Hi, I'm Mutsumi Wondra, the resident minister of Orange County Buddhist Church. I was born in Kyoto in a Shin Buddhist family and then my family sent me to Kyoto Girls High School, Junior High, Senior High, and also College as well. The school was established by Ryukoku, so I attended service almost every morning. The school is sponsored by Nishi Hongwanji as well.

​

After college I met my husband and I came to America in 1981 with my marriage. After that I started working in a corporation, maybe eight or nine years after I came here, and I started working at one of the companies in downtown Los Angeles. My mother became ill—actually she had stomach cancer. Eventually she passed away. Losing my mother was a big incident to me that really opened the path to learn Buddhism. So I started taking that correspondence course in Japanese in BCA.

​

While I was working on that, I changed my job and came down to Orange County. Before that I was a member of Los Angeles Betsuin, and instead of going for a long drive to downtown, I found OCBC, Orange County Buddhist Church, here. So I decided to come to this temple. I met Reverend Harada, Reverend Miyaji, and Reverend Kodani. They all welcomed me and I really enjoyed the service as well. In the meantime, Reverend Harada invited me to the MAP, Minister’s Assistant Program. Honestly I didn’t know what it was, but I joined it, and gradually the path opened up.

​

After that, after I finished the correspondence school, Reverend Harada told me, “Why don’t you go to IBS?” I said, “Me? Why?” He said, “You have to explain what Buddhism is in English.” I thought, okay, what can I say no to him, right? So I went there and I received Tokudo in 2006 and then Kyoshi in 2007. After that I was more curious, and then I asked Reverend Harada, “Can I go to Ryukoku University in Kyoto where I was born?” His answer was immediate: “Go ahead.” It didn’t take more than three seconds. He said, “Go there, study well, and come back.”

​

So I did. I entered Ryukoku University graduate school and I finished the Master’s and PhD programs. I came back to OCBC in 2015 and I became a full-time Kyoshi minister at OCBC in September 2015. Honestly I really appreciate this wonderful, wonderful opportunity to be serving this Orange County Buddhist Church and the BCA church, one of the wonderful temples. I am very fortunate, the Sangha is wonderful, and I really enjoy sharing the Dharma as well.