Italian version

Carl Rogers was one of the fathers of humanistic psychology. His person-based therapy is rooted in the belief that relationships characterized by empathy, unconditional acceptance and authenticity promote the full realization of the individual.
Daisaku Ikeda was a Buddhist master who, as president of the Soka Gakkai International, dedicated his life to spreading a culture based on respect for people and aimed at fostering the development of a harmonious and peaceful humanity.
These two giants of wisdom share not only a belief in the innate positive potential existing in every human being, but also a recognition of their concrete actions for peace. Carl Rogers was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987, shortly before his death, for his contribution to the normalization of the serious conflicts in South Africa and Northern Ireland. Daisaku Ikeda’s SGI was one of the partners of ICAN (International Campaign for Abolition of Nuclear Weapons), an association that received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017. Sadly, both have left this world, but fortunately their many books allow us to draw valuable insights from their wisdom.

Ikeda and Rogers similarly addressed the issue of youth, emphasizing that the youthful spirit is independent of age. Ikeda writes in “Giorno per giorno” (Esperia Edizioni):
What is youth? French philosopher Roger Garaudy argues that while most people believe that an individual is born young and then grows old and dies, in reality the acquisition of youth, in a profound sense, is a long and demanding process. The youth he speaks of is the spiritual power not to stagnate or resist change, to feel open to new possibilities.It is the power of the spirit that refuses to succumb to complacency, and continues to struggle.

In a similar vein, Carl Rogers addresses this theme in his “Un modo di essere”. On page 101 (Giunti Edizioni, 2018) we find the conclusion of the chapter “Getting Old and Growing Old.”
I quote parts of the last lines, in which the author talks about his life between the ages of 65 and 75:
… But for me, these past ten years have been fascinating, full of adventurous ventures. I have been able to open myself to new ideas, new feelings, new experiences, new risks. More and more I have discovered that being alive means taking risks, acting on foundations other than certainty alone, committing to life. … When I was a boy, I was quite sickly, and my parents told me that it was predicted that I would die young … I think it is true that I will never live as an old man. So, I find myself agreeing with that prediction today, and I think I will die young.

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