For the past 6 months, I have been wondering like many of you, if the temple will ever reopen. Will we survive this pandemic closure? What will the temple look like if and when Toronto Buddhist Church reopens? How will the TBC change under the pressure and restrictions of COVID-19? Well, the time has come and in less than a month, TBC will reopen.
Thanks to the efforts of TBC’s Temple Reopening Committee under the leadership of Donna Nakano; they have come up with a plan to cover as many scenarios and problems as possible. I believe they have done a marvelous job in following the guidance set forth by Toronto Public Health, Public Health Ontario and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Please read the temple’s new protocols and guidance notes in this month’s Guiding Light, on the website (tbc.on.ca) and on the temple’s Facebook page. And please follow them. They have been created to protect you, your family, your friends, our volunteers, our ministerial assistants, our minister –everyone, who wants to attend services at TBC.
Please help your parents, senior relatives or friends, who can’t come to the temple, set up the live-streaming service on Facebook Live. This will be their new link to TBC’s religious services. As the Golden Chain points out, “I will try to be kind and gentle to every living being and protect all who are weaker than myself.”
As Roy Kusano wrote in a previous article, we are grateful to our parents, grandparents, great grandparents, relatives and friends, who have sacrificed much to allow our temple to grow and survive. The time has come. It is your turn to take the lead and contribute to the life and well-being of Toronto Buddhist Church. How would you feel if TBC was not there to help you when your loved one passed away? How would you feel if there were no more services or activities at TBC? Now, more than ever, TBC needs your help. Please give generously both financially and with your time. TBC still needs to “pay the bills”. Please donate! Our aging volunteers will no longer be able to help due to COVID-19—Volunteer! TBC Needs You! We Want You!
Please give your name to the temple office or to Darlene Rieger (darlene.rieger28@gmail.com).
Our behavior, attitudes and activities have changed dramatically because of COVID-19. The Compassion of Amida Buddha has always been and will always be with us but sometimes we forget and wallow in our own suffering. We need to be reminded that Amida Buddha’s Compassion is forever present with us. We are never alone. Together, we are each “a link in Amida Buddha’s golden chain of love.” And together, we will keep “Amida Buddha’s golden chain of love… bright and strong.”
In Gassho,
Paul Aoki, 1st Vice President, Toronto Buddhist Church
THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS YOU CAN DONATE:
- You can mail in your membership fee or donation to:
Toronto Buddhist Church,
1011 Sheppard Avenue West Toronto, ON M3H 2T7
2. You can donate online by clicking on the donation button on the homepage