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Hello out there! Can you hear me? May is upon us, and we have another full month of activities here at our temple. April was a lot of fun with the visit of Rev. Abiko. He was only here 24 hours, but in that short time, our choir was singing louder, our Sensei was chanting louder, and our Sangha Taiko group was jumping! His enthusiasm for our temple, for our hospitality, and for the Nembutsu life that we share was refreshing. It is important for each of us to recognize others who are able to live life fully and happily in living the life of Nembutsu. As Buddhists, we strive to see life through Dharma eyes that give us the widest and fullest possible perspective. Meeting others who do so validates our own efforts. Those of us who were able to participate in the Hanamatsuri Service and Program were fortunate.
Last month I was also able to take a trip to the Sacramento Betsuin and our good friend Rinban Oshita. Their Hanamatsuri Service had an overflow crowd of 400-500 in attendance. After the service, their Sangha put on a play written by one of their members. In it, Harry Potter sought the advice of the Buddha, and went back in time to meet the Historical Buddha. The play was put on by key performers plus musical numbers by each of the Dharma School classes, 4th grade and younger. What was funny was that Harry Potter and his friends went too far back in time, to when the Buddha was not enlightened. They would have questions for the Buddha-to-be, but he was this self-centered, egotistical prince that loved to dance. The Buddha was constantly dancing, yelling at people, and hitting on girls. The whole idea was too funny!
What makes these temple activities special is that they go beyond social enjoyment or community involvement. The Three Treasures are actualized...The Buddha, The Dharma, and The Sangha interact in an upward spiral. Our Dharma eyes are enabled to recognize the interconnected grid of life that we are inseparably a part of. It is this oneness with all else that causes our life to be grounded and stable...full, whole, and complete...far beyond social enjoyment or community involvement. We want to assist each other to see things through Dharma eyes...to see with the proper perspective that gives life meaning and depth. This is the role of the temple. Nothing is more important.
May 4 brings us our monthly Shotsuki Memorial Service and the Fujinkai meeting. May 11 is our Mother's Day Family Service and Luncheon. May 18 is our Gotanye Family Service to commemorate the birth of our founder Shinran Shonin. May 25 is our annual Pet Memorial Family Service. Please bring your favorite stuffed animal or pet picture to place on the altar area. It is a good month to invite guests and friends, as every week has a distinct theme. Please support the temple with your attendance.
.......GASSHO...........RAIHAI
Rev. Dennis
I can't believe how nice the weather has been and all the Spring Flowers are in bloom - this seems to be around Hanamatsuri time which gives us time to enjoy the beauty of the flowers and gives us some spirits to do something else like golfing, gardening and farming for the farmers.
Rev. Hiroshi Abiko of the Buddhist Church of San Francisco was our guest speaker for our Hanamatsuri Services. A welcome dinner was held at the Far East with Joan Suyematsu and Sanami Nakano in charge. Thanks to all those who attended the dinner for Rev. Abiko. At the services, all 90 and 80 year members were honored along with BWA past presidents. Congratulations. Thanks to the Ontario Town Ladies who prepared the lunch for everyone - it was appreciated very much. A program was held afterwards with Connie Tanaka acting as Master of Ceremonies. I was out of town in Colorado, so I missed seeing and hearing Rev. Abiko, but hear he participated with the choir and Taiko, which was enjoyed by all. I had the pleasure to attend my home town Greeley Buddhist Temple's Hanamatsuri Services while there.
Our Temple is very fortunate to have MAP people (George Gledhill, Kathy Chatterton, Anne Spencer and Sharmon Sadamori) around to carry on the duties of Rev. Fujimoto while he is out of town for meetings and guest speaking. We could hardly wait for Kathy Chatterton to come back from Arizona, where she was for the winter. It was nice to hear that Anne Spencer got back from her "dream of her life trip" to Japan. Both Kathy Chatterton and Anne Spencer went to their MAP workshop held at the Jodo Shinshu Center. I'd like to mention that Ashley Suyematsu also gave a "Time to Share" about her trip to Japan during Spring Break with her Utah grandparents, mother and her brother.
Our Wednesday Activity Day is still going on starting at 10:00 a.m. Forgot to mention our little guest, "Jack" Debois (Lorinda Hasegawa's grandson) had his first birthday last month. Grandma Hasegawa brought in some catered fried rice, meatless chow mein and birthday cup cakes. We even had balloons and treats to make it festive. He has learned to walk so he gets around pretty good. To see him grow is a delight to us Senior's weekly.
March Meals on Wheels was done with helpers Midge Teramura, Mary Nakamura, Mae Nakano, Joan Suyematsu, Colleen Nakano Grant, Mitzi and George Sadamori and Michelle Sadamori. Thanks ladies for doing your community services.
IOBT BWA meeting will be held on May 4th after the Adult Services.
Congratulations to the following who will be graduating from high school: Grant Saito, son of Jeff and Lois Saito of Ontario, graduating from Ontario High School, Cameron Iseri, son of Mike Iseri and Terri Iseri of Ontario, graduating from Ontario High School, and Ronnie Koda, son of Steve and Janet Koda of Vale, graduating from Vale High School. Good luck to all of you.
