EOSG/CENTRAL Dear Mr

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

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 remain 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. account 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. Japan to attend the vigil for the found- General Hospital, the hearse bearing Throughout the wake at the founder there filled the parking lots. Sad- the remains of the late founder depart- er's home, from the evening of Oct. 4 dened members quickly and quietly ed from the hospital at 5:30 P.M. on through Oct. 6, an almost ceaseless made their way to the fourth floor of the day of his death. En route to his stream of mourners visited to offer the hall to take part in the ritual. home, the car stopped briefly at the condolences. Japanese Prime Minister The vigil was broadcast by satellite main entrance to the Great Sacred Keizo Obuchi paid his respects and television to the 239 branches nation- Hall in a gesture of deep respect. former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Naka- wide. At 5:18 P.M., President Nichiko Soon after, the founder returned to sone praised the late founder as a dedi- Niwano entered the hall carrying the his home in Tokyo's Suginami Ward cated man who would now live in the tablet bearing the posthumous Dharma for the last time, accompanied by Rev. world of perfect selflessness. title of the founder, followed by Rev. Nichiko Niwano, Rissho Kosei-kai pres- Peter Cardinal Seiichi Shirayanagi, Kosho Niwano, President Niwano's el- ident; Rev. Kinjiro Niwano, chairman Roman Catholic archbishop of Tokyo dest daughter and Rissho Kosei-kai's of the board of trustees of Kosei Gaku- and president of the Japanese Com- president-designate, holding his por- en; and Rev. Hiroshi Niwano, presi- mittee of the World Conference on trait. The coffin was then brought in, dent of Gakurin Seminary. Among Religion and Peace, pointed out after carried by twelve of Founder Niwano's those awaiting the arrival of the hearse offering a prayer that for Catholics relatives. They proceeded to the altar were Rev. Norio Sakai, Rissho Kosei- Oct. 4 is the anniversary of the death on the sacred stage on the fourth floor kaj chairman, and Rev. Motoyuki of Saint Francis of Assisi, called the to the accompaniment of solemn mu- Naganuma, special advisor to the orga- apostle of peace. He said it was a sig- sic by the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. nization. President Niwano offered a nificant coincidence that two es- At 5:26 P.M. the coffin was placed at solemn welcome to the founder, fol- teemed men of religion who devoted the altar and seemed to be held in the lowed by similar messages from the their lives to peace should have passed gaze of the image of the Eternal others present. away on the same day. Buddha Shakyamuni, Rissho Kosei-kai's During the ritual of placing the re- Rev. Takeyasu Miyamoto, president focus of devotion enshrined there. mains in the coffin, the recitation of of Myochi-kai, recalled with tears in The vigil ritual began with the reci- the Lotus Sutra was led by Rev. his eyes and with his hands on the tation of excerpts from the Threefold Kimitoshi Niwano, former director of coffin that as an acquaintance of many Lotus Sutra by President Nichiko Rissho Kosei-kai. Next, a sash on years he knew the founder as a man Niwano. As the excerpts from such which the o-daimoku (Namu Myoho with an especially generous personality chapters as "Tactfulness," "A Parable," Renge-kyo) had been written by Presi- who was always ready to engage in warm "Revelation of the [Eternal] Life of the dent Niwano was placed across the conversation with whomever he met. Tathagata," and "The Bodhisattva body of the founder, dressed in the Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, Never Despise" solemnly progressed, frock coat recognized as formal wear who is also president of the National members wiped tears from their eyes. among Rissho Kosei-kai members, Council of the Brighter Society Move- Following the recitation, President reflecting the wish that he would con- ment, said he cherished his memories Niwano read a vigil oration in a voice tinue to teach the Dharma and offer of the founder, describing him as a choked with emotion. guidance. great teacher throughout his life. In the course of the ritual, telegrams The Rissho Kosei-kai sash represents During the three-day wake, the of condolence sent by Rev. Konrad the Buddhist surplice and symbolizes founder's favorite Japanese foods were Raiser, general secretary of the World members' determination to take refuge placed as offerings on the altar before Council of Churches in Geneva, and in the Three Treasures of the Buddha, the coffin and Buddhist ritual incense by Professor Andrea Riccardi, presi- the Dharma, and the Sangha, and was kept constantly burning. Q dent of the Community of Saint their devotion to bodhisattva practice. Egidio in Rome, were read aloud as A sash on which the founder had writ- representative of the many condolence ten the o-daimoku was presented by Vigil for Late Founder messages sent from around the world him to President Niwano at the cere- to Rissho Kosei-kai and its affiliated mony of the Inheritance of the Lamp he coffin holding the remains of organizations. This was followed by ofthe Dharma on Nov. 15, 1991, when TFounder Nikkyo Niwano had lain the ceremony of offering incense for his eldest son succeeded him in the in state at his home for a three-day the repose of the founder's spirit. presidency. wake from Oct. 4. On the final day, the Eighteen official representatives then As the remains were placed into the ritual of transferring the coffin from came onto the sacred stage to burn

January/February 2000 THE FOUNDER'S FUNERAL CEREMONIES

incense before the altar. They included representative members, divided into The Funeral Service President Nichiko Nivvano and Mrs. thirty groups, took turns in the recita- Yoshie Niwano as chief mourners, tion. In the first group on the second he funeral service for the founder President-designate Kosho Niwano and day of the reading, President-designate Ttook place on the morning of Oct. Rev. Kinjiro Nivvano on behalf of the Kosho Niwano acted as leader of the 10 in the Great Sacred Hall, at which founder's immediate family, and Mr. chanting for the first time in the Great some 60,000 people, including mem- Nenozo Hayashi and Mr. Rinzo Ni- Sacred Hall, using the copy of the bers and mourners from all walks of vvano representing his relatives. Prime Threefold Lotus Sutra formerly owned life, paid him tribute. Related cere- Minister Keizo Obuchi and President by the founder's late wife, Mrs. Naoko monies were held at local branches Takeyasu Miyamoto of Myochi-kai Niwano. throughout Japan. Kyodan represented the many distin- About 9,200 members of the Youth In the Great Sacred Hall mourners guished guest mourners, and Rev. Groups from branches all over the paid their respects facing a large por- Kinzo Takemura, advisor to Rissho country took part in the nighttime ses- trait of the founder giving guidance Kosei-kai, acted as the representative sions. Representatives of the heads of with his usual smile. The portrait was at of all Rissho Kosei-kai members. the Youth Groups from each branch the center of the altar, with the found- Last, Rev. Norio Sakai, the organiza- led the recitation in turn. Rev. Keiji er's coffin and a tablet bearing the tion's chairman and chief of the found- Kunitomi, director of the Youth De- Dharma title presented by President er's funeral committee, expressed his partment, offered encouragement to Nivvano placed in front of it. Sixty thou- official condolences to all those pre- the participants at the beginning and sand white chrysanthemums and fif- sent. end of their recitations. teen thousand pink and white orchids At the close of the ritual, President "We are grateful that you Youth decorated the altar before the statue of Nivvano returned to the platform and Group members volunteered to partici- the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni. offered a message of gratitude to all pate in this all-night recitation for the Orchids were arranged in a circle be- who had attended and observed the late founder, who was always pleased hind the founder's portrait, symboli-z- vigil in the Great Sacred Hall. He de- that young members chose to follow ing the perfection ascribed to the scribed the progress of the founder's the path he walked. We should read Lotus Sutra, which had been venerated physical deterioration from the infirm- the Threefold Lotus Sutra in gratitude by many Buddhists as the "round,""or ities of old age and his entrance into to him and to maintain in our minds perfect, sutra. The white chrysanthe- nirvana. our vow to disseminate the Buddha's mums suggested the founder's snow- The vigil ended at 7:04 P.M. with all teachings." Q bound birthplace of Suganuma. those who had been present lining up to place ritual offerings of a flower on the special tables arranged for that purpose. The tablet containing the founder's posthumous Dharma title and his portrait will remain on the altar adjacent to the focus of devotion for one year as reminders to all members to continue their bodhisattva practice. Q

Continuous Sutra Recitation

rom the evening of Oct. 6, the day Fon which the vigil for the late founder was held, until the morning of Oct. 10, the day of the funeral service, a continuing recitation of the Three- fold Lotus Sutra was conducted in the Great Sacred Hall. Nearly 30,900 members from throughout Japan participated in two sections, for daytime and nighttime readings. President Niwano leads the official mourners in the sacred ritual of transferring the coffin hold- In the daytime sessions, some 21,700 ing the late founder's remains from his residence to the Great Sacred Hall.

DHARMA WORLD THE FOUNDER'S FUNERAL CEREMONIES

The sound of Japan's ancient founder's blood to whom he gave life traditional imperial court music in this world and enveloped with a fa- (gagaku), played by the Kosei ther's love, offer these words to his Gagaku Society, reverberated cherished memory, from the love and through the hall. With President respect with which we all hold him, Nichiko Niwano as leader, mourn- and in thanks for all that he has done ers in the hall and members at for us." President Niwano expressed branches throughout Japan to- his deep respect for the founder, who gether recited Lotus Sutra ex- never lost his cheerfulness and warmth tracts, from the chapters "Tact- no matter where he was, and who prac- fulness," "The Revelation of the ticed compassion beyond all national [Eternal] Life of the Tathagata," borders and did good to others at all President-designate Kosho Niwano acted as leader and "The Divine Power of the times. In closing President Niwano de- of the chanting to conduct a continuing recitation Tathagata." Young members clared his belief in the true world of of the Threefold Lotus Sutra. from Tokyo, who had taken part the One Buddha Vehicle and his deter- in the continuous reading of the mination to strive diligently to follow Each mourner received a white chry- Threefold Lotus Sutra throughout the the path of his father in religious prac- santhemum at the entrance of the previous night, also joined in reciting tice. Great Sacred Hall to offer at the spe- the sutra outside the hall. Funeral addresses were then deliv- cial table on the fourth floor. The hall President Niwano then arose and ered by representatives of the mourn- was opened for mourners from 6:30 read the funeral oration for the late ers, in which their fond memories of A.M. but some had arrived as early as founder. He began: "Revered founder, the founder as a distinguished advo- 5:30 A.M. Many of those who had come my father and my teacher. . . ," to- pay their condolences, dressed in but his voice broke and a long si- black according to Japanese funeral lence ensued. Muffled sobbing custom, were lined up at nearby train could be heard. During the early arid subway stations and bus stops, days of Rissho Kosei-kai, Founder from which extra transportation ser- Niwano obeyed the divine revela- vices were operated for the occasion. tion that came through the co- Solemn music by the Tokyo Kosei founder, Rev. Myoko Naganuma, Wind Orchestra and the Kosei Chorus to live apart from his family for began shortly before 10:00 A.M., indi- ten years and dedicate his whole cating that the ceremony would soon being to religious discipline. He begin. The rows of seats on the fourth was not allowed to address even a floor were occupied by the founder's single word to his wife and chil- relatives, special guests of honor, and dren during the years of separa- Mourners each place a white chrysanthemum to pay senior members of Rissho Kosei-kai. tion. In his autobiography, Life- tribute to the late founder. The other floors of the hall, from the time Beginner, the founder wrote, third to the seventh, were filled with "When my young children came to my cate of peace and compassionate leader members. side and looked into my face, I wanted in interfaith cooperation were offered. Other members assembled at local to embrace them; but I restrained my- Rev. Motoyuki Naganuma shared branches throughout Japan to observe self." the joys and sorrows with the founder the ceremony on satellite TV. The ser- President Nichiko Niwano has ad- as the chief director of the organiza- vice began with the chanting of the o- mitted to members that as a youth he tion for many decades. He praised daimoku by all mourners. The Tokyo sometimes felt repelled by the Rissho Founder Niwano, saying he had been a Kosei Wind Orchestra then played a Kosei-kai that forced his father to living model of Buddhist discipline lullaby from the Echigo region that is a desert his family for the sake of reli- that everyone should emulate. favorite in the founder's birthplace. In gious training. Years have since passed, The founder was dedicated through- a gesture of thanksgiving for the however, and the aspiration of the out the greater part of his life to the founder's guidance, eighteen young founder to save people through the path of salvation for all people through women members from across Japan, teaching of the Lotus Sutra has been interreligious cooperation. Many reli- together with the founder's youngest fully inherited by his son. President gious leaders who supported his goal granddaughter, Yasuko, presented an Niwano continued in his oration: "I, and had worked with him participated offering of some of his favorite foods, Nichiko, representing the members of in paying their last respects, of whom including a bowl of buckwheat noo- Rissho Kosei-kai both within Japan four delivered funeral addresses. dles, grilled fish, grapes, and sake from and abroad who are linked by the ties The head priest of the Tendai sect his native town. of the Dharma, and as the child of the of Japanese Buddhism, Rev. Eshin

January/February 2000 THE FOUNDER'S FUNERAL CEREMONIES

The President's Funeral Oration

evered founder, my teacher and my father, you have ment. As a result he gave himself completely to the Buddha Rnow, without doubt, entered into the realm of nirvana Way. where you are in the presence of the Eternal Buddha On March 5, 1938, together with the late cofounder Shakyamuni, Great Benevolent Teacher, the World-hon- Myoko Naganuma, he determined to embark upon true ored One. bodhisattva practice, based on the Threefold Lotus Sutra. I, Nichiko, representing the members of Rissho Kosei-kai For ten years he lived apart from his wife and children, in- both within Japan and abroad who are linked by the ties of tently studying and practicing the teachings of the Lotus the Dharma, and as the child of the founder's blood to Sutra. From the time Rissho Kosei-kai was established until whom he gave life in this world and enveloped with a fa- today, sixty-one years in all, he strove ceaselessly, as if "with- ther's love, offer these words to his cherished memory, from out rest or sleep." His religious training encompassed the the love and respect with which we all hold him, and in practice of the Six Perfections—donation, keeping the pre- thanks for all that he has done for us. cepts, perseverance, assiduity, meditation, and wisdom—as Though the founder grew great in years to reach a vener- well as the five practices of teachers of the Dharma—receiv- able age, he still continued to be concerned about us, carrying and keeping the Lotus Sutra, reading it, reciting it, ex- ing out his great task despite declining strength, a model of pounding it, and copying it. ceaseless diligence in practice. In calmness of body and As chairman of the Board of Directors of Shinshuren mind, he fell asleep on Oct. 4, 1999. (Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan), as a He was ninety-two. Though we knew that we would have founder of the World Conference on Religion and Peace, as to face this event at some time, since all things are imper- the advocator and implementer of the Brighter Socieiy manent, we have now experienced the undeniable truth Movement, and as chairman of the International Associa- that "those who meet must part," and our grief overwhelms tion for Religious Freedom he moved out into the wider us. world, where his efforts to benefit others were deeply appre- Shakyamuni gave many teachings in the course of his life, ciated by religious leaders in many countries, and he earned but what underlies and unites them all is his compassion: their trust. "All living beings, may you have happiness, may you have Truly it is said that virtue is never alone. As evidenced by peace, may you have ease." As a child, the founder received all those who are with us today, the founder had many col- the admonition from his grandfather and his parents that leagues and good friends throughout the world. This is truly he should strive to become someone of use to his society a sign of the great leader who is said to expound and propa- and his fellow human beings, and upon meeting as a youth gate the Lotus Sutra in the period of the Decay of the with his mentor Sukenobu Arai he was enabled to come Dharma. He received many awards, including what has into contact with the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. He was been called the Nobel Prize of religious circles, the struck by the profound intention of the Buddha and very Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion, as soon discovered within himself the aspiration to enlighten- well as the LIniquest Schweitzer Award. He looked on them

Watanabe, lauded the founder's un- WCRP had played a major role in should continue to guide believers in paralleled achievement in interreli- bringing an end to the civil war in the One Buddha Vehicle to proceed on gious cooperation and expressed his Sierra Leone. the path toward the happiness of all determination to continue his efforts. Founder Niwano introduced the people in the world. Rev. Mitsuhiro Fukata, chairman of Brighter Society Movement in 1969 as After the letter of condolence from Shinshuren (Federation of New a domestic social activity of Rissho Rev. Zhao Puchu, president of the Religious Organizations of Japan) and Kosei-kai. He continued to stress the Buddhist Association of China, was chairman of the Japan Religions necessity for peace activities at the read aloud, the principal mourners, League, mourned the passing of the grass-roots level and actively promoted President and Mrs. Nichiko Niwano, founder, whom he respected like a real cooperation for that purpose among mounted the platform to offer incense. father, while Peter Cardinal Seiichi many organizations. Mr. Shintaro Ishi- They were followed by President-desig- Shirayanagi said the founder loved hara, governor of Metropolitan Tokyo nate Kosho Niwano, and her husband, others first and was respected by peo- and president of the National Council Mr. Munehiro Niwano, and by the ple around the world. Dr. William F. of the Brighter Society Movement, president's brothers and sisters. Vendley, WCRP secretary-general, re- read a message of condolence at the Present as official mourners were ported to the late founder that the service, pleading that the founder seven leaders of religious and interreli-

Di IARMA WORLD THE FOUNDER'S FUNERAL CEREMONIES

all as encouragement from the buddhas I believe that although the founder and the deities to strive even harder, has entered nirvana, putting off the 'and was unflagging in his efforts to mortal coil and dwelling within the achieve cooperation among religions so Great Sacred Hall of the Benevolent as to attain world peace. Cloud Hill, being one with the Eternal The founder never lost his cheerful- Buddha Shakyamuni, the great life force ness and warmth, no matter where he of the universe, he continues to teach us was. He said to me one day, "There is a the wonderful Dharma of the truth of difference between being the founder the One Vehicle as long as we diligently and being his successor. In terms of a strive in our practice to cultivate the tree, the.founder is the root and trunk, fields in our hearts and minds. but his successor is the flower and the Zen Master Dogen taught that it is fruit." His words were always affection- better not to study at all than to learn ate and loving like these. He brought from one who is not a true master. harmony where there was conflict, rec- Truly, to have a true master when fol- onciliation where there was fighting, lowing the Way of the Buddha is essen- strength where there was grief, and light President Niwano reads the funeral oration tial above all else and I am deeply thank- to those lost in the darkness. He prac- before the founder's coffin on Oct. 10. ful that for so long we have been given a ticed compassion beyond any national Dharma linkage with a good teacher. border, praised the good deeds of others at all times, and In the belief that the virtue of the founder will resound was silent when people had reason to be ashamed of them- eternally, I reverently announce his Dharma title: selves. His ninety-two years were filled with sincerity and good faith. Kaiso Nikkyo Ichijo Daishi In a life that spanned most of this turbulent and confused (The Founder Nikkyo, Great Teacher of the One Vehicle) century, the founder's bearing never changed, for he had accepted with faith the true realm of the One Buddha Vehicle Revered founder, we offer you our sincere thanks. of the Lotus Sutra and was constantly motivated by selfless On the occasion of the founder's entry into nirvana, I, compassion. When we reflect on the founder's total dedica- Nichiko, declare my belief in the true world of the One tion, we earnestly wish to etch his spirit on our minds. Buddha Vehicle and my determination to strive diligently in At the end of his life, just before Shakyamuni entered nir- religious practice. Together with all the members of Rissho vana, he told his followers, "Bhikshus, it is time to part. All Kosei-kai, I will revere the founder's memory, in gratitude things are subject to change. Strive on untiringly!" In the for his great kindness and goodness to us all. same way 1 believe that the founder, with his memorable smile, would have wanted us to follow our Great Benevolent Namu Myoho Renge-kyo Teacher Shakyamuni, disseminate the wonderful Dharma In deepest respect, of the Lotus Sutra untiringly, and work for the happiness of Nichiko Niwano all people. October 10, 1999

gious organizations in Japan and dent of Tenri-kyo—who together with the founder's family and representa- abroad—Dr. Robert Traer, general sec- eight representatives of Rissho Kosei- tives of Rissho Kosei-kai placed paper retary of the International Association kai members offered incense, followed mandarava petals inside the coffin. for Religious Freedom (IARF); Profes- by Chairman Norio Sakai. After the president and the chief di- sor Agostino Giovagnoli, director of President Niwano then moved to the rector delivered their eulogies, the the Asian Department of the Com- founder's coffin and placed in it fifteen founder's coffin was carefully lifted by- munity of Saint Egidio; Dr. Won Yong items dedicated to the founder, which twelve of his relatives to be placed in Kang, honorary president of the Asian were to be cremated with his remains. the waiting hearse. Founder Niwano's Conference on Religion and Peace; These included a copy of the three-vol- memorial tablet and portrait were car- Ven. Nichiko Fujii, chief priest of the ume Threefold Lotus Sutra; calligra- ried by the president and the presi- Nichiren sect's temple Kuon-ji on phy of the o-daimoku; a five-volume dent-designate, respectively, who Mount Minobu; Rev. Izu Kudo, presi- commentary on the Lotus Sutra by the walked ahead of the coffin. As they dent of the Association of Shinto founder-, along with incense and sym- watched, the mourners placed their Shrines; Rev. Takahito Miki, president bolic paper petals of an Indian man- hands together in the gassho gesture of of Perfect Liberty organization; and darava flower, which is closely associat- prayer and bowed deeply. Members Rev. Zen'e Nakayama, former presi- ed with Buddhism. Next, members of standing outside the hall looked fixedly

