You are welcome to attend the 2008 Obon Summer Festival on Saturday, July 12 from 5:30-9:00pm. Food sales begin at 5:30pm and the Japanese Folk Dancing begins at 7:00pm. To help us better determine how much food to prepare please feel free to submit the attached food pre-order form by July 2nd. Please feel free to bring the form to temple for a Board member or mail to:
Ekoji Buddhist Temple Obon Pre-Orders 6500 Lake Haven Lane Fairfax Station, VA 22039
Also attached please find the memorial candle order form. We will also be taking orders on the July 12th, however, if you would like to pre-order a memorial candle please feel free to submit the attached form by June 28 by mailing to the aforementioned mailing address with your check payable to: Ekoji Buddhist Temple. Both the food pre-order form and the memorial candle form are available in the June Kalavinka.
DANCE WORKSHOPS: If you have not attended an Obon Summer Festival or if you would simply like to hear and see some of the dances before the 12th, Susan Kasa has volunteered to help guide us on the following dates.
July 22 from 12:30 - 1:30 AND July 29 from 12:30 -1:30 All are welcome to attend the dance workshops! It's free! Please wear comfortable clothes.
We are also displaying pictures of loved ones who have passed away in the Hondo during the Memorial service on the 13th (begins at 11:00am) and the evening of the 12th. Don't forget to bring your pictures!
MEMORIAL SERVICE: July 13, 2008 11:00am - 12:00pm
You are encouraged to help handout the attached Obon Flyer to your family and friends. If you have any questions or concerns or would like more information on how you can volunteer with food preparations, temple clean-up, kid's games, and the drink and food sales on the 12th please feel free to contact me.
What is Obon? Obon, or simply Bon, is observed in the United States around July 15. It is when Buddhists rejoice in the awakening offered by the Buddha. It is an opportunity to express gratitude not only to ancestors, but also to all who have passed on. Therefore, it is often referred to as Kangi-e, "Gathering of Joy." Tradition calls for temples in the United States to observe Obon services for the deceased, and include traditional Japanese dances on Obon Day and other observances. Buddhists consider a memorial service, or Hoji, a significant occasion to remember the deceased with feelings of gratefulness and love. For Jodo Shinshu Buddhists, the significance of a memorial service is not for appeasing the spirits of the deceased, but is, rather, the opportunity to pay tribute to and recall the memories of the deceased, while listening to the Buddha Dharma. In remembering the deceased, we acknowledge the influence of the deceased on our lives. -- Ekoji Home Page: http://www.ekoji.org Calendar: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=ekoji.info@gmail.com You received this email because you are on Ekoji's general email list. If you would like to be removed, please send an email to information@ekoji.org
P.S. If you're going to purchase items from Amazon, please use the link on Ekoji's web page, http://www.ekoji.org. Ekoji will receive a percentage of the purchase price of whatever you buy - at no additional cost to you. You can also access Amazon directly at http://tinyurl.com/2o3hgn