You may view previous editions of the bulletin from the listing to the right.
March and the season of Ohigan is upon us. We began last month as the countdown to our Northwest District Convention. Some from our own temple and others from parts of the district shared their thought that this convention was "the best ever". Many of our younger members stepped up to take on the many tasks that were required.
During the Ohigan season, we are reminded of the 6 Paramitas. These are DANA-Selfless giving, SILA - Right Behavior, KSANTI - Patience or Endurance, VIRYA - Effort or Endeavor, DHYANA - Meditation, and PRAJNA - Wisdom. Usually these are looked upon as a list of percepts to work on so that we live our lives better and without conflict. But they are also a description of life properly lived.
The drivers of the transportation committee agreed to take on their assignment. This is already DANA and SILA. Because their minds are set to help out, they display VIRYA and KSANTI, making the right effort and waiting patiently until their role is called upon. This mind set is the calm, clear, and focused mind of DHYANA-Meditation. All of these things taking place is done by setting the self aside, and this is the PRAJNA...the mind of the Buddha...Wisdom, emanating through us. Our own minds are not replaced, but work in harmony of self and other...I and Buddha. This is Namo Amida butsu. The drivers, the cooks, the hostesses, the moderators, the ministers, the choir and the taiko players all go through this process to step beyond the usual boundaries of self and into the realm of balance, flow and harmony...the realm of Buddha. All you had to do was to look around and you would know that this happened by the three days of smiles. The Pure Land emerged in Ontario, and even took in the non-Buddhists of our community!
The Buddhist Life is not an abstract goal that is far away or beyond reach. The Shin Buddhist Teachings reveal that the life of Nembutsu is a life of balance of self and other. In that balance, the Pure Land emerges and so do the smiles.
The Spring Ohigan Family Service will be March 21 at 11:00 a.m. We will have Rev. Dennis Hosei Shinseki from the Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple as our guest speaker. Please make effort to attend this major service and learn more about the 6 Paramitas and the life of Nembutsu. Otoki lunch will be served following the service. Sharing meals and time together is a key to our Shin Buddhist tradition because the harmony of the Three Treasures is actualized. Emphasis of self and separation is notice to all that we just dont get it.
Gassho,
Rev. Dennis
Wow! what a busy month. We had NIRVANA DAY service on February 7th, followed by our Valentines party at Wendy's. The children had fun putting their goodies in each others bags and we had a nice gathering to boot. Then...
what a wonderful NORTHWEST BUDDHIST CONVENTION!!! We had such a great turn out with people from Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Tacome, White River, Yakima, Salt Lake, and Vancouver, BC. There was Socho and Mrs. Ogui, Dr. and Mrs. Haneda, and all the Northwest ministers to help and the BCA bookstore people, Robert Noguchi from the campaign for Buddhism, and Kintetsu Travel. I think our workshops, services, art project, casino night, and food galore were a hit with everyone and the comments were it was the BEST convention they have ever attended. Thank you to each and everyone of you that helped or attended. You should be very proud of hosting our convention.
Thank you to Mary Nakamura, Jimmy and Kiku Hondo, Delores Wood, Kazuko Kuramoto and Hideo and Ruth Harada for helping with the bulletin!
Helpers who installed in the ladies restroom, new sanitary seat cover dispenser and polished the Temple social hall floor were: Russ Tanaka, Mike Iseri, Randy Kameshige, Murray Nishihara, Les Ito and Connie Tanaka.
Designated Memorial Service Years for 2010. To schedule a family memorial service, please contact Reverend Fujimoto. 1 Year = 2009, 3 year = 2008, 7 year = 2004, 13 year = 1998, 17 year = 1994, 25 year = 1986, 33 year = 1978 and 50 year = 1961.
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
11:00 am - Family Service
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