Value Creation in a Time of Crisis

Introduction

“The limitless power of Value Creation, which is intrinsic to life, enables each of us to transform our circumstances into an arena where we can live out our unique mission, imparting hope and a sense of security to all those around us.”(Dr Daisaku Ikeda).

The world today is facing a grave set of problems including extreme weather events and the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic which has not only affected people`s lives but their livelihood and dignity immensely too across the globe thus, throwing people into conditions wherein they find themselves requiring urgent assistance.

Present Situation

As of January 25, 2021, the number of people infected with COVID- 19 surpassed 99 million with more than 2.12 million people losing their lives. One cannot even begin to fathom the depth of grief experienced by those who have lost their loved ones in these unforeseen situations and this pain worsened by the fact that in order to contain the spread of the pandemic people affected with the Coronavirus were prevented from meeting their near and dear ones in the last moments of their lives. Nevertheless, even in these dark and unforeseen times, progress towards building a global society upholding values of peace and humanity never halted. Examples of this include the enforcement of the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, eradication of wild polio in the African country etc. Each of these achievements though slow are of great importance for the world as it is moving towards the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030.

Some Remedies

With the world still dealing with the wrath of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Dr Daisaku Ikeda has put forth some approaches to enable the world to overcome this global crisis and generate a solid momentum for building a society based on the ideals of peace and humane values in the twenty-first century. The first thematic area that Dr Ikeda suggests is the determination to leave no one behind by which he means to never leave behind those struggling amidst the depths of adversity. History is evident that since the beginning of times humans have faced an unbroken series of threats and it is inevitable that we will continue to face dangers in the future as well. Therefore, it is crucial that we build a strong social foundation for eliminating misery from the core so that those who are most vulnerable and struggling are not abandoned and blotted out.

The second thematic area he explores is the need for countries to the caste of their differences of race, colour, religion, language and ethnicity to come together in solidarity to conquer this crisis.

The third thematic area he expresses is the need for people to come together to stop the spread of misinformation especially regarding the coronavirus which can fuel discrimination among masses specifically against those who have been infected. In reference to this suggests a culture of human rights be created in such a way so that no one`s dignity is at stake.

Dr Ikeda compares each individual to a drop in the vast ocean suggesting the importance of individual effort and how, when all people join their heads and come together, with peace, empathy and courage in their hearts they can overcome the direst of situations.

He describes the dynamism of Value Creation and quotes his mentor, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, the second president of the Soka Gakkai (an organisation working for the upliftment of peace, culture and education) who compared value creation to a lotus flower in muddy water which symbolises an image in the Lotus Sutra (a Buddhist Scripture) of the lotus flower blossoming fragrantly, unsullied by the muddy waters from which it draws its sustenance. What this illustrates is that no matter how deep the chaos and confusion of times, if we remain true to ourselves and who we are we can overcome it all.

Therefore, I truly believe that through compassion, courage, empathy and by keeping the principles of oneness of life and its environment in mind and the collaborative effort of countries throughout the world we can overcome the havoc our world is in and make this world the euphoria we all dream of.

Written by Ms Vidhi Dawar, BA in Psychology, 1st Year, Department of Applied Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Science (FBSS), Manav Rachna International Institute of Research & Studies