I recently accompanied Roger Itaya and Terry Ishigo and their wives, Linda and Irene, to Bellevue, WA, to attend the annual BCA National Council meeting. This is a gathering not only of representatives from all BCA temples, including ministers and …
Change is often difficult to accept, despite the reality that change is always happening in our lives regardless of how we feel about it. All things are impermanent, yet we cling to the familiar even when we don’t like it, …
Our dog, Mookie, leaves footprints everywhere she goes. Since it’s impossible to follow her around with a mop, we try to put protective covers and mats in the places she frequents, and beyond that, we just love her as she …
I knew this day would come—the deadline to finish this message for the newsletter. I even squeezed a reminder on to my calendar, writing the tiny notation in purple ink between other duties for the day. At the time, it …
Minister’s Message
Do you ever check the labels in your clothes to see where they come from? Unless you buy exclusive designer creations, chances are much of what you wear is not produced in the United States or some …
Minister’s Message
One Together
If you look at the January issue of the BCA’s Wheel of Dharma, you can read the New Year’s Greeting from Monshu Koshin Ohtani, the head abbot of our organization, Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha, in Kyoto. …
Minister’s Message
Giving Thanks
Thanksgiving Day means different things to different people. For some, it means family gatherings, turkey dinner and the start of the holiday season. Some people look forward to bargain shopping around this time. For others, it’s …
It Takes Infinite Life
We’ve embarked upon graduation season. Certificates and diplomas are conferred upon students of all ages to mark accomplishments, completions, and moving on. Commencement is a good word for the process because it signals new beginnings and …
Extraordinary Now*
Think, speak and act, then, always in the eternal now with compassion and understanding for your own enlightenment and for the enlightenment of all sentient beings.
Rev. Kenryu Tsuji, “Eternal Now” from The Heart of the Buddha-Dharma, pp. …