May 5th: Regular Dharma School Service at 10:30 a.m.
May 11th: Family "Mothers Day" service at 11:00 a.m.
May 18th: Family Gotanye Service at 11:00 a.m. This is the LAST day of Dharma School. We will attend the family service and then go to lunch at Wendy's. Hope you can all come!
The Dharma School outing this year is July 11 - 13, 2008 to Spokane/Coeur d'Alene area and to Silverwood theme park. I hope I have your names if you plan to go with us. If not, please let me know as soon as possible. This is a little shorter trip, with only 2 nights and 3 days.
Remember the Malheur County Fair, July 27 - August 2, 2008. We need ALL your help, so please sign up with Elynn Mizuta for scheduling your work time and with Roy Hasebe for wok cooking. We need sellers, servers, rice cookers, wok cookers, cleaners, etc.!!! Thank you everyone for always helping out.
Dharma School children have a FUN, SAFE summer vacation and we'll see you in September!
Designated Memorial Service Years for 2007. To schedule a family memorial service, please contact Reverend Fujimoto. 1 Year = 2006, 3 year = 2005, 7 year = 2001, 13 year = 1995, 17 year = 1991, 25 year = 1983, 33 year = 1975 and 50 year = 1958.
Golfing on Saturday, June 9, 2007 at the Ontario Shadow Butte Golf Course. Please contact Joan Suyematsu or Isao Kameshige. Joan's number is either at Iseri's 889-8691 or at home 889-8932. Kame's is 889-6761. Golfing fees/social separate fee.
There will be a Temple Breakfast and Photograhy from the Reverend Shibata collection from 8:30 - 10:45 on June 10th, 2007. There will be a service from 11:00 - 12:00 p.m., and then a Banquet at 1:00 p.m. at the Four Rivers Cultural Center. A buffet lunch and ceremony with Reverend Marvin Harada as the Guest Speaker and entertainment by Temple groups. Current Photography exhibit.
The cost is $25 for Adults and $10 for Children 12 and under for the Banquet and program booklet. Please contact Mary Ann or Mike at 889-8691 to register by June 1, 2007.
On April 13 and 14th, nine ministers' assistants/assistants in training gathered at IOBT for a two day training workshop. We were honored to have four knowledgeable senseis to guide us: Reverend William Kenshin Masuda of Palo Alto Buddhist Temple, Rev. Kakei Nakagawa of White River Buddhist Temple, Reverend Jundo Gregory Gibbs of Oregon Buddhist Church and Reverend Joshin Dennis Fujimoto of IOBT.
In the course of the weekend, participants led four services, giving the ministers' assistants practical opportunities to lead changing (Shoshinge, Wasan, Sanbujo and Juseige), ring the kansho, and give dharma talks. Perhaps more important than the practice itself was the chance these services gave us to feel surrounded by the rich traditions of Jodo Shinshu ritual.
Between the services we met for group discussions. Rev. Masuda led a lively discussion of Jodo Shinshu doctrine and how Shinran's ideas and terminology can make sense to 21st century English speaking Americans. Rev. Nakagawa shared some of his extensive knowledge of Buddhist history and ritual, with an emphasis on the history of chanting - how it began and how it has changed over the centuries. After both of these programs, we felt both grateful for how much we had learned and awed by how much more there is to learn.
We shared several meals together, including a "pizza party" on Friday night and a bountiful bento lunch prepared by the Fujinkai. Each of the meals provided an opportunity to talk informally and deepen our friendships. Discussions over meals covered topics such as religion, politics, history, linguistics and cooking.
The MAP participants were Teresa Keishi Soto de Roman, Brenda Fugate, Etsuko Osaki, Tammy L. Herold, and David Wright from Oregon Buddhist Temple and George Gledhill, Kathy Chatterton, Sharmon Sadamori and I from IOBT.
We are grateful to the IOBT Sangha for their hospitality, the Fujinkai for the excellent lunch, the ministers for taking time from their busy schedles to work with us, and the Northwest Ministers Association for their support of the MAP training programs.
Roy Hasebe, Norman Hasebe, Toshiko Horiuchi, Roger Horiuchi, Rick Kitamura, Charlie Kitamura, Min Okuda, and Larry Kitamura.
Thank you to Isao and Mary Kameshige for spraying the weeds on the Temple and parsonage yard, fertilizing both lawns, and scraping the weeds on the Temple vacant lot. Thank you to Ken Ozawa for mowing the Temple lawn.
Mary Nakamura, Shiz Inouye, Jimmy Hondo, Mary Kameshige, Su Shing Peng, Mrs. Fujita, Karen Hata, and Hideo and Ruth Harada.
Pure Land Joggers and Stridders (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 has begun. We meet at the Ontario High School track at 10:00 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays each month, Weiser High School track at 10:00 a.m. on the 4th Thursday. The 2nd Thursday is available upon request. Please contact Rev. Fujimoto at 208.707.2021.
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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