Torkelson: Buddhists mark temple's 90th birthday

By Jean Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 9, 2006 at midnight

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Bishop Koshin Ogui, the spiritual leader of America's oldest established branch of Japanese Buddhists, reminded a crowd of 300-plus in Denver Sunday that time is impermanent "and for followers of Buddha Dharma, there is no tomorrow."

Perhaps he meant to suggest that followers celebrate like there's no tomorrow?

Could be. The Tri State Buddhist Temple launched its 90th anniversary in a festive swirl of ritual, incense, chants and bells, with a feast of good food, tables of old photographs and lots of nostalgic touches.

No one needed the 100th to party. Ogui, from San Francisco, pointed out that given life's impermanence, it's important to honor people today, not wait for the symmetry of a centenary.

The graceful pagoda-style temple at 19th and Lawrence streets was the dream of early 20th century Japanese immigrants who first arrived to work the railroads and stayed to work the land as Colorado farmers.

In the Japanese tradition, the elder generation is specially revered. Accordingly, after the two-hour ritual ended Sunday, the temple's co-president, Gary Yamashita, invited the oldest members to line up first for food. When no one budged, Yamashita quipped, "I guess no one wants to admit they're a senior citizen!"

Everybody laughed. Actually, it's hard to pick out a typical member, evenly divided as they are among elders, the middle-aged, young families and lots of kids. They worship at a Buddhist altar exploding in colors of red and gold, which makes the presence of a church choir and the familiar burl of a pipe organ startling. During a break, Ogui explained these kinds of touches and his own title of "bishop" make Westerners feel more comfortable.

"I think its great to see so many races and cultures coming in," he added.

The members belong to Jodo Shinshu, an 800-year-old branch of Japanese Buddhism that arrived on American shores in 1906. These are auspicious times for the faith, Ogui said, with a $30 million education center due for completion in California, financed by the branch's 16,000 members nationwide.

The anniversary also marked a special "naming ceremony" for 57 members. One by one, each came forward to bow low to Ogui, dressed in apple-green vestments, and receive from him a special Buddhist name.

Wa Ge was the name given Kelsey Barnes, 47, a health care attorney. Barnes said her longstanding interest in Buddhism was rekindled by motherhood, after she adopted Anastasia, 5, an orphan from Siberia. The ceremony's implication, she said, "is very big. It's the promise I made today to live the Buddhist life to the best of my ability. These are the values I've lived since my early 20s, but it's one thing in the privacy of your own home and another to take a public stand."

Before breaking for food and memories, the Rev. Kanya Okomoto, who leads the Denver temple, put the day into perspective in suitably Buddhist terms: Remember, he said, "The is is the was of what shall be."

A deliciously inscrutable thought for pondering, especially on an anniversary.

torkelsonj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5055

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