“Happy New Year!” from the...

Vol. 53, No. 1 January 2010

“Happy New Year!”

from the Bulletin staff

Reverend Fumiaki Usuki Religious―English, and Advisor

Reverend Ensei Nekoda Religious―Japanese

Haru Matsumune Layout, Editing, Proofing, Office Support

Mas Sasaki Printing

Sei Shohara Layout, Editing, Proofing, Managing Editor

Yasuko Shohara Layout, Editing, Mailing Labels

Richard Stambul Assistant Editor

Ted & Betty Takahashi Business & Mailing

Toshiko Uyekubo Calendar―Japanese

ONE 唱ふれば我も仏もなかりけり

南無阿彌陀仏、南無阿彌陀仏

一遍上人

Tonaureba ware mo hotoke mo nakari keri

Namuamidabutsu, Namuamidabutsu

Ippen, 1239-89

When uttered,There is no I,

No Buddha:Namuamidabutsu, Namuamidabutsu

(From Haiku, Volume 1, R. H. Blyth)

Email: [email protected] Web: www.wlabt.org

West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple January 2010

2

REV. USUKI’S PAGE

New Inventions and a Cure for Human Woes

Here’s wishing everyone atWest Los Angeles, Oxnard,and Santa Barbara BuddhistTemples a happy and wonder-ful New Year. As we makepersonal plans for the NewYear, we may find that trying

to make the best of this opportunity actuallyfills us with many thoughts and anxieties. Ofcourse, we hope that every being on this earthmay be happy and trouble-free, but the realityis that we are far from this grand notion ofultimate peace and harmony.

The November 23, 2009 issue of Time magazinepresented “The 50 Best Inventions of the Year.”Many items are impressive and some havepotential but many may end up in some gadgetbag. They are a reflection of our society today.Human beings are constantly inventing thingsto improve living conditions, but creativity is notnecessarily driven by necessity. Today we inventprimarily to sustain the continuation andgrowth of the world economy. In the modern erait has been the automobile industry that has ledsociety to grow accustomed to a “new modelevery year.” Isn’t it frustrating to know that thenew car you bought in August of last year isalready old, not to mention that it has lost 20-30% of its value? New cars are designed to last10 or even 30 years today, but the one you justpurchased became old as soon as the new mod-els were delivered in October. This probably didnothing for your ego or the pride of owning anew car. The automobile industry seems to sur-vive not by generating new technology, but in-stead by appealing to basic human craving thathas nothing to do with transportation. It is nothow you get there, but rather how good you lookand feel getting there, and that costs big money.

Inventions help keep us going and are an impe-tus for our minds and imaginations to moveforward. Although we have not yet found life inthe outer universe, we are encouraged by newtechnologies that include superior telescopes,electronics, computers, and rockets supportingeager and better-educated scientists who aretaking us far beyond our present capability ofunderstanding the cosmos. Meanwhile, wepraise ourselves for some of the new inventionsof 2009 that include the biotech Stradivarius,dandelion rubber, controller-free gaming, thesmart thermostat, tweeting by thinking, the per-

sonal carbon footprint, vertical farming, and the$20 knee. These are very ingenious and someseem to have practical potential.

But despite their arguable contribution to soci-ety, do any of these new inventions cure humannature and suffering? Are there any new ideasthat completely eliminate the core problem of allproblems—greed, hatred, and ignorance? Howabout something to moderate discrimination orhard-headedness? Any cure for a heartbrokenchild? How about a daily pill for the everydaychallenge of getting up in the morning with theright attitude? If you are down and out, is therea place you can go to, such as a human super-store, where you could get immediate help fromsomeone? Where is the general rule in societythat is based on compassion, compelling us tohelp those who lack food or basic medicine? Isanyone thinking about coming up with a ma-chine that can detect the beginning of these ills?Since entering the industrial age, we havelearned to become more engulfed in the world of“fix my life with new things” and “only me” at-titudes. It has become easier to become de-tached from the rest of the world by being fix-ated on a new and wonderful plasma TV with500 channels. True, the world has come intoour living room and we have become an audi-ence of worldwide news and tragedies, but wedo not have to leave our comfortable homes tolend a helping hand. We give little and care evenless about the suffering of others. So, the richare more at ease in their ignorance and the poorcontinue to suffer in this high-tech society.

