An Introduction to Buddhism class will be held on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month beginning Jan. 13, 2012, from 7:30PM – 8:30PM. Classes are free, and will fulfill the requirements for the Boy Scout Sangha Award, the Girl Scout Padma Award (Cadettes), and the Dharma award (a non-Scouting award open to all). You can also attend any class regardless of your intention to attain an award, i.e., feel free to attend for your own personal enjoyment or education.

Requirements for the awards:

First Stage

BUDDHA

1. Relate briefly the life of Sakyamuni Buddha and name about five principal events in his life.
2. Explain what is meant by a Buddha.
3. Explain in your own words what Buddha means to you in your personal life.
4. Show that you have provided the necessary daily care of the shrine in your home for at least three months.
5. Demonstrate the correct method of shrine arrangement.
6. Show evidence of personal daily morning and evening mediation before the shrine.
7. Explain and demonstrate correct etiquette and procedures before the shrine, including gassho,
8. Use of meditation beads (juzu), incense burning, etc; and give the symbolic significance of each.

DHARMA

1. Explain briefly some of the principal teaching of Buddhism and answer the following:
• What are the Four Noble Truths? Noble Eightfold Paths?
• What are the three characteristics of existence?
• Explain what Buddhist Karma means.
• What are the eight sufferings?
• The ten goodnesses?
• The six paramitas?
• The five precepts?
2. State briefly the biography of the founder and the history of your own denomination.

SANGHA

1. Show that you express Buddhist gratitude regularly before and after meals.
2. Describe the administration, the organization, and the affiliated organizations of you own local temple.
3. Show that you attend Dharma School services regularly.
4. Choice of one:
1. Plan and complete a project satisfactory to the minister or qualified counselor.
2. Give twenty-five hours of dana to your temple by any of the following methods:
• Distribution of temple literature, posters, etc
• Collection of article, etc. for the needy.
• Doing errands.
• Repairing temple property, decorating rooms.
• Cleaning yard, helping in the kitchen, etc.
• Clerical services.
• Others recommended by the minister or qualified counselor.
5. Know the major activities and the events of your temple and show how you had helped in one or more of them.
6. Name some of the social welfare activities of your temple and show how you had helped in one or more of them

Second Stage

BUDDHA

1. Relate the life of Sakyamuni Buddha explaining the spiritual significance of the various events both before and after his enlightenment.
2. Explain enlightenment and why there could be many Buddhas.
3. Give the meaning of your shrine symbols.
4. Reach an understanding with your minister or qualified counselor on “Faith”.
5. Relate briefly the significance and development of the use of the shrine in Buddhist services.
6. Give the meaning of the historic Buddhist symbols.
7. Lead a family service at home for at least seven different times in three months, using Ti-Sarana (Three Treasurers) and any of the following: A sutra of your temple, readings from Dhamapada, passages from the Dharma School text or Young Buddhist Association Service text, or similar text.

DHARMA

1. Explain the following:
• The aim of Buddha’s teaching.
• Enlightenment or Nirvana
• The Buddhist concept of self.
• Rebirth (reincarnation and spiritual)
2. Explain briefly the characteristics of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.
3. Explain the Three Aspects of Buddha (Trikaya).
4. Name the sutras used in your temple, and give a brief explanation of the sutras and the fundamental teachings on which your temple is based.
5. Exemplify in your daily living the practice of the Noble Eightfold Path, the Six Paramitas, and the Five Precepts in the light of the principal beliefs of your temple.

SANGHA

1. Give the meaning and relate the beginnings of the Buddhist Sangha.
2. Show that your are giving financial contributions regularly to your temple, as well as attending Sunday services.
3. Know the history and the administrative organization of your temple system in our country, and include the counterpart of your temple in some foreign country.
4. Explain what a minister is and how a person may become one.
5. Show active participation in the youth organization of your own temple.
6. Give a five-minute talk on Buddhism before a group, or write a 500-word essay on some aspect of Buddhism.
7. Show ability and willingness to do any one of the following:
• Lead a Y.B.A.service, Dharma School, Choir.
• Be on the Dharma School teaching staff.
• Serve as leading officer of the youth organization.
• Work as conference committee chairperson.
• Any other recommended by the minister or qualified counselor.
8. Describe a few of the present worldwide Buddhist denominations in America.
9. As a Buddhist, show how through you own daily living you can contribute toward the achievement of harmony among mankind.

