Gratitude for Our Past – and a Vision for Our Future

This year, we will culminate the BCA’s 125-year anniversary.

During the past year, we had so many meaningful events and observances, such as the commemorative service on Sept. 1 at our historical first church in the BCA, the Buddhist Church of San Francisco. We were able to have a video message from Rev. Yoshiki Sonoda, the great-grandson of our first BCA minister, Rev. Shuye Sonoda.  We had a dynamic and meaningful service led by our BCA ministers, and a Dharma message by Rev. Dr. David Matsumoto. The service was followed by a fun and amazing telethon, conceived by Koichi Mizushima and Michiko Inanaga, that raised $50,000 for our BCA.  

Nearly every district in our BCA has had its own commemorative 125th anniversary service and I have been fortunate to have participated in those services.  

We have had unique and innovative events such as the Techno Hoyo service that was mesmerizing with its lights, sounds and dynamic beat.  We were also moved by the musical theater expression of our 125-year history by the Grateful Crane Ensemble at the National Council Meeting in Sacramento, at the FBWA conference in San Jose and at the Southern District conference in San Diego.  

In observing our anniversary celebrations, we are truly grateful for our past, for our pioneering ministers and members who established, built and supported our BCA churches, temples and sanghas for these past 125 years. All of you today are a vital part of that, as we look to the future.  

In 2025, I would like to focus on our future and our vision for the future.  How do we see our churches, temples and the BCA 125 years from now?  We could have a bleak and negative view and think that our membership decline will continue and we might fade away into the sunset. 

Or we can look to our future with a sense of vision, a sense of aspiration, a sense of conviction to do our part, to “make” our future possible, to “make” the fulfillment of our vision possible.  

I see a future in which many will come to discover our unique tradition of Shin Buddhism, a path of gratitude, a path of listening to the Dharma, a path of deep self-introspection, a path of being a part of a warm and embracing Sangha, a path of being engaged with our community and with the struggles of all human beings.  

We can be like a turtle and recede into our shell, or we can be like a bird in flight, sustained by the winds of our predecessors, but moving forward into the future with earnest energy.  

We hear this stated often, but more than ever, our future depends on us right now. We can grow our sanghas. There are many who are searching for a teaching that resonates with them, for a Sangha that accepts and embraces them, for a place to call their spiritual home.