The spiritual master confronts two disciples who have reached the pinnacle of fame in contemporary Jazz. The desire to convey the creative spirit and the importance of the artist's inner growth, as well as that of any other person, are some of the themes around which the dialogue unfolds. The three authors describe various relevant experiences from their lives and help us understand how important the continuous process of renewal is, a process that unites religious quest and an artist's creativity.

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Peace is not merely the absence of war. Appeals for the ideals of “peace and justice” are often made but most of the time they end up becoming mere slogans. In the dialogue contained in this book, Stuart Rees and Daisaku Ikeda share their ideas and visions on how to create the conditions for peace through a profound awakening, a commitment to nonviolence as a “law of life,” and unwavering dedication. It is the authors' conviction that these concrete elements, and not an ideology or abstract thought, make possible a society that cultivates the dignity of all people. Finally, Rees and Ikeda emphasize how the “poetic spirit” is an excellent creative tool for imagining and realizing a future where peace and justice are one and the same. Peace, Justice, and Poetry offers a fascinating and compelling analysis of the ills afflicting our society. It also points to a nonviolent path that leads to authentic peace and provides those seeking peace with the encouragement and inspiration they need. Joseph Camilleri, Emeritus Professor of International Relations, La Trobe University, Melbourne

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A dialogue on the role of civil society in peacebuilding. In this book, Kevin P. Clements, one of the world's leading experts in conflict resolution studies, engages in a dialogue with philosopher and Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda on the topic of peace and the role of civil society in this field. In their conversations, which are anything but academic or theoretical, and are based on the concrete experiences of the two authors who have dedicated their lives to peacebuilding, they provide a wealth of examples in which the actions of ordinary people have transformed social and political situations. Unusual aspects of the peacebuilding process emerge, which are not only within the reach of diplomats and statesmen but of every person. For example, the importance of "imagining" what the world we want to live in would be like, or the importance of "conviviality," meaning the pleasure of conversing with people in informal settings, such as over a good meal, which has surprisingly proven crucial for many negotiations. It is an invitation to everyone, and especially to young people, to become aware of their power, because, as Daisaku Ikeda states, «lack of trust in the government is observed in every country, but if young people lose interest in politics, society will have no future.» And to young people, but not only them, is addressed the appeal of the two authors to take the risk of stepping out of their comfort zone to open up to the diversity of others. The conviction of these two great thinkers is that the path to peace will only open when young people work together for a common purpose, united to solve problems beyond national borders. «Peace is not something abstract or separate from daily life. We can all do something for peace right where we are now.» Daisaku Ikeda «Fear and distrust do not help change. The only way to create a just and peaceful world is to act with the confidence of wanting a better future.»Kevin Clements «Sincerely listening to the problems of a single person, right where we are now, encouraging them and nurturing hope in their heart is a humble and tenacious effort; perhaps it won't be news that travels the world, perhaps it won't enter the annals of history, but every person who feels a new hope burning in their heart will rediscover the strength to live, and your action will have been precious for their life. This is the basis of a solid peace movement deeply rooted in people's hearts. It is my fervent wish that young people, first and foremost, continue to build a network of people who spread joy and revitalization, thereby creating a magnificent ray of light for the twenty-first century.»Daisaku Ikeda

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Rebuilding a healthy and harmonious relationship with Nature, addressing the issue of population growth, coming to terms with problems related to energy resources, and ending conflicts that destroy entire peoples and ecosystems. These are topics that over the last thirty years have been addressed repeatedly from many points of view, and in Aurelio Peccei they found a true forerunner. Founder of the Club of Rome and promoter of the famous report entitled The Limits to Growth, he addressed many issues together with SGI President Daisaku Ikeda that still demand our attention today, even with greater urgency. The task that the two authors undertook was burdensome, especially due to the obvious difficulty of "singing out of tune," that is, trying to stimulate a major international debate on topics that few were willing to question. But it is precisely in this that the caliber of great protagonists is recognized, as they become bearers of messages that transcend the present moment and push us to build a clear vision of the future.

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A great geographical and cultural distance separates Japan from Argentina. However, Daisaku Ikeda, president of Soka Gakkai International, and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, have managed to build a deep friendship, based on common affinities and values, in defense of human rights without borders or discrimination. Ikeda and Pérez Esquivel engage in a dialogue on topics such as solidarity, the wisdom of peoples and women, resistance to totalitarianism, the search for effective action, and the valuing of diverse cultures, with the aim of finding a path to peace. Through words and examples from their lives, the authors seek to convey to young people the value of energetic and passionate commitment to peace, hope, and justice for their peoples and for all the peoples of the Earth.

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It is undeniable that economics plays a fundamental role in our lives, both individually and socially. Yet, many find the subject complex and difficult to approach, tending to avoid it. In this dialogue, economist Lawrence J. Lau and Buddhist philosopher and Soka Gakkai International President Daisaku Ikeda address the topic of economic development in modern society from a historical perspective, examining what lessons can be learned from the East Asian currency crises in 1997 and the global financial crisis in 2007-2009. Covering various subjects, the authors help readers understand the challenges globalization has imposed on economies, the importance of government regulation in markets, and the delicate issue of balancing a country's economic growth with the well-being of its entire population. These conversations, where economic aspects are not separated from people's daily lives, thus become small economics lessons. Thanks to simple and accessible language, one can begin to unravel the mystery of economics, a discipline that concerns the framework of the world we inhabit, and whose knowledge is often precluded from us by technical complexities and specialist terminology. "Economics," said economist John Kenneth Galbraith, "must serve human happiness" and "the fundamental force driving the economy is people." Daisaku Ikeda is president of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) and leader of the Buddhist movement based on the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin. An activist, philosopher, educator, and poet, Ikeda has dedicated over seventy years to spreading Buddhist humanism worldwide and building the foundations for a culture of peace. SGI, which has members in 192 countries and territories, encourages individuals to develop their inner potential and contribute as global citizens to overcome the collective challenges facing humanity. He is the founder of Soka University, with campuses in Japan and the United States, and many other institutions dedicated to researching solutions to the many crises of the contemporary era. In 1983, he was awarded the United Nations Peace Award. Lawrence J. Lau was Professor of Economics at Stanford University from 1976 to 2004, then became the sixth Vice-Chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, holding that position for seven years. He is the author of numerous publications including The Chinese Economy in the Twenty-first Century: An Econometric Approach. The challenge for policy is to balance economic growth with improving people's quality of life and ensuring that this effort is stable and sustainable. Soka Gakkai's second president, Josei Toda, often told us that individual happiness should never be sacrificed at the altar of social prosperity, but that the two aspects must advance hand in hand. I believe there is a growing urgency for economic activity to focus not only on efficiency but also on the collective interest. Daisaku Ikeda To overcome the current crisis, developed economies must focus on restarting the real economy, pursuing a path of sustainable growth and not inventing further financial tricks. We must not lose sight of the fact that the role of the financial sector is to support other sectors of the economy and that ultimately the financial sector must be directly based on the performance of the real economy. Lawrence J. Lau

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A Japanese Buddhist leader, Daisaku Ikeda, and a British sociologist, Brian Wilson, discuss the role of religion and its connections to the main ethical and social problems of our time. Their dialogue focuses on the role and importance of religion and religious sentiment for both the individual and society as a whole. The positive potential of religious doctrines for the inner development of human beings and the proper functioning of society emerges. However, the authors do not fail to highlight the risks associated with the institutionalization of religious movements and the use of religion as a tool for control and power.

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