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.

11

As cited in one of the ancient sutras, Shakyamuni Buddha taught the following about diligence:
"If you make the effort wholeheartedly, there isn't anything you cannot achieve. Therefore, diligence is important. Even a small stream, if it flows continuously, will some day wear a hole in a solid stone.

"Buddhist practice is the same. If you only practice once in a while, even if you do it until you are tired out, you will not achieve much. It is also like starting a fire by rubbing two sticks together. If you stop before they get hot enough, it will be impossible to start a fire. Continuously practicing wholeheartedly, without any negligence, is called 'diligence.'"

Founder Niwano had many things to say about diligence. After referring to the parable of the rich father and poor son in chapter 4, "Faith and Understanding," of the Lotus Sutra, he said, "If we diligently practice the teachings and follow the tenor of the Buddha's thought, he will give us, his children, every treasure he has." (At the ceremony for the 22nd anniversary of the founding of Rissho Kosei-kai in 1960)

"The diligence taught as one of the Six Perfections is not to back down. Always step forward. This is most important." (At a meeting of staff members of Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters in Tokyo in 1961)

"The saha world is the land where suffering has to be patiently endured. Patiently do good deeds and accumulate their virtues, then, even if only little by little, try to keep on doing good deeds. Never give up. (In a sermon on the anniversary of Shakyamuni's Entrance into Nirvana in 1975)

"Being diligent until yesterday but not being so today is not good. If you did good deeds yesterday, today you would be more diligent in doing so. Continuously doing good deeds, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow too, is proper diligence." (To the members of a group pilgrimage to Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters in Tokyo in 1977)

He taught and exemplified the mental attitude for religious faith through his own deeds: "Do not let your faith be like a fire that burns rapidly and soon cools down. Always be like water that flows evenly. Practice steadily and assiduously. That is diligence."