Buddhism in Everyday Life VOL. 101

Transcription

1 Living the LOTUS Buddhism in Everyday Life VOL. 101 The title, Living the Lotus Buddhism in Everyday Life, is meant to convey our hope of striving to practice the teachings of the Lotus Sutra in daily life, to enrich and make our lives more worthwhile, like lotus flowers blooming in a muddy pond. The online edition aims to make Buddhism more practicable in the daily lives of people around the world. Living the Lotus is published in fourteen languages in cooperation with RK overseas branches. Publication in some languages is irregular, however, and some issues contain only President Niwano s guidance. We will continue trying to improve the newsletter and would appreciate your continued support and comments. Published by Rissho Kosei-kai International, Fumonkan, Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan TEL: FAX: shanzai.rk-international@koseikai.or.jp Senior Editor: Shoko Mizutani Editor: Etsuko Nakamura Copy Editor: Allan Carpenter, Shigemitsu Takanashi Editorial Staff: Shiho Matsuoka, Mayumi Eto, Sayuri Suzuki, Eriko Kanao, Shizuyo Miura, Sachi Mikawa, Yurie Nogawa, Yoshihiro Nakayama, and Bold Munkhtsetseg A Key to Happiness Founder s Essay FIRST LEARNED the Lotus Sutra from Mr. Sukenobu I Arai. His interpretation of the sutra was wonderful. Many people, including me, came to listen to his series of lectures, but I was the only person who stayed all the way to the end of the lecture. The others gave up halfway through. When I look back now, thinking about why I stayed at the lectures when others left, I have the feeling that it was because I listened with a willing and flexible attitude. I feel deeply that it is because I could gratefully accept the mentor s words, and put what he said into practice, that I am able to enjoy the happiness I feel now. I would be nothing today if not for that willing and flexible attitude. When I say this in public, people applaud, seeing the truth in my statement. At the time I founded Rissho Kosei-kai, there were many members who had recovered from illness just because they had learned to listen to others with an open mind and were able to express their sincere gratitude, saying, Thank you. I would say that a mindset of willingness and flexibility is the key to happiness. From Kaisozuikan 7 (Kosei Publishing Co.), pp

2 Basic Buddhism Through Comics by Mitsutoshi Furuya

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4 Guidance by President Niwano Under the Care of Others by Nichiko Niwano President of Rissho Kosei-kai L IFE EXPECTANCY IS the number of years we can reasonably anticipate living, but there is another way of considering this, which is called healthy expectancy. This is the span of time in which we can lead our daily lives without being limited by health concerns. According to recent government statistics, for Japanese men the average life expectancy is years, with healthy expectancy being years. For Japanese women, average life expectancy is years, and healthy expectancy is years. Therefore, it is highly likely that at the last stage of life, nearly everyone in Japan will need some form of assistance. And yet, we hope for the kind of end summed up by the onomatopoeic Japanese phrase, pin pin korori, which means remaining healthy and energetic until the end and experiencing a quick and painless death. Operating here are feelings of guilt about becoming a burden upon one s children or having to be cared for by others, yet this is the reality facing many people. However, if we do become bedridden and must be cared for by other people, even this can be broadly interpreted as one very meaningful form of donation. I have heard that especially those people who have studied and practiced Buddhism and have always been mindful of serving other people may, upon losing their physical mobility and thus becoming unable to continue such activity, worry about this and begin to doubt even the value of their own existence. However, when sick people show us what it is like to be sick, and when the elderly show us what being old means, we should be able to accept these as lessons of great importance for human beings, similar to Kannon s liberation. Although the act of caring for other people may appear unilaterally directed toward the recipients, at the same time the recipient of others care-giving can be said to be making a donation that only he or she can make. A contemporary Roman Catholic Jesuit priest has written a book in which he says, When we fall ill, when we are unable to move, that is the opportunity for someone else to get involved without asking

