Services held 2nd Saturday of the month

INSIDE THIS NEWSLETTER: Calendar, Memorial Service, Dharma Message, Treasurer’s Report, Minister and Sangha donations, Church News – including Bishop Harada biography

Sat, 10:00 AM, February 8
Nehan-e 涅槃会 Nirvana Day
Shotsuki Hoyo Monthly Memorial Service 祥月法要

Sat, 10:30, Discussion on BCSB

Guest Speaker: Bishop Marvin Harada

On Nirvana Day, we commemorate the death of Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, who attained final Nirvana more than 2,500 years ago. In his last sermon, the Buddha taught the impermanence of life and the eternity of the wisdom of enlightenment. He urged us to rely on our own efforts and the light revealed through his teachings. This day reminds us of his legacy and infinite compassion. (https://jodoshinshu.org/holidays-in-jodo-shinshu)

Sat. 10:00 am March 8

Shotsuki Hoyo Memorial Service 祥月法要 Spring O-higan (Equinox) 春 お彼岸
Rev JP DeGuzman

Memorial Service will be held for:

MRS. TATSUO MIYATAMR. KOZO TAKABATAKE
MRS. KONO KAMURIMRS. KIMA WATANABE
MR. TSURUKICHI MATSUOMR. TOTARO OHMURA
MR. KUMEJIRO OKUIMR. MASASHI NAKASHIMO
MR. MATSUJU SHINOHARAMR. THOMAS NUMAZU
MR. EIKICHI IWASAKIMRS. HINA INOUYE
MR. OTOKICHI KAWANO MISS. KATSUYE YOKOMATSU
THE MATSUNAGA FAMILY MRS. SACHIKO TAKEI
MRS. TSUYAKO MAYEDA MRS. MITSUKO AOI
MRS. TANE KOMATSU MR. KAZUNOBU NAKASHIMO
MRS. TOYO TORIGOEMS. NAOKO ISHIHARA
MRS. SUZI OCHIMR. TARO KAWAKAMI
MR. MITSUO SHIBAOMS. SUZI OCHI

DHARMA MESSAGE. What Jodo Shinshu Means to Me
Rev JP deGuzman

Living a Jodo Shinshu life is paradoxical because it promises nothing and everything. Unlike other religions, Shinshu does not promote incantations to get what we want. So, as countless ministers have joked, reciting “Namo Amida Butsu!” before placing your bet in Las Vegas will not guarantee hefty winnings. Burning incense will not help you land promotions, and chanting will not ensure an A on that next exam. Approaching life through the lens of immediate gain, as in the examples above, is the ego in full force.

So how do Shin teachings promise everything? When we drop our ego, which may take a lifetime of practice, we bear witness to how the interconnections of all life actively support us. Moments of failure and crisis are endemic to the human condition—we cannot say “Namo Amida Butsu” to prevent them any more than we can recite the Nembutsu to win the lottery. But think about all of the figures along your challenging journeys who extended support, care, guidance, or affirmation. Perhaps it’s the nurse who provided succor for an ill loved one, the teacher who helped you master a concept, or a supervisor who uplifted your hard work. We stay afloat because of figures like them and all of the individuals who shaped them and all of the individuals who shaped them! Recognizing how a single gesture is the result of an infinite and often invisible web of life that supports me is a powerful experience and, in my understanding, the heart of Namo Amida Butsu.

Treasurer’s Report: Sets Furuike
January Total Donations: $2532

The temple gratefully acknowledges the following donations (Orei 御礼)

Memorial Service:
Mary Saito (George Saito)
M/M Dennis Furuike (Y. Aoi, T. King, T. Tsunoda)
M/M Ted Muneno (Daizo Muneno)
Tamako Nishimura (George Nishimura)
M/M Donald Muneno (Daizo Muneno)
Mary Hide (J. Kanetomo)
Lonny Ishihara (T. Ishihara King, Y. Aoi)

Special:
Monday Qigong
Dennis Ito
In Donation Box

Ho-Onko:
M/M Dennis Furuike
M/M Ted Muneno
Jodi Miles
Junko Torigoe
David Tabata
Mary Saito
Mary Hide
Tamako Nishimura

Bodhi Day:
Mary Saito

Acknowledgement and Appreciation

For Jan Dharma (Service): Rev JP DeGuzman
Greeters: Dennis Furuike and Doug Wilson
Flowers – Symbol of Buddha’s compassion, beauty, and impermanence: Jodi Miles
Osonae – Fruit offering at the altar: Sets and Dennis Furuike
Obuppan – White rice symbolizing interdependence: JJ Uyehara and Doug Wilson
Geppo and Program Newsletter – Community: Jodi Miles, JJ Uyehara, Editors-in-chief: Sets Furuike, Dennis Furuike
Temple Grounds Maintenance: Dennis Ito, Dennis Furuike
Temple Cleaning & Maintenance: Dennis & Setsuko Furuike
Social Hall Setup, Maintenance, and Cleanup: Ted Muneno
Communication Social Media: Christophe Sautot
Potluck: Sangha (Community)

Church News

Thanks! To JP DeGuzman’s first service! All present were impressed by his friendly warmth and energetic message. He mentioned his postdoc work with UC Santa Barbara, so he has ties with Santa Barbara as well as with Southern California in general. He also brought his mom to the service – hope we passed muster with her!

Wildfires in SoCal – Rev De Guzman noted that during the Eaton Fire, neighbors jumped the fence and put out embers at the Pasadena Buddhist Church. Namo Amida Butsu!

New Guest Speaker: BCSB is honored to have Bishop Harada giving our service on Feb 8. This shows major support from the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA), and Bishop Harada would also like to discuss paths forward for us with potentially attracting more members. Rev Harada has been bishop since April 2020. Previously, he served as minister at Orange County Buddhist Church.

BACKGROUND (from https://www.lionsroar.com/meet-a-teacher-rev-marvin-harada/). Marvin Harada grew up on a farm in eastern Oregon. The farm is where he had his worst job – weeding onions which is hard labor and time-consuming work! He did not seriously engage with Shin Buddhism until he went to college where he began to learn the concepts and meaning of Buddhism. And, he is very happy when he sees the dharma ‘resonate’ with others.
His motto and way of life – “Ichigo-Ichie”, interpreted as “Live every day like it is the first and last day of your life”. (a literal translation Ichigo ichie (一期一会, which means “one time, one meeting”)

Beautiful and Meaningful on BCSB Grounds