My Religious Experience:

Words of My Mother

My mother was a Nichiren Shu believer from Japan. My mother came to America and worked together with my father as a farmer, something she was not used to doing, as she raised me and the rest of my brothers and sisters. She later became ill. I frequented the Seattle Nichiren Buddhist Church for about one year. I participated in the early morning service at the temple together with Rev. Kanai.

Just a little before she passed away, my mother called to me from her sick bed and told me that she wanted to speak to me about the times when she was still living in Japan. She spoke about many things, including the land and home she had had in Japan, and the disposal of the family property and other assets. She also told me that when she dies, that I should bring the Butsudan (Family Shrine) and the memorial tablets to the temple.

I am second generation Japanese-American. Every time I go to Japan, I always go to visit the graves of my ancestors. When I told my mother that I would protect the Butsudan and the memorial tablets, my mother was very happy and said, "Oh, I feel so relieved to hear that!" Sometime after that, my mother passed on.

Long ago, when I went to Japan for the first time, I told my mother I was having a difficult time because I couldn't understand Japanese and she responded by carrying out the water austerity, on the first day of the New Year, of pouring cold water on herself and then she prayed to the Buddha for me. That was the kind of mother she was. That is why I want to maintain and protect the things my mother was concerned with and which were important to her.

by B.H.

Lotus #20

January, 1998