Request Was Simple, Profound: ‘Speak From the Heart’

To view Rimban Rev. Kazuaki Nakata’s speech in Parma, Italy, go to: bit.ly/43gSNmb

(starts at 2:08:15)

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Back in February, I received an invitation letter from the Gobind Marg Charitable Trust of Parma, Italy, one of the largest Sikh organizations in Europe. They requested that I attend their international convention in Parma as a representative of the Buddhist community in the United States.

Although I have previously spoken at federation-level gatherings — such as the Thai Buddhist National Conference in Boston, the Vietnamese Buddhist Federation in Houston, and even at a U.S. congressional office — this was my first international invitation of this kind. I consulted with our Fresno Betsuin board, and with their strong support, I humbly accepted the invitation as an official temple engagement.

Parma is located about an hour and a half from Milan. My flight itinerary was: Fresno to Denver to Frankfurt, Germany, and then to  Milan, Italy. After an 18-hour journey, I arrived in Milan, where four kind gentlemen welcomed me, picked up my luggage, and drove me to Parma.

They had arranged a five-night stay in a high-end hotel, and treated me to lunch and dinner every day at various local restaurants. One evening, I texted Lee Osaki, our Fresno Betsuin administrator, with a few photos, joking, “I’m being treated like the Dalai Lama!” Her husband, Cliff Osaki, later replied with his signature humor: “Don’t expect the same treatment here!”

Although the conference itself was only one day of my six-day stay, I was invited to offer multiple workshops and study sessions on Buddhism and how Buddhist perspectives can contribute to broader human values. I joined a roundtable discussion with young leaders, including a professor from New York University and a U.S.-based attorney, and was deeply inspired by their sincere dedication to sharing their teachings.

I also had the opportunity to learn how an organization with millions of followers operates and is managed. It was humbling and eye-opening.

The day before the April 5 conference, the 14 speakers were gathered and instructed: “Please do not speak about your religion. Instead, speak about how you contribute to humility, love, and kindness.”

This deeply moved me. At many interfaith events, religious leaders often "preach" about how their own religion promotes peace and love. While well-meaning, these become more like showcases of faith traditions, rather than spaces for true mutual understanding.

But here, the request was simple and profound: Speak from the heart.

On the day of the conference, the massive Fiere di Parma convention center was filled with thousands of participants. Millions more joined online from around the world.

Standing on stage, I wasn’t nervous at all. Instead, I felt fully embraced by the collective love in the room. I was introduced as a Buddhist representative from Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple, California, and I shared a simple, personal reflection: I spoke about how much I enjoy cooking and serving food for our Sangha members — not out of obligation or calculation, but from a place of pure love and connection. 

I spoke about the true meaning of “Reverend” in Jodo Shinshu: one who shows reverence to the teachings with a humble mind, and commits to being a lifelong learner. That is the heart of humility.

After the talk, many attendees came to me and said: “Rev. Nakata, your words spoke for us — from the same perspective — expressing exactly how we feel.”

Even though my message was simple, as always, I was deeply moved by how it resonated with so many.

Throughout the trip, however, one persistent question remained in my heart: “Why am I being treated so well?”

Eventually, the conference organizers shared the story. 

They had originally planned to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama from Dharamsala, India. He is a close friend of the Sikh spiritual leader, Baba Ji, the “living saint” of the Sikh community. However, due to circumstances, it became difficult for the Dalai Lama to attend. In his place, they urgently needed to find a Buddhist representative, and a selection committee was formed.

During the selection process, my name was brought up. And I was later told that the living saint himself ultimately decided: “As God’s decision, let’s invite him — Kaz.”

I do not believe that I, myself, am worthy of representing the Dalai Lama. But as I reflected, I began to understand something: Perhaps it is this very humility — the belief that I am not worthy — that is precisely why I was invited to a “Conference on Humility.” In that moment, the reason I had been chosen finally made sense.

I am truly grateful to our Fresno Betsuin board for its trust, and to the Gobind Marg Charitable Trust for the invitation. It was a life-changing journey — one that reminded me of the power of humility, love, and kindness.

Please take a moment to watch my recorded speech, and let us continue to walk the path of Jodo Shinshu together — learning and living its teachings each day.  

By the way — the Italian gelato was absolutely delicious!