Greetings from BCA Connect! Stay connected to the dharma and each other:
- Visit the BCA Connect blog to read and share BCA news, announcements, and articles from Wheel of Dharma.
- Go to the BCA YouTube channel to view dharma content from throughout BCA.
|
|
Bishop’s Message
The Benefit of Living a Life of Self-Introspection
This month, I would like to continue on the BCA theme for this year, “The benefits of following the Shin Buddhist path,” by focusing on the benefit of a life of self-introspection.
The great Zen Master Dogen wrote, “To study Buddhism is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be awakened to all things.” Dogen is saying that the focus of Buddhism is self-introspection and self-reflection. That is what Buddhism is. You don’t necessarily need books or texts. All you need to study Buddhism is a life of self-introspection.
Read the full message here
|
|
50+ Years in the Dance Circle: Sahomi Tachibana
|
|
by Dr. Wynn Kiyama
Sahomi Tachibana enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a professional dancer and teacher in New York City and Portland, Oregon — performing on Broadway and Radio City Music Hall, founding two branches of the Tachibana School of Dance, and teaching Bon Odori for more than 60 years.
|
|
 |
Living in a Round Earth
By Rev. Etsuko Mikame
When four of us went to a restaurant, we had to choose between a square table or a round table. Which would you choose?
We chose a square table. I know that a round table looks cute and reminds me of a trendy café, but we cannot put as many plates and cups on it. I think that a square table is more functional than a round table.
There is a difference, not only in the functional aspects between the two shapes of the table, but the different shapes might affect how we behave when we sit.
When we sit at the square table at a café or restaurant, we easily know “the borderline” between us and others.
|
|
|
|
Internee Tells Her Family’s Internment Story With ‘Topaz Collages’
By Ralph Honda
The stories of more than 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry who were detained in concentration camps for three years during World War II are recorded on various platforms.
Narratives are told through documentaries, motion pictures, stage plays, articles and storytelling.
For Jeanie Kashima, the first internee born at the Topaz Relocation Center in central Utah, her memories are captured with a combination of art collages and photos through images of her family.
|
|
|
|
SACBC Holds ‘Forever Young’ Dance to Rock in 2023
|
|
by SACBC Event Committee
Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church (SACBC) held its first social event in a few years to begin 2023 with a dance and a bang — and everyone had so, so much fun.
The “Forever Young Reunion Dance,” held Jan. 14, included friends from several Bay Area temples — Oakland, Palo Alto, Mountain View, and San Jose — as well as many friends from SACBC.
There was food, music, friends, dancing and some special guest DJs spinning the tunes. We welcomed DJ Nino Yello (Todd Ninokata from Kreations From Above), Rystylz (Ryan Fukui from KZSU’s Art of the Breaks), DJ Taka (Rev. Dr. Takashi Miyaji) and DJ Yamix (Kyle Yamasaki) with guest bassist, Rev. Harry Bridge (Buddhist Church of Oakland), who performed a jam session with DJ Taka.
|
|
|
|
Visit the BCA Connect blog to read and share BCA news, announcements, and individual articles from Wheel of Dharma:
Visit Wheel of Dharma online to read this month’s issue in newsprint format and access the digital archives:
|
|
The Benefits of a Life of Gratitude: Benefits of Shin Buddhism
March 11, 2023, 11:00am – 1:00pm PST
Rev. Dr. Akahoshi served as the resident minister of the Buddhist Temple of San Diego for 8 years and recently retired. He received a master’s degree from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto and a Masters of Buddhist study from the Institute of Buddhist Studies of Berkeley, CA. He originated (1998) and continues to conduct annual Shin Buddhist Retreats in California, Washington, and Hawaii.
|
|
Shinjin
March 18, 2023, 11:00 am – 1:00pm PST
Rev Dr. David Matsumoto is the president of the Institute of Buddhist Studies. He will continue his series about the meaning of Shinjin. This is part 3 of his 4 part online series. Parts 1 & 2 are on the CBE Youtube Channel if you wish to view them.
|
|
What Is Obon?
