January 2010

Rissho Kosei-kai Opens Regional Center in Thailand

Rissho Kosei-kai International of South Asia (RKISA) was inaugurated in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 30 in the presence of Rissho Kosei-kai President Nichiko Niwano and four hundred other people. From Rissho Kosei-kai in Tokyo, Mrs. Nichiko Niwano, Rev. Yuji Numata, director of the Dharma Missions Bureau, and Rev. Kotaro Suzuki, director of Rissho Kosei-kai International attended. The special guests included Banjob Bannaruji, an advisor to the World Fellowship of Buddhists; Ms. Prateep Ungsongtham Hata, chairwoman of the Duang Prateep Foundation; and Mr. Chun Boctay, a representative of the Focolare Movement in Thailand. Rissho Kosei-kai members from South Asian countries and leaders of faith communities in Thailand also joined in the ceremony.

The ceremony began with a traditional Thai dance performed by local young women members and recitation of the Lotus Sutra led by Rev. Yasuhiro Hasegawa, director of RKISA and minister of Rissho Kosei-kai of Bangkok. President Niwano then delivered a Dharma talk, quoting the Buddha's words to his disciple Ananda: "Having good friends doesn't mean achieving just half of the sacred Way, . . . but the whole of the Way." President Niwano emphasized the importance of meeting with good friends in a sangha for mutual encouragement in walking on Buddha Way and diligent study of the teachings. He expressed his desire to provide more spiritual meeting places where friends in the faith can rest in both body and spirit. In this connection, he said the name of RKISA's auditorium, Zenyu Hall, derives from the Japanese word zenyu, meaning "good friends." He said he hoped Zenyu Hall would become a spiritual center where all South Asia members would become true friends in the faith, helping one another find genuine happiness through diligent study of the teachings.

Dr. Bannaruji then gave a congratulatory address, and the ceremony concluded with Rev. Hasegawa thanking all the participants.

After the inauguration ceremony, President Niwano planted a banaba tree (Queen's crape myrtle, Lagerstroemia speciosa) in the grounds of the new facility in honor of its inauguration.

The facility is adjacent to the Thai Rissho Friendship Foundation, which also houses the Dharma Center in Bangkok, on land donated by the foundation. The goal of RKISA is to develop as a new hub of dissemination work by local youth leaders of RKISA. RKISA will also offer training in the promotion of peace activities nationally and internationally. The facility includes a dormitory and cafeteria for trainees. It is also expected that the facility will be a key center for Rissho Kosei-kai to promote interreligious dialogue and cooperation, as well as its Dharma missions, in South Asia.

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