The World of the Lotus Sutra

SHAN ZAI

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ish You a V

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appy New Year

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The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma Chapter 8

“Assurance for the Five Hundred Disciples”

Having heard Shakyamuni Buddha bestow the assurance of supreme awakening upon the great disciples, Purna knew of their relationship with the Buddha in their past lives, and was deeply moved. With a pure heart, he became filled with ecstasy, and thought: “No words can fully express the Buddha’s blessings. Only the Buddha, the World-honored One, is able to know the natural inclination of our innermost hearts.”

Then the World-honored One said to the monks: “Thus, Purna has defended and helped to proclaim my teaching throughout many past lives. He is the foremost among those who preach the Dharma. He always teaches the Dharma with a pure mind. Though complete in divine bodhisattva powers, he has continued to observe noble practices throughout his life. The people around Purna spoke of him as a true shravaka. Thus, by use of such skillful means, Purna has benefited innumerable living beings and converted innumerable people so that they would achieve supreme awakening.”

Finally, the World-honored One bestowed upon Purna the assurance of attaining buddha-hood, saying: “Purna will attain supreme awak-ening and be called Dharma Radiance Tathagata. He will have an ideal buddha land of beauty and peace.” Then the twelve hundred arhats who

were sitting there wished to be bestowed assur-ance of becoming buddhas. The World-honored One knew their thought and said to Maha-Kashyapa: “Each of these twelve hundred arhats will be a buddha named Universal Light Tathagata, all under the same name.” And he also said to Maha-Kashyapa to talk about it the five thousands shravakas who left the assembly.

Then the five hundred arhats who had received their assurance were ecstatic with joy and rebuked for their fault: “We have the inher-ent buddha-nature and we are capable of reach-ing the wisdom of the Tathagata depending on our practice. But we were content with remov-ing just defilements and we thought we had attained awakening.” Then they explained how they awakened by the use of the Parable of the Gem in the Robe.

(To be continued)

(Part 1)

by Nichiko NiwanoPresident of Rissho Kosei-kai

Guidance byPresidentNiwano

Living with Guidelines

Ask Yourself, “How Should I Lead My Life?”

Happy New Year to everyone! New Year’s Day as the day to make one’s plans for the beginning year is a widespread custom, and many people start the year by setting per-sonal goals or guidelines for how to conduct their lives.

Since we members of Rissho Kosei-kai are walking the Way that leads to buddha-hood, the basis for determining a New Year resolution by us is none other than bodhi-sattva practice.

Many people seem to think that bodhi-sattva practice involves something extra-ordinary, but there is no need to think of it as something difficult. As Founder Nikkyo Niwano often said, “The purpose of our daily activities should be to make those around us feel at ease.” It is important that, in the course of our daily lives, we think about how we can show consideration toward others and make them happy, and do what little things we can to help other people out. I think it is necessary for us to set goals or guidelines that best suit us, as we strive to perform such types of bodhi-sattva practice that are close at hand.

Then, instead of having someone else decide for us or determine for us, we can say that our New Year goals or guidelines are something we must choose for ourselves to answer the essential question, “How should I lead my life?”

The Importance of Realization

For us human beings, who are apt to let time slip by in days lacking any specific purpose, setting goals or guidelines for life takes on great meaning.

Although this next may seem a little off the subject, I believe every life has unlim-ited possibilities. The level of concentration that people with a clear point of view can focus on achieving something—“This is how I choose to live”—is quite different from that of people who do not have such a

for ourselves and are in harmony with the teaching of the Buddha, then even such activities are examples of bodhisattva prac-tice and demonstrations of diligence. It follows then that instead of devoting all our energy to accomplishing a present goal, we should act in a way that is well suited to our daily lives, performing our tasks from one moment to the next as naturally as breath-ing. Remembering to always be grateful, not becoming angry over minor matters or complaining, and making the people around us feel at ease. . . . Through the accumula-tion of moments such as these, we live each day of our lives to the fullest. This is itself a form of practice that fulfills the goals or guidelines shared by everyone who seeks to perfect his or her humanity.

“At this moment, in the place where we are, / Wholehearted devotion to the things right under our feet, / Is to live for eternity.” As this poem by Benkyo Shiio (1876-1971), head priest of Zojoji temple in Tokyo, tells us, being truly alive means to value here and now the things before our very eyes, and thus lead lives rich in the sense of purpose and fulfillment.

viewpoint. After all, when people get together to talk something over, if they are clearly focused on the topic, it usually does not take very long to reach a consensus.

Zen master Dogen (1200–1253), who journeyed from Japan to China, was practic-ing at a temple there when he saw an old monk, who was wearing no hat, drying mushrooms in the hot midday sun.

“Why don’t you ask one of the younger monks or temple assistants to do that for you?” he suggested.

“Because no one else can be me, and per-form my practice for me,” he replied. Dogen then asked, “Well, why not at least wait until it is cooler to do that?”

“Because there is no time like the pres-ent,” the old monk asserted with an air of finality.

