---

Today is the last Sunday of the first half of this year. The title of my talk today
is “Words of the Lotus Sutra frequently qouted by Founder Niwano.”

Members of Rissho Kosei-kai who come to the Headquarters from local
chruches in Japan as well as those ｆrom overseas look up the statue of Founder Niwano which first was placed in a garden of Horin-kaku and is now on the
second floor of Daini Dansan-kaikan.

One day, I was asked by such a member who came in a group tour. “The
statue of the Founder is holding the Threefold Lotus Sutra. What page is it
open to?” When I refer to this at other occasions where I am talking, laughter
arise among the audience unconsciously and smiles spread across the room.

But, on the other hand, they might also feel a sort of sympathy for the questioner because of her enthusiasm to whole-heartedly learn something from the Founder.

While disseminating the Lotus Sutra and working for peace in the world through interreligious cooperation, Founder Niwano often quoted the Lotus Sutra in his sermons and addresses.

I once made a list of the passages that he frequently quoted. There were many -- both those directed at members of Rissho Kosei-kai and those primarily
intended for other listeners -- that he hoped would help them understand
the idea expressed in the sutra for interreligious cooperation and efforts toward world peace.

One among those was, “In accord with　what they need to be saved, I share various teachings for them.” (Chapter 16, The Lifetime of the Thatagata).

Sermons which Founder Niwano himself delivered were also different according to time and place and depending on the audience.

The one which he used most frequently in teaching members included the closing words of chapter 2, “Skillful Means.”

What Founder Niwano said was in Japanese. In the English translation by
Dr. Gene Reeves, the text reads, “Your hearts should be filled with great joy,
For you know that you too will become Buddhas.”

What Rev. Niwano emphasized to members was daikangi, meaning “great joy,”
in practicing the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. He often said, “Those who always think and say happily, arigatai, arigatai, meaning ‘I want to show
gratitude,’ will become happier and happier.”

Soon after the founder encountered the Lotus Sutra, he guided Mrs. Myoko Naganuma to the faith. Mrs. Naganuma became awakened with its supreme teaching and very grateful.

With the burning passion, she made the utmost effort to disseminate the Lotus Sutra, together with Founder Niwano just like the two wheels of a cart.
Mrs. Naganuma later became the vice president of Rissho Kosei-kai and
contributed greately to the rapid growth of Rissho kosei-kai.

Mrs. Naoko Niwano, the wife of the Founder used to say, “f I have a copy of the threefold Lotus Sutra, that is all I need.” President Nichiko Niwano recalls
his mother and says, “The words, Arigatai, Arigatai came from her mouth
everyday.”

In early decades of Kosei-kai, (or In days before the Manifestation of the Truth,) there was a member who earnestly guided people saying, "arigatai,
arigatai. When asked “What in the teaching makes you feel so grateful?”
she said, “You'd better find it by practising by yourself. It is really arigatai.”

Now is the time of international dissemination and the age of Global Sangha. In various countries, people of the Sangha are disseiminating the Lotus Sutra in various ways in accord with the needs of local people based on their culture
and the condition of the life of the people.

Nearly a quarter of a century ago, Dr. Gene Reeves met Founder Niwano and heard about the Lotus Sutra from him. Being deeply inspired, Dr. Reeves began studying the Sutra very seriously.

As you know, not only here at IBC but he has been giving talks on the Lotus Sutra also to the general public and people interested in Buddhism in other places in Japan and in several other countries.

He often closes his talk with the words, “You can be a buddha" looking at the faces of the audience one by one and saying this repeatedly with a vigorous voice.

This can be said to be an energetic way to preaching the second half of the phrase, For you know that you too will become buddhas.”

A Foundation for Interreligious Cooperation

Rev. Niwano taught that the reason why Rissho Kosei-kai supports interreligious cooperation is found in two teachings of the Lotus Sutra: kaisan ken’itsu --
“opening up the three vehicles
and revealing the one,” from chapter 2, and shiho joju, “four conditions for
having a world in which [the] Buddha will want to appear,” or “the four steps
for enabling people to live in peace,” found in chapter 28, “Encouragement of
Universal Sage Bodhisattva.”

It may be more appropriate to speak here, however, about what Rev. Niwano taught us was the fundamental idea behind Rissho Kosei-kai’s interest in religious cooperation.

He said, “For us whose religious faith is rooted in the Lotus Sutra, the Truth of the universe is one. Various religions are only diverse manifestations of that Truth. Therefore, our conviction should be that all religions stem from one root, and we should take it for granted that religious cooperation is necessary.”