We would like to think that when we have more,we can share more, but as long as we are moti-vated by selfish notions we will continue to dis-tance ourselves from the less fortunate. We maysay that the Buddha-dharma helps us to under-stand this very nature of selfish existence butdespite the advancement of human ingenuity,nothing else has been invented to awaken andactualize ultimate wisdom and compassionwithin us. Instead it seems as if we have driftedfurther from the reality of our shared existencewith all life and become less attentive and en-gaged with the world we live in.

Perhaps this year, on the eve of another brandNew Year, we can reflect not on moving forwardwith new inventions but on using what we have

(cont’d on page 3)


3

(cont’d from page 2)

and spending more time learning to utilize it forbetter humanitarian causes. After all, this smallworld that we occupy will not last forever. Thesooner we rely on the teachings of the Buddha

to deal with our inner suffering and the roots ofour suffering, the sooner we can become betterstewards of ourselves and the entire universe.

Rev. Fumiaki Usuki

Shinshu Corner

Introduction to Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land) Three Sutras(continuation from December issue)

3. Teaching Most Difficult to Believe

Another noteworthy description of the AmidaSutra is that “all Buddhas in the six quartersnumerous as the sands of Ganges” praise theteaching of the sutra in terms of “Praises of theInconceivable Virtue and Protection by AllBuddhas.” Based on this passage, Shinran com-posed a wasan, which is included in the Hymnsof the Pure Land:

The Buddhas of the ten quarters, countlessas the sands of the Ganges,

Teach this dharma that is most difficult toaccept;

For the sake of the evil world of the fivedefilements,

They bear witness to the teaching andprotect beings who take refuge in it.

(CWS I: 347)

On the surface, the phrase “dharma that is mostdifficult to accept (believe)” indicates the profun-dity of the teaching that is beyond ordinary peo-ple’s understanding. Looking deeper, however,the more important interpretation of this phraseby Shinran is that he stresses the difficulty, orrather impossibility, of attaining birth in thePure Land through one’s own resolution andlimited efforts. In reality, the attainment of birthis possible only when one entrusts oneself toAmida’s saving power. This points to the verycore of Shinran’s soteriological structure.

-------------------------

Amida 阿弥陀 - Derived from the two Sanskritwords, “Amitabha” (Immeasurable light) and“amitayus” (Immeasurable life), are found in the

Amida Sutra, “Why is that Buddha called ‘Ami-da’?” Sariputra, it is because that Buddha’slight is immeasurable.… Furthermore, Sariputra,the life of the Buddha and the people of thatland last for immeasurable, unlimited, anduncountable kalpas.” Amida is the centralBuddha in the Pure Land tradition, and sayingAmida’s name (Namo Amida Buddha) has beenwidely practiced among Pure Land followers.

Hold steadfast to the Name - A phrase ofdoctrinal importance in the Amida Sutra. Itcorresponds to “thinking of” or “being mindful of”the Name of Amida Buddha in the Sanskrit textand the other Chinese version. Shan-tao,however, considers this phrase to be “saying theName of Amida Buddha” as the meritorious actfor attaining birth in the Pure Land. This inter-pretation is followed by Honen. Shinran viewsthe Amida Sutra from two perspectives, explicitand implicit. As for the explicit meaning of thisphrase, Shinran accepts the view of Shan-taoand Honen, but in its implicit meaning he iden-tifies it with the entrusting heart which is theonly cause for attaining birth. In the Passages onthe Pure Land Way, Shinran clarifies this phraseas follows: “‘Steadfast’ means that the mind isfirm and unchanging. ‘Hold’ means not beingdistracted and not letting go. Hence the sense of‘never becoming confused.’ ‘Hold steadfast’ isthus the mind that is single. The mind that issingle is shinjin.” (CWS I: 315) He interprets thefollowing passage in the Contemplation Sutra inthe same way, “Holding firmly to these words. Tohold to these words is to hold to the Name of theBuddha of Immeasurable Life.” (p. 62)

(Next Bulletin – Outline of the Contemplation Sutra)


4

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

ごろり寝や先はことしも仕廻酒gorori ne ya mazu wa kotoshi mo shimai sake

curling to sleep—but first ending this year, toowith a toast

Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828)

I especially like Issa’s New Year haiku above, to which one might add a word to the translation

to clarify that Issa’s toast is being made with one of my favorite drinks, sake. Banzai!

