When We Are Called, Let's Clearly Reply “Yes ... - Rissho Kosei-kai

Sensitivity to Suffering
Haven’t we all had an experience like this? We try to guide a
person to the Dharma, hoping that he or she will connect with it;
but the person says, “I really don’t have any problems, so I guess
I don’t need the Dharma”. This leaves us disappointed.
There are many people who think, “I don’t really encounter
any suffering in life.” This is because their perspective is too
narrow, and they only think of themselves, or their own family.
Even when it seems like there is no suffering in one’s immediate
vicinity, if a person broadens their view to include the office,
society, and nation, he or she can’t say that there is no suffering
in their midst. The problem is the self-centered mind that says “I
only care about myself, so I don’t care about other people.” If
one thinks like this, he or she will certainly meet many obstacles.
There is a people who say, “When I have a problem, I’ll learn
to develop faith,” but by then, it will be too late. For example, a
car can’t just stop suddenly when you want it to stop. You have to
step on the brake gradually before you want to stop the car from
moving. Then you can stop the car at the place where you want it
to stop.
It is important for us to have an attitude of caring about the
suffering of other people and society in general. Having such an
attitude will function as preventive medicine against our own
suffering.
From “Kaisozuikan 3”(Kosei Publishing Co.) P216-217
Translated by Rissho Kosei-kai International
A ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the
founding of Rissho Kosei-kai in the United States was held
on July 31st and August 1st. Rissho Kosei-kai President
Niwano was an honored guest at the event. The ceremony
reportedly marks the first time in the 50 year history of
RKK-US that so many members, representing the entire
country, gathered together in one place. The faces of all
participants were ablaze with great joy and determination.
A video shown at the ceremony demonstrated to participants
the great potential of furthering their Dharma mission
in America. One of the members featured in the video, Dr.
Jane Perri, established a branch in Oregon’s Klamath Falls
Dharma Center on her own; Dr. Perri hopes to build a circle
of friends who she can share the Dharma with. Dr. Perri
literally built this branch from the ground up. She began her
work by researching the community, and determining the
needs of the people there. Next, she located a room on the
city’s main street in which to open the branch, and placed
some decals on her car to advertise the branch’s address
and the details of Dharma classes. Gradually she increased
the number of her participants. Now, she has helped 15
people become members. This summer, Dr. Perri will be
leaving for Ohio to start her new life there. She already has
found and trained her replacement in Klamath Falls. And she
is going to remodel a room of her new place in order to open
a new branch in Ohio. Her story mirrors perfectly the rising
up of the bodhisattvas of the earth as described in the Lotus
Sutra.
(Kotaro Suzuki)
Rissho Kosei-kai International Branches