Members of Amidaji: Chikai Ana Galo (Uruguay)

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Hello my Dharma name is Chikai, which means "The Ocean of Wisdom". (of Amida's Primal Vow)
My name is Ana Galo Suárez, I am 47 years old and I live in my native country Uruguay.
When I was about 8 years old my mother bought me a children's Bible, I think that channeled the sense of faith in something bigger than me. I vividly recall some personal religious experiences related to the perception I had of a supreme reality. These thoughts were so deep that they moved me to tears.
When I was 10 years old I reflected a lot upon religious matters. I  eagerly sought high and low for the Truth, the connection with a Supreme reality that I had only an intuition about but I couldn't  name or comprehend.
I had some supernatural and wonderful experiences that I relate to spiritual dimensions as these profound experiences caused a mysterious feeling of compassion inside me.
Everything related to Chinese culture attracted me and when I was about 23 years old I began to practice Self Defense, part of the martial arts tradition of  Kung Fu. 
I was good at it and I helped my Instructor, then I did a whole training course on Martial Arts and even learned some Qi gong. Then I became a Kung Fu Instructor and at that same time I was offered spiritual teachings in order for me to learn Kung fu in a good way and not turn it into something dangerous. This invitation to practice eastern spirituality was a dream come true for me. This had simply come to me without asking for it.
 
My most precious interest was to delve into spiritual matters and find the Truth. When my legs did not respond to the demanding physical conditions of Kung fu, I had to give it up.
A cousin of mine had the Tao Te Ching. I took the book (Laotzu) and stayed all night reading it.
After a few years I was invited again by some friends to study spirituality and practice it, but this time it was a  spiritual path that was based on the understanding of the common points of several disciplines, namely: Christianity, Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Muhammad.
I practiced in this school for 6 years, I learned about the Law of Karma (according to this school) and I was taught that only loving and wise dimensions existed. It was rewarding at first but it also turned out to be increasingly absorbing and required a lot of self-sacrifice as well. The variety and complexity of the teachings was confusing me and I felt like I could no longer assimilate it. After I departed from this school I experienced several improvements in my life. I admit these teachings served me a lot in jobs, studies, family and everything.
 
Soon after, my ex-partner who belonged to that school also retired and invited me to practice Zen. I liked it and it took me back to the essence and intuitions of my childhood.  But I was missing something, especially praying and being devotional to something Supreme (above myself) or an Original Source, and expressing gratitude; so in the end Zen did not satisfy me.
I was confused by the fact that there was no creator God in Buddhism and I understood little about Buddhist books.
Little by little I began to doubt the existence of the Creator God (who was the one to whom I dedicated my life and to whom I attributed the greatest benefits and virtues) because a few years ago I made a rather serious mistake almost without realizing it. I had a spiritual experience in which I was letting myself be guided by a so-called” God" but it ended up being a deceptive entity. This was due to my ignorance on these matters. At the time, I questioned myself about this entity. I had benefits like good night sleep and experienced a flood of love and peace inside. Many problems in my life ceased completely nevertheless I still opened the door to doubt: do I know who I am specifically addressing when I pray to this "god"? I was a few years in Zen.
 
One day I felt in distress and I sat on the edge of the bed wanting to pray without knowing if doing so was valid. My faith seemed to have an almost desperate strength. Pray in silence: now what do I do? At that very moment my partner Daigan sat next to me and presented his discovery of Amida Buddha and asked my opinion. I felt like I was pulling out a heavy backpack, I felt relief, joy and peace in my heart, I also felt security in knowing specifically whom to turn to in a simple devotional manner. I felt great sympathy for Amida as I realized He also used to be a human being (before attaining Enlightenment).
 
When Daigan (my partner) asked me about my opinion, my response was a resounding yes! I agree, even though I made sure it was true, later. I started to practice and study Amida Dharma.
Soon I took a test to verify my understanding of Amida Dharma. I was slowly but surely transitioning from the self-power practices in Zen to the simple path based on faith in Amida Buddha. What convinced me the most was that I arrived at the right time. This is due to Amida's great efforts and by virtue of His infinite mercy towards sentient beings.
Today I feel that Amitayus - Amida Buddha is my protector: Father-Mother and my best friend.
I feel related to His natural simplicity. I practice Nembutsu and do the daily liturgy (Amidaji's Nembutsu Liturgy) for all sentient beings. I always wear my Nenju. If I am happy, the Nembutsu sprouts without thinking, I sing and dance to it, if I am sad I do the liturgy, I pray until the torment passes and I find the necessary positivity, clarity and relief that emanates from His great compassion.
Thanks, I hope someone finds my story useful
Namo Amida Bu
 