5 Guidance by President Niwano anything in return. Someone with limited physical mobility and in need of assistance is thereby giving other people an opportunity to open their eyes to love and compassion that asks nothing in return. If this is the case, although those in need may have difficulty thinking so themselves because they assume that their condition is a burden to others, that condition is, in and of itself, valuable from the perspective of the gods and the buddhas. Of course, from the time we are born, we human beings are only able to live thanks to the many blessings we receive. Through our interconnections to each and every person and thing, we lead lives that support others and are supported by others. Regarding such great blessings, I myself feel incapable of repaying my debt of gratitude in any concrete way. But if I am able to do anything, then at the very least it should be simply accepting these with a sincerely expressed thank you. Our thinking should be the same when we have to be cared for by others. When we receive care from other people, we naturally develop heartfelt gratitude toward them. There is no better way to repay those who have cared for us than to honestly rejoice at the development of this heartfelt gratitude and sincerely thank the care-givers. Buddhism teaches us that the genuine practice of donation involves the purity of those who make the donations, those who receive them, and anything that is offered as donation. I mentioned above that even being bedridden can be a form of practicing donation, and in this regard, when the person who cares for someone in need is grateful for the opportunity to be able to do so, and the person who receives the care can respond to it with sincere thanks for being able to practice donation in receiving the care, a compassionate exchange develops through which both parties grow. On February 15 we mark the anniversary of Shakyamuni s entering nirvana. Let us make it the opportunity to deeply reflect upon the important lesson that Shakyamuni teaches us through the weakening and death of his physical body. From Kosei, February Translated by Kosei Publishing Co.

6 Smiles Are like Flowers from Heaven by Rev. Kosho Niwano President-designate of Rissho Kosei-kai Déjà vu or a Scene I Had Seen Before? I HEARD THE DOOR shut quietly behind me as someone entered the room. I had been working at my desk facing away from the door, but someone had obviously come in. Time continued to pass, but whoever it was remained silent. Thinking that strange, I turned around to see our third daughter standing there, her shoulders slumped in apparent dejection. What s the matter? I asked her. While I was gone our little brother scribbled in my notebook. It s ruined, I can t use it anymore, she said. This was apparently not just any notebook, either. It had been a present that was so attractive she treasured it for a long time, using it only on special occasions. I took a look and it really was a mess. Right in the center of every single page from start to finish was a big, fat, messy scribble. Usually our son would not do something like that, but one of his favorite cousins had come to visit and I guessed he had become all excited. I am so sorry your brother did something like that. Do you think you can forgive him? I asked, but she shook her head forcefully in rejection. As well she might have. She was now in the fifth grade and becoming quite grown up, but I took her in my arms and held her close. I am sure you feel angry, too, but what emotion do you feel the most? Are you sad? She nodded in agreement. If that is so, if you speak to your brother not in anger, but instead try to make him understand how sad you feel because of what he has done, I think he should understand. Will you try that? I said. After thinking about this for a little while, she took a deep breath. Suddenly I felt as if I had experienced this scene before. Was this only déjà vu? No, I remembered when our oldest daughter was in the second grade. Our third daughter was still small, and she had scribbled in her sister s illustrated diary. Do you remember that? I asked her, and reminded her of that long-ago incident, recalling how her homeroom teacher at the time had come to her rescue. However, she replied, No, I don t remember it at all.

7 President-designate Kosho Niwano President Nichiko Niwano s oldest daughter, Rev. Kosho Niwano was born in Tokyo. After graduating with a degree in Law from Gakushuin University, she studied at Gakurin Seminary, the training institution for Rissho Kosei-kai leaders. Presently, as she studies the Lotus Sutra, she continues to act as President-designate, making speeches for participants in the main ceremonies of Rissho Kosei-kai, and handling activities for interfaith cooperation at home and abroad. Married to Rev. Munehiro Niwano, she is mother of one son and three daughters. I guess not; you were a little girl then. These kinds of things do happen, and we all grow together by forgiving and being forgiven, I said. Hearing this, she said, OK. I ll try talking to him, and seeming to feel somewhat better, she left the room. That evening when I came home, she flew to me and said, Well, Mother, I tried what we talked about, but I gradually started getting angry with him and he got mad, too. We sort of ended up fighting. She now looked as if she had tasted something rotten. I see. You did try good for you! But don t you think it ended differently when you didn t start out angry? When you re mad, you get so that you don t really know what you re actually feeling any more, I said. Watching my daughter as she nodded vigorously with tears welling up in her eyes, I was sure that on this day she had undoubtedly experienced her own feelings very clearly. Looking up, I realized that the naughty boy of the day was a little way off, hopping up and down and watching us. I gave him a bit of a fierce look and he exclaimed, I m sooooo sorry! while continuing to hop up and down. Suddenly my daughter and I broke out laughing. At that time, he was the one who was always being forgiven, but some day he would no doubt be called on to forgive another person and I was sure that he would grow up to be capable of doing so. I found myself looking forward to the next incident of family déjà vu. From Yakushin, October Translated by Kosei Publishing Co.

