“The Art of Dialogue of Daisaku Ikeda: Music and the Arts
for Peacebuilding in the 21st Century”
Olivier Urbain
Abstract:
What
is the power of music and the arts for peacebuilding?
How has Daisaku Ikeda been able to channel the power
of music and the arts to enhance dialogue and create a better world in the 21st
century? In my book entitled Daisaku Ikeda’s
Philosophy of Peace: Dialogue, Transformation and Global Citizenship, I
have stated that Ikeda’s philosophy of peace can be summarized as the perpetual
effort of people, as individuals or in groups, to create personal inner peace
and spread this dynamic sense of peace around them.
By
striving for inner transformation, we the people can reach higher levels of
courage, wisdom and compassion. This enables us to have more meaningful, more
profound and more productive dialogues with others. Through dialogue, we can
bring out the best in ourselves and others. This allows us to develop the heart
and mind of global citizens, able to make decisions that reflect a deep care
for all living beings wherever they are. This spirit of global citizenship then
allows us to create a society where people come first, and not simply nations
or corporate interests.
A
full explanation of the concepts of inner transformation by Ikeda can be found
in his numerous writings, including the serial novels The Human Revolution and The
New Human Revolution. Detailed ideas and insights concerning Ikeda’s views
on global citizenship can be found in the Peace Proposals he published each
year on January 26 since 1983. One can find numerous examples of Ikeda’s art of
dialogue in his profound exchanges with people of all walks of life throughout
the years, of which more than 50 have been published in the form of books of
dialogue.
In
this context, this presentation will highlight Ikeda’s activities for the sake
of non-verbal communication through music and the arts. I argue that this type
of communication is crucial to move from a culture of violence to a culture of
peace. This presentation will examine the history and major achievements of the
Min-On Concert Association established by Ikeda in 1963, the Tokyo Fuji Art
Museum founded in 1983, as well as the philosophical foundations behind these
two institutions and their activities. In addition, Ikeda’s dialogues through
photography, poetry, children’s tales and other forms of art will be explored
and analyzed.
This
presentation aims to show that Ikeda’s use of non-verbal communication for
global peacebuilding demonstrates the effectiveness
of music and the arts for the creation of a more humane and harmonious world in
the 21st century.