May We Gather is a collaborative project of commemoration and healing, by and for Asian American Buddhists and their spiritual friends.
Intentions
When someone is hurting, we come together as community. We gather because our lives are inexorably interlinked. We do not suffer alone, nor do we heal alone. Only when we gather as a sangha (community), can we truly support each other’s freedom. May We Gather seeks to organize gatherings that bridge communities, strengthen relationships, and stimulate a broader public discussion around racial and religious erasure and recovery as they relate to Buddhism.
Origins
May We Gather emerged from conversations between organizers Duncan Ryūken Williams, Funie Hsu, and Chenxing Han. Observing the uptick of racially and religiously animated instances of anti-Asian violence in 2020 and 2021—including the fatal attacks on Yong Ae Yue in Atlanta and Vicha Ratanapakdee in San Francisco, and the vandalization of Buddhist temples across the nation—we set forth with an intention to offer an opportunity for Asian American and other Buddhist communities throughout the United States to come together in mourning, mending, and renewal.
Together, our voices are a powerful reminder that we are not alone, in suffering and in healing. We invite you to join us in our ongoing journey of working to heal America’s racial karma.
OUR COLLECTIVE
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Duncan Ryūken Williams
Duncan Ryūken Williams (he/him) is a Soto Zen Buddhist priest, Professor of Religion/Director of the Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture at USC, and author or editor of ten books including American Sutra and The Other Side of Zen.
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Funie Hsu
Funie Hsu (she/they) is Associate Professor of American Studies at San Jose State University and a heritage Buddhist practitioner in the Taiwanese Humanistic tradition.
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Chenxing Han
Chenxing Han (she/her) is the author of Be the Refuge: Raising the Voices of Asian American Buddhists and one long listening: a memoir of grief, friendship, and spiritual care.
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Patricia Wakida
Patricia Wakida (she/her) is a community historian and artist with many years of grassroots organizing and event planning.
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Jhani Randhawa
Jhani Randhawa (they/them) is a narrative worker and community facilitator.
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Juliet Bost Yokoe
Juliet Bost Yokoe (they/them) is a Jodo Shinshu Minister's Assistant, martial arts instructor, and community activist.
NAVIGATING OUR WEBSITE
Our website is a living document, and as new May We Gather programming arises, we will update the website. Meanwhile, it will serve as an archive of past memorials.
Questions? Please fill out the form on the Contact page if you have questions about May We Gather or the content on our website.