You may view previous editions of the bulletin from the listing to the right.

November 2011 Bulletin

Minister's Message by Rev. Fujimoto

The colors are changing, with red and yellow pushing the green in the leaves away. The horses are getting wooly with their winter coats, and we are all grabbing our hats and gloves as well. Winter is settling in.

If you glance at the temple calendar, you will see that classes in Buddhism are being offered in both Ontario and Boise. During the Japan Nite Onaijin presentations, our minister assistants had distributed a questionnaire so we could gauge interest in Buddhism and cultural topics here in Ontario and beyond. From this questionnaire we were able to know the degree of interest, in what specific topics, in what area, as well as receiving names and contact information. We have responded to the many who suggested that presentations done in the Boise area would be attractive to those living in the Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell areas. Currently, we are in the middle of a 6 week session in Boise, and the start of a 6 week session in Ontario. The class is presented as an Introduction to American Buddhism.

The strengths of our Jodo Shinshu Tradition are that the Buddhism we practice is focused on everyday life and that it is family oriented. Every day we each go through our trials and tribulations within our relationships and interactions. In the midst of daily life, we work and place with those around us. All the while we constantly learn about ourselves as we endure the changes and challenges that life brings. We add the Dharma to daily life and we are provided the reminders and the mileposts that signal to us. We are able to know that we go through life together in interconnected reality. It is in these moments of knowing, that the life of gratitude becomes true, sincere, and a grounding force. Gratitude does not come to us when we are self-absorbed and ego-centered, so the Dharma shows us to recognize the ever-present ego with its restrictions and its boundaries, and then to move beyond it to true reality.

This is a very exciting time for Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in America. The temple as we knew it in our youth is changing and declining. At the same time, the relevance and applicability of Shin Buddhism is becoming noticed by more people than ever before. What if these people new to the teachings decide to come to our temple? Do we welcome them or do we lock the doors? Do we share what we know or do we step away with our friends and watch? Do we make this place inviting or do we make it a fortress of the good old days? How very exciting to have this opportunity to move with the Dharma into what comes next. Do we reflect the teachings in our actions or do we reflect its opposite?

Key happenings for the month are the BWA Memorial November 13 with Rev. Peter Inokoji-Kim of Sacramento as our Guest Speaker. November 20 is our temple elections when members can step up to lead this temple into the future, or not. November 27 is our annual Pet Memorial when we can remember our dear furry and feathery Bodhisattvas who share and teach more than our egos care to admit. A lot happens at the temple. Please join us for all of these.

Gassho,

Rev. Dennis

Introduction to American Buddhism

Ontario Class - Intro to American Buddhism session will be held at the temple each Wednesday evening starting November 9, 2011 from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. for six weeks. We will meet in the Hondo and classroom #1

Boise Class - Intro to American Buddhism sessions are being held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Boise (2201 Woodlawn Avenue) each Tuesday evening from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. in the Fireside room.

Classes are open to the general public. Our practice is very simple and entirely compatible with daily American life. Come join us for an introduction to our teachings and practices. No charge, but donations welcome. For more information, please call Rev. Joshin Dennis Fujimoto at 208.707.2021.

IOBT Scholarship Fund Pasta Luncheon Benefit

The IOBT Scholarship Fund Pasta Luncheon Benefit would like to extend appreciation and thanks to all who were able to support our Lasagna luncheon. Many of our local businesses and individuals were very generous in their support of our IOBT Scholarship Fund. Food donations were received from Matsy's, Red Apple, M&W of Nyssa and Albertsons of Ontario. Monetary donations, participation, sweat and muscle were received from too many to mention. Thank you to everyone for taking part in this very worthwhile annual event. Special thanks to IOBT Dharma School and Sangha Taiko for heading the action.

October 2011 Bulletin Helpers

Karen Hata, Delores Wood, Yasuko Kino, Mary Nakamura, Jimmy Hondo, Kiku Hondo, Kazuko Kuramoto, Hideo and Ruth Harada

Memorial Services

November Monthly Memorial Service (Shotsuki Hoyo)

