REFLECTIONS Our Smiles Can Open Minds by Nichiko Niwano The Benefits harmony to human relationships, help Nichiko Niwano is president of of Laughter us accept and overcome difficult reali- Rissho Kosei-kai and a president of ties, and make our thinking more gen- the World Conference of Religions When talking to other people, no mat- tle and flexible. for Peace. He also serves as special ter how passionately we speak, we can- In fact, Dr. Viktor Frankl (1905–77), advisor to Shinshuren (Federation not reach them if their minds are tightly who survived being sent to a concen- of New Religious Organizations closed. Someone once said that such a tration camp by the Nazis, suggested of Japan). mind is like “a bowl turned upside down.” to his fellow inmates that they tell each Nothing can get into an upside-down other one funny story every day to make formed themselves into a circle. Their bowl. So first the other person’s mind, each other laugh. It may have been this smiles broke their tension, relaxed their which is like that bowl, must be turned laughter that gave them the strength to muscles, and let them exercise their right side up. To make any heart-to- go on living. full potential. We should all follow the heart communication possible, both When people are faced with trou- example of Nadeshiko, as Japan’s wom- persons must open up about their inner- bles or hardships, humor and laughter en’s soccer team is known, developing most feelings. At such times, laughter are like a window letting in a beam of flexible strength, and go through life and humor often can play a large role. light. Humor loosens our heartstrings, with smiles on our faces. This is why, from long ago, many encourages us to relax, and gives rise Even if at first we do not feel like noted priests as well as men of letters to liberation. smiling, by making a conscious effort have taught us something important by to do so we will soon find that smiles including satirical or humorous anec- Smiles Show come naturally to us. And then, because dotes into their lectures and stories that Consideration the body and mind are closely interre- might otherwise be stiff and formal, lated, our mood will brighten and our making their listeners or readers chuckle Some people, however, are not adept at outlook become more positive. and thus turning the bowl of the mind taking the initiative in telling jokes or A smile carries with it the mes- right side up. making others laugh. sage “I’d like to be your friend,” and Jippensha Ikku (1765–1831), the As a matter of fact, I am one such helps build harmonious, warmhearted popular Edo period writer of the work person. I used to leave home every day relationships. known in English as Shank’s Mare, left with a frown on my face, so one day Furthermore, smiling is itself being us this comic verse as his dying words: my wife gave me this advice: “Before considerate: the “donation of smiling “Without further ado, I take leave of you leave, look in the mirror and try peacefully” is one form of practicing this world, so with the departure of the to smile.” Thanks to developing this compassion and a form of donation that incense smoke, farewell!” And the Zen good habit, I feel much less self-con- everyone can do, even without substan- master Ikkyu Sojun (1394–1481) com- scious about smiling in public and I tial financial resources. posed the following verse that humor- now have more rewarding relationships We should never forget to smile since ously expresses the truth of birth, old age, with other people. smiling is a source of kindness and con- illness, and death: “So we are born and so Mention of smiling reminds me sideration, and we should continue, we die. This is the same for Shakyamuni that I was impressed by a scene from cheerfully and joyfully, to be diligent and Daruma,* and for the cat and the last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in our practice. ≥ ladle, too.” Final in Frankfurt. When at last the final * Bodhidharma (known as Daruma in Laughter and humor open the play was at hand, all the members of Japanese) is credited as the transmitter of Chan hearts of hardened people, bring the Japanese team, their faces beaming, from India to China. Dharma World July–September 2012 1 JULY–SEPT. 2012 VOL. 39 The Signifi cance of Religious Communities 1 Our Smiles Can Open Minds Dharma World presents Buddhism by Nichiko Niwano as a practical living religion and 3 Why We Should Join promotes interreligious dialogue a Sangha for world peace. It espouses views that emphasize the dignity of life, by Yukimasa Hagiwara seeks to rediscover our inner nature 4 Communities of Life and bring our lives more in accord and Dialogue in the with it, and investigates