Archive for 'Articles'

A Trip to the Rome and Assisi with Shinmon-sama

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By Dr. Kenneth K. Tanaka

Musashino University, Tokyo

Article from the 2012 February Edition  of the Wheel of Dharma

I had the privilege of accompanying His Eminence Otani Kohjun, Shinmon (henceforth, Shinmon-sama, which is how I address him) to participate in the gathering of world religious leaders convened by Pope Benedict XVI on October 27 and 28, 2011. Named the “Day of Reflection, Dialogue and Prayer for Justice ...

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In Commemoration of Shinran Shonin’s 750th Memorial

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In Commemoration of Shinran Shonin’s 750th Memorial

Socho Koshin Ogui, Bishop
Buddhist Churches of America

It is very easy to go back to things as they were. It seems safe to keep things as they are. It is almost always a challenge to change and try and move forward to make something happen. It is, indeed, ...

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“Shikata ga nai”

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By Rev. Ryuta Furumoto, San Mateo Buddhist Temple

The Japanese phrase “Shikata ga nai,” or “shoganai” is often used among Japanese and Japanese Americans. “Shikata ga nai” means “It’s beyond my control, so it cannot be helped.” I find myself saying, “Shikata ga nai” at least once a day. When I am late for a meeting because ...

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The Jodo Shinshu Center – Fifth Anniversary Milestone

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The Jodo Shinshu Center – Fifth Anniversary Milestone

By Glenn Kameda, JSC Facility Manager

The Jodo Shinshu Center will mark five years in operation (8/3/2006 – 8/3/2011) this August. Five years is not a long time line, but I guess it depends on your point of reference. For me five years ago was a turning point from retirement to active retired.

Today, the BCA greatly benefits from active retired kaikyoshi ministers; so why shouldn’t I join the ranks of active retired in the capacity of “Interim ...

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Debt Relief Fund

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Dear Sangha Members,

We take this opportunity to gratefully thank you for your continued kindness and generosity in support for our organization.  We are writing at this time to make a special request and appeal to help with an important issue affecting the future of the BCA: reducing the current debt burden of our organization.

Representatives of the BCA churches/temples addressed this financial issue head-on at this year’s National Council ...

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2011 JSCC August Workshop

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2011 JSCC August Workshop

This year the Jodo Shinshu Correspondence Course (JSCC) Summer Workshop was held on August 13th & 14th at the Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley. Students who came from areas such as Mendocino, San Diego, Seattle, Maine, as well as Japan, enjoyed a variety of activities including informative lectures, casual group discussions on course topics, Shakyo (sutra calligraphy) and two services conducted by guest ministers in the beautiful Kodo Hall. Special Guest Speaker, Dr. George Tanabe, Professor Emeritus of the University ...

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BCA News

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The dev­as­tat­ing earth­quake and ensu­ing tsunami which struck Japan on March 11, 2011 (local time) has left, in its wake, a tragedy beyond our com­pre­hen­sion.  The enor­mous loss of life, the dam­age to the infra­struc­ture, and the affects on the liveli­hoods of so many peo­ple is tremen­dous.  Our hearts and thoughts go out to those who are suf­fer­ing as a result of this nat­ural disaster.

On behalf of the Bud­dhist Churches of Amer­ica, I express my deep­est con­cern and sin­cer­est con­do­lences ...

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