My first year as President has been eventful and challenging and I look forward to a productive

second-year term. I am grateful to all of you who offered your help, often without being asked,

which made 2009 such a memorable year. Yet I am also glad to bid farewell to the year of the

Ox (ushi) and to welcome in the year of the Tiger (tora) as it seems better to me to be associated

with a Tiger instead of an Ox.

There are so many temple members to whom I owe my appreciation for their selfless

contributions of time and hard work for the benefit of us all. The names are too many to list

here; however, such special contributions to our temple were recognized at our Bodhi Day

Service and Oseibo Taikai last month, and I again thank all those wonderful and dependable

people. I also must apologize to all those (and there are many) who were not publically honored

due to my failure to be aware of and to recognize their contributions.

Based on the recommendation of our Board of Directors and the good work of our Finance

Task Force under the chairmanship of Dr. Jack Fujimoto, I sent a letter last month to all

temple organizations requesting some brief financial data that must be submitted by our

annual temple board meeting on Wednesday, January 13 at 7:30 p.m. in addition to

submitting each organization’s regular annual financial report.

Rev. Fumiaki Usuki will be conducting our first Saturday Dharma Class on Jodo Shinshu and

general Buddhism at noon on January 9 following Shotsuki Hoyo, which begins at 10 a.m.

Everyone is welcome and I look forward to seeing you there. Our second Saturday Dharma

Class will be held on January 30 at 10 a.m. Please join us.

We will formally welcome in the Year of the Tiger at our annual New Year Party (shinnen enkai)

on Sunday, January 10. Service starts at 11 a.m., which includes installation of new officers

for 2010, followed by our party. Join us for the dharma, and for food, fun, and entertainment.

Ho-onko service will be held on Sunday, January 17 at 9:30 a.m. and we all welcome and look

forward to hearing Rev. Lee Saisho Rosenthal offer us the dharma at this important service.

This is going to be an exciting year and I continue to ask you all for more suggestions and

comments designed to improve our temple and to better offer us the dharma.

In gassho,

Rick Stambul

WLABT President


5

JANUARY SHOTSUKI HOYO, 10 a.m. Saturday, January 9 (second Saturday)

Abe, IchiroAkutagawa, KazueBaba, HiroshiBarbeiro, DavidDoi, ShunjiFujimoto, KenFujimoto, LarryHanamoto, MichiyeHashimoto, GizoHirano, AlanIchiho, KameichiIge, TakeoIi, FukusoIkeda, TakeoInaba, GeorgeIshiwata, HiroshiIwasaki, ChitoIwashita, TakamoriKaba, TadashiKageyama, Kiyoko

Kajiwara, RinzaburoKakehashi, RokuzoKawasaki, ToshioKawasaki, YukioKimura, KazuyoshiKondo, SasaichiKosaka, IchitaroKuramoto, HiroshiMasuda, MinoruMatsumoto, RubyMayeda, HisaMayetani, TokiMiddo, MasunagaMiddo, SakaeMiddo, WasakuMinazumi, YoshikoMisono, SukenariNakagawa, ChitaNakagawa, GisukeNakagawa, Ichino

Nakamura, KiyokoNakamura, NatsueNakamura, YutaroNomura, SekizoNunokawa, YurikoOhara, KikuOka, NoboruOkumoto, KanzaburoOno, KimikoOno, TonaichiOshinomi, MichikoOzamoto, KeijiroOzamoto, SadakoSakahara, GosakuSakahara, RoseSasaki, FumikoSasaki, KamejiShirai, GeorgeSunada, TerukoSuzuki, Yoshifuru

Takami, SakutaroTakami, SuyeTakazumi, TeruoTakeuchi, NorieTakimoto, KumaichiTanaka, TakakoTochioka, TadaoToma, YonekoTotani, TokumatsuToya, CraigUyeda, MitsutaroUyeda, TsutakoWatarida, ItaroYahata, NobuYahata, TsunekoYamanaka, KoyomiYamane, NobukoYamatoku, KazuoYoshida, Miyo

NEW!

