The last Saturday in August presented perfect weather and a wonderful backdrop to a fun picnic. Tendai Buddhist Institute hosted the Turkish Cultural Center and the Canaan Congregational Church. Over 80 people enjoyed halal hamburgers and hotdogs as well as veggie burgers, a plethora of delicious side dishes, salads, and desserts as well as an assortment of non-alcohol beverages. Koshin and Kaishin were the master chefs for the day. Many sangha members came early to set up and stayed late to clean-up. There are too many contributors to name.
There were people of all ages, about 20 or more were kids. Matt came prepared to entertain the kids with various art projects. That evolved into people of all ages trying their hand at graphic creativity. Kites and soccer balls were flying around the periphery. Mostly, there were spirited conversations with all the people mingling and getting to know each other better.
Our temple has had a close relationship with the Canaan Congregational Church from the very beginning of our existence in Canaan, NY and our exceptional association with the Turkish community began about 15 years ago. These are interfaith activities, and that’s good. They also represent intertwined communities of shared values and a commitment to a fair and just society.
The Canaan Congregational Church was established in the late 1700’s, presumably by the intrepid migrants from New Canaan, Connecticut, who were recent immigrants from England.
The sangha of Tendai Buddhist Institute are people who grew up in the local environs as well as people from all over the world who came to reside in eastern New York and western Massachusetts in the last 50 years.
The Turkish community arrived in the Capital region of New York in the last twenty or so years. Most of the folks are from Türkiye, though many are from other countries. Those people not from Türkiye who affiliate with the TCC are members because of their relationship with Hizmet, more about that shortly. The TCC members are the most recent immigrants.
Virtually all of the people at the picnic were immigrants, or decedents of immigrants (acknowledging there may have been some people who attended the picnic with at least some Native American ancestry). In addition to the shared status of being immigrants, or decedents of immigrants, we share values from our faith traditions, the faith traditions are different, but the morality, ethics, communal spirit of a just society are very similar. A further commonality is that all are people of faith.
Some sangha members may wonder why the Turkish Cultural Center in particular.
The Turkish Cultural Center of the Capital District started the Albany Community Center, in Rensselaer, NY, and is loosely affiliated with Hizmet. As it is written on their web page, Hizmet is . . . “A faith-based civil society movement which literally translates to “service.” The movement’s teachings promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue, science, democracy, and spirituality, while condemning violence and the politicization of religion.” It was created by Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish Islamic scholar and dissident, who died approximately two years ago while in self-exile in Pennsylvania.
As a major aspect of its mission, Hizmet has started over 1,000 STEM oriented, secular schools in Muslim-majority regions into China, North America, Central and South Asia, Europe, Australia, and especially Africa. Although there is no formal networking of all the schools, collectively they form one of the largest collections of charter schools in the U.S.
Hizmet in Türkiye has been persecuted by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president, who had a falling out with his one-time supporter, Fethullah Gülen, alleging he executed a coup in 2016. Gülen adamantly denied this. From multiple sources, following the coup the Turkish government had shut down thousands of private schools, charities, trade unions, universities, and medical institutions allegedly linked to the Gülen movement. Nearly 3,000,000 citizens of Türkiye were investigated for terrorism between 2016 and 2024, and 511,000 were arrested for alleged links to the Gülen movement. According to the historian Michael Rubin, in the American Enterprise Institute, the coup attempt was staged to serve Erdoğan’s interests, “to allow a dictator to consolidate power”. As a result, many Turkish people associated with Hizmet fled Türkiye and have taken asylum in the U.S and other countries.
As Buddhists we extend compassion, not merely sympathy, to the Turkish people who have been disenfranchised and marginalized in their homeland. We share their values and we will assist them in feeling a part of our extended community. Tendai Buddhist Institute supports Hizmet and the Turkish people who have suffered under an authoritarian regime in their homeland, many seeking asylum in North America. They are our close friends and neighbors. We welcome them with open arms and open hearts.
Thank you to everyone who attended and provided assistance at the picnic. That was an important part of your Buddhist practice.
Love and Gassho . . . Monshin