Mari-Len Inoncillo (傳祐),
Coordinator , Cultural Arts and Crafts Section

Mari-Len knows what it’s like to be afraid of death for herself and how it would affect her family, especially her young daughter. She recalled: “In 2009, I was in remission from my three-year battle with cancer when I saw this tarpaulin ad put up by Ocean Sky outside its gate. It attracted me like a magnet, drawing me into the monastery.” At that time, Mari-Len had been trying to come up with an exercise regimen, going to the gym and practicing yoga in the aftermath of her disease, all aimed at boosting her immune system. Discovering Ocean Sky seemed predestined. She thought Buddhism could help her deal with her fear of death.

Mari-Len felt strange when she first saw the three images of Buddhas upon entering Ocean Sky. Because of her Catholic upbringing, she also had a hard time doing full prostrations at first. But, drawn by the pure and compassionate Shifus, she started attending classes, and soon joined the three-month chanting of the Medicine Buddha Sutra every night. Gradually, she became familiar with Buddhist practices, and understood the basic principle of causality.

After listening to the Dharma talks, and joining three consecutive spring Chan-7 retreats in Chung Tai, Mari-Len started to notice a change in her views regarding a lot of things. Then, upon learning that taking the Lay Bodhisattva Precepts would be a great way to amend past mistakes, she decided to change her destiny. In September of 2011, Mari-Len went to Chung Tai, took the highest of all precepts for lay people, and let go of many attachments. She also became vegetarian. She said: “The precepts helped me radically to be more charitable, to extend help to all sentient beings, and to spread compassion.”

Mari-Len is an artist. As such, she shares her talents during summer camps, ceremonies and other activities around the monastery, where her flair with art work and decoration is much needed. She also volunteers in the Chan Hall as acolyte. Her husband Louie and 12 year-old daughter Amanda are also students and
volunteers in the monastery. Mari-Len is grateful that Amanda is growing up in this Buddhist environment, being properly guided on how to be obedient, and understanding that all her actions has consequences. Ocean Sky has become a major part of the Inoncillo family. On her last birthday, Mari-Len celebrated it by offering a vegetarian dinner in Ocean Sky for the Shifus, lay people and all her relatives.

In the past, Mari-Len would break down when she talked about her struggle with cancer. Now, the calm and strong Mari-Len is no longer afraid to talk about death, because Buddhism has helped her accept that death is as natural as life.