Our Services
- Sunday Service: Sundays 10:00 am
- Shōtsuki Service: 1st Sunday 10:00 am
- Shōtsuki Service is monthly memorial service in which we honor all ancestors of temple members and friends who have passed away during the month.
- Howakai (Japanese Services): 1st Thursday 7:30 pm
General Order of Service
- Welcome message from chairperson
- Silent meditation
- Chanting “Shōshin-Ge”
- “Shōshin-Ge” (The Gāthā of the Nenbutsu of True Awakening): This is a poem written by Shinran Shōnin. The gāthā is an exposition of the Pure Land teaching and is written in classical Chinese.
- Reading Shōtsuki List (in Shōtsuki Services)
- Chairperson reads the names of our loved ones who have passed away in the month. Families do oshōkō, burning incense.
- Singing Gāthā
- Reciting Three Treasures and The Golden Chain
- Three Treasures: In our Buddhist tradition, the receiving of the Three Treasures is the universal time-honored way of affirming one’s commitment to the Buddhist life. To receive the Three Treasures is to take refuge in the Buddha, the teacher; the Dharma, the teaching; and the Sangha, the community.
- The Golden Chain: This expresses the essence of Buddhism and was originally written for children.
- I am a link in the Buddha’s golden chain of Life that stretches around the world.
I will try to keep my link bright and strong.
I will try to be kind and gentle to every living thing, and protect all who are weaker than myself.I will try to think pure and beautiful thoughts, to say pure and beautiful words, to do pure and beautiful deeds, knowing my actions affect the happiness and misery of others.May every link in the Buddha’s golden chain of Life become bright and strong and may we gain true awakening.
- I am a link in the Buddha’s golden chain of Life that stretches around the world.
- Dharma Message
- Announcements
- Singing Gāthā
- Closing Address
*Informal discussion group is following services.