Buddhists in Congress

Congratulations to the two Buddhists in the U.S. House of Representatives -- the first two Buddhists in Congress -- who won re-election yesterday.

Congresswoman Mazie Hirono represents Hawaii's 2nd District. A Democrat, she was first elected to Congress in 2006 and was raised in the Jodo Shinshu sect of Pure Land Buddhism. Representative Hirono has told interviewers she does not practice daily, but that the Buddhist values of tolerance and respect guide her judgments.

Congressman Hank Johnson represents Georgia's 4th District and is a member of Soka Gakkai International. The Congressman, a Democrat, also was first elected to Congress in 2006.