by Masuo Nezu

These are personal reminiscences about the late founder Rev. Nikkyo Niwano from his former chief secretary, Masuo Nezu, now in retirement. During his years of service, the writer accompanied Rev. Niwano on dissemination tours, interreligious cooperation activities, and peace promotion work, both in Japan and overseas. This series recalls not only heartwarming episodes from the founder's everyday life, but also the spiritual insights derived from his words and deeds.

1

A Smiling Face

Founder Nikkyo Niwano at the Great Sacred Hall in Tokyo in 1978.

In March of 1988, Rissho Kosei-kai celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding. Former United States President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn visited Founder Niwano at the Horin-kaku Guest Hall of Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters in Tokyo at that time. After enjoying a chat, they went into the main hall where a photographic exhibition of the organization's past 50 years was on display. Mr. Carter said to Rev. Niwano, "From the photographs of the founding period, I can see that you have always had a smile on your face, even in your younger days."

When people who met Founder Niwano anywhere in the world spoke about his personal magnetism, they always referred to his smile, saying such things as: "He has a smiling face to which people are drawn unconsciously" and "His radiant smile communicates warmth instantly." They often spoke highly about his smile. A frequent reaction was that it seemed to call forth a response beyond words from the hearts of others.

There are people who yearn to have such a smile themselves. "The Niwano smile" was a term often used by Japan's mass media. Rev. Niwano exemplified a life filled with joy, shown by his own smile. This series of reminiscence begins with episodes involving his smiling face.

Shakyamuni Wore the Broadest Possible Smile

"When I am teaching the Dharma, I would be happy to continue all day long or even overnight," Founder Niwano often said. Teaching the Dharma to members, Rev. Niwano was always happy and deeply absorbed in the task. The more attentive the audience was, the wider his smile became.

It is said that Shakyamuni Buddha smiled radiantly when his disciples asked him good questions. "You have raised a very good question! I was just going to talk about that!" Saying this, he then smiled. "In the Lotus Sutra," Rev. Niwano pointed out, "Shakyamuni Buddha himself answered the question with great joy. He praised the question not only once, but twice saying, 'Excellent! Excellent!' Then Shakyamuni Buddha broke out in the broadest possible smile. His face beamed with joy." When Rev. Niwano said this kind of thing, he himself broke out in a gleeful smile.

Rev. Niwano was often visited by people from the mass media to obtain interviews. One day, the editor of a Japanese quality monthly magazine visited him at the Great Sacred Hall at the headquarters complex in Tokyo, accompanied by an interviewer. The editor was impressed by Rev. Niwano's open-minded frankness and endearing manner. He seemed to feel the warmth of the founder's personality. "Facing Founder Niwano is just like sitting in front of a mirror," he said. After the interview, he revealed that through listening to Rev. Niwano's talk about faith, he felt as if his imperfections and bad attitude were being reflected in a mirror. Before leaving, he expressed interest in Rissho Kosei-kai by visiting the Great Sacred Hall and the Horin-kaku Guest Hall.

At about this time that same editor was invited by an American university as a visiting lecturer. He felt some anxiety about going and about taking his family. Later, it was said that he had been able to decide to do so with confidence after having the opportunity to meet with Rev. Niwano. A few years later, he happily related to a Rissho Kosei-kai staff member, "My son said to me not long ago 'It's good to see you smiling so much these days, Dad.'"