Okagesamade Arigato -- Appreciating the Shade during Obon Service
For a week each July, our ministers and members of the community gather at cemeteries around our region to offer short Buddhist services of sutra chanting, incense offering, and a short Dharma message. This year, with the assistance of our temple president, Mike Iseri, we have visited 16 cemeteries between Boise, Idaho and Baker City, Oregon.
Because it is hot this time of year, we often look for trees to gather under while we hold these services cemetery. The shade is very much appreciated by all of us, as we stand there together in the heat for the service.
The trees...