A monk’s bowl receives and offers the sky.
For 2,500 years, from the time of the Buddha’s life to the present, Buddhist communities have thrived by holding an empty bowl. For the early mendicant followers of the Buddha that meant living on alms, walking from door to door of the houses in a nearby village, holding an empty bowl, and receiving offerings of food. In modern times, the early Buddhist community’s simple life of living on alms has evolved into many forms. Buddha Eye Temple follows in this great tradition. We don’t meet our material needs by asking for payment when attending a teaching or class. We simply come to your door holding this empty bowl.
The offerings received continue to nourish a thriving temple community. In 2022 we fully restored programs that were eliminated or modified during the height of the pandemic and supported the office of the abbot as a full time position with salary and benefits similar to other clergy in the Eugene area. We have a well attended, full schedule of dharma talks, classes, discussion groups, lectures, body centered practices like Yoga and Qi Gong, meditation retreats, festivals, and special ceremonies. This is in addition to our ongoing weekly schedule of meditation, chanting, and opportunities to meet privately with a teacher for guidance. There is a lot happening! And people are finding their way to the spiritual medicine they need.
Please help us continue the vitality of our temple into 2023 and beyond by contributing toward our $67,000 year-end appeal goal. Meeting this goal will allow us to cover the 2022 budget and start 2023 on a firm footing.
While you are welcome to make donations anytime, this year Buddha Eye Temple is encouraging community members to make their donations during Giving Tuesday on November 29. Giving Tuesday is a worldwide day of service and philanthropy that is an opportunity to reflect, serve, and contribute. As we have seen in recent years with almost half of our year-end goal being donated on Giving Tuesday, it is clear that receiving donations on Giving Tuesday helps energize the year-end appeal. This year Buddha Eye will be holding a special breakfast, service project, and simple lunch to celebrate Giving Tuesday and to encourage the community to gather and contribute financially and through offering service. We hope you will join us on the 29th! See here for more information.
Please stay tuned to the website and weekly digest for updates and let us know if you have any questions or suggestions by talking to us individually or emailing the temple office: office@buddhaeye.org.
With Deep Bows of Gratitude from the Board and Sustainability Team,
Myoan Soderquist
Zuishin Madrone
Kogen Houseknecht
Issei Weil
Louise Ruhr
Karuna Neustadt
Joichi Sjostrom
Jikie Peterson
Koshin Kaperick
Ejo McMullen