Four Noble Truths

Who Is Amida Buddha? (January 5)

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Join us this Sunday, January 5th, for a Family Dharma Service at the San Mateo Buddhist Temple, where we’ll explore the profound significance of Amida Buddha, whose golden image adorns our main hall. Rev. Adams will share a Dharma Talk on why—among the countless Buddhas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges—it is Amida Buddha whom Jodo Shinshu Buddhists revere as our refuge of wisdom and compassion.

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Sofu 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 Service (Hondo)
10:30 a.m. Dharma Discussion (Dharma Room)

To join us for this hybrid service via Zoom, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.

The First Turning of the Dharma Wheel (December 8)

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We warmly welcome you to join us in person at the San Mateo Buddhist Temple for our Family Dharma Service on Sunday, December 8. This Sunday, Rev. Adams will share appreciations for the first Dharma Talk delivered by Śakyamuni Buddha following his realization of Enlightenment, in which he shared the foundational teaching of the Four Noble Truths.

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shōya Raisan Chanting
9:00 a.m. Sangha Social Hour
9:30 a.m. Dharma Service
10:30 a.m. Shotsuki Hoyo Monthly Memorial Service (Hondo)
10:30 a.m. Dharma Discussion (Dharma Room)

To join us for this hybrid service via Zoom, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.

The Medicine of Amida Buddha

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In our family we have three children from preschool to middle school in age, so as the cold and flu season arrives, it seems that someone in our house is always coming down with a fever or starting to cough.  Sakyamuni Buddha taught that birth, illness, aging, and death are four inescapable kinds of suffering in this life, so there is no choice but to accept the reality that getting sick is part of being alive.  That said, when we get sick, we naturally seek medicines to alleviate our symptoms and speed our recovery.  There are also medicines we may take before we get sick to avoid the most severe illness.  When choosing medicines to take it is best to follow the advice of a good doctor.

The Buddha is often described as a good doctor because, just as a good doctor carefully investigates an illness before providing an appropriate prescription, the Buddha arrived at a deep understanding of the troubles of human life before providing suitable teachings for all people.  

Continue reading “The Medicine of Amida Buddha”

Hinamatsuri (Girl’s Day): Effortless Kindness

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March 6, 2022

This Sunday’s service will include our celebration of the Japanese Hinamatsuri (Girl’s Day) holiday. Inspired by the many valuable contributions that girls make to our Sangha and community, Rev. Adams will share a Dharma talk about the meaning of Amida Buddha’s 20th Vow, which emphasizes cultivating the roots of virtue and concentrated Nembutsu practice:

If, when I attain Buddhahood, the sentient beings of the ten quarters, upon hearing my name, should place their thoughts on my land, cultivate the roots of virtue, and direct their merit with sincere mind desiring to be born in my land, and yet not ultimately attain birth, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

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

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

Reflecting on Wisdom, Joy, and Authenticity (July 18)

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This Sunday our service will be led by our Sangha members.  San Mateo Buddhist Women’s Association Corresponding Secretary and Young Buddhist Editorial member Juliet Bost will share a Dharma Talk on the topic of “Reflecting on Wisdom, Joy, and Authenticity”

Schedule
(Shoshinge chanting will resume next Sunday on July 25)
9:00 a.m. Taiso Morning Exercise
9:30 a.m. Dharma Service with talk by Juliet Bost
10:30 a.m. Dharma Discussion led by Juliet Bost

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

Flowing into the Ocean of Compassion (July 11)

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This week we will continue our four part series exploring the Four Universal Bodhisattva Vows that express the compassion and dedication to service that characterizes the Dharma path of Mahayana Buddhism.
Reflecting to the second bodhisattva vow, “Blind passions are limitless, I vow to sever them all,” we will consider how the currents of greed, anger and ignorance are transformed when our minds flow into the ocean of the Buddha’s great compassion.

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Sofu Chanting
9:00 a.m. Taiso Morning Exercise
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”.

BCA Bishop’s Memorial Service (July 4)

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Rev. Kenju Masuyama
Bishop of the Buddhist Mission of North America (1930-1938)

As we observe our annual Buddhist Churches of America Bishop’s Memorial Service at this time of transition in our lives, we recall the leadership of Bishop Kenju Masuyama, who led our national Sangha during the Great Depression and the period when the Nisei generation was maturing toward adulthood.

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Sofu Chanting
9:00 a.m. Taiso Morning Exercise
9:30 a.m. Dharma Service
10:30 a.m. Shotsuki Hoyo Monthly Memorial

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

Compassion without Borders (June 26)

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This week we begin a four part series exploring the Four Universal Bodhisattva Vows that express the compassion and dedication to service that characterizes the Dharma path of Mahayana Buddhism. As we consider the first bodhisattva vow “Living beings are limitless, I vow to liberate them all,” Rev. Adams will share reflections on the artificial borders we create between our ourselves and others, and how the Dharma guides to a realize a life of kindness by reminding us that all beings share a common wish to live at peace.

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Sofu Chanting
9:00 a.m. Taiso Morning Exercise
9:30 a.m. Dharma Service
10:30 a.m. 日本語法要 Japanese Language Service

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

Father’s Day: Receiving Skillful Guidance (June 20)

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On the occasion of Father’s Day, Rev. Adams will share some Dharma reflections on the skillful, and at times unexpected, ways in which the parental figures in our lives guide us on the right path forward.riends play in our journey through life together on the path of the Nembutsu.

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Sofu Chanting
9:00 a.m. Taiso Morning Exercise
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”.

Dharma School Awards Ceremony & the Path of the Nembutsu (June 13)

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As we conclude another school year of extraordinary challenges met, Rev. Adams will share reflections on the important role that good Dharma friends play in our journey through life together on the path of the Nembutsu.

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Sofu Chanting
9:00 a.m. Taiso Morning Exercise
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”.