COPYRIGHT 1996 Association for the Sociology of Religion. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

The Soka Gakkai International (SGI) is a lay organization that developed out of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, one of the traditions within Japanese Mahayana Buddhism. The thirteenth-century monk, Nichiren, challenged the then (and still) popular belief that salvation entails entering the "Pure Land" after death, and that this depends upon the mercy of Amida Buddha. instead, Nichiren taught, the land of true happiness ... is not to be found anywhere apart from this world. It can only b...