Retirement center residents embrace Buddhist services

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Religion & Ethics Writer

•	Obon celebration A short Buddhist worship service followed by a bon dance Arcadia Retirement Residence, in the lounge 4 p.m. July 27 983-1846 Note: Parking may be a problem, since the lot is being repaved.

In the vein of "if you build it, they will come" came "if you create it, they will attend." When she organized a hanamatsuri, or flower festival, for Buddha's birthday in April, the event drew about 50 attendees from Arcadia, even though few of them were practicing Buddhists.

"Some came to share their neighbors' faith, some came because their grandparents had been Buddhist," said Tabrah, who has written or co-written six books on Shin Buddhism and has been editor and publisher at the Buddhist Study Center Press since 1979.

She has asked the Rev. Jan Youth of Honpa Hongwanji to give the dharma message for next weekend's obon celebration, after which there will be a bon dance. Residents will be invited to join in.

Arcadia's chaplain, the Rev. Faith Weedling, a United Methodist minister, said it's not the first time a bon dance will take place at the center, which has more than 300 residents, since they've always focused on cultural diversity. However, it's the first to include religious worship.

Weedling points out that a Buddhist worship service has been known to draw a crowd there. Before Tabrah arrived, the center held a Buddhist service at its Sunday vespers.

"Our average (attendance at vespers) is 30 to 35," Weedling said. "We had over 50."

It's all part of a move toward diversity.

"We're a very diverse population, and Mr. White wanted to reflect that," Tabrah said. "It's one thing I like about this place."

In the past three years since Weedling has been on board, the chaplain has worked to include Catholic, Protestant and Buddhist services. They even had rabbi come to talk about Jewish practices.

"We try to meet the needs of all the residents," Weedling said. "If someone came to me and said they were Hindu and would like to have a service, then I'd try to find someone to come in to do that.

"... Our people really want to know about other religions. They're very open to hearing how and what other religions practice, and how it connects to their own religion."

Next up for Tabrah: a celebration for Bodhi Day in December.

"But that's still in the formative stage," she said. "Very formative."