Overcoming Homelessness Through Buddhist Practice - Deyka's Experience

Deyka H.

I was born in Panama. My mother Maritza, took her Nichiren Shoshu vows (Gojukai) and received the Nichiren Shoshu Object of Worship (Gohonzon) in 1969. I’ve been practicing this true Buddhism consistently with my family since I was 13 years old. After practicing together for a few years, my parents decided to divorce. Then, around the time that Nichiren Shoshu excommunicated one of its lay organizations (SGI), my mother, two brothers, and I joined the Hokkeko (the traditional lay organization of Nichiren Shoshu). In 2006, my mother died peacefully and on my first tozan (pilgrimage to the head temple in Japan), I brought her ashes with me to be buried there, as she had wished. 

I have overcome many problems, and continue to receive incredible benefits through my practice. I have a deep gratitude to the three treasures that all Buddhists revere: the Buddha (Nichiren Daishonin), the Law (Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo) and the priesthood. The priests and members of Risshozan Daikoji, the Nichiren Shoshu temple located in Panama, have positively impacted my life due to their guidance and compassion. 

I was an active member of that temple, and had everything I needed from life: a job, a home, family, friends, and my Buddhist practice. But, I began to feel burnt out. At the time, I was employed at a publishing company where I had to work endless hours, due to the demands of the job: interviews, research, writing, editing, and many, many meetings. I was not happy. So, I began looking for a new job. 

At the end of 2014, I decided to put more effort into my Buddhist practice. I chanted Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo more than five hours every day. An idea suddenly popped into my mind—I should start a new life in Los Angeles. My grandmother and uncles used to live there, and when I visited them for the first time at the age of eight, I fell in love with the city. So I kept chanting, and in January of 2015, I boarded a plane headed for my new home. 

The first thing I did in Los Angeles was visit Myohoji Temple, where I received guidance from Reverend Takano. At the time, I was very sad. I had lost my bag, which contained my altar and Buddhist accessories, at the Panama airport. He encouraged me by saying: “Be strong! Come to the temple to do your practice!” and pointed toward the beautiful Gohonzon in the Main Hall. He said, “Don’t worry about those material things!” 

Three months later, I was still looking for a job and couldn’t stay in the place where I was living. A Buddhist family took me in for a week, and I chanted a lot to figure out what to do. I received strict guidance from the assistant priest to store my Gohonzon at the temple, since I didn’t have stable housing. A few days later, I was accepted at a shelter. This was incredible, because you’re supposed to be a resident or citizen in order to stay there. But soon, I realized that I didn’t have the freedom to go to Myohoji Temple, or Buddhist meetings, because the shelter had strict hours. 

In August 2015, I decided to leave the shelter and find a place to sleep on the street, near the temple. I found one at the back of a building next to a garden, where nobody ever bothered me. I felt that I needed to do Gongyo (the recitation of the Lotus Sutra and silent prayers) at the temple, chant consistently, and make the right causes to change my situation. I was homeless, sick, broke, and completely alone in Los Angeles, a city that I was just beginning to know. At the same time, I was in good spirits. The only time I felt homeless was during the night. The rest of the day I was busy looking for new opportunities. 

I would leave my few possessions in the hiding place where I was sleeping, and chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo three times before I left for the day. They would always be there when I returned in the evening. The thought came to me that I should find some sort of dark material to cover me while I slept, so that nobody would see me. A few days later, I saw that somebody had left a nice, black blanket on a curb on the street. And...it smelled like it had just been washed! 

“My therapist told me: “Keep doing the chanting! You look so happy and relaxed.””

Almost every homeless person develops severe physical and psychological illnesses. We don’t feel safe. We’re always stressed, walk too much, and don’t eat or sleep well. I developed severe depression, PTSD, pneumonia, constant fever, inflammation, tummy problems, and my osteoarthritis got worse. But the only people who knew about my symptoms were the doctors and therapists, and they were surprised that I overcame everything so fast. I told them about the power of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. My therapist told me: “Keep doing the chanting! You look so happy and relaxed.” I received all the treatment and medication I needed free of cost. Yet more benefits from the Gohonzon. 

I attended Gongyo with the priests every day at the temple at 6:30 AM and 6:30 PM. After a few months, my faith was stronger than ever. This practice gave me incredible strength and protection. And more benefits began to appear. 

I was able to introduce two other homeless people to this practice, and they both received their Gojukai vows at Myohoji. 

Also, I was awarded scholarships to study retail sales, web coding, and English. Soon, I began taking classes in Santa Monica, far away from the temple. But, I still had no home and was now living on the streets near the beach, and had to do Gongyo and chant wherever I could. I always found a quiet and private place in libraries, parks, or behind the walls of buildings. Sometimes I did Gongyo at 4 AM, when it was very cold and windy. I didn’t care. I just wanted to do my practice. 

“I felt energized, full of happiness, hope and gratitude. ”

One day, I was sitting in a park, it was dark, and I was trying to concentrate while doing my morning Gongyo. Suddenly, I had a vision of the Dai-Gohonzon (the supreme Nichiren Shoshu Object of Worship, enshrined at the Head Temple in Japan). It was so quick, but I knew it was the same image I remember from my tozan pilgrimage. I felt energized, full of happiness, hope and gratitude. 

The scholarships I was awarded, came with programs that not only paid for my books, but also found me housing! In November 2017, I was placed in a room in a building that was set up to help homeless people get off the streets. Then, in May of 2019, I was moved to my very own apartment just west of downtown Los Angeles, not far from a Buddhist meeting that I used to attend there. I’m happy to report that I have my Gohonzon enshrined in my new apartment! 

I met a social worker who asked me about my immigration status. She introduced me to an organization that’s now helping me become a resident of the U.S. As part of another program, I had the wonderful experience of working for a newspaper. My boss was the COO, and took out time from his busy schedule to help train me. I was able to learn about the office environment here in America, which is much different than Panama. I’ve been fortunate to receive help from so many people, who seemed to appear out of nowhere in order to guide me. 

I now understand that I came here to face the poison of my own negative karma, and change it into beneficial medicine, so that I can do my best to protect and propagate Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism, no matter what is going on in my life. I realize the incredible good fortune that comes with this practice. All the guidance I received from the priests and members, and all the experiences I had as a Buddhist in Panama, like traveling with the priests to other cities to attend Gojukai Ceremonies, prepared me for all the obstacles I was able to overcome in this country. 

I always remember what my mother told me: develop strong faith, be brave, and never, ever give up. She used to say: “Don’t cry! Chant!” We would often read together from the Gosho (the writings of Nichiren Daishonin). In “The Opening of the Eyes,” he wrote: 

Although I, Nichiren, and my disciples may face various difficulties, we will naturally reach the world of Buddhahood, as long as we do not harbor doubts. Do not doubt that the heavens will protect you. Do not be discouraged because your life is not easy and secure this lifetime. 

(Gosho, p. 574) 

I also feel encouraged to do my best as a Buddhist when I read the following guidance of High Priest Nichinyo Shonin, in which he states: 

When we do shakubuku (teach others about true Buddhism), we can expiate the karmic offenses of slander from the remotest past of our lives. We can receive benefits spanning this and future existences, and we can achieve happiness both for ourselves and for others. 

I’m now determined, more than ever, to use the fortune I’ve gained from my practice, to help others overcome the problems in their lives.