SGI-USA of Silicon Valley
 
 
Contact Info: • Jeff McDaniel - informed member o xpicox@comcast.net SGI SGI - USA SGI of Silicon Valley Mission Statement: The goal of SGI is to achieve Buddha through enlightenment. A person who has found enlightenment should help those around him to achieve the same goal. SGI believes that one should balance their relationship between themselves and their environment. This is done by feeding off of the universal energy that surrounds every living being and inanimate object. By doing this the individual can grow beyond measure. History: Soka Gakai was first founded on November 18, 1930, by Tsunesabur Makiguchi, a Japanese educator and his colleague Josei Toda. Makiguchi’s plan was to reform the Japanese educational system into a more humanistic one in order to support and develop the potential of Japanese youth. Sokka Gakka experienced rapid growth in Japan, and on October 13, 1960, was formally recognized in the USA. Sokka Gakkai International (SGI), was founded in 1975, in order to act as a guide for Sokka Gakkai organizations around the world. Leadership Structure: The leadership structure of SGI is original and innovative. They differ from other religions because they have no structure of hierarchy within their order. Every individual is seen as an equal and everyone shares an equal share of potential. People work for themselves and for their self-enlightenment. In a traditional service there is no priest or rabbi which resides over members who attend the service. Instead members of SGI address a Gohonzon. The Gohonzon serves as a means of focus, not a form of higher power. In order to facilitate communications and operations between different congregations, there is a president of SGI. There are no laws in this organization and it is very relaxed. Members may come and go as they please. SGI fosters philosophical thought which leads to the formation of new and innovative ideas about oneself and their surroundings. News: SGI Presence is World Wide o http://www.religionnewsblog.com/17500/buddsters o http://media.www.nu-news.com/media/storage/paper600/news/2007/02/14/News/Buddhist.Group.Helps.Students.Chant.Meditate-2719282.shtml mailto:xpicox@comcast.nethttp://www.sgi.org/http://www.sgi-usa.org/http://www.sgi-siliconvalley.org/03/http://www.religionnewsblog.com/17500/buddstershttp://media.www.nu-news.com/media/storage/paper600/news/2007/02/14/News/Buddhist.Group.Helps.Students.Chant.Meditate-2719282.shtmlshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2shapeimage_1_link_3shapeimage_1_link_4shapeimage_1_link_5
Group Description
Field Research
 
Ryan Finn
 
Aris Gregorian
 
Erica Fieger