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UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES POSTAL ADDRESS ADRESSE POST ALE- UNITED NATIONS, N.V. 1OO17 CABLE AODflCSS ADRESSE TELEGRAPHIQUE: I/NATIONS NEWYORK EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL CABINET OU SECRETAIRE GENERAL REFERENCE: 26 January, 2000 EOSG/CENTRAL Dear Mr. Sakai, On behalf of the Secretary-General, I should like to thank you for your letter dated 15 December 1999 and the copy of Special Memorial Issue of "Dharma World". The Secretary-General sends his deepest condolences for the passing away of Rissho Kosei-kai on 4 October 1999. He will be surely missed. I have been asked by the Secretary-General to convey to you his best wishes for continued success hi all your endeavors. Yours sincerely, Gillian Martin Sorensen Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations Mr. Norio Sakai Chairperson Board of Directors Rissho Kosei-kai RISSHO KOSEI-KAI C, A BUDDHIST ORGANIZATION 2-11-1 Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-8537, Japan, Tel: 03-3383-1111 lilJLU DEC 2 9 I999 December 15, 1999 Dear Sir/Madam, Special Memorial Issue of Dharrna World I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for your friendship with Rissho Kosei-kai. As you may know, Founder Nikkyo Niwano peacefully passed away on October 4, 1999 at the age of 92. The enclosed Special Memorial Issue of Dharma World carries full details of the Founder's funeral ceremonies and a complete review of his life and work. I am very pleased to present this issue to you as a token of our wholehearted appreciation. Founder's posthumous name is "If^JLEIifc—SfbfcfiirlJ" (Kaiso Nikkyo Ichijo Daishi) in Japanese and "The Founder Nikkyo, Great Teacher of the One Vehicle" in English. In Buddhism, the One Buddha Vehicle teaches us that all living beings are precious without exception because all can attain supreme enlightenment and attain true salvation by grasping the Dharma that flows through the entire universe. This is what Founder Niwano believed and practiced throughout his life. I look forward to your continued friendship and cooperation. Very truly yours, Norio Sakai Chairperson Board of Directors Rissho Kosei-kai ISSN0387-5970 AND INTERFAITH DIALOGUE Vol. 27 /ssue s BV*>"»~l~i " ^*x;r;-,N.*;. «ar^. *,<*-«•. JanVFeb. 2000 Vol. 27 **.i "- DHARMA WORLD For Living Buddhism and Interfaith Dialogue Special Memorial Issue for Rev. Nikkyo Niwano The Founder's Funeral Ceremonies 2 The Funeral Oration Nichiko Niwano 6 Condolence Speeches 12 Motoyuki Naganuma Eshin Watanabe Cover photo: Rissho Kosei-kai founder Mitsuhiro Fukata Nikkyo Niwano passed away on Oct. 4, William F. Vendley 1999. The founder's memorial services Peter Cardinal Seiichi Shirayanagi were held at the Great Sacred Hall at Shintaro Ishihara Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters from Personal Reminiscences 16 Oct. 6 to Oct. 10. Some 60,000 mourn- Yoshiaki Sanada ers participated in the services. The Kinzo Takemura portrait of Founder Niwano giving Condolence Letters from Overseas 18 guidance with his usual smile will re- main on the altar of the sacred stage The Founder's Life and Chronological Record 23 in the Great Sacred Hall for one year, Memories in the Media 32 with the tablet bearing the founder's by Eshin Watanabe Dharma title, to remind all members by Masataka Akabori to continue their bodhisattva practice by Takaoki Kurozumi in daily life. by Yoichiro Ikeda Addresses by the Founder 35 on Special Occasions News 40 Photo on the inside front cover: The 42 first calligraphy of the New Year in Buddhist Sculpture A Late Ninth-century Carving 1982 by Founder Niwano, reading Influenced by Chinese Styles by Takeshi Kuno Bankyo Dokon (All religions spring from the same root). Obituary 44 Gotama Buddha (41) 45 The Conversion of Sariputta and Moggallana by Hajime Nakamura Publisher: Teizo Kuriyama Corporate Advisor: Kinzo Takemura Director: Morikatsu Okabe Senior Editors: Hiroshi Andoh, Koichiro Yoshida Editor: Kazumasa Osaka Copy Editor: William Feuillan Editorial Staff: Toshihiko Nishino, Yoshie Matsuoka, Tetsuya Yamamoto Sales Staff: Ikuhiro Matsumura, Kazuyo Okazaki Correspondent: Hiroshi Miyahira Consultants: Gene Reeves, Gaynor Sekimori, Gary Hoiby, Naomi Nakamura DHARMA WORLD is published bimonthly by Kosei Publishing Company, 2-7-1 Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-8535. E-mail: [email protected] Copyright © 2000 by Kbsei 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. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Overseas, $30 (six issues by surface mail) payable to Kosei Publishing Company, preferably by international postal money order or postal giro account (Kosei Publishing Co., account no. 7-761, Tokyo). In Japan, ¥3,700 per year by yubin furikomi (post office deposit to Kosei Shuppansha. ac- count no. 7-761, Tokyo). SINGLE COPIES: overseas, 54; in Japan, ¥470 (tax included). Please order from International Publishing Section, Kosei Publishing Company, 2-7-1 Wada. Suginami-ku, Tokyo, 166-8535 Japan. 