The Buddha's Compassion Prepares Me for My Mission

by Mae Takamoto

Buddhist Living, No. 42
from Dharma World, Jan./Feb. 2003

A third-generation Japanese-American woman describes how here membership in Rissho Kosei-kai of Hawaii taught her, after many years of personal unhappiness, how the Lotus Sutra can help all of us to change our lives for the better.
 

Mae Takamoto's grandparents were originally from Okinawa, but moved to Hawaii to start a new life. Mae has lived on the island all her life.  She tells in her testimony of faith about the unhappiness in her early marriage she suffered when her mother-in-law, with whom she lived, refused to accept her. 

Unable to endure the treatment she was receiving, she returned to her mother's home with her two-year-old daughter Lori, and sadly went through with a divorce from her husband. At this time, a longtime childhood friend who was member of Rissho Kosei-kai, invited her to an English-language hoza session where she was able to share her problems with the other members who listened sympathetically and offered her guidance. She learned that personal suffering is an opportunity received from the Buddha to reflect on oneself and to cultivate one's mind and heart. It took time for her to understand the true meaning of the guidance she received, but she gradually was able to do so as she focused her efforts on sutra reading and other practices of the Buddhist faith. She was especially encouraged by the support of older members of Rissho Kosei-kai of Hawaii who taught her that although she could not change others, she would find her situation begin to change if she first changed herself. She became aware that her suffering, which went back to her difficult childhood with an abusive, alcoholic father, was caused in large measure by her own selfish views of life. 

There were still many troubled days ahead for Ms. Takamoto, but she persisted in her faith and slowly things began to improve. The company where she had been working part-time expanded and offered her a full-time job. Remembering the compassion that had been shown to her when she was troubled, she wanted to do the same for other friends and introduce them to the teachings.
 

Today she serves as the English missionary branch leader of Rissho Kosei-kai of Hawaii and wishes to open the path to the wonderful Lotus Sutra for more and more Americans.

Read Mae Takamoto's Dharma Journey in its entirety.

Go to Dharma Journey Archive.