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or developing together to make new practices that are elaborate more on these aspects of your work?
more unique to Japan. For example, the takigyo waterfall
practices and large saito goma outdoor fire ceremonies I completed my Buddhist chaplaincy degree at
seem rather unique to Japan. University of the West in Los Angeles, but I was among
the first students of the program, and there were barely
What is your main role as a Shingon Buddhist priest? any Buddhist chaplaincy textbooks at the time. So one
of my goals became to do more research and writing
I have primarily been a Buddhist chaplaincy both for Buddhist chaplains themselves, but also to help
researcher. So, in some ways, my response might seem show people in chaplaincy how many tools Buddhist
unconventional. But priests in modern Japan often have really has which can contribute to better care of those
other positions outside of temples. Occasionally, I go in need. For example, Christians, Muslims, atheists,
help at my teacher’s temple or help with the chanting at and others can still benefit from learning some of the
one of my Shingon friends’ temples. But mostly, I teach practices without the need to become a Buddhist. At
courses on Buddhism and chaplaincy, and do research the same time, I understand that I am limited in my
on adapting traditional practices to modern care. I also own experience and perspective, while there are many
occasionally help in the chaplaincy training programs different people out in the world who have been doing
for other Buddhist priests in Japan. great work. So my edited volumes—Refuge in the Storm:
Buddhist Voices in Crisis Care and A Thousand Hands:
You have used chaplaincy to reach out to others on A Guidebook to Caring for Your Buddhist Community—
crisis care and contemplative forms of care. Can you tried to collect that wisdom from dozens of Buddhists

assisting with saito goma ceremony in With Cafe de Monk volunteers for displaced tsunami survivors in Miyagi Prefecture
Hiroshima Prefecture

Jishin with his teacher, Asahi-Sensei, at Riso-in in Hiroshima Prefecture With Oshita Daien, Shingon priest who has
founded a chaplaincy training program and the
Clinical Meditation Teacher training program.