January/February 2000 THE FOUNDER'S FUNERAL CEREMONIES

at the entrance so as not to miss the and sobbing could be heard among the final departure of their beloved late crowd. Lines of mourners along the teacher. President Niwano stopped at roadside extended for several kilome- the entrance, turned back toward the ters. In front of Kosei General Hospital statue of the Eternal Buddha Shakya- near the former headquarters, where muni, and bowed, indicating that the the founder had spent his last few moment for the last farewell to months, nurses who had cared for him Founder Niwano had arrived. bowed in respect. On a corner at a busy Thousands of members lined both intersection near the crematorium, sides of the road in the headquarters members from the Fuchu Branch in complex and the street leading up to Tokyo, their eyes red from weeping, the Great Sacred Hall, through which held high a banner on which was in- the hearse was to proceed en route to scribed, "Thank you very much, the crematorium. Helicopters hovered Founder Niwano." low to film the departure and send the On the day of the funeral, nearly image simultaneously to members at 2,600 people from various fields, in- branches nationwide. Soon the hearse cluding religion, politics, academia, arrived at the grounds in front of the economics, the press, and public agen- former headquarters (in use until the cies, visited the Great Sacred Hall to completion of the Great Sacred Hall in offer flowers and bid farewell. Q 1964), a traditional wooden structure that served as the starting point for the founder, Rev. FVlyoko Naganuma, and The Cremation other early Rissho Kosei-kai leaders to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to ounder Niwano's body was cremat- the dissemination of the Lotus Sutra. Fed at the Horinouchi Funeral Hall As the vehicle passed, members of the in Suginami Ward, Tokyo, at 1:25 P.M. Suginami Branch and students from on the same day. At 2:40 P.M., the the Kosei Gakuen Girls' High School founder's ashes left the funeral hall for bade a reverent farewell with the gas- the Great Sacred Hall together with sho gesture. bereaved relatives and representatives Through the windshield of the hearse, of Rissho Kosei-kai. Many members the president and president-designate met the car carrying the ashes at the could be seen slightly raising the found- main entrance of the hall. er's memorial tablet and portrait in The founder's ashes were installed at reverence to the statue of the Eternal the Eiju-den, on the seventh floor of Buddha Shakyamuni enshrined in the the Great Sacred Hall, where posthu- building. Senior members looking on mous names are written. The tradi- pressed handkerchiefs to their eyes, tional Buddhist memorial service on the seventh day after the demise was later held there in the presence of bereaved family members and relatives and members of the funeral committee, with Chairman Sakai leading the Oct. 24. Members were joined by recitation of the Lotus Sutra. Q mourners representing other religious faiths and paid reverence to the founder before altars specially adorned Overseas Members for the occasion. The memorial ceremonies were conducted for the mem- Remember the Founder bers who were not able to participate in the main funeral service held at the emorial ceremonies for the late headquarters in Tokyo on Oct. 10 and Mfounder were conducted in 12 who were not able to observe it by si- countries—at Rissho Kosei-kai's over- multaneous satellite TV, as members seas branches, representative offices in at local branches in Japan could. The Saddened members bid a last farewell as the Europe, and at a sister organization in dates of the overseas ceremonies were hearse carrying the founder's coffin passes by. South Korea—between Oct. 13 and determined bv the local situations at

DHARMA WORLD THE FOUNDER'S FUNERAL CEREMONIES

The hearse carrying the founder's coffin leaves the Great Sacred Hall, seen off by thousands of mourners who stand along the roadside. the branches, which are responsible for Thai Rissho Buddhist Foundation con- part the Lotus Sutra teaching to the large geographical areas. ducted a continuous sutra reading people of Sri Lanka. At each branch and representative throughout the night of Oct. 12 until In Taipei, among the members tak- office, the video of the main funeral the morning of Oct. 13, the day the ing part in the memorial service on service in Tokyo was shown during the ceremony took place. In Sri Lanka, Oct. 13 were some who had lost family ceremony, while offerings of flowers members set up a special altar for their members and their livelihoods because and recitations of extracts from the ceremony on Oct. 23. The head of the of the massive earthquake that struck Lotus Sutra were conducted as expres- office, Mr. Gamini Chandrasekera, re- the island in September. In his address sions of members' gratitude for the newed his pledge for dissemination, re- the branch head, Rev. Yasuhiro Yano, founder's guidance. In Seoul, members membering his meeting with Founder encouraged the members to combine of Rissho Kosei-kai of South Korea Nivvano during one of his previous vis- their strength in rebuilding their lives, took turns to recite the Threefold its to the headquarters, when the found- with the founder's teaching as their Lotus Sutra continuously for a week, er gently took Mr. Chandrasekera's guiding light. Similar ceremonies were while in Bangkok, members of the hand and smilingly asked him to im- held at other liaison offices in the

January/February 2000 THE FOUNDER'S FUNERAL CEREMONIES

The Sense of Loss Is Shared by Many A comment for members ofRissho Kosei-kai of New York from Rev. Vernon C. Nichols, president of the NGO Committee on Disarmament, New York.

ll of us who have had a relationship with difficulties which he had to overcome in ARissho Kosei-kai, and especially we who founding and building Rissho Kosei-kai. have been fortunate enough to have had the From all of these, we can take strength for additional privilege of even a small relation- this time of sorrow and other experiences of ship with Founder Nivvano himself, have been difficulty in our lives. I am confident, too, blessed, along with you. So, we share your that many of you will be inspired to further sense of loss to some degree at this time. significant acts of service as a result of the However, I do believe that we are also sus- growth produced through Founder Niwano's tained at the same time by the strength of influence. We will also discover, as we con- his life and the inspiration of his example. tinue on our chosen paths of life, that we are We know something of the hardships of his able to rejoice more at what he has con- own life, the necessary separation from his tributed to our lives, and the pain of his loss own family for more than ten years that he will be ameliorated as we reflect upon the chose to impose on himself, and the great glorious witness of his life. Q

Asia-Pacific region in Bangladesh, Sin- ment, a worldwide Catholic lay move- founder. The branch head, Rev. Yoshi- gapore, Hong Kong, Nepal, and Aus- ment based in Rome, at the Geneva kazu Mori, said in his eulogy that see- tralia. office. ing the video of the funeral services in Ceremonies at Rissho Kosei-kai rep- In his condolence speech during the Tokyo at which many religious leaders resentative offices at Oxford, England, Oxford ceremony Mr. Hiromi Hase- showed their respect for the late and Geneva, which were held on Oct. gawa, director of the Reiyukai Centre founder and reading the articles about 17 and Oct. 24, respectively, were par- for Oriental Philosophy and Practice, him in local newspapers had caused all ticipated in by leaders of ecumenical called for united efforts by all those Brazil Branch members to renew their and interfaith movements. Mourners present in honoring the legacy of the appreciation of the world's high regard representing the International Inter- founder, who had long advocated that for their late teacher. He added that faith Council (IIC) and the IARF ex- harmony among religions was the path this encouragement to rededicate them- pressed their respect for the founder's to world peace. selves to their faith should be consid- efforts for interreligious cooperation at In Brazil, some 160 members and ered as part of Founder Niwano's dis- the Oxford office, as did the represen- mourners on behalf of other religious semination. tatives of the World Council of faiths gathered at the branch in Sao Ceremonies also were held at the Churches (WCC) and Focolare Move- Paulo on Oct. 17 to remember the four branches in the United States:

The funeral ceremony at Rissho Kosei-kai of New York on Oct. 24. Nepalese members offer a sutra recitation for the late founder.

10 DHARMA WORLD THE FOUNDER'S FUNERAL CEREMONIES

New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, erted himself in the cause of world tifical Council for Interreligious Dia- and Hawaii. The head of the San peace through interreligious dialogue logue. The Vatican's daily newspaper, Francisco Branch, Rev. Takeshi Kawa- in meetings with religious leaders in Osser\>atore Romano, described the bata, notified members living in areas many countries and called for the abo- milestones in the founder's life and his far from the branch of the passing of lition of nuclear arms at three special dedicated commitment to peace. "He the founder by e-mail. Members quick- sessions of the UN General Assembly. was convinced that all religions share ly responded in the same way, express- Comments by religionists and intel- the same roots," it said. "He met the ing not only their condolences but also lectuals who had been on close terms leaders of many different religions to demonstrating their determination to with the founder appeared in the promote the cause of world peace renew their dedication to their faith. newspapers expressing their sadness at through interreligious dialogue." At the New York Branch, a number of his death. Among the foreign journalists who officers at United Nations headquar- Cardinal Shirayanagi was interviewed had met the founder in Tokyo was ters, as well as officers of the WCRP about the founder in the Oct. 4 eve- Orazio Petrosillo, of the Italian daily and the IARF, joined the members in ning edition of the Nihon Keizai Shim- newspaper // Messaggew, who wrote: paying their respects to the founder's bun (Japan Economic Journal) and "Like Pope Paul VI who summoned memory and remembering his years of said that there were few religious lead- the Second Vatican Council—in which contributing to UN humanitarian proj- ers who not only were so respected, but Mr. Niwano participated as a guest— ects and collaboration among reli- were held in such affectionate esteem the great religious leaders have the gions to ensure enduring peace in the and that he had no fear of exposing his special gift of going beyond time and world. Q own faults and never thought of him- space. They have a very broad outlook self as someone of great importance. that surpasses ordinary human logic. In the Asahi Shimbun, Professor Mr. Niwano, the first Buddhist leader Japan's Mass Media Noriyoshi Tamaru of Taisho Univer- to suggest interreligious dialogue, will sity, a scholar of religion, was quoted be fully appreciated only in the twenty- Report Passing as saying that the founder had been a first century." great mediator at the forefront of a gi- Bruno Bartoloni of the international ews of the passing of the founder ant wave of new postwar religions in European news agency AFP praised Nwas quickly carried by Japan's do- Japan. Tendai head priest Rev. Eshin the founder's "wisdom and charisma." mestic mass media. NHK (Japan Watanabe, in his contribution to the The American Catholic news agency Broadcasting Corp.), the national pub- Sankei Shimbun, said that the founder, CNS stressed the sorrow expressed by lic radio and television network, re- with tolerance toward all and free of Vatican officials. The French news ported the event on its 1:00 P.M. TV sectarian interests, devoted his efforts agency I. Media quoted Cardinal newscast of Oct. 4, only hours after the to bring about genuine interreligious Arinze's message and the leading Ital- death had been officially announced. cooperation, something we all had ian Catholic daily L'Awenire reported The network introduced the founder's hoped for but been unable to realize "the death of an outstanding figure in life and achievements, and included before WCRP I. In his eyes, the found- the world of interreligious dialogue." film of his address appealing for the er was a true practitioner of the Lotus The international news agency Ansa abolition of nuclear weapons before the Sutra who embodied the spirit of the reported on Founder Niwano's estab- second Special Session of the United founder of the Tendai sect, Saicho lishing the Niwano Peace Foundation, Nations General Assembly Devoted to (767-822), and this impressed him so which each year presents an award to Disarmament (SSD II) in 1982. deeply that he will never forget his the religious leader or group that most Tokyo Broadcasting System network dedication. Q contributed to paving the path to (TBS) carried a report on its evening peace among peoples or religions. La news broadcast stressing the founder's Citta Nuova, the magazine of the wide range of activities at home and World Religious Focolare Movement in Italy, devoted a abroad. On their reports of the death, long article to the passing of Founder Japan's vernacular newspapers carried Leaders, Media Mourn Niwano, recalling his audience with headlines such as "A Movement for Founder's Death Pope Paul VI. The news of Rev. Peace Beyond the Limitations of a Niwano's death also was covered by Religious Group" (Yomiuri Shimbun), the German Catholic news agency "A Contribution to International Dia- he death of Founder Niwano was CIC under the headline "Death of a logue" (Asahi Shimbun), and "Efforts Treported widely by the media in Buddhist reformer," and by the na- for Peace and the Promotion of Inter- Italy and elsewhere in Europe, which tional news agencies of Italy, Agenzia religious Dialogue" (Mainichi Shimbun). described the condolence messages Italia, Asca, ADNKronos, and by the Each of the newspapers reported in sent by religious and political leaders, leading Catholic weekly magazine detail on the second half of the including Francis Cardinal Arinze, Famiglia Cristiana. Q founder's lifetime, during which he ex- president of the Roman Catholic Pon- Eva Ruth Palmieri

January/February 2000 11 THE FOUNDER'S FUNERAL CEREMONIES

Heartfelt Messages of Remembrance

Six noted participants in the founder's funeral delivered addresses of fond farewell and hope for the future.

liberation alone, you extended the scope of your practice to The Light of Wisdom society, the nation, and the world. Through religious cooperation and peace movements like the World Conference for All Eternity on Religion and Peace and the Brighter Society Movement, you took the Lotus Sutra to the world and made it a teach- Motoyuki Naganuma ing sought around the world, so showing us the direction we Special Advisor to Rissho Kosei-kai should follow as bodhisattvas. Words cannot describe the extent of your kindness and Rev. Niwano, at last the time the benefits you extended to us. Now I take my farewell of has come to say these words you. Thank you, thank you for all you have done for us over of farewell to you. We study so many years. the teachings of imperma- Although you have left us in body, your teachings will re- nence every day and so knew main eternally. As long as life is left to me, I will do my best that this time eventually to convey them to as many people as I can, and to tell them would arrive, but still, when I about your character. We members of Rissho Kosei-kai here stand in this place, on this pledge that we will be united forever under the guidance of day, I am overcome with grief President Nichiko Niwano to transmit your teachings to at the loss of my irreplaceable successive generations. teacher and I feel a great When you proceed to the next world, I pray that you will emptiness in my heart. In meet your wife again, and together with her and the co- truth, you were more than a founder extend your teachings to all in that realm. parent to me. In the sixty- I conclude with a poem: three years that have passed since I came to Tokyo as a Devotedly boy of twelve, I have been You gave us your teachings. privileged to be always at your side, enjoying your gentle Oh Founder, concern for me. Moreover, for the forty-two years until 1993 May the light of your wisdom you entrusted to me the office of chairman, showing me by Remain eternally. your example the importance of trusting people thoroughly. You taught us by your own example, and this was true of Namu Myoho Renge-kyo (I take refuge in the Lotus Sutra). Q your whole life. Such a commitment we, your followers, cannot hope to emulate. What drew us to you more than that was your character. You were straightforward with all whom you met and you never contrived to pretend you were anything that you were not. Whatever difficulties you faced, A Mirror for All People you retained a positive attitude, considering them food for growth. In your honesty and flexibility you were a living text of Religion of Buddhist practice. Through your great capacity and high virtue you made Buddhism, popularly thought of as being Eshin Watanabe difficult to understand or as a religion for the dead, into a 255th Head Priest of the Tendai Sect living faith, able to bring all to liberation within their everyday lives. The number of believers you saved through your The flowers of spring, the five virtues, untiring search after the Way and assiduous religious prac- Bloom in the garden of sutra recitation; tice is too large to count. I am filled with gratitude. The autumn moon, the purification Founder Niwano, starting from the conviction that a fol- of the six sense organs, lower of the Lotus Sutra cannot rest content with his own Shines in the sky of religious practice.

12 DHARMA WORLD THE FOUNDER'S FUNERAL CEREMONIES

Today, however, the flowers Namu Myoho Renge-kyo (I take refuge in the Lotus Sutra). have fallen and scattered, the Namu Issai Sambo (I take refuge in all the Three Treas- moon is hidden behind a ures), a cloud, and we are overcome by the sadness of parting. May I on this occasion say a few words of farewell. The grief I feel at this time leaves The Smiling Face Remains me with bitter feelings toward the fragility of this fleet- Mitsuhiro Fukata ing world. Chairman of the Japan Religions League and Chairman of As I recall, the last time I the Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan had the pleasure of meeting Rev. Niwano was on the occa- It was with feelings of great sadness, despite knowing that sion of the funeral service for nothing in this world is permanent, that I received news of Rev. Etai Yamada, the 25?d Rev. Niwano's passing. Never again will I see his warm smile head priest of the Tendai or hear his kind words. sect. His smiling face, like that of a bodhisattva, enveloping He spoke out actively on social issues, and it was thanks all within his warm regard, had disappeared and now was to his efforts that the views many had previously held about unusually stern, and I could guess how he felt. Even now I religion changed. As a result of discussions between him cannot forget how much I admired him when I met him and Rev. Tokuchika Miki, the late president of the Perfect then, for the way he did not let opposition deter him from Liberty organization, about the impossibility of achieving teaching the Lotus Sutra and for his unflagging efforts to human happiness if people of religion were in confronta- make this world a Buddha realm. tion, the Federation of New A fundamental aspect of Buddhism is the spirit of toler- Religious Organizations of ance. Meeting members of other religions around the world, Japan was founded in 1951. many of whom did not have the same degree of tolerance, Rev. Niwano became its chair- Rev. Niwano continued to speak of the importance of reli- man in 1965. In creating the gious cooperation, and eventually he established the World basis for the federation, he Conference on Religion and Peace, the first organization of was a rarity throughout the its type in the world. The members of the Tendai sect too world, a pioneer in religious will never forget his great help, spurred by the same spirit of cooperation, asserting that re- tolerance, on the occasion of the Religious Summit Meeting ligions must transcend their on Mount Hiei in 1987. We owe him a great debt of grati- individual boundaries and tude for helping to ensure that the meeting concluded suc- work together. In 1970, while cessfully. the chairman of the federa- His help also extended to other temples within the Ten- tion, he brought the first as- dai sect all over Japan, transcending sectarian divisions. In sembly of the World Confer- particular he assisted our annual End-of-Year Appeal, which ence on Religion and Peace we hold on Dec. 1 as part of the Lighting Up a Small Cor- in Kyoto to a successful con- ner Movement, by incorporating it into the Brighter Society clusion. Religious cooperation became, thanks to Rev. Movement. The fruits of his ideal of religious cooperation Niwano, a worldwide movement. were as apparent within Japan as abroad. Such thorough- His later contributions to world peace are too many to going practice of the bodhisattva way is a mirror for all of us mention. In 1984, as the president of the International in the field of religion. Association for Religious Freedom, he organized a congress Today the three trees planted in the village of Hotaka at under the title of "Religious Path to Peace: Eastern Initi- the foot of Japan's Northern Alps by Rev. Zhao Puchu, presi- ative, Western Response." At the first Special Session of the dent of the Buddhist Association of China, Rev. Nikkyo United Nations General Assembly Devoted to Disarma- Niwano, and Rev. Etai Yamada as a pledge of their commitment held in 1978, he made the appeal to the heads of the ment to world peace have grown tall. With these trees as two superpowers, "Instead of taking risks with arms, please our symbol, we of the Tendai sect, together with Rev. take major risks for peace and disarmament." His work and Nichiko Niwano and all the members of Rissho Kosei-kai, achievements will long be remembered and discussed by vow to strive to attain world peace. those seeking world peace. ! conclude these remarks on this occasion by offering my He was the personification of his beloved Bodhisattva deepest condolences. Never Despise in the Lotus Sutra, always greeting us with

January/February 2000 THE FOUNDER'S FUNERAL CEREMONIES

his palms together in the attitude of respect, and when we Sierra Leone, a small country in West Africa. It is the poor- met, enveloping us with his kind smile. He forgave others in est country on earth, and the good people there have borne a spirit of compassion and devoted himself to repentance the crushing weight of a terrible eight-year civil war of un- for his own mistakes. speakable cruelty. When the president of Ennokyo, my father, died in April This August, the secretary-general of the United Nations 1976, and I succeeded to his position, Rev. Niwano was like reported to the Security Council that the WCRP chapter a compassionate parent to me, extending warmhearted help was a primary agent in ending the civil war in Sierra Leone. on many occasions. Thank you, Rev. Niwano, for everything The religious leaders did what no one else could do. Trusted you have done for me. by the entire population, these leaders worked together to Today as we prepare to greet a new century, there remain establish lines of communication between the government a large number of problems which the human race must and the rebels, to secure the release of child prisoners, and overcome. It is deeply regrettable that we have lost such an to serve as mediators during the official peace talks. In internationally important religious figure at such a time. short, the secretary-general recognized that without the Though Rev. Niwano has departed this world, his great work of the religious leaders there would not have been a work is deeply engraved in our hearts. We pledge to continue peace agreement. to work to bring about the actualization of a peaceful soci- This courageous work did not occur in a vacuum. Indeed, ety through religious cooperation, in the pursuit of which he it is directly related to an act that took place in Japan thirty spent his life. years ago when the World Conference on Religion and Rev. Niwano, please watch over us and forever give us Peace was born. It was you, dear founder, who attended that your protection as we walk the way of peace together with birth with all of the love, compassion, and wisdom of the the members of Rissho Kosei-kai. Give us the strength and finest doctor. At the moment of that birth, you moved from courage to go forward, until the human race finally attains being an attending doctor to a loving parent: vigilant for true peace. Q your newborn child, nurturing and protecting the child, that it might grow into its appointed destiny. WCRP is that new child, for never before have tlie A Life That Radiates world's religions conceived together a living reality solely Transforming Power designed for helping them cooperate for peace. The de- William F. Vendley sire for that WCRP-child was Secretary-General of WCRP/International old—even ancient, for it could be discerned in the au- Dearest founder, I stand before you on behalf of the mem- thentic teachings of Bud- bers of the World Conference on Religion and Peace dhists, Shintoists, Christians, (WCRP), who, from all corners of the world, join me as one Hindus, Jews, Muslims, and body. Together we want to express our love for you, our sor- others. Each knew the mean- row at your passing, and our commitment to the path of ing of peace, and each could multireligious cooperation to which you gave such singular learn to respectfully cooper- leadership. ate with the others for peace. Dear founder, in your eyes, all persons have irreplaceable Now, dear founder, the worth and enduring dignity. You saw this worth not as the WCRP-child that you so lovingly attended at birth and nur- result of personal achievements. You saw the original worth tured as a caring parent has begun to stand up. of all persons arising out of our relationship to the blessed Dear founder, how shall we honor you? The waves of your origin and destiny of existence, be that known as the mercy life have just begun to radiate their transforming power. of Buddha or the love of God. This is the first of your en- They have reached the villages of Sierra Leone, they have during gifts to us. reached the villages of Bosnia, and they shall reach far be- Dearest founder, we know you too as a person who, like a yond. Servant of divine peace, you still invite the world's re- boat making its way through the ocean of existence, leaves ligions to work together—each respectful of the other—for waves behind. For some persons, like you, these waves grow the gift of peace. We will only truly know you and your life's stronger as they move across time, creatively transforming mission by opening ourselves to the divine gift of peace. For whole communities in their wake. In the radiating waves of you have shown us that it is ultimately the divine peace your life we can glimpse the unfolding of the true meaning which fulfills our hearts and guides our actions, even if it of your enduring legacy for us. passes beyond all ordinary understanding. Dear founder, let me explain that I have just come from Thank you, dear founder. Q

