July–August 2004, Volume 31
Paths to Reconciliation
Essay
Reconciliation through Loving Your Adversary
by Yoshiaki Sanada
If we do not strive to follow the way of God, how can we abandon vengeful hatred of our enemies and achieve forgiveness and reconciliation?
The Reconciliation Process within the Acholi Tribe in Northern Uganda
The 21st Niwano Peace Prize Acceptance Address
by John Baptist Odama
The 21st Niwano Peace Prize was awarded to the Acholi Religious Leaders’ Peace Initiative (ARLPI), which works to end conflict and promote social justice, human rights, and peaceful coexistence among the peoples of the East African country of Uganda. The ARLPI is an organization in northern Uganda in which adherents of various religions and sects, including Islam and Christianity (Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican), work together. Since its establishment in 1998, it has followed the path of nonviolence to end armed conflict, nurture human resources for the task of creating peace, and provide assistance to war victims through the work of over 400 volunteers, including its core membership of religious leaders, as well as individual staff members, peace committees in various districts, and peace supporters. The prize was presented in Tokyo on May 11. The following is the acceptance address by His Grace John Baptist Odama, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gulu and the current chairman of the ARLPI.
Commentary
Building a World of True Peaceful Coexistence
by Masao Higa
What the world needs now is a kind of ethnocultural symbiosis in which peoples of different cultures can coexist peacefully, recognizing and respecting the differences, and pursuing a better understanding of one another.
Essay
Knowing How to Be Content: The Way of Life of Kanzawa Toko
by Shoji Tatsukawa
Japanese Religion and Culture
“Vengeful Spirits” That Created Peace: A Message for Today
by Kazuhiko Komatsu
Belief in vengeful spirits has weakened and is unlikely to revive. But people’s imaginative power is still confined within the narrow limits of their society, indifferent to those outside.
The Stories of the Lotus Sutra
Devadatta and Violence
by Gene Reeves
There are many different versions of a wide variety of stories about Devadatta, but it is said that his evil led him to become the greatest enemy of the Buddha.
Reflections
Creating a World of Harmony
by Nichiko Niwano
We are acutely aware of the importance of promoting harmony—not only in interactions with others, but also in world situations. What exactly is harmony when seen from the perspective of religion? What should we bear in mind in our daily lives to help us achieve a world in which it exists? The following is a translation of a recent interview with Rev. Nichiko Niwano that originally appeared in Rissho Kosei-kai’s Japanese periodical Yakushin.
Salvation Always Has a Cause
by Nikkyo Niwano
Interview
Religion Empowers Us to Be Alive Now
An Interview with Juan Masia
Buddhist Living
Learning to Live with a Stronger Faith
by Charlotte Higa
This article is based upon the speech that Ms. Higa delivered at Rissho Kosei-kai of Hawaii on March 14, 2004. In it, she relates how practicing her faith helped her to live her life with more confidence.
Gotama Buddha (67)
Kusinagar, the Place of the Buddha’s Death
by Hajime Nakamura
The desolate site of Kusinagar leaves no doubt that it is authentic. Excavations have revealed the Nirvana Stupa erected in memory of the Buddha’s demise.
