Good morning friends.
When I was preparing this Dharma talk, I thought it might be better to be truly international and confer with an overseas Dharma friend to help. I contacted Mr. John Gisbey of RK/UK by email and chatted with him using the Skype connection on our computers.

As some of you may already know Gisbey-san was a police officer for thirty-two years and was a member of the murder squad in Canterbury. I asked him what fundamental truth did you learn from your time working on the murder squad. He told me that despite all the murders he dealt with - he knew it to be true that
- no wife ever shot dead her husband while her husband was vacuuming around the house.

Following our conversations I decided the topic of the talk should be "The Universality of the Teachings of the Lotus Sutra".Gisbey-san told me that his favourite parable in the Lotus Sutra is Chapter Five, the Parable of Herbs. In this parable, the rain that falls on the mountain side nourishes all the trees, shrubs and plants. In the same way, the Dharma nourishes us all.

I considered what guidance Founder Niwano had given on this topic, and I remembered that Chapter 21, "Divine power of the Tathagata" would be the most suitable to include in this talk today.
I quote from the book written by Founder Niwano, Buddhism for Today. "Mirai-kyoitsu and Tsuichi-butsudo"
In the Book, Founder Niwano illustrates:
("In chapter 21 the Buddha taught that putting all his sermons in the previous twenty chapters together, the truth penetrating all these chapters is one and one alone. From this chapter, we clearly realize that the teaching shown in the Law of Appearance is entirely united with the teaching shown in the Law of Origin; understanding this, we can deepen our devotion to these two Laws.")

Now I wish to quote selected passages from Chapter 21of Buddhism for Today,

Firstly, "We should not study the Lotus Sutra for the sake of learning alone. It is not enough to have understood the sutra intellectually. We cannot be saved in the true sense, nor save the whole of society, until we proceed from understanding to faith and reach the mental state of complete union of understanding and faith."

Secondly, "Although the saha world is now a realm of suffering, it will surely become the most sacred land of the universe in the future, when all teaching and learning will be united into one in the Buddha's teachings".

Third, If teaching and learning followed the ideas of respect for humanity and universal harmony taught by Shakyamuni Buddha, the Pure Land would be realized in the saha world, and this world with its remarkably advanced material civilization would become the center of the universe. This is the teaching of mirai-kyoitsu, "all the teachings are united into one, the Buddha's teachings, in the future."

And fourth,　Another mysterious phenomenon is described as follows: "Thereupon the worlds of the universe were united without barrier as one buddha land." The saha world is said to be the realm of delusion, while the Pure Land is said to be a beautiful land with no suffering and hell to be a world of great suffering. But if all living beings live perfectly for the sake of the truth by means of the Buddha's teachings, this universe will be united into one buddha land with no distinction between the world of heaven, the saha world, and the world of hell. Because the truth is one, all things will tend toward the truth sometime in the future and will contribute to creating a world of perfect harmony. This mysterious phenomenon represents the teaching of mirai-ri'itsu, "all things in the universe are united into one truth in the future."

Having read this far, we will have realized that the teachings of the Lotus Sutra are a perfect and exhaustive preparation for leading all living beings to the attainment of buddhahood, and we will feel inexpressible gratitude to the Buddha. At the same time, we will surely feel keenly that life is worth living, being aware of the possibility of approaching even a step or two toward the ideal state of mind by practicing the Buddha's teachings

During the first half of his life, Founder Niwano held this strong conviction and dedicated himself wholeheartedly to disseminating the Lotus Sutra in order to help individual people live happier lives.

In the second half of his life, his activities deepened in the social sphere and widened to an international scope. He emphasized that interreligious cooperation is essential for world peace.
He was convinced that the Lotus Sutra is the vehicle for human happiness as well as being the vehicle for world peace.　He devoted his life to faith dissemination and also to the promotion of interfaith cooperation for the cause of world peace. All his life he remained true to these two parallel ideals.

Allow me now to refer to a few examples which, I think, are good models for us to learn from;
When Rev. Niwano addressed the United Nations Special Session on Disarmament in New York in 1978, an airline strike made it impossible for him to fly back to Japan right away. He thought this was a good opportunity presented by the Buddha to visit Rissho Kosei-kai churches on the U.S. Pacific coast, and so he flew to San Francisco, and then to Los Angeles. It was a great joy for the members there to welcome their revered teacher so unexpectedly.

