March-April 2003, Volume 30(PDF)

Spiritual Friendship

Essays

Spiritual Friendship across Faiths by Elizabeth J. Harris

Elizabeth J. Harris is the secretary for interfaith relations for the Methodist Church in Britain, based in London. From 1986 to 1993 she lived in Sri Lanka, where she completed her doctorate in Buddhist studies.

Religious Dimension in Sri Lanka’s Peace Process by Jehan Perera

An active worker for domestic peace in his country explains that the civil conflict there is primarily the result of ethnic, not religious, differences.

Jehan Perera is a director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, promoting a negotiated settlement of ethnic conflict in the country. He is also secretary of the People’s Action for Free and Fair Election, an election monitoring organization. He contributes to national newspapers and magazines as a political commentator.

My Way to Refusal by Ishay Rosen-Zvi

In August 2001, Ishay Rosen-Zvi served time in an Israeli military prison for refusing to report for military reserve duty in the occupied territories. Soon after, he joined a group called Courage to Refuse, which is composed of Israeli reserve officers and soldiers, most of whom have already refused military service in the occupied territories and who were sent to prison for various periods. What he witnessed in the occupied territories sheds some light on the complexity of conscientious objection in a democracy and the ordeal of being in opposition with his own faith community.

Ishay Rosen-Zvi is professor of ancient Jewish literature at the University of Judaism, Los Angeles, and Tel Aviv University. He is a member of Courage to Refuse in Tel Aviv.

A Religious Approach to Peace through Liberation of Our Hearts and Minds by Deshabandu Bogoda Premaratne

It is impossible to construct any permanent, everlasting “self” out of the impermanent conditions that are continually arising and dying. Whether we commit ourselves to becoming arahats or bodhisattvas, may we gain the wisdom that leads to peace. This article was originally an address delivered by Deshabandu Bogoda Premaratne at the Rev. Nikkyo Niwano Commemorative Seminar held by the Inter-faith Foundation of Sri Lanka on October 5, 2003.

Deshabandu Bogoda Premaratne has served as principal of the Royal College, Colombo, and commissioner of examinations for the government of Sri Lanka. He is a founding member of the Sri Lanka Conference on Religion and Peace, affiliated with the WCRP. He served as secretary general of the Asian Conference on Religion and Peace for five years and continues to chair the national chapter.

Reflections

The True Meaning of Happiness by Nikkyo Niwano

This essay is part of a continuing series of translations from a volume of inspirational writings by the late founder of Rissho Kosei-kai. Dharma World will continue to publish these essays because of their lasting value as guidance for the practice of one’s faith in daily life.

Nikkyo Niwano, the late founder of the Buddhist association Rissho Kosei-kai, was an honorary president of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP) and was honorary chairman of Shinshuren (Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan) at the time of his death in October 1999.

The Importance of Character Building by Nichiko Niwano

At a time of international anxiety and tension, society’s first priority should be the right kind of education for the younger generation.

Nichiko Niwano is president of Rissho Kosei-kai and the Niwano Peace Foundation, a president of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP), and vice-chairman of Shinshuren (Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan).

The Stories of the Lotus Sutra

Dharma Teachers by Gene Reeves

Anyone who explains even one word contained in the Lotus Sutra to another is doing the Buddha’s work, and is considered a Dharma teacher. Not only can we all be Dharma teachers, we can also all become bodhisattvas with the good fortune to one day attain buddhahood.

Gene Reeves is currently studying, teaching, and writing on Buddhism in Tokyo. A consultant and teacher at Rissho Kosei-kai, he was recently a research fellow at Rikkyo University. Before coming to Japan in 1989, Dr. Reeves was the dean of Meadville/Lombard Theological School and professorial lecturer in the Divinity School of the University of Chicago.

Buddhist Living

One Day, One Life–Together with the Sangha by Katsue Hattori

A member of Rissho Kosei-kai learns from her own painful experience that true salvation involves learning the correct way to view ourselves and others.

Katsue Hattori is a member of the Kokura Branch of Rissho Kosei-kai on Kyushu.

Gotama Buddha (65)

The Salutations of the Mallas by Hajime Nakamura

Even though weary from illness, the Buddha did not ignore the bonds of friendship and took steps to extend greetings to old acquaintances.

The late Dr. Hajime Nakamura, an authority on Indian philosophy, was president of the Eastern Institute in Tokyo and a professor emeritus of the University of Tokyo at the time of his death in October 1999. This ongoing series is a translation of Gotama Buddha, vol. 2 (Tokyo: Shunjusha, 1992).

The Threefold Lotus Sutra: A Modern Commentary (75)

The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law
Chapter 7: The Parable of the Magic City (6) by Nikkyo Niwano

This is the seventy-fifth installment of a detailed commentary on the Threefold Lotus Sutra by the late founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, Rev. Nikkyo Niwano.