This episode teaches us that we can con-centrate straightforwardly on what we wish to accomplish when we have set goals or guidelines for our lives, and are not deflected from our purpose. At the same time, it also teaches us the importance of always being diligent.

I think this shows us that when activities we generally consider insignificant chores fit in with the way of life we have chosen From Kosei, January 2012. Translated by Kosei Publishing Co.

by Kosho Niwano

Smiles Are Like Flowers from Heaven

President-designate of Rissho Kosei-kai

Receiving Unconditional Love

The affection felt by parents for their children is often called selfless or uncon-ditional love. It is true that parents will put their child first and get up in the middle of the night to feed an infant, no matter how sleepy they are, change its diaper and rock it back to sleep. If the child has a fever, the parent will take care of it even though he or she might feel unwell, too.

However, I think this might not be exactly selfless love. To see your children grow day by day, enjoy their smiles and the amusing little things they do, to hear them say, “I love you Mama” or “I love you Papa,” and know that they depend on you more than anyone else in the world—this is what enables us to get through the difficulties of parenthood. In other words, I think our children reward us every day for our efforts.

When they get a little bigger, our affection tends to become conditional, as if we are saying that an obedient child is a good thing but a disobedient child is not. Although having a child somehow teaches us how to be parents, we act as though it has been through our own efforts alone that the child has grown up. Compared with this, the love of children for their parents is truly uncondi-tional.

Back when our eldest daughter was still a baby, she would run around look-ing for me and crying, “Mama, mama.” My mother said to me, “She has to have her mama, even though it should be obvious that her grandmother is a lot more useful than her inexperienced mother.”

These words opened my eyes to the immense love contained in the tiny body of my child, who unconditionally trusted and loved me, putting her very life in my hands, even though I was the kind of mother who wished I could have some time to myself when I was a little tired, and told her, “Hurry up and go to sleep,” when she was wakeful. This awareness filled me with deep emo-tion.

One day near the beginning of 2010, early in the morning while the sunlight was still dim, I was about to go downstairs to prepare the offerings for our home Buddhist altar when I noticed in passing the children’s room that a small red light was on. I was just realizing that the room humidifier had run out of water when I stumbled against something heavy and hit my face on the corner of a low bookcase.

President-designate Kosho NiwanoPresident 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 coopera-tion at home and abroad. She married to Rev. Munehiro Niwano, she is mother of one son and three daughters.

From Yakushin, November 2010. Translated by Kosei Publishing Co.

Somehow I managed to prepare our home altar for morning sutra recitation, but my pain was so intense that I felt dizzy. I was unable to do any of my house-hold tasks, and lay down on the sofa. Soon I could hear the sounds of the chil-dren getting up. As they appeared one by one in turn and saw me stretched out, they asked what was wrong and I explained what had happened. Almost as if they had been rehearsing, they all exclaimed, “Poor Mama! Are you all right?” gathering around me and gently hugging and stroking my shoulders. Not one of them chided me or said anything about watching where I stepped.

I recalled that whenever the children hurt themselves the first words out of my mouth would be, “I told you to be careful,” or some such scolding, and the feelings of love and affection emanating from their little hands brought tears to my eyes.

Seeing my tears, they became more concerned and asked, “Does it hurt?”“Um-m-m, no, it’s not the pain, it’s that I’m happy because you are being so

nice to me. It’s like Mama is the child now.”Hearing this, their faces seemed to suddenly mature, and one after the other

they said things like, “There, there. Take it easy now. Everything will be all right,” while gently patting my head.

The upshot was the need for three stitches just under my nose, but the unconditional love demonstrated by my children overcame the pain and shock from my injury, making me feel much less embarrassed about the adhesive plas-ter under my nose—in fact I was proud of it. That evening I went ahead with plans to meet with a guest from overseas, and the following day served at the main altar of the Great Sacred Hall in Tokyo.

Spiritual Journey

The Key to HappinessWhat a Change in Perspective Taught Me

by Ms. Rie KimuraKiryu Dharma Center

I would like to express my deep gratitude for his opportunity to speak of my religious affirmation today, at the ceremony marking both the Founder’s birth and the twentieth anniversary of the President’s Inheritance of the Lamp of the Dharma. I believe I have been given this role thanks to an original connection with the Founder; he actually patted my head when I was just four years old. In this essay, I would like to talk about things that I became aware of through practicing the Dharma and the preciousness of the teaching that I am fortunate to receive and deeply appreciate.

My family has been members of Rissho Kosei-kai since my great-grand mother on my mother’s side first joined, at the Mito Dharma Center. I belong to the fourth generation practicing our religious faith. My parents are still living, and I also have an older brother. I was born the daughter of the Kimura family in 1984. In those days, we lived in Mitaka City in Tokyo. After I was born, my mother used to take me to the Chiyoda-chuo Dharma Center, where she had originally belonged when she was a member of the Youth Group there. I hear that in those days I was very often absent from nursery school because my mother would take me along to hoza and various study sessions. Rather than the nursery school, my playground was the Great Sacred Hall, where I ran about as if it were my home. In the autumn, when I was a first-grader in elementary school, for personal reasons we moved northwest of Tokyo to Gumma Prefecture, where my family belonged to the Kiryu Dharma Center. But we seldom went there for wor-ship. After graduation from high school, I worked in a doctor’s office. But in those days we had to repay my father’s huge debt, and we were hard up.

