April 2012

President Niwano Welcomes Buddhist Monks from Bangladesh

Officers of the Bangladesh Sangharaj Supreme Bhikkhu Council visited Japan April 1-10 to learn about the general situation of Buddhism in Japan. Fourteen monks led by the council's general secretary, Ven. Shasana Priya Mohasthabir, visited Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters in Tokyo April 7-8.

On April 7 the group heard a presentation on Rissho Kosei-kai by Rev. Yukimasa Hagiwara, deputy director of Rissho Kosei-kai International. He outlined the organization's history and the life of its founder, Rev. Nikkyo Niwano. On April 8 they attended a ceremony in the Great Sacred Hall celebrating the Buddha's birthday. They then moved to the Horin-kaku Guest Hall and were welcomed by President Nichiko Niwano; Rev. Yasutaka Watanabe, chair of the Board of Trustees; Rev. Shoko Mizutani, director of Rissho Kosei-kai International; and Rev. Norimasa Aritomi, minister of Rissho Kosei-kai of Bangladesh and director of the South Asia Division. Ven. Dharma Priya Bhikshu, the council's chief advisor, said that they had learned more about the Lotus Sutra of Mahayana Buddhism through their tour of Rissho Kosei-kai. President Niwano said that he wished to devote himself to further practice of the Buddha's teachings through further exchanges between monks and laypersons.

Rissho Kosei-kai of Bangladesh has had close relations with the Bangladesh Sangharaj Supreme Bhikkhu Council. During April 1-4, Bangladeshi monks stayed at the Kyoto Dharma Center and visited the temples Kiyomizudera and Todaiji and learned more about the traditional sects of the Japanese Buddhism.

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