One persistent theme throughout my life is faith. It’s something that’s always brought up in some way eventually. A question I remember being asked by a longtime member here in RK San Francisco was profound: Is faith inherent in us, or is it learned? It was a question that quickly flashed into my mind, tons of childhood experiences.

I used smoking as a way to calm my mind and avoid admitting my ill feelings toward my mother, and I thought that was the way of living that suited me most. But by the time I graduated from Hoju Vocational College, I came to realize that it was a garment that concealed the buddha-nature within me.

The daily sutra recitations have really improved my concentration. I have become much more patient. I have learned that all things are impermanent and that it’s important to cherish each moment. Five years ago, Emi told me to deepen my faith. Through my daily practice and efforts to evolve, this is precisely what happened.