You may view previous editions of the bulletin from the listing to the right.
It has been a little quiet around the temple the last couple of weeks, butn ot to worry...May is here, with things to do for everyone! Highlight will be Mother's Day Family Service on May 9, with the special barbeque luncheon and bingo. May 16 we observe Shinran Shonin's irth in our annual Gotanye Family Service. This will also be the last day of Dharma School. On the 31st, we will have our annual Memorial Day Service with our friends from the Methodist Church across the way. The Joint Memorial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, 7:00 p.m., and will be followed by our Sangha Service at the temple at 8:00. Please make note that Nokotsudo visitation is set for 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday. Other dates and times are available by appointment. Call 208.707.2021. As has been stated many times, coming to these special services is the best way to come to know the traditions of Shin Buddhism and the ways of our temple. Please make effort to be here.
This month, we would like to include two articles that were printed in the BCA Shinran Shonin 750th Memorial program booklet. One is by Brady Kameshige as part of the YAC Essays section of the booklet. The other is my article from the Minister's Essays section. IOBT and the Northwest District were well represented in many facets during the course of the BCA 750th Memorial for Shinran Shonin. We were able to make the theme of Peace and Tranquility our very own. Our banner announcing the theme was raised for two years, and will continue as we have provided it to the Buddhist Churches of Canada for their 750th observance later this year. Please take a minute to enjoy Brady's wonderful article. See you at the temple.
Gassho,
Rev. Dennis
Hey kids, we have less than a month left of Dharma School; where has the time gone?
April 4th: We had a very nice Hanamatsuri service. Eeryone brought beautiful flowers and stuffed animals to make our own Lumbini's garden. We had a delicious lunch followed by a nice program.
April 11th: Rev. Fujimoto was in Vancouver, BC, so Kathy did the service and the Dharma School teachers helped. Sandy set up the onaijin, Lois did the kansho, Mary Ann led the chanting, and Lois was also chairman.
May 16th: This is the last day of Dharma School. We will have a presentation to Alia Mizuta for her graduation from Vale Union High School. The Dharma School children, parents and teachers will have a lunch at Far East to conclude the year.
May 23rd: Alia's graduation day!!!
Congratulations to Alia Mizuta on her graduation from Vale Union High School. She is the daughter of Bob and Elynn Mizuta, granddaughter of Jim and Martha Mizuta and George and Ruth House. We wish you the very best in your future endeavors. We will miss you!!!
Kids, have a great summer and see you in the fall...
The Malheur County Fair and our "HAPPY BOWL" booth will be from August 2-7, 2010. We will need everyone's help for this week-long project. So, when someone calls you to help, please say yes!! It is a great time to see a lot of friends that we haven't seen in a long time and the camaraderie is great.
For some time now, many tobans (groups) have opted to make donations to the Temple to hire the cleaning rather than do it themselves. Because of varying toban size, the money per person/family varied a lot. So, we instituted a flat $15.00 per person suggestion which results in overall average donations being fairly adequate to cover the cost of a professional janitor.
What each toban does is up to them. And, each person or family may donate whatever they want. Fifteen dollars per person works out. But, any toban member who wants to do more or less is welcome to do so.
If you are not on a toban, you are still welcome to donate. If you'd like to be added to a toban, please contact Randy Kameshige and he will take care of it. In many cases, people have been relieved of being on these cleaning tobans due to health or age. But the decision really belongs to each of you, member or not. If you'd like to be on a toban, we can do that. If you'd like to donate, we're happy to receive it.
We use this system because professional cleaning is optional and not required. Since it is not required and we lack the budget to cover the expense, donations from the tobans are welcoem. If donations fail to cover the cost of professional cleaning, we may need to revert back to the old system where we clean it ourselves.
Hopefully, this explains our current system of cleaning the church monthly. If any questions, please call Randy Kameshige or Mike Iseri. Thanks very much.
After service we'll have our Mothers Day luncheon consisting of our "famious" barbequed chicken, rice, salad and potluck desserts. We'll have bingo (50 cents per card per game or $1 for three cards) with CASH prizes! And, Mom's, come out and claim your Mothers Day gift. You need to be present to claim your gift. The charge for the luncheon is still just $5.00 per family.
Any excess chicken will be used to prepare takeouts for our shut-ins. Once those present and the shut-ins are taken care of, any remaining chicken may be purchased for $1 per piece, but please wait till all other needs are filled before purchasing chicken.
The power of Shinran Shonin's Nembutsu teachings is in revealing to each of us the beauty of everyday life. The theme of this 750th Memorial, "May Peace and Tranquility Prevail Throughout the World", is a most personal reflection. Peace and Tranquility already exists all around us, but our own views and desires of how we would prefer things to be prevents us from seeing what is here.
