“Buddhism and Me“

Leah Htet

Shakopee, Minnesota | Burmese | She/her/hers

I was born in Burma (now Myanmar), in Southeast Asia. I lived there until I was 6-years-old. Then my immediate family – which includes me, my older sister, and my parents – moved to England where we lived until I was ten. 

England has been one of my favorite places I’ve lived. In England it felt like my parents were so chill. I remember playing outside a lot. I’d be gone for hours playing with the neighbor kids, climbing trees, racing down hills, and exploring the woods. We lived on the hospital compound in Basingstoke because my dad was working at the hospital there. It seemed huge as a kid. In England I fell in love with soccer, biking and being outdoors.

We moved to the States when I was ten. We first lived in  New York before coming to Minnesota. After some time in Minnesota, my parents moved to California. They have  been staying warm since 2008 while I’ve remained here.

I don’t see my family as often as I’d like, especially my mom. Every time I visit, we end up visiting at least one monastery together. Though my entire family is Buddhist, I was never drawn to organized religion. But, as I have gotten older, I have come to realize how much Buddhism is a part of my identity, culture, and family. Learning more about Buddhism makes me feel closer to my family back in Burma, whom I’ve not seen since we left. We are a world apart but are connected through Buddhism. I’ve learned to appreciate the Buddhist philosophy and values.