Using Chopsticks with Mittens
Chisako Fukushima

My life has greatly changed since I joined Shumei. It was on a hot summer day in 1990 that I first received Jyorei. I was waiting for a bus in Tokushima province, Japan, when an elderly woman approached me and said, “May I pray for your happiness?” She then asked if I would like to receive Jyorei, which I had no knowledge of at the time. She told me that Jyorei helped her bedridden husband recover completely. I thought it amazing, if true. But, at the same time, I felt odd when confronted with her abrupt request. She even asked me to close my eyes while receiving Jyorei. Yet, I could not refuse because she seemed so sincere. While receiving Jyorei from her, I wondered what made her get involved with an activity like this. I joined Shumei not long after my first Jyorei experience. Although I become a member, I did not go to the Shumei Center very often because my school curricula kept me very busy, and there was a little bit of hesitancy as well. A few members would always come to my apartment early in the morning, sometimes while I was still sleeping, to give me Jyorei. Today, I am grateful to them since I would have disappeared from Shumei had they not.

In 1992, I got a job at a company that performed clinical examinations in Osaka, so I transferred from the Tokushima to the Shumei Kobe Center. After moving, I started going to the Kobe Center every day after work. At the Center, I found many wonderful people who had pure hearts and worked to help others. Gradually, I gained a new sense of values through being with committed people and giving Jyorei. Although I enjoyed my job experimenting with DNA in micro tubes, I found a new and exciting world and shifted my way of thinking from materialism to spirituality. I did not deny science but I was just strongly attracted by Jyorei.

For a few years I was in charge of a student group at the Kobe Center. There were about twenty to thirty junior high school and high school students. I would visit their homes with other students, share Jyorei, talk to their parents, and accompany them as a counselor to places such as Kishima Island for summer camping events. Among one group there were two girls who could not go to school because of mental problems stemming from family issues. Little by little they began to laugh as we visited them. I was very happy to see them in their uniforms, with their big smiles, when they finally were able to go back to school.

I went to see Sensei Keiko Okada many times when I had difficulties while I was in Kobe. She always knew what I was thinking even before I would say anything. So, I could never lie to her. I would not be here today without her.

It was July of 1997 when I read a fax from Shumei’s Youth Department. It said applications for the student’s program in the USA were being accepted. I thought I should apply. I did not know why because I was pretty much satisfied with my life in Japan and there was no need to change it. The only reason I can think of was that at the Monthly Sampai in Misono on July, I was in tears during the chant and had no idea why. I knew that I simply wanted to be a truly faithful student of God and Meishusama. Fortunately, I passed the interview for the program and got a visa to go to the U.S.

I left Japan on August 29 and arrived in Los Angeles with other students on that same day. Coincidentally that day was also the birthday of Sensei Keiko Okada in Japan and Sensei Eugene Imai in the U.S.—two people whom I respect very much. It was a memorable day for me. We started to go to a language school while staying at the Pasadena Center. Everything looked so big. Being fully exposed to American culture, I was amazed at the diversity and various senses of value that exist here. I discovered that other people might not share many of my own values.

Communicating in English was frustrating; it was like using chopsticks with mittens. Many people asked me why I came to the U.S. and what I wanted to do. I was puzzled, I just came. Nobody would ask me such a question in Japan: ‘What do I want to do?’ After I thought it over, I found my answer. I concluded that ‘I wanted to do something good to serve God.’ But some people felt deflated by my answer. So, I thought I needed a smarter response.

Several months passed, and then Sensei Alan Imai asked if I would like to go to The Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania to work as an intern. Thinking that the level of my English might be a handicap, I was not too excited about accepting his suggestion for such a big opportunity. Both Sensei Eugene Imai and Sensei Alan Imai were brave enough to send me to the Institute. I am always impressed by their attitude; they trust people, do not expect too much, allow mistakes, wait patiently, and support us warmly.

Eight years have passed since I moved to Pennsylvania. What I learned at The Rodale Institute is very precious and I am thankful to all the people there. Since the partnership between The Rodale Institute and Shumei was launched in 1998, we have worked on many projects together, including workshops on organic and regenerative agriculture for Japanese members, tours of Japan for delegates from the Institute, the New Farm website for farmers and consumers, the Kidsregen website for children, and symposiums sponsored by the Shumei Natural Agriculture Network that were held in Japan. The partnership has exerted an immeasurable influence on Shumei. I am fortunate to be involved in many of these programs and to have witnessed wonderful progress over the years.

A group of Shumei members have been renting a portion of land at the Institute, on which they have practiced Natural Agriculture since 2001. Members in New York and Pennsylvania spend weekends at the farm during the season to grow our favorite vegetables in our own plots. You will see some exotic plants and hear a few different languages at this site. In the beginning, most of us did not know how to grow vegetables. We made many mistakes. One thing I have learned is the importance of timing. If we planted too early or too late, we would not have a good harvest. I am always amazed at the taste of our vegetables in season. It is totally different from the produce bought at supermarkets. There is a right time for everything.

Eileen Weinsteiger is a master gardener at the Institute. She received Jyorei and joined Shumei in 1999. I lived at her home for a few years until I married. We would chant and read Meishusama’s teachings together, and visit families and friends who needed Jyorei. Gradually a small group was formed. Eileen had a Scroll of Light enshrined in her home in 2002. In the following year, she received a photograph of Meishusama, and her house became a Home Center. We meet there weekly to chant, share Jyorei, and study and discuss Meishusama’s teachings. I feel it is like a miniature heaven. Some American members are Christians and go to church on Sundays. I think it is wonderful that we can share the same philosophy and practice Jyorei even though we come from different backgrounds. It is inspiring and encouraging to talk about out thoughts and experiences in our daily lives. A few years ago Sensei Eugene Imai came from California to talk at a Sunday school at St. John’s United Church of Christ, in Kutztown, PA, and we had many Jyorei sessions at the church. We also participate in local spiritual Expos, environmental events, and workshops to get to know other groups and share our activities.

Since last fall I have been going to Washington, DC and Virginia to visit Shumei members. There are several people who have been with Shumei for a long time, but there is currently no Shumei staff in their area. In March of 2006, we had a gathering at a member’s house. We were so happy to meet since most of us did not know each other before. It is just a beginning, but I am excited to see what will happen in this area.

One day in January 2006, I received two e-mails asking about Jyorei. It was unusual to receive two on the same day. One person wrote that she read an article in Prevention Magazine. I had no idea what was written about Jyorei in that publication. I stopped by a drugstore on the way home and picked up the magazine. There I found an article by Ardath Rodale concerning the Pasadena Center’s Anniversary Celebration and Jyorei. I was stunned. Since then we have been receiving e-mails and phone calls from across the country! Ardath Rodale has such an open heart and a willingness to share her experiences. She does things that no other person can do.

I am one of ten who became senseis in Shumei this spring. Two live in Hong Kong and seven in Japan, besides myself in America. There was only one man among us ten. Traditionally, women are more active in Shumei’s leadership. Someone told me once that the best candidates for leaders are people who do not want to lead. In that sense, I am qualified. I feel that there should be a different style of leadership. I think my role is to help others shine. And I will strive to be a person who does just this.     

 Sensei Keiko Okada is a member of Shumei’s Executive Board. She supervises the Hong Kong Center.

 Monthly Sampai are celebrations that are held once each month at Shumei Centers. They involve receiving Jyorei, chanting, and engaging in social activities. The Monthly Sampais held at Misono involve thousands of visitors.

The Pasadena Center in California is the National Headquarters of Shumei America.  

A Home Center is a small Shumei Center located in a private home in which the members of the public are invited to participate in Shumei’s activities.