You may view previous editions of the bulletin from the listing to the right.
Evidence of the season reminds us that December is here. Ice cold air in the morning...lawns crunching under foot...kaki and mikan (persimmons and tangerines) sitting on the kitchen table. The weather turns us inward towards home and family, and it is a nice place to be. Every time I eat kaki and mikan, I feel the nurture of family. Memories enter where kaki were peeled perfectly, quatered, and shared. Mikan were peeled with care leaving the whole skin intact to use as a pocket for seeds and such. Every fiber on each section of mikan was removed before eating it and better yet, before offering it to others. Each section was clean and perfect and a beautiful offering of life shared.
Our major service for the month of December is Bodhi Day on the 6th. We recognize the Enlightenment of Prince Siddhartha as he became the Buddha, the Awakened One. This single event over 2500 years ago continues its ripping effect to influence more and more people throughout the world. The life of Compassion grounded in Wisdom offers a way to live that is balanced in recognition of self and other, life and death, and all the other dualities that we create. When we recognize this special occasion, we reinforce the importance of Bodhia Day not only for ourselves but also for each other. Please come and be a part of the effort.
What more can we do to make Bodhi Day important to ourselves and our families? In the 40's and 50's, we used to try to hide our Buddhist identity, but those days are gone. Maybe we should host Bodhi Day Dinner each year and invite friends and family. We have the Thanksgiving turkey and the Christmas ham...what could we have each year on Bodhi Day to celebrate and recognize the Buddhist aspect of our lives? The Bodhi Day Burrito? The Bodhi Day Fish Fry? If you have any menu ideas, please bring them in. We COULD add to our tradition....what do you think?
The IOBT Year End Party takes place on the 20th. This is always a fun way to close out our temple year. Please come out and share yourselves iwht the rest of the Sangha.
New Years Eve Service will begin at 7:00 p.m. We will again each take turns to hit the Kansho 108 times not only to ring in the new year, but to recognize the 108 Bonno (human defilements) that are the roots of our difficulties and sufferings in life. The major three are GREED, ANGER and IGNORANCE. We are reminded of them on a regular basis as they repeatedly emerge throughout each day. As I write this, I slam my fist into the kitchen table, as I didn't win this week's lottery either, again, too. See you at the temple.
Gassho,
Rev. Dennis
October was a busy month with Kakimochi making and Bazaar. Thanks to all the children that helped out, we needed your young legs.
The teachers have been helping Kathy with service when Rev. Dennis is out of town. They have been setting up the onaijin, doing the kansho, and leading the chanting. The children helped with the Fujinkai memorial service by passing out programs and handing out carnations to all the ladies, compliments of the Dharma School
December 8th we will have our Bodhi Day Service and December 20th is our year-end party. Wow, 2009 sure did go by FAST!!!
Pure Land Joggers and Striders have decided to donate each year our nominal membership fee to an organization deemed worthy by our members. In this way, our $10.00 membership not only affords membership into the club, but also moves on to benefit various valuable efforts that go on around us. This year, we will be sending our membership funds to the Center for Buddhist Education at the Jodo Shinshu Center. The CBE continues its amazing efforts to provide educatoinal presentations and seminars for lay members of all ages. Our own IOBT members, Ann, Kathy, Brady, Laurel, Grant and Mimi, have each benefited from the work of the CBE. Others will undoubtedly follow. Please remember that everyone is welcome to join the PLJS, and you dont have to walk with us to be a supporting member...you can walk on your own or walk in spirit!
We finished cranberry harvest on November 11. It was a big crop and we got it in before the real storms started. My brothers were very pleased that we finished so early and we felt good about all the work we were able to do. Our family dry picks the cranberries. The picking machine puts the berries into sacks that carry about 40-60 lbs of berries. My brothers did the picking and our job was to move the sacks of berries from the fields into the warehouse and pre-process them before they go to the Ocean Spray plant. Even with various equipment to help, we did a lot of heavy lifting. Man, are we strong after 6 weeks of carrying all those sacks! Now we are relaxing a bit, enjoying the Thanksgiving season, and, yes, eating a lot of cranberry sauce.
The last two weekends Eric and I have been visiting other NW Temples. Two weeks ago we were in Portland and last week we went to Seattle. It is fun to meet old and new friends and participate in the life of the larger NW Sangha.
We miss you all and are looking forward to seeing everyone in February at the Convention!
Anne, Eric and Quinn Spencer
Thank you to all of you that participated in our workshop with George Abe and Qris Yamashita. I hope you had as much fun as we did. Thank you for your support: Anna Nagaki, Jimmy Go, Seiko Go, Terry Fukuda, Mas Sakoi, Sachi Sakoi, Sue Uyeki, Nan Nagasaka, Hideo Harada, Ruth Harada, Kazuko Kuramoto, Connie Tanaka, Erin Tanaka, Susan Inouye, Lois Saito, Kathy Chatterton, Hideko Fujita, Suzie Nishihara, Sandy Belknap, Rick Shriver, Richard Kerr, Janet Komoto, Melody Smith and Mary Nakamura. With Gassho, Sangha Taiko.
To be listed in the convention program as a booster, please place your order with Mike Iseri. These listings are one line only and available to you for $15.00. Your support as a booster helps to ensure that we can provide the best possible convention for our friends in the Northwest. Thank you for your participation!
If you wish to have a greater presence in support of the convention, you may also wish to consider display advertising. Full page ads are $100, half page ads are $50, and quarter page ads are $25. You may contact Grant Kitamura, Roy Hasebe or Mike Iseri to place your advertising order. The deadline for display ads and for booster listings is December 31st.
Mary Nakamura, Karen Hata, Delores Wood, Midge Teramura, Mary Kameshige, Shiz Inouye, Hideo Harada and Ruth Harada
Designated Memorial Service Years for 2009. To schedule a family memorial service, please contact Reverend Fujimoto. 1 Year = 2008, 3 year = 2007, 7 year = 2003, 13 year = 1997, 17 year = 1993, 25 year = 1985, 33 year = 1977 and 50 year = 1960.
Idaho Oregon Buddhist Temple
286 SE 4th Directions
PO Box 397 (mailing address)
Ontario, Oregon 97914
541-889-8562 (office)
541-889-8662 (fax)
10:00 am - IOBT Choir Practice
10:30 am - Adult Study
10:30 am - Dharma School Service
11:00 am - Adult Service
11:00 am - Dharma School Class
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