REFLECTIONS Bringing Joy to Others by Nichiko Niwano Imagine that your stomach is empty else’s happiness and joy, it can make life Nichiko Niwano is president of and there is a single rice ball. However, more meaningful. Rissho Kosei-kai and an honorary everyone around you is just as hungry An ancient Indian text says, “From president of Religions for Peace. as you are. Well, everyone, what would doing good deeds for others, you should He also serves as an advisor to you do with it? Some will put other peo- expect no repayment, no praise, and no Shinshuren (Federation of New ple first. Others will share it. And yet reward. Why is this? Because doing so is Religious Organizations of Japan). others might, from extreme hunger, nothing more than for one’s own plea- begin snatching it away from each other. sure.” When we give benefits to others, she could truly understand how suffering Saicho (767–822), the founder of we experience a happiness and joy that people felt. Her sense of oneness with the Tendai denomination of Japanese cannot possibly be had otherwise, tran- them gave rise to her consideration for Buddhism, said that the highest form of scending any form of praise or calcula- them and enabled her to quickly grasp practicing compassion is to “forget the tion of profit and loss. with just the right timing what lay deep self and benefit others.” As Buddhists, in their hearts. Although it is not easy we should let others eat the rice ball The Joy of Being to do, we also want to cultivate our own first, but there is a side to us that can- Considerate of Others consideration for others. not readily let go of our desires. Even if we are not capable of the That may be true, but we innately No matter how much we may be think- same degree of consideration of others have the potential to experience joy and ing about the other person, however, if as she was, or even if the other person happiness that go far beyond the fulfill- we ignore his or her feelings and cir- does not accept our thoughtfulness, we ment of our wishes. The face and appear- cumstances, we may come off as smug. still can get great joy in discovering ance of a happy person is the switch that In some cases, our efforts to help will that we ourselves have hearts that enjoy turns on such sensitivity in us. end up being unwanted and irritating. giving to others. Besides, we should A woman who took presents to a Today Cofounder Myoko Naganuma feel relieved knowing that, by being Seniors’ Day event at a nearby facility is still called “the compassionate mother” able to put others first, we are also rid- was told by one senior, “I can’t accept of Rissho Kosei-kai because she was so ding ourselves of greedy desires. For a gift from someone I don’t know.” The fervent in showing consideration to oth- example, even if the offer to help is woman replied with a request: “I want ers that when she saw someone in need, not heartfelt or the show of compas- to share in your good luck of living a she could not stop herself from reach- sion is insincere, when these actions long life, so would you rub my head?” ing out to that person. Founder Nikkyo are repeated again and again, we will The senior then rubbed her head until Niwano said of her, “In every situation, feel joy, and our hearts and minds will her hair was completely disheveled. she would appropriately and promptly be inspired and grow. When then asked to accept the gift as grasp the feelings of the other person. The feeling of being refreshed and a thank-you, the senior did so with a When someone seemed to need some- the joy that we receive from making beaming smile and told the woman, thing, she would generously give it to others happy through donations made “Thanks.” him or her. She possessed a man- with our bodies, hearts, and minds, giv- This episode proves that the joy ner of guiding others that was always ing freely of ourselves, as well as dona- we receive from doing something for adapting to the circumstances while tions of material things, make us feel others is greater than the joy received meticulously taking care of the details.” like continuing to do more practices of when someone does something for us. Because Cofounder Naganuma had her- consideration. Then, whenever we are At the same time, this story shows us self experienced more of the sufferings practicing consideration, we can more that when our action leads to someone of illness and poverty than most people, fully experience the joy of being alive. ≥ Dharma World January–March 2016 1 JAN.–MAR. 2016 VOL. 43 FEATURES: Dual Religious Identity: Can One Practice Two Religions? 