Welcome Everyone!
On behalf of the Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple, I would like to welcome each of you to the 2008 edition of the Japan Nite Obon Festival here in Ontario. Many have come to look forward to this festive celebration held each year at our Buddhist Temple.
When we look upon our lives, we have a choice of perspectives. We can recognize how much we have accomplished to get to where we are today, or we can recognize how much we have received to get to where we are today. The first perspective is ego-driven and self-serving. The second perspective encourages us to recognize the effects of those around us that have allowed us to get to this point in life. We have accomplishments at work or at school. We have stability and comfort in the home and community. All that we have...are built upon countless relationships and infinite efforts of others. We are surrounded by a grid of interconnected and interrelated causes, which becomes the basis for each moment of our lives.
It is with this second perspective that the Obon Festival is celebrated. It is to reflect upon the lives of those we have lost and to recognize the benefits of support, love, wisdom, and depth that we have each gained through their lives and their efforts. Obon is the full spectrum...it is tears of sadness and tears of joy … it is meditative reflection and uninhibited dance...it is death and life. Obon is the complete picture...it moves us beyond fun and frivolity...to wholeness and depth that we each seek in our lives.
Please come and share the evening of Japanese-American culture and Buddhist Tradition, delicious foods and colorful dance. We will see you there!!! (Food Service begins at 4:00, Temple tours are conducted at 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30, Taiko Drumming begins at 6:30, Judo at 7:00 and Obon Odori at 7:30.)Rev. Joshin Dennis Fujimoto
Pure Land Joggers and Striders (PLJS) is a club for runners, walkers, and anyone else who might stretch and exert a muscle or two during the course of the week. The IOBT Chapter of the Pure Land Joggers and Striders will be starting up this spring. Stay tuned for further information in the next few months, or contact Rev. Fujimoto at 208.707.2021
On Saturday, April 5, 2008, Reverend Ken Yamada from the Berkeley Higashi Honganji Temple will be speaking at the Jodo Shinshu Center.
This is for young adults (Generation Y members) to gather together in Berkeley for an opportunity to network and reconnect with Buddhism. The $25 registraiton includes speakers, breakfast, lunch and dinner. For further information, please contact Rev. Kodo Umezu at 510.809.1460 or by email at director@cbe-bca.org.
Reverend Sensho Inouye of the Buddhist Churches of Fowler and Parlier, and Reverend Ryuta Furumoto of the Arizona Buddhist Temple will be giving a seminar for Japanese speaking members at the Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley, CA on Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 10-3. Lunch is included in the $20 registration fee. Contact Rev. Kodo Umezu at 510.809.1460 for details.
This year in March, the Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple is going to host a special event to commemorate the 750th Memorial for Shinran Shonin, the founder of Jodo-Shinshu Buddhism. This event will be hosted by the Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple and by the IOBT Young Buddhist Association. We will host a Meditation Marathon of 26.2 hours from 9:00 AM March 15 to 11:15 AM March 16 to conclude during our Ohigan Family Service on the 16th. This will be a Nembutsu recitation circumambulation walking meditation relay. Participants will be primarily IOBT members and friends, but will include open invitation to the general public. All temple groups and members will be invited and encouraged to participate. Churches of other faiths in our community as well as the general public are invited to participate under the theme: May Peace and Tranquility Prevail Throughout the World.
This is a Meditation Relay, where we take turns in walking meditation while reciting the Nembutsu. A Meditation Marathon for 26.2 hours. The meditation will begin Saturday morning at 9 AM, and end Sunday morning at 11:15 AM. At the beginning of our family Ohigan Service, everyone in attendance will walk the final 15 minutes of the Meditation Marathon.
To find out more, please see the special events page for the Meditation Marathon!
The NW District Buddhist Convention will be held from February 15-17, 2008, hosted by the Seattle Betsuin.
The results of the recent election for the 2008-2010 term are as follows:
2008-2010 Board of Directors: Sandy Belknap, Mae Nakano, Mike Iseri, Howard Matsumura, Russell Tanaka, Murray Nishihara, Les Ito, Joe Kino and Melody Smit
2008-2010 Board of Trustees: Kay Teramura, Anna Nagaki
Item of Note: Melody Smit was the write in candidate with the most votes. She graciously consented to serve on the board. Thanks to all of you who serve the Temple. Your participation is appreciated!
We have a very full schedule for this meeting:
Installation (after service): Reverend Fujimoto will have an installation ceremony for those newly elected board members that are present.
General Meeting (after installation): We proceed to the basement for the annual general meeting. Please sign the sign in form and take a seat.
Luncheon/ABA Party (after General Meeting): Due to conflicting schedules and our wish to have a daylight event, the annual ABA Party will be after the General Meeting. Reservations are required for this luncheon! Please call Mike Iseri or Mary Ann Shimojima at 889-8691 for reservations. Cost is $10 per person, $5 for children 6-12, and under 6 are free. Matsy's will be catering. Please make your reservation no later than January 23rd. We are also planning on playing bingo after lunch.
