White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Across the Pacific: Buddhist Bishop Isao Ito of Shinnyo-En Honors City.

WPCNR NewsReel, by John F. Bailey, April 16, 2002, 3:30 PM EST:The leading Buddhist Bishop Isao Ito of Shinnyo-En Foundation of Japan, addressed some 75 leading citizens of White Plains and city dignitaries Tuesday afternoon at the Annual Bridge of Friendship Celebration in the White Plains Public Library. He recognized the special relationship the White Plains Shinnyo-En Temple has with the city and the school district, and acknowledged how American response to the Trade Center Attack moved him to inspire his organization.

The Shinnyo-En Foundation at the bequest of the Temple, has contributed $5,000 to the White Plains Public Library and also supported the White Plains High School Leaders In Training Program over the last two years.

URGES SHINN-YO EN FOLLOWERS TO EMULATE VOLUNTEER SPIRIT OF AMERICAN PEOPLE
Photo by WPCNR

Buddhist Bishop Isao Ito, speaking through an interpreter, said he was greatly moved by the outpouring of American volunteers in the wake of the September 11 Trade Center Attack. He said their heroism lead him to direct Shinn-Yo En followers to follow the Americans’ example of volunteerism.

Visits Trade Center Site

He said he had visited Ground Zero Saturday to pay his respects and upon seeing the disaster site, “I made a firm resolve not to let this happen again, and as I did so, I looked up and saw a halo around the sun, very auspicious in Buddhism, reflecting the joy of Heaven.”

”MY SEVEN DAYS IN JAPAN SENT ME BACK A NEW PERSON” DECLARES THE MAYOR
Photo by WPCNR

Mayor Joseph Delfino observed some personal thoughts today about his recent stay with the Shinn-Yo En organization in Japan, as Bishop Ito, front row, right, looked on,

“Shinn-Yo En exemplifies the kind of love and understanding we should teach our children about. Their philosophy is, at the end of each day, you have got to be very comfortable with what you’ve done.” The Mayor told the Bishop the Shinn-Yo En philosophy of “truthfulness and compassion in one’s life, being an active participant in the community was important not only to White Plains, but to the world.”

The Mayor mentioned Shinn-Yo En’s aid during the floods of 1984 in New York and New Jersey, the earthquakes in Armenia (1988) and San Francisco in 1989 as examples of their philosophy in action.

“We are honored to have the Shinn-Yo Temple in the City of White Plains. God must have sent them to our city.They are good neighbors, contributing to the quality of life on this planet. Every day of their life they’ve reached out and touched someone’s life.” The Mayor said.

BISHOP HONORS DR. SAUL YANOFSKY
Photo by WPCNR

Bishop Ito presented Dr. Yanofsky with a plaque commemorating the retiring Superintendent of School’s service to the Bridge of Friendship. The Bishop said he was saddened to learn of Yanofsky’s retirement, that he had contributed greatly to the spirit of the Bridge of Friendship and that Yanofsky had served with distinction for many years.

Yanofsky, in his remarks, said of the philosophy of Shinn-Yo En, “If there was a time when we need the principles of Shinn-Yo En it is right now, working to bring understanding and to bring people into harmony and tolerance to a very hostile world…At no other time is tolerance more needed, and respecting the ideas of different people and the plight of people suffering.”

Yanofsky said it was a goal of White Plains Schools to instill hopefully that spirit in White Plains children.

William Noll, a member of the Board of Directors of the Bridge of Friendship, who served as Master of Ceremonies, said he found the Bishop’s words very, very moving.

Sandy Miranda, the Director of the White Plains Public Library, said she was moved to be the “recipient of all this goodness.”


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