I wondered how I could earn more money. Because my brother was a speedboat racer, I decided to be a speedboat racer like him to help my parents. To qualify for the racing school entrance examination, I had to go on a strict diet to lose weight. My mother was very worried that I had chosen a profession that was a matter of life and death.

One day, when I was visiting the Dharma center with my mother after a long period of absence, Rev. Furuya, the minister of our Dharma center, kindly asked me how things were going. I told her what was happening with me around that time and I asked for her guidance. She said, “Is it OK for you to sacrifice your femininity in that way? If you really want to be a speedboat racer, come to the Dharma center every day to worship.” I attended the center, worshipping every day for six months. When I visited there, everyone greeted me with a smile, although I didn’t know them well. They always spoke warmly to me. I was assigned the responsibility of reception at the Bean-scattering Festival, the festival to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck. I met a member of the Young Women’s Group there. There was something very magnetic about her, and it stayed in my mind. Months later, as I was losing weight, I became severely dehydrated and fell down. Although I had only two kilograms more to lose to qualify for the entrance examination, I felt the limits of my strength, and gave up the idea of becoming a racer. My mother always encouraged me when I felt listless, saying, “The Buddha is definitely with you. Don’t be discouraged.” Next year, we welcomed a new minister, Rev. Izumida. With the encouragement of my chapter head, I

This testimony was delivered at the Great Sacred Hall at the Founder Niwano's Birth.

become cheerful and positive. I had a strong desire to disseminate the teachings and became com-pletely absorbed in guiding other members.

At that time, Ms. Oshima visited the Dharma center every day, following instructions to practice there. I had just found a new job and had free time during the day to visit the Dharma center regularly at the same time she did.

One day I got a phone call from a close friend, whom I will call “K.” She said that her father had collapsed with a heart attack and was unconscious and in critical condition. I was alarmed and rushed to her house. I had assumed all I could do was recite the sutra myself, and I telephoned the direc-tor of the General Affairs Department for more guidance. She advised me to recite the sutra with K and her friend, who I will call “M.” They agreed. They had not used prayer beads and the Sutra Readings before. They recited the sutra for the first time, holding prayer beads. Although it was hard for them to read some of the unfamiliar, difficult words, they strived to recite the sutra while think-ing of K’s father.

Fortunately, the father regained consciousness about forty minutes after he went into cardiopul-monary arrest, but the doctor declared that the week would be a turning point for him. I wanted to help K, who was filled with fear and despair of losing her beloved father. I wished I could do something for her, but I was irritated that I alone really couldn’t offer much help. At that moment, the existence of the Buddha arose from deep within my mind. This is what my mother frequently has told me since my childhood. I had believed the Buddha was within me and protected me. Since the Buddha never meant for her to suffer and experi-ence hardship without a reason, I thought of how her father’s heart attack might be looked at in a more positive way. Yes, I had to entrust everything to the Buddha, I thought. I wished the Buddha would protect her. I concluded that she should come into direct contact with the Buddha, and I asked her and her friend to come to the Dharma center. We sat before the altar. I said to her, “I’m not saying that if you become a member your father will be cured.” I was completely absorbed in trying to express my thoughts and don’t remember everything else I said.

I just hoped that she would see the ray of light in

joined the youth and men’s groups’ New Year’s party. I saw the woman again with whom I had shared the reception responsibility before. Her name is Saki Oshima, and I felt that I was embraced by her warmth. We got along very well, and I sensed a kindred spirit in her. This brought me an opportunity to join in the activities of the Youth Group.

The first activity I joined was matoi-twirling group. A matoi, or Japanese fireman’s standard, is usually displayed in the parade of the Oeshiki Festival. The members take turns twirling a matoi to show their feeling of unity. When I twirled it, I felt overwhelmed with deep emotion. I felt a won-derful sense of oneness I had never experienced before. Just then the first course for youth members was scheduled at the Dharma center, and I joined the class. Mr. Matsui, an Assistant Minister for Youth members of the Dharma centers of the Area, taught us the purpose of learning the teachings, the basic practices of faith, and the basic Buddhist teachings. Studying them gave me a clear under-standing of what my mother had been telling me, the meaning of reciting the sutra, and I realized the existence of the Buddha. In those days, my friends and colleagues more frequently confided in me. As I listened to them, I gradually developed a keen desire to be of help to them. But I thought that I needed to thoroughly learn the teaching beforehand, so I decided to take a higher level seminar. So I proceeded to the second course. Through what I learned in the course, I was able to interact with members of other Dharma centers, and I learned how enjoyable it is to guide other members. After getting a certificate to the course, I realized how much I had learned. What I learned was that suffer-ing is a requisite for human progress. It teaches us that the way we suffer will change greatly depend-ing on how we accept and see our own suffering. I understood that the teachings are necessary for suffering people to find a way to happiness and

