Change Your Mind Day 2005

Portland, Oregon

A diverse mix of people attended Portland's 2nd Annual Change Your Mind Day. Many were looking for a home temple and found it easy to look for one. Others were familiar with Buddhism but enjoyed learning about other sanghas and meeting new people. Almost 20 local sanghas set up tables and met questions from the curious. At our busiest time, 150 people either visited the tables, or listened to the teachings and practiced a meditation or chant. At least 300 people visited some part of the five hour event.

Three Thai restaurants gladly donated food for monks and volunteers, with plenty left over for all. Children gleefully polished rocks in the Children's Pavilion. At one point the teaching area was abandoned for the grassy area of the park for sacred dance with Buddhist chant, a ritual coming from Dances of Universal Peace. One speaker reported that she saw at least three new faces at her temple the next day, coming from Change Your Mind Day.

While the city celebrated the Rose Festival, after 108 bells monks opened our Buddhist Festival by offering incense and roses at the altar. At day's end, people at the tables stilled, and the audience listened quietly while the closing 108 bells were rung.

Heidi Enji Hoogstra
Buddhist Peace Fellowship