I kind of became an accidental Buddhist. I was introduced to Buddhism through my husband, who was raised Buddhist, but I never really envisioned myself as a Buddhist. It wasn’t until he passed away that, over time, Buddhism really began to appeal to me through the period of grief and suffering I experienced after his loss.

With my youngest, who was a baby at the time, he’d be strapped on my back, and at first we got lured in because of the donuts and coffee while we were waiting for the others to get out of Dharma school. But every week I would listen, we would read essays, and there would be a discussion, and I found it very appealing. So slowly, over the years, we began attending regularly.

I was raised Catholic, and after I decided I wasn’t going to be Catholic, I never thought I would practice any religion. Learning, listening, and being in this community has been a really positive experience for my family—for my kids, from the cultural aspect, but also for having Buddhism in their lives as a practice for our family. It’s super important to us.

So we’re regulars around here, and I’m really happy to be here.