The Buddhist Temple of Alameda, with all our temple members, family and friends, looks forward to our 110thAnniversary this month!! HOORAY for birthdays, anniversaries, and celebrations!! We can all be very happy to share in this special milestone for our temple. We have each contributed to the ongoing story of our temple in so many ways. There is enough gratitude to be shared and enjoyed as we come to the selected date of our anniversary celebration of September 13, 2026. We look to all of you to remind, invite, and cajole those in your circles to join in this shared happy day.

It is most appropriate that the Ohigan Service had been selected to celebrate our anniversary. The harmony of the universe and the balance of self come together with this landmark temple moment. Rev. Marvin Harada, Bishop of the Buddhist Churches of America, and Rev. Michael Endo, Assistant to the Office of the Bishop, will be joining us in our special events of the day. Some will join us early for the Kieshiki ceremony to receive their Dharma Names. More will join us for the 110thAnniversary Ohigan Service. And still more will join us for the special program and luncheon to follow! Holy Cow!! Is the only phrase I can think of to express my joy and enthusiasm!!! Ohigan is the most fitting time for all of this to occur. It is indeed a special time of year when the movement of elements and forces beyond the self remind us that we are a part of this same flow. We may step beyond our daily chores of self concern to sense our connection to more than me. 

Ohigan is always a refreshing time to renew our efforts and to re-evaluate our priorities. Those new to the ways of the temple can come to appreciate even more that the Shin Buddhist path is a common sense approach to spirituality. Compassion is balanced with Wisdom, and gratitude for life emerges out of truths recognizable by all. Those long connected to the temple can recognize once again that the Dharma and the Nembutsu path enrich our lives as individuals, family, and community. How fitting it is to celebrate with the new and the old, the current and those who have gone. We thank them all. 

BWA & Ladies of the Nembutsu Memorial Service

Each October we have our BWA Memorial Service, when we remember and honor the women of the temple BWA. We particularly honor those we have lost in the past year, but we also remember our mothers, aunties, and friends we may have lost through the years. We remember them as family, friends, and temple members, and recall the times we may have shared as we worked side by side to support the temple and promote the teachings. We also take this opportunity to reflect upon the contributions of Kakushinni, Eshinni, Lady Ohtani, and Lady Takeko Kujo. Each of these women may serve as role models as we become aware of the heart and mind of the Nembutsu that guided their life efforts. 

When we come to the BWA Memorial Service, or any memorial service, not only do we reflect on those we have lost, but we reflect upon our own lives as well. Those we have lost become our guides, our teachers, our bodhisattvas, our Buddhas. Through the Nembutsu, we connect with them and we connect with the infinite. The Nembutsu and our shared connections provide stability. Our lives are grounded in our interconnection with those individuals and all else. Although we each endure our own pain and suffering, we continue and we persevere. Our Dharma friends and the Nembutsu teachings guide us through our life hurdles and difficulties. The BWA and the Ladies of the Nembutsu Memorial Service will be held on October 18, 2026 @ 10:00 AM. Rev. Emeritus Dennis Shinseki will join us as our special Guest Speaker that day. We will see you at the temple.

Gassho,
Rev. Dennis