U P A Y A

Newsletter of the Buddhist Temple of Alameda2325 Pacific Avenue Alameda CA 94501 (510) 522-5243 btoa.org

Volume XXVI, No. 4 April, 2019

Hanamatsuri - Flower Festival

Along my morning path, the seasonal changes call my attention. For the past couple of weeks, the daffodils have been pushing their way out of the ground. They are usually an early splash of spring color to brighten the way. Any day now they will make their announcement ….

April will start quickly at the temple. The first Sunday of the month is our Hanamatsuri Service. Hanamatsuri is one of our major Buddhist services each year. We will commemorate the birth of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni. It is his example to seek and then to find the truths of life … to awaken to the reality that surrounds us all. It is through his search and awakening that we are each motivated to live our own lives with wisdom and compassion as our guide. Together they move to each of us and awaken us to truth.

The recitation of the Nenbutsu opens each of us to the workings of Wisdom and Compassion. Normally, we each are content to stay within our protective shell of self-centered motivation, effort, and gain. But we are also moved naturally to concern for others and to share our lives. The Nenbutsu calls us to recognize that the mind of concern and sharing opens to the true realm while the mind of self-centered motivation creates illusion. When the Nenbutsu is truly heard in this manner, then we gratefully live in the realm beyond self-centeredness and beyond what we once thought was the normal and only world we have.

As Buddhists and fellow travelers along the Nenbutsu path, we commit to this process of awakening. The Wisdom and Compassion received intersects with life experience, and we are allowed to grow, expand, and connect to the infinite realm of Amida.

This year, Hanamatsuri will be April 7 at 10:00 AM. Please come to celebrate and enjoy the Hanamatsuri Festivities. Come for service and stay for lunch. We will see you at the temple.

Rev. Dennis

Tickets are $35 per person on-line* https://groupmatics.events/group/btoa

outing code: BTOA

This is a fundraiser for the Buddhist Temple of Alameda (BTOA) In order for our temple to receive a portion of the ticket sales,

tickets MUST be purchased via this website: https://groupmatics.events/group/btoa

The tickets are for seats in a section that has been reserved for BTOA members, friends and family.

Come join us at the game, have fun &

support BTOA at the same time!

Wednesday, September 4, 2019, 7:07 PM Oakland A’s vs Los Angeles Angels

Japanese American Festivities (entertainment & food) at the Coliseum

two (2) hours prior to the start of the game.

JOIN us at the Oakland Coliseum for

Japanese American Heritage Night!

* There is a service charge for the online tickets. A smartphone is needed to download the MLB app to access the tickets.

Email coliver@athletics.com for any on-line issues

* Tickets purchased for this fundraiser, include a

T-shirt with this Stomper Daruma design especially

created for the event.

Deisgned by: Sumo Fish

This order form is for those who are unable to go online and/or access tickets via a smartphone app.

Tickets are $40.00 per person (tickets purchased via this form include the $35.00 ticket prices + service & handling charges)

Wednesday, September 4, 2019, 7:07 PM Oakland A’s vs Los Angeles Angels

Oakland Coliseum

Japanese American Festivities (entertainment & food) at the Coliseum two (2) hours prior to the start of the game.

NAME:________________________________________ EMAIL: ____________________________________ STREET: ______________________________________CELL PHONE: ________________________________ CITY/STATE/ZIP: ____________________________________________________________________________

________ # Tickets requested X $40.00 per Ticket = $__________

________ # Parking Passes X $16.00 per Pass = $__________

$____________ TOTAL ENCLOSED

Checks Payable to: Buddhist Temple of Alameda

Mail Form w/Check: Buddhist Temple of Alameda, 2325 Pacific Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501

Tickets will be EMAILED to you. If no email available, then we will mail them to you.

Welcome Home

The family service on Sunday, March 17, 2019, had some new faces and some familiar faces. The

surprise Lay speaker was Rev. Fujimoto’s wife, Sharman. After many trips back and forth from their

home in Idaho, it looks like Sharman is ready to join Rev. Dennis in their new home in Alameda. Her

experience as minister’s assistant and school teacher was evident in her easy delivery of her Dharma

message. New “faces” in the audience turned out to be her and Rev. Dennis’ son, Kie, his wife, Michelle,

and their son, Joseph.

Another “new” familiar face was Dennis Terao, son of the late Rev. Eiyu Terao and Joyce Terao, and

sister of Ms. Lenni Terao-Doerr. Rev. Terao was our former resident minister. Dennis Terao had been

residing for many years in Switzerland. He has retired, and returned “home”; he will be living with his

mother in their condo on Bay Farm Island.

