by Reiko Mosher, Okinawa, Japan

Seven years ago, my niece divorced the priest Daido Nakamoto. He proposed marriage while she was still in high school. He insisted that she graduate early from high school so he could take her to the head temple, introduce her to the high priest, and be married.

She refused because she did not feel ready to be married, and she wanted to go to college. He promised to make her happy and take care of her throughout her life. He promised she could attend college. She reluctantly gave her consent to marriage.

After she was married, she had two babies, a boy and a girl. At this time, "Rev." Nakamoto was having an affair with another woman. He even allowed this woman to live in a spare apartment at Myosen-ji temple in Washington DC.

When my niece was in the hospital to give birth to her daughter, I stayed at the temple to do housework. I did gongyo with "Rev." Nakamoto several times. It was his habit to fall asleep during gongyo or skip prayers altogether.

On a visit to the hospital to see my niece, "Rev." Nakamoto spit on the wall of the hospital cafeteria. The doctors and nurses stared at him in shock. I quickly wiped the wall with some tissues and ran away in shame.

"Rev." Nakamoto sent my niece to the head temple with both children. She had to carry her infant children and her luggage alone. He came to the head temple a week later with his girlfriend. They acted like they were on their honeymoon. He left his wife, who was exhausted and sick, so he and his girlfriend could go sightseeing.

When my niece told him that she had to buy some diapers, he hit her in front of the other priests and their families. He told her that she should have brought extra diapers.

My niece endured this marriage until her son was 10 years old. She is now happily divorced and working for a company in America as a manager. Also, she will be graduating from college soon.