Thank you very much for all your help, effort, cooperation, and support in making our annual Obon festivities and bazaar another special and successful gathering. It seemed as if many of our attendees were staying closer to home, perhaps because of the gas and other economic issues, but nevertheless they made our Obon festivities enthusiastic and enjoyable. The weekend seemed larger and busier with the many attendees joining us.

2008 marks my seventh Obon season at our temple. Again, I am privileged to witness and participate in our successful Obon gathering. I remain thoroughly impressed with all of you as you plan, prepare, construct, and clean up the many, many details which make for a busy and successful weekend. Your giving, cooperation, and hard work were self-evident as usual. I am truly grateful for your commitment and dedication, time and involvement in enhancing the life of our temple: spiritually, socially, and economically.

In the process of preparing and serving, I hope you were also able to enjoy each other's company; sharing tasks and "heart"; and catching up with each other's life. A conversation, a comment, a shared story or laughter may have sparked a feeling of gladness for being together in spite of the busyness and the tiredness of the intense weekend.

Each moment we meet is the first and last moment, and thus extremely special. To have the opportunity to share the Obon bazaar and odori weekend too is special, even as we look forward to the next gathering. This weekend we shared is one I hold with gratitude for the fundamental connectedness which hold us together as a sangha.

Thank you all again. With palms together – gassho.