A little about me and what got me here:

I grew up here in San Francisco and near by Daly City. I am the youngest of 3. Both my parents are very loving, kind, caring people who did their best. I have many friends from my childhood and adulthood from all walks of life; different backgrounds, socioeconomic levels, education levels, ages, colors, religions, you name it. These people as well as many others have been very kind to me throughout my life and helped me find my way. Some of those people are the people of Wat San Fran.

In late 2009 at the age of 28 years old I found myself in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program trying to finally quit drinking and scratch that itch I’ve felt all my life. That itch to find my place, to feel free, to just live in this world without constant struggle. While in the program my case manager suggested I look into Buddhism. When I got out in early 2010 I googled Buddhist temples in my area. Wat San Fran was the second on the list and the only that stated “walk ins welcome”. So I walked in. After a brief discussion with Phra Anun I was given my first assignment; for the next week keep track of every time I was wrong and come back. The goal was to gather evidence of my perceptions, to gain some perspective on my perceptions so to speak. So I did. I kept track of every time I was wrong from the time the bus would arrive to debates with friends to decisions made at work etc. The evidence was not hard to come to by! I was wrong…..a lot. I walked back in a week later, we discussed that list as well as my perceptions.

That discussion has been going on in one form or another for the last 6 years. A lot has changed, my life looks much different than it did then. I have not had a drop of alcohol, I am married, I have a child, traveled the world, I left my long time job and I am embarking on new professional endeavors! Most importantly my perceptions have changed. There is of course still some suffering and this world is still the same one I lived in before. However with the changes in my perceptions has come a change in my view of this world, my ability to live in this world and to deal with the people and things in it. I have found freedom in admitting I am wrong and seeking the truth. I have found my place. For these reasons and others I continue to “walk in” to Wat San Fran.