It’s been a rollercoaster of a week. I listened to the entire hearing while at work. People talk about Dr. Ford’s testimony being triggering, which it is, but I found Judge Kavanaugh’s petulance far worse. To be honest, patriotism is a foreign feeling to me. Or maybe it’s because I’m foreign. Senator Harris mentioned love of one’s country during the hearing and it was like someone talking about being in love to someone who’s never experienced it. It gives me shrug. But I don’t want to feel that way. But it’s easier to feel that way.

Last week, Berkeley Buddhist Priory had their annual Segaki ceremony. In case you were wondering, I was raised Christian, I meditate daily, occasionally pray on a rosary, and am on a first-name basis with a Zen Buddhist priest. (I also nerd out on the lives of saints, in case you have any cool books to recommend.)

Luckily, I’d already given Rev. Kinrei my mom’s name, because I ended up forgetting it was happening. But I love the spirit of the ceremony and wanted to share it here.

“Segaki” means “feeding the hungry ghosts.” A hungry ghost, or gaki, is a supernatural being (the soul of the departed, in my understanding) who is experiencing great torment in the afterlife. Similarly, in Southeast Asia, people keep spirit houses outside their homes and place food to feed (and appease) the spirits. So the Segaki is for those spirits who have no one to do that for them, or who died under violent, frightening, etc. circumstances. It’s a way to show love, to help stop suffering, even after someone is gone.

My only way of staying afloat in today’s America is practicing, praying for, looking for growing compassion for and in all beings. Trying, at least.