14 DHARMA WORLD THE FOUNDER'S FUNERAL CEREMONIES

Make me a channel of your peace. A Dedication It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, In giving of ourselves that we receive, • to a Departed Teacher And in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Peter Cardinal Seiichi Shirayanagi In exactly the same way, Rev. Niwano devoted his life to President of the Japanese Committee of the WCRP the pursuit of peace. I believe that the best and truest com- memoration of his life is the dedication of all people to It was on Sept. 15, 1965 that Rev. Nikkyo Niwano met Pope work together for the peace that Rev. Niwano held so dear. Paul VI, and during their meeting they talked about Rev. Niwano, please gaze down upon us and give us your Christians praying for Buddhists and Buddhists praying for protection. You are not only deeply respected by all here, Christians. It was then, I have heard, that Rev. Niwano de- but also deeply loved. This is a mark of the love that you ex- termined to enter dialogue with people of religion around tended to all. Guide us that we too may follow your exam- the world and to work for ple and come to trust and love one another as you did us. Q their cooperation to attain peace. In 1970, at the head of a group of like-minded fellow Having Faith in the Way religionists, he inaugurated the World Conference on of the One Truth Religion and Peace. Since that time, people of religion Shintaro Ishihara from throughout the world Governor of Metropolitan Tokyo and President of the have, under his guidance, National Council of the Brighter Society Movement come to realize their respon- sibility for true and perma- Here before the spirit of the founder, Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, I nent world peace, and have reverently offer my words of final farewell. combined their forces to I last saw Rev. Niwano before the summer, when he was strive to attain it. Today the undergoing treatment in the movement comprises people Kosei Genera] Hospital. I had of religion from more than sixty countries, transcending re- gone there then to greet him ligious differences to work together in practical ways to in my new capacity as the achieve true peace. governor of Metropolitan When I received notice of Rev. Niwano's death I could Tokyo. He grasped my hand not help feeling enormous sadness. At the same time, as a firmly and shook it warmly a Christian I was very moved, since Oct. 4 is also the day on number of times to encour- which Saint Francis of Assisi, a great saint of the Catholic age me. Now that he has faith, died. I felt some invisible but deep link was at work gone from us, I shrink before here. Saint Francis dedicated his life to God, taking vows of the enormity of it all. Many chastity, poverty, and obedience, and dedicated his prayers were the times he said to me, to peace. "To improve Japan, you must A famous example by him reads: first take Tokyo into your care." Make me a channel of your peace. In Japan today, people's Where there is despair in life, let me bring hope, hearts are desolate although Where there is hatred, let me bring your love, materially the country overflows with riches, and symptoms Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord, of decline are everywhere to be seen. Losing such a great And where there is doubt, true faith in you. teacher at this time is like travelers losing their compass in Make me a channel of your peace, the desert wastes. We are left perplexed and dismayed. Where there is darkness, only light, Many were the times that Rev. Niwano instructed me And where there is sadness, ever joy. wonderfully about Buddhism and about human life, show- Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek so much ing me the way out of my difficulties. For those of us who To be consoled as to console have lost our guide, perhaps there are no better words to . To be understood as to understand, embrace as we step forward into the future than those in To be loved, as to love, with all my soul, the Sutra of Meditation on the Bodhisattva Universal Virtue:

January/February 2000 15 PERSONAL REMINISCENCES

"Their fifth repentance is to believe deeply the causes and organized the Federation of New Religious Organizations of results of things, to have faith in the way of the one truth, Japan, the parent body for spiritual activities that go beyond and to know that the Buddha is never extinct." The founder sectarian differences. was a bodhisattva and a buddha who appeared in this coun- On the occasion of the nirvana of the founder Rev. try bearing a great mission. He taught the Lotus Sutra so Nikkyo Niwano, we, as disciples who have received the as- that all could understand it, and practiced it himself with all surance of buddhahood, understand that the only way to ex- his strength. I think that his translation of the Threefold press our gratitude to our teacher is to strive to continue his Lotus Sutra into Japanese was the equivalent in greatness teachings, even if our ability to do so is limited. Rev. of the translation from Sanskrit to Chinese made by Niwano, please look down upon us from the spirit realm and Kumarajiva. grant your protection to our endeavors, and guide us so that Rev. Nivvano conferred with Pope Paul VI about the re- we may continue to follow the teachings of the "way of the sponsibility of religions to work for the people of the world, one truth" that you have taught us, for the sake of all living founded the World Conference on Religion and Peace, and beings in the world. Q

Personal Reminiscences

The founder's lifetime of dedication and achievement is recalled and praised by men who knew him well.

the realization of interreli- A Great Teacher Who Walked gious dialogues and coopera- the Path of the One Vehicle tion through the World Conference on Religion and Yoshiaki Sanada Peace and other forums. Professor In the Faculty of Law at A certain English scholar of Chuo University in Tokyo religious studies has iden- tified three great historical personalities who made a dis- "There is only one truth; nothing else exists. There are no tinguished contribution to conflicts for those who have understood this truth." Thus harmony among religions. reads a verse of the Sutta-nipata. When I read these words They are King Ashoka, the of the Buddha, I cannot help but be reminded of the way ruler who united India under the founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, the late Nikkyo Niwano, a peaceful Buddhist reign in lived his life. They also lead me to reflect once again on the third century B.C.E., what a great man the founder was, who received and fol- Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa (1401-64), who attempted to lowed the teaching of the Buddha without wavering even unify the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, and slightly from the path. Akbar (1542-1605), greatest of the Mogal emperors of Rev. Niwano taught that we should not think of the Lotus India, who reconciled his Islamic and Hindu subjects during Sutra only as the scriptural text. He said it should be under- his reign. stood as an ordinary noun meaning "the highest expression Founder Niwano's achievements were great enough for of truth, which can teach anyone the truth of the universe, his name to be included on that list, and this is something and can lead anyone to the real way of life." All religious that we should fix steadfastly in our memories. I think the teachings have the same root, and that is the one truth; this best way to demonstrate our gratitude and appreciation is is the spirit of the One Vehicle, and Founder Niwano was a to continue to walk unswervingly on the path that he living embodiment of it. He acted without becoming en- showed us. snared in the belief that only one religion or sect could The selfless path on which Founder Niwano walked as a teach the truth. This has been illustrated most clearly by practitioner of the Lotus Sutra is not something that is well

16 DHARMA WORLD PERSONAL REMINISCENCES

b'eyond us. The path under our feet now is the same one on ings and activities by religionists can change the world?" a which he walked. As we continue to be thankful to him for reporter asked him sarcastically. shining a light on that path for us, let us raise our heartfelt Founder Niwano answered, "We are working as hard as prayers for the repose of his spirit. Q we can precisely because it is such a difficult thing to change the world." Undoubtedly that was how he felt about the work he was doing.

Too Good to Us Appreciating Residual Ties If I were to sum up in just a few words how the founder lived his life, I would say he did so deeply, broadly, and with Kinzo Takemura great warmth. Everyone who knew him spoke of him as be- Advisor to Rissho Kosei-kai ing "always wreathed in smiles," but recently I have come to think that somewhere underneath his joyous exterior he Japan is often criticized for may have been experiencing sorrow as well. For us, just to being "invisible" in the inter- see Founder Niwano's smiling face and warm eyes made us national arena. In this re- feel serene and happy, but perhaps he was so good to us spect, I think we should that we would not have noticed if in actuality he was har- record in golden letters the boring some pain in his heart. Recently I have begun to unstinting efforts of the think about this and to wonder if we could have been more founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, sensitive. the late Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, Once I introduced the well-known baseball commentator whose natural goodness and and former manager of the Yakult Swallows team, Junzo virtue crossed all language Sekine, to the founder. Soon after I asked Sekine, "Didn't barriers and inspired religious you find him a kindly person?" But the sportsman answered, leaders from around the "Well, not really. Somewhere behind his eyes I felt there world to have complete trust was a sharpness that could see right through not only one's in him. sorrows, but also one's faults, so I found him a little disturb- Inside Japan as well, he always put his heart and spirit ing." into coordinating the Japanese religious community, and he Nobody had ever said anything like that to me about constantly volunteered to occupy himself on tasks related to Founder Niwano, and I thought that someone who had ex- that goal. In this respect, I think he may have had a harder perienced the harsh world of professional sports competi- time in Japan than he did abroad. tion probably would be able to see it. Nowadays we speak easily of religious cooperation, but One time an executive of Rissho Kosei-kai committed an during the birth pangs of the World Conference on Reli- error that caused a lot of trouble for everyone in the organi- gion and Peace, it was not such a simple matter. It was zation. In front of everyone, he apologized profusely to our Founder Niwano who felt that Japanese religious leaders founder, saying, "Founder, please forgive me. From now on should also cooperate toward the goal of world peace, and it I will pursue my work as if my life depended on it." At this was he who pushed open the heavy door that led to multire- the founder answered kindly, "Now, now, there is no need ligious involvement. In that regard, he was surely a man of to talk about risking your life. Just do the very best you can." courage who took the first step into what was completely That is true for all of us. We have to start by doing what unknown territory. we can do. Our founder was always open to ideas and sug- There is a saying of the Chinese philosopher Hsun-tzu (c. gestions from others, and he demonstrated his gratitude 298-c. 230 B.C.E.), "Finish consistently as you began." And and appreciation no matter how things turned out. For us, indeed, whether it was morning and evening devotions, or as well, the most important thing is not to lose that sense of bodhisattva practices, or whatever, the founder always per- gratitude for everything and everyone we encounter in life. formed them as if they were the most everyday acts. It is We also should never forget the way Founder Niwano said that the most miraculous thing is to be completely or- dedicated himself utterly to the goal of finding a way to lead dinary. The way our founder was not satisfied with his own other people toward the bodhisattva path of Buddhist com- peace and tranquillity, but rather earnestly continued to passion. work for other people and for society at large, was really a I am grateful to have enjoyed the close ties I did in serv- perfect example of finishing consistently as he began. ing as the founder's secretary for more than twenty years. • Once when he was in Europe for a meeting of the WCRP, Now all I would like to be able to say to him is, "You worked he agreed to be interviewed by a representative of the com- long, hard, and well. I hope you will be blessed in your well- mercial media. "Mr. Niwano, do you really think that meet- deserved repose." Q

January/February 2000 17 CONDOLENCE LETTERS FROM OVERSEAS

Letters of Condolence On these pages appear some of the many messages of sympathy on the death of Founder Niwano that were received from around the world by President Nichiko Niwano and other leaders ofRissho Kosei-kai.

from H.E. Mr. Kofi A. Annan have lost an elder brother. We are hold- from Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne Secretary-General ing a prayer at the Ashram for the depart- President United Nations ed soul. Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement New York Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Mr. Nikkyo Niwano supported United Rev. Nikkyo Niwano was an embodiment Nations activities in the field of peace from Dr. S. Wesley Ariarajah of piety, wisdom, scholarship, and deter- and disarmament. His financial contribu- Former Deputy General Secretary mination found only in a bodhisattva. tion to that end, including a million-dol- World Council of Churches For over 25 years I have been inspired by lar endowment, made it possible for the Madison, New Jersey his life, his teachings, and his service. 1 Department for Disarmament Affairs and am only one of those millions of people its Asia-Pacific Regional Centre to orga- Founder Niwano had been a very good around the world in whom he had in- nize various regional disarmament meet- friend of the World Council of Churches spired Buddhist values, service, and inter- ings for the past eleven years. during the time I was the director of the faith brotherhood. I wish to convey my deepest condo- Dialogue Programme and I have had the lences to you and the other members of joy of meeting him several times. I had the family of the late Mr. Niwano. always been deeply impressed by his com- from H.E. Paulo Evaristo Cardinal Arns mitment to peace, harmony, mutual un- Archbishop Emeritus of Sao Paulo derstanding, and the relationship between Brazil different religious traditions. I have also from Dr. Kamel Al-Sharif been inspired by the commitment he had It was with great regret that I received President, WCRP made to the international interfaith move- the news of the death of Honorary Secretary General, International Islamic ment and the continuous support he had President Nikkyo Niwano. All of us who Council for Daw'a and Relief given to their efforts. He had been a very have been deeply touched by the work of Amman, Jordan important voice in the advocacy for disar- the Niwano Peace Foundation know how mament and world peace. much we and world peace owe to his ini- I am sure that I reflect the deepest sense tiatives. We will continue to be united of loss which all his friends feel at the with you in the ideal of world peace and hearing of this news, as we know of the of universal fraternity. great services he rendered so diligently to the cause of world peace, and mutual un- from H.E. Francis Cardinal Arinze derstanding between different religions President, The Pontifical Council from Ms. Carol Bellamy and traditions. His role in propagating for Interreligious Dialogue Executive Director the noble ideals of WCRP is well recog- The Vatican UNICEF nized and appreciated. His name will New York continue to be a source of inspiration for On this occasion I wish to recall the great all the workers for peace the world over. personality of Ven. Nikkyo Niwano who, On behalf of the United Nations Chil- as the founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, is dren's Fund I would like to express my revered by its members. His contribution sincere condolences and deepest sympa- to the founding of the World Conference thy to you and your family on this tragic from Mrs. Minoti Aram on Religion and Peace is also significant. loss. It is also a great loss for UNICEF President, Shanti Ashram His dedication to promote interreligious and the underprivileged children of the Tamil Nadu, India dialogue is commendable. We appreciate world. Although I have not had an oppor- his personal friendship and fraternal col- tunity to meet him, I have always ad- Rev. Nikkyo Niwano was a great soul and laboration with our Council and the mired the important role played by Rev. during his lifetime worked for the cause Catholic church over the years. Nikkyo Niwano in carrying out many ini- of world peace. He was also instrumental With the passing away of Ven. Nikkyo tiatives, including "Donate a Meal in the formation and development of the Niwano the religious world in particular Campaign," for the cause of the world's World Conference on Religion and Peace. has lost a great leader. May the surviving children. His death has caused a big vacuum. members of the Niwano family find We also remember with deep apprecia- We in Shanti Ashram feel that we have strength and consolation in knowing that tion his tireless efforts in mobilizing reli- lost a friend and well-wisher. Having met he served God and humanity with great gious leaders for the World Summit for him during my last visit to Japan, I feel I dedication. Children.

18 DHARMA WORLD CONDOLENCE LETTERS FROM OVERSEAS

from Dr. Richard Boeke have a good cause to be grateful to him from Dr. Hildegard Goss-Mayr Chairman for everything that he had done for pro- Honorary President World Congress of Faiths moting peace and interfaith cooperation. International Fellowship Horsham, West Sussex, England of Reconciliation Vienna On behalf of the World Congress of The spirit of Rev. Nikkyo Niwano will Faiths, I express to you our deep sympathy from The Revd Canon Colin Fletcher continue to inspire commitment for on the death of Founder Nikkyo Niwano. Chaplain to peace among the world's religions in our Under his leadership Rissho Kosei-kai the Archbishop of Canterbury world torn by violence, as he did so ad- has become one of the most effective The Church of England mirably and convincingly during his long forces in peace and interfaith understand- London and blessed life. The spirit of this prophet ing. His term as president of the IARF of peace will not be forgotten. We owe helped make the IARF the strong inter- The Archbishop of Canterbury was very him sincere thanks, but even more so the faith community it is today. sorry indeed to hear that your founder, promise of our own continued commit- We give thanks for the life of Nikkyo Nikkyo Niwano, had passed away, and he ment to peace and to life in dignity and Niwano. has asked me to write on his behalf to harmony for all human beings. We give thanks for his witness as a send his condolences and to assure you of "lifetime beginner/' his thoughts and prayers. Nikkyo Niwano's work both in Japan from Mrs. Marii K. Hasegawa and on the world-wide stage, through the Leader, Women's International League from Rev. John A. Buehrens work of organisations such as WCRP is, for Peace and Freedom President, Unitarian Universalist of course, well-known and was much ap- Richmond, Virginia Association of Congregations preciated by many, like the Archbishop, Boston who seek to develop positive relationships We commemorate the death of a great between members of our different faith man, a man who devoted his entire life From the time of his well-known meet- communities. through religion to the cause of peace, ing with Dana McLean Greeley, Founder justice, and freedom. He was responsible Niwano became the most important in- for bringing together men and women of terreligious partner the Unitarian Univer- from Rabbi Albert H. Friedlander all religious sects to work together for the salist movement has ever had. His com- Honorary President, WCRP common goal of peace. His work will live passion, commitment, and humility as a President, WPWP on. His hand will be missed, but we are "lifetime beginner" in the practice of reli- London grateful that he has been able to accom- gious living was, and will remain for us, plish what he has. an inspiration. Nikkyo Niwano was one of the great voices of peace in the world, and we are the from H.R.H. Prince El Hassan bin Talal from Mr. Jimmy Carter poorer with his passing. I realize that our The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Chairman, Carter Center words cannot diminish your sadness and Atlanta, Georgia that we can only stand alongside you to It is with much sorrow that I learnt of the express shared anguish. If there is com- passing of your father, Reverend Nikkyo Rosalynn and I were saddened to learn of fort, it lies in our knowledge that he has Niwano, the founder of Rissho Kosei-kai. Rev. Nikkyo Niwano's death. Please know built a foundation for the work of peace Reverend Nikkyo Niwano will be re- that you and your family are in our hearts which will endure, and that he reached membered as a great spiritual leader. Our and prayers during this difficult time. across the boundaries which often keep prayers and thoughts are with you, his We hope that your warm memories of religions apart. I have always been in- family and members of Rissho Kosei-kai. your father and the love and support of spired and guided by his writings, and by the many people whose lives he touched the visions conveyed to me through his will comfort you in the days ahead. disciples. from Mr. Eimett van Herwijnen President, IARF Brummen, the Netherlands from H.E. Dr. Mustafa Ceric from Dr. and Mrs. Diether Gehrmann The Supreme Head, Islamic Community Former General Secretary, IARF We lose in Mr. Nikkyo Niwano an inspir- of Bosnia-Herzegovina Frankfurt, Germany ing leader who already more than sixty- Sarajevo years ago recognized that the world needs We have admired Founder Nikkyo Niwa- cooperation between religions to further Mr. Nikkyo Niwano's passing must mean no's vision and example ever since our the cause of world peace. a great loss to you and your family as well first meeting at the IARF Congress / Through his own organization, Rissho as to Rissho Kosei-kai and his colleagues UUA General Assembly in Boston, 1969. Kosei-kai, spiritual support and guidance and associates. I assure you that it is a May the spirit of God and the Buddha be is being given to many people, first of all great loss to all of us. with you, your family, and Rissho Kosei- in Japan itself, and through international Those who knew Mr. Nikkyo Niwano kai always. participation to many people abroad.

January/February 2000 19 CONDOLENCE LETTERS FROM OVERSEAS

We would like to express our gratitude Religion and Peace. He was widely known from Mr. Nawaz Khan Marwat to Mr. Nivvano, honorary president of the in Japan and beyond its borders as a Assistant Secretary General International Association for Religious prominent religious leader and outstand- World Muslim Congress Freedom, for his support and encourage- ing peacemaker who brought an invalu- Karachi, Pakistan ment. able contribution into interreligious dialogue. The late Rev. Nikkyo Nivvano was a historic figure and possessed excellent hu- from Rev. Hsing Yun man qualities of the head and heart. He Founder, Fo Guang Shan Monastery served humanity in various capacities and Kaohsiung, Taiwan from Ven. Kosan made remarkable contributions in various President, Korean Conference fields of life. He was a great friend of the Rev. Nivvano was a man truly devoted to on Religion and Peace World Muslim Congress, and in his the Dharma—a pioneer in interreligious Seoul death we have lost a dependable friend. cooperation, and a tireless worker for world peace. We certainly have lost a great man Founder Niwano had been working as a of this century. On behalf of all members pioneer to lead people to bring peace and from Fr. Maximilian Mizzi, OFM Conv. of Fo Guang Shan, I would like to offer harmony to this world. Also, he initiated Director, Centre Francescano my sincere condolences to the family of an international religious movement for Internazionale per il Dialogo Rev. Nivvano and the six million mem- mutual understanding and cooperation Assisi, Italy bers worldwide of Rissho Kosei-kai. among religious leaders to end hunger, famine, and cruel wars in the world. It was with great sadness that I received the news that Nikkyo Niwano, founder of from Mrs. Ingeborg Jack Rissho Kosei-kai, had passed away when widow of the late Dr. Homer Jack, from Dr. Hans Kiing the Catholic Church was celebrating the Former Secretary-General, WCRP Professor,Tiibingen University feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. I send you Swarthmore, Pennsylvania Tubingen, Germany and your family and, indeed, to all Rissho Your father had much love and compas- Kosei-kai members, my deepest sympathy. sion for the suffering individuals he met I was privileged to meet Rev. Nikkyo I am sure that Founder Niwano is now. and wanted to help them. He found a Niwano in Tokyo some years ago. I shall receiving his eternal reward from God. way, by teaching the Lotus Sutra, which always remember him as a deeply spiritu- gave them the faith they needed to lead al person who had the precious gift to happier and more fulfilled lives. link a firm rootedness in his own Bud- from H.E. Metropolitan Nikolaj Mrda Your father had also come to the reali- dhist tradition with an extraordinary Serbian Orthodox Church zation that "all religions spring from the openness to other faiths. In this spirit he Sarajevo same source," and he reached out to reli- became a pioneer of interreligious dia- gious leaders who shared this insight and logue and showed ways in which religions With deep respect we want to express commitment to world peace and the abo- can be conducive to peace. our sympathy at the death of Nikkyo lition of nuclear arms. Niwano, founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, and one of the founders of the World Con- ference on Religion and Peace. from Dr. Norbert Klaes from Ms. Chiara Lubich Through his important and good Chairman, WCRP/Europe President, Focolare Movement works, he will always be with all of us. Wurzburg, Germany Rocca di Papa, Italy As a Christian, I felt very united with Nikkyo Niwano, with his great personal- In this moment of sorrow for the death of from Mr. Abdessalam Najjar, ity, and his endeavours for unifying man- your beloved father and the founder of Director, Public Relations kind in peace. The presence of Founder Rissho Kosei-kai, Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, Neve ShalomAVahat al-Salam Niwano was a shining symbol of Buddhist the entire Focolare Movement and I per- Doar Na Shimshon, Israel life and, in particular, of your movement, sonally are particularly close to you, your Rissho Kosei-kai. family, and all the members of Rissho It is with great pride that our primary Kosei-kai. school, created for the education of I cannot forget how Rev. Niwano hon- Jewish and Arab children side by side, has from H.E. Metropolitan Kirill oured me with his friendship, marked by one of its classrooms named "The Niwano of Smolensk and Kaliningrad the ideals which we deeply shared, like Classroom"—a permanent reminder of Moscow Patriarchate, Russia the encounter among religions and peace our community's association with your Please accept my sincere condolences among peoples. great organization. upon the demise of Venerable Nikkyo His wisdom, his smile, his kindness will To all who will be mourning the pass- Niwano, founder of the Buddhist organ- always accompany me. I am certain that ing of this noble man, the members of isation Rissho Kosei-kai and honorary his teaching will remain as a solid foun- Neve ShalomAVahat al-Salam offer their president of the World Conference on dation for the future of Rissho Kosei-kai. sincerest sympathy and condolence.