Saturday Buddhism Classes

Starts January 9 at noon

Call the Office for information

(Thursday afternoon study class will continue)

Second

Saturday Buddhism Class

follows on January 30 at 10:00 a.m.

Temple Annual General Meeting

Wednesday, January 13, 7:30 p.m.All members welcome

Friday

January 15

7:00 p.m.


6

BWA NEWS Connie YahataHaru Matsumune called ourmeeting to order on November1 at 12:00 p.m. Chairperson ofToban 3, Kayo Ohkawahira,thanked Kazuko Seike andKiyoka Totani for helping toprepare the luncheon after the

Buddhist Men/BWA Memorial Service.

The following business topics were discussed:

1. The Nominations Committee presented thelist of nominations for 2010 with two unfilledpositions. It was decided that the electionwould be conducted at the December meeting.

2. All BWA members wishing to attend theBuddhist Men Longevity Party were asked tocontact Hidemi Ohkawahira.

3. Haru Matsumune asked our members to tryto attend the SDBWA service and meeting on11/7/09 because WLA BWA will fill the 2011SDBWA cabinet

4. The BCA SD Council meeting was held on11/13/09.

5. Forms regarding attendance at the ShinranShonin 750th Memorial in 2011 in Kyoto weredue on 12/1/09.

6. Payment for BWA’s 2009 CBE donation isdue on 12/31/09.

7. Jacqui Pierce volunteered to dance “Oharame Yakko” at the temple New Year party on1/10/10.

8. Our final meeting for this year will be heldon 12/13/09 at 10:00 a.m. after Temple cleanup.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:52 p.m.

Following the meeting, 23 BWA members andRev. Usuki gathered at Asakuma for ourannual luncheon. As in the past, the membersthoroughly enjoyed the food as well as eachother’s company. I hope more of you are able toattend next year.

BUDDHIST MEN LONGEVITY PARTY CELEBRANTS

Left to right, front row: Stanley Raposa 70, Bob Fujimoto 90, Kei Okamoto 77Back row: John Ikkanda 88, Jack Fujimoto 80, Tak Morimoto 80, Tosh Ishioka 77

Not present: Mike Hara 80, Ben Yamanaka 90

In the beginning, the Buddhist Men used to celebrate members at kanreki parties when they reachedthe auspicious age of 60, the first and best known of the seven auspicious ages of 60, 70, 77, 80, 88,90, and 99. As the age of its membership advanced, however, there came a time when there werealmost no celebrants. Hence the switch to “Longevity” parties celebrating all seven auspicious ages.

We should keep in mind that this is strictly a cultural, not religious, rite. Jodo Shinshu Buddhism doesnot recognize superstition, magic, astrology, or anything of the like.


7

BUDDHIST MEN LONGEVITY PARTY, NOVEMBER 14, 2009

Sam Hada, left, leads toast. Hey, where’s the beef?

We finished ours already. Asoka’s Corner. What are they saying? Milt presents gift to Past Prez Mas.

Is that true George? Rob Kafka calls number O-65 Bingo! Who said that?

These cards are awful. Just one more. Just one more… I’m telling you… I don’t believe it.

This is too boring. Men are so messy! Concentrating… What # was that? Shall we go home?


8

NOVEMBER 80-PLUS BIRTHDAY CELEBRANTS

Left to right: Rev. Ensei Nekoda, Marjorie Morikawa, Tadashi Kubota, Kiyoko Nakamura, ToshikoUyekubo, and Rev. Fumiaki Usuki. Mrs.Nakamura and Mrs. Uyekubo donated the birthday cake.

REV. SHOJO HONDA VISTS WLA

Left to right: Rev. Ensei Nekoda, Yoshio Nishimoto, June (Yahata) Fujioka,Rev. Shojo Honda, Beverly Yahata, and Rev. Fumiaki Usuki.