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Hola mi nombre de Dharma es Chikai que hace referencia al Océano de Sabiduría.
Mi nombre es Ana Galo Suárez tengo 47 años y vivo en mi país natal Uruguay.
Cuando tenía 8 años aprox. mi madre me compró una Biblia infantil, creo que eso canalizó la fe que ya tendría porque cuándo me recuerdo de pequeña veo la percepción de lo supremo en muchos pensamientos y a veces me emociona hasta las lagrimas.
A los 10 años reflexionaba bastante y contemplaba el cielo y la tierra buscando la Verdad la conección con lo Supremo. Tuve algunas experiencias sobrenatural y maravillosas que relacione a lo espiritual ya que se me presentaban en esos momentos por lo general de sentir mucha compasion. Todo lo Chino me atraía y a los casi 23 años comencé a practicar Defensa personal, parte del arte marcial Kung Fu tradicional.Era buena en eso y ayudaba a mi Instructor, luego hice el Arte marcial completo y algo de Chi kung. 
 
Luego hice Instructor de Kung Fu y se me ofreció al mismo tiempo enseñanza espiritual para usar de buena manera el arte y que no se convirtiera en algo peligroso. La propuesta fue un  sueño   para mi, que sin buscarla haya llegado a mi.
Mi más preciado interés era ahondar en lo  Espiritual y encontrar la Verdad. Cuando mis piernas no respondían a las exigencias físicas tuve que abandonar. En lo de una prima me atrapo el Tao Te  Ching me quede toda la noche leyéndolo. Pasado unos años se me invitó de nuevo pero esta vez a un camino netamente espiritual que se basaba en la comprensión de los puntos en común de varias disciplinas a saber: Cristianismo, Taoísmo, Budismo, Confucianismo y Mahoma.
Practique 6 años, Aprendí la Ley del Karma y de Dios se enseñaba que solo existía su parte amorosa y sabia.
 
Era gratificante, a su vez cada vez más absorbente y sacrificado. Tanta enseñanza me estaba confundiendo y sentí que ya no podría asimilarlo. Ya afuera vivencie varias de ellas y me sirvieron mucho en trabajos, estudios, familia y todo.  Al poco tiempo mi pareja ex compañero del lugar también se retira y me invita al zen. Me gusto y me remontaba a la esencia e intuiciones de mi niñez . . . Pero me faltaba algo, sobre todo Orar a lo Supremo o Fuente Original y agradecer. . ., asi que no me llenaba. Me confundía el hecho de que no existiera un único Dios creador y de los libros Budistas entendía poco.
 
De a poco empecé  dudar de la existencia  del Dios Creador (que era a quien dedicaba mi vida y a quien adjudicaba  las mayores bondades y virtudes) porque hacia unos años atrás cometí un error bastante grave casi sin darme cuenta por no tener claro un asunto y no saber si me estaba dejando guiar por Dios o por un Ente engañoso. 
Al tiempo por un sueño pesado y porque sentí una inundación de amor y paz, cesó mi problema completamente y abrió ahí la puerta a la duda: ¿se a quien me dirijo siempre y concretamente? 
Estuve unos años en el Zen.
 
 Un día afligida me senté a la orilla de la cama queriendo Orar sin saber ya si hacerlo era valido, mi fe parecía haber perdido fuerza casi desesperada Ore en silencio: ¿y ahora qué hago? en ese justo momento mi pareja Daigan se sentó a mi lado y me presentó su descubrimiento del Buda Amida y me pidió mi opinión.
Sentí como que me saque una mochila pesada, sentí alivio, alegría y paz en el corazón.También sentí seguridad en cuanto saber concretamente a quién dirigirme y simplicidad puesto que también fue humano. En respuesta mi opinión fue un rotundo sí! estoy de acuerdo, aunque después me aseguré de que fuera cierto. Comencé a practicar y estudiar. Pronto vi los elementos básicos que comprobaron la enseñanza para mi, fui haciendo mi transferencia de fe a la simplicidad de Amida, y me encomendé a Él.  Lo que más me convenció fue que llegó en momento justo; por su gran esfuerzo; y por su infinita misericordia hacia los Seres sientientes.
Hoy siento que Amitayus_ Amida Buda es mi protector : Padre -Madre y mejor amiga.
 
Me siento afín a su natural sencillez. Practico el Nembutisu  y hago liturgia diaria por todos los seres sintientes. Llevo mi Nenju  siempre. Si estoy feliz me brota el Nembutsu  sin pensar lo canto y bailo, si estoy triste hago liturgia, Oro hasta que pase el tormento y encuentre positivismo, claridad y alivio necesarios que desde su gran compasión emana.
Gracias, espero que a alguien le sea útil 
Namo Amida Bu