her time of trouble. I wanted us to search together for the necessity behind her father’s suffering. I felt that the Buddha was nudging me from behind. Despite my fervent wish to help, she looked perplexed about what to do. At that moment, her friend M, who had been silent, suddenly said, “OK, I have decided to become a member.” These words so moved K that she also decided to become a member. I was dumbfounded. I had never dreamed that M, who had only come along to accompany K, would say such a thing. Later I asked him why. He said he thought his becoming a fellow member would be doing her a favor, and enable him to help her more. He thought the first thing he should do for her was to become a member. He was really a bodhisattva.

On August 28, 2008, thanks to the Buddha’sintervention, for the first time I guided two people to membership. After that day, we and other mem-bers of the Youth Group held prayer services for the recovery of K’s father. Members of many other groups attended these services, praying for his recovery. In those days, her older sister was also hospitalized, so K and her mother were taking care of her father and sister. Sometimes her sister’s children went hungry as they waited at home. To help K’s mother when she returned home, I asked my family for cooperation and we cooked curried rice, fried noodles and other dishes for nine people and delivered them in pots. I was determined to do anything I could. Afterwards, my friend K began to visit the Dharma center regularly, and she was asked to testify to her faith at the ceremony com-memorating the Buddha’s birth. In her testimony, she said her beloved father’s heart attack had united the family and made her less self-centered and more considerate of other family members. She also thanked her ancestors. Hearing her made me very happy and appreciative. Although her father’s condition had not improved, she had made spiritual progress.

Although we were told that week would be the turning point, he lived for another eleven months

after his heart attack. K’s father passed away on July 28, 2009, but the surviving family members’ ties were stronger. I hadn’t expected that the date she became a member of Rissho Kosei-kai would be the same date that would later be the date of her father’s death.

There were more changes that began to occur in me because of what happened to K, including my attitude to my father. My father gave me a lot of love and I loved my father so much since I was a little child. However, as I grew, I gradually came to hate him because he didn’t hesitate to borrow money to buy liquor and cigarettes, and to gamble with, despite the difficulty of earning a living. But, I thought, if he were dead, I would have nothing to be angry or quarrel with him about. I began to wish I were more like my friend K, who could honestly say that she loved everything about her father.

Probably when I was a high school student, I began to hate my father for his drinking problem. I began to blame him for making me give up going to college, and my life began to fall apart. He would get drunk during the day on holidays. The atmo-sphere at home was depressing, and the quarrels never ceased. I had no doubt that everything hap-pening in my family had gone the wrong way because my father was no good. I used to throw things at my drunken father, break his drinking glass, and I would scuffle with him. I vented my anger on him that way.

But gradually I felt sad about the way I had vented my anger on him, and my anger turned to tears. While I despaired over my father, I was given the opportunity to guide K, who did love her father, to become a member of Rissho Kosei-kai. Every time I came into contact with her, I won-dered why I could not accept my father as she did. Furthermore, in the course I had taken before, I recalled having learned that human beings wished to be born and chose their parents before birth. I recalled these teachings as I thought about these matters. Just then, I noticed that I had had an ideal image of a father, and that I had rejected my father

Spiritual JourneyBeyond the theoretical framework, I would like to practice the teachings and convey them so that I can treat each person as important and valuable and make people happy.

As a result, I arrived at my present state of mind. More than anything else, I realized the importance of my family and love for my father. I owe it all to my friend K.

I was convinced that I could feel happy when I had a point of view of the Buddha, not of my own. Now I fully wish as many people as possible to experience this happiness. As I look over my past, the fact that everything didn’t go just as I wanted really was the working of the Buddha, because all of the difficulty was necessary for me. I really think so. I was assigned the role of the assistant head of the Young Women’s Group this month. From now on, while treating each of the activities as important along with the members of the Youth Group, I would like to learn the teachings more deeply. Beyond the theoretical framework, I would like to practice the teachings and convey them so that I can treat each person as important and valu-able and make people happy. We can look into ourselves. We can have joy and the discovery of various kinds of self-awareness. And all people are sure to find happiness in the teachings.

On this very day sixty-six years ago, the Founder enshrined the Eternal Buddha, those teachings themselves, here at Rissho Kosei-kai. And on this day, which marks the twentieth anni-versary of the President’s Inheritance of the Lamp of the Dharma, with the wish that the honorable Buddha will be enshrined in many homes, I con-clude this testimony to my faith.

as far inferior to my friends’ fathers. I recalled what Rev. Izumida, the minister, had said to me many times, whenever I talked about my father. He said, “There are definitely some reasons why he has to drink, and he must feel lonely when he drinks.” Looking back on myself, I had never real-ized he was lonely or tried to understand his thoughts. But after that, I asked him for some advice about things. I tried to have friendly chats with him. Then I came to see that he was self-effacing and gentle when he didn’t drink. I realized that my image of him had been distorted.

