REFLECTIONS The Ties That Bind Families by Nichiko Niwano Since the Great East Japan Earthquake to those who are younger, and so on. Nichiko Niwano is president of and tsunami, on March 11, 2011, I have When we consider the bonds we have Rissho Kosei-kai and a president of often read and heard the Japanese word with our parents and grandparents, or the World Conference of Religions kizuna, meaning in English ties or bonds with our children and grandchildren, we for Peace. He also serves as special that connect things and people. It is should rededicate ourselves to express- advisor to Shinshuren (Federation used to refer to the ties of sympathy all ing our gratitude and reciprocating the of New Religious Organizations Japanese feel for the disaster victims. At kindnesses we received. of Japan). the same time, frequent news reports Of course, this does not change about the sad deaths of elderly people in the nuclear family that is common members who listen to and commis- who lived alone make me think about today, but a family in which three or erate with the troubles we cannot talk the real meaning of “family” and “ties.” four generations are living together is a about with anyone else. I’ll begin with the meaning of family. rare environment that truly enables its In other words, by cultivating one The traditional Japanese view of the fam- members to cultivate a sense of grati- another’s minds and showing one ily is imbued with the age-old East Asian tude. Since the family can be consid- another kindness, family members spin concept of filial piety, which calls on chil- ered a microcosm of society, it has threads of respect and affection that are dren to respect their parents and serve many positive aspects, but there can genuine family ties. Then, in a home them well. The parents, of course, are also be numerous complications in a full of consideration and gratitude in expected to love their children and treat large extended family. which, for instance, the husband reg- them well in turn, and this mutual affec- Even though that is the case, we ularly performs daily sutra recitation tion binds them together. That Rissho should gladly accept these complica- and the wife does not fail to be sym- Kosei-kai places importance on show- tions. While some people may think of pathetic and speak considerately, these ing respect for one’s parents and mak- them as ordinary family problems, the ties are never broken. ing offerings and expressing reverence challenges that arise within a family can However, we should not think that for one’s ancestors is not unrelated to offer us the best means for developing such ties exist only among immedi- this Japanese view of the family. our humanity. ate family members. Rissho Kosei- In Japan, the influence of Confucian When we think about the family sit- kai’s Dharma centers form the nuclei of thought, with its emphasis on filial piety, uation this way, even though the views regional communities that create bonds and the teachings of the Buddha, which of parents and grandparents may some- of consideration with their neighbors, have compassion at their core, have times be annoying to the younger mem- regardless of whether or not they are blended over time, and it seems to me bers of the family, and even though the members of the sangha. Such approaches that most Japanese have come to con- older generations may sometimes feel as as friendly calls by members upon peo- sider an ideal family as one bound by ties if their children or grandchildren come ple who are living alone in their neigh- filled with the love and respect inherent from outer space, living together on a borhoods are bodhisattva practices that in these religious and cultural traditions. daily basis provides many opportunities prevent people from feeling isolated and for learning how to better understand bring liberation to both body and mind. Threads of Respect people with different life experiences Such actions bring people together with and Affection and from a generation different from the ties that result in true peace of mind. our own. Encountering such compli- And of course, showing real con- The concept of filial piety is demon- cations truly does provide the mate- sideration for others in such ways is strated by the continuation from parents rial that helps to develop the human a perfect example of the practice of to children, from those who are older heart. Furthermore, it is one’s own family compassion. ≥ Dharma World April–June 2013 1 APR.