REFLECTIONS Shining Our Light on Others by Nichiko Niwano Making the self our light and walking the Way does not mean Nichiko Niwano is president of Rissho Kosei-kai and an honorary being independent and conceited. It means that we shine the president of Religions for Peace. lamp of the Dharma amid every karmic connection and shine He also serves as special advisor its light on others. to Shinshuren (Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan). Th e Great Sacred Hall in Tokyo, the continue to illuminate all corners of principal training center for Rissho the world, we lead lives full of purpose other people and let them rejoice, our Kosei-kai members, was inaugurated in accord with the Way. practice of donation is clearly one and fi ft y-one years ago, on May 15, 1964. the same as shining our light on others. Since then, an eternal light has shone Donation Is Central Th ere is an old saying, “A candle uses from the rooft op tower. Th at light sym- to Life itself up in giving light to people.” One bolizes the bright lamp of the Dharma, merit of donation is that by doing our Shakyamuni’s teachings shining on the Shakyamuni set the example for shin- best for other people, our ego melts away hearts and minds of people who are suf- ing our light on others. However, rather from us. With our deeds we make oth- fering (“Make the Dharma your light”) than shining as an individual, he shone ers happy, and at such times our bod- and also the lighting of one’s own lamp, in the universe as burning star, giving ies shine a light equal to the light shone that is, everyone being able to walk the light like the sun, and since then has by Shakyamuni. In other words, we are Way by their own light (“Make the self always shined the light of his teach- shining forth on others a precious light. your light”). Most importantly, there ings on countless people. Since we are Of course, it is diffi cult to do this are no exceptions among us, since all unceasingly bathed in the light of the constantly. However, an example of people can be their own shining light Dharma, we become aware of the sanc- doing it regularly is participating in and walk the Way. tity of our own lives. How, then, can we the Donate-a-Meal Movement, one of In this vast universe, each and every shine the light of the Buddha’s teach- Rissho Kosei-kai’s peace activities, in one of us is an irreplaceable, precious ings on other people? which we forgo a meal several times existence. People who see themselves this I think undertaking our every task a month and donate the money saved. way also see that other people are the seriously, whether at work or at our Th is gives us a taste of selfl essness same and their lives are equally worthy. Dharma center, thereby making oth- and is an important practice for us as we Our human goodness compels us ers happy, is the best way to shine our lead our lives with the heart and mind of to tell others about the happiness we light on others. donation. Or, like the Zen priest Ryokan ourselves have found, and those who We study and practice the Buddha’s (1758–1831), who aimed to use words have discovered their own worth surely teachings as lay bodhisattvas. Th e Six of aff ection, our being mindful in look- cannot help sharing the joy that comes Perfections of our bodhisattva prac- ing for the good in people and prais- from revering humanity as they see it tice begin with donation. Th erefore, ing them for it is no less than a form refl ected in their hearts and minds. the practice of donation is central to of donation that shines light on others. Making the self our light and walk- our lives. Th ose who donate with their When we have this perspective, the ing the Way does not mean being inde- bodies make physical donations. Th ose eternal light atop the Great Sacred Hall pendent and conceited. It means that who donate with their hearts and minds symbolizes what lies deep in our hearts. we shine the lamp of the Dharma amid make spiritual donations. Th ose who Even if we shine only a single ray of every karmic connection and shine its donate assets make material donations. light, I hope it will always shine forth to light on others. As living beings who Since all of these kinds of donation help brighten and warm our surroundings. ≥ Dharma World April–June 2015 1 APR.