Oxnard Buddhist Temple

Shinran’s Words are Like a Neighbor to be Welcomed Rev. Masanori Watanabe This month, I would like to write about Shinran Shonin’s verses. Shinran wrote more than 500 verses to spread the Pure Land Path to the commonalty, such as famers. The features of his verses are easy to read and rhythmical, and consequently they are repeatable and memorable. I would like to introduce one of Shinran’s verses.... My eyes being hindered by blind passions, I cannot perceive the light that grasps me; Yet the great compassion, without tiring, Illumines me always. -Hymns of the Pure Land Masters (Koso Wasan 95) I have been able to recite this by heart since I was small. This verse is not difficult to understand and gives us hope. The phrase blind passions (or base passions) appears in the verse. We often notice this word when we read Buddhist books, especially Jodo Shinshu books. Blind Passions is the English translation of the Sanskrit word Klesa. It is called Bonnou in Japanese. Shinran interpreted this that Blind Passions refers to pains which torment the body and afflictions which distress the heart and mind. He also said, All of us who are bound by all our various blind passions. Do you envy Hollywood stars or super rich people? We think they are much happier than us; however, they are also facing the same sources of our sufferings, such as aging, sickness and death. No one can avoid these realities. They yield to a desire for existence, grasping, clinging and attachments to everything, and lead people into delusions of habit. Some people even yield to the desire for the death of the body. However, usually, many of us can live cheerfully because of countless and sometimes unseen (we are seeing but do not care or realize) benefits and support, such as warm sunlight, the bounty of the earth, or the love of many people embracing us. The Nembutsu, Namo Amida Butsu, manifests the workings of the wonderful source of life. When we say this phrase, we gradually realize our true selves, like when we look at ourselves in the mirror. I taste my 47 years of life with joy and tears, like other people, and I have been inspired by Shinran’s verses when I went through rough times. As a famous Japanese potter, Kanjiro Kawai, said, You may think you are helpless, but actually you already have been helped. The Shiran’s verse tells us that as long as we are mindful of the dharma (universal truth), we are not alone. We are connected to all Buddhas, especially Amida Buddha. We are embraced by the Dharma. The Jodo Shinshu teachings are always with us and inspires. It is like the song ‘Shinran-sama’: Shinran is my guide, spirit of compassion. Shinran’s words are like a neighbor to be welcomed in. Through the verse that I have introduced to you, Shinran taught us that, like the sun, the great compassion of the ultimate source of life called the Buddha, without tiring, illumines us always no matter what happens. Namo Amida Butsu

Shinran’s Words are Like a Neighbor to be Welcomed Rev. Masanori Watanabe This month, I would like to write about Shinran Shonin’s verses. Shinran wrote more than 500 verses to spread the Pure Land Path to the commonalty, such as famers. The features of his verses are easy to read and rhythmical, and consequently they are repeatable and memorable. I would like to introduce one of Shinran’s verses.... My eyes being hindered by blind passions, I cannot perceive the light that grasps me; Yet the great compassion, without tiring, Illumines me always. -Hymns of the Pure Land Masters (Koso Wasan 95) I have been able to recite this by heart since I was small. This verse is not difficult to understand and gives us hope. The phrase blind passions (or base passions) appears in the verse. We often notice this word when we read Buddhist books, especially Jodo Shinshu books. Blind Passions is the English translation of the Sanskrit word Klesa. It is called Bonnou in Japanese. Shinran interpreted this that Blind Passions refers to pains which torment the body and afflictions which distress the heart and mind. He also said, All of us who are bound by all our various blind passions. Do you envy Hollywood stars or super rich people? We think they are much happier than us; however, they are also facing the same sources of our sufferings, such as aging, sickness and death. No one can avoid these realities. They yield to a desire for existence, grasping, clinging and attachments to everything, and lead people into delusions of habit. Some people even yield to the desire for the death of the body. However, usually, many of us can live cheerfully because of countless and sometimes unseen (we are seeing but do not care or realize) benefits and support, such as warm sunlight, the bounty of the earth, or the love of many people embracing us. The Nembutsu, Namo Amida Butsu, manifests the workings of the wonderful source of life. When we say this phrase, we gradually realize our true selves, like when we look at ourselves in the mirror. I taste my 47 years of life with joy and tears, like other people, and I have been inspired by Shinran’s verses when I went through rough times. As a famous Japanese potter, Kanjiro Kawai, said, You may think you are helpless, but actually you already have been helped. The Shiran’s verse tells us that as long as we are mindful of the dharma (universal truth), we are not alone. We are connected to all Buddhas, especially Amida Buddha. We are embraced by the Dharma. The Jodo Shinshu teachings are always with us and inspires. It is like the song ‘Shinran-sama’: Shinran is my guide, spirit of compassion. Shinran’s words are like a neighbor to be welcomed in. Through the verse that I have introduced to you, Shinran taught us that, like the sun, the great compassion of the ultimate source of life called the Buddha, without tiring, illumines us always no matter what happens. Namo Amida Butsu

Important Notice to Members and Visitors! We are currently in a National and State of California State of Emergency due to COVID-19. This virus is a particular threat to those over 60 and those with respiratory issues and so we need to protect those who are vulnerable. Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, services and study classes will be canceled until further notice. The upcoming Chicken Teriyaki fundraiser and Hanamatsuri/Hatsumairi/Hawaiian Breakfast are cancelled!... Programs associated with the temple are canceled, such as the Japanese Language School and Judo. Please contact the leader of your particular program for the most recent status. Please be vigilant and try to follow good health practices, particularly avoiding non-essential social gatherings. This is a time to be especially reflective and compassionate to yourself and your fellow sentient beings. In gassho, Oxnard Buddhist Temple