Every now and then, I am asked if I miss making artwork. I would love to have the time, the place and the space to do that work. But at the same time, the creative process continues through different avenues and mediums. At the temple, plans and proper procedures are followed often, but at other times reaction and spontaneity are called upon.
I remember being asked about the process of making my artwork, and I responded that you surround yourself with tools, space and material, and then you get out of the way and something emerges. The artwork didn't come into being because of me, but rather because I didn't get in the way of its emergence. In seeing that creative process occur repeatedly, I could also see it occur in other aspects of my life. I'm the one who prevents the beauty of this world and the beauty of life from becoming evident before me. I am the one standing behind my own curtain and wondering what the Pure Land is and where it might be.
When good days or good events would occur, rather than smugly taking credit for it, it begins to stand out more and more just how many conditions, events, and situations had to line up just perfectly so in order for those days or events to happen. When negative events would occur, rather than blaming myself or others, the thousands and millions and billions of causes and conditions begin to emerge. Credit and blame fall into the endlessly silly and futile games of ego that we play within ourselves and intertwined with others. Calculated maneuvers to get what we want and where we want become obvious attempts at more of the same game.
The Nembutsu calls us to see the Other beyond the Self...the shadows beside the trees...the space surrounding the dots. The Nembutsu calls us to awaken. As it does so, the ego continues in its relentless efforts. But somehow, the ego becomes the interesting little boy playing in the backyard rather than the powerful, life-dominating giant that it once was.
I am personally grateful to have been able to receive the Nembutsu teachings that continue to expand me into itself. May Peace and Tranquility Prevail Throughout the World means may we each awaken to what is true and real. I cannot begin to fathom all that had to take place for Shinran's Nembutsu to come to reach me. How many people...how much water...how much air...how many services throughout time...how many hours of study by teachers and students just for me. Let's count them all...one, two, three....might be better to just recite...namoamidabutsu...namoamidabutsu...namoamidabutsu...
Rev. Joshin Dennis Fujimoto
Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple
Good Afternoon!
Can you all please join me in Gassho:
"I live day by day, guy!" Namu Amida Butsu...
That was a quote...by a friend of mine...I'll get into it later...
But uh...WOW, it's really great to be here, I dont know if it's great to go first...but it's nice...and I'm really excited about this weekend. It's always great to see all of my old friends, and for some of you I haven't met...I'm Brady Kameshige, or Kamasheege...you can pronounce it either way...both are fine...but anyway, I'm from Eastern Oregon, and I'll be a senior this fall at Seattle University.
I always love to come back to these events and spend time with all of you guys. Especially here in Sacramento, this is where it all started...it's kind of like a second home.
Anyway, like I said, it's great to be here, and I'm glad all of you could make it. I can't wait to make more memories. Also, it's always nice to have these opportunities to share my thoughts with you guys, and sort of take a step back, and reflect upon what's current in my life. That's anotehr reason that I just love to come back.
So when thinking about a topic for today...I thought of my past speeches that I've given...my past topics...but I really wanted to talk about something different, or "Advanced"...or really advanced because this is "Advanced Training!!"
So I was thinking and thinking...but after a while...I was just like, you know, what's important to me now, and what's important to me today...is really just the plain fact that I'm here and healthy. I'm able to travel down here, and spend this time with you guys, and I feel lucky that I get to do this...you know...so that's the bottom line...I appreciate this moment of being healthy, surrounded by good friends, and the opportunity to experience joy, friendship and learning. I appreciate this day.
And after thinking for a while, back in my room in Seattle late last night...I was like, "The perfect example for this is easy, it's right where I'm at!" And I'll explain...For those of you who do not know, I know Melissa, Keenan, Garik and Kendall know...but I live with my great uncle, or our great uncle. And he's 93! 93 years old! His wife passed away about 13 years ago...so he lives by himself.
And the reason that I live with him is because this summer, I need a place to stay while my buddies and I are looking for a house.
Anyway, this many, my great uncle, is a perfect example of how one can appreciate life, while living it to the fullest for not only himself, but for others as well.
My great uncle, the 93 year old man, plays golf twice a week...walks it. Of course he doesn't carry his bag, he has one of those remote controlled deals that carry his clubs, but he still has to walk the course. Amazing.
When he's not golfing...he tries to stay busy in many ways. During the summer, he's in his garden a lot, especially when it's nice out. He also often tends to his plants inside, and read and read and reads.
But what I've learned from this man, and why I feel he is a prime example of experiencing life to its fullest potential, is that no matter how old you are, or what your current situation is, for the most part, you have the ability to control how you feel, and control how you interact with others.
As for my Uncle Frank...he's one of the funniest guys I've ever met. I often just kick back and joke around with him...I've taken him to obons...he came with me when I drove back to Oregon...but we joke around about everything, from things like girls, each other...life in general. But what's great about him, and what is neat...is that he always tells me, "I live day by day, guy!"...cause I'm often telling him, lets go here...or lets plan on doing this...and he agrees, but he keeps saying: "I live day by day guy!"