11/23 Arima, John K.
11/19/06 Arima, Kenji
11/16 Asakura, Misao
11/21 Demise, Yasaburo
11/27/2009 Fujii, Larry
11/6 Fujii, Tozaburo
11/23 Fujii, Waichi
11/21/1996 Go, Ben
11/17 Go, Manji
11/30 Harada, Kane
11/7 Harada, Kita
11/1 Harada, Shinichi
11/25 Harada, Takashi
11/26/2004 Hasebe, Jamie
11/2 Hirai, Hisao
11/3 Iida, Tsuneo
11/16 Inaba, Tomoji
11/24 Iseri, Dan
11/3 Iseri, Mitsuo
11/16 Iseri, William
11/11 Iseri, Yoneko
11/6 Ishimoto, Isao
11/11/1996 Kariya, Sue
11/15 Kawano, Ricky
11/10 Kobayashi, Susumi
11/9/1996 Kuga, Sumi
11/4 Matsumura, Bob
11/18 Mizuta, Koso
11/12 Morinaka, Sachika
11/28 Mukai, Kayo
11/27 Nakahara, Fusa
11/27/08 Nakamoto, Ray Sueo
11/13 Nakamura, Kakuji
11/9 Nishikawa, Mitsuo
11/23/1999 Nishiyama, Margaret
11/22 Odate, Yutaka
11/30/2006 Ogura, Debbie
11/24 Okada, Ken
11/17/2004 Okita, Clara
11/12 Okuda, Shigeru
11/5 Saito, Mitsuno
11/9/1998 Shigeno, John
11/6 Shigeta, Tamako
11/10 Suzuki, Ayae
11/12 Tameno, Junsuke
11/15 Terada, Fumiko
11/26 Teramura Uno
11/1 Umemoto, Otoichi
11/20 Yago, Sam
11/25 Yamaguchi, Masao
11/13 Yamatani, Sanburo
11/20 Yasuda, Heisaku
11/13/2001 Yasuda, Mabel
11/28 Yokoyama, Seitaro
11/18 Yoshihara, Kumaichi
11/6/2004 Yoshihara, Taro

December Monthly Memorial Service (Shotsuki Hoyo)

12/7/08 Cottrell, Walter
12/1 Enoki, Kimie
12/14 Fujinaga, Yoshitaro
12/20 Hara, Kay
12/14 Harada, Tomo
12/19/03 Hasebe, Hiro
12/18 Hashimoto, Yonekichi
12/3 Hayashi, Ei
12/16 Hayashi, Kazuo Kay
12/4 Hayashida, Chiyeko
12/31 Hayashida, Kenta
12/30 Hayashida Satoru
12/31 Hinatsu, Satoro
12/30 Hirai, Kiyoshi
12/3/02 Hirano, Harry
12/3 Hoashi, Takeji
12/3 Hoida, Tonami
12/23 Hori, Seitaro
12/10/2010 Inaba, Joe Tatsuhiko
12/1 Inouye, Etsuji
12/20 Ishida, Dai
12/3 Kamo, Isa
12/20/08 Kaneyama, Ben
12/29 Kawano, Ben
12/14 Kawasaki, Kumaso
12/25 Kimura, Tom
12/7 Komoto, Tozo
12/30 Kondo, June
12/1/2000 Kumagai, Dwight
12/11/94 Kumagai, June
12/17 Kuwahara, Suemi
12/21 Kuwahara, Suyeo
12/17 Masuda, Henry K.
12/25 Matsubu, Kiyomu
12/9 Matsumura, Jusaburo
12/4/01 Matsumura, Kazue
12/31 Matsunaga, Tadeo
12/7 Miyahara, Kenjiro
12/14 Miyake, Suyeno
12/21 Miyasako, Misao
12/3 Morinaga, Jay
12/20/2009 Morinaka, Cora
12/13 Morishige, Kentaro
12/1 Morishita, Tsunase
12/26/2010>12/26/2010 Morinaga, Kazuo
12/25 Morizawa, Haruye
12/14/04 Naito, Kimiko
12/20 Nakamoto, Hinasuke
12/6 Nakamoto, Keichi
12/1 Nakamura, Chiyokichi
12/8 Nakamura, Kentaro
12/25 Nakano, Itsuko
12/23 Nishikawa, Matsutaro
12/23 Nishimura, Susumu
12/31 Okamoto, Kikuye
12/23 Okita, Kanichi
12/13 Okita, Komura
12/10 Okumoto, Nizo
12/19 Osumi, Jippei
12/4/00 Oyama, Takao
12/8 Sakano, Ichiro
12/27 Sakoi, Kinuyo
12/6 Sasaki, Koichi
12/4 Sasaki, Roy
12/28 Shigeno, Betty
12/14 Shigeno, Ishi
12/31 Shigeno, Takeo
12/31 Shigeta, Gregory
12/21/01 Shima, Shizuko
12/12/01 Sugai, Art
12/3 Sugai, Frank
12/8 Suzuki, Tomiji
12/25 Takashima, Bentaro
12/11 Takenaga, Yasu
12/31/2008 Tameno, Bob
12/31 Tani, Morio
12/12 Terada, Shunichi
12/19/96 Tsukamaki, Ben
12/28 Tsukamaki, Hamayo
12/3 Tsukamaki, Kanichi
12/22 Yuasa, Rokusaburo