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.

23

A Lifetime Dedicated to Peace--
Meetings with U.S. President Jimmy Carter

It was on September 6, 1979 that Founder Niwano first met Jimmy Carter, then the president of the United States. The meeting was arranged just before the closing of the Third Assembly of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP III), which had been convened at Princeton, New Jersey.

"If we are serious about world peace, we should be appealing directly to the top," the founder said. "Since the WCRP conference is going to be held in the United States, let us try to schedule a meeting with President Carter."

Accordingly, Rev. Niwano set about it, with the cooperation of other WCRP officers. The plan came to fruition. During WCRP III, a so-called "Washington Day" was scheduled. It was arranged for all participants in the third assembly to visit the White House and meet with President Jimmy Carter, the leader of one of the two "superpowers" at that time. They wanted to discuss with him, in the name of the WCRP, what world religious leaders were striving to do, and what they hoped that he would do, for world peace.

On the morning of that day, a quite unexpected setback occurred. A major hurricane suddenly hit the U.S. East Coast. All the airports were closed. Many trees on both sides of the highway to Washington, D.C., were knocked down or damaged by the strong winds. Even veteran drivers hesitated to get behind the steering wheel. Under these circumstances, it took us many hours to travel just the few hundred kilometers to Washington in Rev. Niwano's car. Yet, as we arrived in the capital area, the storm passed and clear blue skies suddenly appeared.

On September 6, 1979, Rev. Nikkyo Niwano firmly shook hands with President Jimmy Carter of the United States (left), after their conversation on peace efforts with other WCRP officers at the White House in Washington, D.C.

The meeting with President Carter went very well. The WCRP officers asked him to think seriously about what the WCRP was trying to do for the cause of world peace. The president responded most positively. High hopes and broad smiles spread among everyone in the room. Rev. Niwano and Mr. Carter then shook hands warmly and the president placed his arm around Rev. Niwano's shoulders. Rosalynn Carter, the president's wife, also shook hands with each WCRP representative. Smiling, she spoke with Rev. Nichiko Niwano, then president-designate of Rissho Kosei-kai, as well as with Yoshie Niwano, his wife. A White House reception then took place, followed by animated, happy conversation among those who were present.

The drive back to the hotel in New York also took a long time. While the people in the car were happy about the events of the day, and continued to smile about them, Rev. Niwano added a sobering comment. Apparently thinking of the storm that had struck earlier in the day, he said, "On the way to Washington, I was chanting dharanis silently in the car." (Dharanis are chanted by Lotus Sutra devotees when seeking protection from possible hazards.)