But what is truly special about my great uncle, is that not only does he appreciate each day, or golfs, or tends to his garden...but he also places a great deal of his time and effort in others as well.
When he golfs, he golfs with his friends. When he tends to his garden, he shares his flowers and produce with others...he'll often give some away or put some fresh flowers next to his wife's picture...and he tells me that his wife always use to plant flowers...so he feels obligated to keep it up for her.
He's also a very supporting grandfather. And what's really special, is that he even drives to this lady's house, my auntie Pat, and mows her lawn! So he takes care of not only his yard, but her yard as well!
And I often try to tell him, "Man, let me drive you!" Jeez...a 93 year old man driving? It is a little scary.
So I just wanted to share with you guys an example of how you can find what inspires you...and find what's meaningful to you, and make the most out of it. And like my uncle, he makes the most out of what he's capable of doing. Like I said, he's a very kind and giving man. And he places effort in not only himself, but for others as well. He doesn't have to drive over to my aunts house to mow her lawn, he doesn't have to make an effort to share his flowers with others...but he feels that that's how he can make the most out of what he's got...and when he says, "I live day by day"...I know that he doesn't just live day by day for himself, but that he also lives day by day for others as well...and that's great.
Lastly, I feel that when you can appreciate the time and the moment that you have...but also keep an open mind for others, and stay mindful of your interactions with others...you can truly appreciate each day.
So I believe that we can all learn something or relate in some way to my uncle. And hopefully one day we'll make it to 93...but of course keep in mind, the goal isn't to be 93...the goal is now...if we make it to 93...man, that's a bonus.
All right, thanks for your time...if you'd please join me in gassho,
"I live day by day, guy". Namu Amida Butsu
Wow! So much has happened since I got to see you at our wonderful Northwest Convention in February.
Less than a week after saying goodbye at the convention, Eric, Quinn, my mother, my brother and I were off for a month in Europe...a week in Venice, a week in Tuscany, and a week in Paris! Some highlights were: trying new foods (who'd have thought Quinn and I would ever eat wild boar?); climbing to the tops of medieval church towers in Venice, Siena, Florence and Paris for incredible views of countryside and city; trips to museums including the Louvre; and helping farmers prune olive trees in Tuscany. It was a wonderful trip.
We were home for less than 2 weeks before I was off again, this time to Berkeley for the first half of the Tokudo Shurai, the official training preparation for Tokudo ordination. Whenever I arrive at the Jodo Shinshu Center I am overwhelmed with the warmth and support of the CBE staff and their dedication to supporting our training. This time was no different; in fact, this time more than ever you could really feel the excitement. That is because this is the first time that an official Tokudo Shurai has occurred in America.
The excitement built throughout the day on Thursday as our friends and fellow travelers on the Tokudo path arrived: Kenji Akahoshi (San JOse), Bill Dearth (Orange County), Linda Engstrom (Seabrook), Christine Marr (Spokane), Roy Mayhugh (Walnut Grove), Diane Thompson (Berkeley), Jon Turner (Orange County), Paul Vielle (Spokane), Bryan Yamami (IBS) and, of course, Kathy Chatterton from IOBT. We also made a new friend, Robert Akune from Vancouver, who joined us for the weekend.
To add to the excitement, we learned that the Shurai would be different than other Minister's Assistant trainings we had attended. First, there was the schedule. Our mornings would start with a 7:00 a.m. service and would end at 10:00 each night. In between we would have 2 more services and 6 hours of classes. Since this was an official Shurai, there would be tests prepared by the Honganji at the end of each class. Then, in order to get us used to what will be required in Japan, we were asked to be five minutes early for all classes, wear our robes to all sessions, and not to leave the building and parking lot areas at any time during the weekend. We were responsible for helping our group and looking out for each other - this was not a case of each man for himself!
We were divided into two groups of 6 and each group was responsible for leading 4 services. We were going to have lots of opportunities to improve our chanting! As it turned out, each service was critiqued by us and by our minister teachers. We were reminded that the standards in Japan are very high and that we will need to practice hard to be ready for our final testing in Japan.
The days were long, but rewarding. Leaving on Sunday afternoon, a little hoarse and very tired, we felt deeper connections to each other and to all of the people who have supported our efforts. It feels so much more real now that we have been measured for the robes we will need in Japan and we have the dates blocked off on our calendars for travel to Japan in October for our final training, testing, and Ordination.
There is so much more for Kathy and I to do before October, but we have already come a long way, thanks to the support of Rev. Dennis, IOBT Sangha, the CBE, Socho Ogui, and many others!
Mary Kameshige, Kazuko Kuramoto, Mary Nakamura, Karen Hata, Shiz Inouye, Jimmy and Kiku Hondo and Hideo Harada and Ruth Harada
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)
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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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