Rev. Honda is no stranger to WLA. The Bulletin was informed that June and Beverly’s late father,Temple and Sawtelle community pioneer Mr. Tozo Yahata, met Rev. Honda sometime after the war onone of Mr. Yahata’s frequent business trips to Japan. Mr. Yahata eventually arranged for Rev. Honda tobe a language instructor at the Japanese Institute of Sawtelle (1954-57). During this time, Rev. Hondaand Yoshio Nishimoto’s family were staying with the Yahatas. Rev. Honda assisted the WLABT residentminister at that time, Rev. Gikan Nishinaga.

Events eventually took Rev. Honda to New York City where he became married, and then to WashingtonDC where he established permanent roots. He became Washington DC Sangha’s (later Ekoji BuddhistTemple) first minister (10/7/59), and took on a position with the Library of Congress, Asian Division,Japanese Section. He is now retired.


11

2010 CALENDAR - WEST LOS ANGELES BUDDHIST TEMPLE

>> Schedule subject to change. Please confirm date and time prior to event. <<

REGULAR WLABT SCHEDULE (exceptions listed in calendar below)

Rev. Usuki’s days off: Mon and TueSDMA Meeting (LA Betsuin): 2

ndTue

Sunday Service, Dharma School,and Discussion (Eng): every Sun

Shotsuki Hoyo: 1st

SatStudy Class (Eng): every ThuBuddhism class (semi-monthly): SatTemple Board Meeting: 1

stMon

80 Plus Lunch: last MonNo Lunch in July and Dec

Asoka Fujinkai: 4th

WedBuddhist Men: 2

ndThu

BWA: monthly (Sun)Sangha Teens: (TBD)Jr. YBA Class: monthly (Sun)Taiko: every Thu

Bingo: 3rd

FriNo Bingo in July and Dec

Ikebana: 1st, 3

rd, and 4

thThu

Shigin: every TueWLA Youth Club: 2

ndWed

Professional TempleClean-up: 1

stand 3

rdTue

TEMPLE CLEAN-UP ASSIGNMENTS

Asoka Fujinkai: Onaijin, Minister’s room, pews

BWA: Kitchen, office

Dharma School/PTC: Classrooms and upstairs hallways

Jr. YBA, Sangha Teens: All windows: main building and social hall

Taiko: Basement and stairways

Buddhist Men: Mop floors, clean patio area, dumpster area, parking lot, garage

Garden Maintenance Group: Temple and minister’s residence gardens

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!

Temple members not in any organiza-tions are encouraged to help at thesegeneral Clean-ups. There are manyother areas that need attention.Clean-up dates are

March 21, June 6,and December 12.

Please note: Rev. Fumiaki Usuki is Supervising Minister for Oxnard and Santa Barbara

Oxnard and Santa Barbara schedules for January-June (six months)

Oxnard: Study Class 2nd

and 3rd

MonOxnard: Temple Board Mtg 2

ndMon

Santa Barbara: Study Class

JANUARY BULLETIN FOLDING Dharma School Parents

1 Fri 10:00 am New Year’s Day Service (Toban: Temple)2 Sat 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm JIS Sawtelle reunion3 Sun Temple closed9 Sat 10:00 am Shotsuki Hoyo (2

ndSaturday)

12:00 pm Buddhism class10 Sun 11:00 am Service, Installation of Cabinet, and Temple New Year Party (Shinnen Enkai)

4:00 pm Oxnard: Family service and DS

13 Wed 7:30 pm Temple Annual Meeting15 Fri 5:00 pm Santa Barbara: Service, study class16 Sat 10:00 am Oxnard: Ho-onko Service, Installation of Cabinet, and Luncheon

3:00 pm Santa Barbara: Family service and Shotsuki hoyo

17 Sun 9:30 am Ho-onko Service (Toban: BWA)Guest Speaker: Rev. Lee Rosenthal (Pasadena Buddhist Church)

22 Fri 5:00 pm Santa Barbara: Service, study class23 Sat 10:00 am Oxnard: Family service and Shotsuki hoyo

3:00 pm Santa Barbara: Ho-onko Service and New Year potluck

24,31 Sun 9:30 am Service, discussion30 Sat 10:00 am Buddhism class


12

FEBRUARY BULLETIN FOLDING BWA

7 Sun 9:30 am Service, discussion13 Sat 10:00 am Buddhism class14 Sun 9:30 am Nirvana Day Service (Toban: Dharma School)19 Fri 5:00 pm Santa Barbara: Service, study class20 Sat 10:00 am Oxnard: Family service and Shotsuki hoyo


