Japanese Journal o f Religions Studies 1991 18/2-3 The Development of

first missionary to Thailand. From the very beginning his policy was to enter into dialogue with representatives of religious groups in Thailand in order to make known both the distinctive features of Sekai Kyuseikyo teaching and the cooperative intention of the organization. It was as serted early on that the goal of Sekai Kyuseikyo was both the spiritual and physical betterment of mankind，and that this would take practical form if welcomed by Thais. Fruitful contacts were made with leading Buddhists，including officials in the Departments of Education and Re ligion, and with the Chief Brahman. The missionary was especially in terested to learn from his contacts about points of common emphasis in belief and practice. He subscribed to the Sekai Kyuseikyo teaching that insights into ultimate Truth have been revealed to religious geniuses of any and every culture. Having established a sympathetic relationship with some high-ranking individuals, he went on to promote the foundation of an agricultural school in Fang, Northern Thailand.1 This opened in 1974 and offered training and accommodation to the sons of poor farmers in the area. It had already been established that such a scheme would be welcome, par ticularly in view of the aim of the Thai government to encourage alter native farming that might counter local temptation to grow crops for the drug trade. This scheme also suited Sekai Kyuseikyo's own philosophy, which stresses man’s intimate relationship with nature and promotes what is termed “Nature Farming. ” The principal of the school was a for mer senior official with the Thai Ministry of Education who had become a member of Sekai Kyuseikyo