Face Time with Jikyo Bonnie Schoultz

By Sarah Schmalbruch

She’s on Facebook, she loves ice cream, and her theme song is The Beatles’ “Let it Be.” If she didn’t meditate and focus on wellness she could actually be mistaken for a college student. Instead, she’s Jikyo Bonnie Schoultz, Hendricks Chapel’s Buddhist chaplain. We caught Bonnie right before meditation to see what’s on her mind when she’s not in the lotus position.

Explain your name.

The words Jikyo is my Darma or Zenn name. My title is Reverend. Bonnie is my given name. You’re given a Darma name after you’ve gone through a course of study. There’s a ceremony when you get a new name. The "ji" means compassion and the "-kyo" means reflected, like in a mirror. These are Japanese words and characters.

In one sentence, what do you do all day?

I’m the Buddhist chaplain here but that’s just part time; I supervise mediation and oversee wellness programs located at Hendricks.

Favorite secret spot in Hendricks that people do not know about?

Probably my little office. No one knows about it and I like being here. And don’t tell anyone where it is!

What is one thing all students should do before they graduate?

Adopt a new habit that will enhance their wellness. Of course meditation would be one. But maybe it’s just one new exercise. One thing leads to another. Adopting a new wellness habit may lead to another one because you feel better. There are lots of things I know they do already so I won’t even mention those, like laugh or study hard.

What popular song is your personal theme song?

I don’t even know if you remember this, but “Let it Be,” by The Beatles. That just popped into my head.

Top thing on your bucket list?

I’ve done most of them. I’ll be 70 soon, in about three weeks. There are all kinds of things that would be wonderful fun to do, but I don’t have to do them. One thing might be to do a Buddhist pilgrimage to India.

Who are the three people dead or alive you would invite to dinner?

Leaving off the dinner part because I don’t particularly like dinner, but to be in their presence I’ll say the Dalai Lama, Michelle Obama, and I always would have liked to know Mother Teresa so lets put her down.

Guilty pleasures?

Ice cream and Sudoku. I waste a little more time playing that than I want to. And talking on to much.

Something people do not know about you?

It’s funny because people often can pick things up and you don’t know that they do know. I’ll say something silly. I’m sort of open. Nowadays people don’t know that I was very shy as a child.

What would you do if you were not a chaplain at Hendrick’s Chapel?

Well I’m actually retired because I’m 70. I would probably be more involved in other things ranging around Buddhist activities and practices.

What is your ideal way to spend a typical rainy (or snowy) Syracuse day?

I really love working so I would probably blend some time working with some time reading, and maybe a little extra sleeping, and spending some time with the people in my life.

Who is someone you look to as a role model or for inspiration?

The real role model I have is the Abbot of the Zen Center of Syracuse. Her name is Sherry Chayat.

What is your favorite vacation spot?

Well I love the mountains. I even love the smaller mountains like the Catskills and the Adirondacks, and I like the Rockies.

Facebook, Twitter, neither, or both?

Facebook, but not Twitter. I don’t know how to use Twitter and I’m not sure I want to learn. I get 100-some emails everyday and that’s enough. I don’t need more tweets.