This is the late Rev. Nikkyo Niwano's refreshingly candid account of his own life, from his childhood on a small farm in northern Japan, through his years of religious search, and finally to the founding and growth of Rissho Kosei-kai. In a modest, often thought-provoking text, both the public and private sides of the life of a modern religious leader are revealed with great warmth and honesty.

Contents

1. Juzaemon's Place

2. Things Learned Early

3. Two Trips to Tokyo

4. No Regrets

5. The Time Was Not Wasted

6. Two Eye Openings

7. Founding

8. Myoko Naganuma

9. The Practical Approach

10. An Account at the Pawnshop

11. Growth in Spite of War

12. Training and Trips

13. In Jail

14. Widening Fields

15. In the Service of the Smallest

16. Revelations

17. All Came Home

18. Living Apart

19. Incalculable Loss

20. From Without and Within

21. A New Phase

22. My Eldest Son

23. Recovery and Invigoration

24. In Other Lands

25. New Structure

26. An Act of Dedication

27. Delegation for Peace

28. A Starting Point

29. Holy Places

30. The Handshake of Pope Paul VI

31. Unity the Goal

32. Three Full Days

33. Steps in the Right Direction

34. The Open Gate

35. The Brighter Society Movement

36. Even a Small Lamp of Hope

37. Memorable Visitors

38. Steadiness

39. Duty Before Personal Feelings

40. Leuven

41. Better than Treasures or Traditions

42. The Echo of "Excellent, Excellent"