October 4: Aloha Community Event
San Mateo Buddhist Temple
Nirvana Day (February 22, 2026)
Nirvana Day is our observance of Sakyamuni Buddha’s departure from this world and entrance into the lasting tranquility of parinirvana. It is also a precious opportunity to reflect the truth that the impermanence of human life applies to all those who are born into this world.
Guest Speaker: Rev. Kodo Umezu
Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Gyofu Chanting (click here for chanting text)
9:00 a.m. Sangha Social Hour
9:30 a.m. Nirvana Day Service
10:30 a.m. Japanese Dharma Talk (Hondo)
10:30 a.m. Dharma Discussion & Social Hour (Dharma Room)
To join us for this hybrid service via Zoom, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.
Ho’onko Memorial Service for Shinran Shonin 報恩講法要 (January 18)
Guest Speaker
Rev. Akinori Imai
We invite you to join us in person or from the safety and comfort of your own home via Zoom Meeting for our for our annual Ho’onko Memorial Service for Shinran Shonin on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.
Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Gyōfu Chanting
9:00 a.m. Sangha Social Hour
9:30 a.m. Ho’onko Service
English Language Dharma Talk by Rev. Akinori Imai
10:30 a.m. 日本語法話 今井亮徳先生
Japanese Language Dharma Talk by Rev. Akinori Imai
To join us for this online Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.
自宅からご参拝されたい方はここにクリックして、”Live Broadcast of Services”に登録してください。
New Year’s Day Service
January 1
Join us to welcome the New Year 2026 as we look to the wisdom and compassion of Amida Buddha for guidance as we seek the settled mind in the Year of the Horse. We will welcome our new Supervising Minister Rev. Dean Koyama from the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple.
Schedule
1:00 p.m. New Year’s Day Dharma Service
To join us online for this Dharma Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.
New Year’s Eve Service
December 31
Join us in person to take a turn tolling the bell up to the number 108 as we let go of the greed, anger, and delusion of the past year. This will be Rev. Henry’s final service as Resident of the San Mateo Buddhist Temple.
Schedule
6:00 p.m. Shōya Raisan Chanting
7:00 p.m. New Year’s Eve Dharma Service
To join us online for this Dharma Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.
Grounded in the Nembutsu (December 21)
We warmly welcome you to join us in person at the San Mateo Buddhist Temple for our Family Dharma Service on Sunday, December 21.
As Rev. Henry prepares to complete his service as SMBT Resident Minister with the Joya-e New Year’s Eve Observance, this Sunday will mark his last regular Dharma Service before he begins his new assignment at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin on January 1. His Dharma Talk will reflect upon how the Nembutsu teaching provides us with a stable foundation to navigate life’s many changes.
Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoya Raisan Chanting (click here for chanting text)
9:00 a.m. Sangha Social Hour
9:30 a.m. Dharma Service
10:30 a.m. Japanese Language Service 日本語法要 (Hondo)
10:30 a.m. Dharma Discussion (In person only in Dharma Room)
To join us for this online Dharma Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.
Grounded in the Nembutsu (December 14)
We warmly welcome you to join us in person at the San Mateo Buddhist Temple for our Family Dharma Service on Sunday, December 14.
Over the past 12 years at the San Mateo Buddhist Temple, Rev. Henry has heard the sound of “Namo Amida Butsu” fill the Hondo Buddha Hall whenever the Sangha gathers. This Sunday, he will offer a Dharma talk reflecting on the Sangha friends who have shared their grateful Nembutsu, celebrating in times of joy and taking comfort in times of difficulty.
This Dharma talk is part of a series of talks exploring the five circumstances that Rennyo Shonin identified as necessary for attaining the life of peace and bliss:
- Stored good from the past
- A good spiritual teacher
- Amida Buddha’s light of wisdom
- The entrusting heart
- Namo Amida Butsu (The Name of Amida Buddha)
Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoya Raisan Chanting (click here for chanting text)
9:00 a.m. Sangha Social Hour
9:30 a.m. Dharma Service
10:30 a.m. Shotsuki Hoyo Monthly Memorial (Hondo)
10:30 a.m. Dharma Discussion (Dharma Room)
To join us for this online Dharma Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.
Bodhi Day Service: Life Outside the Palace Gates
Sunday, December 7, 2025
We warmly welcome you to join us in person at the San Mateo Buddhist Temple for our Bodhi Day Service on Sunday, December 7. For this year’s Bodhi Day Dharma talk, Rev. Henry will revisit the story of Prince Siddhartha’s excursions out of four gates of the palace. The prince’s sheltered life in the palace can be appreciated as an allegory for the comforts and conveniences of modern life, in which we go to great lengths to avoid the experience aging, illness, and death, and yet cannot escape these realities of human existence.
Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shōya Raisan Chanting
9:00 a.m. Sangha Coffee Time
9:30 a.m. Bodhi Day Service
10:30 a.m. Dharma Discussion in the Social Hall
To join us via Zoom for this Dharma Service CLICK HERE and sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.
The Entrusting Heart (November 30)
We warmly welcome you to join us in person at the San Mateo Buddhist Temple for our Family Dharma Service on Sunday, November 30.
On any journey through unfamiliar territory, having a reliable guide one can trust is essential. This Sunday Rev. Henry will share a Dharma talk about how the heart of entrusting in the Buddha’s wisdom can guide us through difficult and chaotic times in life.
This Dharma talk is part of a series of talks exploring the five circumstances that Rennyo Shonin identified as necessary for attaining the life of peace and bliss:
- Stored good from the past
- A good spiritual teacher
- Amida Buddha’s light of wisdom
- The entrusting heart
- Namo Amida Butsu (The Name of Amida Buddha)
Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Sofu Chanting
9:00 a.m. Sangha Social Hour
9:30 a.m. Dharma Service
10:30 a.m. Japanese Language Service 日本語法要 (Hondo)
10:30 a.m. Dharma Discussion (Dharma Room)
To join us for this online Dharma Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.
Eitaikyo Service
November 16, 2024
Click here to read about Rev. Jones
Guest Speaker
Rev. Michael Jones
Minister’s Assistant
San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin
We warmly welcome you to join us in person at the San Mateo Buddhist Temple or from the safety and comfort of your own home via Zoom Meeting for our Eitaikyo Perpetual Memorial on Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
２０２５年１１月１６日の９時３０分から永代経法要をお勤めします。
Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Gyofu Chanting
9:00 a.m. Mindful Meditation with David Crampton
9:30 a.m. Eitaikyo Perpetual Memorial Service with Dharma Talk by Rev. Micheal Jones
10:30 a.m. 日本語法話 アダムス・ヘンリー先生 Japanese Language Dharma Message
10:30 a.m. English Language Dharma Talk for Adults with Rev. Michael Jones (Dharma Room)
To join us for this online Eitaikyo Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.
To join us online via Zoom, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.
オンラインでご参拝したい方はここにクリックして、”Live Broadcast of Services”に登録してください。