By Lacey Armistead
Good Morning, Everyone.
I’m so grateful to be here today and to be a part of this Temple, which has given me so many fond memories through the 15 years I’ve been attending. I remember circling the hondo in my spider costume with the rest of the kids on Halloween, helping prepare chi chi dango with my family for Obon, and sprinting to the YBA Hall after Dharma School was over to get the snacks. But what I remember the most are all the connections I made with so many people in the Sangha as well as the lessons I learned from the Buddhist teachings.
After losing my grandma about two weeks ago, I realized just how much she was at the center of all my fondest memories at the Temple. She was the one who sewed my many Halloween costumes, including the spider one, led the preparation and selling of our “Chi Chi Dango and Chicken Salad” at our Obon Booth, and sat in that YBA Hall when I got there after Dharma School. She and my grandpa brought my family to this Temple, and that is something that I’m very grateful for.
I also want to thank the rest of my family, my mom, my dad, and my brother who have shaped my Temple experience in so many ways. Whether it was my mom who always made sure we got to Temple on time when I didn’t feel like waking up and made sure I was on top of all my Temple responsibilities or my dad who constantly asked questions about what everything meant and how service was that day or my brother who made me feel better for at least attending church more than he did. Each of them has contributed to my memories here and my understanding of the Buddhist teachings.
I’m also incredibly thankful for the friendships I’ve made in YBA and through just being part of this community. They are a large part of why I looked forward to attending church and the various activities like planning events, traveling together for conferences, and just sitting around talking after meetings. These relationships reminded me that being a part of this Temple isn’t just about individual practice; it’s about shared experience and mutual growth. Whether it’s sharing stories with new people during Temple events, learning from our senseis, or even just sitting in service together, I’ve learned that each interaction shapes who we are and who we’re becoming.
Understanding interconnectedness has made me more grateful and aware of how I act, think, and talk. It’s a reminder to act with mindfulness and kindness, knowing that my actions don’t exist in a vacuum. So, as I continue to grow and change, especially in this new phase of my life in college, I hope to remember that our actions don’t just affect ourselves, they affect the people and communities around us, positively or negatively.
Thank you.