Interview with Judy Kosovich, A Sukyo Mahikari Volunteer Interview with Judy Kosovich, A Sukyo Mahikari Volunteer
Judy Kosovich is an outstanding lady from the US who is filled with life; jolly, inspiration, motivation and passion for working for the betterment of the people around and knowing herself. She works for various projects related to food, public policy, energy pollution and efficiency. She adores her volunteer activities for Sukyo Mahikari. She writes for Examiner as Arlington Sustainable Living Examiner. Without any delay, let’s get straight to her.
Abdul Rauf: Hi Judy, how are you doing? What’s up?
Judy Kosovich: Hi Abdul, keeping busy.
AR: First off, let me tell you that the interview-section of my blog is opening with your interview. I am very very thankful to you for giving me the opportunity to have this interview which is an honor for me.
JK: Congratulations! This is my first interview on a blog, so it is an honor for me as well. Thank you.
AR: What is meaning and purpose of life according to Judy Kosovich?
JK: Let me start with the purpose — to discover and improve one’s self. The best way to do this is by helping others to have a better life (discover and improve themselves). The ultimate goal is to bring about a heavenly world. As to the “meaning of life,” I would say“what does it mean to live?” or “how does one give meaning to life?” Do your best at work and play. Love without expecting anything in return. Rewards will come, but probably not in the form you might have expected.
AR: Which movie you would like to recommend if someone close asks you?
JK: I like Barfi for its funny but deep insights into love and the recent movie about Stephen Hawking, “The Theory of Everything” for its inspiring story about how someone can have a wonderful life despite serious impediments. I greatly admire Stephen Hawking’s brain, but even more, I admire his heart and his will. Rather than watching movies, I try to live my life so that is would make a good movie — entertaining, inspiring, thought-provoking, and funny.
AR: Here at abdolrauf.com, one of the questions I would like to ask almost every guest; ‘Why where you born?’
JK: I consider the purpose of being born in the physical world to be to transcend physical existence, to live a spirit-first life despite the distractions of the body and the material world.This manifests as decisions about time and money.
AR: What do you think about the current relations between Pakistan and US?
JK: I am sorry to say that I find US policy sometimes heartless, especially the use of drones. I have also heard that the US sends aid money to Pakistan for education, so there are some positive aspects to US-Pakistan relations. The challenge for Pakistan is to have a positive relationship with the US without adopting the negative aspects of US culture (measuring progress only in terms of money and eating the unhealthy food and beverages that come from the US).
AR: As a US citizen and a social worker, what do you think about the foreign policy and war stance of US? Why does Obama administration seem to do the same what that of Bush did?
JK: I have been disappointed with all of the Administrations since I have been old enough to vote. As to war, it is a great way to “expand the economy,” a goal that many political leaders encourage.
AR: I have a ‘Self-Development’ segment here at abdolrauf.com so I am always curious to know what the secret to success is. Why are you successful?
JK: One of my favorite sayings about success is from Winston Churchill — “Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” Tweet this quote
Also read: 20 Inspirational Quotes that will Trigger ‘Consistency’ in You
AR: What is your favorite book and why?
JK: Most interesting book to me so far is “The Reflexive Universe”, the most life-changing for me is “The Tao of Power” and “Keys to the Kingdom” because they gave me insights into improved relations, the first at work, the second in understanding men and male-female relations.
Judy Kosovich (on the left-most) besides US Capitol
AR: Would you tell us about Sukyo Mahikari and the organization you have been working for? You practiced Christianity and you ended up with Sukyo Mahikari. How come?
JK: I was born into a Catholic family and went to Catholic schools. Despite many hours in church, I never felt like I connected to God. I also was dissatisfied with some of the dogma of Catholicism, even as a child. I stayed away from religion for decades, yet seeking to understand how to have a meaningful life. A good friend recommended that I should experience receiving Light at a Sukyo Mahikari center. She was sure I was going to like it. And I thought like, ‘really?’ She knew me pretty well, so — why not? I went with the attitude of having a cross-cultural experience, as if I was traveling to a village on a remote island. I was told that I could come as often as I wanted to, that I could make an offering of whatever amount I chose or none at all, that I should discern for myself how this practice was affecting my life, and that as a guest, I would not have to wait very long to “receive Light” because I would have priority over the “members.”
I could not find anything to disagree with and my curiosity was aroused, so I returned several times. Why not? The first 2 things I noticed was that my singing improved and my co-workers got nicer. I also was better able to notice beauty. When I was leaving the center, I would notice flowers that I had not noticed on the way in. I was in a midst of an emotionally difficult period and I always left feeling happy. Nothing in my education or my Catholic experience gave me any insights as to what was going on, so my curiosity was seriously aroused.
I decided to attend a monthly Ceremony to see if I could understand more. I found the ceremony very strange, prayers in Japanese. What got my attention was the “experience story” by one of the members who had given 20 minutes of Light to someone at death’s door and the man fully recovered. While the experience itself was impressive, I was intrigued by the member’s humility. One of the things I have come to treasure most about this practice is that it favors no religion or culture. No matter what your beliefs and practices, this is a stretch. Even though this practice started in Japan, it is no easier for Japanese people to embrace it than it is for anyone else.