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.

15

Thinking of Nothing but the Dharma

The photo was the first taken at the residence of the cofounder, Mrs. Myoko Nganuma, in May 1956 with a brand-new German camera that was presented by her to encourage staff members of the Kosei Shimbun newspaper.

The cofounder of Rissho Kosei-kai, Mrs. Myoko Naganuma, was introduced to the Lotus Sutra by Founder Niwano. However, once Rissho-Kosei-kai was underway she put all of her energy into disseminating the Dharma.

Mrs. Naganuma was known to everyone as "Myoko-sensei" (sensei meaning "teacher"). Rev. Niwano once reminisced about her this way: "Myoko-sensei was always thinking of others and devoted herself fully to the faith. She thought of nothing but the Dharma."

Even though she gave guidance to many people, it is said that Rev. Niwano still was the one who always needed to show new members how to arrange for the enshrinement of the sokaimyo, the symbol of faith, in their homes, which was the practice at that time.

When Rev. Niwano was traveling in many countries for activities related to the World Conference on Religion and Peace, from time to time he would reflect on and talk about the cofounder. One such recollection was about a divine revelation which had come to her, that "The truth and spirit of the Lotus Sutra will spread over all the world through Rissho Kosei-kai's efforts."

The episodes made known to me included the divine revelations through her and the dissemination work that the two of them conducted during Rissho Kosei-kai's founding period.

Rev. Niwano and the cofounder frequently took their meals together during World War II. That was because the other members of the Niwano family returned to Niigata Prefecture to live since Tokyo was being regularly bombed. Rev. Niwano remembered, "Once wartime conditions became severe, food shortages were common in Japan. Even so, Myoko-sensei would often manage to find some sake (Japanese rice wine) for dinner. I don't know where she got it. Nibbling on dried sardines and sipping sake, I would talk with her about the members we were guiding each day, and then together we planned on whom we were going to visit the following day. Chatting this way, we became increasingly enthusiastic about our mission and the Dharma flower bloomed in our hearts."

The fact that the cofounder unstintingly gave her possessions to others was recounted as an aspect of her compassionate character by people who knew her. "Throughout her whole life, Myoko Sensei was a woman of great compassion. Those who knew her had direct experience of her compassionate thought and action and the strengthening effect they had on religious faith. She frequently gave things away . . . She was very frugal in her own way of life . . . She wore her wooden geta clogs till they were level with the ground then made a reverent gesture and said a word of thanks as she burned them for firewood. It was her joy to see happiness on the faces of people to whom she unstintingly gave her own possessions." This is a passage which President Nichiko Niwano included in his book My Father, My Teacher (1982).

Myoko-sensei used to say, "Use harsh words when you must, but then buy the person a cup of sake." What she meant was, "Encourage people even when you're criticizing them." In her own life she was forever considerate, even when her words had to be severe.

Many times she admonished leaders of the organization for their poor attitudes. Because of her gentle and generous manner, however, they responded by pledging their greater determination and diligence to the Dharma.

Rev. Niwano said, "There aren't many like Myoko-sensei--who else can teach so much good by scolding?" Her generosity was not always accompanied by strong words. Early on, when she was working as a vendor of roasted sweet potatoes, she would sometimes delight a young laborer who would regularly come into her shop by saying, "After sweating so much you need a glass of water." Then he would be more delighted still when he put the glass to his lips; it would be sake! She loved to bring a smile to the face of others. It was an expression of her appreciation.

At the same time, she taught with wonderfully apt similes. She used to say, "When you give an offering (of money), send it off happily, with a little pat. It will come back to you and bring a friend along with it."

Rev. Niwano once said, "After she entered the religious life, needless to say such perceptiveness found its true fulfillment."