Last month, September, was a somewhat typical month at Tendai Buddhist Institute. A little bit busier than usual but not uncharacteristic.
There were regularly scheduled events, most of these events are hybrid, both in person and on Zoom. Each Wednesday evening there was a discussion, followed by gongyo (a service) and meditation, concluding with a potluck dinner. There is also the monthly sutra class. Both of these are in person and on Zoom. The dinner was of course an in person only activity. There was also the weekly Makashikan tutorial graciously led by Dr. Job Jindo, a professor at the Academy for Jewish Religion, on Zoom only. These events bring people from around North America and the world together to explore Buddhism in general and Tendai Buddhism in particular.
There are a number of other activities in which Tendai Buddhist Institute participated. Shumon, Koshin, Kaishin and I (accompanying Koshin and Kaishin were Marcie and Lucy) participated in and attended the Interfaith Alliance of Upstate New York Annual Rev. Robert Lamar Awards Dinner in Albany on the 9th. Kaishin was filling in at the Springfield Tendai Sangha later that week into the next. I officiated the funeral of a Tendai priest, Daishin David Hall, in Rockville Maryland, on the 14th. Tendai Buddhist Institute (about 34 plus members) hosted a picnic with the Turkish Cultural Center of the Capital district (about 25 members) on September 20th. The weather was glorious and the fellowship between Buddhist and Muslim communities was equally glorious.
Continuing with the month’s activities . . . Kaishin and Koshin officiated a funeral on the 27th for a Soka Gakai member who did not have an affiliated clergy in the area. Koshin is in Japan (9/28 – 10/11) to complete his 2nd and final kanjo (Skt. abhiṣeka), the initiation ritual used to confirm that a soryo (monk/priest) of esoteric Buddhism has attained a higher level of practice and is designated a teacher. Additionally, he will be giving a speech to the Young Buddhist Priest Association of Mutsu District at Chuson-ji. Chuson-ji is a prominent Tendai temple in Iwate Prefecture, Japan and a World Heritage site, founded in 850 CE by Ennin (Jikaku Daishi).
Interspersed in the month were a handful of pastoral care consultations I was involved in at different times, both in person and on Zoom. If I might be permitted, Kaishin and I will be participating in the one-year memorial service for Imam Fetullah Gülen on October 3rd in Morristown New Jersey. Imam Gülen was the founder of Hizmet, a global Islamic social effort that promotes education, human rights, democracy, non-violence and intercultural dialogue.
We can add to these events the time spent working with affiliated Tendai Buddhist sangha around the country, with the Jigyodan (Tendai Buddhist Overseas Charitable Foundation) and the Shomucho (Tendai shu Administration), both in Japan, as the head Tendai Temple in North America.
Both Lay people and clergy are responsible for the continuity of the Institute and the temple therein. On the lay level there are people who serve on boards and committees, have been responsible for programs, such as the Jizo Garden project, are instrumental in pulling together and lending a hand to events like the Turkish Cultural Center Picnic, regular contributions of their time, cleaning the hondo and the grounds, assisting setting up and cleaning after potlucks, taking care of the weekly recordings of the discussions on You tube, etc.; there are so many people.
There are five clergy persons who leads these activities, namely Shumon Naamon, Koshin Bower, Kaishin Russell and myself, Monshin Naamon. Ichishima Shoshin joins us on a regular basis via Zoom from Japan. Several other emeritus clergy are in regular attendance in-person and virtually, Mushin, Shoshin, and Sansho, they assist in various ways. Jian from Montreal, Canada and Ryumon from New Jersey alternate in providing a discussion virtually once a month. Altogether there are ten clergy, at Soryo, Doshu and Kozo levels.
The Three Gems of Buddhism are the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. These three components must work in equal measure, collaboratively, for Buddhism to persist and be healthy.
Many people, even those who have attended for some time, and certainly those who join us via Zoom have never seen the Tendai Buddhist Institute Mission statement and Specific Objectives and Purposes, in summary. I will conclude by providing those here.
Mission Statement
The Tendai Buddhist Institute is dedicated to provide Buddhist teachings, practices and lifestyle in a rural village setting. Guided by Tendai tenets, the basic values are those of wisdom, compassion and skillful means. [We should now expand this to include those who join us virtually.]
Specific Objectives and Purposes
To create and maintain a non-residential and residential community dedicated to Buddhist philosophy and lifestyle. The Institute is intended to grow organically to meet the changing needs of the Sangha, guided by Tendai Buddhist religious practices and tenets, grounded in wisdom, compassion and skillful means.
To conduct Buddhist religious services, meditations, esoteric practices, blessings, weddings, purifications, funerals, memorial services, and other Buddhist religious functions requested by the sangha, and the public, in accordance with the Tendai School of Buddhism.To sponsor discussions, seminars and other events where concerned members of the public may meet to exchange ideas, suggest solutions, and implement strategies to encourage peaceful change toward a more responsible, meaningful, and spiritually fulfilling society.
To conduct educational, retreat, and training programs for people in various stages of spiritual pursuit. These range from weekly meetings, one-day and weekend spiritual retreats, to long term training programs for laity development and clergy ordination.
To encourage cross-cultural understanding and compassion through lectures, seminars and other activities.
To provide much needed interpersonal pastoral services to a growing Buddhist and non-Buddhist fellowship, with a non-materialist, family-oriented emphasis.To inform the public concerning non-sectarian Buddhist philosophies and practices, without proselytization. This will be accomplished through contribution in inter-religious activities, membership in interfaith organizations and participation in public and private events.
To publish newsletters, brochures, books, and other materials that focus on issues of social and cross-cultural importance, Buddhism in general, and Tendai Buddhist philosophy and practices in particular.
To operate the Institute in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
To contribute positively to the local and world community.
Gassho with love . . . Monshin