–JUNE 2015 VOL. 42 FEATURES: Religion’s Contributions to Society 1 Shining Our Light on Others by Nichiko Niwano Dharma World presents Buddhism 3 Active Faith and Contributing as a practical living religion and to Society promotes interreligious dialogue by Hiroyuki Nasu for world peace. It espouses views that emphasize the dignity of life, seeks to rediscover our inner nature 4 Faith-Based Organizations’ and bring our lives more in accord Contributions to Society, with it, and investigates causes of Past and Present human suff ering. It tries to show by Kenji Ishii how religious principles help solve 8 Th e Role of the American problems in daily life and how the Muslim Community least application of such principles in a Pluralist Setting has wholesome eff ects on the world around us. It seeks to demonstrate by Sayyid M. Syeed truths that are fundamental to all 12 How Altruism Can Solve religions, truths on which all people Religious Confl ict can act. by Rey-Sheng Her 15 Religious Altruism and Its Contribution to Society Publisher: Hirofumi Mizuno by Keishin Inaba Director: Kazumasa Murase Senior Editor: Kazumasa Osaka 18 North American Buddhist Support for Same-Sex Marriage: Editor: Katsuyuki Kikuchi An Example of Compassion in Action Editorial Advisors: by Jeff Wilson Miriam Levering, Gene Reeves, 21 A Faith Th at Does Not Work for Justice Is Dead Yoshiaki Sanada, by Vicente Bonet Dominick Scarangello, Michio T. Shinozaki Copy Editors: 25 Th e Lotus Sutra from Below William Feuillan, Gary Hoiby, by Gene Reeves DeAnna Satre, Catherine Szolga 33 Th e First World Conference of Religions for Peace in Kyoto Editorial Staff : by Nikkyo Niwano Ryuichi Kaneko, Satoe Izawa Subscription Staff : Kazuyo Okazaki 39 Th e Prism of the Lotus Sutra (8) Layout and Design: Abinitio Design by Atsushi Kanazawa Cover: THE THREEFOLD LOTUS SUTRA: A MODERN COMMENTARY Photoshop work by Abinitio Design 41 Th e Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law Chapter 24: Th e Bodhisattva Wonder Sound (1) Dharma World is published quarterly by Kosei Publishing Company, 2-7-1 Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-8535. E-mail: [email protected]. Copyright © 2015 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. FEATURES Active Faith and Contributing to Society by Hiroyuki Nasu Amid the chaos and suffering in Japan that devastated parts of northeastern Hiroyuki Nasu is head of the Social that followed World War II, even the Japan on March 11, 2011, with the mass Ministry Group of Rissho Kosei-kai sick were unable to obtain proper health media frequently showing Buddhist in Tokyo. care, prompting Rissho Kosei-kai to priests performing funeral services for establish Kosei General Hospital in the dead and comforting the survivors. 1952. The organization has since con- The director-general for recon- earthquake, Japanese media provided a tinued to broaden its contributions to struction policy at the Reconstruction constant window on the misery at the society to meet changing social needs. Agency of the Japanese Government, scene. No one who saw those images For example, it established schools and Mr. Masakatsu Okamoto, told a reli- could not have been moved to want to centers of research and launched the gious gathering in 2014 that religion do something, anything, to help. Many Brighter Society Movement. All these was necessary for the bereaved to set about giving and volunteering as a activities are based on the organiza- recover from feelings of loss. He said result. Knowing about other people’s tion’s founding spirit of liberating peo- this at the Roundtable Conference of suffering cultivates a spirit of compas- ple from suffering and restoring the Religionists on Reconstruction, held sion that leads to the first proactive, world in accordance with the true by Religions for Peace Japan in Sendai, voluntary steps. This applies equally spirit of Buddhism as epitomized in Miyagi Prefecture. Mr. Okamoto had and exactly to our own daily lives as the Lotus Sutra. been involved for three years in rebuild- we live out our faith. There can be a The organization’s founder, Rev. ing quake-stricken areas. He argued tendency to consider the living out of Nikkyo Niwano, would often quote that it was important to reflect on the faith and contributing to society to be Saicho, the founder of the Tendai failure of government to work effec- two separate things, but they are in fact denomination of Japanese Buddhism, tively with people of faith owing to an essentially the same. who said that “just as a net of only one overly literal concern with the consti- An important challenge for Rissho mesh is of no use in capturing a bird, tutional separation of religion and the Kosei-kai in its future contributions so too is a single sect insufficient to state.