Message From the Buddhist Discussion Editor

By Anna Tsuchimoto | She/Her/Hers | Tri State Denver Buddhist Temple

“I am a link in Amida Buddha’s Golden Chain of Love that stretches around the world.”

This is one of the most well-known quotes, known by both young and old, in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in the United States. As the present Buddhist Discussion Editor, I hope to keep this metaphorical Golden Chain as bright and as strong as ever, by inviting anyone and everyone to grow with us here at YBE and connect with one another through the art of writing.

Though the name of this organization is the Young Buddhist Editorial, I encourage any and all regardless of age, ethnicity, race, national origins, class, religion, and sexuality, to share your thoughts here.

I shared the same desire to share my thoughts as most of you all reading this have as well. My love for the Buddhist community has only grown since first attending a temple service as a fourth grade student. I know many of you all have the same feelings, remembering our Hanamatsuri plays and services, the volleyball and basketball tournaments, dancing every year to Pokemon Ondo at Obon. Let us reminisce together, share what you have learned as a person in this community over the years, and voice what you think the Buddhist community can do better, as we all always have more growing to do.

Growing up, I had only known about the temples in Colorado, and had no idea what the Buddhist community was like outside of my home temple. After attending the BYR Retreat in 2018 (shoutout to Alpha Class - BYR 1!!) and coming to Berkeley for college, I realized I wanted to help bridge this gap between California and other locations throughout the world, and allow us all to share and express this common love we all have for the Buddhist community. Here at YBE, we work to mend this disconnect.

In the Jodo Shinshu community, we all sing the same “Ondokusan II,” and we all chant the same “Juseige,” so we might as well bond over it!

May we all continue learning in this growing community we are in, and help each other gain “true wisdom” as we all follow our individual paths towards bettering ourselves and the world. May we laugh together, learn together, and share our stories that we have encountered thus far.

Namo Amida Butsu