Ekoji's Enhanced Outreach Building a Worldwide Sangha With Gratitude

Ekoji Buddhist Temple's journey into the virtual world began modestly in the spring of 2020. 

Using borrowed equipment and dedicating entire Saturdays to production, we recorded and published our first-ever virtual service — a commitment we have proudly maintained without missing a single service. Those initial days, filled with experimentation and learning from mistakes, were invaluable. They allowed us to discover what resonated with our community and identify the needs required to nurture our relatively young temple's growth.

Despite these rudimentary beginnings, the impact was undeniable. We began attracting new visitors and even members solely through our simple iMac and tabletop microphone setup. 

Our post-service online discussion groups became vital spaces for interaction, fostering deeper connections and understanding. As trust grew, so did the heartfelt testimonials from remote attendees, sharing how these virtual interactions benefited them. Their gratitude was palpable and deeply encouraging. 

Recognizing this burgeoning online community, we amended our bylaws to include a virtual membership category. We are proud that our second official virtual member is now serving his second term on our Board of Directors, a testament to the success of this inclusive approach.

The clear value accrued through our hybrid services made the need for improvement undeniable. However, when we began exploring professional audio-visual systems nearly three years after our virtual journey began, the projected costs — with some estimates exceeding $150,000 — were staggering. 

For a temple with fewer than 100 members, this initially seemed an insurmountable obstacle. It would have been easy to postpone the project indefinitely.

Yet, we couldn't ignore the positive momentum and the potential to better serve our growing Sangha. We knew that investing in upgraded equipment would allow us to work smarter, not harder, in our mission to build a connected worldwide community. 

Therefore, our 2023 Board of Directors made the significant decision to allocate just under $100,000 from temple reserves for a professional audio-visual system. This commitment was made even as the temple faced other substantial facility costs, including replacing the roof and completing a commercial kitchen project a decade in the making.

Around this time, during a visit to Ekoji, Bishop Rev. Marvin Harada offered invaluable guidance, suggesting we apply to the BCA’s Dharma Forward technology fund. He recognized that a grant could help offset the considerable expense of the new system. 

Because the Dharma Forward committee was still being established, we waited until the winter of 2024 to submit our application.

We were absolutely overjoyed and profoundly grateful to receive the news that our application was approved. The BCA and the Dharma Forward Committee awarded Ekoji Buddhist Temple a generous $44,000 grant, covering half of the $88,000 total cost of the system installation. This crucial support significantly alleviated the financial burden incurred by the audio-visual system investment, especially during a period of extensive capital improvements. We extend our deepest and most sincere appreciation to the BCA and the Dharma Forward Committee for their belief in our vision and their substantial contribution.

When designing the system, we thoughtfully considered how it could benefit the greater BCA community. 

Located on the East Coast, our 11 a.m. EST service allows friends on the West Coast to join us live, bridging the three-hour time difference. Furthermore, all our special programs and events are intentionally designed as hybrid experiences, making them accessible to anyone with an internet connection. 

In fact, one of our full members has joined the service from the Naval ship he is deployed on. On a typical Sunday, Ekoji now welcomes 30 to 40 remote guests, many residing far beyond the Northern Virginia area.

Virtual member Joe Gotchy who lives nearly 3,000 miles from the temple in Auburn, Washington.

“I’m deeply grateful for Ekoji’s investment in technology that makes it possible for me to be part of its Sangha,” Gotchy said. “I’m a member of Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple and regularly attend services at White River Buddhist Temple, but I discovered Ekoji during the pandemic when I was searching for new ways to hear the Dharma. 

“I happened to land in a Zoom breakout room with Andrea during a BCA meeting, and that conversation eventually led to me co-hosting Ekoji’s podcast, Echo Ekoji,” Gotchy continued. “What drew me in — and keeps me coming back every Sunday — is the simple, elegant and deeply personal way Ekoji approaches hybrid services and Dharma exchange. 

“Everyone, whether in the Hondo or on Zoom, is invited to share,” Gotchy said. “That seemingly small gesture has forged powerful connections between people who may never have met in person, yet feel genuinely connected as Dharma friends. The result is an ever-expanding nationwide Sangha — and I’m proud and honored to be a virtual member of Ekoji while continuing to support the temples I call home here in the Pacific Northwest.”

Beyond enhancing quality, ease of use was paramount. The selected system allows a dedicated team of trained volunteers to manage our services effectively, with one person typically operating the camera and another managing the computer feed. They work in rotating shifts, ensuring consistent coverage. 

We must give special thanks to Tom Cray and Maya Horio for their exceptional dedication to training volunteers and maintaining the necessary staffing levels. Their commitment is instrumental to our success.

“We worked with the installation company to ensure that the AV system is as comprehensive and easy-to-use as possible, and we created reference guides and a folder of e-resources for the camera and computer operators to use each week,” temple treasurer Horio said. “As one of our regular ‘behind the scenes’ operators, it warms my heart to welcome our remote attendees to service, seeing both new and familiar names each week enter our Zoom room. 

“Most weeks, as our Dharma speaker is wrapping up their message, several online participants will express their thanks or offer their reflections on the message,” Horio continued. “We also display the Zoom room on the Hondo screens, enabling our in-person attendees to see some of the names of the remote participants and building the recognition of our truly hybrid Sangha.”  

Since the system's installation in the fall of 2024, we have offered our members and guests a dramatically enhanced Sunday service experience with outstanding audio and video quality. 

This upgrade also enabled us to successfully host the first-ever hybrid Eastern Buddhist League Conference and several special seminars, extending our reach further than ever before. 

For our local members, the improvements allow them to realize the many benefits of the BCA in that we stream the gathas for our services from the BCA Music Committee YouTube Channel. We are considering how to host seminars based on the content published by the Center for Buddhist Education (CBE). 

All these valuable BCA amenities help bridge the gap between the West Coast and the East Coast while easing some of the challenges associated with not having a full-time resident minister.  

The benefits continue to unfold. On Saturday, April 12, Ekoji hosted its first hybrid yoga and Buddhism course led by Bob Matsueda. Thanks to Ekoji’s enhanced capabilities and further support from a Dharma Forward grant, participants from coast to coast joined this enriching in-person and online experience.

This transformative step forward, allowing Ekoji to better serve our local community and connect with individuals worldwide, was made possible through the hard work of our Sangha and the visionary support of the BCA and the Dharma Forward Committee. Their generosity has been instrumental in helping us build a truly global Sangha, and for that, we are grateful.