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Let's Talk Buddhism No.8 August 27th, 2004
The Daily Life of a Female Buddhist Priest by Rev. Ikko Hibino |
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I was born in a Buddhist temple located in Kuramae. My father was the head priest of the temple.
When I was a university student, I majored English literature.I studied the English poet William Wordsworth because my father recommended him to me.
One day I decided to enter into a theater group called NLT.
I enjoyed studying and performing European and Western plays.The theater was my love at that time.
I wanted to become a theater producer.
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At the year of my graduation my father died by heart failure. He was 52 years old. I respected him. It was decided that my uncle would succeed my father as the head priest until I get married to a priest.At that time everyone believed that I would get married to a priest and succeed my uncle to become the head priest of the temple. Nobody had an idea that I would become a priest to succeed my father.
So some years later I decided to go abroad to think more about myself in different surroundings. I went to England, and attended a language school. After that, I went to France, and attended a language school there as well. One day I had a chance to introduce Japanease culture in French junior high school.
The students were especially interested in knowing "What is Buddhism?". At that time, I didn't know, and I couldn't answer their question. When I was with French teachers they asked me if a woman can become a priest in Buddhism. These questions made me consider studying Buddhism, and gave me the idea of becoming a priest.
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Next year I came back to Japan and entered in a training course held by the headquarters of Jodo Buddhist school. The course involved 3 yearly sessions of training. After completing the three sessions of training, there was also one final retreat course. During the third course I was happy that I was doing what my father had been doing. I gradually became more fascinated by the teaching of Buddha. I decided to become a priest. I appreciate the guidance of Buddha.
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| Profile: |
| Rev. Ikko Hibino was born in Tokyo in 1949 and graduated from Atomi Gakuen Women's College, specializing in British Literature.She has taken the head priest of the Kayadera temple since 2002. |
