Soka Gakkai’s engagement with peace and social justice rests on the conviction that inner transformation naturally expresses itself in outward action. This vision takes concrete form in extensive educational work: the movement develops programs, exhibitions, and institutions that emphasize value-creating education, peace studies, human rights, sustainable development, and global citizenship. Such efforts seek to cultivate critical thinking and a sense of shared responsibility for the world, encouraging individuals to see their daily choices as part of a broader ethical horizon. Academic conferences, research on peace, and the use of study materials on global issues all function as vehicles for deepening this awareness.

At the level of public advocacy, Soka Gakkai International maintains consultative status with the United Nations and regularly submits peace proposals that address nuclear disarmament, human rights, climate concerns, and sustainable development. These proposals, associated especially with the organization’s leadership, are not merely policy suggestions but are also used internally to inspire members to link Buddhist practice with social responsibility. Exhibitions and forums on peace, human rights, and environmental protection further extend this advocacy into the public sphere, seeking to shift attitudes from a culture of violence toward a culture of peace. Partnerships with other organizations and NGOs support work on issues such as environmental protection, poverty, and human rights.

A distinctive feature of Soka Gakkai’s approach is its emphasis on dialogue and cultural exchange as practical methods for building peace. Grassroots, person-to-person dialogue is encouraged as a way to foster empathy, challenge prejudice, and overcome social exclusion in everyday settings such as workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. Interfaith initiatives, cultural centers, museums, and artistic exchanges are used to deepen mutual understanding across religious, ethnic, and national boundaries. In this way, cultural activity becomes a spiritual practice, embodying the belief that genuine peace is rooted in the recognition of the dignity of life in all its diversity.

Soka Gakkai also engages directly in social welfare and humanitarian efforts. Members participate in disaster relief and community service, offering financial assistance, material support, and volunteer labor to communities in need. Local groups undertake social welfare and community development projects, including youth mentoring and activities that promote nonviolence and inclusion. Environmental campaigns and community-level protection activities express a Buddhist respect for life extended to the natural world, aligning personal lifestyle changes with broader sustainable development goals. Across these varied initiatives, the organization’s work for peace and justice is consistently framed as the outward manifestation of “human revolution,” the inner change that, in this tradition, is regarded as the wellspring of lasting social transformation.