Symposium in New York Commemorates Centennial of Founder Nikkyo Niwano's Birth
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On December 14, 2006, the World Conference of Religions for Peace and
Rissho Kosei-kai's New York Branch held a symposium on the theme "A
Life of Compassion and Peace" at the Japan Society in New York to
commemorate the centennial of the birth of Founder Nikkyo Niwano, who
was a cofounder of Religions for Peace. Some 150 people, including
United Nations officials, religious leaders, and people working for
NGOs, attended the event, which included a Commemorative Ceremony and
panel discussions. During the ceremony, Archbishop Dr. Celestino Migliore, a permanent observer for the Holy See at the United Nations, described Founder Niwano as a pioneer in interfaith dialogue for peace. Explaining that religion has become enormously important in UN activities, he said international opinion is coalescing around the idea that there is a close connection between faith and culture, and therefore between cultural dialogue and interreligious dialogue. Then a message from Ambassador Nobuaki Tanaka, UN under-secretary-general for disarmament affairs, was read out by his special assistant Mr. Ioan Tudor. Referring to Founder Niwano's address at the first Special Session of the UN General Assembly Devoted to Disarmament (SSD I) in 1978, in which he urged the superpowers to work for general and complete disarmament, Ambassador Tanaka said, "The vision of Founder Niwano is still alive and continues to inspire people in their work at the United Nations." The ceremony was followed by two panel discussions, on "Buddhist Approaches to Shared Security" and "Interreligious Cooperation for Peace." Dr. William F. Vendley, secretary-general of Religions for Peace, moderated the first discussion, in which four panelists took part: Dr. Sallie B. King, professor of philosophy and religion at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia; Dr. Christopher S. Queen, lecturer on the study of religion and dean of Students and Alumni Relations for Continuing Education in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Dr. Kenneth Kraft, professor of religious studies at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and Rev. Kyoichi Sugino, assistant secretary-general of Religions for Peace. Dr. King, co-editor with Dr. Queen of Engaged Buddhism: Buddhist Liberation Movements in Asia, described how the Sri Lankan Engaged Buddhist group known as the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement has worked to end the civil war in Sri Lanka by looking for ways to "shared security" in the world today. She said, "The Sarvodaya Movement draws upon the Buddha's Four Noble Truths in an innovative way, using them not only for their spiritual guidance but also as a template to shape their thinking." Dr. Queen placed Founder Niwano among the great thinkers and activists who contributed to the rise of Engaged Buddhism in our lifetimes, including the Dalai Lama, Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar of India, and Thich Nhat Hanh of Vietnam. (The texts of the speeches by Dr. King and Dr. Queen are on pages 34-37.) Dr. Kraft, the author of In the Wheel of Engaged Buddhism: A New Map of the Path, quoted from some of Founder Niwano's writings, saying Engaged Buddhism is rooted in classic Mahayana teachings, and that for Founder Niwano there was no difference between the two. Rev. Sugino analyzed Founder Niwano's interpretation of the Lotus Sutra based on the concept of the One Vehicle and gave an overview of how the founder's vision of interreligious cooperation has been put into practice in Japan through the Brighter Society Movement and overseas through international interreligious forums, including Religions for Peace. The second panel session was coordinated by Dr. S. Wesley Ariarajah, professor of ecumenical theology at Drew University School of Theology, Madison, New Jersey, who is a former deputy-general-secretary of the World Council of Churches. The panelists included Dr. Donald W. Mitchell, professor of comparative philosophy of religion at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; Dr. William F. Vendley; and Rev. Kyoichi Sugino. Dr. Mitchell gave an overview of dialogue and cooperation between the Focolare Movement and Rissho Kosei-kai, which started in 1979 with the encounter of Ms. Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement, and Founder Niwano. Describing the interreligious dialogue between the two movements, Dr. Mitchell said it has consisted of four major types: (1) the "dialogue of life," together in interfaith friendship, (2) the "dialogue of spirituality," with members participating in one another's spiritual communities, (3) the "dialogue of theological discussion," to build bridges of mutual understanding and appreciation, and (4) the "dialogue of collaboration," through which members work together to foster a more united and peaceful world. Dr. Vendley stated that the vision of Founder Niwano had given birth to Religions for Peace as an instrument of cooperation among religions. He then reported the results of the Eighth World Assembly of Religions for Peace, which was held in Kyoto in August 2006. This article was originally published in the April-June 2007 issue of Dharma World. |
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