I am a link in Amida’s golden chain of love that stretches around the world.
I will keep my link bright and strong.
May I be kind and gentle to every living thing and protect all who are weaker than myself.
May I think pure and beautiful thoughts, say pure and beautiful words, and do pure and beautiful deeds.
May every link in Amida’s golden chain of love be bright and strong, and may we all attain perfect peace.
—The Golden Chain
During this time of great change and reflection, we are clearly reminded of the interconnectedness and interdependence of our humanity. As engaged members of society, our actions ripple across our communities, and we are, in turn, impacted by the actions of others. When members of our community suffer, we all suffer.
The last months have been a stark reminder that we must work hard to keep our link in the golden chain bright and strong, and aid others whose links are being dimmed and silenced. The Vista Buddhist Temple (VBT) stands with those who are using their voices to make it clear that Black Lives Matter.
Many of our temple founders can attest to the insidious nature of racism and social injustice which pulled them from their homes, forced them into internment camps, and forever altered the course of their lives. As Jodo Shinshu Buddhists, we are continually reflecting upon our actions, and cultivating our words and deeds in the hope that our collective ripples positively help our community.
Our practice, our reflections, and our actions lead us to support the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities. We stand together in the work of removing systemic and institutionalized racism.
