Her Holiness Shinso Ito, Shinnyo-en

Her Holiness Shinso Ito (born April 25, 1942), the Head Priest of Shinnyo-en, embodies the principles of Shinnyo Buddhism and leads the community of close to one million practitioners. Shinso Ito trained under Master Shinjo, Founder of Shinnyo-en. When Shinjo Ito passed away in 1989, Shinso Ito became his successor. She is one of the few women to be granted the title of daisojo, the highest priestly rank in Japanese Buddhism. Shinso Ito is a pioneer in expressing ancient spiritual teachings in an authentic way relevant and meaningful to people today. She has widely promoted ceremonies and activities throughout the world on an inter-religious and cross-cultural scale. Her leadership highlights Shinnyo-en’s commitment to harmony and equality and the teaching that anyone regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or religious tradition has the potential to attain enlightenment.