20 DHARMA WORLD CONDOLENCE LETTERS FROM OVERSEAS

from Mr. Namanga Ngongi Peace will always be remembered. The support of religious people everywhere, Deputy Executive Director World Council of Churches recalls with Nikkyo Niwano's thoughtful views and World Food Programme particular gratitude and affection the de- the examples he set will be a lasting Rome cision to award the Niwano Peace Prize source of inspiration to all involved in to the former general secretary of the this vital task. Founder Nikkyo Niwano's personal con- WCC, Dr. Philip Potter. This significant tribution and dedication to world peace gesture has established a lasting bond, will be remembered. Especially, we would not only personally with Mr. Niwano, but from Mr. Choa Savoeun like to express deepest appreciation for all with your entire movement. Minister of Religious Affairs the support provided to the World Food Phnom Penh, Cambodia Programme through the Rissho Kosei-kai Fund for Peace to assist the hungry poor People all over the world, in particular all over the world. from Prof. Andrea Riccardi Cambodian monks and people through- President out our country, all will miss Rev. Nikkyo from H.E. Apostolic Nuncio Ambrose The Community of Saint Egidio Niwano very much, and mourn his pass- De Paoli Rome ing with his whole family and Rissho Apostolic Nunciature in Japan Kosei-kai followers. We all pray that he Tokyo I would like to express on behalf of the will be blessed by the Buddha-Dhamma The Apostolic Nuncio has learned with Community of Saint Egidio my deep par- and be born in the land of Ultimate Bliss. sadness of the death of Rev. Nikkyo ticipation in the mourning for Nikkyo Niwano, founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, and Niwano, founder of Rissho Kosei-kai. We well-known for his tireless efforts and ini- remember him as a man with a deep spir- from Rev. Shih Cheng Yen tiatives to promote understanding, recon- ituality and devotedly committed to dia- President ciliation, and peace among all peoples. logue among religions, and to peace. Buddhist Compassion Relief This same spirit is alive in those to whom Tzu Chi Foundation his various initiatives have been entrust- Hualien, Taiwan ed. May he continue to always be their gdide, their inspiration. from Rabbi David Rosen We were deeply shocked to learn the un- Director expected news of the passing away of Anti-Defamation League Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, founder of Rissho from Dr. Philip Potter Jerusalem Kosei-kai. Former General Secretary Although we understand that he lived World Council of Churches Rev. Niwano's demise is a loss to human- out a long and full life and expired peace- Frankfurt, Germany ity at large, but above all for those of us fully, it wrings my heart to think about I well remember Founder Niwano's visit who benefited directly from his leader- the grief of all members of the organiza- to Geneva when he shared with me his ship and vision. tion and the bereaved family at this time vision for promoting peace through the There is great comfort, however, in the of their loss. Niwano Peace Foundation and the knowledge that his pioneering work con- We deeply believe that despite their World Conference on Religion and tinues through you, Rissho Kosei-kai, the tears of sorrow all in Rissho Kosei-kai Peace, which were still in process of for- World Conference on Religion and have the will to follow his path in life. mation. I was, and have always been, Peace, and all his noble endeavors in My deepest sympathy to all, with cher- deeply impressed and encouraged by his which his enduring memory is a blessing ished memories of the life and work of profound spirituality, his passion for en- and inspiration. the founder. abling persons and peoples to relate to one another in justice and peace, and his immense capacity to turn vision into real- from Madame Jacqueline Rouge from Dr. William F. Schulz ity for the benefit of all. Honorary President, WCRP Executive Director Paris Amnesty International U.S.A. New York from Dr. Konrad Raiser As a longtime associate of Founder General Secretary Nikkyo Niwano in the governing bodies Your father was one of the remarkable World Council of Churches of the World Conference on Religion and figures of the twentieth century. When- Geneva Peace, I have had many opportunities to ever I was in his presence, I sensed his Mr. Nikkyo Niwano has been a widely appreciate his invaluable contribution to great and generous spirit. known and respected personality among the cause of peace through interreligious Though I have not been in Japan for the religious leaders of the world. His ini- dialogue and cooperation. At a time many years, my memories of my five vis- tiative as the founder and leader of when the growing trend towards global- its are still warm and strong. A major rea- Rissho Kosei-kai to establish the World ization makes the development of a multi- son for that is the hospitality your father Conference on Religion and Peace and faceted culture of peace ever more neces- always showed me. You may be assured the Asian Conference on Religion and sary, an endeavor which requires the joint that I will remember him in my prayers.

January/February 2000 21 CONDOLENCE LETTERS FROM OVERSEAS

from H.E. Jaime L. Cardinal Sin from Dr. John B. Taylor from H.E. Ambassador G. Wijayasiri Archbishop of Manila Former Secretary-General Embassy of Sri Lanka Manila WCRP Tokyo Saint-Cergue, Switzerland I am saddened to know of the death of I am very saddened to hear of the pass- my friend Rev. Nikkyo Niwano. He was a In my capacities as director of the World ing away of Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, founder man of peace. He was a true man of Council of Churches' programme for of Rissho Kosei-kai. On behalf of the em- God. We will pray for his eternal rest. Dialogue with People of Living Faiths bassy and on my own behalf, I wish to of- and Ideologies and as secretary-general fer our deepest condolences. of WCRP/International, it was my privilege to have had numerous occasions to meet Founder Niwano. He always im- from Rev. Trevor R. Williams from Dr. and Mrs. Malcolm Sutherland pressed me by his gentle but strong spiri- Leader, The Corrymeela Community- Honorary President, VVCRP tuality, his visionary but practical plan- Belfast, Northern Ireland Former President, Meadville/Lombard ning and decision-making, and his Theological School gracious and patient personal relation- The relationship of friendship, mutual Harvard, Massachusetts ships. He was a truly admirable and lov- learning, and support between Rissho able man. Kosei-kai and the Corrymeela Commu- How fortunate we personally feel to have nity has brought us many blessings. Not known him and to have had the privilege least was the opportunity to meet your to work with him on behalf of interna- from Dr. John M. Templeton, Jr. founder, Nikkyo Niwano, although brief- tional understanding and world peace. President, John Templeton Foundation ly. Having read some of his writings and We remember with great warmth our Radnor, Pennsylvania seen the fruit of his teaching in the lives quiet conversations with him exchanging and work of Rissho Kosei-kai, I know- our understanding of the fundamental On behalf of my father, Sir John that he was a deeply spiritual person. He nature of Christianity and Buddhism Templeton, and all of us at the John has made a great contribution to the and the contributions each can make to Templeton Foundation, we wish to con- modern world, in presenting the ancient the other, and our even more relaxed vey our deepest condolences for the pass- truths of an historic world faith in a moments of exchanging American and ing away of Founder Nikkyo Niwano. manner that meets the needs of modern Japanese songs with him and with mem- It was a great honor for us when people. bers of his family. Founder Niwano accepted the Temple- We have all been blessed and will con- ton Prize for Progress in Religion. He tinue to be blessed by his life, as his subsequently provided tremendous help from Rev. Zhao Puchn influence reaches beyond the limits of to us in the prize program, for which we President time. are deeply grateful. Buddhist Association of China He touched millions of lives in his Beijing many programs and his concern and care for others. His heritage will continue to Rev. Nikkyo Niwano devoted his life to strengthen the spiritual lives of countless improving society in Japan and to build- from Sir Sigmund Sternberg millions in the vears to come. ing friendship and cooperation between Chairman, Executive Committee Japan and China. His many achieve- International Council ments are innumerable and will be of Christians and Jews etched deep in the hearts of people London from Rev. Robert Traer throughout the world forever. General Secretary, IARF On behalf of the Buddhist Association In the great book of Jewish learning, the New Windsor, New York of China, as well as from my own heart- Talmud, it is written "Happy he that felt sentiments, I wish to express my grew up with a good name and departed The leadership of Founder Niwano in great sadness at his entrance into nir- this world with one." This was the first the quest to reduce the suffering in the vana. thought that came to my mind when I world has inspired me and many others, received the sad news of the passing of and he will live on in our memories long Nikkyo Niwano, my friend of many years. after his death. A light has indeed gone out with the The International Association for Reli- All of us at Rissho Kosei-kai are most death of this wonderful man who put gious Freedom is particularly grateful for grateful for the warm sympathy that many peace between man and man, and un- his support since 1969, when Rissho religious leaders and distinguished persona derstanding between the faiths, before Kosei-kai joined the association. from different walks of life conveyed all other goals. Rissho Kosei-kai will for- May his death strengthen our resolve through their letters soon after the passing ever remain as a memorial to the good to work for reconciliation wherever reli- of Founder Nikkyo Niwano. We regret he did in his lifetime and a channel for gious communities are suffering from re- that we could not publish all of them be- the work which has still to be completed. sentment. cause of space limitations.

22 DHARMA WORLD THE FOUNDER'S LIFE AND CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD

Sharing the Buddha's Truth with All

Founder Nikkyo Niwano's long life devoted to learning and teaching the message of the Lotus Sutra inspired his quest for world peace through interreligious cooperation.

ev. Nikkyo Niwano, the late deeply affected by what he learned. founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, was The more he read the text of the sutra, Rborn on Nov. 15, 1906, in Suga- the more he was moved by its subtlety, numa, a small village in Niigata Pre- profundity, and power. Two of its fecture, northern Japan. He was born teachings suited his innermost feelings into a farming family that was respect- exactly: the way of compassion of the ed by the other villagers for their in- bodhisattva—helping others and serv- tegrity and service to the community. ing all people in the world—and the His father and grandfather, who were ability of the lay believer both to save both known for their kindness and and be saved. The spirit of conviction generosity, were influential in shaping he felt welling up inside him would his character. not allow him to continue the halfway At the age of seven, the young boy measure of spending most of his time catered elementary school, but even at his job, devoting only his spare time then he was expected to fulfill many v. to religious activities. responsibilities at home. Following the The founder's first photograph, taken in He then decided to change his occu- local custom of the time, he complet- 1920, shortly after his fourteenth birthday. pation to one that would give him am- ed his formal education at the age of ple free time while it provided the op- twelve and took his place among his tion improved. To Niwano, this proved portunity to meet a great many people. family members as an adult. the merit of Reiyukai, but what im- He decided to open a neighborhood In 1923, while still in his teens, he pressed him even more was the organi- milk dealer's shop. In the milk busi- received permission from his father to zation's emphasis on the Lotus Sutra, ness, home deliveries in the early go to Tokyo to find employment. His one of the most important scriptures mornings and evenings were the most first job was with a rice shop; later he of Mahayana Buddhism. pressing duties, leaving much of the was employed by a charcoal dealer. Revered by Buddhists as the core rest of the day available for religious After serving three years in the and culmination of the Buddha's undertakings. One of his good cus- Japanese navy, from 1926 through teachings, the Lotus Sutra appealed to tomers was a woman who ran a small 1929, he returned to his last employ- him as the perfect net in which to save shop that sold ice in the summer and ment. A year later he married. After all the world's people. It could help in- baked sweet potatoes in the winter. the birth of his first daughter in 1931 dividuals as well as society as a whole, She was pale and sickly, frail from he went into business on his own, set- both physically and spiritually. He was many years of pain and hardship ting up a shop dealing in Japanese pickles. In August 1934 the Niwanos' second daughter, only nine months old, fell ill with Japanese sleeping sickness. At that time, the Niwanos could not afford hospital treatment for her. After exhausting every other possibility, the young father decided to accept the advice of a neighbor and consult Sukenobu Arai, a leader in a religious organization called Reiyukai. Niwano soon joined Reiyukai and began to follow its practice of offering reverence to the spirits of one's ancestors. Very quickly his daughter's physical condi- A long-ago view of the village ofSuganuma in Niigata Prefecture, where the founder grew up.

January/February 2000 23 THE FOUNDER'S LIFE AND CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD

tion. This woman was the late Mrs'. Myoko Naganuma, later to become known to many thousands of people as "Myoko Sensei." Although Reiyukai's rapid growth at that time caused considerable excite- ment among its members, there were frequent disagreements among its top echelon of leaders. Although Niwano also felt excited, shadows of doubt were developing in the back of his mind. During a national meeting on Jan. 7, 1938, its president made the statement that lectures on the Lotus Sutra were an out-of-date concept and that anyone who delivered them must be inspired by the devil. On the verv next day, Niwano and Mrs. Naganuma In 1947, Rev. Niwano and the late cofounder Rev. Naganuma sit with their palms together in agreed that because Reiyukai's posi- reverence in front of a Buddhist altar before which stands a banner inscribed with the mandala. tion now was totally counter to their profound respect for the Lotus Sutra, caused by her former husband's infid- certain of the efficacy of the Reiyukai they would have to resign as members. elity and the death of their only child. teachings, she began enthusiastically After further discussion they decided She suffered from a variety of illnesses, taking part in its services. Even more to form a new group, which originally and her doctors believed she did not surprising to the many who knew her consisted of about thirty members, have long to live. was the vigorous way in which she people whom Arai, Niwano, and Mrs. Soon after she began receiving reli- went about conveying the teachings to Naganuma had taught in guidance ses- gious guidance from Niwano, however, others. On a single day she and sions. her persistent ailments seemed to Niwano, working together, brought Ceremonies were held at Mrs. miraculously disappear. Once she felt nearly fifty people into the organiza- Naganuma's residence to solemnize the founding of the new organization, and a room in Niwano's home was made its headquarters. This was the birth of Rissho Kosei-kai, on March 5, 1938. Founder Niwano was then thirty- one years old and Cofounder Mrs. Naganuma, forty-eight. Rissho in the organization's name means "establishing the teaching of the true Dharma (that is, the Lotus Sutra) in the world." The ko of Kosei signifies the mutual exchange of thoughts among people of faith—that is, the principle of spiritual unity among all human beings. Sei represents the perfection of one's personality, or the attainment of buddhahood. Kai simply means association or society. Spiritual contacts and divine revelations were an important aspect of the practices and beliefs of Reiyukai in which Founder Niwano and Co- founder Naganuma had been trained Fnends and family of the founder pose for a group picture as they see him off in August 194], by Arai. Several revelations directed when he was recalled to the navy. Founder Niwano is flanked by his father (left) and his wife. Founder Niwano to devote himself ful- The boy standing before him is his eldest son, Nichiko. Iv to the Lotus Sutra. One of the earli-

24 DHARMA WORLD THE FOUNDER'S LIFE AND CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD

est of these had to do with his his intention to move actively reading: "You have the duty to into a new phase in which the spread the teachings of the true purpose of Rissho Kosei-kai Lotus Sutra throughout the would become clearer. The first world. Abandon all other reading step was the affirmation that the and dedicate yourself to it main focus of devotion for all alone." In abiding by this revela- members is the Great Benevo- tion, the founder developed an lent Teacher and Lord, Shakya- understanding for the most sub- muni, the Eternal Buddha. tle aspects of the text. Other important steps were By 1941, membership in Ris- undertaken at the same time. sho Kosei-kai had reached one First, because the founder con- thousand, and the construction sidered education so vital, he re- of a separate headquarters build- alized that the way to make the ing became an absolute necessi- truth apparent to others was for ty. It was completed in May Rev. Niwano addresses members outdoors in 1948 in front of each member to study the Lotus 1942. In the meantime Founder the former headquarters, which had insufficient space for the Sutra thoroughly and to apply Niwano and Cofounder Naga- rapidly increasing membership after the Second World War. its teachings in practical ways in numa gave up their businesses all phases of their daily lives. To to devote themselves full-time to their ligious faith, she resolved to devote all create a nationwide pool of energy for religious activities. Not long after the her remaining years to disseminating the application of the teachings in so- new headquarters was completed, the Lotus Sutra. Despite her advanc- ciety at large, Founder Niwano revised however, it was already proving to be ing years, she worked tirelessly at this the organizational structure of the too small to hold all the people who and providing guidance to Rissho branches to make them responsible to came to receive guidance or attend re- Kosei-kai members. Her labors ulti- a local dissemination center. ligious services. Many members had to mately took a severe toll on her health. In 1960 it was announced that sit out-of-doors on grass mats. The She gradually lost her appetite, yet as Founder Niwano's eldest son, Nichiko, meetings of the groups that gathered her illness progressed her mood would succeed him as president. The for counseling guidance came to be seemed to brighten. She passed away decision to follow Japanese tradition known as hoza sessions. These have re- peacefully on the evening of Sept. 10, and make the presidency hereditary mained among Rissho Kosei-kai's basic 1957, at the age of sixty-seven. The fu- was made by the Board of Trustees in practices since its inception, although neral services were held on the follow- accordance with Rissho Kosei-kai regu- at the beginning the format was not ing Sept. 14 and 15. As many as lations. fixed and the sessions could be held 250,000 members from all parts of In 1964, following eight years of con- anywhere, at any time. Japan came to pay their final respects struction, the Great Sacred Hall was After Rev. Naganuma received a re- to her. completed as part of the headquarters newed lease on life as a result of her re- In 1958, Founder Niwano declared complex in Tokyo and was formally

Rev. Niwano traveled extensively all over Japan to preach the importance On one of his frequent dissemination tours, Rev. Niwano waves a warm of.studying and practicing the Lotus Sutra after he declared the manifes- goodbye to local members from the window of his departing train as it tation of the true purpose of Rissho Kosei-kai in 1958. pulls out ofTottori Station in western Japan.

January/February 2000 25 THE FOUNDER'S LIFE AND CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD

opened as the main center for re- Unitarian Universalist Association ligious activities. A special image of America, visited Rissho Kosei- of the Eternal Buddha, as de- kai after attending the Japanese-. scribed in the Lotus Sutra, was American Inter-Religious Con- enshrined there. The occasion sultation on Peace in Kyoto in was one that the founder and all 1968. Dr. Greeley and Founder members had long anticipated. Niwano saw eye to eye in their Six years later, Rissho Kosei-kai strong desire to further interfaith celebrated the completion of an- dialogue. Unitarians have long other facility in the headquarters cherished the goal of interfaith complex, Fumon Hall. Fumon cooperation, and it was they who means "the gate open to all peo- organized the International Asso- ple." The hall is intended to be __-^ _ -f _-__ qjjiL-,-. elation for Religious Freedom both a place that welcomes all re- 1j'^:Sj0JK:^fj^^ (IARF) in 1900. The meeting of gardless of race or creed and a site i'-'T••-•';•:'•;"*>"'•:'- *-^_>-"-'/~^ [)r Greeley and Founder Niwano at which members can share fel- The founder was invited to attend a session of the Second led to the latter's being invited to lowship and mutual experiences Vatican Council in 1965 as a Buddhist and later was re- the 1969 IARF Congress in Bos- related to their faith. ceived by Pope Paul VI in a private audience. ton, which voted unanimously to The completion of Fumon Hall welcome Rissho Kosei-kai as a also symbolized a new direction for factions or denominations, but to rec- member. Rissho Kosei-kai. Starting from the late ognize one another and pray for one Liberal American religious leaders 1960s, increasing amounts of time, another." The pope's words reinforced first conceived of a world religionists' money, and effort have been devoted the founder's determination to be- conference for peace in the early 1960s. to the improvement of local communi- come a bridge between people of all After several preparatory interreligious" ties, to interreligious cooperation, and faiths. meetings, in which Founder Niwano to activities to promote world peace. When the founder took part in the was actively involved, the project came From Founder Niwano's first en- Peace Delegation of Religious Leaders closer to fruition with the founding of counter with the Lotus Sutra, he had for Banning Nuclear Weapons in 1963, the World Conference on Religion and held that all religions spring from the he became acquainted with North Peace (WCRP) that eventually was to same root. He felt that interreligious American Unitarians. Ties between draw the participation of all of the cooperation is possible if believers are that group and Rissho Kosei-kai were world's major religious organizations. enlightened to the universal truths of strengthened when the late Dr. Dana In 1969 Founder Niwano became chair- their own faith while respecting the McLean Greeley, then president of the man of the Japan Religions League's beliefs and rituals of other reli-

As a first step toward promoting interreligious cooperation, the founder helped to establish Shin- shuren (Federation of New Reli- gious Organizations of Japan) in 1957. The following year Shin- shuren became affiliated with the Japan Religions League. This was a landmark event in the early days of the ecumenical movement, when many established religions were less than friendly to new ones. In 1965 Founder Niwano was the only non-Christian invited by Pope Paul VI to attend as a special guest the Second Vatican Council. The pope expressed his appreciation for the founder's efforts for interreligious coopera- A group of participants to the second general assembly of the VV'CRP (WCRP II) held in Leuven, tion, saying, "It is important for Belgium in 1974 took a tour to Breendonk Concentration Camp near Antwerp. The founder conducted people of religion not to cling to a Buddhist memorial service to console the spirits of those who died there during the Second World \\'ar.

26 DI-IARMA WORLD THE FOUNDER'S LIFE AND CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD

The founder delivers a keynote address at the first general assembly of In 1979, the Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion was the WCRP (\VCRP I) in Kyoto on its opening day, Oct. 16, 1970. presented to the founder in London by the Duke of Edinburgh.