–JUNE 2013 VOL. 40 Modern Meanings of Festivals 1 Th e Ties Th at Bind Families by Nichiko Niwano Dharma World presents Buddhism as a practical living religion and 3 Th e Signifi cance of Festivals promotes interreligious dialogue for Rissho Kosei-kai for world peace. It espouses views by Waichiro Izumita that emphasize the dignity of life, seeks to rediscover our inner nature 4 Chaos and Cosmos: and bring our lives more in accord Cultural Revival in the Wake with it, and investigates causes of of Natural Disasters human suff ering. It tries to show by Minoru Sonoda how religious principles help solve 8 Modern Meanings problems in daily life and how the of Kagura Performances least application of such principles by Irit Averbuch has wholesome eff ects on the world around us. It seeks to demonstrate 12 Kagura: Dramatic Interplay truths that are fundamental to all between Nature and Humanity religions, truths on which all people by Masataka Suzuki can act. 16 Th e Cultivation of Memory and Invention in Contemporary Publisher: Moriyasu Okabe Th ai Festivals Executive Director: Jun’ichi Nakazawa by Rachelle M. Scott Director: Kazumasa Murase 20 Shugendo, Festivals, and the Performing Arts Editor: Kazumasa Osaka by Gaynor Sekimori Editorial Advisors: Miriam Levering, Gene Reeves, 25 On the Islamic View of Global Ethical Values by Anis Ahmad Yoshiaki Sanada, Michio T. Shinozaki 28 An Ongoing Journey into Buddhism Copy Editors: An interview with Dr. Elizabeth J. Harris William Feuillan, Gary Hoiby, 32 Spiritual Plenty from One Cup of Tea DeAnna Satre, Catherine Szolga Editorial Staff : by Sojitsu Kobori Katsuyuki Kikuchi, Ryuichi Kaneko, 34 Our Future Depends on “A Little” by Keibo Oiwa Satoe Izawa 36 Simple Living for Our Shared Future Subscription Staff : Kazuyo Okazaki by Mary Pat Fisher Layout and Design: Abinitio Design 40 Th e Restructuring of Rissho Kosei-kai Cover photo: Th e Hirosaki Neputa by Nikkyo Niwano Festival, Aomori Prefecture. PIXTA Photoshop work by Abinitio Design THE THREEFOLD LOTUS SUTRA: A MODERN COMMENTARY 45 Th e Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law Chapter 20: Th e Bodhisattva Never Despise (4) Dharma World is published quarterly by Kosei Publishing Company, 2-7-1 Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-8535. E-mail: [email protected]. Copyright © 2013 by Kosei Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Printed in Japan by Komiyama Printing Company. Change of Address: Please provide both old and new addresses. Six weeks’ advance notice is requested. Requests for permission to reprint all or part of any article in this issue must be made in writing to the editor of Dharma World. MODERN MEANINGS OF FESTIVALS The Signifi cance of Festivals for Rissho Kosei-kai by Waichiro Izumita Waichiro Izumita is director of the The Oeshiki festivals allow participating young members to be Youth Department of Rissho Kosei-kai at one with the mind of the Buddha and widen their circle of in Tokyo. close friends. Festivals (Jpn., matsuri) are a vital part the Dharma as taught in the Lotus Sutra. 2005, began with a memorial service for of religion, and Rissho Kosei-kai, too, Large crowds of spectators line the streets, them. Aft erward about two hundred smil- has festivals. and booths attended by members of var- ing people paraded cheerfully through For Rissho Kosei-kai, festivals are ious local Dharma centers selling local the streets. Th is fi rst year of holding the not simply for enjoyment but also off er produce, as well as stalls off ering festival festival in Ashio, there were few specta- the opportunity for people of the same foods such as fried noodles and cotton tors, but as the years passed, the num- faith to gather together, deepen mutual candy, cover the headquarters parking ber gradually grew, until some began to understanding, and renew their vows lots. It is a lively event. help with the stalls set up in the temple for daily religious practice. As someone In 2005, when I was the minister of grounds. In time the event became a true in the service of Rissho Kosei-kai, I feel the Kiryu Dharma Center, in Gunma festival. Th e third year we held it, mem- something very important when I take Prefecture, one of our activities was bers from other Dharma centers came to part in festivals, which is, in the words to put on a local Oeshiki festival. We see it, and today the Kiryu and Kanuma of our founder, Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, held it at the Nichiren sect temple Dharma centers jointly hold the festival “aiming at what is in the mind of the Honmyoji, in the town of Ashio, one in the grounds of Honmyoji. Buddha.” I do not concentrate only on of the dissemination districts served by Th e young people participating in the success of the festival itself but always the Kiryu Dharma Center. It was held the festival widen their circle of close ask myself, “Is my own aim in taking there because Honmyoji’s priest was a friends as they play fl utes and gongs part in this festival at one with the mind member of Rissho Kosei-kai.