8 In the Bosom of the Buddha s Compassion The following religious testimony was delivered at the fifth anniversary celebration of Rissho Kosei-kai of Bangladesh on February 22, E VERYONE, PLEASE GUIDE ME. I would like to express my gratitude for this opportunity to share my spiritual experience with you today. I am Suranjit Kumar Singha. I am deeply grateful to be living happily with my wife, our ten-yearold son, and our three-year-old son. My previous goal was to become rich by making a lot of money in business. At that time, I was not very interested in religious faith, and usually I just participated in events of our neighborhood temple. I think I was doing essentially what most people in society do. I didn t become rich, but I do manage a small company now. My friend s invitation prompted me to become a member of Rissho Kosei-kai. My friend invited me to visit, and I was surprised because I had never seen such a wonderful place. That place was Rissho Kosei-kai. We participated in the Hoza where people talk together, and we were able to learn many of the Buddha s teachings. I was moved by the teachings of the Founder: Put others first and Change your heart and others will change. I became a member of Rissho Kosei-kai on the spot. My friends, Shimul Kanti Barua and Manik Barua, thank you for guiding me to Rissho Kosei-kai. Mr. Singha delivers his testimonial during the fifth anniversary celebration of Rissho Kosei-kai of Bangladesh. Spiritual Journey by Mr. Suranjit Kumar Singha Area Leader Bangladesh Dharma Center When I became a member of Rissho Kosei-kai, I soon put into practice at home what I had learned there. Through seeing my practice, my wife was delighted and began to support me more than she ever had. Thank you for always supporting me. And thank you, Rissho Kosei-kai. For the past three years since becoming a member of Rissho Kosei-kai, I have led more than fifty people to join. When I received my Gohonzon, I felt so much joy. After that, I received the Dharma Teacher s title from President Niwano. I have never been happier in my life. I had an incident that made me realize how the Buddha always stays beside us and how vital the teachings are. The expected date of delivery for my second son was also the memorial day of my home. We had to take my wife to the hospital following our doctor s instruction. But by 7 p.m., our baby had still not been born. I was irritated that I could not offer sutra recitation for my home s memorial day. I asked my mother-in-law to care for my wife, as I returned home to offer sutra recitation. Soon after I finished offering sutra recitation, I received a phone call from the hospital, saying that my son was born. I realized again the power of the teachings and the Buddha s compassion, and my heart was filled with joy. The Buddha s compassion is as deep as the sea, and we cannot explain it in words. No, words cannot explain the joy of the faith. But through practice, definitely we can feel this joy. Next I would like to talk about a staff member working at my company. I had built a relationship of trust with him. One day, however, he stole money from my bank account. When I found out about this, I felt like killing him. But when I thought about it for a while, I began to think that I might have been responsible for his act. Then I thought that I should forgive him, and the next day he came to me and apologized for doing such a bad thing. He promised that he would pay me back the money he had stolen. I was able to forgive him, thanks to the teachings. Rissho Kosei-kai brought me this teaching.

9 Spiritual Journey I have always been taught that the Buddha shows us various situations to make us improve and grow. One day, something interesting happened to me. When I returned to my country from Japan via Malaysia, our Dharma center s minister, Rev. Norimasa Aritomi suggested to me that I should stay in Japan two more days and return to my country with the other members. At that time, I had to go back soon, so I didn t follow his advice and returned by myself. However, when I was in Malaysia on the way home, I lost my passport and money. I was at a loss as to how I could return to my country. I explained the situation to police, followed various legal procedures, and finally had my passport reissued. I was able to eventually return home. After coming back, I reflected and realized that Rev. Aritomi s words were the message of the Buddha. Through this experience, I have realized anew that the Buddha puts us in various situations to make us improve and grow. So now, when anyone says something, I regard it as important. I am very grateful that I could encounter Rissho Kosei-kai. I have pledged to disseminate the Dharma in my hometown in order to spread the teachings to as many people as possible. I have walked to disseminate the Dharma and realized how hard it had been for the Buddha to walk so far for his teaching ministry. Someone told me that I had been taking advantage of Rissho Kosei-kai in order to make money. Hearing these words, I decided to dedicate myself more to the dissemination of the teaching. The Buddha disseminated the Dharma until the moment he died, so I, too, will disseminate it as he did. Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to share my religious testimony today. I would like to express my thanks to many people from my hometown who took four hours by bus to attend this ceremony. I will never forget this day. I would like to conclude my spiritual journey by pledging to disseminate the Dharma as long as I live. Everyone, thank you very much. Mr. Singha (the third from left in the second row) attends the Advance Leaders Training at Rissho Kosei-kai International in Tokyo. Living the Lotus welcomes your religious experience. Why don t you share your religious experience through Living the Lotus with members all over the world? Please send your script or inquiry to our address: shanzai.rk-international@kosei-kai.or.jp. Thank you.

