Dear Members and Friends,
It has been 18 months since we closed our temple due to COVID-19. It has been a challenging time for all of us. With the availability of vaccines and the decreasing number of cases we were excitedly looking forward to having live services in September. However, as much as we are eager to return to “normal” with the increasing cases due to new variants of the virus, the WBT Board has decided that we will postpone reopening of the temple to protect all of us.
The purpose of this letter is to update you by sharing some of the opportunities that the pandemic has created for us.
Weekly on-line Sunday service began in August 2020. Since the temple was closed for Sunday service, we decided to bring the Dharma to you. This required many of us to learn new skills to record and post the weekly Sunday services. Many of you and others from the mainland and other countries have been tuning in to the weekly services link. In this way the pandemic has allowed us to spread the Dharma far and wider than we have ever been able to do so in the traditional format. We hope to continue on-line services to allow those who have been relying on our weekly service the opportunity to continue their Nembutsu path with us.
On-line Dharma education has flourished during the pandemic. WBT has conducted virtual Adult Dharma Classes that reached people who live outside of the Windward area. Many temples in Hawaii and on the mainland have also made available virtual Dharma education. Those of you who have access to a computer will find many opportunities to hear various Dharma messages, from New York, California, all the neighbor island temples, the Buddhist Study Center and the Buddhist Churches of America.
The use of the computer and technology has allowed the usual conferences such as the Lay Convention to continue virtually. More people across the State have been able to “attend” these virtual conferences since the cost of travel and housing was replaced by a free connection through the use of Zoom and other virtual means. These methods have allowed many to feel safe in their own homes and be able to take part in these conferences.
Rev. Sumikawa led a limited group of people to conduct an Obon service at the Waimanalo Japanese Cemetery which is on the Marine Corp land. It was an opportunity for people with family members still buried there to visit them after many years. Hawaii Herald newspaper had an article about this visit.
During this time the Board continued to meet virtually to ensure that necessary regulatory requirements, finances, and other obligations were met while keeping the Board members safe.
Fund raising has also been on-line. The WBT Country Store items were posted on the WBT website. In July takuan was sold and in August WBT bon dance dinnerplates were also sold.
The Board will continue to monitor the number of COVID cases and restrictions to determine when it is safe to return to live services. While you are sheltering in place, you can talk with Rev. Sumikawa for spiritual support by calling him at 808-492-7254. He is available to share the Dharma with you. Until the next time, please continue to be safe.
In Gassho,
Prudence Kusano, President
Windward Buddhist TempleDear Members and Friends,
