Obon

Receiving the Gift of Kind Eyes

Posted on

There are gifts that we can give to others even if we do not have material wealth to share, such as the gift of kind eyes that look upon others with loving concern, free from judgement and ill-will.  Kind eyes do not just see what is happening but move us to respond to the suffering of others with deep compassion.  

The Buddhist observance of Obon is inspired by the story of the Buddha’s compassionate teaching to his disciple Mahamaudgalyayana.  An enlightened disciple of the Buddha by the name of Mahamaudgalyana had a special ability to see the workings of cause and effect beyond the boundaries of birth and death.  On one occasion he used this power to search for his mother throughout the six realms of existence*.  At that time, he saw that his mother had fallen into the realm of the hungry ghosts, a state of suffering from unsatisfied desire.

Continue reading “Receiving the Gift of Kind Eyes”

Obon and Hatsubon Service

Posted on

August 13, 2023

Guest Speaker

Rev. Noritaka Imada

Resident Minister

Buddhist Church of Florin

Supervising Minister

Buddhist Church of Lodi

御講師

今田法翔先生

フローリン仏教会
駐在開教使

ローダイ仏教会
担当開教使

We warmly welcome you to join us in person at the San Mateo Buddhist Temple or via Zoom Meeting for our Obon and Hatsubon Service on Sunday, August 13, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

２０２３年８月１３日の９時３０分から盂蘭盆及び初盆法要をお勤めします。

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Gyofu Chanting (Click here for chanting text)
9:00 a.m. Sangha Social Hour
9:30 a.m. Obon and Hatsubon Dharma Service with English Language Message by Rev. Noritaka Imada
10:30 a.m. 日本語法話　今田法翔先生　Japanese Language Dharma Message by Rev. Noritaka Imada

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

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。

Obon Cemetery Services

Posted on

On Saturday, August 12, the San Mateo Buddhist Temple Sangha will hold our annual Obon cemetery services at the following times and locations:

Schedule
Please click map links below for detailed locations.

9:30 a.m.     Skylawn Memorial Park (MAP)

10:10 a.m.     Golden Gate National Cemetery (MAP)

10:40 a.m.     Olivet Memorial Park (MAP)

11:00 a.m.     Japanese Cemetery in Colma (MAP)

Gathering of Joy

Posted on

The Obon observances that we hold during the month of August originate in a teaching on the practice of giving (Dana) that Sakyamuni Buddha shared with his disciple Mahamaudgalyayana.   Following his mother’s departure from this world, Mahamaudgalyayana saw that she had fallen into the realm of the hungry ghosts, a world of hunger, thirst, and unsatisfied desire.  He immediately went to the Buddha and asked for guidance on how he could liberate his mother from that world of suffering.  The Buddha instructed him to present a gift of food, clothing, and other essential items to the monastic Sangha.  After offering the prescribed gift to the Sangha, Mahamaudgalyayana saw that his mother had been liberated from suffering and he was filled with joy.    

Continue reading “Gathering of Joy”

Obon and Hatsubon Service Service

Posted on

August 14, 2022

Guest Speaker

Rev. Michael Endo

Executive Assistant to the Bishop

Buddhist Churches of America

Minister’s Assistant

Buddhist Church of Oakland

御講師

遠藤マイケル先生

北米開教区

Executive Assistant to the Bishop

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 Obon and Hatsubon Service on Sunday, August 14, 2022 at 9:30 a.m.

２０２２年８月１４日の９時３０分から盂蘭盆及び初盆法要ををお勤めします。

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Gyofu Chanting (Click here for chanting text)
9:00 a.m. Sangha Social Hour
9:30 a.m. Obon and Hatsubon Dharma Service with English Language Message by Rev. Michael Endo
10:30 a.m. 日本語法話　遠藤マイケル先生　Japanese Language Dharma Message by Rev. Michael Endo

All ages are welcome to join without prior registration.  Proof of full Covid-19 vaccination required for eligible individuals age 5 and older.  Up to 36 in-person attendees will be seated in the Hondo, with overflow seating available in the adjacent Social Hall.

