STORIES

Valerie Hines, from Atlanta, U.S.A., is a singer. While shopping one day, she noticed a store assistant wearing an interesting pendant. Her curiosity piqued, she was full of questions, "What's that? Is it Buddhist? Can I go to your temple?" She talked about how she had pursued truth for a long time and had read plenty of Buddhist books, but what she lacked was someone to guide her. Valerie joined Shinnyo-en right way, but her new "guide" told her, "You are a Buddhist now, but it's not a title. You have to put the teachings into practice in order to really be a Buddhist."

"I was a Christian all my life," Valerie related, "And I prayed a lot. But it was only for my own sake. Now I pray to be given support so that I can help people. And I've become so happy. It's like a flower opening."

Valerie remembers when she was a little girl and how, as an African-American, she could not use the same bathroom as white girls. Through visiting the temple, she was motivated to start praying equally for all souls, friends and foes alike, and she learned to extend unconditional love to others regardless of what had happened in the past. She feels her encounter that day in the store was a big gift given to her. She is optimistic about life and sure that every difficulty can be overcome. Today, in her work and in her personal life, Valerie tries to infuse her words and music with something that will spark joy in other people's hearts.

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Yueh Ting Chen is originally from Taiwan but is now living in Chicago, U.S.A. She first heard about Shinnyo-en from a sister-in-law, but she thought it was just a Japanese religion and could not feel that it had anything to do with her. She basically ignored it until a few years later, when her sister-in-law moved in and they lived together for 9 months. In having to drive her to the temple, she was invited in and felt that the atmosphere was comfortable to be in. She thought, "It doesn't seem like bad religion," and started to go regularly.

Yueh Ting's elder sister, who is Roman Catholic, also related her experience. She had more difficulty accepting the teachings, until one day, she saw a Shinnyo-en follower had enshrined both the Buddha and Jesus in his home altar. She had been afraid the two religious traditions would conflict with each other, but afterwards, she came to feel that if Jesus and Gautama Buddha had known each other personally, they would not have clashed. Now she enjoys visiting both the temple and church.

In seeing various people from different places going to Shinnyo-en, Yueh Ting said, "Shinnyo-en may have started in Japan, but it's actually for anyone in any place in the world."

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Paul Valdez was born in San Francisco but his family traces its roots to Hawaii and the Philippines. In getting to know someone he met at a fish market, and through the warm atmosphere he felt at the temple, Paul decided to do more than just read about Buddhism.

One of the things that his practice taught him was about gratitude. Returning home one day, out of the blue he said to his parents, "Thank you very much for raising me." It's something he had never thought of saying out loud. Over time, as first he, and then his parents, changed through their practice, they felt closer and more harmonious, "There was more understanding and more expression of our feelings."

What he had been taking for granted became precious. "Ordinary" things became extraordinary gifts, like his family's good health. "Feeling pure gratitude was what I found so miraculous," Paul said. "This was the saving power of Shinnyo-en, as I felt it." He added, "Everyone has problems and struggles. That's part of life. But now, I view them as wake-up calls, as opportunities to learn and grow from. I think I'm finally beginning to understand what Buddhists mean when they say, 'turn suffering into joy.' "

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Siriwardane Jayantha is from Sri Lanka and owns a supermarket. One day, a customer told him about Shinnyo-en, and the person's story got him interested in finding out more. He had studied Sri Lankan Buddhism and for about half a year, based on his knowledge and prior experiences, he asked numerous questions, everything from conceptual ideas to the little details of practice and the temple services. He was relentless and learned many things.

But what Siriwardane also soon realized was the preciousness of putting theoretical concepts into practice in daily life. By sharing what he had learned so that others could also benefit, he saw not only his own circumstances change for the better, but also witnessed many instances of other people becoming happier, some of them even experiencing what they felt were miracles.

Siriwardane's joy is apparent as well as infectious. He said even his employees at the supermarket now try to make customers happy by really listening to them.

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Tariq Syed lives in Munich, Germany. After noticing a positive change in one of his roommates, he opened up to him and found he had started visiting a Buddhist temple. Tariq was curious, but initially hesitant because of his Muslim faith. He was relieved to find out that people do not convert to Buddhism-they simply endeavor to apply its teachings. They don't give up their prior faith or have to believe in any another deity. So, wanting to tackle the destructive habits that were causing him much suffering, he decided to visit to Shinnyo-en.

He began to view things from a different perspective: "I used to hate how my father was. I thought he was so bossy. I took any harsh word as criticism and couldn't feel his fatherly concern."
Tariq found he could learn a lot, such as his father's deep love.

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Alice Lindahl lives in Sweden and encountered Shinnyo-en through a colleague. He looked warm and happy, and she wished to be like him.

Before that, she had tried to be nicer to the others, but it was not easy. Without wanting to, she'd use harsh words and project an unkind attitude. She felt it almost impossible to change herself at a deep level.

But through her Buddhist practice, she became sure that, "Yes, it is possible!" Although there is no Shinnyo-en temple in Sweden, she can practice in her everyday environment at home, her working place, or anywhere she happens to be, by acting and listening to others with loving kindness. Through reflecting on her interactions with others and also on what gives her joy today, she feels that she has truly changed bit by bit. Her biggest wish is to create a calm space in her heart so that she can be more helpful to people and happy throughout her life!

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Charles Day is from England and works in finance. He originally began attending temple services not to practice, but to ensure that it was 'safe' for his wife, whose mother had introduced her to the practice when they were living in Hong Kong.

In the beginning, Charles knew nothing of Buddhism, but, "Little by little I found my suspicions to be unfounded, and I began to enjoy the company of the friendly people I met. My wife and I then began walking the path together."

"Prior to this, I had a tendency to be self-centered and arrogant. Due to time pressures at work and at home in wanting to spend time with my family as well, I tended to be short with people and appear uncaring. Through practice, I feel I am learning to change myself slowly, to appreciate the things I would have previously taken for granted, listen to other people's point of view, find balance, and am happier as a result."