The Most Rev. Nichiko NIWANO

President Nichiko Niwano, the first son of Founder Nikkyo Niwano, was born in 1938. He entered the Faculty of Buddhist Studies at Rissho University in 1958. After graduating from the university’s Graduate School in 1968, he entered Rissho Kosei-kai and held the offices of head of the Dissemination Department and president of the Rissho Kosei-kai seminary.

On November 15, 1991, the birthday of Founder Niwano, he succeeded to the presidency in the ceremony of the Inheritance of the Lamp of the Dharma. Since President Niwano was inaugurated as president, he has continued to disseminate the teachings throughout Japan as well as in other countries.

He speaks about the Buddha’s wish for us to devote ourselves to the happiness of others and emphasizes the necessity of enriching our own inner spirituality.

Rev. Niwano firmly believes in walking on the Buddha’s Way side by side with the members of the Sangha. He called them to join with him as follows: “Putting our faith in the abilities inherent in everyone, I hope that we ourselves will steadily take steps forward as bodhisattvas, while by extension, making efforts to help raise as many bodhisattvas as possible.”

President Niwano is the president of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP/RfP) and a president of the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP). He has been vigorously active in interreligious cooperation with the WCRP and other organizations. His writings published in English include Cultivating the Buddhist Heart; Modern Meditations; The Inward Path; and My Father, My Teacher.