Welcome!
Did you know that in the US Air Force alone, there are nearly 1,800 Buddhists across the Active Duty, the Air Force
Reserves, and the Air National Guard, not to mention however many there may be in our DoD Civilian community?
Are you one of them?
If so, I ask you to please bookmark this page and stay tuned because I am building this website just for you!
Why? Because I think that it is long overdue that we reach out and
connect with each other in recognition of what (in my opinion) we truly are. And
just what is that?
We are a proud and highly dedicated group of American Airmen, selflessly committed to the
Way of the Buddha, to the Core Values of the world’s strongest Air and Space Force, and to the defense of our great
nation. In other words...
We are a sangha of warriors.
As grateful as I am to have the privilege and responsibility of this unique station in
life, it does not come without some equally unique challenges...challenges that I imagine you have also faced from
time to time.
- How does one find balance and maintain a solid
Buddhist practice in the midst of our chosen profession?
- How does one persevere as one of only a few (or
no other) Buddhists on a given base, or on a base that is nowhere near any established Buddhist congregation?
- If you are fortunate enough to be connected to
a Buddhist congregation, how does one address the myriad of misconceptions and insecurities (if not outright judgments) of
others who do not even think it possible to be a “good” Buddhist in the profession of arms?
- Where does one find the guidance and support to
follow the Way in the midst of an often insane training and ops tempo at home, much less within the chaos of life and duty
in the AOR?
- How is it that after decades of proud and selfless service to the military we still
do not enjoy the benefits of having a uniformed Air Force Buddhist Chaplain?
These are questions that I suspect many
of you have wrestled with (or are currently wrestling with) as military members. I
know that I certainly do, and having reflected on these and similar questions for the last few years, I think that it’s
high time for us to have a place to connect to each other as the beautiful and powerful sangha that we are, regardless of
distance, circumstances, or denominational differences. Of course, I also quickly
decided that if I really wanted such a place to exist, I had better sit down and get started on creating it myself!
What is this going to look like? Well, I have a few definite ideas (see
the link to “What Is WarriorSangha.com” for my immediate goals), but honestly, I am hoping that the true value
and potential of this project will be determined by YOU, the Buddhists of the US Air Force, and I am very eager to hear your
suggestions as we move forward in 2007.
And who exactly is the guy building this site (and just who does he think he is, anyway)? ;-) Click on “About the Author” to see some info
about me and my background, as well as some contact information for those of you who would like to get in touch with me as
I work to get this project off the ground.
Also, please feel free to click on the “Disclaimers”
link to read a few important words on the nature of this site (read: to assure yourself that I am doing this as an entirely
personal project, with no endorsement or support whatsoever from any part of the USAF or DoD).
In summary, I admit that even though I am a little intimidated at the prospect of making this vision a reality (not
to mention creating a website, which I’ve never done before), I am VERY excited at the prospect of getting to meet you
all, and will get this thing up and running as soon as I possibly can. So stay tuned, because it is my sincere
belief that the true value of this effort has yet to be defined, but that it will be soon...by you, the many friends
along the Way whom I have yet to meet.
In Deepest Gratitude,
Isei
