Within Soka Gakkai, community and discussion meetings function as the living heart of practice, where individual faith is continually renewed through shared experience. Members gather, often in small neighborhood settings, to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo together, study Buddhist teachings, and speak openly about the concrete challenges and victories of daily life. These personal accounts are regarded as “actual proof” of the efficacy of Nichiren Buddhism, offering tangible examples of inner transformation and encouraging others to persevere. In this way, faith is not treated as an abstract ideal but as something tested, refined, and confirmed in the midst of ordinary circumstances.

These gatherings also serve as important spaces for systematic study and doctrinal clarification. Participants examine Nichiren’s writings and guidance from Soka Gakkai leaders, especially Daisaku Ikeda, and explore how core concepts can be applied to work, family, and community. The emphasis on “Buddhism for daily living” is reinforced as teachings are translated into accessible language and practical guidance. Through this shared inquiry, understanding deepens and members develop a more resilient, reflective faith that can withstand difficulties.

At the same time, discussion meetings are designed to cultivate a robust sense of community and shared mission. Members support one another emotionally and spiritually, creating networks of care that extend beyond formal religious activities. Newer practitioners can receive mentorship and encouragement from more experienced members, while those in leadership roles learn to guide, listen, and facilitate dialogue. This shared responsibility nurtures lay leadership and helps individuals grow through serving others, embodying the ideal of “human revolution” as an interpersonal as much as an inner process.

Finally, these meetings function as a grassroots vehicle for the broader spread of Nichiren Buddhism. The warm, informal atmosphere allows friends, family, and interested guests to encounter the practice in a personal, dialogical setting rather than through distant institutional structures. In this way, community and discussion meetings become both a sanctuary for mutual encouragement and a launching point for wider efforts toward peace, culture, and education, all grounded in the transformation of each individual life.