Minutes of Buddhist Council meeting 2011-05-02
A Jesse Jiryu Davis
May 2nd 2011 at Chogyesa Temple
Present: Rev. Hoshu Matsubayashi, Isabelle Bernard, & Stephen Whitley
of NY Buddhist Church, Judy Chen of Saddharma Cakra Buddhist
Association, Nick Gershberg, Matt & Sookyung of Chogye International,
Rev. TK Nakagaki of NY Interfaith Center, Myoji Sunim, Myonghaeng
Sunim & Eun Hee Kim of Chogyesa Temple, Pin Pin Su of Tong Tzu Zen
Center, Bhante Kondanna & Michelle Dunson of Staten Island Buddhist
Vihara, Ven. Kurunegoda Piyatissa, &Rev. Parambe Siriniwaga of NY
Buddhist Vihara, Swamini Sri Lalitambika Devi of Lalitamba Mandiram,
Doyeon Park of Won Buddhism taking minutes.
Last meeting’s minutes read and approved with correction that Hoshin
Seki was at the meeting representing American Buddhist Study Center,
Michelle Dunson was not included in the minutes, Judy Chen
representing Saddharma Cakra Buddhist Association and BCNY.
➢ Buddhist Forum, April 16th Saturday
Judy: Buddhist Forum at Still Mind Zendo went well. There were close
to 30 people attended. Rev. TK Nakagaki, Bhante Kondanna, and Joseph
Mauricio were keynote speakers. We received some feedback that people
liked the sangha space format and wanted to have another one in the
fall. It doesn’t seem likely to have another one in the fall since we
have Meditate NYC but still we can discuss.
Isabelle: I also got feedback from my sangha members who attended the
forum that they enjoyed the forum.
➢ Lotus Lantern Parade, May 8th Sunday
Judy: It will begin at 1pm with Memorial Service for Victims of the
Earthquake and Great Tsunami in Japan. 2pm Tea Offering, 2:15pm 108
Prostrations, 2:30pm Zen Meditation, 3:00pm Circling the Pagoda,
3:30pm Bathing the Baby Buddha, 4:00-5:00pm Celebratory Performances,
5:00-6:00pm Main Ceremony, 6:30-7:30pm Lotus Lantern Parade, 7:30pm
Closing Ceremony (at Madison Park)
I will post this information on google group. Please send many
volunteers from your sangha on Sunday.
Nick: Prepare big mat or something like that to protect cushions that
we bring for prostration from our center.
Eunhee: Yes, we will bring big mat.
Judy: Tables will be there on Sunday for centers to display their
flyers and brochures.
Eunhee: This year we don’t have enough tables.
Isabelle: we have big tables at our church, the only problem is that
we don’t have transportation.
On Sunday we finish our service at 1pm then we can send some
volunteers to help you.
Nick: we need volunteers at Chogyesa temple for loading in the
morning, at Union Square for unloading between 11:30-12:00pm, and
after the event for loading. Some people need to give up the parade to
clean up.
Eunhee: Set up will begin at 10am at the Union Square and cleaning
will begin at 6pm. We need to finish clean up by 8,9pm. This is police
department rule.
Nick: Last year we didn’t have enough strings. Let’s get more strings
this year.
Judy: Volunteers from other centers can go directly to Union Square to
help set up.
➢ UN Vesak, May 16th, Monday
Bante Kondanna: Please make sure you register for the UN event on May
16th. They have two main events on 16th. Go to their website
www.e2600.org and register. You also need to bring your ID.
Judy: For Chinese monks and nuns, we will gather their names and send
them to Sri Lankan mission. So if anyone has problem registering
through the website, please let me know.
Pin Pin: I want to remind you that you need to cover your toes. UN
will not allow you to reveal your toes.
Judy: On May 16th there will be an 7AM arms round by monks. They will
begin from 1st Ave & 38th St and walk up to UN.
➢ The Dialogue Project
Judy: We are co-sponsoring the Citywide Interfaith Teach-In. There
will be various tables for different faiths to discuss. The theme for
this year is ‘approaching the 10th anniversary of 9/11.’
There will be two Buddhist teachers: Rev. TK and Shugen Sensei. This
is the second year Buddhist are involved. It’s important to add
Buddhist voice to interfaith gathering. So please spread this
information.
➢ Interfaith Retreat organized by Interfaith Center
Judy: There will be a retreat at Stony point retreat center on May 25-26.
Interfaith Center will cover meal and loading. There will be about
80-90 participants from different religions and it will be a great
opportunity to meet people from other faiths. It’s also good for
networking. I will also post this information on our google group.
Rev. TK: As a vice president of the Interfaith Center, I’d like to
encourage you to participate this retreat. It will be a good learning
experience.
➢ Other matters
Rev. TK: Thank you for those who came to the 49 days prayer last
Friday. I know some people got lost, it was not easy to find the
location. Sorry about that. There were Sri Lankan monks, Korean monks,
Chinese monks, American monks and Japanese monks. I want to thank you
again for your participation and support.
Judy: I received a letter from Seong Hae Sunim. I will read it.
“The current president of Buddhist Council of New York, Seong Hae
Seok, has decided to return permanently to Korea. It will therefore be
difficult for him to carry out his duties as president of the Buddhist
Council. He thereby appoints Myo Ji Sunim, abbess of New York
Chogyesa temple, as the new president of the Council.
April 2555 (Buddhist Year) 2011 (C.E.)
Seong-Hae Seok ”
Bante Kondanna: Originally we appointed Myoji Sunim as the president
then she appointed Seong Hae Sunim.
Isabelle: I’d like to ask Myoji Sunim if she accepts this to serve as
the president of BCNY.
Myoji Sunim: I’m happy to help this group. But I need your help as
well. If you let me do it, I will finish his term.
Judy: We will have Myoji Sunim as the president to complete Seong Hae
Sunim’s term.
Judy makes motion and Isabelle then second. Everyone claps.
Rev. TK: Let’s make a note “Thank you Seong Hae Sunim for your
contribution to New York Buddhist Council.”
Matt: Treasurer’s report. Currently balance is $3,782.64. Actually
it’s from February 28th, but I believe this is current. If you have
any question, you can ask Soo.
➢ Next Council meeting:
Our next meeting will be on Tues. June 14 at NY Buddhist Church
6:30PM dinner (Japanese/American food)
7PM meeting