Johan Galtung, founder of the International Peace Research Institute, and Daisaku Ikeda explore the interface between Buddhism and nonviolent solutions to global conflict.
In a spontaneously wide-ranging conversation over dinner one winter evening in Japan, sociologist of religion Bryan Wilson and Buddhist philosopher Daisaku Ikeda recognised the importance of explaining and learning about their worldviews.
Born of their struggles to uphold human rights this dialogue represents the coming together of two kindred spirits, Austregésilo de Athayde (1898-1993) and Daisaku Ikeda.
Through these 15 intimate conversations, Elise Boulding, an American Quaker, and Daisaku Ikeda, a Japanese Buddhist, reveal that while journeys in peace may build from vastly divergent locales and traditions, shared wisdom grows from an unwavering commitment to a better world.
In the earlier half of the 20th century, Austrian-born writer Stefan Zweig is said to have urged organising for peace as the most effective measure against the organisations of war. In a parallel vein on a different continent, Daisaku Ikeda culled from the tragedy of war a lifelong commitment to building the resources for peace.