My spiritual life is nothing special and it does not deserve a book. However, I decided to write about it because I prefer to be the one who tells my own story and I think that some events of my missionary activity as well as my interactions with various peoples and institutions should be put on paper as long as they are still fresh in my mind.

I called this book The Path Between the Thorns because for me, the 18 years since I became a priest where a constant fighting and struggle against inner and outer obstacles placed in my way by my own delusions as well as proponents of wrong views. I am happy to say that despite all these, I have never lost my Path, and although the thorns sometimes hurt my feet, I always knew the right direction to take as Amida Buddha and the true teaching of Shakyamuni and the lineage Masters were always my guiding light.

There are some things in this biography, like events, fragments of letters and discussions that many wished to be forgotten. However, I think that people should know about them and come to their own conclusions on that fragment of Jodo Shinshu history where I myself am just a small piece.

I have always wished to be known exactly as I am, with the good parts and bad parts, so that nobody can ever say that they were cheated when they decided to collaborate with me or asked teachings from me. This is also why I offered you in this book my reactions to various events so that you can judge me according to your own conscience and system of values.

Read and decide for yourself if you like my ideas or if you think that I should have acted differently in some situations. Read and decide for yourself if the way I teach general Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu, or my attitudes towards some events are good or bad. You are there to judge me and I am here, showing myself as I really am. There can be no deep connection and trust between teacher and student if the teacher is not honest with the student about his true spiritual capacities or his understanding of the world and the Dharma.

This biography contains many photos of family and friends that helped me or simply walked together with me on the Nembutsu Path. By showing their photos I want to honor and encourage them to continue to appreciate the rare chance of being born a human being and meeting the Amida Dharma.