Recent Columns

Have you ever loved someone and lost that love? Do you love someone now, completely? Do you crave to have a love, someone you can trust and share your life with?

Perhaps romantic love in my life is especially important as I am not so close to my family and am not consistently part of any one culture.

For me, a lover becomes family and an essential compass in an ever-changing and somewhat uncertain world.

Some people do not want a romantic partner ... For love is too messy and complicated, guaranteed to cause heartache and loss ... “Why bother?” is what some skeptics might say.

by BISHOP KOSHIN OGUI
Buddhist Churches of America

I first arrived in the U.S. about 46 years ago, in October of 1962. After arriving, I underwent training at Berkeley Buddhist Church and then four months later was assigned to the Hongwanji Betsuin in Los Angeles. I was 23.

The building in which I lived is now a Japanese American museum, but back then I lived on the third floor.

During the mornings, I was in English school and then my daily duties started in the afternoon at a temple called Betsuin.

by TAKEO "BABE" UTSUMI

During the last week it has been a period of exhilaration and pride for the performances of our athletes, locally and abroad. First was the amazing feat by Michael Phelps in winning eight gold medals in swimming at the Beijing Olympics. When Mark Spitz won seven gold medals at the ’72 Munich Olympics, I thought that his feat would never be equaled, let alone beaten.

Phelps is only 23 years old and is looking forward to the next Olympics. He is a multi-millionaire already with all the offers of endorsements flooding in.

by BISHOP KOSHIN OGUI
Buddhist Churches of America

One night I was in the suburbs of Los Angeles. I was coming home from a movie showing we had done at Sun Valley Buddhist Church and I got in a car accident. I think it was around 11 at night in May of 1963.

I forgot what kind of movie we had shown but it was a pleasant movie, one that kids and adults alike enjoyed. I remember that watching the movie was a relaxing time for the local farmers, who grew mainly celery, strawberries and carnations.