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.

18

It's a Fine Day Today--
Meetings with Dr. Dana M. Greeley

The Second Vatican Council raised Founder Niwano's expectations for religious cooperation from a mere possibility to a firm conviction. Besides his private meeting with the late Pope Paul VI, one other encounter is worthy of special mention. That was his meeting with the Rev. Dr. Dana McLean Greeley, with whom he joined in a devotion to peace activities. They shared a strong sense of solidarity.

On January 22, 1968, the Japanese-American Inter-Religious Consultation on Peace (which later gave birth to the WCRP--the World Conference on Religion and Peace) was held in Kyoto. Following that consultation, the Rev. Dr. Shin'ichiro Imaoka (then head of the Japan Free Religious Association) brought Dr. Greeley, at that time president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), to the Great Sacred Hall of Rissho Kosei-kai in Tokyo. There, both met with Rev. Niwano. Following up on their initial encounter in Kyoto, Rev. Niwano and Dr. Greeley talked for three hours, frankly and openly.

On January 25, 1968, Rev. Nikkyo Niwano had his first talk with Dr. Dana M. Greeley (left), with interpretation by the author (center), in the Great Sacred Hall at Rissho Kosei-kai Tokyo headquarters.

"Some people say that Unitarians are Christians, while others say they are not," the American religious leader remarked, reaching for a fact that might transcend individual faiths and sects.

"The goals of all religions are the same. All religious people should cooperate in their common tasks," responded Rev. Niwano.

Both discovered that, regarding their religious views, they had a great deal in common. With the joy which comes from finding someone of closely similar view, they shared the conviction that there was a bright future for religious cooperation. After seeing Dr. Greeley off, Rev. Niwano looked quite happy in the elevator on the way to his room. He said, "It's a fine day today."

"In one sense," Dr. Imaoka reminisced, "this encounter was very fortunate as well as dramatic." Having served as interpreter for both men, I have found that this day has remained unforgettable.

In July of 1969, the following year, Rev. Niwano attended an International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) Congress for the first time. It was the 20th World Congress, held in Boston. On that occasion, Rissho Kosei-kai formally became a member of the IARF. At this same congress, Dr. Greeley was elected president and Rev. Niwano was elected to be a trustee of the association, succeeding Dr. Imaoka as the representative from Japan.

Following that congress, the first Executive Committee meeting of the WCRP was held in Cambridge, Mass., near Boston. Both Rev. Niwano and Dr. Greeley attended. From then on, for two decades, they worked together, hand in hand, for religious cooperation and world peace, attending world assemblies and congresses of both the WCRP and the IARF, as well as U.S.-Japan bilateral conferences, United-Nations-related activities, and so on, and playing central roles in each of these gatherings.

The IARF historically has emphasized dialogue, whereas the WCRP has been more action-oriented. Each organization has its own characteristic features; however, both place great emphasis on religious cooperation as the axis around which their work revolves, and there are sundry other similarities as well.