March 25, 2023, 11:00 am PST
The Bon Odori Taiko subcommittee, with TaikoVentures – a new Taiko Community organization – is proud to present a live webinar with Rev. Masao Kodani and Nobuko Miyamoto discussing Obon. In this discussion, we will explore topics around how Obon festivals, music, dance, and authenticity developed in the US and how it continues to evolve.
|
|
For All CBE Events:
Registration required to receive Zoom link. All times listed are Pacific time.
|
|
Dana Program for
Buddhist Education
|
Support Buddhism in America through annual programs that educate, connect, and enrich our community:
- Expand technology and digital media to guide new seekers to Shin Buddhist communities
- Connect members to innovative virtual programming
- Highlight the inspirational messages of our ministers.
|
|
|
Institute of Buddhist Studies
|
|
Dr. Lilu Chen Joins IBS as Field Education Director
|
|
By Rev. Gesshin Greenwood
The Institute of Buddhist Studies is pleased to announce that Dr. Lilu Chen has joined our academic staff and will be serving as our new Field Education Director. In this position, Dr. Chen will develop relationships with field education sites, and support students in our Master of Divinity Program as they fulfill their field education requirements.
|
|
Learn more about these events on the IBS Website.
|
|
|
|
The 2023 Taitetsu Unno Memorial Lecture
4:00pm – 6:00pm PST
The Institute of Buddhist Studies is pleased to announced the Taitetsu Unno Memorial lecture, to be delivered by Dr. Ruben Habito, and held on Friday March 31, from 4-6pm, both in person at the Jodo Shinshu Center and virtually.
|
|
IBS Job Opening: Senior Accountant
Responsibilities for this full-time, hybrid/remote position include:
- Performing month-end close and preparing monthly account reconciliations and journal entries.
- Reviewing and preparing endowment-related schedules. Reviewing investment statements, investment manager summaries, and preparing monthly reconciliation of endowment schedules.
- Preparing and processing monthly payroll.
- Assisting in the preparation of financial reports and analysis including monthly, quarterly, year-end reporting (W-2s and 1099s) and other outside reporting.
Qualifications include B.A. degree in accounting and 7 to 10 years of progressive experience in accounting.
|
|
EcoDharma – Earth Day Open Call for Submissions
DUE: April 7th
The Social Justice Committee is excited to announce an open call for submissions centered on EcoDharma and the ways that we all practice environmentalism in our daily lives.
With Earth day coming up in April, we’re looking to showcase your creativity in considering environmentalism and sustainability! What does EcoDharma mean to you?
Submissions can come in any form and length – poems, articles, paintings, videos ~ anything you feel called to!
Interested in joining YBE? Fill out our Welcome Form!
The Young Buddhist Editorial is expanding and looking for new people to join. We welcome all types of expertise, interests, and capacities!
YBE is a space for young Buddhists to express themselves and build solidarity with other young persons, advocates, and allies across the country. To learn more about YBE, visit their website and Facebook page.
|
|
Digital Dharma Continues to Grow
|
|
Find our list of temples with live-streaming and recorded videos by clicking here.
|
|
BCA YouTube Channel
Bishop’s Messages from Rev. Marvin Harada can be found on the BCA YouTube channel. New dharma content from services, events, and activities is added regularly.
|
|
Reading Shinran with Rev. Yuki Sugahara
|
|
Virtual meetings, dharma discussions, meditation and other activities
Check local temple e-mails and newsletters to find virtual sessions that keep sanghas connected.
|
|
|
|
The BCA Bookstore has resumed operations. Please visit their newly refreshed website here.
|
Suggested Reading
American Sutra: A story of faith and freedom in the second world war.
The mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II is not only a tale of injustice; it is a moving story of faith. In this pathbreaking account, Duncan Ryūken Williams reveals how, even as they were stripped of their homes and imprisoned in camps, Japanese American Buddhists launched one of the most inspiring defenses of religious freedom in our nation’s history, insisting that they could be both Buddhist and American.
The Shin Buddhist Service Book is available as a PDF on Google Drive. Please note when downloading that it is a very large file. Jodo Shinshu: A Guide is available as a PDF on the BCA website. This abridged edition provides an overview of Buddhism, Shinran Shonin, and the Jodo Shinshu teaching.
|
|
|
BCA Website
Flyer