On his last evening before returning to Japan, Rev. Niwano took the minister of the Los Angeles church to a Japanese restaurant for dinner and conversation. The young waitress who served their food came into the private dining room from time to time. She took a good look at the face of Rev. Niwano and asked, "Aren't you the founder of Rissho Kosei-kai?" She was so happy to meet him so unexpectedly that she could not keep silent. She told Rev. Niwano that she was a member of the organization who was originally from the island of Kyushu in southern Japan but now lived in the United States, that previously she had been in the training program in Ome organized by the headquarters Youth Division, and now she was working in the restaurant, and so on and so on.

Rev. Niwano listened with a warm smile and gave her appropriate advice about various things, and then said, pointing to the minister sitting beside him, "When you have a day off, come to the church nearest here. This is the minister." With bright eyes, the young woman said, "Yes, I will and I'll call my mother in Japan tonight. I'm sure she will be overjoyed to hear of our meeting!"
In the car on the way back to his hotel, Rev. Niwano said, "It's a good thing that this evening, too, someone was helped."

Five years later, in 1983, on a trip to Chicago, Founder. Niwano gave a lecture on Buddhism in a hotel ballroom, which was full of people interested in Buddhism as such, as well as of members of Rissho Kosei-kai and other Buddhist groups. Among the members were many who had flown for hours to reach Chicago and meet their revered teacher.

After the lecture, members formed a long line to talk personally with Rev. Niwano. They wanted him to know they had become happier by receiving guidance on the Lotus Sutra and to hear from him directly even a word or two. Listening attentively to them, Founder Niwano gave each person warm encouragement and guidance. Though the large hall was well air-conditioned, beads of perspiration could be seen on the back of his neck.

It was on the following day, during this very trip of a quarter of a century ago that Dr. Gene Reeves, then Dean of the Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, met and talked with Founder Niwano for the very first time.

Dr. Reeves recalls," It was the beginning of a series of events which would change my life dramatically."

So it was that over the next two consecutive years, Dr. Reeves made three trips to Japan.
During those visits, he made an address to the Great Sacred Hall and he was introduced to Professor Yoshiro Tamura who had retired from University of Tokyo and was a professor of Rissho then. He was perhaps the greatest scholar of Tendai thought and the Lotus Sutra at that time. He was invited to Meadville to give a series of lectures on Lotus Sutra. So it was through Founder Niwano's influence, and that of Professor Tamura that Dr Reeves became more and more interested in the Lotus Sutra.

In January, 1989, that is Heisei Gannen, Dr. Reeves arrived in Japan, with only a suitcase, computer and some books. Since then he has done so many things. He has deepened his study and research.
He has given hundreds of lectures on the Lotus Sutra not only in Japan but throughout the world.
He has organized the annual International Lotus Sutra Conference as its key promoter for more than a dozen times

In 1994, Dr. Reeves delivered a special lecture to the students of Hoju Vocational College for Women.

He told the students that "The Lotus Sutra is a message for the whole world--a message of harmony through respect and generosity which is needed by the entire world."
"Founder Niwano is one of the great rediscoverers of the true meaning of the Lotus Sutra,"
"The Lotus Sutra has come from the Buddha, through others, to Founder Niwano, to Rissho Kosei-kai, to you for sharing with others throughout the world. . . . So I salute you this morning--as vehicles of the Wonderful Dharma, the Buddha's children, as young bodhisattvas, even as buddhas!"

After the lecture, the Hoju students were very excited at hearing this testimonial from such a distinguished overseas scholar.
The college teachers were amazed at the degree of enthusiasm shown by the students for the words spoken by Dr Reeves.

Currently, Dr. Reeves is teaching a course on the Lotus Sutra at the University of Peking, the most prestigious university in China

This course will last for the entire Spring semester this year.
Dr Reeves continues to write articles for Dharma World and as well as for other jpurnals. He has also completed translation of the Lotus Sutra which is soon to be published. This is certain to have a strong impact on English-speaking followers of the Lotus Sutra, as well as, I am sure, on quite a few Japanese.
All this began with Dr Reeves encounter with Founder Niwano.

While talking with Gisbey-san about the insertion of humour to this Dharma Talk, he said to me,
May I humbly suggest that the humour should be put into the introduction of the Dharma Talk. We call this an "Icebreaker". It relaxes the listeners and puts them in a good mood for the lecture to follow.
I wrote back to him , "I will follow what you advise. Thank you. Incidentally, at IBC hoza, the leader often begins the Hoza saying "Who is the icebreaker today?"

