In their own homes, seated before their Buddhist altars, members of the Rissho Kosei-kai recite important passages from the Threefold Lotus Sutra. Through this self discipline members express veneration, reflecting on the content of the passages of the sutra, learning to expand their circle of love and gratitude towards all beings, both senient and nonsentient.

 

    By reciting the Lotus Sutra, every morning and every evening, veneration is also shown to our ancestors

 

    It is easy and natural for us to be grateful to those who nurture and love us - those in our immediate family - but it is difficult to feel gratitude to our more distant ancestors. Yet all these lives are part of an unbroken chain to our own existence. When we look back on the evolutionary process that gave birth to life on earth we see that all things in the universe are related and truly exist in interrelationship with one another. The Earth, originally filled only with melted lava, metals, gas and vapour, evolved into life forms, which divided into plants and animals which include mankind. Thus we can realise that wood, stone, metal, all other substances as well as living beings in this world all have the same ultimate ancestors as our present selves. Truly all the universe is permeated by the same life energy of the Eternal Buddha.

 

    Through sutra recitation Rissho Kosei-kai members become keenly aware of this truth. Members become aware of the necessity to express gratitude by living in harmony with all existence.

 

   Yet the highest _expression of veneration is the practice of the 'Way of the Bodhisattva.'

 

     Members of the Rissho Kosei-kai devote themselves to attaining enlightenment through guiding others and sharing the teachings of the Buddha. Through compassionate group counseling, known as hoza, trained lay leaders teach how to make practical use of the teachings of the Buddha in everyday life. Seminars and lectures on Buddhist doctrine may be held.

 

    Most importantly, through such organisations as the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) and the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP), members of Rissho Kosei-kai emphasize the common aspects of mankind rather than our differences.

Members take an active part in conferences all over the world. RKK members recognise the every religion contains the teaching that 'mankind is originally one.'  We are all brothers and sisters. We are all bound by a common desire for human happiness and salvation.

 

     Members of Rissho Kosei-kai believe that it is religion alone that can provide the impetus for creating a peaceful world, by transcending the differences of race and nationality.