Interreligious cooperation
All of Rissho Kosei-kai (RK)’s activities are based on the teachings of the Lotus Sutra: Truth is universal, and all religions are manifestations of that truth; all life springs from the same source; thus all people are related and belong to one family. The organisation’s dedication to dialogue and cooperation with other religions is a natural corollary of the teachings. This is why, ever since its founding, RK has sought to cooperate with other religions. RK believes that true peace can come about only through cooperation among religions, and leaders as well as members of RK are dedicated to working for a world in which people of all persuasions will be linked by bonds of friendship.
Members of Rissho Kosei-kai of the UK (RKUK) have opportunities to participate in various interreligious dialogues and actions through RK’s international network, including online programmes.
Religions for Peace
Religions for Peace (RfP), formerly called World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP), is the largest and most representative international multi-religious organisations with affiliated and legally registered multi-religious leadership platforms around the world. Accredited to the United Nations, RfP advances common action among the world’s religious communities for a comprehensive, holistic and sustainable peace, including peacebuilding, human development, social justice and harmony and environmental protection, at community, national, regional and global levels.
RK has been involved with RfP’s activities for world peace since its inception. In the 1960s Rev Nikkyo Niwano, founder of RK, strove to establish the World Conference of Religions for Peace with other religious leaders the world over. In 1970 the first world assembly of WCRP convened in Kyoto, Japan. World religious leaders met to share their goals and contribute to world peace in the spirit of interreligious cooperation. As of 2020, Rev Nichiko Niwano, President of RK, is an Honorary President of RfP. Rev Kosho Niwano, President-designate of RK, is a Co-moderator of its World Council.
For further information about Religions for Peace, please visit here.
Other Activities
RKUK promotes shared well-being across the globe by participating in interreligious activities based both in the UK and Europe.
For instance, we contributed to the thirty-fourth World Congress of International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) in Birmingham in 2014, where about three hundred delegates gathered from thirty countries. RK joined IARF in 1969.
In 2016, lots of RKUK members were invited to ‘Assisi 2016 – Thirst for Peace’ organised by the Community of Sant’Egidio to pray for peace together, where President Nichiko Niwano gave a speech at the opening ceremony representing Buddhist leaders.
Since 2016, RKUK has attended the Annual Ceremony to pray for World Peace and Reconciliation hosted by Three Wheels Temple in London with the representatives of the Church of England and the Buddhist Society as well as people involved as representatives of several international reconciliation groups and government officials.
Peace Activities
In Buddhism, there is the term ‘The Sangha in Four Directions’. It means that all people living in the whole world, from east and west, north to south, are one Sangha (fellowship) and that all people are siblings who share the same life. We are not able to live alone.
We live a life supported by family and friends, interconnected with a variety of people in a network that extends beyond local communities and countries. Through this, we are truly sustained by unimaginable blessings.
Kenji Miyazawa (1896–1933), a writer of children’s stories and poems who was devoted to the Lotus Sutra, wrote: ‘Until the whole world achieves happiness, there can be no individual happiness’. In keeping with the basic spirit of Buddhism as described by his words, we engage in various social and peace initiatives, praying for the happiness of all people in this world.
Donate-a-Meal Movement
One of Rissho Kosei-kai (RK)’s peace activities that continues to attract wide support is the Donate-a-Meal Movement which was officially inaugurated in 1974 in the spirit of empathy, prayer and generosity.
Members who participate in the movement forgo a meal on several days a month and make a donation, moved by compassion for people who are suffering with such problems as hunger, illness and natural disasters, and praying that our donations may help relieve their suffering and also contribute to world peace.
In the UK, the donation from members is pooled in an exclusive bank account and used as a part of RK Donate-a-Meal Fund for Peace for various projects in the world. In partnership with other religious communities including Religions for Peace, UN organisations, governments, NGOs and civil society groups, most of the funds go to such projects as reduction of poverty and hunger, education and human resource development, and emergency aid and reconstruction assistance.
Download Activity Report for 2013-2017
For non-RKUK members who would like to join the movement or extend the circle of compassion to your family and friends, please use the donation button below and select ‘Donate-a-meal Movement’.
Other Activities
RK strives for world peace through cultural projects and philanthropic campaigns.
For further information, please visit RK International.