The Precious Stupa of the One Vehicle dedicated to the late Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, stands in the garden of the Horin-kaku Guest Hall at Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters in Tokyo. The stupa, which was named after the founder’s posthumous Dharma title, “The Founder Nikkyo, Great Teacher of the One Vehicle,” was completed in October 2000 in commemoration of the first anniversary of the passing of the founder. The stupa symbolizes for Rissho Kosei-kai members a permanent abode of the founder’s preaching of the Dharma of the One Vehicle, the teaching of the Truth that he continued to propound and practice throughout his lifetime.

Founder Niwano died of natural causes on October 4, 1999 at the age of ninety-two. Following his encounter with the Lotus Sutra in 1935, he dedicated the rest of his life to the welfare of all humanity through the sutra’s teaching.

The founder’s relics were installed inside the stupa by Rev. Nichiko Niwano, the founder’s eldest son and the president of Rissho Kosei-kai. The three important Rissho Kosei-kai Dharma instruments – a book of sutra readings, a sash with the o-daimoku written on it, and Buddhist prayer beads – were also installed in the stupa.

President Niwano emphasized the importance of the earnest attitude of seeking the Way, which he said would allow members to hear the founder’s preaching of the Dharma inspired by the natural beauty of the garden surrounding the stupa, with its trees, flowers, and cascading water, when they visit the site. As the disciples of Shakyamuni built stupas to contain his relics 2,500 years ago following his entrance into nirvana, the Precious Stupa of the One Vehicle was erected as one of the undertakings dedicated to the memory of the founder, who rendered a lasting contribution as an outstanding Buddhist to disseminate the spirit of the Lotus Sutra throughout the world. The stupa allows members to always cherish his memory and express thanksgiving toward him.