The Importance of the Larger Sutra of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life Rev. Masanori Watanabe Last time, I wrote about the Contemplation Sutra, which is one of the Three Pure Land Sutras. I would like to write a little about the Larger Sutra this month. Shinran-Shonin (Shonin is an honorific appellation that means holy priest) wrote commentaries on the Pure Land Path. The most famous is The True Teaching, Practice, And Realization of The Pure Land Way. This book is made up o...Continue reading

What a wonderful milestone for the Oxnard Buddhist Temple. 90th Anniversary! With gratitude, Rev. Masanori Watanabe.

The Story of the Contemplation Sutra Rev. Masanori Watanabe Our Buddhist denomination is Jodo Shinshu, the Pure Land Path. It is based on the Three Pure Land Sutras (the Larger Sutra, the Contemplation Sutra, and the Amida Sutra). This month, I will write about the Contemplation Sutra. The true intentions of many of the Sutras that were left by Sakyamuni Buddha’s disciples are often very difficult to understand, even if we read them many times. The Contemplation Sutra is one ...Continue reading

Jishin Kyoninshin (Self-Benefit And Benefitting Others) Rev. Masanori Watanabe As you may know, Jodo Shinshu is the largest Buddhist denomination in Japan. However, this tradition, which has 800 years of history, was falling into a decline when the eighth leader, Rennyo, ascended to the Gomonshu. Rennyo is well known as the person who revitalized Jodo Shinshu in the 15th century. His efforts became the driving force behind a movement for Jodo Shinshu to grow into the largest...Continue reading

Happy New Year!

Another excellent message from Sensei Watanabe. This time in English and Japanese. He also drew a nice picture of the French artist Paul Gauguin. Difficult to Hear the Teaching of the Buddha Rev. Masanori Watanabe...Continue reading

Sensei's message from the BCA Ho-onko Eve Service at the Buddhist Church of San Francisco. The message is in English and Japanese. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNoMTXw23kY

The leader of our Jodo Shinshu sect, Gomonshu Otani, came to visit our humble temple with other dignitaries from Japan on September 9 of this year. Gomonshu Otani is the 25th Monshu descendant of Shinran Shonin, the founder of our Buddhist sect in the early 13th century. We are grateful to be able to share the message he gave during his visit. Message It is with great pleasure that I am able to pay homage together with you to Amida Buddha enshrined here at the Oxnard Buddhist...Continue reading

New message from Sensei Watanabe! Today Is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life Rev. Masanori Watanabe... Thanks to all of you, the 90th anniversary was very successful! I am very happy I was able to celebrate our temple’s historical occasion with you. I deeply appreciate your contribution to the temple and its activities. Thanks to your tremendous help, the Oxnard Buddhist Temple has been sustained for 90 years. As the minister of the temple, I appreciate your continued support to preserve the temple and to pass the Buddha’s teachings on to future generations. The year is nearing its end. You must be preparing for Thanksgiving and welcoming in the New Year. I feel like the time has passed very quickly, like lightning. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. This saying is very inspirational. Life is limited, so if we need a fresh start to live the way we want to live, then we should start working on the present. Our lifetime is rarely longer than we expect. However, sometimes we forget this fact. As far as I know, nobody wants to think we might die in a few seconds but it often happens. Sakyamuni said in the Larger Sutra: In the midst of worldly desires and attachments, people are born alone and die alone, come alone and go alone. In accordance with their deeds, they go to a place of either pain or pleasure. They themselves receive their due consequences and no one can take their placeWhy do they not abandon all worldly matters? While they each are strong and healthy, they should strive to practice the good, as well as exercise diligence in aspiring to go beyond this world and attain an extremely long life. Why do they not seek the way? What are they expecting in this world? What kind of pleasure are they seeking? The core of Buddhism is the realization of our realities. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow. Thus, we should strive to practice good deeds to awaken our true nature, one of enlightenment and nirvana. We can start this right now by remembering the saying Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Our lives will shine more brightly when we realize and appreciate Buddha’s amazing lessons. The important process of the realization starts in everyday life with mindfulness of Namo Amida Butsu. The term Namo, with which the phrase Namo Amida Butsu begins, means to rely upon, to entrust, to salute, to honor, etc. The complete phrase, Namo Amida Butsu, therefore means, I entrust myself and rely solely upon Amida (the inconceivable and amazing insight or reality); in other words, the phrase is the symbol and great guidance to the ultimate calmness, nirvana. Although as clouds and mists, our base passions and delusions prevent us from our realization. Amida’s wisdom is the warm sunlight that always leads us to the ultimate calmness as Namo Amida Butsu. The illumination to realize the Dharma is the calling from your true self, revealing your Buddha-nature. Namo Amida Butsu

Yahoo! Finally, we have Shinran and Rennyo’s scrolls and housings in the Naijin!! We appreciate our carpenter Mr. Saburo Koga’s hard work for making the wonderful and special housings and Dr. Victor Kato’s help to install them! Please come to see the scrolls in the temple sometime!!

Japanese Language School T-Shirts!