Compassionate Light in Asia A Dialogue

by Yong, Jin; Ikeda, Daisaku

• ISBN13: 9781848851986
• ISBN10: 1848851987
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2013-11-26
• Publisher: Bloomsbury

Summary

'Life is a drama of encounters', writes Daisaku Ikeda at the beginning of this dialogue: 'Beautiful encounters. Momentary encounters. Each person's drama is unique.' This particular encounter, between a celebrated Chinese novelist and prominent Japanese religious leader, illustrates the truth of that reflection: for in the discussion that resulted from their meetings, Jin Yong (who is sometimes called 'the Asian Dumas') and Daisaku Ikeda were able to find remarkable common ground - what they refer to as a 'karmic bond' - resulting from the particularity of their experiences in wartime and mutual resistance to adversity. Ranging across a variety of engaging themes, the interlocutors explore such topics as the nature of friendship; theories of civilization; world literatures that have inspired them; the importance of free speech; Buddhist perspectives on life and death; and the spiritual search for truth. Demonstrating a remarkable capacity for empathy throughout, the authors incarnate in their lives and work an intelligent and sympathetic compassion that represents a beacon of hope to the future direction of Sino-Japanese relations.

Author Biography

Jin Yong (1924-) is China's bestselling living novelist. His 15 books have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide and have been adapted for film, television, graphic novels, and other media.

Daisaku Ikeda (1928-) is the President of Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist network with some twelve million members in over 190 countries throughout the world. He is the author of over 100 books on Buddhist themes, and received the United Nations Peace Award in 1983.

Table of Contents

Preface by Jin Yong * Preface by Daisaku Ikeda * The Seasons of Life - Self-delusion and character development in youth * Creating Twenty-first Century people - Deng Xiaoping and the Return of Hong Kong * Friendship, Spirit and Character - An Encounter with Buddhism * Beloved Books of our Youth * A Resurgence of Literature * Lu Xun, Revolutionary Humanist * The Power of the Pen * A Literature of Hope * Illuminate the World with the Light of Humanity * The Noble Path to the New Century * Glossary * Index