Last year a new minister, Rev. Takahashi, came to our Dharma center, and I asked him for guidance, because I was having a problem with a boyfriend. Rev. Takahashi taught me that my relationship with my father was the key to that problem. Then I became more and more aware of my relationship with my father. I recalled many things about it in the past. I felt sorry for my mother, and she and I always blamed my father for his behavior. When she and I went out and left him alone, he said noth-ing, but he looked happy when we came home. He never enjoyed drinking. No one cared about him, and he was left alone, but he never complained about it. He was so gentle that he let us do as we wished. I found that I had made him feel lonely.

One day I had to go to a bar where he was drink-ing and bring him home. When I saw him drunk there, I thought he was bothering his co-worker who was with him. I apologized to him for my father’s behavior, but my father was not in fact bothering him. The co-worker said, “No such thing. Your father is an expert in his work and is a gentle person.” I was surprised by his words. For the first time, I realized that my father was appreci-ated by the people around him. I was really glad to know that, from the bottom of my heart. He usually is self-effacing and inarticulate. When he drank, however, he became very stubborn, and I hated him. But now I have come to love him as he is. Now I think I would like to marry a man like him. I never expected that my thoughts about my father would change so completely. The reason that I can now see him as he is, is because my previous view of him was distorted by my own selfish preconcep-tions. So I tried to get past those preconceptions.

SHAN ZAI welcomes your religious experience. Why don't you share your religious experience through SHAN ZAI with people all over the world? Please send the script or inquiry to the e-mail address; shanzai.rk-international@kosei-kai.or.jp. Thank you!

It happened last month. I was in an airplane, returning to Japan permanently after 11 years of missionary life in the US. I noticed a boy curiously staring at me from the set in front. He looked to be around one year old. I must admit that I’m not the kind of person who enjoys entertaining a small child like this one. Recognizing that my ego was working to keep me from interacting with this child, I switched my attitude to a kind of “transcendental mode.” “Hey, what’s your name?” I asked him, smiling.

Do you know what happened next? It is surprising. His Japanese mother spoke to me, and we had a friendly chat. I found out that she is a professor of linguistics at California State University, which is near the RKINA center. I also learned that she got her Ph.D. at Cornell University, where I also studied years ago. Further-more, I discovered that she is a good friend of Professor Matsubara, who invited me twice last year to deliver a lecture on Founder Niwano to his class at Berkeley. If I had stayed in my comfort zone, I would have been totally unaware of this great connection between the child’s mother and me. How important it is to plant a good seed at each moment!

I found out that the name of the boy is Thomas in English, and Touma in Japa-nese. She explained that the Kanji characters of “Touma” represent Tou (Light) and Ma (Truth). “See the world in the light of the Dharma; deliver to the world the light of the Dharma.” I thought the Truth had generously spoken to me as I was on my way to take on new responsibility to deliver the Dharma to all beings in the world.

Let’s walk the Way of the Buddha, and together make a wonderful New Year!

ColumnKeep Walking the Way

Shoko Mizutani

When a person’s life is in danger, he or she will pray for help, and do whatever is necessary to stay alive. It is quite natural for one to behave this way in such extreme circumstances. But to truly devote one’s whole self to serving the Buddha, and to dedicate one’s life to the service of others, is quite difficult. Even if we do begin to do something positive, people around us may not understand what we are doing; we may even sometimes be criticized for our acts of goodwill.

This was the situation with our fellow members of WCRP (now Religions for Peace) when they tackled the relief activities for the Vietnamese refugees. However, if we coura-geously take that first step, and wholeheartedly devote ourselves to serving others, the time will certainly come when people understand our intention. The religious people’s action eventually called the world’s attention to the issue, and the Japanese government also began to take a positive attitude towards what we were doing.

Originally, there were no roads on the earth. But one person started walking, and the next one followed. The number of people walking gradually increased, and a path was formed. Let us continue to walk the Buddha way together, without getting off track, as we have walked for the forty years since our organization was founded.

*This guidance was on the Kosei Shimbun newspaper issued in 1978.

If One Person Takes a First Step

From Kaisozuikan 5 (Kosei Publishing Co.), pp. 26 27

The Teaching of Founder Nikkyo Niwano

SHAN ZAI　Vol. 76 (January 2012) Published by Rissho Kosei-kai International, 　Fumonkan, 2-6-1 Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, 166-8537 Japan TEL: 03-5341-1124 FAX: 03-5341-1224 E-mail: shanzai@kosei-kai.or.jpSenior Editor: Rev. Shoko MIZUTANI Editor: Ms. Etsuko NAKAMURAEditorial Staff: Ms. Shiho MATSUOKA, Ms. Yukino KUDO, Ms. Kaoru SAITO, Ms. Mayumi ETO, Ms. Sayuri SUZUKI, Ms. Eriko KANAO, and Ms. Sachi MAKINO

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Rissho Kosei-kaiRissho Kosei-kai is a lay Buddhist organization whose holy scripture is the Threefold Lotus Sutra. It was established by Founder Nikkyo Niwano and Cofounder Myoko Naganuma in 1938. This organization is composed of ordinary men and women who have faith in the Buddha and strive to enrich their spirituality by applying his teachings to their daily lives. At both the local community and international levels, we, under the guidance of President Nichiko Niwano are very active in promoting peace and well-being through altruistic activities and cooperation with other organizations.

