BTC Bulletin May 2021 www.BuddhistTempleChicago.org 1

IN THIS ISSUE

Minister’s message By Rev. Patti Nakai………..1

President’s message By Bill Bohlman……………..3

Acknowledgments………...4

Monthly Memorial..……...5

Calendar………………….…...6

May2021

ADDRESS1151 W. Leland Ave

Chicago, IL 60640-5043TELEPHONE

(773) 334-4661ONLINE

BuddhistTempleChicago.org

E-MAILBulletin.btc@gmail.com

Those Who Leave Before Us by Rev. Patti Nakai

Memorial Day, which falls on the last Monday of May, for most Americans means a time to honor those who died fighting for the United States. It originally was called “Decoration Day” when families in the north decorated the graves of Union soldiers who died in the Civil War (the southern states held a separate commemoration for the Confederate soldiers until World War I). In the 20th century it became known as “Memorial Day” to honor the Americans who had served in the U.S. military. But for the Japanese American community Memorial Day is an occasion to gather and honor all loved ones, non-military and even non-Americans. In Japan there are the two Ohigans and Obon when people get time off work to visit family graves, but here in the U.S., Memorial Day is the one holiday when cemetery visits are customary.

In Chicago the Japanese Mutual Aid Society hosts the annual Memorial Day program at Montrose Cemetery where many Japanese Americans are buried or in the mausoleum (see picture above). Even if your own family members are in other Chicago-area cemeteries, at Montrose you are bound to see the names of several people you knew at our temple. Our ministers Rev. Gyomay Kubose and Rev. Gyoko Saito have their burial plots not far from each other. Last year the Memorial Day program was cancelled due to the pandemic and this year, there is going to be an online gathering (BTC will be open at 11am Monday, May 31 to watch the video). But the event is an important one – for the community to come together across faiths and generations with representatives of several organizations making flower offerings at the mausoleum.

Probably due to the influence of Buddhism, Japanese culture focuses much on the impermanence of life and honoring the dead is an ongoing concern, not something over and done with after the funeral. “Those who leave before us are as countless as the drops of dew,” Rennyo says in his “Letter on the White Ashes” which we read at memorial services. Though as we get older and more and more of our family members and friends pass away, the increasing number indicates how much others were involved in supporting and influencing our life. And so we honor them by expressing gratitude for what they have thought, said and done – the karmic acts that continue to have power in this world. Some Westerners may think Asian heritage Buddhists are morbid to spend so much time and attention on the dead, but actually it is the Buddhist teachings that tell us to confront the fact of death and appreciate our life and the lives of others before the inevitable parting.

The Buddhist Temple of Chicago

“Japanese Mausoleum at Montrose Cemetery”

LETTER SENT TO THE LOS ANGELES HIGASHI HONGANJI TEMPLE (aka “Betsuin”) (which had been vandalized on February 25, 2021)

Dear Bishop Ito and members and friends of Higashi Honganji Betsuin,

Our apologies for taking so long to write with our formal acknowledgment of the terrible experience your congregation recently had with vandalism to the building and exterior lanterns. We were horrified and continue to be dismayed by the ongoing attacks against Asian American people, businesses and institutions in many parts of the country.

Because Betsuin has been so helpful to us over the years, most recently with COVID relief aid, we want

BTC Bulletin May 2021 www.BuddhistTempleChicago.org 2

The Three Mothers

By Bill Bohlman, BTC PresidentContact Bill at budtempchi@aol.com

The Three Mothers

In the life of Gautama Shakyamuni Buddha, three mothers had a distinct influence on the path to his awakening: his birth mother Queen Maya, his stepmother Prajapati, and Yashodhara the mother of his son. Each played a role in shaping the man who would become the Buddha.

Scheduled activities – subject to change (TBD = to be determined later) Note that in-person activities are subject to COVID-19 restrictions (mask required)

Weekly services – Sundays 11am - in-person, online Facebook Live. Second Sunday is Children’s Dharma School service (no in-person classes Sept. 2020-June 2021)Qigong (Chinese exercise) – Tuesdays 11am - online Zoom and in-person Iaido (martial art) –Mondays 6:30pm – in-person onlyThursday Meditation - 7:15pm online Facebook LiveSunday Meditation 9:30am – In-person onlyAikido – Sundays 5-7pm – in-person onlyAsoka Society – Saturday May 22 at 1pm – first meeting in over a year!Kokyo Taiko – Friday evenings, Sunday afternoonsFor more information, see our website or contact BTC

Special Event – Monday May 31, watch the Memorial Day Gathering video at BTC at 11am

Deepest SympathyTo the family and friends of

Shuyo Matsumoto April 8, 2021

LETTER SENT TO THE LOS ANGELES HIGASHI HONGANJI TEMPLE (aka “Betsuin”) (which had been vandalized on February 25, 2021)

Dear Bishop Ito and members and friends of Higashi Honganji Betsuin,

Our apologies for taking so long to write with our formal acknowledgment of the terrible experience your congregation recently had with vandalism to the building and exterior lanterns. We were horrified and continue to be dismayed by the ongoing attacks against Asian American people, businesses and institutions in many parts of the country.

Because Betsuin has been so helpful to us over the years, most recently with COVID relief aid, we want

BTC Bulletin May 2021 www.BuddhistTempleChicago.org 3

The Three Mothers

In the life of Gautama Shakyamuni Buddha, three mothers had a distinct influence on the path to his awakening: his birth mother Queen Maya, his stepmother Prajapati, and Yashodhara the mother of his son. Each played a role in shaping the man who would become the Buddha.

☒

BTC Bulletin May 2021 www.BuddhistTempleChicago.org 4

May 2021 Calendar Events may be canceled or moved:Check www.facebook.com/budtempchi

for the most up-to-date changes.Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

29:30am Meditation11am Monthly Memorial5pm Aikido

3Iaido

6:30pm

411amQi-Gong

5 67:15pm Facebook Live meditation

7 Taiko 7pm

8

99:30am Meditation11am Children’s Dharma School Service 5pm Aikido

10Iaido

6:30pm

1111amQi-Gong

12 137:15pm Facebook Live meditation

14 Taiko 7pm

15

169:30am Meditation11am Regular Service5pm Aikido

17Iaido

6:30pm

1811amQi-Gong

19 207:15pm Facebook Live meditation

21 Taiko 7pm

221:00pmAsoka meeting

239:30am Meditation11am Tanjo-e Service5pm Aikido

24Iaido

6:30pm

2511amQi-Gong

26 277:15pm Facebook Live meditation

28 Taiko 7pm

29

30No ServiceEBL5pm Aikido

3111am Memorial Day Gathering

Iaido6:30pm