Our mission
Ekoji’s mission is to create a worldwide Sangha through our hybrid programs and services. Echo Ekoji is a means for us to bring the voice of the lay person to the forefront so that others may hear how the Buddha’s teachings have positively impacted our guests. We hope these conversations resonate with you and invite you to become a virtual member of our temple and help us realize our mission.
Meet your hosts: Joe & Andrea
Joe Gotchy (go-chee) is a member of both Ekoji Buddhist Temple (virtual) and Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple. He and his wife, Margaret, live south of Seattle, Washington. Joe grew up in Fife, Washington, a diverse community that included members of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians as well as Euro and Japanese Americans in the 1950s-60s. Joe’s parents met at Fife High School in the 1940s, married after his father was discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps following WWII, and raised two children in Fife. Margaret’s parents met, married, and had their first of three children while incarcerated at Minidoka during WW II. Joe (Civics/Contemporary Issues/History) and Margaret (German), are retired educators who met during their first year of teaching at Thomas Jefferson High School in Federal Way, Washington, in the fall of 1974. They have two adult children who reside in Seattle and Sacramento, CA. Joe’s hobbies include photography, reading, gardening, restoring vintage searchlights, and traveling with Margaret. Their favorite destination is Japan.
Andrea Chapman is a member and president of Ekoji Buddhist Temple. She and her family live in Haymarket, Virginia. She is currently serving as the Eastern District Representative on the Vision and Strategic Planning Committee for the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA). Relatively new to Buddhism, Andrea stumbled upon Ekoji and Jodo Shin by chance while accompanying her eldest daughter on a comparative religions assignment. The peace she experienced during that first service in the Spring of 2016 was enough to bring her back time and time again. A lifelong learner, she returned to college during the pandemic and is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism and Event Management at George Mason University. Her dream job would be to coordinate Buddhist retreats around the world. Until then, she’ll continue to serve her Sangha and the BCA with a grateful heart.
Season Two – Launches January 2024
Preparations are underway and our first guests have been booked. Subscribe to the Ekoji YouTube Channel and don’t miss an episode.
You must be logged in to post a comment.