Temple Board 2012

Click picture to enlarge.
Photo courtesy of Ken Chen.

Greetings, VHBT Members and Friends. As we usher in the New Year, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you and the temple. I will work hard and tirelessly to meet the needs of the membership. I am honored and humbled for this opportunity to serve the temple and members over the next two years.

First I would like to thank Mr. Dale Noriyuki for his leadership and all of the time spent as President for the past two years. He has spent many hours over the past two years. His dedication cannot be measured in time alone. He has accomplished many things over the past two years that have helped the temple grow and thrive. Thank you for all of your hard work, Dale. Of course, without the support of his wife, Gail, and his sons, Darin and Dustin, this would have been very difficult.

I would also thank Reverend John Iwohara for his dedicated work and guidance over the past 9 years. His dedication and hours at the temple, serving our membership and community at-large, is appreciated. I would like to also thank his wife, Edi, and children, Shawn and Jean, for their support.

During this time of year, as I reflect on the past year, I am reminded of all of the things to be thankful for. I am thankful that my family is healthy, than I am surrounded by supportive, dedicated, and hard working members, Board of Directors, and affiliate groups. You are all AMAZING and wonderful people. I cannot wait to get the Year of the Dragon 2012 started.

We started the year off with the New Years Service on January 1, 2012, and installation of the new cabinet on January 6th, 2012.

If you have a computer and want to know of the events happening at the temple, you can access the new temple website at VHBT.ORG. As I went online tonight, I noted so much information there, that I plan to take longer time viewing that information. It is about the temple, its history, to current events. The temple busy and buzzing with events. Remember, Dharma School Service is held on Sunday mornings starting at 9:30 am. There are some Sundays we have special services that begin at 10:00 am.

On January 22, we will be having a joint Ho-Onko Service with Gardena Buddhist Temple starting at 9:30 am. We will be car pooling to Gardena. If you need a ride, please call the temple, or myself.

On January 29th, Sunday, we will be having our Annual Shinen-Kai. It will be at the Venice Japanese Community Center. See you all there. SAVE THE DATE. See the website for updated information.

In closing, I want to again thank you for your support and for giving me this opportunity to serve VHBT. Looking forward to a GREAT YEAR.

In Gassho,
Tom Yamaguchi
President
VHBT

Thank you to those who helped with the setup this past Saturday!!!! Your dedication to the  Temple is exemplary. And thank you to June Fujioka for helping me put the lunch together!

Thank you very much to YABA for setting up the rice into (23) barrels and the initial washing on Wednesday evening!

Schedule for the rest of the week:

Friday: 12/9/11 – 7:30pm

• Rinse rice barrels – (need help commitments on this)
• Final setup items around the temple.

 Saturday: 12/10/11 – 5:30am

• Startup Team: Boilers – Kay, Eric, Joe, Dale
• Start Cooking Rice 6:30am (or whenever the ladies are ready)
• Ladies preparing the worker’s lunch will need help!

 Note: Cleanup is expected to occur Saturday evening so even if you must leave for outside activities, it would be appreciated to return to the temple to help with Cleanup.

Also note that Mr Iseda will continue to accept mochi and okasane orders through the week.

In Gassho,
Dale Noriyuki
President
VHBT

The Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple will be observing its annual Eitaikyo Perpetual Memorial Service on Sunday, November 13, 2011, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The Eitaikyo Perpetual Memorial Service is observed by the temple to celebrate the lives of all of our family members and friends who have gone to the Pure Land of Amida. It is a chance to show our gratitude to all those from our past who have shared with us the teachings of the Nembutsu. It is also a time when we rededicate ourselves to passing down the teachings of the Nembutsu to future generations, as the past generations have done for us.

Reverend John Iwohara will present the English and Japanese message.

We hope that you and your family will make every effort to attend this most important service. Otoki lunch will be served after the service by Bukkyokai.

Sincerely in Gassho,

Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple

Join us on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 6:00pm for our annual Venice Hongwanji ABA Steak Feast & Bingo Night*, an ABA fundraiser.

Price: $20 per plate

This event requires ADVANCE ORDER SALES only available thru ABA members. No new orders will be available at the door on the date of the event.

Please contact Carey Tokirio at (310)980-3627, Joe Belli at (562)577-7346 or Richard Modiano at (310)439-1507 should you have any questions.

Join us for an evening of fun and great eats for all!

*Must be age 21 and over to participate in the Bingo games