We are all familiar with the acronyms we use on a daily basis, LOL (laugh out loud), CU (see you), GTG (got to go). These make our texting a bit easier, not having to spell things out while communicating in our increasingly time-condensed world.
At the Nembutsu Family Conference in Salinas on October 19, Rev. Harry Bridge of the Buddhist Church Oakland of Oakland discussed several other Buddhist acronyms developed by mentors and colleagues, but I personally felt the one that he created, AKA was especially meaningful.
A = Awareness, being aware of yourself and others and trying to understand the causes and conditions that affect those around you
K = Kindness, practice kindness both to yourself and others
A = Appreciation, express appreciation for all that others have done for you and graciously accept appreciation that others express for you
So, the next time you use AKA, usually meaning “also known as,” you can also think of Rev. Harry Bridge and Awareness, Kindness and Appreciation.
With kind and gentle thoughts,
Julie Satake Ryu