In 1978, as a representative of the WCRP, Rev. Niwano addressed the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly Devoted to Disarmament at the world body's New York headquarters.

In 1980, the founder met with Iranian officials and diplomats in The IARF held its 24th triennial Congress near Leiden in the Nether- Tehran at the International Conference on U.S. Intervention in Iran, to lands in 1981, during which Founder Niwano was elected the organiza- • which he was invited to discuss the American hostage crisis. tion's 25t/7 president.

January/February 2000 THE FOUNDER'S LIFE AND CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD

Tokyo and explained his un- In 1988 he addressed SSD III at the" derstanding of the issue, ex- UN headquarters as the president of pressing the VVCRP's hope for Rissho Kosei-kai. a peaceful solution. The fol- On Nov. 15, 1991, his eldest son, lowing year he received an in- Rev. Nichiko Niwano, succeeded him vitation from the Islamic to become the second president of Republic of Iran to join the Rissho Kosei-kai, in the ceremony of International Conference on the Inheritance of the Lamp of the U.S. Intervention in Iran at Dharma. On April 13, 1994, Mrs. Naoko Tehran. He met with Iranian Niwano, who assisted the founder as Foreign Minister Qotbzadeh, his wife of 64 years, always holding a During VVCRP V near Melbourne, Australia, in 1989, requesting him to affect the firm faith in the Lotus Sutra, died the founder met with Rev. Zhao Puchu (left) and the prompt release of the hostages. peacefully, with her husband and fami- late Rev. Etai Yamada (center). In July 1981, during the 24th ly at her bedside. On Nov. 3 of that Congress of the IARF, Found- year, Founder Niwano delivered the Committee for International Affairs, er Niwano was elected the 25th presi- opening address at the opening session which in 1970 sponsored the first dent of the IARF and it was decided of VVCRP VI, held in the Vatican's General Assembly of the VVCRP, held that the organization would hold its Synod Hall, as an honorary president in Kyoto. Some three hundred repre- triennial Congress in Japan in 1984, of WCRP/International. Pope John sentatives of the world's Paul II, who sat beside leading religions from 39 na- Founder Niwano at the cen- tions discussed three major ter of the dais, delivered a issues—disarmament, devel- commemorative address at opment, and human rights the opening session. In. —and called for an end to March 1998, Rissho Kosei- the war then raging in Viet- kai celebrated its sixtieth nam. Since that time, the anniversary at the Great' VVCRP has held general as- Sacred Hall with the atten- semblies in Belgium, the dance of many of the United States, Kenya, Aus- world's leading religious tralia, Italy, and Jordan. figures, who were in Japan As a VVCRP representa- to participate in a VVCRP tive. Founder Niwano ad- meeting. In March 1999, his dressed the first Special Ses- dedication to interreligious sion of the United Nations cooperation for peace was General Assembly Devoted Rev. Nichiko Niwano is inaugurated as the second president ofRissho the source for an autobio- to Disarmament (SSD I) in Kosei-kai in a special ceremony in the Creat Sacred Hall in 1991. graphical account published 1978. He urged the leaders in Japanese under the title of the superpowers to work for general meeting for the first time in Asia. In of Kono Michi: Ichibutsujo no Sekai o and complete disarmament, saying, June 1982, he addressed SSD II on be- Mezashite (This Way: In Aspiration "Instead of taking risks with arms, half of the IARF. Rissho Kosei-kai had for the World of the One Buddha please take major risks for peace and already mounted a nationwide cam- Vehicle). Q disarmament." paign in Japan to collect signa- In April 1979, the prestigious Tem- tures on a petition calling for pleton Foundation Prize for Progress disarmament and the abolition in Religion was awarded to Founder of nuclear weapons. The cam- Niwano in London for his achievement paign amassed twenty-seven in interreligious cooperation and mu- million signatures that were tual understanding. In December of submitted to the UN at SSD that year, Founder Niwano was asked II. In September the founder by national senators and religious lead- traveled to the Soviet Union at ers of the United States to meet the invitation of the Russian Iranian political and religious leaders Orthodox church. He visited to persuade them to release the Ameri- the Kremlin, where he met ICE ON RELIGION AND PF An: cans being held hostage by Iranian stu- with high-ranking Soviet offi- During VVCRP VI in Vatican City and Riva del dents in the U.S. embassy in Tehran. cials to call for the prohibition Carda, Italy, in 1994, Rev. Niwano sits beside Pope He met with the Iranian ambassador in of first use of nuclear weapons. John Paul II, who addressed the delegates.

28 DHARMA WORLD THE FOUNDER'S LIFE AND CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD

Chronology of Founder Nikkyo Niwano

1906 November 15: born in Suganuma, Nakauonuma 1958 January 5: declares the Manifestation of the Truth District, Tokamachi, in Niigata Prefecture, and named that the focus of devotion of Rissho Kosei-kai is the Shikazo Niwano, the second son of Mr. Jukichi Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni, Great Benevolent Niwano and Mrs. Mii Niwano. Teacher, the World-honored One, at the New Year's 1923 August 27: travels to Tokyo to seek employment. observance and in the Kosei Shimbun newspaper, and September 1: The Kanto area, including Tokyo, is dev- starts dissemination tours throughout Japan to spread astated by the Great Kanto Earthquake. the manifestation. June 8-August 22: visits Brazil with 1926 December 1: enters the Maizuru Training Corps at Rev. Motoyuki Naganuma, chairman (now special ad- the Yokosuka Naval Station. visor), to participate in the fiftieth anniversary celebra- 1930 January 7: marries Sai Abe (who later changed her tion of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to name to Naoko) of Suganuma. that country and travels to observe the religious situa- 1935 August: visits Sukenobu Arai, chapter leader of reli- tion in North and South America. gious organization Reiyukai, and becomes a member. 1959 October 10: publishes Hoke-kyo no Atarashii Kaishaku 1936 February: selected as an assistant director of the Arai (Buddhism for Today: A Modern Interpretation of the chapter of Reiyukai and guides Mrs. Masa Naganuma Threefold Lotus Sutra) in Japanese. (who later changed her name to Myoko Naganuma) to 1960 July 16: starts to copy the ten scrolls of the Threefold Reiyukai. Lotus Sutra to be placed in the statue of the focus of 1938 January 7: decides to leave Reiyukai. March 5: founds devotion, the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni, Great the religious organization called Dai-Nippon Rissho Benevolent Teacher, the World-honored One, in the Kosei-kai with Mrs. Naganuma and others on the sec- Great Sacred Hall at Rissho Kosei-kai's headquarters ond floor of his house at Shinmei-cho, Nakano-ku, complex. October 9: completes the copying of the Tokyo, and changes his name to Nikkyo Niwano. Threefold Lotus Sutra. December 8: places the ten March 20: Eldest son Koichi (now Rev. Nichiko scrolls of the Threefold Lotus Sutra inside the Niwano, Rissho Kosei-kai president) is born. statue. 1942 May 7: launches the first training hall at the head- 1962 June 1: The Members' Creed is promulgated. quarters at Wada-honcho, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, and 1963 September 14-October 24: travels in Europe and the holds a religious service for the enshrinement of the United States as the subleader of the Peace focus of devotion. Delegation of Religious Leaders for Banning Nuclear 1944 August 12: evacuates his family from Tokyo to his Weapons. Has an audience with Pope Paul VI, to birthplace at Suganuma during the Second World whom he presents a peace proposal. War and lives separately from his family for the fol- 1964 March 4: conducts the ceremony for the enshrine- lowing ten years. ment of the focus of devotion, the Eternal Buddha 1945 November 15: enshrines a plaque of the focus of devo- Shakyamuni, Great Benevolent Teacher, the World- tion bearing the name of the Eternal Buddha honored One, at the Great Sacred Hall. March 12: be- Shakyamuni, Great Benevolent Teacher, the World- gins to publish Shinshaku Hokke Sambu-kyo (A honored One. Modern Commentary on the Threefold Lotus Sutra) 1946 April 25: starts the Erst dissemination activity after in Japanese. May 15: The Great Sacred Hall is com- the Second World War. pleted. 1948 August 11: Rissho Kosei-kai is registered as a religious 1965 September 14: attends the Second Vatican Council in organization under the Japan Religious Corporation Rome. September 15: received by Pope Paul VI in pri- Order. vate audience. November 7: appointed chairman of 1951 October 17: appointed a permanent director of Shinshuren. Shinshuren (Federation of New Religious 1968 January 22: attends the Japanese-American Inter- Organizations of Japan) after its establishment. Religious Consultation on Peace in Kyoto. 1956 January 25: The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper pub- 1969 February 21-23: attends the meeting in Istanbul of lishes an article questioning whether Rissho Kosei-kai the Interim Advisory Committee for the first World has engaged in illegal land transactions. Then it began Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP), and is attacking the organization. elected to the Preparatory Committee. April 3: ap- 19,57 September 10: Rev. Myoko Naganuma, the cofounder, pointed chairman of the Japan Religions League. April dies. 27: attends the first conference to promote the

January/February 2000 29 THE FOUNDER'S LIFE AND CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD

Brighter Society Movement held in Shikoku as chair- Asian Conference on Religion and Peace (ACRP I), in" man of the Japan Religions League. July 18-20: at- Singapore. tends the 20th Congress of the International 1977 April 7: Rissho Kosei-kai accepts 102 Vietnamese Association for Religious Freedom (IARF). Elected a refugees. December: publishes A Buddhist Approach to trustee of the association. July 21-August 1: partici- Peace in English. pates in the first Executive Committee meeting of the 1978 January 1: declares the Unlimited Manifestation of WCRP in Boston. Travels to Europe, visiting Compassion at the New Year's observance. March 15: Canterbury, Secretary-General Eugene C. Blake of the Rissho Kosei-kai's Board of Trustees adopts the holy- World Council of Churches at WCC headquarters in titles of Founder and Cofounder for President Nikkyo Geneva, and the Vatican, where he invites the pope to Niwano and Vice-president Myoko Naganuma. June attend the first assembly of the WCRP in Kyoto. 12: addresses the first Special Session of the UN December 3-5: attends the first Preparatory- General Assembly Devoted to Disarmament (SSD I) Committee meeting of the WCRP in Kyoto. as a representative of WCRP. July 28-August 3: at- 1970 April 28: Fumon Hall is completed. June 28: gives the tends the 23rd Congress of the IARF, held at Oxford, Buddhist name of Nichiko to his eldest son, Koichi. England. Elected a vice president of the association. October 16-21: serves as a cochairman of WCRP I in November 14: The Horin-kaku Guest Hall in Tokyo is Kyoto and is elected a vice president of completed. November 15: publishes Lifetime Beginner WCRP/International. October 23: invites the repre- in English. December 1: The Niwano Peace sentatives of WCRP to a Prayer Assembly for World Foundation is established. Elected president of the Peace, held at Rissho Kosei-kai's Fumon Hall in foundation. Tokyo. December 18-23: visits South Vietnam in the 1979 April 9: receives the Templeton Foundation Prize for interest of peace in Indochina. Makes a fact-finding Progress in Religion as the first Japanese religionist so tour and donates relief goods to the people of honored. August 29-September 7: attends WCRP III, Vietnam. in Princeton, New Jersey, and is elected an honorary 1972 April 19: appointed first chairman of the Japanese president of WCRP/International. Meets with Mr. Committee of the WCRP. May 3: publishes Heiwa e Jimmy Carter, then president of the U.S. October 2: no Michi (A Buddhist Approach to Peace) in Japanese. appeals for public support for the Donate a Meal June 19-23: participates in the Inter-Religious Campaign in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Consultation on Japanese-American Relations in 1980 June 2: invited by the Islamic Republic of Iran to join Hawaii. August 17-20: travels to West Germany to the International Conference on U.S. Intervention in attend the twenty-first Congress of the IARF. Iran at Tehran. Meets with Foreign Minister 1974 April 18-27: visits the People's Republic of China at Qotbzadeh to hand him a letter requesting the release the invitation of the China-Japan Friendship of the American hostages held by Iran. October: pub- Association and the Buddhist Association of China. lishes Shakyamuni Buddha: A Narrative Biography in Meets with Rev. Zhao Puchu, who later became presi- English. dent of the Buddhist Association of China. August 1981 February 24: receives an invitation to non-Christian 28-September 3: attends WCRP II in Leuven, religious representatives for an audience with Pope Belgium and is elected an honorary moderator of John Paul II in the chapel of the Apostolic Nunciature WCRP/International. in Tokyo, together with twenty-eight other Japanese 1975 March 5: awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree religious representatives. July 24-30: attends the 24th by the Meadville/Lombard Theological School, affili- Congress of the IARF, in the Netherlands. Elected the ated with the University of Chicago. August 15-21: 25th president of the IARF. October: publishes A attends the twenty-second Congress of the IARF in Cuide to The Threefold Lotus Sutra in English. Montreal. November 15: celebrates his seventieth October 7: meets with Mr. Zenko Suzuki, then prime birthday according to the Sino-Japanese method of minister of Japan, to seek fulfillment of four requests, counting. Publishes The Richer Life in English. including the promotion of pacifism and freedom of 1976 February 28: attends a Preparatory Committee meet- religion. Meets also with leaders of the political parties ing of the Asian Conference on Religion and Peace out of power. November 7-11: attends ACRP II, in (ACRP) in Singapore. March 16: publishes Buddhism New Delhi. for Today: A Modern Interpretation of the Threefold 1982 February: publishes The Meaningful Life in English. Lotus Sutra in English. May 28: presented the first March: publishes The \Vholesome Family Life in L'niquest Schweitzer Award by the editorial board of English. June 24: addresses the second Special Session Uniquest magazine. August 15: publishes Niwano of the UN General Assembly Devoted to Nikkyo jiden (Autobiography of Nikkyo Niwano) in Disarmament (SSD II) as president of the IARF. Japanese. October 3: attends the first national conven- September 22-27: visits the Soviet Union at the invi- tion of the Brighter Society Movement held in Tokyo. tation of the Russian Orthodox church. November 25-30: attends the first assembly of the 1983 April 7: attends the first presentation ceremony of the

DHARMA WORLD THE FOUNDER'S LIFE AND CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD

Niwano Peace Prize and awards the prize to the Great Sacred Hall at a ceremony celebrating the Archbishop Helder Pessoa Camara of the archdiocese 86th anniversary of his birthday. of Olinda-Recife, Brazil. November 4: receives the 1993 August 25: receives the Centennial Award from the Artisans of Peace Prize from the Youth Missionary International Interfaith Organizations Coordinating Service, Italy. November 15: receives the first conferral Committee. November 15: receives the Interfaith of the United Nations Plaque from Mr. Yasushi Medallion from the International Council of Akashi, then under-secretary-general of the UN, at the Christians and Jews at the Great Sacred Hall on the Great Sacred Hall on the occasion of the anniversary occasion of the 88th anniversary ceremony of his birth of his birthday. (according to the Sino-Japanese method of counting, 1984 April 10: receives the International Humanitarian and considered an auspicious age). Award from a Catholic lay group, the Boys' Towns of 1994 January 1: Rissho Kosei-kai announces that the revised Italy. July 27-August 1: attends the 25th Congress of Kyoden (Lotus Sutra reader) will be used from March the IARF, at Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters, Tokyo. 5. April 13: Mrs. Naoko Niwano, wife of Rev. Nikkyo August 23-31: attends WCRP IV in Nairobi and is Niwano, dies. elected an honorary president of WCRP/Inter- November 3: delivers the opening address at the open- national. ing session of WCRP VI, held in the Vatican's Synod 1985 December 16: speaks as a special guest at the opening Hall, as an honorary president of WCRP/International, of a symposium held by the UN Office at Geneva to the first time that Pope John Paul II participated in a commemorate the UN's 40th anniversary. world assembly of the WCRP. The pope delivered a 1986 June 17-21: attends ACRP III, in Seoul. commemorative address at the opening session. 1987 April 13: delivers the keynote speech at an interna- November 17: the holy name of Kosho is given to tional seminar entitled "The Future of Mankind and Mitsuyo Niwano, eldest daughter of President Nichiko Cooperation among Religions," at United Nations Niwano, by the founder and the president, and ap- University, Tokyo. August 3-4: attends the Religious pointed president-designate of the organization. Summit Meeting on Mount Hiei as an honorary (President Nichiko Niwano confirmed that Rev. Kosho advisor. Niwano eventually would succeed him at a gathering 1988 March 5: receives a letter of appointment as honorary of branch heads at the headquarters in Tokyo.) president of the IARF from Dr. Eugene Pickett, presi- Publishes Invisible Eyelashes in English. dent of the IARF, at the Great Sacred Hall on the oc- 1995 November 15: attends the 90th anniversary ceremony casion of the 50th anniversary of Rissho Kosei-kai. of his birth (according to the Sino-Japanese method of June 8: addresses the third Special Session of the UN counting, and considered an auspicious age), held in General Assembly Devoted to Disarmament (SSD III) the Great Sacred Hall at the headquarters in Tokyo . as president of Rissho Kosei-kai. 1996 March 22: retires as president of the Japanese 1989 January 22-27: attends WCRP V, held near Committee of the WCRP at a meeting of the board of Melbourne, Australia. April 2: presented with hon- directors and trustees and is elected honorary presi- orary citizenship of Tokamachi city. dent. Rev. Nichiko Niwano is elected executive direc- 1990 July 25-27: chairs a Conference of the World's tor. The new president is Peter Cardinal Seiichi Religions for the World's Children, at the Princeton Shirayanagi. June 20: honored at the 50th anniversary Theological Seminary in New Jersey. ceremony of the Japan Religions League. October 20: 1991 January 18: makes an appeal for prayer for an immedi- awarded the Fourth International Prize of Saints ate ceasefire in the Gulf War as the president of the Francis and Chiara by the Franciscan International Japanese Committee of the WCRP. March 21: Center for Dialogue Among People. confirms that his son, Rev. Nichiko Niwano, will suc- 1997 August 7: meets with Francis Cardinal Arinze, presi- ceed him as president of Rissho Kosei-kai at a gather- dent of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious ing of leaders at the headquarters in Tokyo. October Dialogue, in Tokyo during his visit to Japan to partici- 29-Novembei 2: attends ACRP IV, in Katmandu, pate in an Interreligious Gathering of Prayer for World Nepal. November 15: succeeded as president of Rissho Peace in Kyoto. Kosei-kai by his eldest son, Rev. Nichiko Niwano, in 1998 March 5: speaks at the 60th anniversary of the found- the ceremony of the Inheritance of the Lamp of the ing of Rissho Kosei-kai at the Great Sacred Hall in Dharma. Tokyo with the attendance of many leading world reli- 1992 October 26: inaugurated as an honorary chairman of gious figures visiting Japan to participate in a meeting Shinshuren's board of directors, with President of the Governing Board of WCRP/International at the Nichiko Niwano as a vice-chairman. November 6: de- Horin-kaku Guest Hall in Tokyo. livers an address at a conference on the Middle East 1999 March 5: attends the 61st anniversary ceremony of the sponsored by the Japanese Committee of the WCRP, founding of Rissho Kosei-kai at the Great Sacred Hall in Tokyo. November 15: receives the Silver Star of the in Tokyo. October 4: passes away in Kosei General Order of Saint Gregory the Great from the Holy See at Hospital in Tokyo.

January/February 2000 31 MEMORIES IN THE MEDIA

A Lifetime Devoted to Faith and Peace

These deeply felt recollections of Founder Niwano's life and personality appeared in leading Japanese newspapers on the day of his death or shortly thereafter.

all extremely grateful. And when a flock of reporters from A Paradigm of Tolerance the Vatican International Correspondents Club, one of the Who Transcended Sectarianism few religious press clubs in the world and one of the most influential, came to Kyoto to cover our activities on Mount by Eshin Watanabe Hiei, Rev. Niwano helped us to take care of them. Truly, he From the Sankei Shimbun newspaper, evening edition, taught us the meaning of "lighting up a corner of the Oct. 4, 1999 world," which Saicho advocated in his writing. On Mount Hiei, the early Meiji period thinker Jitsuzen was in the middle of kogaku ryugi, the most important re- Ashizu (later the 140th head priest of the temple Eigen-ji) Iligious ceremony devoted to the Lotus Sutra, held only made important contributions toward interreligious cooper- once every five years at the temple Enryaku-ji on Mount ation. In recent years, most notable are the efforts of the Hiei. It is an ancient ceremony, for which an imperial repre- late Rev. Etai Yamada, the 253d Tendai head priest, the late sentative is present. It was in the midst of the service that I Tendai elder Rev. Shocho Hagami, and the former general heard that Nikkyo Niwano, the founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, secretary of the Tendai denomination, Rev. Gijun Sugitani had passed away, and my shock was so great I nearly cried (currently general secretary of WCRP/Japan). As Rev. Yamada out. himself once said, "Mount Hiei and the Tendai sect were I had heard something to the effect that he had not been put on the world stage thanks to the sacred guidance of Rev. in the best health of late, and I prayed that he would recov- Niwano." er as soon as possible. I only wished that we could continue Nikkyo Niwano was a broad-minded man. No matter whom together to alleviate the poverty of the human spirit by de- he met, his smile never faded, he never passed judgment on veloping the buddha-nature and that he would continue to them, and he always prayed before them with joined hands, give us even more profound guidance, and so the news of exactly like Bodhisattva Never Despise described in the his death filled me with great sadness. His passing is an Lotus Sutra. When I recall all he did for others, I am again enormous loss to the world of Japanese religion. filled with a sense of loss for which I have no words. I remember that the first time Rev. Niwano visited Mount Three times Rev. Niwano addressed the United Nations, Hiei in an official capacity was soon after he had organized appealing for peace from the depths of his religious con- the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) and science. The WCRP today boasts an international member- was preparing for its first Assembly, which was convened in ship and following because of the work and the faith of Kyoto in 1970. Nikkyo Niwano. In Japan, he urged the faithful to respect Up to that time, I had seen that many religions were in- their local temples and revere their ancestors. He never tolerant, tending to concern themselves with the benefit of stopped caring about the state of affairs among different re- their own group. But Rev. Niwano, with tolerance toward all ligions. His dedication to peace was total and knew no and free of sectarian interests, devoted his efforts to bring- bounds. He was a role model for religious people every- ing about genuine interreligious cooperation, something we where. all had hoped for but been unable to realize before WCRP Though Rev. Niwano has left us with many accomplish- I. In my eyes, Rev. Niwano was a true practitioner of the ments, I know that I am only one of many people who wish Lotus Sutra who embodied the spirit of Saicho, the founder that his time had not yet come and that he was still here of our Tendai sect, and this impressed me so deeply that I with us, illuminating the way of salvation in the confusion shall never forget his dedication as long as I live. surrounding the end of one century and the beginning of In 1987 when we convened the Religious Summit Meet- another. ing on Mount Hiei, Nikkyo Niwano was the first person who I pray for the repose of his spirit. Q volunteered to help us. His cooperation provided immense encouragement for all of us members of the Tendai sect, Rev. Eshin Watanabe is the 255th head priest thanks to which the summit was a great success. We were of the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism.

