BALTIMORE—North of the Chesapeake Bay, the site of a crucial naval battle during the American Revolution, now lies a stronghold of peace.
More than 300 members and guests from Chesapeake Bay Region gathered on Nov. 5, 2023, for the grand opening of the new SGI-USA Baltimore Buddhist Center.
The facility, nestled in Linthicum Heights, a quiet town 17 minutes south of downtown Baltimore, is the central hub of the kosen-rufu movement in a region that encompasses parts of Maryland—including Baltimore, Annapolis and Columbia—and southern Delaware. The new center, with its ample parking and easy access to nearby cafes, is an ideal place to grow the local Buddhist community.
The day before the opening, some 70 members volunteered to clean the center, raking leaves and wiping windows.
During the event, the members received a congratulatory message from Ikeda Sensei. In it, he asked them to “make full use of this treasure castle and persevere with even more joy and enthusiasm than before.”
Sensei continued: “I hope each of you will amass mountains of benefit and generously spread the spirit of great good to your precious families, friends and beloved communities as you expand our network for peace and happiness.”
Chesapeake Bay Region youth leaders, Akiko Toya and Justin Kunimoto, spoke at the opening, expressing their appreciation to their mentor and fellow members, and their determination to protect and use the center to enable countless youthful Bodhisattvas of the Earth to emerge.
Following these words, four people joined the SGI-USA, and a chorus joyfully performed the song “Today’s a New Day.”
In closing, SGI-USA General Director Adin Strauss congratulated the members on their new “castle of kosen-rufu.” With the condition of the world today, he underscored that uniting as Bodhisattvas of the Earth is more crucial than ever. “Let us expand the number of people on that path,” he said.
The meeting concluded with the participants singing “Forever Sensei” arm-in-arm, led by the youth. Their voices raised in song expressed their shared vow as disciples uniting in spirit with their mentor, launching a new era of kosen-rufu in the region.
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
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