A Warm, Friendly Home
Rev. Nichiko Niwano
President of Rissho Kosei-kai

Children Are a Divine Gift

It has long been said that children grow up following their parents’ example. Children imitate the attitudes, behavior, and habits of their parents.

Even though this may be so, most parents persuade themselves that their children are their own possessions and seek to raise them according to their own wishes.

Children, however, are a gift from the Buddha—they are children of the Buddha. Children are bestowed on parents by the Buddha so that they will be raised as people who live in accordance with the Buddha’s wishes and with compassion.

Having recognized that this is the true meaning of parenthood, we can observe our children’s feelings fairly and always face them with an open mind.

Even when our children are suffering, we can help them to examine the root of their suffering and find the way to end it.

Dr. Hiroshi Nishida, a pediatrician specializing in the treatment of the newborn, says that “people who were treated kindly as children learn what true kindness is” (quoted in the Yomiuri Newspaper, February 26, 2004).

From February through May of this year he has been taking part in the first leg of a marathon running tour over the old Silk Road, calling on adults to create an environment that helps children all over the world to better cultivate their minds and that ensures their happiness. He expects to undertake the second leg of his tour after returning to Japan for a while to continue his work.

His plan is to “enlarge the circle of kindness with his own two feet” and I think he can teach us something important about our attitudes to child rearing.

A Home with a Buddhist Altar at Its Center

When each of us interacts with our children and grandchildren, we should try to be fair at all times and not be absolute in what we say.

This is because we want our children to be independent and grow up to be adults who are capable of making the right choices.

Just before I leave the house and after I come back home, it is my custom to pray before our Buddhist altar.

My grandchildren have seen me doing this and recently, after I return home, they have begun joining me in such prayer.

To the casual observer this may seem like a minor matter, but when they repeat it day after day my grandchildren are learning something precious for being human by developing the practice of daily prayer.

The home should be a place of comfort and relaxation, but at the same time it is the fundamental place for perfecting the human character.

Let us make our homes warm, friendly places, with our Buddhist altar as the focal point so our children will live with easy minds, secure in the affection of their parents and be able to grow up to be adults who follow the Buddha’s heart and are always considerate of others.

Kosei 06/2004

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