21 Sun 9:30 am Service with guest minister10:00 am Oxnard: Pet Memorial service (Rev. Usuki)

23-28 Tue-Sun

BCA Ministers’ Meeting and National Council Meeting: Rev. Usuki at San Jose

MARCH GENERAL CLEAN-UP BULLETIN FOLDING BUDDHIST MEN

6 Sat 12:30 pm Buddhism class (after Shotsuki Hoyo)7 Sun 9:30 am Service with guest minister

10:00 am Oxnard: Family service (Rev. Usuki), musubi social

13 Sat 9:30 am Ohigan Seminar: (J) Rev. Shinji Okada- 1:30 pm (E) Rev. Tetsuo Unno

2:00 pm Chirashi preparation for Ohigan Service otoki (BWA)14 Sun 9:30 am Ohigan Service: Rev. Tetsuo Unno (J/E) (Toban: Asoka Fujinkai)20 Sat 10:00 am Buddhism class

afternoon Oxnard (hoji)

21 Sun 8:00 am General Temple and Garden Clean-up (NO service)10:00 am Oxnard: Ohigan service and Shotsuki hoyo (Rev. Usuki), chicken teriyaki3:00 pm Santa Barbara: Ohigan service and Shotsuki hoyo (Rev. Usuki)

22 Mon 5:00 pm Santa Barbara: Service, study class

27 Sat 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Bay Cities Gardeners’ Association Cymbidium and Bonsai Show28 Sun 9:30 am Service, discussion

10:00 am - 4:00 pm Bay Cities Gardeners’ Association Cymbidium and Bonsai Show

APRIL BULLETIN FOLDING ASOKA FUJINKAI

4 Sun 9:30 am Hanamatsuri/Hatsumairi Service (Toban: Buddhist Men)2:00 pm Oxnard: Hanamatsuri service, Hawaiian brunch

10 Sat 10:00 am Buddhism class11 Sun 10:00 am Eshinni/Kakushinni/Takeko Kujo Memorial Service (Toban: BWA)

Rev. Seikan Fukuma (J)16 Fri 5:00 pm Santa Barbara: Service, study class17 Sat 10:00 am Oxnard: Family service and Shotsuki hoyo


18 Sun 9:30 am Service23-25 Fri-Sun FDSTL Conference (host: Southern District, Renaissance hotel near LAX)

24 Sat 10:00 am Buddhism class

MAY BULLETIN FOLDING TAIKO

2 Sun 9:30 am Service2:00 pm Oxnard: Mother’s Day and Hatsumairi service

8,22 Sat 10:00 am Buddhism class

9 Sun 9:30 am Mother's Day Service (Toban: Sangha Teens)3:00 pm Santa Barbara: Service, study class

15 Sat 10:00 am Oxnard: Family service and Shotsuki hoyo3:00 pm Santa Barbara: Family service and Shotsuki hoyo

16 Sun WLABT visits Oxnard: Gotan-e service and strawberry festival10:00 am Oxnard: Gotan-e service with WLA, SFVHBT, and Santa Barbara10:00 am - 6:00 pm Oxnard: Strawberry festival

23 Sun 9:30 am Gotan-e Service (Toban: Temple)

24 Mon 12 noon 80 Plus Lunch (next-to-last Monday)29 Sat Santa Barbara: Memorial Day Cemetery Service


13

30 Sun NO service: Temple closed (Memorial Day weekend)9:00 am Oxnard: Memorial Day Cemetery Services – Ivy Lawn

11:30 am Oxnard: – Pleasant Valley

31 Mon 9:00 am Memorial Day Cemetery Services -Woodlawn11:30 am - Inglewood

JUNE GENERAL CLEAN-UP BULLETIN FOLDING TEMPLE

5 Sat 12:00 pm Buddhism class (after Shotsuki Hoyo)5:00 pm Oxnard: Family service and Shotsuki hoyo

6 Sun 8:00 am General Temple and Garden Clean-up (NO service)10:00 am Oxnard: Father’s Day service (Rev. Usuki) and Awards Day

