Orange County Buddhist Church

This Saturday, June 5 at OCBC: COVID-19 Pfizer Vaccination Event for ages 12 and up! Protect yourself and your family AND be entered in California's vaccination incentive program with $15 million in prizes available. Walk-ups welcome -- no appointment necessary.! Or, you can register in advance at http://bit.ly/June5VaccineEvent (Note: Pfizer is a 2-shot vaccine; second shot event will be Sat. June 26 at OCBC.) Let's do this!

Special Memorial Day Service. On Monday, May 31, we will have a Memorial Day Service featuring both Rev. Turner and Rev. Dr. Wondra. Rev. Turner will give the English Dharma message on "Observing a COVID Memorial." Rev. Dr. Wondra will give her message in Japanese. YouTube premiere at 10 a.m. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OuWbElrfGU

A friendly reminder that OCBC will not have a Family Service on Sunday, May 30, due to the Memorial Day holiday. Please enjoy the holiday weekend and take time to remember those who have died while serving our country in the U.S. armed forces.

The White House hosted a ceremony marking Vesak, the celebration of the birth, enlightenment and passing of Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha. BCA Bishop Marvin Harada represented Mahayana Buddhism at this historic first Vesak celebration at the White House. President Biden issued the following statement: "Jill and I extend our warmest wishes to Buddhists in the United States and around the world as they celebrate Vesak, a day honoring the birth, enlightenment, and passing of... the Buddha. The ceremonial lighting of a lamp, the symbol of this holiday that has been celebrated for over 2,500 years, reminds us of Buddhism’s teachings of compassion, humility, and selflessness that endure today. On this day, we also commemorate the many contributions of Buddhists in America who enrich our communities and our country as we all work together toward brighter days ahead." See more

At our livestream May 23 Sunday Family Service, Rev. Dr. Mutsumi Wondra will discuss Buddhist World View. She will explain how Buddhism views humanity, the world, balanced life, and spiritual path through some metaphors and parables, and invites you to the Buddhist wisdom for everyday living. Livestream begins at 10 a.m. PDT.

Get yummy food from Panda Express on Saturday, May 22 while supporting the Buddhist Churches of America! Order takeout or delivery online or on the app from any Panda Express location in the US that day, and 28% will be donated to the BCA. (Use coupon code 903350 at checkout.) It's a win-win: you can skip the cooking and support the BCA at the same time!

"Please Don't Overthink This." At our live Family Service on Sun., Oct 25, Rev. Jon Turner will use the film "A Beautiful Mind" to explain that Buddhism teaches us "how" to think, not "what" to think. Service is live on YouTube at 10 a.m. on 10/25. Please join us! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz3eeMAlJRs&feature=youtu.be

"Monsters and Demons and Ghosts -- Oh My!" Halloween is full of scary creatures. Buddhism also has its own monsters, demons, and ghosts. At our Oct. 18 Family Service, Minister's Assistant Janis Hirohama talks about how, instead of running away from our demons, we can face them and see what they are trying to tell us. Please join us! Live on YouTube, Sunday at 10 a.m.

Although the current COVID-19 situation in Orange County is improving, OCBC is proceeding with caution, so the temple will continue to be closed through 10/31/20. If you have an emergency and need to visit the office, please request an appointment with our office staff. You can keep connected with the Dharma through our OCBC YouTube channel, Weekly Wheel podcast, and Everyday Buddhist online school. Thanks for your cooperation and patience during these challenging times. We hope things continue to improve.

How do we find a life of meaning and fulfillment? We sometimes find it in things that "spark joy," as house decluttering guru Marie Kondo famously says. In our Oct. 11 Family Service, Rev. Ellen Hamada Crane explains how Shinran's teachings can also help our search for happiness at a deeper and more profound level.

How many times a day did Honen Shonin recite the Nembutsu? Test your knowledge of Jdo Shinsh with Rev. Dr. Mutsumi Wondra’s Sakyamuni to Shinran quiz in today’s Sunday Family Service!

How do we deal with the burden of injustice and racial inequality after the death of George Floyd? In this Oct. 10 webinar, "Good Trouble!", past BCA President Rick Stambul will speak about his work in the civil rights movement during the 1960s and the racism we live with and confront today. Presented by the BCA's Center for Buddhist Education.

What does Jodo Shinshu and the Netflix cooking series "Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat" have in common? Rev. Jon Turner explains in today's Sunday Service, "Living Life Without a Recipe." Watch and learn!

Welcome back! It's September and that means Dharma School has begun again -- with classes meeting virtually for now. Enjoy this new original song, "Time for Dharma School," composed by Donna Sasaki and performed by BCA temple members.

There's still time to register for our Fall Ohigan Seminar, "Buddhist Values: Six Paramitas, Three Poisons, and the Middle Way." The seminar, featuring Rev. Harry Gyoko Bridge of the Buddhist Church of Oakland, is on Sat., Sept 19 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Register by emailing: ocbc.seminar.info@gmail. com

BCA Bishop Marvin Harada talks about letting go of our attachments -- and shares a valuable lesson he learned from a shower squeegee.

Welcome back after our Labor Day break! Join us online for our service this Sunday, Sept. 13. In her Dharma message, Rev. Dr. Mutsumi Wondra will discuss "Shinran and Pole Vaulting." Shinran discovered the theory of pole vaulting in Pure Land Buddhism -- and you can apply it in your everyday living. YouTube will go live at 10 a.m.

Today is Labor Day in the United States. Let us all recognize the contributions workers make to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. Interdependence at work. [Japanese American farm workers in Centerville, CA, 1942. Photo by Dorothea Lange.]

Due to the Labor Day weekend, we won’t be posting a new Sunday Service video today. Please check out our collection of past services and study classes on our OCBC YouTube Channel. And please stay safe and well.

Bishop Marvin Harada, on celebrating our BCA Founding Day: Whether the BCA has a future that goes into the next centuries depends on us, today. We are the ones who must dig deep into the teachings, then share those teachings with others, of all backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientation.