Moral Lessons of the Twentieth Century: Gorbachev and Ikeda on Buddhism and Communism

Abstract

Mikhail Gorbachev and Daisaku Ikeda are contemporaries raised in different cultures: Gorbachev is a statesman influenced by Marx and communist politics while Ikeda is a Buddhist inspired by the thirteenth century Japanese sage, Nichiren. This book is a result of a series of conversations between these two men. Together they explore their experiences of life amidst the turmoil of the twentieth century and together they search for a common ethical basis for future development. They conclude that values are born of culture and that peace, progress and social justice can only be achieved through sincere communication and cultural exchange.