Boston Shinshu Buddhist Sangha is proud to sponsor Buddhist Symposium 2000 this November 6 and 20 at Boston University's School of Theology. The Symposium is a chance for people interested in a wide range of Buddhist traditions to come together and communicate our reverence and devotion to the Buddha Dharma and to hear leading representatives of those traditions share their insights on translating Buddhist religious experience into social ethics. Support for the Symposium comes from the Buddhist Promoting Foundation and Buddha-Dharma Kyokai, Inc., and from the New York [City] Buddhist Temple.

Who am I? What is a human being? Why am I living in this world? In examining the application of Buddhist principles to social ethics, the panel discussions will consider these questions. The Symposium will be held in two sessions two weeks apart. The first session will offer intellectual approaches to the issues, and the second session will look at approaches from actual practice. Both Mahayana (Japanese Pure Land and Tibetan Vajrayana) and Theravada traditions will be represented on the two panel discussions. Rev. Hojo Tone, student at the Boston University School of Theology, will be moderator for both panels.

It is now a year and a half since the Boston Shinshu Buddhist Sangha first met in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Our sangha now consists of about 14 members. We have been most fortunate to have three Shin Buddhist ministers lead our meetingsˆRev. Taitetsu Unno (who leads the Northampton, Massachusetts Shin sangha), Rev. T.K. Nakagaki (who heads the New York Buddhist Temple), and more recently Rev. Hojo Tone, who comes to us from Hawaii on a special comparative religion study program at Boston University. This has exposed us to a number of different styles and offers much for future development of the sangha.

At the present time, the sangha meets about once every month. The sangha is in the tradition of Jodo Shinshu, the predominant sect in the Pure Land tradition. The sangha began as an idea in 1998, with the publication of the first Boston Shinshu News. After a number of newsletter issues, people began to take the idea of having an actual sangha seriously. The first meeting was held in April, 1999 at the Sasuga Bookstore in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

For details on the meeting location and time of sangha meetings, please contact Dr. Richard St. Clair, shin02143@AOL.com or stclair@mit.edu.

Shin Buddhism--when understood and fully engaged--is a system of thought, a way of life, and a religion that transforms individuals, allowing them the inner depth and peace of mind to fully experience this life as a human being. As more and more people encounter it they will either adopt it or assimilate it in their own philosophy and belief system.

Presently in the Hawaii Kyodan, temples are generally perceived as sanctuaries for Japanese people and their culture. It is my hope that, as more and more people begin to understand the religion and how it can be expressed in our everyday lives, then the organization can slowly transform itself into a vehicle of sharing the Teachings and a catalyst for its active engagement in society.

Embodying the religion, each person is empowered by the Other Power to live full, creative lives of continuing self-improvement. Working within the perfect, unconditional acceptance of Amida Buddha one can fully engage one's life, without fear, striving to help others and working together with others to realize and create ideas, activities and entities which will be of service and/or assistance to others. Everyone who worked together to make this conference a reality fulfilled this ideal.

A significant factor affecting attendance was the push generated by Rev. Henry Tanaka to promote the attendance by young people via a scholarship. Another was the promotion of group attendance by the Upasika Society of the Hawaii Betsuin and Rev. Bruce Nakamura and the Jikoen Hongwanji. The net result was a final count of 210; this included people from the mainland United States and Japan. There was a sizable group from Higashi Hongwanji and some attendees from Jodoshu and one with a Mormon background. This far exceeded what we had planned for. As a result we had to stop accepting applications at the first deadline.

As far as the actual conference itself, I feel the majority of the attendees will agree that in one way or another, there was something that they found to be meaningful. Furthermore there are some who now understand the relevance of the religion in this society and in this life. There is something wonderful happening right now within America. Once more there is a wave of interest in Buddhism. Science and Technology have dominated the explanations of the nature of the universe and have transformed this world. They have challenged the belief systems that have included explanations of the physical world and the universe as part of their claim of validity. Buddhism has, from the time of Gautama Buddha, never focused in on that. Instead it has offered the cure for the malady of Dukkha, better known as suffering. It has emphasized a thoughtful approach to all matters, recognizing the reality that each individual must realize Truth for themselves in their own way. It remains relevant for technology-minded Americans. This method and approach to life simply resonates with how many thinking Americans perceive their basic values and approach to life.

Shin Buddhism embraces the humanity in all of us and provides the missing piece of Buddhism that so much of the time emphasizes the rational philosophical approach. Not all people need this piece, but it seems that many do. Because knowledge and information now flow through networks of fiber optic cables much like the prophetic Buddhist myth of Indra's Net, there is no stopping the dissemination of the light of the Teachings. With or without the sanction of the Hongwanji, the teachings of Shinran Shonin will be shared and will be assimilated within this American and World culture.

It is hoped that the Gathering 2000 has planted the seed of awareness of what needs to be done so that the Hawaii Kyodan can be a part what is unfolding at this very moment. Now it is up to you whether to nurture this awareness or not. Rev. Koshin Ogui of the Midwest Buddhist Temple has a fan given to him by his father. On one side its says: "If I don't do it, who will?" and the other: "If you did not exist, the world would not change much." Both are true: Each person must make the decision to make this world better but at the same time we are only a minute part of the immense workings of the universe. I have decided my life will be fuller if I am an active part of the events that are unfolding. Each of you needs to make your own decision for yourself.