All of you If you miss me After I am gone, Rely on Amida’s Vow As keepsake I leave the Name Namo Amida Butsu. Let it be the Way To see me after I am gone.[1] I recall a minister (probably Rev. Mas Kodani) describe Obon as mother’s day and father’s day all rolled into one day. I believe that he was saying that at Obon time we remember our parents and grandparents. We honor them and thank them all at once at Obon. For us as Buddhists Obon is a time to return home physical

A new computer application has just arrived on the scene called the “Death Clock”. It claims to be able to predict the day of your death. Its creators claim that it was built to motivate us to make healthier lifestyle choices. The website says, “A new artificially intelligent app claims to be able to pinpoint your expiration date — all in an effort to motivate users to make healthier choices and lead longer lives.” In some ways this is a wake up call to think about your l

“The Buddha’s Wisdom, is like a torch on a moonless night. But do not weep that your Wisdom Eye cannot see it. Our life is like a ship on the Great Ocean of Birth and Death. Do not worry about your evil Karma. Because Amida’s Vow is limitless, how easy my heavy karma is to bear. Because the Buddha’s Wisdom is boundless, He embraces even those discarded by others.” Shinran We find ourselves in a life of uncertainty, life is more precarious than ever before. Ou

Dana “….the sacred Name is a gift we have received from Amida Buddha. Therefore, all we do is entrust ourselves to Amida in accordance with Amida’s Vow, enabling us to be born in the Pure Land. We are saved immediately; and our response is only to express gratitude, reciting the Nembutsu in appreciation.” Rennyo Shonin, Goichidaiki Kikigaki There are two words associated with an act of generosity. The Buddhist

“Shakyamuni Tathagata appeared in this world Solely to teach the ocean like Primal Vow of Amida We, an ocean of beings in an evil age of five defilements Should entrust ourselves to the Tathagata’s words of Truth” Shoshinge What is Truth? Oneness of all life is Truth. This past week the so called leaders in Washington have come to an agreement on the national budget. However, this is not an end to the continued arguments and postering in Washington. I understand that t

“Though we lack both disciplinary practices and wisdom, we can cross over the painful sea of birth-and-death by boarding the ship of...

August 6 th will at 3:15 pm on the West Coast. It will mark 80 years since the atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. In an...

With the month of July and summer in full swing we find time to relax and enjoy time off from work and/or school. Summer is also a time...

The Buddha’s appearance in this world began a movement of compassion for all beings. The Buddha preached of love, kindness and having...

“If the Single Thought of Joy is awakened in one’s mind, though passions are not severed, one will attain Nirvana. When ordinary men,...

“The Tathagata’s mind of great compassion, it necessarily becomes the truly decisive cause of attaining the fulfilled land. The...

“Wherever the Buddha resides, there is no place which does not benefit from his virtue. Peace and harmony reign where the Buddha...

There are many detailed explanations of what Nirvana means, but Nirvana Day just symbolizes the day that Shakyamuni Buddha died. We...

From the beginning, the world has been filled with a succession of calamities, over and above the unavoidable facts of illness, old age...

Our founder Shinran Shonin wrote about the sage Nagarjuna: “He would expound the highest Dharma of Mahayana; Attaining the Stage of Joy,...

“:It is a rare event to meet the Buddha while he is here. It is also rare to find beings who are...

“In the matter of compassion, the path of sages and the Pure Land path differ. Compassion in the path of sages is to pity, sympathize...

Strength, Balance & Confidence As I write this article the Summer games of the Olympics will begin in Paris France is a few weeks. The...

Obon Each July we gather together as a temple and observe Obon. The summer season it synonymous with Obon and the many traditions,...

This year we are celebrating and observing the 125th anniversary of Jodoshinshu in the continental United States. One of the issues that...