August 2011

Delegates from Buddhist Association of China Visit Rissho Kosei-kai Headquarters

Twenty-four delegates of the Buddhist Association of China, headed by the association's new president, Master Chuan Yin, visited Rissho Kosei-kai's headquarters in Tokyo on August 28. After arriving at the headquarters, they visited the Precious Stupa of the One Vehicle, which houses relics of Founder Nikkyo Niwano. Master Chuan Yin then met President Nichiko Niwano in an anteroom of the stage of the Great Sacred Hall. Master Chuan Yin expressed deep grief over the disasters caused by the March earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan. He reported that the association held a memorial service for the victims on March 17 at Guangji temple in Beijing. Master Chuan Yin then addressed members of the Nagano Chuo Dharma Center in Nagano Prefecture, who gathered in the Great Sacred Hall during their group pilgrimage to the headquarters.

Master Chuan Yin credited his meeting with the pilgrims to the karmic connections formed when they studied the Lotus Sutra together on Sacred Eagle Peak in one of their past lives. Then, referring to the deep friendship between the association's past president, Mr. Zhao Puchu, and Founder Nikkyo Niwano, he said he hoped the cordial relationship between the association and Rissho Kosei-kai would grow ever stronger.

After Master Chuan Yin's address, the delegates again conferred with President Niwano in a reception room of the Great Sacred Hall. Also present were Mrs. Nichiko Niwano; Rev. Yasutaka Watanabe, chair of the Board of Trustees; and Rev. Masahiro Nemoto, director of the External Affairs Department.

Then they moved to Taisei Hall, an annex of the Great Sacred Hall, for further dialogue over a luncheon. In his welcoming address, President Niwano expressed his wish to maintain the two organizations' friendship for generations to come. Ven. Shi Yinshun, a vice president of the association, then delivered a speech, expressing his wish to make the most of the day's encounters and dedicate himself to Buddhist practice with Rissho Kosei-kai members. Then Rev. Watanabe addressed the Chinese delegates, saying he hoped to enhance the spirit of what Mr. Zhao called the "Golden Bond," or spiritual and cultural exchanges between Japanese, Chinese, and Korean Buddhists.

It was then announced that the Chinese translation of Buddhism for Today by Founder Niwano had been published by Shanghai Guji Publishing House. Two copies of the book were presented to Master Chuan Yin by Mr. Moriyasu Okabe, president of Kosei Publishing Company, which published the original Japanese edition.

While in Japan, the Chinese delegates also paid courtesy calls at the headquarters of other leading denominations of Japanese Buddhism, introducing the association's new president.

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