Her Holiness Shinso Ito

Today Shinnyo-en is led by Shinjo and Tomoji’s direct successor, Her Holiness Shinso Ito.

She was born Masako Ito on April 25th, 1942, to Shinjo and Tomoji Ito, the founders of Shinnyo-en. As a child, Her Holiness learned about Buddhism from her parents, who were her principal spiritual teachers. As a young adult she studied at Taisho University, where she earned a degree in religious studies in 1965.

The following year Her Holiness was ordained in the Shinnyo Dharma tradition, and subsequently undertook more than a decade of formal training as a Buddhist priest, receiving the Dharma name, Shinso, upon completion. In 1984 her father announced that she would be his successor as spiritual leader of Shinnyo-en, a role she assumed upon his passing in 1989.

Recognition

In 1992, the 1100 year old, Daigoji Shingon Buddhist monastery in Kyoto awarded Shinso the highest priestly rank of Daisojo, making her one of the few women to formally become an accomplished Buddhist master of the Shingon Esoteric Buddhism. Since then, Her Holiness has accepted invitations to officiate at important commemorative ceremonies at Daigoji in 1997, 2009, and 2024, the first woman to do so.

Among many recognitions, she has also received honorary doctorates from major Buddhist universities, including one in Thailand in 2002 from Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist University of Thailand. She was also formally recognized by multiple Sri Lankan Buddhist orders as a leading Buddhist leader in Mahayana Buddhism.

A Spiritual Leader for the Modern World

Her Holiness is known for her gentle presence, compassion, and a deep commitment to peace and unity. Carrying forward the vision of Master Shinjo and Tomoji Ito, she continues to shape Shinnyo-en as a path that is not only rooted in Buddhist tradition, but also relevant to the challenges of modern life.

She teaches that spiritual growth happens through our everyday actions, through caring for others, and through reflecting on our own lives. With warmth and clarity, she encourages each person to awaken their inner light and walk the path of compassion and self-discovery.

Every one of you has buddha nature in you. It manifests in different ways, but you all have an inner goodness that you can express to make your merit bear fruit. That potential can empower many other people too.

Her Holiness Shinso Ito

Her Global Impact

In recent years, Her Holiness has conducted ceremonies in all corners of the globe dedicated to peace and harmony between cultures and religions. She has also partnered with secular philanthropic organizations throughout the world, acting on her belief that all life is interconnected, and that Buddhism should actively engage in serving the global community.