My Buddhist Reason for Fasting Before Christmas

Kyohei Mikawa, PhD

Minister, Rissho Kosei-kai of Los Angeles

The reason is twofold. First, I want to change my life—because second, I want to become someone like you. I want to be more careful, thoughtful, compassionate, and understanding of my own desires rather than confused by them. During this season, I enjoy both giving and receiving gifts. At the same time, the spiritual side of me keeps asking: “What is the Buddha in my heart telling me about who I am during this holiday season?”

I realized that while I am immersed in secular Christmas culture, I also long for engaging more deeply in Buddhist spiritual practice—especially at this time of year. Inspired by members of the RKLA Dharma family sharing their recent experiences with fasting, my wife Emily and I decided to fast from December 23 to 24. As I write this message, I am in the 37th hour. This experience has led me to reflect on my relationship with food. I admit I have taken it for granted. I now appreciate a simple sip of water and cherish the feeling of water moving through my body.

This brings me to the second reason: I want to change because I want to be like you. You, my Dharma family at Rissho Kosei-kai of Los Angeles, have changed my life for the better. Your care; the way you cope with struggles; how you acknowledge and accept your attached habits instead of denying who you are and opening sharing them during hoza; how you make jokes; how you teach me English; how you practice the Lotus Sutra; how you complain to me; how you enlighten me—your every interaction is a moment of awakening for me. Each and every one of you is my bodhisattva. As Shakyamuni Buddha reveals in the Lotus Sutra: "All of those whom buddha-tathagata teach and transform are bodhisattvas. (LS, p.66)" Let me strive to catch up with you—by fasting a little longer.