November 2009

South African Peace Activist Visits Rissho Kosei-kai

Mrs. Ela Gandhi, a South African peace activist and a granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, visited Japan from October 30 to November 7 to call at Rissho Kosei-kai's headquarters and Dharma Centers and meet Japanese parliamentarians. Mrs. Gandhi is the founder of the Gandhi Development Trust and the Satyagraha newspaper. She is also a member of the board of trustees of the Commission on Religious Affairs of the African National Congress and an honorary president of the World Conference of Religions for Peace.

On November 4, Mrs. Gandhi attended the monthly memorial day for Founder Nikkyo Niwano observed in the Great Sacred Hall in Tokyo and addressed the assembly. She said Mahatma Gandhi met Dr. Homer A. Jack, the first secretary-general of Religions for Peace, and that Dr. Jack's influence led to the active involvement of her father and the mahatma's second son, Mr. Manilal Gandhi, in interreligious cooperation. She said also that in Mahatma Gandhi's ashram in Wardha, India, people recite the prayers of many different religions. She described the atmosphere of religious tolerance and compassion in the community in South Africa where she grew up, and said the close affinity between the religious teachings she had absorbed in childhood and those of Founder Niwano made her feel close to Rissho Kosei-kai.

On the same day, Mrs. Gandhi had a dialogue with Rev. Kosho Niwano, president-designate of Rissho Kosei-kai, in the Horin-kaku Guest Hall. Rev. Niwano praised Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent movement for Indian independence and said she believed that Mahatma Gandhi felt deep faith in the humanity of all people, as did her grandfather, Founder Nikkyo Niwano. Mrs. Gandhi responded that she believed that both Mahatma Gandhi and Founder Niwano discerned the buddha-nature in all people. She added that drawing out the good in every human being is important and that religion should take the lead in such an effort. Their dialogue extended to the activities of the World Conference of Religions for Peace, and Mrs. Gandhi and Rev. Niwano agreed on the responsibility of people of religion to continue their contributions to protect the global environment and promote peace.

On November 5, Mrs. Gandhi addressed the students of Kosei Gakuen Boys' and Girls' junior and senior high schools in Fumon Hall on the spirit of nonviolence as taught by Mahatma Gandhi. The students' parents and teachers, and staff members of Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters, also attended.

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