12 Sat all day SD Conference (Host: Senshin)13 Sun 9:30 am Service, discussion

3:00 pm Santa Barbara: Service, study class

19 Sat 9:00 am - 3:00 pm 80 Plus Yard Sale20 Sun 10:00 am Father's Day/Graduation Service and Scholarship Presentation (Toban: YBA)

Lunch (Toban: YBA)3:00 pm Santa Barbara: Father’s Day service and Shotsuki hoyo

22,29 Tue 7:30 pm Start of Bon dance practice every Tuesday and Thursday23,30 Wed 7:30 pm Taiko (Wednesdays during Bon dance practice weeks)

24 Thu 7:30 pm Bon dance practice26 Sat 10:00 am Buddhism class

Obon: Senshin26-27 Sat-Sun Obon: Sun Valley

27 Sun 9:30 am Service, discussion

JULY GARDEN CLEAN-UP No PUBLICATION

1,8,15 Thu 7:30 pm Bon dance practice Tuesdays and Thursdays through July 153-4 Sat-Sun Temple closed (4th of July holiday)

Obon: San Fernando Valley Hongwanji BT - WLA Taiko6,13 Tue 7:30 pm Bon dance practice

7,14,21 Wed 7:30 pm Taiko10 Sat 10:00 am Shotsuki Hoyo (2

ndSaturday)

Obon: Oxnard10-11 Sat-Sun Obon: LA Nishi Betsuin

11 Sun 9:30 am Obon/Hatsubon Service: Rev. Shinji Okada (J) (Toban: BWA)16 Fri 7:00 pm Tent set-up17 Sat 9:30 am Obon Cemetery Services - Woodlawn

11:00 am - Inglewood17-18 Sat-Sun Obon: Venice, OCBC, and Pasadena

18 Sun 8:00 am Garden Clean-up, booth construction, and lunch (NO service)24-25 Sat-Sun WLABT Obon Festival and Bon dance

26 Mon 7:00 pm General take-down31 Sat Obon: San Diego

31-8/1 Sat-Sun Obon: Gardena

AUGUST BULLETIN FOLDING BWA

No Sunday Services, No Dharma School, No Taiko, No Study or Buddhism classes

1 Sun Obon: Gardena (also 7/31 Sat)

8-14 Sun-Sat LABCC Camp15-21 Sun-Sat Rev. Usuki vacation


14

SEPTEMBER BULLETIN FOLDING JR. YBA

4-5 Sat-Sun SD Jr. YBL Conference (Host: San Diego), Rev. Usuki at conference5-6 Sun-Mon Temple closed (Labor Day holiday)

7 Tue Temple Board Meeting11 Sat 9:30 am Ohigan Seminar: (J) Rev. Seikan Fukuma

- 1:30 pm (E) Rev. ___________ (______ BT)12 Sun 10:00 am Ohigan Service (Toban: Buddhist Men), Lunch (Toban: Buddhist Men)

(J) Rev Seikan Fukuma; (E) Rev. ___________18,25 Sat 10:00 am Buddhism class19,26 Sun 9:30 am Service, discussion

OCTOBER BULLETIN FOLDING ASOKA FUJINKAI

Sat FBWA Delegates Meeting (Host: Northern District)3,10,17 Sun 9:30 am Service, discussion

9,23 Sat 10:00 am Buddhism class16 Sat 11:00 am Buddhist Men - BWA Memorial Service (Toban: Buddhist Men)23 Sat 5:00 pm Family Fun Night (Toban: Jr. YBA and Dharma School)24 Sun 9:30 am Service, discussion (NO Dharma School)31 Sun 9:30 am Service, discussion

NOVEMBER BULLETIN FOLDING BUDDHIST MEN

7 Sun 9:30 am Service, discussion13, 20 Sat 10:00 am Buddhism class

5:30 pm Buddhist Men Service and Kanreki (Longevity) Party14 Sun 10:00 am Eitaikyo Perpetual Memorial Service (Toban: Eitaikyo Committee)

Rev. George Matsubayashi (J/E) (NO regular service or Dharma School)17 Wed 7:30 pm Asoka Fujinkai service and meeting (3

rdWednesday)