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 FOUNDER'S FUNERAL CEREMONIES Founder Commemorated in Formal Rites Members ofRissho Kosei-kai, religious leaders, and prominent figures in the interfaith movement joined in mourning the death of Rev. Nikkyo Niwano. he editors wish to express Rissho Kosei-kai branches Ttheir gratitude for the kind throughout Japan and else- consideration of many of our where in the world. It was readers who extended their broadcast on an early after- condolences on the passing of noon television news program the founder of Rissho Kosei- on the same day, and that kai, Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, in evening newspapers nation- Tokyo on Oct. 4, 1999, at the wide published obituaries hail- Kosei General Hospital. Found- ing him as a renowned er Niwano, who was ninety-two Buddhist and dedicated pio- years old, died at 10:34 A.M. of neer in interreligious coopera- natural causes in the hospital tion for world peace. A number affiliated with Rissho Kosei- of commentaries and reminis- kai, where he had been receiv- cences praising his unselfish ing medical treatment. Death leadership in promoting the came peacefully in the pres- cause of peace through inter- ence of family members and faith dialogue appeared on senior leaders of Rissho Kosei- subsequent days. Religious kai. The founder's eldest son, leaders and people from all President Nichiko Niwano, was walks of life in Japan were im- at his bedside, holding his fa- mediately joined by leaders of ther's hand. religious groups and interfaith Founder Niwano first en- organizations in many coun- tered the hospital in Septem- tries in expressing their condo- ber 1998, when he was found lences at the sad news. to have contracted pneumonia. Founder Niwano was born in He later recovered from that Niigata Prefecture in 1906. illness completely. His physical President Niwano offers the recitation of the Lotus Sutra on the Since his first encounter with condition improved so greatly sacred stage holding the founder's remains and portrait during the Lotus Sutra through the that he was able to appear at the mourning period. guidance of Mr. Sukenobu special functions even though Arai, a chapter leader of the confined to a wheelchair. Two of his last public appearances Reiyukai organization, he devoted the rest of his life to the were at the traditional Setsubun bean-scattering ceremony salvation of all of humanity through the teaching of the su- to dispel demons on Feb. 3 last year and the celebration of tra. In 1938, together with Rev. Myoko Naganuma and the sixty-first anniversary of Rissho Kosei-kai's founding on some thirty fledgling members, he founded Rissho Kosei- March 5. kai, which has since developed into a lay Buddhist organiza- Founder Niwano then remained hospitalized for continu- tion of 2.2 million households, or some 6.5 million mem- ing treatment of the infirmities of age, always closely at- bers, in Japan and around the world. tended by family members. His condition suddenly took a In the belief that all religions should cooperate to save turn for the worse on the morning of the day of his death. humankind, the founder joined fellow religious leaders in Rev. Norio Sakai, Rissho Kosei-kai's chairman, and Rev. establishing the World Conference on Religion and Peace, Motoyuki Naganuma, former chairman and now the special which since its first Assembly in 1970 has served as an advisor to the organization, were among those present when influential interfaith body taking action for peace and jus- he died. When the chief of the hospital medical team tice on the basis of shared religious principles. (A biography solemnly announced the founder's passing, President and chronology of Founder Niwano appear on pages 23-31.) Niwano, still holding his father's hand, closed his eyes, nod- Rissho Kosei-kai members in Japan and abroad paid trib- ded slightly, and then expressed his gratitude to the doctors ute to the late founder through recitation of the Lotus Sutra and nurses for their devoted care. and special memorial services, expressing heartfelt gratitude News of the founder's death was soon conveved to all for his lifetime of spiritual guidance for all people. Q DHARMA WORLD THE FOUNDER'S FUNERAL CEREMONIES Solemn Wake Held coffin, a copy of the Threefold Lotus his home to the Great Sacred Hall at Sutra and a copy of readings from the Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters was held. at Founder's Home sutra, both beloved by the founder, From that afternoon a constant were included. President Niwano then stream of buses bringing mourning Ris- een off by some 50 people, includ- chanted the Lotus Sutra in leading the sho Kosei-kai members from around Sing doctors and nurses at Kosei ritual of entrance into nirvana.
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