December 5, 2010

This past Sunday, Rev. John Turner, a minister's assistant from OCBC, was our guest speaker. During the early family service, he spoke to the Dharma School kids on Bodhi Day. Most of the western world, thinks of linear terms, i.e., crossing themselves, usually in a north-south, east-west. The Buddha before he became the Buddha ventured outside of his father's palace in a circular order - he first went out the East Gate, then the South Gate, so on. Therefore he went out East, South, West and North. But it is this symbol of circleness that is emphasized, the cycle of birth and death.

He continued this theme in the adult session. The Buddha was enlightened, but after his death, who would be able to take his place? There were four disciples that were closests to the Buddha, Sariputta, Mogallan, Kasyapa and Ananda.

Sariputta was brilliant and probably the closest to the Buddha. Mogallana was innately spiritual and is the subject of our O-Bon observances. Kasyapa was very disciplined, akin to a Marine. Ananda was not at a high level of any one thing, but was eminent in many disciplines. He was able to attain this by "listening." Mogallana and Sariputta passed away quickly after Buddha, leaving only Kasyapa and Ananda behind.

Interestingly, they did not get along. However, it was Ananda that won over because he was good at many things. Learning and listening is what he advocates and does very well.

On this Bodhi Day, we may not be exceptional to attain Enlightement, however, we may do well to listen to the teachings and be good at many things.

Namu Amida Butsu.

Thought for the day

"The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude."- William James

William James (January 11, 1842 – August 26, 1910) was a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher who was trained as a medical doctor. He wrote influential books on the young science of psychology, educational psychology, psychology of religious experience and mysticism, and on the philosophy of pragmatism. He was the brother of novelist Henry James and of diarist Alice James. -Wikipedia.

Three Treasures

Namo kie Bu
Namo kie Hou
Namo kie Sou

The three treasures - Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. The Sanga is made up of the 400 alumni.

After life?

We want to know about what happens after we die. Will we see others? Where will we be. The sutras that use in Jodo Shinshu describes in great detail what Pure Land is like. But at the same time, Jodo Shinshu says why bother? We don't have to worry about after life because Amida says we don't have to worry about because he guarantees it. Through reciting the nembutsu and with shinjin, we will be reborn in the Pure Land, so don't worry about it.

It's been awhile ....

This blog was meant to be an extension of the Megumi and allow visitors to the Facebook page for Gardena Buddhist Church to learn something. So for a short while, I would try to recap what we heard on Sundays.

It takes a little time to write up something, and of course, if there was something to write up it would make it easier.

Instead of recapping Sunday's Dharma Talk, I hope to add some things that I have heard that you may like to know on your journey along the White Path.

Currently, I am reading "The Three Pure Land Sutras: A Study and Translation: by Hisao Inagaki. The study portion is interesting on how the concepts of Pure Land and Nembutsu developed. And why Shinran selected the seven as the Seven Patriachs.

The translations of the sutras are interesting, and you wonder how the ancient people memorized these sutras so that we can read them today.

In Gassho,

Nembutsu Seminar: Socho Koshin Ogui, Bishop, BCA

"My life is not only my life but the lives of others' sacrifices, kindness, thoughtfulness and patience."

The Socho was quite a rascal in the early years of his ministerial career. However, he had come to realize the above and shared that experience with us at our second Nembutsu Seminar of the year at the temple on Saturday, April 10, 2010.

Think about it, and I'll add additional thoughts and words from the seminar in this space.

April 10 $ 11, 2010

We are fortunate to have as our guest, Bishop Koshin Ogui, socho of the Buddhist Churches of America, for the weekend.

He will present a Nembutsu Seminar on April 10 at 1pm, "Meditation Practices in Jodo Shinshu." The BWA is providing refreshments for this seminar.

Socho will also preside over a small gathering for dinner at the new Miyako Hybrid Hotel in Torrance at 6pm. Early RSVP is necessary, so please send an email if you like to attend. The cost per person is $65.

Starting at 9am on April 11, temple members can come to the Hondo and pour sweet tea over the small statue of the baby Siddhartha in the hanamido. Hanamatsuri Service, commemorating the birth of the future Buddha, will start at 9:30am. Socho Ogui will give the sermon in English and Japanese. Afterwards, Socho Ogui will assist Revs. Shindo and Nakano with the infant presentation service startine at 11:30am. Hatsumairi (First Service) is the name of this service, and we are expecting 11 participants and their parents. Lunch will be served for the participants by the Dana Group.

Then at 2pm, a special kieshiki, or Affrimation Service, conducted by Socho Ogui for participants to receive their Buddhist name, or homyo. Application for this service had passed and 71 will participate in this service.

The bishop will later meet with the temple elders and return to the Bay area on Monday.

We are looking forward to this weekend. The public is invited to attend the Nembutsu Seminar on Saturday at 1pm and the Hanamatsuri Service on Sunday starts at 9:30am.

In gassho