48 Vows

Amida Buddha Has Time for Everyone (January 30)

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When we get caught up in the busyness of everyday life, it can feel like we don’t have time to be present for the people we care about.  Dharma Service is an opportunity to pause and enjoy a moment of mindfulness of Amida Buddha, whose 13th Vow expresses the Buddha’s commitment to be an enduring presence of compassion for all beings:

If, when I attain Buddhahood, my life should be finite, limited even to a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of kalpas, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

*Kotis and nayutas are very large numbers. A kalpa is a very long period of time.

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Sofu Chanting (click here for chanting text)
9:00 a.m. Social Hour: Share your thoughts and feelings about the big game!
9:30 a.m. Dharma Service
10:30 a.m. Japanese Language Service 日本語の法要

To join us for this online Dharma Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.

Dispelling the Darkness of Delusion (January 9)

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The name of Amida Buddha means “Awakened One of Immeasurable Light.”  In this Sunday’s Dharma Talk, Rev. Adams will look to the 12th Vow of Amida Buddha, which expresses the Buddha’s commitment to shine the light of wisdom into our lives, dispelling the darkness of delusion:

If, when I attain Buddhahood, my light should be finite, not illuminating even a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of Buddha‐lands, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

*kotis and nayutas are very large numbers

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Sofu Chanting (click here for chanting text)
9:00 a.m. Taiso exercise with Juliet and Grace Bost
9:30 a.m. Dharma Service
10:30 a.m. Shotsuki Hoyo Monthly Memorial Service

To preserve the health and safety of our Sangha given the ongoing surge in Covid-19 infections in San Mateo County, this service will be held via Zoom only, without in-person Sangha attendees in the Hondo.

To join us for this online Dharma Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.

9:00 a.m. SPECIAL START TIME Joint Service with Twin Cities Buddhist Association (December 19)

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On December 19, we will have a special online Joint Dharma Service with Twin Cities Buddhist Association Sangha. Please note the changed start time to accommodate the difference in time Zones.

As we approach the end of another extraordinary year, Rev. Adams will join the service via Zoom from his childhood home in Buffalo, Minnesota to share a reflection on how we can find a settled mind in the midst of all the holiday excitement.

The 11th Vow of Amida Buddha:

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should not dwell in the stage of the truly settled and necessarily attain nirvana, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Mindful Mediation with David Crampton
9:00 a.m. Dharma Service
10:00 a.m. Dharma Discussion

To join us for this online Dharma Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.

Featured Image: Bison and Seppman’s Mill by Dale Bohlke

Wisdom to See the Minds of Others (December 12)

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Much of the suffering and turmoil in our lives is caused by misunderstanding and failure to cooperate.  In this Sunday’s Dharma Talk, Rev. Adams will share reflections on the 8th of Amida Buddha, which encourages us to get to know one another and try to understand each others’ perspectives:

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should not possess the wisdom to see into the minds of others,and thus be unable to know the thoughts of the sentient beings of at least a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas* of Buddha‐lands, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

*kotis and nayutas are very large numbers

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shōya Raisan Chanting
9:00 a.m. Hula with Stephanie Hagio Chin
9:30 a.m. Dharma Service
10:30 a.m. Shotsuki Hoyo Monthly Memorial Service

If you would like to attend the service in person, please email smbt@sanmateobuddhisttemple.org or call (650) 342-2541 to reserve a seat. Proof of full Covid-19 vaccination is required. A maximum of 36 in-person attendees will be allowed, so please contact us at your earliest convenience if you wish to attend.

Please do not come to the temple without registering in advance.

To join us for this online Dharma Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.

Veteran’s Day—Remembering Our Past (November 7)

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On the occasion of our annual Veteran’s Day Service, we look to the 5th Vow of Amida Buddha, which expresses the Buddha’s wish for us to be mindful of the truth that our lives today are possible thanks to all that has come before:

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should not remember all their former lives,and thus be unable to know at least the events of the previous hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of kalpas*, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

*kotis and nayutas are very large numbers, a kalpa is a very long period of time

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Sofu Chanting
9:00 a.m. Taiso Exercise with Juliet and Grace Bost
9:30 a.m. Veteran’s Day Dharma Service
10:30 a.m. Shotsuki Hoyo Monthly Memorial Service

To join us for this online Dharma Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.

No-one Will Be Beautiful or Ugly (October 31)

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As we don our Halloween costumes to amuse and entertain each other with playful appearances, both charming and spooky, this week’s Dharma Talk will in introduce the 4th Vow of Amida Buddha, which expresses the Buddha’s wish to liberate all beings from the suffering of inequality based on physical appearances:

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should not all be of the same appearance and should be either beautiful or ugly, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

In Buddha’s mind that is free from discrimination, all beings are welcomed just as they are.