West Delhi

Chendirpuni

In accordance with previously announced personnel changes, Rissho Kosei-kai International began operating under a new administration on December 1st, 2011.

Rev. Shoko Mizutani, who had served as head of Rissho Kosei-kai International of North America (RKINA), was newly appointed to the position of director of Rissho Kosei-kai International. Rev. Mizutani brings to his new position abundant global experience, and a broad outlook gained through his engagement with the Dharma mission in the US. His valuable experience includes seven years as minister of Rissho Kosei-kai Los Angeles, in addition to his time as head of RKINA. Moving forward, Rev. Mizutani will bring to his assignment a fresh

Introduction of Newly Appointed Chief Staff Members

Rev. Yoshio Sasagawa,Minister of

Rissho Kosei-kai of Bangkok

approach that will benefit branches around the world.In addition, Rev. Norimasa Aritomi, minister of Rissho

Kosei-kai of Bangladesh, will also serve as director of the South Asia Division. Rev. Yoshio Sasagawa, who had served as an administrative staff member at Rissho Kosei-kai International of South Asia, was appointed to the post of minister of Rissho Kosei-kai of Bangkok. Rev. Takashi Yoshizawa, who had been chief operations officer of RKINA, has been appointed as the new director of RKINA. Under this new administration, Rissho Kosei-kai International will continue to support branches all over the world, and help to facilitate their further growth.

Rev. Takashi Yoshizawa,Director of Rissho Kosei-kai Internationalof North America

Rev. Norimasa Aritomi,Director of

South Asia Division

Rev. Shoko Mizutani, Director of Rissho Kosei-kai International

We promote the observance of each family’s “Memorial Service Day” so that members will prac-tice the ideal of always being aware of the Buddhist altar as the center of their lives. In Rissho Kosei-kai, each family’s memorial service day refers to date of the enshrinement of the Gohonzon in that family’s home.* On the date of our family’s Memorial Day, we show our respect to our ancestors and strive to realize that we are caused to live by the Original Buddha. Let us recite the sutra with all family members together on each monthly memorial day.

The Significance of the Memorial Service Day for a Family

[opening] Memorial Service Day for a Family (Revision). . . . . . . . . . . . . May you all be present among us, and know our deep devotion.

We solemnly conduct the memorial service

(a) of the enshrinement of the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni for the ( ) family, ( ) Chapter, Rissho Kosei-kai ( )

(b) initiating into Rissho Kosei-kai the ( ) family, ( ) Chapter, Rissho Kosei-kai ( ) .

[Note: Please recite phrase (b) for members who have not yet had the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni enshrined.]

We earnestly pray that through our recitation, the profound, wonderful meaning of the Great Vehicle Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma will be received by the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni and by the spirits of our ancestors as our respectfully made offering.

(Strike the gong and chant the O-daimoku once.)

* If your memorial day falls on the date of enshrinement of the Guardian Spirit, you don’t need to change your memo-rial day. Those members whom the Gohonzon has not been enshrined may choose the date of enrollment in Rissho Kosei-kai as their monthly memorial day.

[closing] Memorial Service Day for a Family (Revision). . . . . . . . . . . . . And the countless heavenly spirits in the ten directions.(Strike the gong once)

Now, on this occasion of the memorial day for the ( ) family, with renewed awareness of our having received the precious gift of life from the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni, and with respect for our ancestors, we again vow to devote ourselves to the bodhisattva way.

We reverently offer and transfer the merits of this recitation to

The spirits of all our ancestors and. . . . . . . . . . . . . ○ Homage

(Chant the O-daimoku three times.)

Rissho Kosei-kai International5F Fumon Hall, 2-6-1 Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, JapanTel: 81-3-5341-1124 Fax: 81-3-5341-1224

Rissho Kosei-kai International of North America (RKINA)4255 Campus Drive, University Center A-245 Irvine, CA 92612, U.S.A.Tel: 1-949-336-4430 Fax: 1-949-336-4432e-mail: info@rkina.org http://www.buddhistcenter-rkina.org

Branch under RKINARissho Kosei-kai of Tampa Bay2470 Nursery Rd.Clearwater, FL 33764, USATel: (727) 560-2927e-mail: rktampabay@yahoo.comhttp://www.rkina.org/tampabay

