Good Morning everyone

Good Morning everyone!

2 weeks ago, my sister YUKO came from Japan to visit. She will stay here for one month. So, she will be here for my wedding next Saturday and she can experience our annual Betsuin bazaar. This is her first trip to the United States, so of course she likes to go sightseeing. I took her to Reno, San Francisco, the Muir Woods National Park and the Vacaville outlet shopping mall. Yuko and I went to the Muir Woods National Park this past Wednesday. The National park is a part of the Golden Gate national recreation area. When we reached the park on 10 AM, it was 56 degrees. We felt it was cold. Many people were wearing Jackets and long pants; But Yuko and I wore only T-shirts and short pants. My sister said, coming from Sacramento to Muir Woods took only 1 hour and 20 minutes, but temperature is over 50 degrees different. It is amazing! Of course she said this to me in Japanese.

Since June 18, I have not talked to you in the Sunday Dharma Services. During the Summer Dharma Sessions, our Betsuin Minister’s Assistants have given us many wonderful Dharma messages, so fortunately, I have had the time and opportunity to visit other temples as a guest speaker.

Last month, I visited the Reno Howakai (which means Dharma Gathering). There were about 30 members that attended the Reno Dharma Service. They have a small Buddhist Sangha but their community is strong. One of their Sangha leaders, Mr. Sheldon Ihara and other 8 other members had a wish to receive their Buddhist names. And last summer, at a special service, they received their Buddhist names from Bishop Ogui. They don’t have a Dharma school, but their members are very committed. I hope they will be able to grow.

2 weeks ago, I went to the Marysville Buddhist church as the Obon guest speaker. They have about one hundred members. I asked Mrs. Miyoko Nakahara, the Secretary of the Marysville Buddhist Church, How is your member ship doing?・ She answered most of our young members move to the larger cities like Sacramento or Roseville, to find a job. It is difficult to find a job in a small city like Marysville.・ In fact, many Sacramento members grew up in Marysville and they moved to Sacramento to find jobs. After their Obon Service, we had an Obon Dance until 10 PM. Michiko and I joined in their dance.

And just last Sunday, I went to the Stockton Buddhist church as an Obon guest speaker. They have a traditional style temple building and a very traditional altar. The altar is very similar to those in temples in Japan with wood engraving framing the altar and painted screens on the side, called maki shoji.・ Rev. Charles Hasegawa is the resident minister of the Stockton Buddhist church. He said, our church used to have 2 resident ministers. But nowadays, we have just one minister.

I think most of Buddhist temples in America have been facing the same problem. That problem is how to share the teachings of Buddhism with people beyond just the Japanese Community.

Jodo Shinshu came from Japan with the Issei Pioneers over 100 years ago so of course we have become very comfortable with a Japanese style of Buddhism. But, our goal is to create and develop an American Shin Buddhism for this country.

Since 1890’s, Buddhist teachings have been taking root in the United States. But unfortunately, although our Betsuin Sangha is huge, our overall BCA Sangha community has been getting smaller.

Most times when people or organizations have a problem, they think and feel it is somebody else’s fault?

We are taught in Buddhism that we are all a part of a great ONE-NESS with all things. All life is ONE not only with Nature, but with the Universe. Knowing this, we can see that we are also a part of ONE great Sangha. Sangha is Sangha. Our Sangha is inseparable from all other Sanghas. So we must all try to think about how we can grow in America and propagate our Buddhism to make a stronger Sangha community. Rev. Bob said that back the 1970’s BCA had a membership of over 50,000, but now we have only about 16,000 members・

How can our Sangha grow again? The answer is very simple. It is up to each of us.

Our Sangha will naturally grow when we each make the Dharma truly meaningful to our own lives. When the Dharma is meaningful to us, then we will want to share it with others. This is one of the reasons why the Sacramento Betsuin is growing. When our Sangha is strong then we help to make all American Sanghas stronger too. It’s up to each of us to continue to find meaning in the Buddha-Dharma.

Thank you for coming this morning. Please remember that Michiko and I are getting married next Saturday, right here, at NOON! If you are able to come, you are all invited.

Gassho,

(closing meditation)