My mother, Chistine (AKA "Aunt Chris" or “Ma”), died in January of 2022 at the age of 90. We were finally able to hold memorial service for her last month at the Presbyterian church in Washington that she had been a part of for more than 50 years. Ma was a kind and accepting person and, although she raised me Christian, she supported and encouraged me on my path to Buddhist ministry.   She attended the Buddhist temple with me whenever she had a chance and also came to several NW District Conventions. Ma loved meeting and talking with everyone .   One of my happy memories of one convention was how much she enjoyed listening to, and getting to chat with, Taitesu Unno—she never forgot him.   For my message this month I wanted to share the reflection I delivered at my mother’s memorial service. Photo: Ma loved to go camping!  This picture was taken on a camping trip to celebrate her 88th birthday A Remembrance of Ma Ma was born in 1931 in Petersburg Alask...

  Happy August! Image: Embroidered Butterflies on a Quilt Square created by our Buddhist Woman's Association Although it is hot and dry here in Eastern Oregon and Idaho, in many parts of the world, including India where the historic Buddha (Shakyamuni) lived 2500 years ago, it is the middle of the rainy season, the monsoon season. And during this season the insects take advantage of all the moisture to lay eggs-- which then hatch, creating swarms of even more insects.   During most of the year, the Buddha and his followers would travel through the country sharing the Buddhist teachings with various communities. But the Buddha said that during the summer months, the monks and nuns should gather together to meditate, practice, and study. (NOTE: This “rain retreat” is the basis of the Fuken or summer study session our Buddhist Churches of America ministers participate in every August.) Monsoon Season: Photo by Sanjeev Malhotra on Unsplash These gatherings during the rainy seas...

Sometimes people ask Rev. Kathy and me how to share the Buddhist teachings with families and children.  The truth is that all people, no matter our age, ability, or status, face problems that the Buddhist teachings can help us with.   Photo: Children have always been a part of the Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple community .  People of all ages share the same kinds of feelings--we all have hopes and fears and we all experience a wide range of emotions.   We all get frustrated, feel lonely or hurt, and get angry and upset.   We all suffer in similar ways no matter how old or young we are.    And we all feel   better knowing that we are accepted by our family/community...that we belong. These simple observations are actually the Four Noble Truths taught by Shakyamuni Buddha:  Life is difficult and sometimes painful (suffering).    Suffering usually occurs because we want things to be different than they are.    We actu...

This question, “Can something can be both bad and good?” was running through my head last month when temple president Mike Iseri gave Rev. Jerry Hirano, Rev. Carmela, Rev. Kathy, Sandy (our temple treasurer),   and me a tour of the progress of the restoration of the temple building.                Photo:  Temple Basement without Stage and showing new ductwork Photo: Rev. Jerry Hirano and Mike Iseri in front of  pass-through to the kitchen in basement I clearly remember how my heart sank the day in July when I learned that there had been a major fire in our temple.    I thought of all the happy memories I have of the temple and the fun times I had in the basement with the Sangha and larger community.    I thought of all the supplies, equipment (including the taiko drums) and historic documents and materials that were lost to fire, smoke, or water damage. I wondered what the future would hold for the tem...

  NOTE:   In this is a special guest article by temple member and friend, Linda Tanaka who lives  in North Idaho, reflects on interconnection and all the relationships, causes, and conditions that make life in the country possible. Greetings from North Idaho or as my brother, David, calls it ‘the wilderness’.   Our fall season was short lived.   Snow arrived before Thanksgiving and didn’t let up until Christmas.   We were doing snow management for days in a row.   Toss in having to buy a new snow blower before Christmas and a low of -24 degrees [that’s “minus”] with frozen pipes, Winter 2022 will be one to be remembered. Are you wondering how a person born and raised in the Eastern Oregon desert then 30+ years in Northern California could end up about 6 miles from the Canadian border?   That’s a long story but I will give you the condensed version.   My husband, Vic Cherven, is a geologist with extensive knowledge of California geology ...

New Years Day Dharma Message 2023 " I hope that everyone will, deeply entrusting themselves to the  nembutsu and firmly embracing prayers [for peace in the world] in their hearts, together say the nembutsu. "   (From the Collected Works of Shinran p. 560) Happy New year! Happy 2023!  Akemashite Omededou Gozaimasu 今年もよろしくお願いします On December 31, members and friends joined us online from around the country for our New Year's Eve Joya No Kane service.   Traditionally  for this service the temple bell is rung 108 times. Because of the temple fire earlier this year and because we were on Zoom, we had to be creative--each person used bells that they had in their homes and we took turns ringing them. This bell ringing activity purified the 108 Bonno , our many attachments to the world of suffering. Ringing the bells cleaned out our greed, anger, and ignorance,  and reminded us of the Infinite Wisdom & Compassion of Amida Buddha that accepts us just as w...

A special guest article by temple member and friend Melody Smit During November’s BWA memorial service (which I was able to attend remotely by Zoom from my new home in South Carolina) I was reminded of so many wonderful memories and ladies that I love in the temple and the many Nisei ladies that were so wonderful to me.   They took me under their wing, showed the ins & outs of temple life, and made it possible for me to be a true member of IOBT. Photo: Several of our Buddhist Women's Association Members with Rev. Dennis taken in 2016 During the BWA memorial service, when our guest speaker, Rev. Melissa Opel  of the Spokane Buddhist Temple   spoke of the importance of sharing and keeping alive the memories and connections we have with one another, it prompted me to think of my early days in the temple when I was new to the tradition, coming to services and meeting new people. And I wanted to share a few of these memories with you.   I have such fond memories of S...