Temple Appeal
Since its founding, the Toledo Zen Center community has sought to meet the imperative of the moment in the service of the Dharma, and has organically evolved as various needs became evident.
And in this evolution we all have much to celebrate and be grateful for - the creation of the Dharma School and Sunday Services, Wednesday evenings, the many retreats, workshops, Jukai initiations, and the founding and support of Affiliated sitting groups in Chicago, Upper Michigan, Canada, Ann Arbor, a recovery group at the Temple and Zen Buddhist student groups at both the University of Toledo and BGSU. The Drinking Gourd Podcast which to date has over 135,000 downloads, and we have achieved 501c3 non-profit status. And with all of this, we have for some time struggled with our space and searched to find an expanded facility to meet the growing needs of the community. And at last the way forward is clear.
The time has come yet again when this Sangha is creating something new. By expanding and improving the space, we are furthering our practice and study of the way and are creating a better and more welcoming home for future practitioners of the BuddhaDharma that have yet to arrive at the Temple door.
In an effort to be prepared for the upcoming Temple dedication ceremony on April 22nd, last Saturday with the help of many volunteers the Aikido mats were moved, the Altar was sanded and refinished and the new Zendo space prepared. On Monday and Tuesday the new drop ceiling was installed and any old stained ceiling tiles were replaced and the roof was tarred. Cushions and instruments have arrived, and the flooring will be installed next Tuesday.
This process was kick started with the $5,000 grant the Drinking Gourd Institute received, with which it has paid for the instruments and cushions, and made an initial deposit on the ceiling with 90 day same as cash terms for the the rest of the ceiling and flooring costs which amount to some $6,000.
Yet to be discerned is the matter of lights for the new space, a wall of some kind behind the altar, and a longer term solution for the roof leakage, but for now this is our fundraising goal: $6,000 in the next three months. If we can double that amount to cover the lights, roof and wall all the better, but lets at least do this.
A donor who has never been to the Temple and who lives across the country was moved by the recorded teachings of the Drinking Gourd Podcast and has donated $5,000. We have each decided to pledge our $250 per month honorarium and contribute it to the cause, taking the first bite of $1,500 out of the $6,000 goal leaving us with just $4,500 left to go for our minimum.
It is our belief that the Sangha will rise to this challenge and then some, and that what the Sangha needs will manifest. The Three Treasures never fail, and the actualizing of good for self and others is the total truth.
Prajna Paramita,
- Rev. Rinsen and Rev. Do-on.
To make a tax deductable donation, click HERE or send a check made out to The Drinking Gourd Institute to Buddhist Temple of Toledo, 6537 Angola Road, Holland OH, 43528
And in this evolution we all have much to celebrate and be grateful for - the creation of the Dharma School and Sunday Services, Wednesday evenings, the many retreats, workshops, Jukai initiations, and the founding and support of Affiliated sitting groups in Chicago, Upper Michigan, Canada, Ann Arbor, a recovery group at the Temple and Zen Buddhist student groups at both the University of Toledo and BGSU. The Drinking Gourd Podcast which to date has over 135,000 downloads, and we have achieved 501c3 non-profit status. And with all of this, we have for some time struggled with our space and searched to find an expanded facility to meet the growing needs of the community. And at last the way forward is clear.
The time has come yet again when this Sangha is creating something new. By expanding and improving the space, we are furthering our practice and study of the way and are creating a better and more welcoming home for future practitioners of the BuddhaDharma that have yet to arrive at the Temple door.
This process was kick started with the $5,000 grant the Drinking Gourd Institute received, with which it has paid for the instruments and cushions, and made an initial deposit on the ceiling with 90 day same as cash terms for the the rest of the ceiling and flooring costs which amount to some $6,000.
Yet to be discerned is the matter of lights for the new space, a wall of some kind behind the altar, and a longer term solution for the roof leakage, but for now this is our fundraising goal: $6,000 in the next three months. If we can double that amount to cover the lights, roof and wall all the better, but lets at least do this.
It is our belief that the Sangha will rise to this challenge and then some, and that what the Sangha needs will manifest. The Three Treasures never fail, and the actualizing of good for self and others is the total truth.
Prajna Paramita,
- Rev. Rinsen and Rev. Do-on.
To make a tax deductable donation, click HERE or send a check made out to The Drinking Gourd Institute to Buddhist Temple of Toledo, 6537 Angola Road, Holland OH, 43528
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