Reverend Yukari Torii
Resident Minister, San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
This past April, I came down with bronchitis and suffered through weeks of relentless coughing. For about a week, I literally could not stop coughing and could barely sleep. …
Reverend Yukari Torii
Resident Minister, San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
Shinran Shonin (Venerable Shinran) expressed the nature of Amida Buddha’s great compassion in this wasan poem.
My eyes being hindered by blind passions, I cannot perceive the light that …
Reverend Yukari Torii
Resident Minister, San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
In preparation for our Eitaikyo service in November, I reread the 90th and 100th anniversary booklets to review our temple’s history. I noticed something that touched me deeply: when …
Reverend Yukari Torii
Resident Minister, San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
I’ve been introducing Shinran Shonin’s Wasan poems for Closing Meditation during our Sunday Services. Among the more than 500 wasan composed by Shinran Shonin, I find particularly meaningful one …
Reverend Yukari Torii
Resident Minister, San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
On a Saturday in June, we held a wedding ceremony for members of our sangha right here at our temple. I was so happy to share this precious and …
Reverend Yukari Torii
Resident Minister, San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
In May, Jodo Shinshu temples commemorate the birth of Shinran Shonin with the Gotan-e service. Our temple held the service the second weekend, followed by a three-temple seminar that …
Reverend Yukari Torii
Resident Minister, San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
Thank you to everyone who participated in last week’s sushi workshop!
Our sushi workshop was held after the Nirvana Day Service in February. Thank you to everyone who participated! …
Reverend Yukari Torii
Resident Minister, San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
Several weeks have passed since the L.A wildfires broke out, and I continue to hope for the safety of our sangha members. My heart goes out to all those …
Reverend Yukari Torii
Resident Minister, San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
One Saturday in October, our temple hosted a wonderful Moon Viewing event, organized by Margerete and Booth. Gazing at the night sky, I was captivated by the clear view …
Reverend Yukari Torii
Resident Minister, San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
At our temple, we observed the Higan service on September 22nd. “Higan” is a Japanese word, but does everyone know what it means? “Higan” refers to a state of …