Rissho Kosei-kai International of South Asia (RKISA)201 Soi 15/1, Praram 9 Road, Bangkapi, HuankhwangBangkok 10310, Thailand Tel: 66-2-716-8141 Fax: 66-2-716-8218e-mail: thairissho@csloxinfo.com

Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Church of Hawaii2280 Auhuhu Street, Pearl City, HI 96782, U.S.A.Tel: 1-808-455-3212 Fax: 1-808-455-4633e-mail: info@rkhawaii.org http://www.rkhawaii.org

Rissho Kosei-kai Maui Dharma Center1817 Nani Street, Wailuku, Maui, HI 96793, U.S.A.Tel: 1-808-242-6175 Fax: 1-808-244-4265

Rissho Kosei-kai Kona Dharma Center73-4592 Mamalahoa Highway, Kailua, Kona, HI 96750, U.S.A.Tel: 1-808-325-0015 Fax: 1-808-333-5537

Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Church of Los Angeles2707 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, U.S.A.Tel: 1-323-269-4741 Fax: 1-323-269-4567e-mail: rk-la@sbcglobal.net http://www.rk-la.com

Rissho Kosei-kai Dharma Center of San Antonio6083 Babcock Road, San Antonio, TX 78240, U.S.A.Tel: 1-210-561-7991 Fax: 1-210-696-7745e-mail: 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 Francisco1031 Valencia Way, Pacifi ca, CA 94044, U.S.A.Tel: 1-650-359-6951 Fax: 1-650-359-5569e-mail: rkksf@sbcglobal.net

Rissho Kosei-kai of Seattle’s Buddhist Learning Center28621 Pacifi c Highway South, Federal Way, WA 98003, U.S.A. Tel: 1-253-945-0024 Fax: 1-253-945-0261e-mail: rkseattle@juno.com

Rissho Kosei-kai of Sacramento

Rissho Kosei-kai of San Jose

Rissho Kosei-kai of Vancouver

Lotus Buddhist Circle851 N. San mateo Drive, San Mateo, CA 94401, U.S.A.

Rissho Kosei-kai of New York320 East 39th Street, New York, NY 10016, U.S.A.Tel: 1-212-867-5677 Fax: 1-212-697-6499e-mail: koseiny@aol.com

Rissho Kosei-kai of Chicago1 West Euclid Ave., Mt. Prospect, IL 60056, U.S.A.Tel & Fax: 1-847-394-0809e-mail: murakami4838@aol.com

Rissho Kosei-kai Dharma Center of Oklahoma2745 N.W. 40th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73112, U.S.A.Tel & Fax: 1-405-943-5030e-mail: ok.risshokoseikai@gmail.com http://www.rkok-dharmacenter.org

Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of Dallas

Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of Klamath Falls724 Main St., Suite 214, Klamath Falls, OR 97601, U.S.A.Tel: 1-541-810-8127 Rissho Kosei-kai, Dharma Center of Denver4340 E Kentucky Ave #345 Glendale, CO 80234, U.S.A. Tel: 1-303-319-2765 Fax: 1-720-876-4534Rissho Kosei-kai Dharma Center of Dayton446 “B” Patterson Road, Dayton, OH 45419, U.S.A

Risho Kossei-kai do BrasilRua Dr. José Estefno 40, Vila Mariana, São Paulo-SP, CEP 04116-060, BrasilTel: 55-11-5549-4446 Fax: 55-11-5549-4304e-mail: risho@terra.com.br http://www.rkk.org.br

Risho Kossei-kai de Mogi das CruzesAv. Ipiranga 1575-Ap 1, Mogi das Cruzes-SP, CEP 08730-000, BrasilTel: 55-11-4724-8862

Rissho Kosei-kai of Taipei4F, No. 10 Hengyang Road, Jhongjheng District, Taipei City 100Tel: 886-2-2381-1632 Fax: 886-2-2331-3433

Rissho Kosei-kai of TaichungNo. 19, Lane 260, Dongying 15th St., East Dist., Taichung City 401 Tel: 886-4-2215-4832/886-4-2215-4937 Fax: 886-4-2215-0647

Rissho Kosei-kai of Jilung

Rissho Kosei-kai of TainanNo. 45, Chongming 23rd Street, East District, Tainan City 701 Tel: 886-6-289-1478 Fax: 886-6-289-1488

Rissho Kosei-kai of PingtungNo. 4, Lane 60, Minquan Road, Pingtung City,Pingtung County 900Tel: 886-8-732-1241 Fax: 886-8-733-8037

Korean Rissho Kosei-kai423, Han-nam-dong, Young-San-ku, Seoul, Republic of KoreaTel: 82-2-796-5571 Fax: 82-2-796-1696e-mail: krkk1125@hotmail.com

Korean Rissho Kosei-kai of Pusan1258-13, Dae-Hyun-2-dong, Nam-ku, Kwang-yok-shi, Pusan,Republic of KoreaTel: 82-51-643-5571 Fax: 82-51-643-5572

