I’m reminded of the late Rev. Kenryu Tsuji’s gatha, “Gassho to Amida,” which heralds springtime. The gatha celebrates this time of year with optimism and happiness as we are reminded of the Nembutsu teachings while we offer our gratitude for Amida’s embrace.
“Flowers bloom and flowers fall;
From the seeds sprout new flowers;
This is the Truth unchanging.
I gassho to Amida.
“Springtime brings the happy birds,
Their songs all praise Amida;
I join them in Nembutsu.
I gassho to Amida.”
— “Gassho to Amida,” Rev. Kenryu Tsuji
We can now look forward to cherry blossoms and daffodils as we get through the extended weeks of winter predicted by the groundhog who saw his shadow on Groundhog Day. For many of us, it is now time for festival planning and preparation for Hanamatsuri and the summer festival season of chicken teriyaki bazaars and Obon festivals. Yes, time marches on.
The Value in Various Communication Formats
Since my article in February, I have had the opportunity to participate in several workshops and attend many meetings and conferences. As I write this, I am also preparing for the 2025 National Council Meeting and workshops in the last two weeks of February.
One of the takeaways from these workshops and meetings has been that technology has made it possible to connect across time and place.
I have virtually attended meetings for the Eastern District Council, the Northern California District Council, many other BCA committee meetings and a fireside chat workshop on karma hosted by Rev. Dr. Ken Tanaka with a worldwide audience. Zoom has become an important platform that connects us, allowing us to share information, build relationships and have interactive discourse that had been previously impossible because of distance and cost.
That is not to say that in-person gatherings will go the way of the dinosaurs. There is inherent value that comes with meeting in-person. In-person gatherings offer greater opportunities to build community, to connect with our Sanghas to share the energy and excitement that can only happen in a large group setting.
In addition, one-on-one personal touches and group conversations promote connections that are often difficult to create in a virtual setting. As I wrote last month, the value of the in-person experience was prominent in discussions with Ryukoku University leadership, meaningful discussions in strategic planning sessions with the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS) faculty and the IBS Board of Trustees, sharing information and having fun at the Temple Leaders Workshop, and reconnecting and sharing experiences with our colleagues and fellow Jodo Shinshu followers at the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii’s (HHMH) annual Legislative Assembly (Giseikai) in Honolulu.
The Bay District, under the leadership of Bradley Menda (Berkeley Buddhist Temple), Carl Yanari (Palo Alto Buddhist Temple), and Bay District ministers under the leadership of kyokucho, Rev. Dennis Fujimoto are creating our 2025 Ministers Association and National Council Meetings and events to be the most creative and innovative virtual experience for everyone.
The Bay District hopes to set a new standard for virtual conferences that offer benefits that can rival the benefits and raving commentary that was received after the Northern California District’s hosting of the in-person 2024 National Council Meeting in Sacramento.
As you read this article, the 2025 Ministers Association and National Council meetings and events will have concluded and I hope that we can say we have exceeded our expectations.
As we go forward, we now have multiple successful models to use as we plan future gatherings. The virtual experience is here to stay and will only get better as we all learn to better use the platform’s tools and add equipment to make the experience seamless for those attending in-person and those attending virtually. Balancing the goals of the conference and gatherings will be important in determining whether it be in-person or virtual. Let us make sure we are deliberate in our choices.
Interrelationships, ‘Ohana’
In the past year, I have found it exhilarating to be able to connect with so many dedicated individuals from near and far. As I enter the last year in my tenure as BCA President, I look forward to continuing to do so as we further the mission of the BCA.
Returning from Hawaii and HHMH’s Giseikai, I am reminded of the Hawaiian word of “Ohana.” We are truly one family, all interconnected individuals on our shared Shin Buddhist journey. Each encounter we have with each other is a treasured moment in time as the Federation of Buddhist Women’s Association Conference 2024 theme highlighted in its theme, “Ichi-go Ichi-e.”
I have come to find deep gratitude in the many causes and conditions that bring us together to experience these unique moments in time. Call it mystic or just part of living our lives in our karmic existence. My most recent “aha” moment was in conversation with Dr. Warren Tamamoto, president of the HHMH.
We both came to realize that our paths had crossed 18 years ago at the graduation ceremony at Occidental College in Los Angeles. Warren and his wife, Claire, were in the audience with Kathy and me as we both celebrated the accomplishments of their daughter and my son. It’s a shared experience that still resonates after almost two decades.
Looking to 2025, Beyond
There are many exciting initiatives as we look forward to this year and beyond. Here are snippets of a few:
Strategic Plan Update: The Vision and Strategic Planning Committee is focused on five priority areas: (1) Propagation; (2) Sangha and Community Development; (3) Financial Capability; (4) Ministerial Development; and (5) Organizational Development. Within each priority area, the committee is establishing strategies that will be implemented through identifying goals and action Items for each strategy. The current strategic plan effort is to ensure that strategic planning is a process that will be flexible and nimble to meet the ever-changing needs of the BCA.
Dharma Forward and Fundraising: The Dharma Forward campaign will complete its first phase as of Dec. 31, 2025. Donations have exceeded expectations and are now over $12.5 million, within easy reach of the $15 million goal. Dharma Forward is an investment in the future of both BCA and IBS. Monies are allocated to initiatives that forward Buddhist Education, Technology and Outreach, Ministerial Support, and Scholarships and Facilities. Monies are allocated to capacity building and to fully fund the endowed chairs that support faculty at IBS. Looking at the fundraising after 2025, we see the opportunity to identify new areas of need based on the five priority areas from the strategic planning process. These will complement the existing four “pillars” or provide specific needs within each of the existing “pillars.” New pledge amounts that extend beyond the end of 2025 will be included in the totals for Dharma Forward. In addition, any amounts designated through the Planned Giving program as irrevocable trusts will also be included in this phase of Dharma Forward. We encourage you to email or speak with Michiko Inanaga, Director of Development, at minanaga@bcahq.org or 626-627-0544.
Ministerial Development: Tokudo ordination and Kyoshi certification will continue in the United States with support from Hongwanji-ha in Japan. Tokudo ordination will be available this fall. Training for Tokudo ordination is already underway. The opportunity to offer these programs in the United States is a direct result of collaborative conversations and work between BCA and the Center for Buddhist Education (CBE), the Jodo Shinshu International Office (JSIO) and IBS.
Well-being and Mental Health: A new initiative is underway to create a focus on compassionate healing that incorporates the Shin Buddhist ideals in everyday lives. An organized group of health care and spiritual leaders are collaborating to create a plan for how this initiative might take form. Stay tuned.
As I travel around the BCA, I always ask if people are reading my articles. I hope that you are one of the dedicated readers of this column and you will turn to Page 3 with every edition of the Wheel of Dharma. We are so fortunate to have the expert guidance of our editor, Jon Kawamoto, who has made this newspaper something that I look forward to seeing in my mailbox every month. Thank you, Jon!
Namo Amida Butsu
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