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Thank You All for All Your Kind Donations Financial, Materials, and Labor. It takes us
all to carry on the work of our forefathers and keep our church viable.
Sunday May 24th
Cemetery Visitation
8:30 AM – Los Osos
9:45 AM – San Luis Obispo
11:00 AM – Arroyo Grande
12:30 PM – Guadalupe
1:45 PM – Santa Maria
BCA has a program called EcoSangha because as the founder, Rev Don Castro said, “To be a Buddhist is to both be an ecologist and a conservationist”.
We are stewards of our planet and can make a positive influence.
The BCA published some guidelines.
◆ Use paper products instead of any plastics
→ Do not use Styrofoamtm
Use washable or biodegradable dining ware and utensils
Use bamboo chopsticks instead of wood
Use filtered water dispenser and water pitchers instead of bottled water
❖ Recycle all aluminum cans, plastics, and compostables
Reduce the use of non-recyclable products
Use eco-friendly cleaning products
◆ Install solar panels
I would like to add one more, plastic bags only go in the trash, please do not put plastic bags in the recycle or the green waste containers.
If you would like more information on the BCA please go to: Buddhist Churches Of America https://www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org/
Membership
Dues: For individuals, it is $225. For a family, it is $400. For members over 80 years old, it is
$180.
If there is anything you would wish to share with the sangha, please let me know.
Minister’s Message
“I got a lot of living to do before I die
And I ain’t got no time to waste…”
~Nina Simone,
American singer,
songwriter, pianist
and civil rights activist
On May 21, 1173, a gifted child was born. During his young life, he witnessed wars, political upheaval, sorrow and suffering. His life would only make him more determined to spread the Buddha’s teaching and Nembutsu/Namu Amida Butsu.
Imagine being called by your given name and as life goes on, your name is changed a number of times. At birth, Shinran Shonin was given the name Matsuwakamaro. At the age of 9 years old, he would enter monastic life and be ordained, given the name, Hannen. He would be called this name for 20 years, while studying on Mt. Hiei.
Not being able to attain his goal of self-enlightenment, Hannen descends Mt. Hiei for a 100-day meditation retreat. On the 95th day, he has a dream of Prince Shotoku (founder of Japanese Buddhism). This conferring dream tells Hannen to take the name Zenshin and to seek out the teacher Honen. Zenshin would again be given the name, Shakku by his teacher Honen. Due to jealousy and politics of other Buddhist sects, Honen and Shakku are exiled to different areas of Japan.
Being stripped of this name and exiled, he is now named Yoshizone Fujii. However, he would refer to himself as Gutoku, an ignorant, stubble-haired one; for he was no longer a monk nor a layperson. There is no date that indicates when he began to call himself Shinran, however he was still in exile. He took part of Vasubandhu’s name (Jpn.Seshin, the first patriarch of Jodo Shinshu) and part of Tanluan ‘s name (Jpn Donran, the third patriarch of Jodo Shinshu). From then, he would be referred to as Shinran Shonin (Shonin is honorific and is translated as “revered priest”, “high ranking monk” or “saint”). It would be in the Meiji era (1860-1912) that Shinran Shonin would posthumously be given the title Kenshin Daishi.
Shinran Shonin was humble, wise, and scholarly, yet he knew he was also an imperfect being. He taught and lived Nembutsu (Namu Amida Butsu). Shinran Shonin promoted that everyone, regardless of social status, economic status, gender, age or “perceived goodness” can attain Enlightenment by reciting Nembutsu. Shinran Shonin never saw himself as a “founder”, it was his followers who gave him that title.
Custom is to celebrate birthdays. We observe Shinran Shonin’s birthday with thankfulness, gratitude and appreciation for strength and perseverance. He challenged the traditional monastic practices and was the first monk to marry and raise a family. He also saw himself as a person who would follow Honen everywhere in spirit. He explained that true entrusting (shinjin) is not earned but rather bestowed upon us by Amida Buddha. He explained that self-enlightenment was futile, and it is the working of Other Power. Shinran Shonin realized that Nembutsu was inseparable from true entrusting (shinjin), also known as settled mind (Anjin). There is so much more.
We honor Shinran Shonin in our Nembutsu on his birthday. An American custom calls forth our “Happy Birthday Shinran Shonin!”. We continue to follow his teachings in search of our meaning of Namu Amida Butsu and what is called the true self.
Gassho
Rev. Seijo Naomi Nakano
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