On Sunday, May 26th, OBT had Rennyo Shonin Memorial Service. The last Sundays of the month is usually chaired by the Dharma School -- parents, students and teachers. For this Sunday service, students, Mika and Mayu chaired, while the teacher Ann Sensei played the piano piece "I am a Link in the Golden Chain".
The reading for this service was from "Ryogemon"; a writing by Rennyo Shonin on how to be a Shin Buddhist:
I rely on Amida Buddha, with my whole heart,
for the attainment of Nirvana.
I give up trust in my powerless self,
and abandon all practices that rely on the false ego.
I know that, because of Amida's Boundless Compassion,
I am assured of re-birth the very moment I put my trust in Amida.
I call the Name, "Namo Amida Butsu" in happiness andthanksgiving
for the gift of the Universal Vow.
I am grateful for Shinran Shonin and his followers
for leading me to this profound teaching.
I will try to live, throughout my life, according to the way of
Nembutsu that they have taught.
Rev.Sugahara's Dharma message was titled "Why Spend Time On Which We Dislike?"
Please listen to his Dharma talk!
After the message, Mayu shared the portrait of Rennyo Shonin, and what she had learned about him, as part of the Dharma School portrait project. If you are at the temple, please check out one of the walls in downstairs hall to check out some of the portraits Dharma School students have been working on!!!
