By George O’Sullivan
After years of unrest and spiritual seeking, I felt a rebirth. On the verge of taking refuge in Amida Buddha, I’d soon receive my Buddhist name at a kikyoshiki ceremony in France. Finally, I had “come home.”
Deeply aware of the beauty of the moment, I felt a profound sense of honor and responsibility to live the Shinshu teachings in my adopted home France, in the land of my birth Ireland, and in my wife’s homeland Thailand. This responsibility arose naturally because living in nenbutsu (Namu Amida Butsu) changed my life.
My dharma friend Julien and I participated in a three-day retreat together with Rev. Ryoko Osa, who organized the event; Rev. Miki Nakura, the ceremony officiant, and Rev. Gregory Thomas, a French ordained Higashi Honganji priest, who was hosting. The retreat gave us an opportunity to learn more about the Jodo Shinshu way of life and listen to the Dharma, as well as bringing us “fellow travelers” together. That connection embodied sincerity, humanity, aspiration, spirituality, and compassion.
I was born in Cork, Ireland, to a Catholic family. As a child, I wanted to emulate my mother and grandmother, who were both devout Catholics. I also was aware of my grandfather’s respect for the Church and my father’s deep spiritual faith.
When I was nine years old, my parents became interested in meditation, and they had my brothers and me practice walking meditation. To this day, I feel this was the beginning of my questioning and seeking after truth. While I did as directed at school and participated in Sunday Mass and other rituals for many years, I already sensed that another path would eventually lead me to fulfillment.
One Sunday at age 20, I decided I’d no longer follow Christianity. While respecting the religion, as well as all others, I believe each person’s happiness and personal faith is utmost important. However, I felt a profound conviction that Christianity was no longer my path. It’s been 30 years since that day.
From there, I traveled, learned much and made a life in France. I continued to seek peace of mind. I became my own psychologist and spiritual guide, trying to deepen my understanding and compassion for others on their own journeys in this Saha world. Looking back, I was a bonbu (foolish being) who spent decades living life through the lens of social anxiety. My objective was to seek and find solace. Over the years, I became interested in various spiritual paths and teachers. Each offered some respite but no ultimate answers. I kept searching.
My mind tended to simplify ideas down to their core. I resonated with concepts such as oneness, surrender, unconditional love, compassion, non-doership, trust and entrusting, gratitude, mindfulness, true nature, and true reality beyond thought. Yet, as deeply as I felt the spiritual truth within these ideas, they remained mere comforting concepts. Something was missing. In Japan, I found it.
In 2013, I visited a former co-worker who had returned to Japan from Ireland. We toured Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Kurama, Hiroshima, and Miyajima. Everything I saw and experienced during that trip was unforgettable and extraordinary. Since then, the experience shaped my interests. In Kyoto, my spiritual life changed forever, thanks to the working of Other Power and Amida Buddha.
From the train station, I walked to Higashi Honganji Shinshu Honbyō. I spent time in the Amida Hall and the Founder’s Hall, feeling both comfortable and intrigued. Without thinking much, I purchased a service book and continued the trip. Looking back, I feel Amida welcomed me and has stayed with me ever since. After returning to France, I searched for information about Jodo Shinshu, Amida Buddha, and nenbutsu practice.
Although I didn’t fully understand the meaning of Amida and Pure Land, I began seeing correlations between the spiritual concepts I valued and Shinran Shonin’s teachings. I developed a genuine affinity for Amida Buddha and felt Amida’s protective presence. When reciting nenbutsu, my social anxiety diminished, which was a beautiful freedom. When straying, Amida drew me back, and nenbutsu naturally returned to mind.
In 2020, I found Rev. Nakura’s Facebook page for the New York Sangha. He reached out to me, and I attended his Tannisho online discussions with Rev. Gary Link and the late Rev. Paul Imahara. I began feeling Amida’s working and nenbutsu softly resounding in my mind every day. The phrase, “Call off the search,” resounded.
In 2022, my wife and I spent a year in Thailand, visiting temples and participating in ceremonies. She’s a devout Theravada Buddhist. In gratitude for Pure Land teachings, I honored Shakyamuni Buddha. Now, I formally became his disciple.
A year later, Nakura-sensei came to Paris. As we walked around the “City of Light,” we discussed the buddhadharma. I’m grateful for his guidance and support of my spiritual journey. I decided then to take refuge in Amida Buddha. I met Julien Le Coz, who also decided to take refuge. Later, Rev. Osa visited France and we discussed having a retreat.
Last month at the ceremony, we gathered around the Onaibutsu (home altar), which was carefully prepared in advance. Julien and I sat slightly behind Rev. Nakura as he opened the ceremony. The kikyoshiki ceremony was beautiful and reverent—solemn yet joyful. It will remain forever etched in my heart and mind. It’s a privilege for me to become part of Shinshu Otani-ha (Higashi Honganji).
Nakura-sensei gave us our Dharma names. My name is Shaku Ganshō. “Shaku” means “Disciple of Shakyamuni,” and “Ganshō” means “Enlightenment of the Vow.” Rev. Nakura explained it as “the light of Amida’s vow, illuminating me at all times.” This really describes my faith—guided by Amida’s light constantly surrounding and protecting me.
I want others to hear the Dharma, to know the joy of being a Shin Buddhist, to hear about Amida working, nenbutsu living, and birth in the Pure Land, here and now.
I express my deepest gratitude to Nakura-sensei, Osa-sensei, and Rev. Thomas for their tireless efforts, inspiration, compassion, and support, and to Julien for sharing this wonderful journey. To quote myokonin Genza, “Welcome Amida, Welcome!“
-Mr. O’Sullivan lives in France.