At the time of the Persian Gulf War in 1991 after Iraq invaded Kuwait, Rissho Kosei-kai's founder and then president, the late Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, was interviewed about Japan's postwar Constitution by the organization's Japanese-language magazine Yakushin. An extract from that interview follows.

The Persian Gulf War has raised many questions in Japan regarding the deployment overseas of troops from Japan's Self-Defense Forces, such as whether they should be involved in the transport of refugees, and as a result a subtle shift seems to be taking place in the way many Japanese interpret the nation's Constitution. I would like to ask you, as a Buddhist, to give us your thoughts about Japan's postwar Constitution.

I always think of the postwar Constitution as the wellspring of Japan's pride and hopes for the future. Its most important clause is Article 9, renouncing war: "Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes." For the first time in human history, a national law states that the country will never again engage in war. The Japanese have a lot of things to be proud of internationally, but I think this is the most important one.

Could you tell us a little more about what you mean by "most important"?

I say this because the deepest wish of people everywhere is to be free from war. I think that one aspect of how we measure the degree of human social development is the extent to which large-scale violence is used. In primitive times, small groups of people repeatedly fought one another over food supplies, or inflicted violence on one another in petty quarrels, or sought revenge if they had been attacked. This type of behavior gradually diminished as civilization advanced.

But at the same time the scale of violence changed. Whereas in the distant past the fighting took place between families or villages or tribes, as civilization developed, battles broke out on a larger scale, between states and nations. So when Japan as a nation renounced war, this was surely a sign of its intellectual and cultural advancement. That is why I think it is something of which Japan should be proud.

Yet many people assert that the Constitution was imposed on Japan by the Allied Occupation, after our country was defeated in the Asia-Pacific War.

Yes, many people do say that. However, I think we have to look at the matter from a different angle. That is, because the war and the subsequent defeat were such terrible experiences for the Japanese, the people realized fully how deeply precious peace is. This realization is invaluable, I think. That is why in all the years since the end of the war the Japanese have resolutely defended the new Constitution.

On the surface we can say that it was "imposed," but in fact what is called the "MacArthur draft" was very close to the adopted text that was prepared by a group of Japanese scholars. That formed the basis of the version sent by General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, to the National Diet for revision and approval. So we cannot honestly say that it was completely imposed on us.

I think what is far more important than the details of how the Constitution came into being is what it actually says.

I understand what you mean. Why do you feel that the Constitution is the wellspring of Japan's hopes for the future?

After the Asia-Pacific War, Japan's future seemed very bleak. Many of the nation's cities had been reduced to bombed-out rubble, its industries and factories were destroyed, and the people suffered severe shortages of food and other necessities. So it was not surprising that people were asking themselves what type of future awaited them. It was at this time that the new Constitution was promulgated, and Japan became the first country ever to have officially renounced war. Thoughtful people felt this was a ray of hope. Wallowing in defeat, they found in it the one thing in which they could take pride in the eyes of the world, and this gave them the courage to begin again. That is why I say the Constitution was the wellspring of Japan's hopes for the future. The Japanese people must always continue to have such pride and hope, not only now but in times ahead, as well.

It is well known that there is some disagreement concerning the interpretation of Article 9 of the Constitution. Leaving aside the disagreement, in your view what should be our understanding of the spirit of that article?

I cannot do better than quote the preamble to the Constitution.

We, the Japanese people, desire peace for all time and are deeply conscious of the high ideals controlling human relationship, and we have determined to preserve our security and existence, trusting in the justice and faith of the peace-loving peoples of the world. We desire to occupy an honored place in an international society striving for the preservation of peace, and the banishment of tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance for all time from the earth. We recognize that all peoples of the world have the right to live in peace, free from fear and want.

What do you think? Doesn't this recall the spirit of Mahayana Buddhism? I think a sentence like "[We] are deeply conscious of the high ideals controlling human relationship" reflects exactly the spirit of the Lotus Sutra.

Engaging in power politics still holds a strong attraction for some people in the world. It exerted a great influence on President Saddam Hussein of Iraq, for example, who abused the ideals of justice and truth. The result of this is the criticism that it is totally irresponsible to simply verbally extol peace but do nothing to ensure it.

What then should be the attitude of people of religion? The Buddha called anybody who was able to teach him something "a good friend," even someone like the treacherous Devadatta, who tried several times to kill him. And Bodhisattva Never Despise, who appears in chapter 20 of the Lotus Sutra, revered even those who threw stones at him, saying, "You will one day become buddhas." Such a sublime spirit will finally bring harmony to human relationships.

This ideal is expressed in terms of the perfection of everything on earth in chapter 21 of the Lotus Sutra, "The Divine Power of the Tathagata":

Then with various flowers, incense, garlands, canopies, as well as personal ornaments, gems, and wonderful things, they all from afar strewed the saha-world. The things so strewn from every quarter were like gathering clouds, transforming into a jeweled canopy, covering all the place above the buddhas. Thereupon the worlds of the universe were united as one buddha-land.

This passage describes the world as being united. It is not just a colorful description but an image of an ideal human society that can be realized in the future. If we take a good look at how world events are progressing, we can clearly see that we are now slowly moving in that direction. Countries around the world are endeavoring to act according to the Charter and resolutions of the United Nations, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union is largely over, and Germany has become one nation again. The European Community is also assuming greater importance.

You would see the Persian Gulf War as a historical retrogression then? It seems extremely ironic that Iraq's weapons should have been sold to that country by some of the world's great powers.

Yes, in that sense any country can still be overwhelmed by delusions. Stockpiling weapons is the delusion of using your assets to strengthen your nation's armed power. It is because Japan turned that delusion in the direction of peace that it has become as economically successful as it has. Truly, "delusions are inseparable from enlightenment."

It is truly inspiring that Japan has been able to maintain its Peace Constitution in a world in which delusions flourish among nations.

I am certain there have been many difficulties in achieving this. The important thing is to overcome them. Japan has come as far as it has and I am sure it will continue to uphold these ideals in the future. To do so, however, Japan has to build relationships of mutual trust with other countries. This is nothing but the practical application of the Buddhist teachings of dependent origination and that all things are devoid of self.

What should be our attitude to the opinion that the actual conditions in most other countries are still far from this ideal?

It is true that most countries are suspicious of one another and that as a result they continually try to increase their armaments. Thus if one country has nuclear weapons, others want to acquire them as well. Trust is lacking; only doubt, intimidation, deceit, and plotting seem to prevail. And yet, at the same time, we have the declaration to the world as national policy through our Peace Constitution that Japan is a country that trusts other countries and lives by that trust. The country has continued to make that declaration until now. It is highly praiseworthy, is it not?

Japan is said to be not very good at diplomacy, but surely it is creditable to avoid lies, deceit, and plotting. If Japan continues to act in good faith, that eventually will be recognized by international society, and Japan will hold a place of honor in it. I am convinced that Japan must continue to be seen as a peaceful and civilized nation, and I would like to see it strive to help other countries recognize that delusions are inseparable from enlightenment.

This article was originally published in the January-March 2008 issue of Dharma World.

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