causes of Catholic Church how religious principles help solve by Brendan Leahy problems in daily life and how the 8 least application of such principles in Japan by Samir Abdel Hamid Nouh around us. It seeks to demonstrate truths that are fundamental to all 14 Neve Shalom/Wahat religions, truths on which all people al-Salam: Community can act. by Abdessalam Najjar Publisher: Moriyasu Okabe Executive Director: 18 Jun’ichi Nakazawa by Peter Feldmeier Director: Kazumasa Murase Why the Sangha Exists, and Its Limits Editor: Kazumasa Osaka 22 Editorial Advisors: by Ryumyo Yamazaki Miriam Levering, Gene Reeves, 25 Harmony and Peace Yoshiaki Sanada, by Rosalina Tuyuc Velásquez Michio T. Shinozaki Copy Editors: 28 William Feuillan, Gary Hoiby, by Gene Reeves DeAnna Satre, Catherine Szolga 34 Rissho Kosei-kai’s Second Step Forward Katsuyuki Kikuchi, Ryuichi Kaneko, by Nikkyo Niwano Satoe Izawa 37 Kazuyo Okazaki by Stefan Grace Layout and Design: Abinitio Design Cover photos: PIXTA. Courtesy of the THE THREEFOLD LOTUS SUTRA: A MODERN COMMENTARY Focolare Movement and Neve Shalom/ Wahat al-Salam. 44 Photoshop work by Abinitio Design. Dharma World is published quarterly by Kosei Publishing Company, 2-7-1 Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-8535. E-mail: [email protected]. Copyright © 2012 by Kosei Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Printed in Japan by Komiyama Printing Company. Change of Address: Please provide both old and new addresses. Six weeks’ advance notice is requested. Requests for permission to reprint all or part of any article in this issue must be made in writing to the editor of Dharma World. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES Why We Should Join a Sangha by Yukimasa Hagiwara At present, Rissho Kosei-kai has sixty- sangha and the reasons people belong to Yukimasa Hagiwara is deputy director nine Dharma centers in twenty-one it are different depending on the culture. of Rissho Kosei-kai International in countries, and member families outside In South Asia, there is a strong Tokyo. Japan number more than fifteen thou- tendency for people who are already sand. Roughly speaking, these overseas Buddhists to join the Rissho Kosei-kai America. If Buddhism is characterized centers are distributed here and there in sangha, quite often followed in succes- by the Three Treasures—the Buddha, the East Asia, South Asia, North America, sion by other family members and rela- Dharma, and the Sangha—the question South America, and Europe. tives. The motive for joining appears to arises of how can such people, who do Particularly since around 1990, our be the appeal of serving others or recit- not belong to any organization but are organization’s sanghas have been rap- ing sutras, activities that in Theravada interested in the teachings and in sol- idly expanding through the efforts of Buddhism are reserved for monks. In itary practice, be encouraged to join the people in each country. In North East Asia, the main motive for joining a sangha? It may be that a new inter- America and Taiwan, there are now appears to be to solve personal problems, pretation is needed for an American- some ministers of Dharma centers who though another common motive seems style sangha. come from the centers’ local communi- to be the appeal of belonging to the warm The name “Rissho Kosei-kai” incor- ties. This is a sure sign that our teaching sangha. In the case of North America, porates the meaning “attaining buddha- has taken firm root in these areas, and where appreciation of Buddhism is said hood through personal exchanges.” I can this trend is expected to grow further. to be on the rise, the motive for join- understand the feelings of people who This active expansion offers us an ing is usually the individual’s interest would prefer to avoid the restraints and opportunity to think about some funda- in the teachings. Unlike the situation in problems that arise from being in an mental issues and ask ourselves, “What South Asia, in North America member- organization. However, human beings is Rissho Kosei-kai? What are its essen- ship in the sangha seldom extends to are creatures that have great difficulty tial elements?” Placed in the contexts of family members or relatives. In other in achieving self-knowledge on their different cultures and traditions, Rissho words, religious activity is at all events own. People grow and develop when Kosei-kai outside Japan may not share seen as individual behavior. they work hard to maintain respect for everything in common with its origi- In North America in particular, aside each other’s existence while making nal form in Japan. As Rissho Kosei-kai from the recognized Buddhist popu- the Dharma their light.