BTC Bulletin September 2020 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

October2020

ADDRESS1151 W. Leland Ave

Chicago, IL 60640-5043TELEPHONE

(773) 334-4661ONLINE

BuddhistTempleChicago.org

Distant Socializing Introduction by Rev. Patti Nakai

This month we celebrate our temple’s 76th anniversary but unlike last year’s well attended luncheon, our celebration cannot be an in-person gathering. A temple is many things but primarily it is a place for gatherings – to hear the Dharma but also for socializing over refreshments, at fun events and while working together on projects such as our Natsu Matsuri fundraiser. And our temple has been a gathering place to learn about and preserve our Japanese cultural heritage with Bon Odori dancing, mochi-tsuki (rice cake pounding), martial arts, language classes and enjoying Japanese dishes at New Year’s and other major occasions.

Now and for the foreseeable future in-person events in our temple building are very restricted – requiring face-masks and keeping six feet apart. The possibility of contracting COVID-19 has kept people away whose health and age make them more susceptible to its discomforting effects. Yet whether in the temple or online in Zoom sessions, our members are continuing to socialize with each other. For those elderly members without computers, the younger members who miss seeing them have been making phone calls and sending cards.

In the same way that we manage to keep in touch with each other while not being able to meet in person, Buddhism teaches us that we are connected to many, many people who we haven’t met and may never meet. Just to know they are our fellow human beings should be enough reason to care about them as much as we have concerns for our family and friends. What happens to them does affect all of us in the bigger picture. We can say, “It’s all their fault and not my problem” about those going through a hard time right now –

The Buddhist Temple of Chicago

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losing jobs, grieving over loved ones lost to COVID-19, going hungry and homeless, being violently abused and even murdered due to prejudiced judgments. If “Oneness” is truly what we believe in and not just a nice concept we spout, then we know our thoughts, words and deeds are affecting the lives of others, even those who seem far away from our idea of people we’re comfortable with. In Namu Amida Butsu, let us hear the voices of Others’ Power calling to us to act in the world, relying on the wisdom that transcends our self-concerns.

Qigong class practices Tai-chi moves while masked and socially distanced.

Contact Bill at budtempchi@aol.com

BTC Bulletin September 2020 www.BuddhistTempleChicago.org 2

Anniversary Time

By Bill Bohlman, BTC President

What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time we celebrated the temple’s 75th anniversary. Almost 200 people gathered at the temple for a luncheon to mark this special occasion. Now, this year, the average in-person attendance for Sunday service is about ten people. Our 76 th anniversary arrives at a time when celebrating is difficult. Yet, among all the turmoil BTC is still a place where one can

Scheduled activities – subject to change (TBD = to be determined later)Weekly services – Sundays 11am (RSVP for in-person), online Facebook Live. Second Sunday is Children’s Dharma School service (no in-person classes Sept. 2020-June 2021)Mindful midday (meditation and stretching) – Mondays 11am (RSVP for in-person), online ZoomQigong (Chinese exercise) – Tuesdays 11am, online Zoom, in-person restrictedIaido (martial art) –Mondays 6:30pm, in-person restrictedThursday Meditation - 7:30pm online Facebook Live; Sunday Meditation – 9:30am- In person onlyAikido – Sundays 5-7pm – in person onlyTaiko TBDFor Zoom sign-in information see Event announcements on Facebook or contact Rev. Patti.

Volunteers Needed

If you are comfortable attending the in-person Sunday services, please come a little early to help with set-up and stay a little later to help with disinfecting the chairs and other used surfaces.

We appreciate that several people told us they would like to help but because their jobs put them in close contact with the public, they feel it is safer for them to stay away.

Please contact Rev. Patti about other ways you can help the temple in-person or online.

Congratulations

Our temple congratulates Dharma School student Oliver on completing the requirements for the Cub Scout Metta Award. There are awards for scouts who learn about the religion they identify with and the Metta (meaning “loving kindness”) Award is for those of the Buddhist faith. Over the summer, Oliver was tutored in Zoom sessions with Rev. Patti Nakai and Bill Bohlman, covering material such as the life and teachings of the historical Buddha and about the various Buddhist holidays. We thank Oliver’s family for involving our temple in this program and hope that there will be scouts in the future also wishing to earn the Metta Award through BTC.

[Note: It has been temple policy not to publish the last names of children]

BTC Bulletin September 2020 www.BuddhistTempleChicago.org 3

What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time we celebrated the temple’s 75th anniversary. Almost 200 people gathered at the temple for a luncheon to mark this special occasion. Now, this year, the average in-person attendance for Sunday service is about ten people. Our 76 th anniversary arrives at a time when celebrating is difficult. Yet, among all the turmoil BTC is still a place where one can

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BTC Bulletin September 2020 www.BuddhistTempleChicago.org 4

October 2020 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 2 3

49:30am Meditation11am Monthly Memorial Service5pm Aikido

511am Mindful Midday

6:30pmIaido

6

11amQi-Gong

7 8 9 10

119:30am Meditation11am Children’s Dharma School Service 5pm Aikido

12

11am Mindful Midday

6:30pmIaido

1311amQi-Gong

14 15 16 17

189:30am Meditation11am BTC 76th Anniversary Service5pm Aikido

1911am Mindful Midday

6:30pmIaido

2011amQi-Gong

21 22 23 24

259:30am Meditation11am Regular Service5pm Aikido

2611am Mindful Midday 6:30pm Iaido

2711amQi-Gong

28 29 30 31Halloween