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16 Column Wishing to Present the Wonderful Treasures I N JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, which marks the 50th anniversary of the Great Sacred Hall, I was given the opportunity for five days to lead the chanting of the Threefold Lotus Sutra during the mid-winter practice at the Great Sacred Hall. I took the seat on stage just in front of the statue of the Eternal Buddha, and recited the sutra with my heart and mind united with the more than 3,000 members who were gathered there. Through this experience, I realized one important fact. From childhood, I had been rather self-centered; if this had never changed, my life would have been a tough and lonely one. But now, my life is so joyous and happy. There was one great turning point in my life, which was joining Rissho Kosei-kai, where I received the three treasures. They are the Buddha, the Dharma (teachings), and the Sangha. These are the wondrous seeds of happiness, because even though we share them with others, those seeds of happiness never decrease but rather increase in number. I vowed to the Eternal Buddha at the Great Sacred Hall that I would share these wonderful treasures with as many people as possible. R E V. S H O K O M I Z U T A N I Director of Rissho Kosei-kai International Rissho Kosei-kai International Branches

17 2014 Rissho Kosei-kai Overseas Dharma Centers Rissho Kosei-kai International 5F Fumon Hall, Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan Tel: Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai International of North America (RKINA) 4255 Campus Drive, University Center A-245 Irvine, CA 92612, U.S.A. Tel: Fax: Branch under RKINA Rissho Kosei-kai of Tampa Bay 2470 Nursery Rd.Clearwater, FL 33764, USA Tel: (727) Rissho Kosei-kai International of South Asia (RKISA) 201 Soi 15/1, Praram 9 Road, Bangkapi, Huaykhwang Bangkok 10310, Thailand Tel: Fax: thairissho@csloxinfo.com Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Church of Hawaii 2280 Auhuhu Street, Pearl City, HI 96782, U.S.A. Tel: Fax: info@rkhawaii.org Rissho Kosei-kai Maui Dharma Center 1817 Nani Street, Wailuku, HI 96793, U.S.A. Tel: Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai Kona Dharma Center Mamalahoa Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, U.S.A. Tel: Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Church of Los Angeles 2707 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, U.S.A. Tel: Fax: rk-la@sbcglobal.net Rissho Kosei-kai Dharma Center of San Antonio 6083 Babcock Road, San Antonio, TX 78240, U.S.A. Tel: Fax: dharmasanantonio@gmail.com Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of Arizona Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of Colorado Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of San Diego Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of Las Vegas Rissho Kosei-kai of San Francisco Tel: Fax: info@rksf.org Rissho Kosei-kai of Seattle s Buddhist Learning Center Tel: Fax: rkseattle@juno.com Rissho Kosei-kai of Sacramento Rissho Kosei-kai of San Jose Rissho Kosei-kai of Vancouver Rissho Kosei-kai of New York 320 East 39th Street, New York, NY 10016, U.S.A. Tel: Fax: koseiny@aol.com Rissho Kosei-kai of Chicago 1 West Euclid Ave., Mt. Prospect, IL 60056, U.S.A. Tel : murakami3370@hotmail.com Rissho Kosei-kai Dharma Center of Oklahoma 2745 N.W. 40th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73112, U.S.A. Tel & Fax: ok.risshokoseikai@gmail.com Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of Dallas Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of Klamath Falls 724 Main St., Suite 214, Klamath Falls, OR 97601, U.S.A. Tel: Rissho Kosei-kai, Dharma Center of Denver 1571 Race Street, Denver, Colorado 80206, U.S.A. Tel: Rissho Kosei-kai Dharma Center of Dayton 446 B Patterson Road, Dayton, OH 45419, U.S.A Risho Kossei-kai do Brasil Rua Dr. José Estefno 40, Vila Mariana, São Paulo-SP, CEP , Brasil Tel: / Fax: risho@terra.com.br Risho Kossei-kai de Mogi das Cruzes Av. Ipiranga 1575-Ap 1, Mogi das Cruzes-SP, CEP , Brasil Rissho Kosei-kai of Taipei 4F, No. 10 Hengyang Road, Jhongjheng District, Taipei City 100, Taiwan Tel: Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai of Taichung No. 19, Lane 260, Dongying 15th St., East Dist., Taichung City 401, Taiwan Tel: / Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai of Tainan No. 45, Chongming 23rd Street, East District, Tainan City 701, Taiwan Tel: Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai of Pingtung Korean Rissho Kosei-kai 423, Han-nam-dong, Young-San-ku, Seoul, Republic of Korea Tel: Fax: krkk1125@hotmail.com Korean Rissho Kosei-kai of Pusan , Dae-Hyun-2-dong, Nam-ku, Kwang-yok-shi, Pusan, Republic of Korea Tel: Fax: Branches under the Headquarters Rissho Kosei-kai of Hong Kong Flat D, 5/F, Kiu Hing Mansion, 14 King s Road, North Point, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of the People s Republic of China Tel & Fax:

18 Rissho Kosei-kai of Ulaanbaatar 39A Apartment, room number 13, Olympic street, Khanuul district, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Tel & Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai of Sakhalin 4 Gruzinski Alley, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk , Russian Federation Tel & Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai of Roma Via Torino, Roma, Italia Tel & Fax : roma@rk-euro.org Rissho Kosei-kai of the UK Rissho Kosei-kai of Venezia Castello Venezia Ve Italy Rissho Kosei-kai of Paris 86 AV Jean Jaures Tentin Paris, France Rissho Kosei-kai of Sydney International Buddhist Congregation (IBC) 5F Fumon Hall, Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan Tel: Fax: ibcrk@kosei-kai.or.jp Rissho Kosei-kai of South Asia Division 5F Fumon Hall, Wada, Suginami, Tokyo, , Japan Tel: Fax: Thai Rissho Friendship Foundation 201 Soi 15/1, Praram 9 Road, Bangkapi, Huaykhwang Bangkok 10310, Thailand Tel: Fax: info.thairissho@gmail.com Rissho Kosei-kai of Bangladesh 85/A Chanmari Road, Lalkhan Bazar, Chittagong, Bangladesh Tel & Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai of Dhaka House No.467, Road No-8 (East), D.O.H.S Baridhara, Dhaka Cant.-1206, Bangladesh Tel: Rissho Kosei-kai of Mayani Maitree Sangha, Mayani Bazar, Mayani Barua Para, Mirsarai, Chittagong, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Patiya Patiya, sadar, Patiya, Chittagong, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Domdama Domdama, Mirsarai, Chittagong, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Cox s Bazar Ume Burmese Market, Main Road Teck Para, Cox sbazar, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Satbaria Satbaria, Hajirpara, Chandanish, Chittagong, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Laksham Dupchar (West Para), Bhora Jatgat pur, Laksham, Comilla, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Raozan West Raozan, Ramjan Ali Hat, Raozan, Chittagong, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Chendirpuni Chendirpuni, Adhunagor, Lohagara, Chittagong, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Sri Lanka 382/17, N.A.S. Silva Mawatha, Pepiliyana, Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka Tel & Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai of Polonnaruwa Rissho Kosei-kai of Habarana 151, Damulla Road, Habarana, Sri Lanka Rissho Kosei-kai of Galle Rissho Kosei-kai of Kandy Branches under the South Asia Division Delhi Dharma Center B-117 (Basement Floors), Kalkaji, New Delhi , India Tel & Fax: sakusena@hotmail.com Rissho Kosei-kai of West Delhi A-139 Ganesh Nagar, Tilak Nagar New Delhi , India Rissho Kosei-kai of Kolkata E-243 B. P. Township, P. O. Panchasayar, Kolkata , India Rissho Kosei-kai of Kolkata North AE/D/12 Arjunpur East, Teghoria, Kolkata , West Bengal, India Rissho Kosei-kai of Kathmandu Ward No. 3, Jhamsilhel, Sancepa-1, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: Fax: nrkk@wlink.com.np Rissho Kosei-kai of Lumbini Shantiban, Lumbini, Nepal Rissho Kosei-kai of Singapore Rissho Kosei-kai of Phnom Penh #201E2, St 128, Sangkat Mittapheap, Khan 7 Makara, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Other Groups Rissho Kosei-kai Friends in Shanghai 1F, ZHUQIZHAN Art Museum, No. 580 OuYang Road, Shanghai China