DHARMA WORLD MEMORIES IN THE MEDIA

in creating the environment for resolution of the conflict in A Great Contribution Bosnia-Herzegovina, a conflict that was caused in part by to Postwar Global religious differences. Japanese religious organizations, including Rissho Kosei- Interreligious Cooperation kai, are challenged today by a lack of public trust in the wake of the Aum Shinrikyo troubles. The relationship be- by Masataka Akabori tween religion and politics is an especially vexing problem. From the Sankei Shimbun newspaper, morning edition, If only Mr. Niwano was among us as before during these try- Oct. 5, 1999 ing times. ... It will not be easy to find someone in the world of Japanese religion who can take his place in solving r. Nikkyo Niwano of Rissho Kosei-kai, one of the great the problems we face. Q leaders in the history of Japanese religion, died on M Masataka Akabori is a staff writer Oct. 4 at the age of 92. of the Sankei Shimbun. Japan's postwar New Religions grew by helping to resolve the human problems born of want, illness, and conflict in the midst of the confusion following defeat in the Second World War and the ensuing economic recovery. Transcended Religious In the short span of 60 years Mr. Niwano's teaching of the Differences to Create Dialogue Lotus Sutra spread to nearly seven million believers, making his organization one of the largest religious groups in Japan and Cooperation today. His warm personality was evident in such personal maxims as: "Do not overdo things; be true to yourself; be by Takaoki Kurozumi y.our own self" and "I have learned something from everyone From the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper, evening edition, I have met." This warmth, reflected in Rissho Kosei-kai's Oct. 4, 1999 view that ideology, science, and politics cannot offer salvation, attracted many people to the organization. ikkyo Niwano, the founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, passed His charisma was extraordinary. I remember when the or- Naway on the morning of Oct. 4 at the age of 92. His life ganization celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of its found- was spent as a warrior for peace. Why did this man, known ing, in March 1998, by which time Mr. Niwano's declining as the founder and leader of Rissho Kosei-kai, one of Japan's health was already limiting most of his public appearances. new lay Buddhist organizations, become an internationally When he appeared on the stage [of the Great Sacred Hall], recognized figure, his face familiar to people around the some 6,000 members all jumped to their feet, waving and world? It is impossible to explain without first discussing calling out to him, tears streaming down their faces. It was a the Cold War. sight that testified to the fact that Mr. Niwano's teaching It was the Second Vatican Council, convened between was alive in their hearts. 1962 and 1965, that truly opened Mr. Niwano's eyes to the He did not always enjoy such smooth sailing in his leader- issue of world peace. Mr. Niwano was the first Buddhist to ship of Rissho Kosei-kai. At one time, he was criticized for be summoned to Vatican II, and at that time was received rifts in the organization and for proselytizing too aggres- by Pope Paul VI in a private audience. Fearing the further sively. He offered no counterarguments. "I am grateful for spread of atheistic communism and faced with the constant the criticism. It gives me the opportunity to make improve- threat of another world war, the Roman Catholic church ments," he would say. And improvements were reflected in had done an about-face in its dealings with other religions a refinement of the organization's goals, "from esotericism and had adopted a policy of dialogue and cooperation. to adherence to the scripture" and "from personal salvation Seeing this for himself, Mr. Niwano's determination crystal- to the salvation of society." This in turn won the public's lized. Henceforth, he would work to transcend differences trust. among religious faiths and take concrete action to achieve Mr. Niwano's life and work influenced other religious that goal. groups. He worked tirelessly for interreligious cooperation Three times when the United Nations General Assembly because he was convinced that it alone "shows the way to convened a Special Session on Disarmament, there he was, save human beings and the world." The global religious net- wearing his tasuki sash bearing the invocation Namu Myoho work he created, and to which he gave concrete form, now Renge-kyo (We take refuge in the Lotus Sutra), addressing embraces leaders of Shinto and traditional Buddhist de- the delegates and pleading the cause of peace to the world's nominations, as well as the Christian churches, Islam, and leaders. He caned upon religious \eaders in japan and many other faiths. One fruit of his labor is that interreli- abroad, garnering their support for the World Conference gipus dialogue has become a powerful force in the post- on Religion and Peace (WCRP) and the Asian Conference Cold War world. To cite one example, it played a large role on Religion and Peace (ACRP), and was the first Buddhist

January/February 2000 33 MEMORIES IN THE MEDIA

to become president of the International Association for first at a rice shop, then at a charcoal shop and at other jobs, Religious Freedom (IARF). In these and many other capaci- he made a random study of a wide selection of religious be- ties he practiced interrehgious dialogue and cooperation, liefs, including divination, shugendo ascetic practices, and- and thereby promoted activities for peace. others, until he discovered the teaching of the Lotus Sutra. Among his major undertakings were a call for the end of In 1938, together with the late Mrs. Myoko Naganuma, he the war then raging in Vietnam; the collection of 20 million set up Rissho Kosei-kai. signatures on an antinuclear petition; a peace pilgrimage to At the time they established it, the organization's head- the White House, the Kremlin, and Beijing's Great Hall of quarters were on the second floor of a milk delivery service the People, asking for a ban on nuclear weapons; the Mr. Niwano was managing in Nakano, Tokyo. They had Campaign for Sharing Blankets with People in Africa; and only 30 members. Early in the morning when Mr. Niwano assistance for the people of the former Yugoslavia. These had finished his milk deliveries, he would set off pedaling activities not only met the needs of the time, but were his bicycle, with Mrs. Naganuma riding on the back, moving made possible because he had met with other religious lead- around town until late at night propagating their beliefs. ers and gained their cooperation. In the confusion after the end of the Second World War, Today the Cold War is over and this twentieth century, their message took on new strength through such activities one hundred years of both war and peace, is nearly at its as hoza sessions, in which members sit in a circle and coun- end. Mr. Niwano, who devoted the last half of his life to sel each other about their problems. It was not all clear sail- peace, has died, and this, too, marks the end of an era. Even ing, however. In the latter 1950s, the media criticized the if the threat of nuclear weapons disappears, in the twenty- organization's proselytizing methods as overbearing. Mr. first century we will still have to worry about environmental Niwano responded by saying, "We appreciate this criticism contamination by chemicals causing the extinction of hu- as a warning that the organization has gone too far," and manity. How will we approach such a large problem? At this undertook reforms, such as establishing an advisory council time, when the true values of religion are required, Mr. that included scholars otherwise unaffiliated with the orga; Niwano's legacy is a guidepost for discovering them. Q nization. The next problem to occur was an internal one, involving Takaoki Kurozumi is a senior staff writer a group that wanted to form itself around Mrs. Naganuma of the Tokyo Shimbun. and break away. This resolved itself naturally when Mrs. Naganuma fell ill and passed away, but in the aftermath, Mr. Niwano did not pursue the issue of those responsible Nikkyo Niwano Worked for the breakaway movement, instead continuing to keep them in important positions. Looking back on the incident, for World Peace through he later said, "It must have been a discipline imposed on me Religious Cooperation for negligence and pride that I was not consciously aware of." In 1965 came what he called "a fateful meeting that decided the course of the second half of my life." Having been by Yoichiro Ikeda invited to attend the Second Vatican Council, he went to From the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, evening edition, Rome, where Pope Paul VI said to him, "These are times Oct. 21, 1999 that will not tolerate divisions among religions. Now we must hold out our hands to one another and move toward ikkyo Niwano, the founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, died at universal peace." Mr. Niwano decided then to institute a N92 of old age on Oct. 4. Figures from the political dialogue among the various religions, aimed at fostering world and officials of religious organizations in Japan and peace. Having persuaded various religious leaders in Japan abroad, representing newly established religions, Buddhism, and around the world to join the effort, he jointly estab- Shinto, and Christianity, joined sixty thousand Rissho lished the World Conference on Religion and Peace in Kosei-kai members on Oct. 10 for a funeral service for the 1970. The WCRP is now a nongovernmental organization late founder at the Great Sacred Hall at the organization's registered with the United Nations and has grown to be- headquarters in Tokyo's Suginami Ward. The line of come "the largest interreligious forum in the world." mourners extended for several kilometers along the road be- The memorial address at Mr. Niwano's funeral service was side the headquarters. delivered by his friend of thirty years' standing, Peter Mr. Niwano was a remarkable religious leader who built Cardinal Seiichi Shirayanagi, who said, "He achieved some- up from scratch in one lifetime a Buddhist organization thing that had been considered close to impossible—coop- that embraces six million members, second in size only to eration among religions. He was truly an apostle of peace." Q Soka Gakkai. Born to a farm family in a mountain village in Niigata Yoichiro Ikeda is a staff writer in the Cultural News Prefecture, he left home for Tokyo at age 16. While working Department of the Asahi Shimbun.

DHARMA WORLD ADDRESSES BY THE FOUNDER

Religions Should Light the Way

These excerpts from speeches delivered at a number of international events amply reflect the late founder's determined campaign for world peace through interreligious tolerance and cooperation.

that is, the ultimate freedom is to be rid of greed, aggres- All in the Universe sion, and self-delusion. Is Interrelated The truth that all things are impermanent refers to the unceasing changes occurring in our minds, in all phenome- Delivered upon receipt of the Templeton Foundation Prize for na, and in such apparently solid, physical manifestations of Progress in Religion, at Guild Hall, London, April 9, 1979. matter as trees and stones. Modern science has proved that movement and change are continuous even within the n spite of the more imposing achievements of other peo- atom, which was at one time considered the ultimate parti- Iple of religion throughout the world, you have bestowed cle to which matter could be reduced. It is unnecessary to on me the distinguished Templeton Foundation Prize for point out the unending changes taking place in our own Progress in Religion. I am deeply humbled by this great bodies. The Buddha explained the transience inherent in honor, but I sincerely believe that the prize is not mine existence, the inevitability of aging and death; but he did alone, for it belongs to all the people who have supported not stop there. Instead, he taught that, since all things are the World Conference on Religion and Peace over the past constantly altering, human beings must exert their best ef- ten years. forts in every instant of life. Indeed, such striving lies at the 'I am not a scholar, but simply a Buddhist attempting to heart of the Buddha's teaching, for knowing that all things live in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha. My ef- are impermanent subdues the proud and gives hope to the forts in behalf of human happiness and world peace are wretched, encouraging them both to make spiritual progress. born of attitudes implanted in my mind in childhood. I was The second aspect of the Law, nothing has an ego, is an born and raised in northern Japan, in a small, isolated vil- affirmation of the interdependence of all things. Nothing lage that is snowbound almost half the year. My paternal exists in complete isolation. For example, to come from grandfather made an especially strong impression on me Tokyo to London to be with you today, I flew on an aircraft, and had an important influence on my later life. He took the production and operation of which involve a worldwide fond care of me when I was a child and tried to instill in me spectrum of interrelations. My trip would have been impos- a sense of the duties inherent in being human. He would of- sible without the pilot, the flight crew, the ground commu- ten say that although the smallest insect knows enough to nications staff constantly on the lookout for our safety, the feed itself, as human beings with much broader sensibilities, fueling crew, the people who pumped out of the earth the it is our duty not only to care for ourselves, but also to be crude oil from which the fuel was made, the miners who un- people who do good for others. My grandfather's example earthed the ores from which the construction materials of did not stop at mere words, for in his practice of traditional the plane were produced, the aircraft designer, and count- Oriental medicine he frequently went to great lengths to al- less others. leviate the pain and suffering of people in our village. His Moreover, the oil and the minerals are not manmade, but admonitions and actions stayed in the back of my mind dur- are products of nature that humankind simply has discov- ing my youth and undoubtedly played a major role in guid- ered and devised uses for. But, in their arrogance, human ing me to the world of religion. beings forget their debt to nature and their relations with The foundations of my spiritual life are the teachings of other phenomena and beings and act entirely in their own the Buddha and the compassionate practice of the way of interests. This failing deserves the most serious considera- the bodhisattvas—those who devote themselves to attaining tion, especially since it has led humankind to neglect har- enlightenment not only for themselves but for all sentient mony with the natural world in its attempt to conquer its beings. At the heart of the Buddha's teachings are the three environment. The result has been crises of environmental great truths known as the Three Seals of the Law: first, all pollution and a worldwide shortage of natural resources. In th'ings are impermanent, that is, all things and phenomena creating these untenable situations, humanity is destroying in this world constantly change; second, nothing has an ego, itself. And this suicidal dilemma is born of a refusal to rec- which is to say, all things in the universe exist in interrela- ognize the interdependence binding human beings and ev- tionship with one another; and third, nirvana is quiescence, ery other thing in this universe.

January/Februarv 2000 35 ADDRESSES BY THE FOUNDER

In connection with the truth that nothing has an ego, well able to accomplish our tasks because we are all, on that is, that all things are interrelated, I should like to touch some level, aware of the truth that all things in the universe on another basic Buddhist tenet: the teaching that every- exist in interrelationship with one another. thing is the effect of a cause. The clothes you and I wear Human beings tend to forget that all things are imperma- and the food we eat are the effects of other people's labor. nent and to become deeply attached to things as if they had My mind, like yours, has been formed through encounters permanent value in themselves. with everything in the world around us, through experiences The Buddha referred to these kinds of ignorant behavior and acquired knowledge. We all live in a maze of cause- as the fires of delusion and taught that their extinction— and-effect situations; and human society is an unseen, indi- and the resultant freedom from delusion—is the tranquillity visible network of interrelations in which each strand, or of the state called nirvana. That is the third aspect of the fiber, is of great importance to every other strand, and to great truth: Nirvana is quiescence. Attaining this state is the net as a whole. We cannot afford to permit ourselves to one of the major aims of Buddhists. More than twenty-five be so caught up in material pursuits that we fail to pay at- centuries ago, the Buddha sounded a bell to warn humanity tention to this world of cause and effect, this indivisible of the danger of self-immolation in the fires of delusion. But network. as a Buddhist one must always realize that individual attain- It is tragically ironic that humanity, whose knowledge ex- ment of nirvana is insufficient. We must all labor to im- tends to the heavenly bodies, should remain ignorant of prove the entire world around us. that which supports the very basis of our own existence and Though as a man of religion, my voice is small and weak, should allow our ignorance to blind us to the interdepen- I have attempted to speak out for the sake of such improve- dence and true unity of humankind. It is indeed foolish that ment. In June of last year [1978], on the occasion of the nations should, in the cause of "independence," oppose United Nations Special Session on Disarmament, I asked each other on the basis of ideologies that are, at best, no especially of President [Jimmy] Carter and First Secretary more than methods of conveying, or expressing, ultimate, [Leonid] Brezhnev that their nations take major risks for absolute values, but are by no means absolute values in peace and disarmament, instead of taking risks with arms. themselves. But armed conflict is not the only area providing us with Especially in modern times, most ideologies develop more than ample room for improvement. One might, f6r through opposition and antagonism, and exhibit concern example, point to the world food crisis. It is said that about only in their own advantages and advancements. We cannot six million people perish of hunger each year. It cannot be hope to escape from hatred and conflict as long as we re- right that one-third of the world's population lives at the main bound to ideologies of .this kind. Humanity's history is edge of starvation and another third is malnourished while one of repeated collisions between the self-interests of indi- the last third enjoys an overabundance of food. Illiteracy, viduals, clashes between narrow nationalisms, imperialistic though still a problem in many parts of the world, cannot contests, and the so-called class struggle between labor and compare with the gravity of lack of food. capital. All this antagonism originates in prejudiced self- My fellow members of Rissho Kosei-kai and I have at- righteousness and shortsighted forgetfulness of what makes tempted to do what we can to improve the conditions of all our lives possible. suffering human beings in many parts of the world. In Conflicts still persist; yet, for the continued existence of Cambodia, we built a school and sponsored an agricultural the human race, we must advance from our present, limited program. In Laos, we assisted in the restoration of the tem- nationalistic views to thinking in broad, regional terms, and ple That Luang, which is both a national treasure and the then to the establishment of a global community. Today, center of religious faith for the Laotian people. But, in both the idea of the whole human family embarked together in cases, war and political upheaval hindered our efforts. We the single vessel that we call the earth is beginning to take have sheltered Vietnamese refugees; we have sent food for root in many places. Religions must encourage such think- the children of Bangladesh; and at our nursing school we ing and must set as their highest goals the happiness and have trained nurses from Nepal. Though we lack the spiritual growth of humanity and the peace of the world. If strength to bring about far-reaching improvements in world they are to do this, however, they must never allow them- conditions, we continue our efforts in the belief that it is selves to be riven by such minor issues as religious terminol- our obligation to our fellow human beings if we are to prac- ogy and ritual forms. tice our belief earnestly and honestly. In a spirit of cooperation, not competition, giving, not It is true that in the course of my efforts to discover what grasping, people of good will from many religions—Chris- people of religion ought to do to bring peace to the world, I tianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Shinto have moved slowly and have often erred. But I believe that among them—have been able to work together with joy in the person of religion is bound to abandon considerations of the organization and endeavors of the World Conference appearances, or of personal gain and loss, and to make just on Religion and Peace, which is devoted to eliminating ob- such efforts as these. structions on the way to a peaceful world. I believe we are so Working alone, I may fail. Working alone, you may fail.

36 DHARMA WORLD ADDRESSES BY THE FOUNDER

But success is open to both of us if we work together. person and a life in community at all levels based on free- Believing this, I have participated in movements to unite dom, justice, and love. people of religion from all over the world for the sake of The abolition of war or, better still, the removal of the peace. I interpret the awarding of the Templeton Prize to conditions that lead to war, is a specific and limited objec- me as encouragement from God and the Buddha to contin- tive but it is a crucial first step. The first meeting of our or- ue on the path I have followed thus far. With profound ganization in 1970 declared, "A society based on the gratitude and with the vow to continue my work, I accept strength of arms is the negation of a community based on the award and thank you. Q justice." First, may we, motivated by our several religions, suggest a greater sense of urgency to you world diplomats in acting to end the arms race? The danger of nuclear war by calculation, miscalculation, accident, or terrorism is increasing. We implore you to act with all deliberate speed, even incau- The World Must Unite for Peace tious speed, since—in the words of one of our own congress- es—humankind's "continued existence on this planet is Delivered before the first Special Session of the UN General threatened with nuclear extinction." The human race must Assembly Devoted to Disarmament, June 12, 1978. end the arms race before the arms race ends the human race. The most basic human right is survival. should like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to Second, may we, motivated by our several religions, sug- Iaddress the special session on behalf of the World gest that the most complex, technical problem in the do- Conference on Religion and Peace. I would also express my main of international peace and security must, in the end, personal gratitude that at the United Nations—an interna- depend upon ethical decisions that must be explained and tional political forum—a representative of religion like my- justified to the ordinary citizen? No arms control jargon self is given an opportunity to speak. must be allowed to conceal life-denying decisions of govern- I am a Buddhist. In the parable of the burning house, the ments. Buddha tells of a concerned father who has escaped the Third, may we, motivated by our several religions, suggest flaming wreckage of his decaying home but cannot persuade that diplomats must take risks for peace as they obviously his children to join him because they are so absorbed in are taking risks today with arms? I ask especially President their amusements that they remain oblivious to the danger [Jimmy] Carter and First Secretary [Leonid] Brezhnev, that surrounds them. Viewing our world, the Buddha says, "Instead of taking risks with arms, please take major risks for "This world is not a safe place for ordinary people. It is like peace and disarmament." We urge national and regional the burning house." In the Buddha's eyes, humankind's un- initiatives for disarmament, which may or may not require restrained greed—like the children who were too busy—ex- immediate reciprocation. We pray that some state, out of poses us to danger and causes us to suffer. He laments that strength and not weakness, will take major risks for peace we are completely unaware of the danger that surrounds us. and disarmament. Yet the Japanese at Hiroshima and Nagasaki have already Fourth, may we, motivated by our several religions, sug- experienced the truth of the burning house. Also, as a gest that there is a great constituency for peace? The vic- Buddhist I cannot forget the words of Pope Paul VI after tims of the uninterrupted wars of this generation and those extending to me an invitation to attend the Second Vatican praying for peace may be silent, inarticulate, and not as Council. The pope said: "Christians must pray for influential as those in all social systems with a vested inter- Buddhists and Buddhists must pray for Christians. Unless est in the arms race. Yet all peoples yearn for the freedom religious people do so, there is no way they can help hu- from fear of nuclear holocaust and of death and destruction manity." by conventional war. They yearn for world peace and, in the The World Conference on Religion and Peace held its Third World and all worlds, they also yearn for the econom- first meeting at Kyoto in 1970 and then set up its interna- ic and social consequences of an end to the arms race. tional headquarters in this United Nations community. Fifth, may we, motivated by our several religions, suggest Participants in our organization are drawn from all the ma- that a new appraisal must be made of national and world se- jor world religions and from more than sixty nations in all curity? We assert that no nation and no people is secure in social systems. The proximity of our international head- a world of more than fifteen thousand strategic nuclear war- quarters and our close contact with the United Nations help heads. keep us alert to the grave problems confronting humankind. Sixth, may we, motivated by our several religions, under- We are concerned, however, not only to stop the arms race, line the goal of general and complete disarmament? If hu- to end economic injustice, and to eliminate violations of manity is to survive this century, it can only be through human rights, but also to free the human spirit for a quality general and complete disarmament. May the proposed com- of life more in keeping with the dignity and destiny of the prehensive program on disarmament be a bridge to general

