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.

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