Family Unite, Brings Light to Town (Part 2)
(Read the previous part here)
How difficult his hardships were! I can not give up because of such a trivial matter. If I give up on my friend now, who will share this true teaching with her? At the same time, I heard that the teacher who was in charge of my class in junior high school took his life. He was in his thirties. We talked about his death and my mother encouraged us to work together to convey Buddhism in our neighborhood. Then, we became united with a single purpose.
My parents are now making effort to build a Shinran Center in Niigata. They are working hard to build the foundation to convey Amida Buddha's Vow to all people in the prefecture. I feel grateful to have been born as a child of Shinran followers listening eagerly to Buddhism. And I will head towards the light.
Strong Ties of Ikeda Family
Five members of Ikeda's family are all Shinran followers. We interviewed Ms.Masako Ikeda: What did your family talk about when your teacher in junior high school committed suicide? It was unbelievable because my teacher was in his thirties, committed suicide and he was the one who often told us he was against committing suicide. My sister Noriko (far right in the picture) who hesitated to share Buddhism with him regreted by saying “What if we told Buddhism to him…..” My mother cheered us up at that time saying, “We should appreciate the fact that we have become aware of the purpose of life. There is no one else who can convey Buddhism around here except us. Let's work together to spread the true teaching of Buddhism.”
You are excited about the construction of a Shinran Center in Niigata, aren’t you?
I see my father going to the site to hold a meeting every day. I also would like to help however I can with all my might.
Masako Ikeda, Niigata prefecture
Source: The Buddhist Village Times #16 | 2012, Family Unite, Brings Light to Town (Part 2)
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