May and June are typically graduation season here in America.   We talk about “high school graduations” or “college graduations.” Recently there has been the addition of   middle school and kindergarten graduations.   In a few weeks I will participate in a graduation ceremony for the genetic counseling graduate students that I have been teaching at Boise State University for the last two years.   I have heard the word “graduation” my whole life. But I never stopped to wonder where this word comes from.      So this year I looked it up. I learned that the word “Graduate” comes from the from Latin “ graduatus ” which in English means  "a step.”    “Graduation” conveys the idea of climbing up on a ladder or stairway—so “graduation” means a “step up,” to move toward a higher goal. When you graduate you are rising by stages; you are “leveling up;” you are “starting a new adventure” at a higher level. ...

My husband and I have a birdfeeder hung on our garage just outside our back door.   The feeder has a big clear plastic cannister that holds a gallon of birdseed. There are four metal perches for birds to stand on while they peck seeds out through holes at the bottom of the feeder. The birds enjoy our feeder all year, but they especially appreciate it when it snows because the snow makes it hard for them to get to the seeds and bugs that they usually eat.   After a snowstorm I like to stand at our back window and watch all the action as the birds—mostly juncos and sparrows— “flock” to our feeder.   Although there are 4 perches, there are far more than 4 birds trying to eat birdseed. But with all the seeds the birds spill on the ground below, there is still plenty of food for everyone.   But the fact that there is plenty of seed doesn’t stop them from fighting. Sometimes, there will just be one bird at the feeder and another bird will fly in full-speed from a nearb...

NOTE: This article was co-written by Georgette I. Magnin and Rev. Kathy Chatterton IOBT started its “satellite” pilot program in 2011 for Sangha members in Boise. We met  at the First Congregational Church on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 pm and connected with many  Treasure Valley Dharma friends at those in-person gatherings. Then the pandemic happened, and  in 2020, we had to end our in-person meetings and moved to Zoom meetings.  The new format allowed us to connect with new Dharma friends  from Seattle, Port Townsend, and Florida and stayed in contact with several of Boise folks  . At our December of 2024 we talked about a good cry,  the benefits of tears, and songs that were meaningful to us. Our Dharma friend, Georgette, shared  the following thoughts on songs and especially a song about the carousel of life that provides a  starting point for us as we begin a new year (and another ride on the carousel): Georgette writes:  “This is ano...

A guest message by Keith Hopper Novice Buddhist Meets Subtle Mechanical Teacher—Insights Delivered with a Wink  Buddhism, a vaguely mysterious element of my childhood, happily included Sansei friends.  Their parents were kind, there was a sense of order in their homes and cool machine shops,  and an atmosphere of gentle welcome. Fresh pillowcases when I slept over; waves and smiles  from the fields, always in the fields in rubber boots. As I considered the IOBT online sangha, I parted with a precious Inspiration Yellow Thunderbird  named "Tweety." Well-kept and hard-driven, it was time. Getting in and out became a challenge  and a spectacle. In Tweety’s absence, my heart longed for one thing—a Japanese kei (small)  truck. My son "diplomatically" conveyed concern and asked about my meds; my daughter was  relieved I didn’t buy the hearse (lovely, elegant, with good cargo capacity). Why? Just look. When I park in a row of Corvettes, Mustangs, and mas...

New Year's Bingo will help you focus on what is most important as you move into a new year.  Print off more than one card and play with friends and relatives! Say "Goodbye" to 2024 and say "Hello" to 2025  in style!

Recently, some of us were discussing how we handled the question of Buddhism as youngsters and teenagers. I didn’t have a specific answer because I don’t remember ever talking about going to a Buddhist “church” when I was in grade school.  Image: Rev. Kathy and her friend Sandy celebrating the Buddha's Birthday at "Church" Maybe I didn’t think I was different from my classmates because we all went to “church” on Sunday. Later when I was in high school, I might have referred to the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. I attended Northwest Nazarene College (now a university), and I did get the question from professors and students. I was required to take religion classes related to the Old or New Testament and Christian thought, and I had to examine my own beliefs. Prayers or hymns were often offered before classes began.  We were required to attend chapel three days a week. I did take an upper division world religions class, and of course, I was assigned the topic of ...