Welcome to SGI Europe
We are delighted to welcome you to the SGI Europe website.
SGI Europe offers support in faith, practice and study to the SGI organisations across the continent of Europe, and hosts a number of pan-European activities each year. Members of SGI practise the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin which is rooted in the Mahayana scripture, the Lotus Sutra, and more information about this tradition can be found here.
SGI Europe is a member of the European Buddhist Union.
In 1961 SGI President Daisaku Ikeda (1928-2023) first travelled from Japan to Europe, and visited eight countries: Denmark, West Germany, Netherlands, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland and Austria. The membership in those early pioneering days was very small, and he created a network so that those pioneers could be supported in their faith.
Over the next 33 years he returned to Europe another 17 times, visiting SGI members as well as speaking at academic institutions (some of which bestowed honorary degrees on him) and holding dialogues with thinkers in many different areas.
Denmark, West Germany, Netherlands, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland and Austria
Turkey and Greece
France, Switzerland and Italy
Turkey, Italy, France, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Switzerland, Norway and Denmark
France, West Germany, Italy and Portugal
France, Italy, Switzerland and Netherlands
France, United Kingdom
France, United Kingdom and Netherlands
Soviet Union
France, United Kingdom and Soviet Union
Soviet Union, West Germany, Bulgaria, Austria, Italy and France
West Germany, Romania, Switzerland, Spain, France, Belgium and Netherlands
Soviet Union and France
United Kingdom, Sweden, France and Switzerland
Soviet Union
Germany, Luxembourg, France and United Kingdom
Germany, Austria, Turkey and Italy
Russia, Germany, Italy and United Kingdom
In 1973 he created the Soka Gakkai European Conference as a means to reinforce the solidarity and cooperation of members in European countries.
Our aim is, to use the expression from The Lotus Sutra, ‘kosen-rufu’, a transformation of society as an increasing number of people manifest the enlightened qualities we all have inherent in our lives.
Describing the background to this European network, Daisaku Ikeda explains:
Nichiren Daishonin wrote to one of his followers: ‘I entrust you with the propagation of Buddhism in your province’ (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, volume 1, p1117). Each person taking responsibility for kosen-rufu in the community in which they live – this is the unchanging formula for the advancement of our movement. Kosen-rufu will be achieved when members in every country awaken to their personal mission and take courageous action where they are, acting in accord with the conditions and customs of the country and respecting the national character.
On the other hand, if the Soka Gakkai organisation in each country becomes isolated, it will lack inspiration and stimulation. Together those organisations need to remain in close contact, sharing their successes and supporting and aiding one another. That is the only way they will grow and develop. If such a level of cooperation can be achieved, each country can exhibit five or ten times the strength it had previously demonstrated. Solidarity is power. (The New Human Revolution, volume 17, ‘Citadel of the People’)
SGI Europe continues to provide a network offering this contact and opportunity for cooperation to members of SGI across our continent. We organise study and encouragement courses and opportunities for dialogue and exchange. We schedule a monthly opportunity for members to unite in prayer to change the karma of our continent so that Europe can become a model of harmony and unity, showing how conflict can be transformed with friendship and dialogue, and never again with violence.
On this website you can find information about the constituent organisations in Europe, and some examples of recent European initiatives. Thank you for your interest and support.
Very best wishes,
Suzanne Pritchard and Robert Harrap
Co-Chairs of SGI Europe
News
We have recently supported these activities:
August 2023
SGI Europe Youth Study Course in Milan
October 2023
SGI Europe Course in Madrid
January 2024
SGI Europe Kosen-rufu Online Conference
February 2024
SGI European Youth Committee Conference in Vienna
February 2024
Celebration of the life of Daisaku Ikeda in the European Parliament
June 2024
Soka Gakkai President Harada and a Delegation Visit a Conference in Frankfurt
July 2024
SGI Europe Student Course in Frankfurt
August 2024
SGI Youth Study Course in Milan
September 2024
SGI Europe Course for Members in Nordic Countries in Stockholm
October 2024
SGI Europe Course for Members in East European Countries in Vienna
January 2025
SGI Europe Kosen-rufu Conference in Frankfurt
February 2025
SGI European Youth Committee Conference near Paris
July 2025
SGI Europe Student Course in Frankfurt
August 2025
SGI Europe Youth Course in Milan
Ocotber 2025
SGI Europe Course for Members in East European Countries in Vienna
Global SGI News
To explore SGI’s initiatives and news highlights from around the world, visit the Soka Global and SGI Action for Peace news pages by clicking on the buttons below.
SGI Organisations Around Europe
SGI Europe fosters the SGI organisations across the continent of Europe by supporting with faith, practice and study.
By fortifying the unity and solidarity of SGI organisations and members around Europe, we aim to create a vibrant and empowered society through the inner transformation of individuals.