Buddhist Churches of America

Happy Bodhi Day. On this day, Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment, becoming Shakyamuni Buddha. Image: Wikimedia

Rev. Dr. Takashi Miyaji's interview on NPR's Morning Edition this morning. Listen to Sensei discuss Bodhi Day and chant the Vandana & Ti-Sarana. https://www.npr.org//buddhists-prepare-to-observe-bodhi-da

Rev. Dr. Takashi Miyaji of the Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church will be featured tomorrow on NPR "Weekend Edition" with Scott Simon! He will talk about Buddhism and the significance of Bodhi Day. This interview aired Saturday, December 5, 2020 and is now available on the NPR site here: https://n.pr/2JuXK4Q

Reflections on the Middle Way By Rev. Harry Gyokyo Bridge, Buddhist Church of Oakland I have written about the Middle Way several times in my articles for the Wheel of Dharma. The Middle Way is to be found between two extremes. The classic example is found in the life story of Shakyamuni Buddha, who became awakened after a life consisting of the extremes of pleasure and self-torture. Another example is Nagarjuna’s explication of Emptiness as the Middle Way between the extrem...Continue reading

Today is #GivingTuesday, but we know that your giving extends beyond one day. With grateful hearts we thank our members and friends for all that you give throughout the year to your temples and BCA programs. The Social Welfare Fund supports those suffering from deprivations of basic human needs. During this momentous year, the Fund has directed nearly $70,000 in grants to food/hunger programs, Western region wildfire relief, and charities connected to local temples. The Dan...a Program supports annual operations of the Center for Buddhist Education and Institute of Buddhist Studies. Funds collected through January will be applied to next year’s education programs. Please consider making an online gift to support our programs via http://bca.kindful.com. Thank you again for your support.

'Two Rivers and White Path' Is Relevant in Time of Two Pandemics By Rosalyn Dong, Vista Buddhist Temple The well-known parable of the Two Rivers and White Path was told by Shan-tao [, Zend, 618-681 CE], the fifth Pure Land Master. What does this parable teach us about life during this time when our nation is experiencing two pandemics?...Continue reading

What Is the Meaning of ‘Legacy’? By Rev. John Iwohara, Gardena Buddhist Church Legacy: Anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor: "the legacy of ancient Rome."...Continue reading

Let the road trip begin. Safe Journeys Revs. Hirano and Yamada.

Today, Rev. Hirano begins his 48 state journey with Rev. Ken Yamada of the Higashi Honganji. Stay tuned for updates as they visit temples and historic locations across the country. If you are interested in sponsoring a service, please visit: https://forms.gle/cZkdnA3EmDbJAetC7

A Wish to Be Mindful of Cause, Effect and the Cost in Human Suffering By Rev. Henry Toryo Adams, San Mateo Buddhist Temple As we mark 75 years since the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I find myself recalling a story I heard from a professor and Buddhist priest who showed me great kindness when I was a student in Kyoto, Japan....Continue reading

Upcoming TechnoBuddha talk by former BCA president Rick Stambul. Open to the public.

Recalling the Taste of Kindness By John Mullins, Berkeley Buddhist Temple As we have adjusted to life in the COVID-19 pandemic, I have marveled at the speed with which temples have come together to support each other through digital technology. ... Whether through live-stream services, Dharma discussions via Zoom, or even the chance to hop on the virtual Obon festival circuit this summer, we are able to stay socially connected while physically distanced. But is it OK to admit that I miss the physical connection? Can I go even further and say I miss the opportunity to spend those long hours preparing for, working at, and breaking down the festival with my temple friends? In the special BCA Donor Appreciation section in last month’s issue of the Wheel of Dharma, we were able to acknowledge the contributions of our wonderful donors, and I am grateful that because of their financial support, I’m able to deepen my study of Shin Buddhism as I prepare for the ministry. But there is another kind of contribution that our donors and so many who are not listed offer their temples. This support swells up from our Sanghas and graces every temple kitchen, parking lot, social hall, and all the spaces where food, games, and dancing take place during the festivals each summer. We might call it volunteering, reporting for duty, or in-kind support, but when I bite into a tender chicken teriyaki, spam musubi, or Okinawan dango, I can only call it the taste of kindness. It is the taste of everyone’s effort and care toward their community, realized in a delicious dish, a friendly wave, or a knowing laugh when we catch each other on the dance line. It is the taste of being connected, of being human together. Of course, the taste of kindness is even sweeter when we hop over to another temple’s bazaar and enjoy the fruits of their labor! If we added up all the meals, shave ice, bingo games, everything we spend throughout the summer, how much would it be? Can we even put a price on it? In the wake of our canceled festivals this year, many temples have put out a call to their members to help fill the fundraising gap, but it’s harder to replace the support our festivals receive from the larger community. When you have a moment, think of where you would have gone this summer, and think of all the kindness that would be waiting for you when you got there. As we remember our own temples, if we can, let’s share our appreciation for each other’s temples by giving to them as well. For me, I’ll think of it as a celebration of friendship, and my early gratitude for next year’s taste. From the September issue of the "Wheel of Dharma" newsletter. https://www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org//uploads/2020_09 John Mullins is a student at the Institute of Buddhist Studies. Photo by: Jameson Florence

Bishop Harada's latest video message, "Letting Go of Our Attachments," on the attachments surrounding us every day. https://youtu.be/LaFNeQnj1Vc

There’s Brightness Beneath the Clouds By Rev. Dr. Kenji Akahoshi, Buddhist Temple of San Diego We are at a critical point in American history. ...Continue reading

34, 41, and 121. These numbers are not the numbers to a combination for a safe, nor are they numbers for a secret code. These numbers have significance in my life, and they all have something to do with Sept. 1st. The first number, 34, is how many years I have served as a minister. I started Sept. 1st, 1986. The second number, 41, is the number of years I have been married. My wife and I were married on Sept. 1st, 1979. The third number, 121, is the number of years in the hi...Continue reading

The September issue of "the Wheel of Dharma" newsletter is now available: https://www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org//uploads/2020_09 Read Bishop Harada's message about the 75th Anniversary of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also available on the BCA home page: https://www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org/