Funeral Service for Founder Niwano

 

Nikkyo Niwano, founder of Rissho
Kosei-kai, was born in 1906 to a
farm family in Niigata Prefecture, in
northern Japan. As a child he was
deeply impressed by his
grandfather's and parents' kindness
to others. Their good examples
instilled in him a love of peace and
harmony and service to others.
Several years after leaving school,
he went to Tokyo to work and there
began studying and practicing
various spiritual disciplines.
Eventually, in one of the new
religious organizations, he heard a
series of lectures on the Lotus Sutra
given by Mr. Sukenobu Arai. In 1938, together with Mrs. Myoko Naganuma,
Nikkyo Niwano founded a lay Buddhist organization--Rissho Kosei-kai--to
help free people from suffering and to assist in establishing a peaceful world
through the teachings of the Lotus Sutra.

Believing that all religions spring from the same source, Founder Niwano has
met with people of religion the world over in order to further the cause of
world peace through interreligious cooperation. He dedicated himself to the
establishment of the World Conference on Religion and Peace(WCRP) and
the Asian Conference on Religion and Peace (ACRP). In 1994 he attended the
sixth assembly of the WCRP in Italy and presided at its opening session with
Pope John Paul II in the Vatican's Synod Hall. Further, in the past three
United Nations special sessions for disarmament,he called for world political
leaders to take steps for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

In 1979 he was awarded the Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in
Religion. In 1992 he was made Knight Commander with the Silver Star of the
Order of St. Gregory the Great by the Vatican. In 1993 he received the
Interfaith Medallion from the International Council of Christians and Jews.

His published writings in English include Buddhism for Today: A Modern
Interpretation of the Threefold Lotus Sutra, A Buddhist Approach to
Peace,Liftetime Beginner, Shakyamuni Buddha: A Narrative Biography, and
Invisible Eyelashes.

Funeral Services for Founder Niwano

Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, who was ninety-two years old, died at 10:34 A.M.
in the hospital affiliated with Rissho Kosei-kai and located near the
headquarters, where he had been receiving medical treatment. Death
came peacefully in the presence of family members and senior leaders of
Rissho Kosei-kai. The founder's eldest son, President Nichiko Niwano,
was at his bedside, holding his father's hand.

Founder Niwano first entered the hospital in September 1998, when he
was found to have contracted pneumonia. He recovered from that illness
completely, thanks both to the dedicated attention he received from his
family and the hospital staff and the heartfelt wishes of members
everywhere. His physical condition improved so greatly that he was able
to appear at special functions even though confined to a wheelchair. He
attended his ninety-second birthday celebration on November 15, 1998
in the Great Sacred Hall at headquarters, and on New Year's Day this
year he again visited the Great Sacred Hall to join in worshiping the
Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni enshrined there. Later he enjoyed a family
celebration of the new year at home. Two of his last public appearances
were at the traditional Setsubun bean-scattering ceremony to dispel
demons on February 3 and the celebration of the sixty-first anniversary
of Rissho Kosei-kai's founding on March 5.

Rev. Niwano then remained hospitalized for continuing treatment of the
infirmities of age, always closely attended by family members. His
condition suddenly took a turn for the worse on the morning of the day
of his death. Rev. Norio Sakai, Rissho Kosei-kai's chief director, and Rev.
Motoyuki Naganuma, former chief director and now a special consultant
to the organization, were among those present when he died. When the
chief of the hospital medical team solemnly announced the founder's
passing, President Niwano, still holding his father's hand, closed his
eyes, nodded slightly, and then expressed his gratitude to the doctors
and nurses for their devoted care.

News of the founder's death was soon conveyed to all Rissho Kosei-kai
branches throughout Japan and elsewhere in the world. It was broadcast
on an early afternoon television news program on the same day, and that
evening newspapers nationwide published obituaries hailing him as a
renowned Buddhist and dedicated pioneer in interreligious cooperation
for world peace. A number of commentaries and reminiscences praising
his unselfish leadership in promoting the cause of peace through
interfaith dialogue appeared on subsequent days. Religious leaders and
people from all walks of life in Japan were immediately joined by leaders
of religious groups and interfaith organizations in many countries in
expressing their condolences at the sad news.

Rissho Kosei-kai members in Japan and abroad paid tribute to the late
founder through recitation of the Lotus Sutra and special memorial
services, expressing their heartfelt gratitude for his lifetime devoted to
spiritual guidance for all people.

 

[Click here to read his writing]