Coast District News and Chumash Trip

Coming Events; 行事予定

May 27 Mon 10AM Garden of Memory   11AM Yamato Cemetery

Jun 2 Sun BWA Food Sale                                                                                                           

Jun 9 Sun BWA Lady Kujo (Kisaragi) Memorial with Rev. Hoshu Matsubayashi              

Jun 17 Mon-28 Fri Hikari no Gakko                                                                                      

Jul 6 Sat Obon Gravesite Service 10:30 AM Garden of Memory 11:30 AM Yamato

Jul 7 Sun 10AM Obon Service                                                                                                      

Jul 20 Sat 5PM Baba Family Service                                                                                 

Jul 28 Obon Festival

Hoonko & January Shotsuki Service, January 13, 2013 10 AM followed by New Year Party

Happy New Year!

On January 13, 2013, Buddhist Temple of Salinas will be observing Goshoki Ho-onko, the memorial service for Shinran Shonin, founder of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism. At this service, we give thanks to Shinran Shonin for his lifetime of teachings. On this day, we will also be observing the January Shotsuki, the monthly memorial service honoring family and friends who passed away in the month of January.

The service will be officiated by Reverend Orai Fujikawa, and our guest speaker will be Reverend George Matsubayashi of Los Angeles Honwgwanji. 

The Ho-onko service will be followed by the temple New Year Party at the multi-purpose hall. It will be a potluck luncheon. Please bring your favorite dish to share. It can be brought to the main kitchen before the service begins. 

At the New Year Party, new officers of the Temple and it's affiliates will be installed by Rev. Orai Fujikawa. This month is Rev. Fujikawa's one year annivesary since coming to Salinas and becoming our resident minister. We are all very happy and fortunate to celebrate the New Year with Reverend and Mrs. Fujikawa!

In Gassho

New Years Eve Service, December 31, 2012, 6 PM

Officiant, Rev. Orai Fujikawa

The New Year’s Eve Service is called Joya-e and is observed at all temples on New Year’s Eve. We assemble before the shrine of Amida Buddha to quietly recollect the happenings of the year and to appreciate the teachings of Amida.

The candles are lit and the incense gives rise to a line of smoke which serves as a reminder to us of the impermanence of all things; even the year was a passing thing.

After a brief service, the large bell in the Temple Bell Tower will be struck 108 times as a symbol of overcoming of the 108 passions human beings are said to possess. 

Human beings are extremely self centered and often oblivious to many things that do not concern himself. This nature of man has not changed since ancient times. The 108 passions of human beings are still at work in the very heart of each individual. As the New Year’s gong is struck 108 times we must be reminded of our human weaknesses and live a life of deep reflection.

As long as man has devised a means of dividing eternity of time into days, weeks, months, and years, it gives us an opportunity to look back and at the same time to look ahead. New Year’s Eve being the end of the year, we can look back and reflect over the passed year and quietly recollect on the happenings of the year and rejoice in the blessings of Amida Buddha.

Excerpted from this article.

The Salinas Californian interview of Rev. Orai Fujikawa

The Salinas Californian interviews Rev. Orai Fujikawa about the upcoming Meditation Class.