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We are getting ready for the Summer months now.. What happened to Spring, anyway? It was more hope than reality, but the colors are out there so it must have happened. June brings another full schedule, but the highlight of the month is our annual Japan Nite Obon Festival. It's a great time to invite friends and family to take in the colorful dance, fun and foods.
This year will be the 65th annual Japan nite. Perhaps this is a good time to ask, How much longer do you think it will last? Do we just assume it will continue? Or do we care whether it does or not? The same questions can be asked of the temple itself. Is the temple valuable to the community? Are the teachings valuable to the world? Are the activities valuable to me? These are questions of evaluation and priority. Do we know enough to make an educated decision Do we base our choices on simplified stereotypes provided by others who dont really know? When any of us have to make a choice regarding illness or opportunities, we usually try to get as much information and as many opinions as we need to make our choices. Time and again, it can be seen that if the decision is important, people take the time to make the right choices.
As I write this article, Memorial Day has not yet come. In preparing for our Memorial Day Services, I have heard the stat that nationally, we lose 1000 WWII vets each day. We are probably at a similar pace with losing our Nisei members. Slowly but surely new members interested in the teachings and the temple have come and stepped in to assist in our operations. However, a large number of the Sansei still seem hesitant to step into the shoes of their parents and grandparents. Too smart, too busy, too scared are good places to hide and hesitate in our youth, but those days are over. The simple fact is that we need more people to step up to keep our temple going. Sending an extra check isn't going to do. We need more people knowing what is going on and knowing what it takes to get things done, and the only way to know is by being here regularly and actively. What's the point of being on the board if we dont go to meetings? What's the point of being a member if we are never at the temple?
The temple can live or die, and I am sure we can all live with either choice. But please know that it is a choice and we are all a part of that decision. The temple is a place for people who value life and truth, and awareness of reality, spiritual growth, cultural expression and an appreciation of the connectedness that grounds each of us in humility, dignity, wisdom and compassion. We dont need churchy, churchy goody two-shoes...we need real people. Step up if you qualify.
As this year's 65th annual Japan Nite Obon Festival unfolds and takes place, please come and enjoy the event. Begin your process to know if this festival or this temple is worthy of our concern and effort to have it thrive or not. The old days are over, but the temple can blossom as a new and ever-growing, ever-changing entity, if we choose to make it so. Please step in and be a part of the process.
Gassho,
Rev. Dennis
We express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made the IOBT GIGANTIC Wabi Sabi Yard Sale on April 30, 2011 such a huge success! The event exceeded our fund-raising expectations for the BCA Jodo Shinshu Center. There were so many wonderful donations that it required three sites: the Ichiban Room (across the street from the Temple), the basement of the parsonage, and under the awning of the Temple. We also received cash donations from members who could not assist during the yard sale.
The men arrived early to set up the tables and move heavy items. The women were also there at 7:00 to set out the bake sale goodies. Dharma School students and teachers, three Temple presidents, YBA, BWA, ABA, IOBT Board members, MAP members, Sangha Taiko, IOBT Sangha members, and friends came early, stayed late, and provided essential help as set-up, lunch, and clean-up crews as well as cashiers and "sales associates"!
The IOBT Buddhist Women's Association provided homemade baked goodies. Compliments were heard all around, as the treats sold out before noon! We also accepted many generous cash donations for the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund from the yard sale participants.
Again, we say "thank you so much!" to everyone who donated items, helped with preparations, deliveries and unloading in the preceding days, and provided invaluable assistance on that Saturday. With all of your help, the event was a GIGANTIC success!
Melody Smit and Carrie Mori, Co-Chairs
To carry out our NW District Dharma School theme of "Harmony within Diversity", Quinn gave the example of a sandwich. The Dharma School made a sandwich; we used bread, condiments, meat, lettuce and tomatoes. All of the ingredients by themselves are just individual foods but when they are put together they all compliment each other. Thus, "Harmony within Diversity".
Mary Nakamura, Suzie Nishihara, Kikue Hondo, Jimmy Hondo, Karen Hata, Delores Wood, Kazuko Kuramoto, Hideo Harada, Ruth Harada and Midge Teramura
Designated Memorial Service Years for 2011. To schedule a family memorial service, please contact Reverend Fujimoto. 1 Year = 2010, 3 year = 2009, 7 year = 2005, 13 year = 1999, 17 year = 1995, 25 year = 1987, 33 year = 1979 and 50 year = 1962.
Idaho Oregon Buddhist Temple
286 SE 4th Directions
PO Box 397 (mailing address)
Ontario, Oregon 97914
541-889-8562 (office)
541-889-8662 (fax)
10:00 am - IOBT Choir Practice
10:30 am - Adult Study
11:00 am - Family Service
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