Spotlight on Lila Tsuda Grant
Image: Lila Tsuda Grant and her mother Hiroko Tsuda, 2022
What is your favorite OCBC festival food?
Imagawayaki. I love sweet red beans. Mmmm!
Where did you grow up?
My father James served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, so my family moved to wherever he was stationed every 2-4 years. When I was 13, we joined the Sacramento Buddhist Church, and my mother Hiroko insisted that I join the Jr. Young Buddhist Association. It was novel for me to be around so many people of the same background – Buddhist and Japanese-American. Sacramento is where I began to identify with my ethnicity, cultural heritage and religion.
What was the most significant moment for you during the last two years?
Last year, my parents moved to Aliso Viejo, CA, to live near me. Four months later, my father got sick and passed away within two weeks. The suddenness was shocking and heartbreaking. Before my father passed away in the hospital, my mother and I decided to have a makuragyo (pillow service) to hear the Nembutsu before he transitioned. Under pandemic conditions, Rev. Ellen Crane officiated on Zoom for us. The connection and comfort my Buddhist and non-Buddhist family received was powerful. As a family, we regularly listen to the Dharma and share cherished memories of my father.
I am grateful to receive Amida Buddha’s wisdom and compassion which helps me accept what is – to manage stress, make difficult decisions, care for my relationships, accept the loss of my father, and the changing conditions of my mother. She suffers from short-term memory loss; however, she is very present, always kind and considerate to the needs of others, and lives a life of generosity and gratitude.
What OCBC activities do you participate in?
As a member, I enjoy Dharma talks, chanting, and musical offerings, and I especially love dancing and eating with friends at the Obon festival. I thank Rev. Harada for recruiting me to get involved at OCBC utilizing my experience as a designer. As a volunteer, I serve as a director on the OCBC Board, an interior designer on OCBC building renovations, and as an officer and steering committee member for the Everyday Buddhist online school. At OCBC, I have the opportunity to engage in purposeful work and build relationships with people who teach and inspire me. As a Sangha, we listen to the teachings, practice with each other, and celebrate being OCBC.
Describe a person at OCBC who has/had a meaningful impact on you:
I’ll never forget that when I was newer to OCBC, a friendly gentleman thanked me for asking questions and speaking up in Adult Study. I later found out that the friendly man was Jeff Folick, OCBC President at the time. Jeff’s warmth made me feel seen, welcome, and a part of the Sangha.