1 Bringing Joy to Others by Nichiko Niwano Dharma World presents Buddhism as a practical living religion and promotes interreligious dialogue for world peace. It espouses views 3 Multiple Belonging that emphasize the dignity of life, by Gene Reeves seeks to rediscover our inner nature 7 Many Religions, One Reality and bring our lives more in accord by Joseph S. O’Leary with it, and investigates causes of human suff ering. It tries to show 11 Buddhist-Christian how religious principles help solve Double Belongings problems in daily life and how the by Kunihiko Terasawa least application of such principles 14 Religions in Japan: has wholesome eff ects on the world Many or None? around us. It seeks to demonstrate by Gaynor Sekimori truths that are fundamental to all religions, truths on which all people 19 Religious Syncretism can act. in the African Diaspora by Terry Rey Publisher: Hirofumi Mizuno 24 On Being a Christian Infl uenced by Buddhism Director: Kazumasa Murase by Jay McDaniel Senior Editor: Kazumasa Osaka Editor: Katsuyuki Kikuchi Editorial Advisors: Miriam Levering, Gene Reeves, Yoshiaki Sanada, 28 Buddhism and Social Engagement (3) Dominick Scarangello, Social Reform and Environmental Protection Michio T. Shinozaki by Ranjana Mukhopadhyaya Copy Editors: 32 Islamic State and the Questions It Now Poses William Feuillan, Gary Hoiby, by Yoshiaki Sanada DeAnna Satre, Catherine Szolga Editorial Staff : 35 Th e Lotus Sutra: Time, Space, and Culture Ryuichi Kaneko, Satoe Izawa by Adam Lyons Subscription Staff : Kazuyo Okazaki 40 Twists and Turns on the Path to Peace Layout and Design: Abinitio Design by Nikkyo Niwano Cover: Photo: Shutterstock.com Photoshop work by Abinitio Design THE THREEFOLD LOTUS SUTRA: A MODERN COMMENTARY 44 Th e Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law Chapter 25: Th e All-Sidedness of the Bodhisattva Regarder of the Cries of the World (2) Dharma World is published quarterly by Kosei Publishing Company, 2-7-1 Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-8535. E-mail: [email protected]. Copyright © 2016 by Kosei Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Printed in Japan by Komiyama Printing Company. Change of Address: Please provide both old and new addresses. Six weeks’ advance notice is requested. Requests for permission to reprint all or part of any article in this issue must be made in writing to the editor of Dharma World. FEATURES Multiple Belonging by Gene Reeves Gene Reeves has researched and I believe we are called today . to move beyond our own lectured on the Lotus Sutra worldwide tribalisms, our racial and ethnic and national and class for more than a quarter century. He smallness, and let our vision of human wholeness become was a visiting professor at Peking a basis for a more genuine community, a model of what University and a professor at Renmin can be. One way [to do this] is by participating in multiple University of China in Beijing until religious traditions. retiring in 2012, and he serves as an international advisor to Rissho Kosei-kai. His recent works include Personal identity is a tricky thing. I have was Saint Jude’s, a small, working-class, The Lotus Sutra and The Stories of not always known who I am. Sometimes, Episcopal church. Among other respon- the Lotus Sutra (Wisdom Publications, perhaps, I tried to fi nd myself. And even sibilities there, I was the janitor. As jan- 2008 and 2010). now, having entered the ranks of “the itor, I had keys to the small, three-room elderly,” I’m not sure I know who I am. building built in the shape of a cross. Multiple Belonging Many years ago, when I was invited Late one night, under cover of darkness, to preach at the Unitarian Church in I sneaked into the building with one In Cape Town I was suggesting that Cape Town, South Africa, I wanted to of my best friends, a Roman Catholic, I am in some ways Jewish, Christian, encourage the struggling congregation to just to show him what the inside of a Unitarian, and Buddhist. Even today, broaden their outlook, and for this pur- Protestant church looked like. We had if someone were to ask me whether pose I chose a passage from the Jewish to sneak in because at that time Roman I am Christian or Unitarian, under bible, from the book of Isaiah: “Make Catholics were not allowed even to enter most circumstances I would reply in your tent larger, lengthen your cords and a Protestant church for any reason. the affi rmative. Th at is basically for two strengthen your stakes” (54:2). Th e Second Vatican Council, oft en reasons: First, I fi nd that both Christian I explained to the congregation called Vatican II, convened by Pope John and Unitarian sensibilities, even biases that I was raised Christian.