January/February 2000 37 ADDRESSES BY THE FOUNDER

and complete disarmament. Certainly arms control has been a failure. This is symptomatic of the deeper failure to recon- Today's Perspective struct a social and economic order centered on humanity. of Our Religious Mission Seventh, may we, motivated by our several religions, thank the special session for allowing nongovernmental or- The Founder's opening address during the IARF Japan ganizations to speak and participate so fully. We hope that Congress as its president, the 25th, in 1984. this nongovernmental relationship to disarmament issues in the United Nations might be institutionalized. May we also pay tribute to the Non-Aligned Group for t was in 1968 that the concept of the World Conference taking the initiative in calling for this special session. We Ion Religion and Peace originated, the year before Rissho are with the nonaligned in asserting that nuclear disarma- Kosei-kai was accepted as a member of the IARF. At that ment is the first priority of this world organization. We sug- time Dr. Dana M. Greeley and other American religionists gest this priority not only for reasons of implementing came to Japan on their way back from the celebrations in Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, but because it is India of the centenary of Gandhi's birth for a debate on the ethically, morally, and religiously right. The very possession ending of the Vietnam War, held under the auspices of the of nuclear weapons must become a crime against humanity. Japanese-American Inter-Religious Consultation on Peace. Evidence of the use of nuclear weapons at Hiroshima and I have long had a deep respect for Gandhi, and he has al- Nagasaki, and the resulting devastation and human suffer- ways been in my prayers. His philosophy of nonviolence is ing, is on photographic display in this building, thanks to the very font of peace. It is in part thanks to the inspiration the Japanese delegation to the United Nations. Because that I have gained from him that I am working today for the some of the pictures were considered too gruesome, I un- achievement of peace through the IARF and the WCRP. derstand there were requests for their removal. I sincerely My own peace activities are very much in line with his. hope that people will not turn a blind eye to such hellish Gandhi's way of life did not influence India alone, but scenes of human agony caused by human error. Indeed, we gave a sense of direction to the whole world. He was no can but affirm the draft sentence in the declaration of this mere revolutionary, but a holy man deeply devoted and at- special session which asserts: "We must halt the arms race tached to the people of India. He advocated disobedience and proceed to disarmament or perish." based on nonviolence, holding that love rather than physical We believe that the United Nations has the ability to ex- strength is the driving force behind all reforms. When in tend the realm of peace and the rule of law in our troubled despair he would remember that throughout history, truth world. We have called upon our religious constituencies to and love have always been the victors: although at times engage in prayer and meditation for the success of this his- tyrants and dictators appeared to be victorious, they in turn toric meeting. We look to you member states of the United always were overthrown. Nations to reverse the present trends, to save succeeding The mission of religion in the modern world is an issue generations from the scourge of war, and to rally the nations that has recently challenged me. In an age when medical in the search for peace, justice, and true human progress. care was not readily available, becoming sick was to face To those who would say that disarmament, including the death. In their fear, people turned to the gods. Today, how- total abolition of nuclear weapons, is a vain dream, I would ever, this fear has largely been eradicated by modern medi- repeat the words of the thirteenth-century Japanese Bud- cal techniques; any offering of prayer ends with recovery. No dhist priest, Nichiren. He said: "The prayers of believers in longer do nations pray to the gods of war, for they rely on the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law will their own massive arsenals of nuclear weapons for assurance never go unanswered." I think that no prayers will ever go of victory. Likewise, in a society with wide-ranging social unanswered. benefits, the interventions of the gods are not required. The Buddha says, "Now this world all is my domain; the Thus as science progresses, there is less and less necessity living beings in it all are my children. But now this place to rely on God or the Buddha. When science can so easily abounds with distresses; and I alone am able to save and manipulate human life, what need have people to embrace protect them." any kind of faith? It is also said that the whole world has to adhere to the The humility to acknowledge that all human beings have true Dharma, and I believe that all religions are essentially a limited existence is the most important requisite for being one, as taught by the Buddha. "Eternal as heaven and fully human. In the absence of such humility, God also is earth," "Many in body, but one in spirit." If the whole of absent, dead indeed. Buddhism terms such an age one in humankind would pray for world peace, the Lord will surely which the true Dharma has been largely forgotten and save us. Unless all human beings become of one heart, the defines it as one of conflict. The words at the entrance of establishment of a strong United Nations as a world govern- the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, "Know thyself," have never ment cannot be achieved, nor can total disarmament be re- been more precious. alized without the establishment of a world government. Q The essence of religion is love with compassion, which

38 DHARMA WORLD ADDRESSES BY THE FOUNDER

•nurtures our minds and hearts by allowing us to weep for love and mercy of God and the Buddha; we must actively the sufferings of others and for the great blessings and love practice those virtues ourselves. This age when the Dharma of. God and the Buddha. That is not to denigrate the role seems almost lost is an opportune time to remove the dust science plays in helping us to analyze the problems of soci- of the ages that has collected on religions, and to reawaken ety, however. people to the true nature of religious salvation. The term bodhisattva as used in Buddhism refers to those It is vital to take into consideration and anticipate the ad- who seek enlightenment through religious practice over sev- verse effects that may result from actions that seem on the eral stages of rebirth. I interpret the way of the bodhisattva surface fine and well-meaning. Assistance may in some cases as the path of those who work to achieve salvation for them- bring material relief, but it does not necessarily guarantee selves and those around them who shed tears of sorrow. In the gift of love. Today the age of humanitarian assistance, doing so, bodhisattvas are given life many times over, as when things were merely moved from one place to another, long as there are sufferers in the world. Rissho Kosei-kai is is over. We have to be receptive to the ideas of the recipi- made up of individuals who seek to practice to varying de- ents, and consider how countries' systems of values differ. grees the way of the bodhisattva. This is important, for we are living at a time when numer- The Gospel of Matthew says: "No one lights a lamp and ous contradictions and difficulties exist. puts it under a bowl; instead he puts it on the lamp stand, It is difficult to be devoted to one's country without making enemies, and equally difficult to ."^r-!rn^rra^to"4i:':n;^,-^1'^-^^arj^£^-:.T.:n?t4^^:mi 25." CONGRESS, *gU" ?Ap%49-4*^!& be loyal to one's nation and at the same time preach loyalty to the people of the whole world. It is not easy either to stop pressuring other countries, while at the same time working for the prosperity of one's own land. ^iff^f » In Asia, as in Europe, numerous and conspicuous differences exist between countries. The sufferings caused by past friction color modern reactions of nation to nation. Religion is one way to cross these gaps in communication, for through it people can be united in one spirit transcending national boundaries. Buddhism stresses that all people possess the seed of the Buddha, and it is this seed that has the potential The opening ceremony .of the 25th Congress of the IARF held in fumon Hall, Tokyo. to grow and develop into a spirit of unity. No longer can people seek where it gives light for everyone in the house. In the same the expansion only of their own religion, acting in their own way your light must shine before people, so that they will interests for only their own salvation. Religion must repre- see the good things you do and praise your Father in heav- sent equal salvation for all. en." At the forefront must be the virtuous persons who shed Buddhism teaches the truth called the Three Seals of the the light. Behind them stand those who, through their Law: (1) all things are impermanent, so that nothing es- words, will receive their light and become aware of the ulti- capes change; (2) all is interdependent, so that nothing in mate source of that light. Unfortunately, society today is the world can exist entirely by itself; and (3) when all things skeptical about phenomena that the eye cannot perceive, reach harmony in their relationships with one another, true and tends to believe only in what is visible. If we religionists peace, the tranquillity of nirvana, is achieved. do not shed the light of our faiths, people will remain un- The IARF finds itself in the midst of a religious world not aware of the existence of the eternal God and the Buddha. ready to accept reform, and as such is a pioneer in the field. We have been relying too much on words and not enough It has been trying to open the locked doors of persecution, on enthusiasm for the task and action we must take. censure, and slander. Before the dangers that face the entire .We must listen to the message that God and the Buddha human race, I believe that there can be no greater joy and are sending us, and devote ourselves to its realization. comfort than the consciousness that religionists must put Christ and Shakyamuni often said, "Do as I preach and fol- aside their differences and unite in their attempts to force low my example." It is not enough to rely passively on the open the heavy door on a new era. Q

January/February 2000 39 NEWS

though still mourning the death of the' Vatican Hosts Interreligious Assembly; founder. President Niwano said he was President Niwano Attends for Rissho Kosei-kai persuaded to come by the invitation, from the Vatican, which as the third he World Assembly of Religions Oct. 27, 1986. On that date last year millennium approached had been plac- Ttook place at Vatican City in assembly participants made a pilgrim- ing new emphasis on interreligious dia- Rome from Oct. 25 to Oct. 28 last age to Assisi to again pray for peace. logue, an approach like that originated year. In his opening speech Francis The interreligious assembly devoted by the World Conference on Religion Cardinal Arinze, president of the Ro- two days to discussions focused on and Peace (WCRP), which his father man Catholic Pontifical Council for how best to promote justice and peace played a major role in establishing. Interreligious Dialogue, recalled before for all of humanity. Cardinal Arinze "My wish is to transmit this spirit of an audience of 235 participants the noted that cooperation by all religions the founder," Rev. Niwano said. "I want "two eminent practitioners of interreli- is required. to participate as much as I can in in- gious understanding who are no longer President Nichiko Niwano represent- terreligious meetings of this kind to with us. Dr. M. Aram and Rev. Nikkyo ed Rissho Kosei-kai at the assembly, al- develop a dialogue that involves an in- Niwano." The late Dr. Aram, an creasing number of believers in all Indian Hindu, was the founder of faiths in the work of the WCRP." the Shanti Ashram rural develop- The assembly opened on Oct. 25 ment movement in India and a with a keynote address by Theresa president of WCRP/International. Ee-Chooi of Malaysia, the only The theme of the interreligious woman speaker. She is the presi- assembly was "On the Eve of the dent of the Catholic International Third Millennium: Collaboration Union of the Press and is involved between Different Religions." The with the Malaysia Consultative assembly was conceived in the Council of Buddhists, Christians, spirit of the Second Vatican Coun- Hindus, and Sikhs. She noted that cil and in particular the declara- religious believers can counter the tion Nostra \eiate which exhorted immoral and materialistic effects Roman Catholics to collaborate of globalization by the fostering of with believers in other faiths to true spiritual values in the hearts promote justice, peace, and reli- of all people. gious and moral values, and the On Oct. 28, the last day of the good of society. The assembly also assembly, the participants prayed was inspired by the World Day of separately at different locations in Prayer for Peace called by Pope Twenty thousand of the faithful assemble in Saint Peter's Rome and then gathered before John Paul II at Assisi, Italy, on Square, where the closing ceremony was held. Pope John Paul II in Saint Peter's

President Niwano (far right) is seated on the stage with others of the world's religious leaders during the assembly's closing ceremony

40 DHARMA WORLD NEWS

Vatican Officials Visit Headquarters

on Raffaele Farina, S.D.B., direc- Dtor of the Vatican Apostolic Li- brary and former president of the Salesian Pontifical University, Mon- signor Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., archbishop of Vercelli, secretary of the During his stay in Rome, President Niwano was actively engaged in interfaith dialogue, having a Congregation for the Doctrine of the private audience with Pope John Paul II and meeting with Ms. Chiara Lubich, president of the Faith, and Monsignor Vincenzio Ledda, Focolare Movement. former military chaplain for the Italian Defense Forces, visited Rissho Kosei- kai headquarters in Tokyo on Oct. 26. The visitors offered white chrysanthemums before the sacred stage in the Great Sacred Hall, and prayed for the repose of the late founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, Nikkyo Niwano. Then they spoke with Rev. Norio Sakai, chairman of the organization, at the Great Sacred Hall. Dr. Michio Shinozaki, dean of the Rissho Kosei-kai Seminary, and Rev. Keiji Kunitomi, director of the Youth Department, also participated. At the meeting, Don Farina said, "I still revere the late Founder Niwano as President Niwano visits the Community of Saint Egidio headquarters in Rome and talks with its a father in my heart, and as a father president, Professor Andrea Riccardi (third from left), and other top officers. who leads us to interreligious cooperation. In this meaning, you and I are Square for the final torchlight cere- In the message the participants em- brothers." Msgr. Bertone also ex- mony. phasized their awareness that "interre- pressed his sympathy over the death of One of the six participants who of- ligious cooperation does not imply giv- the founder. fered personal testimonies of faith was ing up one's own religious identity, but Rev. Sakai expressed his gratitude to Brian Pearce, director of the Interfaith rather is a journey of discovery" and the Vatican for its many condolence Network of the United Kingdom. He stressed the importance of education letters at the time of the founder's explained that the purpose of the net- as a means for promoting such cooper- passing. He also voiced thanks that the work, which has 85 member groups, is ation and mutual respect. founder's meeting with Pope Paul VI to combat prejudice and intolerance A final series of appeals were issued in 1965 served as a great influence for and help everyone in the U.K. develop to the world's religious leaders to pro- his later peace activities. mutual respect and understanding for mote the spirit of dialogue and to the Msgr. Bertone replied, "It is fortu- those of different faiths. world's political leaders not to let reli- nate that those born with a mission The interreligious assembly released gions be used to incite hatred and vio- from God should meet one another at a "Final Message to the World" stress- lence or to justify discrimination. some time. In this context, the en- ing the "urgent need to confront to- While he was in Rome, President counter between Pope Paul VI and the gether the problems and challenges of Niwano met with leaders of the world's late Founder Niwano was an act of our modern world; to work together to religions who were present for the inter- God to achieve an agreement for inter- affirm human dignity as the source of religious assembly, many of whom had religious cooperation." human rights and their corresponding extended their condolences to him by Msgr. Bertone also anticipated the duties, in the struggle for justice and letter soon after the passing of the great success of the seventh general as- peace for all; to create a new spiritual founder. President Niwano expressed sembly of the World Conference on consciousness for all humanity in ac- his gratitude for their sympathy, prom- Religion and Peace in Amman, Jordan. cordance with religious traditions so ising that he will continue to strive to He said that it should be a great oppor- that the principle of respect for free- have a deeper understanding of the tunity to find hope for those people dom of religion and freedom of con- founder's hopes and intentions. Q living in countries where so many of science may prevail." Eva Ruth Palmieri today's disputes occur. Q

January/February 2000 41 BUDDHIST SCULPTURE

DHARMA WORLD BUDDHIST SCULPTURE

A Late Ninth-century Carving Influenced by Chinese Styles

by Takeshi Kuno, photo by Kozo Ogawa

The Shaka Nyorai statue that is the central image at the temple Muro-ji in Nara Prefecture has characteristics similar to sculptures brought back to Japan by priests who traveled in Tang dynasty China after Saicho and Kukai.

rom ancient times the site in today's Nara Prefecture ment in the front and green in the rear. The pleats are at which the temple Muro-ji was erected late in the edged with cut gold-leaf (kirikane), with thin strips pasted Feighth century had been revered as sacred. During to their surface. The statue has a mandorla made of two the Hoki era (770-81) the future Emperor Kammu (r. joined planks (ita kohai) of Japanese cypress (hinoki), the 781-806) fell'ill and five ascetic priests were commissioned surface of which was decorated in brilliant colors. Seven ke- to perform a ritual in the forests of Mount Muro to restore butsu (incarnated buddhas) are depicted on the mandorla, his health and prolong his life, at which they were success- linked by an elaborate arabesque scrollwork pattern (kara- ful. Later, in 781, Esoteric rites to pray for rain were held at kusa). the "Dragon's Cave" on the mountain. The temple known Scholars differ in their assignment of a date for this stat- as Muro-ji was built by Kenkei, the head priest of the tem- ue. The most widely held opinion is that it was probably ple Kofuku-ji in Nara, over a period of twelve years, starting made around 867, since that is when Muro-ji is believed to in1 784. During the time of the priests Enshu and Ken'e it have been finally completed and its former temple name of gradually acquired the characteristics of a mountain temple. Ryuo-ji designated. However, judging from the sculptural The central image in the temple's main hall, the kondo, is technique and the special characteristics of the statue, I be- the statue pictured here of Shakyamuni, portrayed as a lieve it was created at a considerably later date. Tathagata (Shaka Nyorai), flanked on the left by Yakushi Until about the mid-ninth century many Buddhist stat- Nyorai (Tathagata Medicine Master) and Jizo (Bodhisattva ues were carved together with their drum-shaped heart-of- Earth Repository) and on the right by Monju (Bodhisattva the-lotus pedestal from a single block of wood. In contrast, Manjushri) and the Eleven-headed Kannon (Avalokitesh- the torso and the pedestal of this one were carved separate- vara). Although the central image is now designated as ly. Furthermore, despite the statue's relatively short height Shaka Nyorai, at one time it must have been worshiped as of 237.7 cm, as noted above the forearms also were carved Yakushi Nyorai, for its attendants, dating from the Kama- separately and then attached to the body. kura period (1185-1333), are the Twelve Divine Generals, The folds of the robes were carved in a variation of the always closely associated with Yakushi Nyorai. It therefore is standard rolling-wave style (hompa-shiki), in which round- very likely that the main image originally was sculpted as topped waves alternate with those with pointed tops. The the Medicine Master, but without the traditional flask. Muro-ji statue, however, has folds with two sharply cut low From its head to its feet the statue was carved from a sin- waves between the ridges of the round-topped waves, to the gle block of Japanese nutmeg (kayo). The lower arms and inner walls of which cut gold-leaf was applied. This tech- their sleeve coverings were created from a different block, nique also can be seen on the Shaka Nyorai statue at Seiryo- then attached to the body. The hands also were carved sepa- ji that Chonen brought back from Sung China, on the rately. A large cavity is present in the torso since the statue Yakushi Nyorai statue at Shoji-ji, on the Fudo Myoo, the is a combination of carving and the dry lacquer technique. Immovable One, statue in the lecture hall at To-ji, and on The head and the upper body section were made of cloth a Miroku Butsu (Maitreya Buddha) statue belonging to wrapped around the wood, on which dry lacquer was then Jison'in that is thought to have been made around 892. All applied, followed by an undercoat of white paint before the date from the end of the ninth century or sometime in the colors were added. The robes were lacquered with red pig- tenth. Also, considering that the mandorla of the Muro-ji Shaka Nyorai is of a painted ita kohai type not seen before, I i Takeshi Kuno, formerly a director of the Tokyo National Research would ascribe it to the end of the ninth century when the Institute for Cultural Property, is now director-general of the influence was beginning to be felt of new styles in sculpture Institute of Buddhist Art Research in Tokyo. He is also the author imported from China by the priests who traveled in Tang of numerous books on Buddhist art. dynasty China after Saicho and Kukai. Q

January/February 2000 43 OBITUARY

Immersed in a Kaleidoscope of Thought

by Nobuhiro Hatta

The renowned Buddhist scholar Hajime Nakamura, a longtime contributor to Dharma World, died in Tokyo of acute kidney failure at the age of 86 on Oct. 10, 1999. The Eastern Institute he founded held a special memorial service for Professor Nakamura at the temple Hongan-ji in Tsukiji, Tokyo. This obituary originally appeared in Japanese in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, evening edition, Oct. 21, 1999.

he Buddhist altar room of this was not based on correct information T"Great Master" of Buddhist stud- or sufficient references. He was a real ies was a small, one tatami mat-sized terror to other scholars," said his for- room. A small Buddhist altar sat on a mer student, Professor Shinjo Kawa- tiny desk, with sutras from various saki of Toyo University. Among his sects lined up casually around it. many publications was a contribution When he was alive, each morning he to "the study of Japaneseness" (M- would chant the texts of "Taking honjin-ron) with his 1949 book Toyo- Refuge in the Three Treasures," the jin no Shii Hoho (published in English Heart Sutra, and the "Four Great as Ways of Thinking of Eastern Vows of the Bodhisattva," along with Peoples, 1964). In the early postwar his own everyday mottos. years, that book, together with Ruth In accordance with his last wishes, Benedict's The Chrysanthemum and everyone attending the memorial ser- the Sword, attracted attention around vice on Nov. 6 chanted these texts in the world, and even now it is used as a chorus, before the Buddhist priests textbook at some universities in the chanted the usual sutras. A special United States. leaflet entitled "Every Day's Sutra" In 1973, after the disputes that was distributed for that purpose. rocked the University of Tokyo cam- "I do not think there has ever been a funeral quite like pus, he criticized the subdivided teaching system, and this. In fact, it was a combination of almost everything," established the private Eastern Institute in Tokyo. said his eldest daughter. Offering classes for students who really wanted to learn To Professor Nakamura, his studies were everything, it something, the school endeavored to use plain language seems, and every room in his house had been turned into without compromising quality. a library. He lived surrounded by books. Every trip that During the last year of his life. Professor Nakamura's he made abroad was a constant round of visits to book- health deteriorated, but saying, "They will be waiting for stores. Later, a van loaded down with books would pull me," he continued to appear at classes in a wheelchair. up at his house one day. Even when his former students would conduct the lec- "He would tell us, 'I'll be coming home in the middle tures, he would come to the classroom and sit to one of the night with an armload of books, so don't lock the side, often standing up to explain issues raised during front door.' One time a burglar raided one of the rooms the course of the lecture. "It gave us a sense of security- in which books were piled, and he told the police, 'Here just to see him there. He was like a Buddha to us," said is where the burglar created disorder, and here is where I one of his students, Shizue Kaneda, a housewife. created disorder. . . .'" said his wife, Rakuko, with a sad [Another report on Professor Nakamura's death in the smile. Asahi Shimbun mentioned that in 1975 he finished 20 He immersed himself in a kaleidoscope of thought, years of work on a three-volume Japanese-language dic- not confining himself to traditional Asian studies, but in- tionary of Buddhist terms, only to discover that an em- cluding Confucianism and Christianity as well. His ployee at the publishing house had mistakenly discarded knowledge extended over a wide variety of fields and in- the manuscript. Undaunted, he devoted eight more years variably was deep. to completely redoing the project.] Q "He always had a kind and smiling countenance, but Nobuhiro Hatta is a staff writer in the Feature News he was also very swift to point out any statement that Department of the Asahi Shimbun.,