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Sofu Chanting
9:00 a.m. Virtual Halloween Costume Parade (wear your costume on Zoom!)
9:30 a.m. Dharma Service
10:30 a.m. Dharma Discussion

To join us for this online Dharma Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.

Featured Image: Noh masks from Shimakumayama noh mask festival in Toyonaka, Japan (San Mateo Sister City)

Everyone Will Be the Color of Genuine Gold (October 10)

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This year we are learning about Amida Buddha, the Buddha whose image stands at the center of our temple, and his 48 Vows that describe realm of awakening we call the Pure Land. The 3rd Vow of Amida Buddha expresses the Buddha’s wish to liberate all beings from the suffering of inequality based on skin color and social class:

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should not all be the color of genuine gold, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

In this week’s Dharma talk, Rev. Adams will share how living with mindfulness of the 3rd Vow can open our hearts to treasure the rich diversity of the communities we live in.

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Sofu Chanting
9:00 a.m. Hula lesson with Stephanie Hagio Chin
9:30 a.m. Dharma Service
10:30 a.m. Dharma Discussion

To join us for this online Dharma Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.

Dharmakara’s Wish (September 12)

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This Sunday we begin our new Dharma School year! During this coming year we will be learning about Amida Buddha, the Buddha whose image stands at the center of our temple. We’ll begin on Sunday, September 12 by revisiting the story of Dharmakara Bodhisattva, the king who abandoned all his wealth and power in order to fulfill his wish to bring peace and comfort to all the people of the world.

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Sofu Chanting
9:00 a.m. Morning Exercise Program
9:30 a.m. Dharma Service
10:30 a.m. Dharma Discussion

To join us for this online Dharma Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.

Shōshinge: Hymn of True Shinjin and the Nembutsu (Session 7)

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This month we reflect upon the following verse as it relates to our journey to the Other Shore of enlightenment:

The Name embodying the Primal Vow is the act of true settlement, The Vow of entrusting with sincere mind is the cause of birth;
We realize the equal of enlightenment and supreme nirvana Through the fulfillment of the Vow of attaining nirvana without fail.

Continue reading “Shōshinge: Hymn of True Shinjin and the Nembutsu (Session 7)”

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48 Vows of Bodhisattva Dharmakara (Amida Buddha)

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From the Three Pure Land Sutras, Volume II: The Larger Sutra, pg. 20-29

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1

“‘If, when I attain Buddhahood, there should be hell, the realm of hungry spirits, or the realm of animals in my land, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

2

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land, should, after their death, return once more to the three evil realms, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

3

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should not all be the color of genuine gold, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

4

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should not all be of the same appearance and should be either beautiful or ugly, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

5

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should not remember all their former lives,[1] and thus be unable to know at least the events of the previous hundred thousand kotis of *nayutas of kalpas, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

6

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should not possess divine eyes,[2] and thus be unable to see at least a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of Buddha‐lands, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

7

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should not possess divine ears,[3] and thus be unable to hear the teachings being expounded by at least a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of Buddhas or remember them all, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

8

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should not possess the wisdom to see into the minds of others,[4] and thus be unable to know the thoughts of the sentient beings of at least a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of Buddha‐lands, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

9

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should not possess divine feet, and thus be unable to go beyond at least a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of Buddha‐lands in a thought‐moment, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

10

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should give rise to any thought of attachment to their body, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

11

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should not dwell in the stage of the truly settled and necessarily attain nirvana, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

12

If, when I attain Buddhahood, my light should be finite, not illuminating even a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of Buddha‐lands, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

13

If, when I attain Buddhahood, my life should be finite, limited even to a hundred thousand kotis of nayutas of kalpas, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

14

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the number of sravakas in my land could be counted and known, even if all the sravakas and pratyekabuddhas in the *triple‐thousand great thousand worlds should spend at least a hundred thousand kalpas counting them, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

15

When I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land will not have a limited life span, except when they wish to shorten it freely according to their original vows. Should this not be so, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

16

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land should even hear that there are names of evil acts, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

17

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the countless Buddhas throughout the worlds in the ten quarters should not all glorify and praise my name, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.[5]

18

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the sentient beings of the ten quarters who, with sincere and *entrusting heart, aspire to be born in my land and say my name even ten times, should not be born there, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment. Excluded are those who commit the *five grave offenses and *those who slander the right Dharma.[6]

Continue reading “48 Vows of Bodhisattva Dharmakara (Amida Buddha)”