Gisbey-san replied. "Forgive me, I should have realised how international the phrase "icebreaker" is now. It is like when someone says to me "You have heard koto?" "You know Asahi Super Dry?" You can use ohashi?"
I feel like replying "Yes, I'm from England not the moon!".

Before concluding this talk, I would like to offer two more instances that occurred quite recently which illustrate how members today are still following the example of the Founder.

Only a few months ago I had a chat by Skype with Mr. Rob Evans of RK/UK. Evans-san lives Derry, in the North-West of Ireland. He joyously told me of the enshrinement ceremony held at his home.
He told me that Gisbey-san had journeyed from his home in Canterbury, in South East England, first driving to the airport in Stansted London. Then flying to Belfast, then taking the coach to Rob Evans home in Derry - and returning home, all in one day, over 800 miles or 1300 kms. Evans-san expressed his deep gratitude for the efforts of Gisbey-san.

May I add that at the January meeting in London of Rissho Kosei-kai of the United Kingdom, Evans-san led the ceremony and recitation of the Lotus Sutra and he is now in charge of the email Dharma study group in that country.

It was a few weeks after that example of Evans-san and Gisbey-san when I heard of a young woman Ms Yoshida living in Sendai, which is in the northern part of Japan.
She had travelled a great distance by Bullet train, bus, subway and on foot in order to attend the IBC Sunday service held at Rissho Kosei-kai Headquarters in Tokyo. The distance she travelled was 750kms, both ways, and the journey took 7 hours and 20 minutes. She was warmly greeted by IBC members.

Dr. Brook Ziporyn gave a Dharma talk entitled "Innumerable Meanings of Lotus Flower".
It had been the very first time that Dr. Ziporyn had delivered a Dharma talk here at IBC.
During the Hoza, Ms. Yoshida asked Dr Ziporyn about his Dharma talk and Dr. Ziporyn had a long and meaningful chat with her even after the Hoza was officially over.
I saw her as she was leaving with all her travel luggage to take the long journey back to the north of Japan.
She was smiling, her face full of happiness and joy.

I have since contacted Ms Yoshida by e-mail. She told me that she had talked with Dr. Ziporyn before his Dharma talk as she knew the topic in advance. The Dharma Talk had been very meaningful to her. Dr. Ziporyn had answered all her questions and met all her concerns.

These two examples seem to share similarities and a commonness even though they happened on opposite sides of the planet from each other.
I am sure that many such examples may be happening in many sanghas in geographically and culturally different areas and all are in the same spirit. Here I can feel the universality of the teaching of the Lotus Sutra.

At the outset of WCRP activities, there was a phrase which Founder Niwano was fond of and often referred to.
It was, "One can do nothing alone--but until one makes a start, nothing at all can be done."

Back in 1979 only after tremendous effort, Chinese participation in WCRP III was realized, and a few months later, Founder Niwano was invited to China. He was asked to address to Chinese people at a huge hall.
"The spirit of the WCRP," he said, "is shown clearly in the worship practices of the Bodhisattva Never-Disrespectful."

It is taught in chapter 20 of the Lotus Sutra that Bodhisattva Never-Disrespectful concentrated on just one practice 'namely, worshiping the buddha-nature in others' and he thus attained the enlightenment of a buddha himself, as well as guiding many others to similar enlightenment.
Although these two phrases were uttered in peace seeking interreligious activities, we may also fully apply them to our disseminating activities of the Lotus Sutra.

In conclusion I wish to refer to the following two quotations.
When Founder Niwano entered Nirvana in 1999, among the many thoughtful messages was one from Dr. Kazuo Kasahara, professor emeritus of the University of Tokyo.
"I strongly hope that all of you members of Rissho Kosei-kai will become 'numerous Nikkyo-sans'"

At the funeral, President Nichiko Niwano in his funeral oration for the Founder, quoted Shakyamuni Buddha's words to his followers just before entering nirvana, 'Strive on untiringly,'
"In the same way, I believe that the Founder, with his memorable smile, would have wanted us to follow our Great Benevolent Teacher Shakyamuni, to disseminate the wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra untiringly, and work for the happiness of all people."