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The Buddha's Compassion Prepares Me for My Mission
Mae Takamoto

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

My name is Mae Takamoto. I am a member of Rissho Kosei-kai of Hawaii, which I joined nearly thirty years ago, in 1973. I am a third-generation Japanese-American. My grandparents are originally from Okinawa, and they immigrated to Hawaii, where I have lived all of my life.

In the early 1970s, the Hawaii Branch consisted mainly of Japanese-speaking people and local English-speaking people. The operations of the branch were conducted mainly in Japanese. In 2000, we formally established an English-language branch to enhance the English missionary section. I was honored to be assigned as the English missionary branch leader of the Hawaii Branch from January 1, 2001.

We began the new era of the English Missionary Branch by first organizing a missionary network system by assigning district leaders, group leaders, and division chairpeople. Our goal and mission is to be able to network efficiently and to spread the teachings to each individual member and further, to grasp and understand each member’s current situation, their troubles and problems, and to be able to assist them positively through the sharing of the teachings. The branch ceremonies, special programs, and seminars are held in the English language; monthly duties are now assigned by districts, and we also have prayer services and hoza group counseling in English.

The first goal of our English-language section is not to be in conflict with the teachings and the way of practice as taught in the Japanese-language section, but to study and understand the essential and basic aspects of the teachings and to practice what we learned in the English language. In that way, we will be able to share the precious teachings and the spiritual way of life as taught by Rissho Kosei-kai with English-speaking people. Although there was a tremendous language barrier during the foundation of the Hawaii branch, I knew deep within my heart that I was saved by these precious teachings. I am determined to continue to lead my life in these teachings so that I am able to share my meaningful experiences with others.