本堂でのお参りする方は新型コロナウイルスのワクチン接種を完了された方に限り３６名まで枠がありますが、ソーシャル・ホールにも席を用意します。五歳以下の参拝者は新型コロナウイルスのワクチン接種の証明は要りません。

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

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。

Obon Cemetery Services

Posted on

On Saturday, August 13, the San Mateo Buddhist Temple Sangha will hold our annual Obon cemetery services at the following times and locations:

Schedule
Please click map links below for detailed locations.

9:30 a.m.     Skylawn Memorial Park (MAP)

10:10 a.m.     Golden Gate National Cemetery (MAP)

10:40 a.m.     Olivet Memorial Park (MAP)

11:00 a.m.     Japanese Cemetery in Colma (MAP)

Covid-19 Safety Guidelines for Outdoor Services

  • If you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath, please stay home.
  • Biodegradable disposal paper straws will be available for contactless incense offering.
  • Please consider bringing your own chanting book/card for chanting Juseige (photocopies will be provided as needed).

Obon and Hatsubon Service

Posted on

August 8, 2021

Guest Speaker (English)

Rev. Grant Ikuta

Steveston Buddhist Temple

Learn more about Rev. Ikuta

日本語の御講師

高田興芳先生

浄土真宗本願寺派西羅府仏教会

高田先生のご紹介

Under these extraordinary circumstances, we invite you to join us from the safety and comfort of your own home for an online Obon & Hatsubon Memorial Service via the Zoom Meeting internet program on Sunday, August 8, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. during which we will remember our loved ones who have crossed over to the Other Shore.  Please do not come to the temple in person.

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Gyofu Chanting
9:00 a.m. Taiso Morning Exercise with instructors Juliet and Grace Bost
9:30 a.m. Obon and Hatsubon Dharma Service with English Language Message by Rev. Grant Ikuta
10:30 a.m. 日本語法話　高田興芳先生　Japanese Language Dharma Message by Rev. Koho Takata

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

現在感染が拡大している新型コロナウイルス感染を防ぐため、サンマテオ仏教会本堂内に集まることはできませんが、オンラインや電話を通して盂蘭盆会及び初盆法要を行います。

そこで、２０２１年８月８日の９時３０分から初盆法要をインターネットと電話でライブ中継をする予定です。自宅からご参拝されたい方は次の手順でご参加下さい。

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。

(SMBT Obon lanterns photo by Aiko Chikaba)

Obon Cemetery Services

Posted on

This Saturday, August 7 the San Mateo Buddhist Temple Sangha will resume our annual Memorial Day Weekend tradition of in-person outdoor cemetery services at the follow times and locations:

Schedule
Please click map links below for detailed locations.

9:30 a.m.     Skylawn Memorial Park (MAP)

10:10 a.m.     Golden Gate National Cemetery (MAP)

10:40 a.m.     Olivet Memorial Park (MAP)

11:00 a.m.     Japanese Cemetery in Colma (MAP)

Covid-19 Safety Guidelines for Outdoor Services

  • If you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath, please stay home.
  • Please wear a face covering at all times during the services.
  • Please maintain 6 feet of social distance from people not in your household.
  • Biodegradable disposal paper straws will be used for incense offering.
  • Please consider bringing your own chanting book/card for chanting Juseige (photocopies will be provided as needed).

When we meet, we will smile

Posted on

Each year during our Obon and Hatsubon Service, I am reminded of the power of the Buddhadharma to provide guidance and support for us as we navigate our feelings of grief.  As school for my sons usually begins a few days after our San Mateo Buddhist Temple Obon Observance, I have come to associate our Obon with the end of summer.  Opening the freezer at the temple to put away the Obon service manju for an occasion when we can all enjoy them together, I noticed three large bags of frozen hamburgers.  I was suddenly reminded of the delicious hamburgers grilled at the temple picnic and all the experiences that we did not get to have this summer: bazaar—which marks the start of summer in my mind, the annual BWA service at the Japanese Cemetery in Colma, followed by brunch with BWA members at Denny’s in South San Francisco, a family trip to Japan, our summer Terakoya day camp, spam musubi at Obon Odori practices, and chanting together with a Hondo full of attendees at our Obon and Hatsubon service. 

Continue reading “When we meet, we will smile”