September 2009

Italian Theologians Visit Rissho Kosei-kai

On September 23, 10 members of the Facoltà Teologica dell'Italia Centrale (Theological Faculty of Central Italy), in Florence, Italy, visited Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters in Tokyo and conferred with President and Mrs. Nichiko Niwano in the Great Sacred Hall. Dr. Michio T. Shinozaki, president of Rissho Kosei-kai's Gakurin Seminary, was also present. The group of theologians came to Japan in September to deepen their understanding of Japanese religions through exchanges with members of various religious organizations. Their visit to Rissho Kosei-kai was arranged by Dr. Cinto Busquet, a Catholic priest and a member of the Focolare Movement, whose book about Founder Nikkyo Niwano, Incontrarsi nell'Amore (Encounter in Love), was published in September. On behalf of the Italian group, the faculty's president, Dr. Andrea Bellandi, explained the purpose of their visit, based on their interest in lay Buddhism as practiced by Rissho Kosei-kai members in their everyday lives. He reported that the group had visited Hiroshima September 17 and learned more about the horror and tragedy caused by the atomic bomb by listening to an account of an atomic bomb survivor who is a member of Rissho Kosei-kai and by visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

In response to a question from one of the Italian theologians about concepts common to Christianity and Buddhism, President Niwano said that Christian love is similar to Buddhist compassion and added that what is important for adherents of both religions is to embody love and compassion through their religious faith. In an auditorium of the Great Sacred Hall, the Italian theologians saw a video about Rissho Kosei-kai's faith and activities. They also met with Rev. Takeshi Kawabata, director of the General Affairs Bureau; Dr. Shinozaki; and several other headquarters officers and discussed human resource development in religious organizations and other topics.

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