Born in Boston, Sister Clare Carter encountered the Buddhist Order Nipponzan Myohoji in 1977 at a vigil for Hiroshima – Nagasaki.  The monk who appeared at the vigil was Kato Shonin, and he had begun practicing in the greater Boston area.  Clare joined the practice at every possible opening in her schedule, and was ordained a nun in 1981 in Japan.

Nipponzan Myohoji is a walking Order – globally and locally.  Sister Clare, like all the brother and sister monks, has walked many miles in many regions of US and the world. “Walking means beating the drum and chanting “Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo” for the awakening, the healing, the transformation of our society and of our own hearts and minds.  

In addition to the many local walks and longer walks, Sister Clare joined with an African American friend, Ingrid Askew, to initiate and organize the year-long walk from the US to the Caribbean, to West Africa, to South Africa.  The name of the walk “The Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage: Re-tracing the Journey of Slavery” was given by Ingrid.  From 20 – 100 people walked portions or all of the Pilgrimage in order to honor, to offer prayers for the spirits of those who endured unfathomable dehumanization, suffering and often untimely death in the more than 400 years of history of enslavement of peoples of Africa.  The walk was a constant prayer for African Ancestors, and those living.  Although it was not the focus of the walk, we also extended prayer for the spirits of those who carried out this grievous history.

Walking and witnessing for nuclear and complete disarmament, walking Indigenous History of New England, joining with other groups and individuals wherever the intention was for the awakening for peace and righteousness in the US -this really is the work of all monks of this order in the US.

Sister Clare has also practiced at the New England Peace Pagoda since the beginning of its construction in 1984.