At that first meeting, Reverend Masuda handed me a book. He asked me to read each chapter daily and come to the Dharma Center after completing each one. The book was Buddhism for Today, written by Founder Nikkyo Niwano. I read each chapter with excitement, and every day, I went to the Dharma Center to discuss the book's contents. I truly enjoyed these sessions. Reverend Masuda taught me that “life is suffering,” and because of the suffering, we are able to stop, think, and im

I abused the trust others placed in me, and I neglected to make time with my daughter a priority. I abused my body, my temple. I made choices I was deeply ashamed of, which led to my divorce after almost fifteen years of marriage. Following the divorce, I entered a very dark period in my life and turned to alcohol and drugs for comfort.

My interest in Buddhism began around the time I retired from the Air Force in 1992, when I started a career as a pilot with Southwest Airlines.

I was brought up in a small town in North Carolina. My family expected the youth to be educated, well-mannered, and to know some form of spiritual guidance. North Carolina is commonly known as the “Bible Belt,” so guidance is typically rooted in Christianity.

"We are Receiving the Precious Gift of Life"