SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

Ms Tatjana Opia

When and how did you join Rissho Kosei-kai of the UK?

I joined Rissho Kosei-kai in May 2023. At the time, I was searching for a Buddhist centre near my home or one I could join online. I found the website for the London Centre of Rissho Kosei-kai. For the first few months, I was only reading the centre’s newsletters, which I received via email, but one day, I saw an announcement that said, “Would you like to join a study course on Basic Buddhism?” Interested, I contacted Rev Kyoichiro Hosoya, the director of the London Centre. He was pleased that I would be participating in the study session. When I first met Rev Hosoya online, I was impressed by his kind and gentle personality, and the study session itself was very interesting. Since it was a Saturday, Rev Hosoya invited me to come to the Sunday service at the London Centre the next day, and I gladly accepted.

At the Sunday service, I met many members of the London Centre. Everyone welcomed me warmly with a kind smile. I recited the sutra, which was a new experience for me. The sangha members came up to me and explained things to me: “This is done like this” or “That has this meaning”. They were always there to help me. Since then, I have looked forward to Sunday services every week and tried to grow spiritually by learning the Buddha’s teachings. I am very happy now and am grateful to have become a member of the sangha.

It’s been one and a half years since you began to study and practise Buddhism at the London Centre. Did you have any experiences that helped you understand the teachings?

It isn’t easy to put into words, but to tell the truth, in September 2020, my son suddenly took his own life. He was only twenty-one years old. He was suffering from depression. I was very sad that I couldn’t save my son, and I was tormented by the shock of suddenly losing him and the strong sense of that loss. I deeply regretted my powerlessness and endlessly asked myself, Why couldn’t I help him more? Wasn’t there anything else I could have done for him? Every day I cried until my tears ran dry, longing to see my son and hold him again. I spent many months in deep sorrow and anguish.

For three years after I lost my son, I could hardly accept the cruel fact of his death. Though I understood in my head that anyone and anything that has life will eventually die, just thinking that I would be eternally separated from my son broke my heart. However, while I was learning Basic Buddhism and gaining small realisations with the support and warm encouragement of my fellow sangha members, my heart gradually felt better. The Dharma of impermanence, one of the Three Seals of the Dharma, teaches us that all things are constantly changing. Through this teaching, I learned deeply that all the suffering, sorrow, joy and pleasure we experience is temporary and does not last forever. In other words, we are living in the midst of impermanence every day. Moreover, by becoming aware of impermanence, I realised the importance of accepting the reality before our eyes as it is, instead of resisting change or clinging to temporary things. A year and a half after encountering the Buddha’s teachings, I gradually began to accept my son’s death, and I was able to change my way of thinking by realising that the only way to overcome my grief and hardship was to accept them.

In July of this year, at the London Centre, the Ullambana Ceremony was held, and in September, the memorial service for the anniversary of my son’s passing was held. Many members participated in both ceremonies. Through the services, I felt a strong spiritual bond with my son, and it felt as if he was living inside of me. Through this experience, I became convinced that living each moment to the fullest while being aware of impermanence would lead to a fulfilling and positive life, and that would be the best way to transfer merit to my son.

Are there any particular phrases or passages in the Lotus Sutra that you hold close to your heart?

I’ve only been a member for a short time, and I haven’t studied the Lotus Sutra in depth, so it’s hard for me to say what passage I treasure most. However, before the memorial service for my son in September, a member taught me the merit of reciting chapter 25 [Bodhisattva Regarder of the Sounds of the World as Universal Gateway] of the Lotus Sutra. Her advice impressed me, so I recited the chapter wholeheartedly, believing in the wisdom and compassion of the Bodhisattva Regarder of the Sounds of the World. Then, somehow, I felt at peace and comfortable. I am sure it is thanks to the merit accomplished by the Bodhisattva Regarder of the Sounds of the World. I love this chapter now, and I believe it will also become an important chapter for me.

Are there any words or deeds you especially value in the teachings of Rissho Kosei-kai?

President Niwano repeatedly teaches us how important it is to “cultivate the fields in our hearts and minds”. I always keep this phrase in mind and cultivate my heart by repeating words and deeds that soften the soil of my mind.

What aspect of Rissho Kosei-kai are you fascinated by?

Before joining Rissho Kosei-kai, I read some books on Buddhism and visited a Tibetan Buddhist organisation in search of spiritual peace, but none of them really suited me. There was something about them that didn’t quite fit. However, when I visited the London Centre, curiously enough, I felt as if I had returned home where I could feel true peace of mind. Here I can improve myself spiritually by learning Basic Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra from Rev Hosoya and, through hoza, by reflecting on my mind and sharing ideas and experiences with fellow sangha members. That is the biggest attraction of Rissho Kosei-kai for me.

Finally, please tell us your dreams and goals for your practice.

My goal is to learn the teachings more deeply, participate in various practices with other members, and ultimately gain Buddhist wisdom. My dream is to visit the headquarters in Tokyo, meet President Niwano, and receive guidance directly from him. To make my dream come true, I hope to study the teachings more deeply, put them into practice, improve myself and live each day with spiritual peace. For the rest of my life, I would like to continue my practice in order to acquire the Buddha’s wisdom so that I can accept any hardship as an opportunity for growth. I would also like to work hard to become a person who can have a positive influence on the lives of people around me.