Spotlight on Greg Goodman
Greg Goodman, 2021
“I think my 20-year-old self would be amazed that I became an OCBC member for almost 30 years. I did not grow up with any religious background, so I was a little nervous at first.” — Greg Goodman
What is your favorite OCBC festival food?
I feel like I should be saying wonton since my wife, Bonnie, is one of the co-chairs, but she and I eat a plant-based diet. Our favorite dishes are makizushi and inarizushi! We also enjoy the corn from Tanaka Farms.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in West Los Angeles (Uni High Grad). At UCLA, my world changed when I met Bonnie Ujihara. Our second date was walking the Venice Beach promenade. For the past 37 years, it seems like each day is just an extension of that walk in Venice.
Why OCBC?
Bonnie grew up at OCBC, and I always loved her stories of SEYO basketball, Junior YBA, and the festivals. I was also amazed by her deep friendships with her Dharma school friends. So when our kids were old enough to start school, we decided to move to Tustin for the schools and primarily for OCBC.
I think my 20-year-old self would be amazed that I became an OCBC member for almost 30 years. I did not grow up with any religious background, so I was a little nervous at first. But even on my first day at OCBC, everyone made me feel welcome. Everyone knew Bonnie, and they were excited to get to know me. Fond memories of Tak Kosakura saying “hello” on my first Sunday still brings a smile to my face.
I didn’t know what to expect since I had never attended Sunday services in any religion. I loved how the Dharma messages were really about life lessons for me. You learn about these life lessons in service, but you see it everywhere in the Sangha—everyone working so hard at the festivals, people volunteering before being asked, the sense of gratitude and fun with everyone you meet.
When we started at OCBC, we were the new parents with kids in Dharma school and sporting activities that kept us on campus at least 3 days a week. Now we are becoming the older generation. Our generation is now becoming Board presidents and running the festivals. These past few years have been very difficult not seeing our OCBC family in person. We just started coming back to the campus for service, and we are so grateful for so many little things like chanting, offering incense, hearing the Kansho bell.
Bonnie has been practicing Buddhism all her life, and I’ve done it now for half of mine. We truly appreciate how much we continue to learn on our path as Buddhists.
How has OCBC influenced the way you approach life?
In 2016, our son, Paul, was diagnosed with leukemia. It was an incredibly difficult time and words are insufficient to describe the stress and pain of that time. We were and are incredibly grateful for the support of the Sangha throughout Paul’s recovery. The Dharma taught us how to stay in the moment and not look too far ahead or behind, which is a huge part of coping with this illness.
What does a Strong Sangha mean to you?
Sangha Strong - What a great hashtag! The Sangha is Buddhism in action. Bonnie and I are humbled by the dedication and support of the Sangha. OCBC has a rich history. A few years ago, we documented many of those stories in I am OCBC. We interviewed over 120 temple members over 2 years. It was such a profound experience listening to everyone’s unique story and hearing the common themes of gratitude, giving, and caring permeating every story. I find that my explicit understanding of Shin Buddhism is pretty light compared to the wealth of implicit knowledge I’ve gained from being part of the Sangha.