44 DHARMA WORLD GOTAMA BUDDHA

The Conversion of Sariputta and Moggallana

by Hajime Nakamura

This major event in early Buddhism reveals the composition of the core of the Sangha. Through their conversion, 250 new followers were added to the Buddha's band of disciples, which now numbered 1,250.

hough Sakyamuni moved from place to place, of swift and traditions are not deeply embedded, or living, all the places he stayed he remained longest at like Albert Einstein, in Princeton, New Jersey, relatively TRajagaha. Nagarjuna noted this and explained it as close to New York. Gotama did not practice meditation follows: in quiet seclusion. He used the strong and weak points of "The Buddha appeared in the world because he wanted the newly emergent urban civilization with fine but cool to bring liberation to all beings, to lead them to nirvana, calculation. the realm of tranquillity and joy. Thus he stayed often at Late in his life, Gotama fondly enumerated the places SravastI but not at Kapilavastu. Because the Buddha at- he had lived in the vicinity of Rajagaha to his attendant, tained supreme enlightenment [annutard samyaksam- Ananda. The Mahaparinibbana-sutta relates: "Rajagaha is bodhih] and gained the Dharma body in the village of delightful. Vulture Peak is delightful. The nigrodha tree Uruvela on the banks of the Nairanjana River in the of Gotama is delightful. The Robbers' Cliff is delightful. country of Magadha, he stayed often at Rajagrha [Skt.; The Cave of Seven Leaves on the side of Mount Vebhara Rajagaha, P.]. is delightful. The Black Rock on the side of Mount Isigili "Question: I understand the reasons he stayed often at is delightful. The Snake's Head Crag in the Cold Forest is SravastI and Rajagrha. Why did he stay more often at delightful. The Tapoda Grove is delightful. The Squirrels' Rajagrha [than Sravasti]? Feeding Ground [Kalandakanivapa] in the Bamboo "Answer: He stayed often at Sravasti from a feeling of Grove is delightful. Jivaka's Mango Grove is delightful. gratitude to the land of his birth. ... He stayed often at Deer Park at Maddakucchi is delightful." The nigrodha Rajagrha from a feeling of gratitude to the land of the tree of Gotama was a resting place for the Buddha and his Dharma body. All buddhas love the Dharma body. . . . followers, and later a vihdra was built there. The Cave of Because the Dharma body is superior to the birth body, Seven Leaves was on the cliff on the slope of Mount the Buddha stayed more often in Rajagrha." Vebhara, north of Rajagaha. "Seven Leaves" refers to the This reasoning is false. If he had wanted to live at the sattapanni tree (Alstonia scholaris). The Cold Forest was place where he had attained enlightenment, he would a place where corpses were abandoned. The Buddha was have stayed at Bodhgaya (Uruvela) or Gayasisa or near not just extolling places of natural beauty. There were the city of Gaya, not at Rajagaha. In the Buddha's day, many such places in India. The significance of the deep Rajagaha was the capital of the most powerful country in impression they made on him becomes clearer when we India, the most advanced city, and relatively free from the remember that all these sites were near the capital of a shackles of traditional Brahmanism. It was because of mighty kingdom. Rajagaha's location that Buddhism spread. In modern terms, it would be like living on the outskirts of Tokyo, Transcending Skepticism the capital and largest city of Japan, where progress is The conversion of Sariputta and Moggallana was a very important event in the history of thought. They were among the 250 followers of a Brahmin named Sanjaya Hajime Nakamura, an authority on Indian philosophy, was the president of the Eastern Institute, Tokyo, and a professor emeritus who lived in Rajagaha. One day Sariputta noticed the of the University of Tokyo. This series is a translation o/"Gotama bhikkhu Assaji, one of the original five companions of the Buddha, vol. 1, Tokyo, Shunjusha, 1992. Buddha, who had come into the city on an alms round,

January/February 2000 45 GOTAMA BUDDHA

and asked him who his master was and whose Dhamma made these two his chief disciples, and on the day he followed. Assaji replied that he was a disciple of Sariputta attained the highest stage [the Master] held an Gotama and recited the following verse: "All things arise assembly of the disciples." * from a cause. / He who has realized the Truth has ex- This much can probably be regarded as historical fact. plained the cause, / And also how they cease to be: / This The following is the version presented in the Vinaya. is what the great samana has taught." It is recorded that "At that time a wandering ascetic called Sanjaya was Sariputta's eyes were then opened to the truth. All things living in Rajagaha with a great band of 250 wandering as- arise from a variety of causes, through a variety of causes cetics. Now, at that time Sariputta and Moggallana were and conditions. Nothing arises of itself. The Chinese trans- training under the wandering ascetic Sanjaya. They had lations add the compound wit-yu-chu or wu-chu, meaning made a promise to each other: 'Whichever of us attains "there is nothing that is the master"—in other words, the Deathless first will let the other know.' nothing at all has any self-nature. This reveals how the "Then the Venerable Assaji, having dressed himself ear- Chinese translators interpreted the meaning of the verse. ly that morning, had entered Rajagaha on his alms round This legend has some historical reliability. In the Jaina with a bowl and outer robe. He was pleasing whether ap- sutras Sariputta relates that "the Omniscient [the Bud- proaching or departing, looking in front or looking be- dha] spoke concerning the arising and extinction of vari- hind, whether drawing in or stretching out, his eyes fixed ous conditions." This may mean that Sariputta also on the ground, and he was in accordance with etiquette. taught according to the verse he had heard from the The wandering ascetic Sariputta saw the Venerable Assaji bhikkhu Assaji and that what appears here is its formula- in Rajagaha on his alms round, that he was pleasing tion by the Jainas. whether approaching or departing, looking in front or Moggallana also heard the verse from Assaji. Then the looking behind, whether drawing in or stretching out, his two men went to the Bamboo Grove, where Gotama then eyes cast down, possessed of pleasant eyes, his eyes fixed was, taking with them the 250 wandering ascetics who on the ground, and he was in accordance with etiquette. were Sanjaya's followers, and became bhikkhus. Sanjaya Seeing him, he thought: 'If there is in this world one who must have been very angry; it is said that "hot blood is- is worthy of respect or who has entered the Way of one sued from the mouth of the wandering ascetic Sanjaya." worthy of respect, he is among such bhikkhus. I will ap- After that a number of young men of good family from proach him and ask: 'Friend, under whom have you taken Magadha went to the Buddha to request ordination. So ordination? Who is your master? Whose teachings do you many disciples did he attract that a scurrilous verse began follow?' to make the rounds of Rajagaha: "The samana Gotama "However, it then occurred to the wandering ascetic comes and takes children away, takes husbands away; / He Sariputta: 'Now is not the time to question this bhikkhu, breaks homes. / Already he has ordained a thousand mat- for he is entering houses seeking alms. I will remain close ted-haired Brahmins/And the 250 Brahmins of Sanjaya. / behind the bhikkhu. This is how a seeker of the Way may- Whom will he take away next?" Gotama assured the be known.' Eventually the Venerable Assaji, having done bhikkhus that criticism would not last long, that it would his alms round in Rajagaha, took the food he had re- be over within a week. It was as he had predicted. ceived and returned [and finished his meal]. Then the The Nidanakatha recounts the episode of Sariputta and wandering ascetic Sariputta drew near the place where Moggallana briefly: the Venerable Assaji was, exchanged greetings with the "At that time two wandering ascetics called Sariputta Venerable Assaji, and, having spoken friendly and polite and Moggallana lived near Rajagaha, seeking the Death- words, stood to one side. Having stood to one side, the less [nirvana]. One of them, Sariputta, seeing the Elder wandering ascetic Sariputta said to the Venerable Assaji: Assaji [in the city] on his alms round, was deeply im- 'Friend, your faculties are pure, and your complexion pressed and waited on him, and hearing from him the clear and bright. Under whom have you taken ordination? verse that begins "All things arise from a cause" attained Who is your master? Whose teachings do you follow?' the first stage of a sage. He repeated the verse to his com- "Friend, there is a great samana, who went into home- panion, the wandering ascetic Moggallana, and Mog- lessness from the Sakya clan. I have taken ordination un- gallana also attained the first stage. Both left [their teach- der that Venerable Master. My teacher is that Venerable er] Sanjaya and together with their own followers took Master. I follow the teachings of that Venerable Master.' ordination under the Master. Of the two, Moggallana at- '"What is the doctrine of your teacher? What does he tained the highest stage of a sage [arahatta] in seven teach?' days. The Elder Sariputta took half a month. The Master '"Friend, I am new to the order, and it is not long since

46 DHARMA WORLD GOTAMA BUDDHA

I was ordained. I have only begun to practice the teaching Venerable Master, for he is the teacher for us.' 'Friend, and the precepts. I cannot teach you in any detail, but I the 250 wandering ascetics here depend on us and are liv- Will speak to you briefly of the main points [of the doc- ing here because of us. Let us first tell them [what we are trine] .' Then the wandering ascetic Sariputta said to the doing] and consult them so that they can do what they Venerable Assaji: 'Let it be so, friend. Speak to me much think best.' And so Sariputta and Moggallana went to or little, but tell me the main points. I am seeking the where the wandering ascetics were and said to them: main points. There is no need to speak at length.' 'Friends, we are going to the Venerable Master, for he is "Then the Venerable Assaji. spoke to the wandering as- the teacher for us.' 'We depend on you, venerable ones, cetic Sariputta the following teaching of the Dhamma: and are living here because of you. If you, venerable ones, are going to train under the great samana, we will likewise "'All things arise from a cause. train under the great samana.' He who has realized the Truth "Then Sariputta and Moggallana went to where the has explained the cause, wandering ascetic Sanjaya was and said to Sanjaya: 'Friend, And also how they cease to be: we are going to the Venerable Master, for he is the teach- This is what the great samana has taught.' er for us.' 'Friends, you should not. Do not go. The three of us will lead this band.' Twice . . . three times Sariputta "When the wandering ascetic Sariputta heard this teach- and Moggallana said to Sanjaya: 'We are going to the ing of the Dhamma, he attained the eye of the Truth, Venerable Master, for he is the teacher for us.' 'Friends, without smear or stain: 'Things that are of a nature to you should not. Do not go. The three of us will lead this arise are all of a nature to be extinguished.' He said: 'Even band.' if that were all of the Dhamma, it is enough. You have al- "However, Sariputta and Moggallana went to the Bam- ready attained the stage where no anxiety remains, a boo Grove, leading the 250 wandering ascetics. Hot blood stage unseen for countless kalpas in the past.' issued from the mouth of the wandering ascetic Sanjaya." "Then the wandering ascetic Sariputta went to the According to the Ssu-fen-lii, however, Sariputta re- place where the wandering ascetic Moggallana was. The sponded to Moggallana's urging to become disciples of wandering ascetic Moggallana saw the wandering ascetic Gotama, by saying: "We already have 250 disciples. . . . Sariputta coming from afar. Seeing the wandering ascetic We should tell them first [what we are thinking of doing] Sariputta coming, he said: 'Friend, your faculties are pure, and get their agreement." It appears from this text that and your complexion clear and bright. Have you attained the 250 ascetics were already considered the disciples of the Deathless?' 'Yes, friend, I have attained the Deathless.' Sariputta and Moggallana themselves. The Wu-fen-lii, "'Friend, by what means have you attained the Death- however, says that Sanjaya had already died and Sariputta less?' 'Friend, I saw the Venerable Assaji in Rajagaha on and Moggallana had inherited his disciples. The phrase in his alms round. . ..' the Pali Vinaya "hot blood issued from the mouth" is also "Then the Venerable Assaji spoke the following teach- found in many other passages referring to the indignation ing of the Dhamma: of ascetics and religious people. "The Venerable Master saw Sariputta and Moggallana "'All things arise from a cause. coming from afar and, seeing them, said to the bhikkhus: He who has realized the Truth 'Bhikkhus, two friends are now coming, Kolita [Moggallana] has explained the cause, and Upatissa [Sariputta]. They will become my chief dis- And also how they cease to be: ciples, great and excellent.' When they had attained the This is what the great samana has taught.' profound knowledge and matchless liberation as a result of the destruction of attachments to existence and ar- "When the wandering ascetic Moggallana heard this teach- rived at the Bamboo Grove, the Master made a prediction ing of the Dhamma, he attained the eye of the Truth, about them. 'Two friends are now coming, Kolita and without smear or stain: Things that are of a nature to Upatissa. They will become my chief disciples, great and arise are all of a nature to be extinguished.' He said: 'Even excellent. if that were all of the Dhamma, it is enough. You have al- "Then Sariputta and Moggallana went to where the Ven- ready attained the stage where no anxiety remains, a erable Master was and, having prostrated themselves at stage unseen for countless kalpas in the past.' his feet, said to him: 'Revered One, may we receive ordi- "Then the wandering ascetic Moggallana said to the nation and the precepts from the Venerable Master?' The wajidering ascetic Sariputta: 'Friend, let us go to the Venerable Master said: 'Come, bhikkhus. The teachings

January/February 2000 47 GOTAMA BUDDHA

have been well taught. Undertake pure practice for the advocate of the suspension of judgment. The fact that sake of the complete annihilation of suffering.' Thus they became the nucleus of the developing Saiigha shows those venerable persons received the precepts. how in the process of its expansion Buddhism transcend- "At that time many distinguished sons of good families ed, and triumphed over, skepticism. The rejection of in Magadha were coming one after another to undertake metaphysical speculation by the early Saiigha suggests the pure practice under the Venerable Master. People be- that Buddhism had already traveled along the same road came angry and critical, saying: 'The samana Gotama has as Sanjaya. Buddhism did not remain at that point, how- come and taken our sons away. The samana Gotama has ever, but went beyond it, as Assaji's verse demonstrates, come and taken our husbands away. The samana Gotama taking the more positive position that all things come has come and destroyed our homes. Recently he ordained into existence through causes and conditions. a thousand matted-haired ascetics. He has also ordained The conversion of Sariputta and Moggallana also re- the 250 wandering ascetics who were disciples of Sanjaya. veals the composition of the core of the early Saiigha. Many distinguished sons of good families in Magadha are Through the conversion of these two men, 250 new fol- coming one after another to undertake the pure practice lowers were added to the Buddha's band of disciples, under the samana Gotama/ When people saw [Buddhist] which now numbered 1,250. Many Buddhist texts employ bhikkhus, they would reproach them in verse: 'The great the phrase "The Buddha came with his 1,250 bhikkhus." samana has come to the mountain-encircled capital Four important historical facts can be read into this state- [Rajagaha] of Magadha. / Already he has poached San- ment. jaya's followers. / Whom will he poach next?' First, the nucleus of the Saiigha was composed of peo- "The bhikkhus heard the people's criticism and report- ple who had either been practitioners of the fire cult or ed it to the Venerable Master. [In reply, Sakyamuni said:] the followers of a skeptic. These people were interested in 'Bhikkhus, this noise will not last long. It will last but sev- religious practice, not in subtle philosophy or metaphys- en days; when seven days have passed, it will disappear. If, ics. This confirms early Buddhism's emphasis on practice bhikkhus, they criticize you with the verse: "The great and explains the large number of skeptical expressions .in samana has come to the mountain-encircled capital of the earliest Buddhist texts, such as the "Chapter of Magadha. / Already he has poached Sanjaya's followers. / Eights" and the "Chapter on Going to the Far Shore" in Whom will he poach next?," answer with this verse: the Suttanipata. "Great heroes, those who know the Truth, / Lead by the Second, 1,250 has been fixed as the number of bhik- correct means. / Who could be jealous / Of wise men khus in the Saiigha. This suggests that while the number leading by correct means? . . ."' of disciples may have increased later, there was no further "When people realized that the bhikkhus, followers of rapid expansion. The Saiigha had attained a certain sta- the one [Buddha] of the Sakyas, were led by correct bility. Those who had entered first were considered the means and not by evil, the [critical] noise persisted exact- core, while those who came later were not regarded as ly seven days and disappeared after that time." constituting a particular group. The episode ends at this point in the Sanskrit Third, although the disciples of the Kassapa brothers Catusparisatsutra. I believe that this legend is based on were most numerous, the leadership of the Saiigha was in historical fact. The Jaina Isibhasiyaim describes the teach- the hands of the Rajagaha intellectuals, especially Sari- ings of a holy sage named Sanjaya directly after those of putta and Moggallana. As I have pointed out elsewhere, Sariputta. According to this text, Sanjaya's teachings were the Jainas considered Sariputta, not Gotama, to represent ethical rather than metaphysical, concerned with the the Buddhist Saiigha. practice of good. There is no conflict here with skepti- Fourth, the biographical section of the Pali Vinaya es- cism. sentially ends with this episode. Although to us it seems The conversion of Sariputta and Moggallana and the incomplete to stop here, the Vinaya compilers doubtless followers of Sanjaya was a major event in early Buddhism. believed that it was with the addition of Sanjaya's follow- These two men are generally regarded as the greatest of ers that the Saiigha became stabilized, and that no fur- the Buddha's ten chief disciples. Sariputta was considered ther description was necessary. foremost in wisdom and Moggallana foremost in super- Gotama's activities in Rajagaha are mentioned in a human powers. As a skeptic, Sanjaya was relegated to the large number of sutras, but here I am concerned primarily list of the leading non-Buddhist teachers of the day. with presenting and explaining the biography as it ap- Sariputta and Moggallana went to join Gotama, as we pears in the various Vinayas. have seen, taking with them all the disciples of Sanjaya, To be continued

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The author of these readable, enlightening guides was the late NIKKYO NIWANO, the founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, whose other publications in English include Shakyamuni Buddha: A Narrative Biography; A Guide to the Threefold Lotus Sutra; A Buddhist Approach to Peace; Lifetime Beginner: An Autobiography; and Invisible Eyelashes: Seeing What Is Closest to Us.

THE MEANINGFUL

THE WHOLESOME THE MEANINGFUL LIFE THE RICHER LIFE FAMILY LIFE What is a meaningful life? How can Happiness is elusive: it is not some- The basic theme of this friendly it be achieved? This valuable book, thing fixed but, like everything and thoroughly practical book is written by a man who attained true within and around us, is affected by education in the home. To parents fulfillment, answers these questions continuous change. To live a richer beleaguered and bewildered by the and many others for those who are life, in harmony with ourselves and complexity of modern society, it seeking guidance. "Life can have our environment, we need a deep- will come as truly refreshing in the no greater meaning than to enable er perception of the flow of life. midst of much that is discouraging you to say, Today I have added When we discover how change can in the present-day world. Here, in something good to my eternal be directed, we can decide the di- readily understandable terms, the life,'" he writes. "The goal of our rection in which we will grow. man who was one of Japan's most eternal voyage of self-improvement With practical, down-to-earth ad- outstanding Buddhist leaders offers is perfect liberty." vice and countless examples, this guidance for the solution of a host His topics cover all fields of hu- book shows that it is possible for us of problems. man endeavor: the home and fam- to shape our own lives. The secret Education in the home, he points ily relationships, child rearing, edu- of the richer life is paradoxically out, is an absolute necessity for the cation, work, leisure, activities for simple: instead of being constantly creation of wholesome children. old people, and religion. He offers at the mercy of outside forces, we School education is not enough, eminently practical advice on men- can put things in motion around for it concentrates largely on im- tal nourishment and survival amid us. The author shows how, using a parting information and technical the cultural profusion of our time. variety of techniques, we can skills, and it unfortunately fails to This book is a truly refreshing glimpse the richness inherent in emphasize morality. The basis for source of wisdom for living in the each moment of life and create a home education, he says, is reli- complex world of today. fuller, richer life. gion, and he effectively explains why this is so. 125 pp. 10.9 cm. x 17.4 cm. 138 pp. 10.9 cm. x 17.4 cm. ISBN 4-333-01027-6. LCC 82- ISBN 4-333-00351-2. LCC 82- 181 pp. 10.9 cm. x 17.4 cm. 147896. 187896. ISBN 4-333-01026-8. LCC 82- 147941. $4.95 (softcover) $4.95 (softcover) $6.95 (softcover) $4.00 A Spiritual Legacy for Inspiration from a Great Buddhist Leader

LIFETIME BEGINNER: An Autobiography

by Nikkyo Niwano Recipient of the 1979 Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion and until recently an officer of the International Association for Religious Freedom, the World Conference on Religion and Peace, the Japan Religions League, and the Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan, the late Rev. Nikkyo Niwano was one of the most active religious leaders in the world. This is Niwano's own refreshingly candid account of his life, from his childhood on a small farm in northern Japan, through his years of religious search, and finally to the founding and growth of Rissho Kosei-kai, a Buddhist organization with well over six million members throughout the world. In a modest, often thought-provoking text, both the public and private sides of the life of a modern religious leader are revealed with great warmth and honesty. As this book demonstrates, Niwano was truly a lifetime beginner, an uncommon man who greeted each new day, each new experience, as a beginning. 344 pp. 16 cm. x 23.5 cm. 44 pp. photos. ISBN 4-333-00336-9. LCC 79-374242. $19.95 (hardcover)

INVISIBLE EYELASHES: Seeing What Is Closest to Us by Ni/c/cyo Niwano Combining time-honored Buddhist teachings and stories with examples from modern life. Rev. Nikkyo Niwano shows us how we can attain a uniquely Buddhist way of reflecting on our everyday ways of thinking and being. We learn why attitude affects happiness and how flexibility of mind helps us grow spiritually, making us more productive at work and better able to relate to others. We learn how even desires and self-love can be used to make the world more harmo- nious. Finally, this prominent Buddhist explains how taking a deep look at what is closest lets us see the way our individual lives fit into the universe. 175 pp. 10.9cm. x 17.4 cm. ISBN 4-333-01681-9. LCC 96-138399. $6.95 (softcover)

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