by Masuo Nezu

"When he purchased souvenirs for his grandchildren, he didn't want to trouble the clerks to show him this and that or to bring items from elsewhere in the shop. He bought things displayed in the showcase, as they were easy to remove. On such an occasion I felt that he showed consideration for anyone that he met.

On August 6, 1983, Rev. Niwano, not paying attention to the surrounding scenic beauty, enthusiastically disseminates the Buddhist Dharma to members, on an excursion boat near Onuma Park in Hokkaido.

"When we stay in a hotel, we are apt to think, 'We are guests.' However, Rev. Niwano taught us, 'We had better behave so that the hotel staff is happy to have us stay with them and will want us to come back.' Throughout that trip, I became determined to accept every chance to meet others as a good opportunity and to make my best efforts to likewise be a good opportunity for others.

"When I was close to Rev. Niwano, the atmosphere always seemed bright and heart-warming. Never, not even once, did the people around him feel unpleasant. Even when one of us made a mistake, he didn't blame us, but brightly cheered up the person who had made the mistake. I felt that though he may not preach the Lotus Sutra in so words, he made us understand the meaning contained in the sutra by his deeds and behavior.

"During the two years from 1990, I accompanied him five times on domestic tours. My mother was very happy and thankful that her son could have such opportunities, something she had not expected. So far I have been doing my duty while thinking that this may be my very last such opportunity. By thinking in this way, I can devote myself fully to my assigned tasks, intending not to have any regrets later. If I think there will be 'a next time,' my sense of gratitude may be weakened."

Later this man became Rev. Niwano's last chauffeur and drove for him for some years.

This series of articles was originally published in Japanese in 2000 under the title Kaiso Zuimonki: Egao no Ushirosugata.