Peacebuilders: Daisaku Ikeda & Josei Toda Buddhist Leaders

Reader reviewed by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, The Original H.I.R. (Historical Investigative Reporter)

I am no expert on Buddhism; in fact, I know absolutely nothing about it. And yet I enjoyed author M. LaVora Perry's touching biography, PeaceBuilders: Daisaku Ikeda & Josei Toda, Buddhist Leaders.

PeaceBuilders is a story almost anyone can identify with; perhaps not from a Buddhist standpoint--or any religious standpoint, for that matter, but because it is the story of a boy who needed someone to believe in, and a man who needed someone to teach.

Writing in clear, short, child-friendly sentences, Perry tells the story of the unassuming Daisaku Ikeda, a boy whose modest family loses a beloved son in WWII. Daisaku's faith is badly shaken by this loss, and he searches for someone to tell him "how to live correctly." He eventually meets Josei Toda, a teacher who strongly advocates world peace. Despite their age differences, the two become inseparable.

Daisaku accepts Josei as his teacher and remains a faithful student through many trials, including poverty, health problems and violent, unstable times. Daisaku's faith and loyalty transport him from a sad, uncertain youth to a capable and confident leader of millions, as President of the Soka Gakkai, The Organization for Creating Value.

PeaceBuilders is a moving story of love, loyalty and nonviolent social change. Perry's work carefully and meticulously documents Daisaku's many outstanding achievements around the world, including the many schools, colleges and universities he founded. Perry even includes a Japanese pronunciation key and timeline of events for historians and scholars.

For anyone interested in learning more about nonviolent social change, Buddhism or Buddhist leaders, PeaceBuilders: Daisaku Ikeda & Josei Toda, Buddhist Leaders, by M. LaVora Perry, is the place to start.