MLK March for the Dream: “Lessons of Compassion”

(Watch the video, above)

More than 50 Sangha members joined the thousands who walked in the annual March for the Dream on January 15, commemorating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Volunteers took turns carrying a banner that celebrates the Buddhist Church of Sacramento’s 125th anniversary.

Moments before the march began, Reverend Matt Hamasaki asked everyone to put their palms together in Gassho, commending Dr. King for preaching a message of peace similar to our Buddhist teachings. This was the first time the temple was represented in the four-mile march that started and ended at Sacramento City College. 

As chair of the 125th Anniversary Community Outreach Committee, Tristan Brown urged fellow Sangha members to participate.

“I think it’s important to be here because, as the Buddhist Church, we teach lessons of compassion and wisdom and combine those every day,” said Tristan. “I think Dr. King is the epitome of someone, in our lifetime, who taught us how to be compassionate, live with wisdom peacefully, and try to make change. So to me, that’s also Dharma.”

Mitchell Maseba, a 17-year-old Sangha member from Laguna Creek High School, was among those who carried the anniversary banner. “I wanted to support a good cause and not sit around and sleep in,” said Mitchell, who came to honor Dr. King’s work 

Sixty years ago, Dr. King, 35, was the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent campaign against racism.

“Racism hasn’t disappeared. It’s only subsided but it still exists,” said Mitchell. “But we want to show we’re still here, we still care about things. At the very least we can reduce racism as much as possible.”