You may view previous editions of the bulletin from the listing to the right.
Welcome to the month of May. The highlight of the month is our Gotanye Family Service. This special service is to commemorate the birth of our founder, Shinran Shonin. We are all familiar with the story of young Shinran entering the priesthood at the age of 9. He went on to study at Mt. Hiei for 20 years, but found his own efforts towards awakening to be fruitless. Meeting his teacher, Honen, he was able to come to hear the Nembutsu teachings. Shinran became aware of the welcome compassion of Amida that had been embracing him all along.
The Buddhist perspective is build upon the oneness and equality of all life. Humility within and compassion for others is based upon awareness of this oneness that reveals the interdependency of all things. The beauty and strength of the Nembutsu teachings is that they made the Buddhist path available to people who previously had not had entrance to the path. The farmers, fishermen, peasants, and homeowners who had been ignored, dismissed or discriminated against were now a welcome part of the Buddhist Sangha.
The Nembutsu teachings made the Buddhist ideal of equality for all a reality in practice. The efforts of Shinran were essential in making the Nembutsu teachings available and popular. How well you study or meditate or chant was no longer the criteria for advancement along the Buddhist path. We are all embraced by the compassion of Amida, and the power of the vow awakens us to this truth.
Gotanye is a celebration of our rich Nembutsu traditions and heritage. As Buddhists, we don't flaunt our teachings or push them upon others. However, we should make effort to recognize and appreciate the values and opportunities that become available to us through our connection to the Shin Buddhist Sangha and to our own little temple.
The Gotanye Service will also be the final day for our Dharma School students and graduation recognition for our graduating senior, Mimi Kameshige. Your attendance is important as we acknowledge our founder and support our Temple and our members.
May will also host our Memorial Day weekend services. The Nokotsudo will be available Sunday from 1-4 p.m. and Monday from 9-12 noon. Families may also call 208-707-2021 for appointments. We will see you at the Temple.
.......GASSHO...........RAIHAI
Rev. Dennis
Finally we can say spring has sprung - it just gave us a different attitude in our everyday lifestyle. We needed the boost of energy whether to get the garden planted, mow the lawn, trim the plants or go golfing.
Hanamatsuri Day was a perfect day with all of the beautiful flowers and animals brought in by the Sangha which were placed on a table before the altar. It made a beautiful setting for the baby Buddha. Thanks to the Dharma and MAP honorees for their participation in the services. Also thanks to the Weiser-Caldwell-Nampa group for doing the toban duties for the Hanamatsuri services. It was enjoyed by all. A short program followed lunch. We see that the Sangha Taiko has been practicing hard and they looked nice in their new top outfits. Once again we enjoyed Rev. Dean Koyama as our guest speaker. Sangha members who were having their 80th, 90th and 100th birthdays were honored with a gift.
A big Thank You goes out to Mary Nakamura for being the Temple Treasurer for many many years, so many we lost count. Mary asked Sandy Belknap to take her position and we congratulate Sandy for accepting the Temple Treasurer position.
Dates to Remember: IOBT BWA meeting May 3rd after Adult Services and Sangha men folks - it is Mother's Day on May 10th.
One of our Sangha Members, Michael Eldred, son of Robert and Terry Fukuda, placed first at the Senior Nationals in Judo in San Diego. This earned Michael his first Senior National Championship title and also the right to represent the USA at the 2009 World Judo Championships, which will be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, later this August.
Adding icing to the cake, due to Michael's decisive wins, Eldred was named the OUtstanding Male Athlete for the event.
On April 12th, we celebrated the birth of the Buddha with a nice Hanamatsuri service with guest minister, Reverend Dean Koyama. Following the service, we had a delicious lunch and an entertaining program. On April 19th all of the Northwest Dharma Schools had a district-wide "Earth Day" lesson. "Think Green".
We will honor our mothers for Mother's Day on May 10th with a combined, family service at 11:00 a.m. Another combined family service on May 17th for Gotan-ye and the LAST DAY of Dharma school for this year. After service we will take the students and their parents out to lunch.
Congratulations to Mimi Kameshige who will be graduating from Ontario High School on May 31st. She is the daughter of Randy and Jayne Kameshige and the granddaughter of Isao and Mary Kameshige and Tom Hiramatsu. We wish you the best, Mimi.
Attention: Happy Bowl meeting on May 5th at 7:00 p.m. Bring your ideas and PLEASE attend...we need all the help we can get!!!
The Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple is extending this survey to find out the degree of interest of those from our Sangha Membership who would like to participate in the affirmation ceremony during the visit of Socho Ogui on September 20, 2009. Participants will receive HOMYO, or Buddhist Name to confirm their entry onto the Path of Nembutsu and to be a follower of the Buddha. If you have interest to be a participnt, please notify the offices so that schedules and arrangements can be made. Procedure and forms will be made available as arrangements are confirmed.
The Kikyoshiki is a simple ceremony in which the basic ritual is the symbolic shaving of the head, recalling the act of Siddhartha when he resolved to enter the spiritual path of life. A Buddhist name is received. The participant should be of an age to make a responsible decision to become a follower of the Buddha.
Please call Rev. Fujimoto at 208-707-2021.
After family service, we will ahve our annual BBQ Chicken lunch in the basement with tossed salad and potluck desserts.
We will have bingo for 25 cents a card, 50 cents for three.
We have created new priorities for our leftovers this year. Besides service our members and guests who are present ($5.00 per family), the next priority will go to food taken out for our shutins. If there is still chicken left over, it will be available for purchase. And, if there is still leftover chicken, it will be saved for Wednesday activity day. Your cooperation in adhering to these priorities for any extra food is appreciated.
Happy Mothers Day to all the Mothers!!!
As time and energy permits, varying groups of Sangha members try to improve different parts of the temple facilities. The parsonage living room has become a very comfortable meditation hall. The parsonage basement has been transformed from storage shed to Taiko Dojo. Sometimes all we need to begin is a few key pieces to be removed and/or added to change temple space from a little used area to a friendly, attractive and productive addition to our facility. A few of us have considered what some of our rooms might need to improve them.
The library could use comfortable workstations with proper lighting. This might take a little more than throwing some used furniture into the room, but the library could actually become a destination. Members could actually read some of our many books. Students could study and get some work done as they wait for their familiies.
The cry room could use smaller furniture. A two-way mirrored window rather than the current curtain would make usage much more appealing for those on either side of the window. An air conditioner to bear the warmer months is a must have. What else would you think we might need to make that room into an area where a young family would be comfortable and feel like they are a part of the service and part of the Sangha?
We can focus on the library and the cry room to begin. Please come forward with your own ideas, contributions, creativity and efforts to improve our temple assets. Bring your thoughts and offerings to the office.
Congratulations to Masato and Kayoko Ogawa, Carmel, Indiana, formerly of Ontario, on the birth of their son, Yosuke "Yo" Ogawa, on March 27, 2009.
Sandy Belknap, Kiku Hondo, Ruth and Hideo Harada, Mary Nakamura and Midge Teramura
May 3rd - Shotsuki Service - Sharmon Sadamori
May 10th - Mother's Day Family Service - David Mizuta
May 17th - Gotanye Family Service - Randy Kameshige
May 24th - Regular Service - Nan Nagasaka
May 31st - Regular Service - Connie Tanaka
June 7th - Eshinni/Kakushinni/Lady Ohtani - Shotsuki - Jeff Saito
June 14th - Regular Service - Sandy Belknap
June 21st - Father's Day Family Service - Mike Iseri
July 5th - Obon Family Service/Shotsuki - David Mizuta
July 12th - Regular Service - Lois Saito
July 19th - Regular Service - Mary Ann Shimojima
July 26th - Regular Service - Jayne Kameshige
August 2nd - Shotsuki Service - Melody Smit
August 9th - Regular Service - Sachi Sakoi
August 16th - Regular Service - Mimi Kameshige
August 23rd - Regular Service - Joan Suyematsu
August 30th - Regular Service - Sue Uyeki
Rotation List: Lois Saito, Susan Inouye, Sachi Sakoi, Sandy Belknap, Carrie Mori, Sue Uyeki, Connie Tanaka, Terry Fukuda, Nan Nagasaka, Mary Ann Shimojima, Joan Suyematsu, Kathy Chatterton, Jayne Kameshige, Jeff Saito, Bob Mizuta, Melody Smit, Debbie Tanaka, Sharmon Sadamori, Michelle Sadamori, Anne Spencer, Michelle Rucker and Elynn Mizuta
Designated Memorial Service Years for 2008. 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
11:00 am - Family Service
Site design, hosting and maintenance by JW2E - Web sites for small business.