21 Sun 9:30 am Thanksgiving Service (Toban: Temple)24-27 Wed-Sat Temple closed (Thanksgiving holiday)

28 Sun 9:30 am Service, discussion

DECEMBER GENERAL CLEAN-UP BULLETIN FOLDING TEMPLE

4 Sat 12:00 pm Buddhism class (after Shotsuki Hoyo)5 Sun 9:30 am Bodhi Day Service, Oseibo Taikai, and Lunch (Toban: Dharma School)

11 Sat 8:00 am Mochi Tsuki (YBA and Temple)12 Sun 8:00 am General Temple and Garden Clean-up (NO service)15 Wed 7:00 pm Asoka Fujinkai Shrine Omigaki and Meeting (3

rdWednesday)

16 Thu 6:30 pm Taiko Party18 Sat 10:00 am Buddhism class19 Sun 9:30 am Service, discussion

23-26 Thu-Sun Temple closed31 Fri 8:00 pm Joya-e Year-End Service (Toban: Temple)

West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple

15

January 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Office hours: 10 am - 4 pm

Phone: 310-477-7274E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: www.wlabt.org

Bulletin foldingtoban:

Dharma Schoolparents

1

8 am door open10 am New Yearservice

2

1-5 pm JIS Sawtellereunion

3

Temple closed

4

Rev. Usuki off

5

Rev. Usuki off

6 7

1 pm Study Class (E)

7:30 pm Taiko

8 9

10 am Shotsuki hoyo

12 pm Buddhismclass

10 11 am service,temple board installa-tion, New Year party

Oxnard: 4 pm familyand DS service

11

Oxnard: 5 pm Ser-vice, study classOxnard: 7 pm Ser-vice, board mtg

12

10:30 am SDMA mtgat Betsuin

13

7:30 pm Annualgeneral mtg

14


7:00 pm B-Men mtg7:30 pm Taiko

15

7 pm Bingo

SB: 5 pm Service,study class

16

Oxnard: 10 am Ho-onko,board installation, lunchSB: 3 pm Family andDS service

17 9:30 am Ho-onko/750th ShinranShonin memorialserviceRev. Lee Rosenthal

18

Oxnard: 7 pm Ser-vice, study class

19

Rev. Usuki off

20

Rev. Usuki off

21


7:30 pm Taiko

22

SB: 5 pm Service,study class

23 Jr. YBA seminar I

Oxnard: 10 amShotsuki hoyoSB: 3 pm Shotsuki, Ho-onko, New Year party

24 8:30 am Jr. YBAclass9:30 am Service/discussion12 pm BWA mtg

25

12 pm 80+ lunch

26

Rev. Usuki off

27

Rev. Usuki off

28


7:30 pm Taiko

29 3010 am Buddhismclass

319:30 am Service/discussion

West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple

16


Buddhist Churches of America

Shinran Shonin 750th

Memorial Observance, Symposium & BanquetFairmont Hotel, San Jose, CA

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 - Symposium & Banquet1:15pm – 9:30pm

Symposium SpeakersRev. Dr. Ken Tanaka Rev. Harry BridgeProf. James Dobbins Jacqueline Kramer

Shinran Expo

BanquetBanquet Speaker – Pieper Toyama

(Symposium & Banquet registration fee: $110)

Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010 - Family Service9:30am – 12pm

Shinran Shonin Memorial Service and Musical ProgramOpen to all at no charge

For more information contact your temple or go to www.ingassho.com

“May there be peace in

the world and may the

Buddha’s teaching

spread!”

- Shinran Shonin

WEST LOS ANGELES BUDDHIST TEMPLE2003 Corinth AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90025

Return Service Requested

JANUARY SPECIAL SERVICES(See January calendar pages for schedules of regular services)

Friday, January 1 Sunday, January 10 Sunday, January 17

New Year Day Service

10:00 a.m.

Doors open 8:00 a.m.

Temple New Year Serviceand Party

Installation of 2010Temple Cabinet

11:00 a.m.

Ho-onko and 750thShinran Shonin Memorial

Guest speaker:Rev. Lee Rosenthal

9:30 a.m.

Non-Profit Org.U. S. Postage

PAIDLos Angeles, CAPermit No. 20953

“Happy New Year!” from the...

Documents

Transcript of “Happy New Year!” from the...