They wore masks and smiled with their eyes, greeting one another with elbow bumps and hearty waves. After an 18-month hiatus, the second phase reopening of SGI-USA Buddhist Centers saw hybrid September kosen-rufu gongyo meetings held in person and by Zoom. For members at these eight centers, it was the first time to meet in person since the SGI-USA halted all in-person activities in March 2020 to slow the spread of COVID-19. As such, these meetings overflowed with heartfelt gratitude to see friends in faith, old and new.
The SGI-USA in June had announced a phased plan to safely reopen our Buddhist centers (see the July 2, 2021, World Tribune). A limited number of larger SGI-USA Centers opened in August for kosen-rufu gongyo meetings, with more centers to come. All other meetings will continue to be held virtually.
![Members at Brookline, Mass. New York, N.Y.](https://www.worldtribune.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/MG_0195-1024x524.jpg)
![Brooklyn, N.Y.](https://www.worldtribune.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/IMG_1247-scaled-e1631301759507-838x1024.jpg)
![Washington, D.C.](https://www.worldtribune.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/dc_region_krg_sept-12-1024x683.jpg)
![Washington, D.C.](https://www.worldtribune.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/dc_region_krg_sept-36-1024x683.jpg)
![New York, N.Y.](https://www.worldtribune.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/KRG-43-1024x699.jpg)
![New York, N.Y.](https://www.worldtribune.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/KRG-28-1024x683.jpg)
![Teaneck, N.J.](https://www.worldtribune.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/NJBC-reopening-004-1024x762.jpg)
![Brookline, Mass.](https://www.worldtribune.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/MG_0107-1024x638.jpg)
![Chicago, Ill.](https://www.worldtribune.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/DSC7424-1024x698.jpg)
![Chicago, Ill.](https://www.worldtribune.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/DSC7311-1024x989.jpg)
![Brooklyn, N.Y.](https://www.worldtribune.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/IMG_0239-scaled-e1631301890496-1024x929.jpg)
![Chicago, Ill.](https://www.worldtribune.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/DSC7264-1024x834.jpg)
![North Hollywood, Calif](https://www.worldtribune.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/090521_SGI_SFVBC_KRG_0294-1024x683.jpg)
Photos by Bianca Golden, Arlene Harrison, Yin Thin Low, Kevin Lynden, Bob Nardi, Adam Perry, Michelle Riofrio, Yuriko Wada, Allen Zaki
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