Korean Rissho Kosei-kai of Masan

Branches under the HeadquartersRissho Kosei-kai of Hong KongFlat D, 5/F, Kiu Hing Mansion, 14 King’s Road, North Point,Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of ChinaTel: 852-2-369-1836 Fax: 852-2-368-3730

Rissho Kosei-kai of Ulaanbaatar39A Apartment, room number 13, Olympic street, Khanuul district, Ulaanbaatar, MongoliaTel & Fax: 976-11-318667e-mail: rkkmongolia@yahoo.co.jp

Rissho Kosei-kai

Overseas Dharma Centers 2012

Rissho Kosei-kai of Sukhbaatar18 Toot, 6 Orts, 7 Bair, 7 Khoroo, Sukhbaatar district, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Rissho Kosei-kai of Sakhalin1-72 Amyrskaya Street, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk693000, Russian FederationTel & Fax: 7-4242-43-78-56

Rissho Kosei-kai (Geneva)1-5 route des Morillons P.O Box 2100 CH-1211 Geneva 2 SwitzerlandTel: 41-22-791-6261 Fax: 41-22-710-2053e-mail: rkkgva@wcc-coe.org

Rissho Kosei-kai of the UK

Rissho Kosei-kai of VeneziaCastello-2229 30122-Venezia Ve ItalyTel: Contact to Rissho Kosei-kai (Geneva)

Rissho Kosei-kai of Paris86 AV Jean Jaures 93500 Tentin Paris, FranceTel: Contact to Rissho Kosei-kai (Geneva)

Rissho Kosei-kai of Sydney

International Buddhist Congregation (IBC)5F Fumon Hall, 2-6-1 Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, JapanTel: 81-3-5341-1230 Fax: 81-3-5341-1224e-mail: ibcrk@kosei-kai.or.jp http://www.ibc-rk.org/

Rissho Kosei-kai of South Asia Division85/A Chanmari Road, Lalkhan Bazar, Chittagong, BangladeshTel & Fax: 880-31-2850238

Thai Rissho Friendship Foundation201 Soi 15/1, Praram 9 Road, Bangkapi, HuaykhwangBangkok 10310, ThailandTel: 66-2-716-8141 Fax: 66-2-716-8218e-mail: info.thairissho@gmail.com

Rissho Kosei-kai of Bangladesh85/A Chanmari Road, Lalkhan Bazar, Chittagong, BangladeshTel & Fax: 880-31-2850238

Rissho Kosei-kai of DhakaHouse No.465, Road No-8, D.O.H.S Baridhera, Dahka Cand.-1206, BangladeshTel: 880-2-8316887

Rissho Kosei-kai of MayaniMayani Barua Paya, Mirsarai, Chittagong,Bangladesh

Rissho Kosei-kai of PatiyaPatiya, Post offi ce road, Patiya, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Rissho Kosei-kai of DomdamaDomdama, Mirsarai, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Rissho Kosei-kai of Cox’s BazarPhertali Barua Para, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Rissho Kosei-kai of SatbariaSatbaria, Hajirpara, Chandanish, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Rissho Kosei-kai of LakshamDupchar (West Para), Bhora Jatgat pur, Laksham, Comilla,Bangladesh

Rissho Kosei-kai of RaozanWest Raozan, Ramjan Ali Hat, Raozan, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Rissho Kosei-kai of ChendirpuniChendirpuni, Adhunagor, Lohagara, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Rissho Kosei-kai of Sri Lanka382/17, N.A.S. Silva Mawatha, Pepiliyana, Boralesgamuwa, Sri LankaTel: 94-11-2826367 Fax: 94-11-4205632

Rissho Kosei-kai of PolonnaruwaNo. 29 Menik Place, Kaduruwela, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Rissho Kosei-kai of Habarana151, Damulla Road, Habarana, Sri Lanka

Rissho Kosei-kai of GalleNo.43 Melban Park Akmeemana, Galle, Sri Lanka

Rissho Kosei-kai of Kandy-wattegama12 Station Road, Kapugastota, Sri Lanka

Branches under the South Asia DivisionDelhi Dharma CenterB-117 (Basement Floors), Kalkaji, New Delhi-110019, IndiaTel: 91-11-2623-5060 Fax: 91-11-2685-5713e-mail: sakusena@hotmail.com

Rissho Kosei-kai of West DelhiA-139 Ganesh Nagar, Tilak NagarNew Delhi-110018, India

Rissho Kosei-kai of KolkataE-243 B. P. Township, P. O. Panchasayar, KOLKATA 700094, India

Rissho Kosei-kai of KathmanduWard No. 3, Jhamsilhel, Sancepa-1, Lalitpur,Kathmandu, NepalTel: 977-1-552-9464 Fax: 977-1-553-9832e-mail: nrkk@wlink.com.np

Rissho Kosei-kai of LumbiniShantiban, Lumbini, Nepal

Rissho Kosei-kai of Singapore

Other GroupsRissho Kosei-kai Friends in Shanghai1F, ZHUQIZHAN Art Museum, No. 580 OuYang Road,Shanghai 200081 China