Paths to Interreligious Dialogue: The Teaching of the Lotus Sutra and the spirituality of focolare movement

Abstract

This essay explores two religious movements, one Buddhist and the other Christian, to show how both arrive at the site of interreligious dialogue. One is Rissho Kosei- kai, established by Rev. Nikkyo Niwano based on the teaching of Buddhism with a special focus on the Lotus Sutra. The other is the Focolare Movement, established by Chiara Lubich within the Catholic Church. Although both have different objects of devotion, teachings, modes of spirituality, practices and organizational structures, religious joy, a consequence of overcoming difficulties and suffering through faith becomes the common ground for a path to their sustained encounter of interreligious dialogue.