Myokei Caine-Barrett, Shonin, first encountered Buddhism in 1963. She has been practicing the Lotus Sutra ever since. In 2002, she began training to become a priest. She became head priest and guiding teacher of the Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of Texas in Houston, also known as Myoken-ji Temple in 2007. She has active prison and hospice ministries. Myokei Shonin, is currently bishop of the Nichiren Shu Order of North America.