Application forms are now available for the Murakami Scholarship. Please contact Mike Iseri for an application.
Qualifications include membership in IOBT by a parent AND a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applications must be submitted no later than April 15, 2008. Good luck, Seniors!
Pure Land Joggers and Striders is a club for runners, walkers, and anyone else who might stretch and exert a muscle or two during the course of the week. The IOBT Chapter of the Pure Land Joggers and Stridders will be starting up this spring. Stay tuned for further information in the next few months, or contact Rev. Fujimoto at 208-707-2021.
Meditation Sessions (Shin Buddhist Seiza) Sitting and Walking Meditation, are being offered at IOBT on Thursday Evenings from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. and on Sunday Mornings from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. The fee is $5.00 per session for non members.
Members of the Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple practice Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, which originated in twelfth century Japan. The Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple was dedicated in 1947. The public is also invited to visit and join Sunday Services. Children's Dharma School Service is at 10:30 a.m.; Adult Service is at 11:00 a.m.
Many of you have heard or read about this ambitious project by the BCA which is intended to promote the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, and to propagate the Jodo Shinshu teachings in the United States. Many of you may have received a letter from the Temple already, but this project is of such importance that it bears repeating as an article on this Web site.
This fund raising campaign has the support and endorsement of 100% of your elected Board of Directors and Board of Trustees who have either made a contribution, made a pledge, or stated their intention to do so.
We call upon you for your consideration in supporting this project as we have, by making a pledge or donation. This project consists of five elements: Creating a Thriving Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Ministry, Establishing the new Jodo Shinshu Center of the BCA, Strengthening the Jodo Shinshu Buddhism as a Major Religious Tradition in America, Enhancing Membership Outreach to the Greater Community and Increasing Self-Reliance.
If you desire more information, please contact Mike Iseri or Mary Ann Shimojima and we'll arrange a copy of the campaign booklet be sent to you. Or, you may access the information at www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.com/campaign.
We thank you for your consideration and for your time in reviewing the project and its details. If you are interested in contributing, a letter of intent form appears on the back side of this article. Thank you! Your Minister and elected Boards of Directors and Trustees.
We are in the midst of very trying times for the Jodo Shinshu Center (JSC). A project that was anticipated to cost $10 Million has ballooned to over $23 Million. Loans are maturing and a means to retire the debt in a timely manner is elusive. I'm writing this article to inform you of my observations and interpretations of the information available to me.
The National Council will vote in March on several issues.
One is establishing a mortgage pool. Individuals or organizations would lend money to BCA/JSC which would be secured with a mortgage. Participation is voluntary. Legalities and administrative costs are unknown to me at this moment.
Second is using other funds in the BCA amounting to almost $2.6 million. If you'd like a more detailed explanation, let me know. I'll show you what I have.
Third is a "special assessment" where each temple is assessed an additional $59.18 for each BCA member. This would amount to an $11,000 bill to IOBT from BCA which we must pay if this motion is passed.
And that's the good news. The bad news is that JSC is still dependent upon meeting their Campaign BCA goals to retire the debt once and for all.
My reason for telling you all this is that I want to prepare you for things that may occur in the near future. First, if the special assessment passes, IOBT's general fund faces a severe operating loss. In addition, in 2007, the IOBT board approved a $5,000 donation to the campaign.
Next, you may receive a "fair share" letter from BCA expressing what each member's share of the JSC project would be if it were divided equally among all the members. However you may perceive these strategies, we must keep in mind that the JSC exists and operates today. The need for funding is real and BCA/JSC is employing every tactic they can to secure funds. We may not like the method, but I think we would all agree that the JSC is a very important project.
So, I encourage you all to maintain your temple membership and to remain active. Our strength is in our members and we need you more than ever. Whatever means is employed to encourage our donations, please dont take offense or allow the method to alter your resolve to do whatever you can to help. The issue should not be one of greed or attitude, rather, we should simply follow our hearth in doing what we can, and doing what we feel is best. Perhaps some of us can afford the "fair share" or even more, while others of us are not able to respond to that degree. It's up to each of us individually to decide. As a temple, we should respect each of our decisions in that regard, whatever the decision is.
Thank you all for your continuing support of your Temple and the BCA.
Mike Iseri
Please note that there is a new book out, "Bright Dawn: Discovering Your Everyday Spirituality" by Rev. S. Koyo Kubose, son of the late Rev. Gyomay M. Kubose, a pioneer in the Americanization of Buddhism. The book is available at www.brightdawn.org for $12.95, at 800.247.6553, or the BCA Bookstore.
Reverend Joshin Dennis Fujimoto
Idaho Oregon Buddhist Temple
286 SE 4th Directions
PO Box 397 (mailing address)
Ontario, Oregon 97914
541-889-8562 (office)
541-889-8662 (fax)
9:00 am - Meditation
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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