The term bankyo dokon, “all religions have the same root” or “all religions spring from the same source,” was often used by Founder Niwano when he spoke of religious cooperation.

The Peace Teachings of the Lotus Sutra

Rev. Niwano once said, “Shakyamuni Buddha is a true exemplar of peace. In Buddhism generally, and in the Lotus Sutra in particular, there are profound teachings of peace.”

Let me quote his comments on two chapters of the Lotus Sutra from his book A Buddhist Approach to Peace: “Chapter 12 of the Lotus Sutra tells the story of Devadatta. In one place it says: ‘The attainment of Perfect Enlightenment, and
the widespread saving of the living -- all this is due to the good friendship of
Devadatta.’

“The Buddha further said: ‘In the future, Devadatta will surely become a buddha.’We should especially remember that although he was the object of Devadatta’s wrath, the Buddha never bore a grudge toward Devadatta, nor did he feel the need to fight with Devadatta. From this we can see the true path to absolute peace.’”

Also, “One of the unexpected lessons I learned when I was introduced to the Lotus Sutra was in chapter 20, ‘Never-Disrespectful Bodhisattva.’

“To recognize the buddha-nature that every living being shares equally and to
make an effort to cultivate that buddha-nature are basic and essential aspects of Buddhism that must be fully understood before one can invite all humankind
to share in the Buddha’s total teaching and before any kind of universally
serene or peaceful existence can be established on this earth.”

When Rev. Niwano was visiting Beijing in 1981, he was invited to address Chinese religious people there. He spoke about Bodhisattva Never-Disrespectful
and said, “The spirit of the World Conference on Religion and Peace is clearly
shown in the practice of worshipping the buddha-nature in the story of Never-Disrespectful Bodhisattva.”

The late Mr. Zao Puchu, then president of the Buddhist Association of China, responded, “If religious people of the world make their best effort in this spirit,
world peace will surely be achieved.”

In the one hand, in order to help individual persons one by one to practice the boddhisattva way to make their live a happier and more harmonious. Same is
true of the entire world to be better and entire world to be better and genuinely
peaceful one. Through his entire life, Founder Niwano made incessant efforts.
This is reflected even in the words of the Lotus Sutra which he chose to quote frequently.

Last year, commemorating the Centennial Anniversary of Founder Niwano's birth, there was the Global Sangha Assembly which bore remarkable fruit for promoting sense of Itai-doshin, meaning many in body but one in spirit and Hashu-kyoko, meaning going together hand in hand.

In the Interreligious area, both the WCRP and IARF held congresses, in which many members of Rissho Kosei-kai participated. In December, in order to devote more energy to universal dissemination of the Lotus Sutra, organizationally, Kosei-kai International was formed.

My last quotation of the words of the Lotus Sutra which the Founder frequently quoted is “Who is able to teach the Wonderful Dharma Flower Sutra everywhere throughout this world of suffering? Now indeed is the time.”(chapter 11, Teasure Stupa)
Thank you very much.

“In accord with　what they need to be saved, I share various teachings　for them.” (Chapter 16, The Lifetime of the Thatagata) 度すべき所に随って、為に種々の法を説く

“Your hearts should be filled with great joy, For you know that you too will become Buddhas.” （Chapter 2, Skillful Means） 心に大歓喜を生じて、自から当に作佛すべしと知れ

Kaisan ken’itsu　開三顕一　 “Opening up the three vehicles and revealing the one.” （Chapter 2, Skiful Means）

Shiho joju, 　四法成就　 “Four conditions for having a world in which [the] Buddha will want to appear,” or “the four steps for enabling people to live in peace.” （Chapter 28, Encouragement of Universal Sage Bodhisattva）

Bankyo dokon, 万教同根 “All religions have the same root” or “All religions spring from the same source.”

“The attainment of Perfect Enlightenment, and the widespread saving of the living?all this is due to the good friendship of Devadatta.” (Chapter 12, Devadatta) 等正覚を成じて広く衆生を度すること、皆提婆達多が善知識に因るが故なり

“In the future, Devadatta will surely become a buddha.” 　　　　　　　　　　(Chapter 12, Devadatta) 提婆達多却って後無量劫を過ぎて、当に成仏することを得べし

Itai-doshin, 異体同心（many in body but one in spirit）

Hashu-kyoko, 把手共行（going together hand in hand）

“Who is able to teach the Wonderful Dharma Flower Sutra everywhere throughout this world of　suffering? Now indeed is the time.”　　 (Ｃhapter 11, Tｒeasure Stupa) 誰かよくこの娑婆国土に於いて、広くこの法華経を説かん。今正しく是れ時なり”