Welcome home to both Sharman Fujimoto and Dennis Terao.

S

2019 Spring Ohigan

The temple observed Ohigan on March 24, 2019. Chairing the Ohigan service was Mr. Ron Tsuchiya.

Ms Lenni Terao-Doerr was organist. Rev. Dennis Fujimoto officiated the service, and guest speaker,

Rev. Ron Kobata, resident minister at San Francisco Buddhist Church, presented Dharma talks, first to

the Dharma School student, and later to the full Sangha.

Following the service, otoki lunch was served in the social hall.

Ron Tsuchiya Rev. Ron Kobata Rev. Dennis Fujimoto Lenni Terao=Doerr Howard Shintani

Buddhist Education Committee

The East Bay Tri-Temple Dharmanar

March 30 – Berkeley Buddhist Temple with Rev. Kiyonobu KuwaharaApril 13 – Alameda with Rev. Dennis FujimotoMay 4 – Oakland Buddhist Church with Rev. Harry Bridge

All sessions will run from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Shin Buddhism, A Natural Practice

Our temple will again offer a spring series of classes beginning in April 2019. Classes will be held on the first two Thursday evenings from 7:00 -8:30 p.m.

April 4 & 11, May 2 & 9, June 6 & 13

ABWA NEWS

Happy Spring!

Welcome to our new ABWA members, Noelle Dexter, Robin Delaney, Mamie Dye, and Angela Osterberger! It’s always so nice to see new faces and have new energy!

Hanamatsuri - Sunday, April 7, 2019

We look forward to having Rev. Fujimoto at our Hanamatsuri service this year. We missed him last year since he did an exchange with Rev. Bridge. Toban Group #3 will be preparing the otoki luncheon.

Pre-Hanamatsuri Set-Up - Saturday, April 6, 2019

We will be setting up our Lumbini Garden and Baby Buddha shrine from 10 AM. Everyone is encouraged to come out and participate.

Keiro Visitations - Thursday, May 16, 2019

We will be visiting our keiro members and others who are homebound. Please let us know if there are new 88-year olds this year, or others who need to be included on our list.

World Buddhist Women’s Convention - August 30 - Sept. 1, 2019

Thank you for submitting your registration forms and checks in a timely manner! We have a total of 30 ABWA and Temple members who will be attending. We are now working out the details of transportation and other logistics, and will keep you informed.

Next Meeting - Sunday, April 14, 2019

Because of our Hanamatsuri service on the first Sunday in April, our next meeting will be on Sunday, April 14, 2019, after the Monthly Memorial service.

In Gassho,

Lenni Terao-Doerr, PresidentAlameda Buddhist Women’s Association

Vacationland Silent Auction 2019

Requesting Donations Is it Spring Cleaning time?

Has Mari Kondo entered your life, asking if

your possessions still “Spark Joy”?

Do you have some wonderful items in your

storage unit, basement or attic that need to

see some daylight?

Do you have a business or service that you

would like to donate as a gift certificate to

the Silent Auction?

The Silent Auction Committee is happy to

receive your donations for this year’s

Vacationland Bazaar Silent Auction.

100% of the dollars raised from the

Silent Auction goes directly to the Temple.

Start searching for those wonderful treasures

and bring them to the Social Hall. Identify

the item as a Silent Auction item and we will

start collecting them.

Thank you for continued support!

Vickie, Sue and Fran

Silent Auction Committee

2018 Bazaar

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S H I N B U D D H I S MNatural Practice

The Buddhist Temple of Alameda wi l l offer a spr ing ser iesof c lasses on Buddhism beginn ing in Apr i l 2019. We wi l le x p l o r e a s p e c t s o f B u d d h i s m i n e v e r y d a y p r a c t i c e .

Hosted by the Buddhist Education Committee, Buddhist Temple of Alameda.F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n a n d u p d a t e s , p l e a s e v i e w o u r w e b s i t e b t o a . o r g o r c o n t a c t R e v e r e n d D e n n i s F u j i m o t o a t ( 9 1 6 ) 4 1 6 - 0 9 1 9 , p h o n e o r t e x t , a t revdjosh in@gmai l .com

Like us at:Buddhist Temple of Alameda

C l a s s e s w i l l b e h e l df rom 7 :00 - 8 :30 p .m.on:

Thursday, Apr i l 4 Thursday, Apr i l 11 Thursday, May 2 Thursday, May 9 Thursday, June 6 Thursday, June13

at theBuddhist Temple of Alameda

2325 Pacific Avenue Alameda, California

Life responsibilities of work, home,and family increase the demandsupon each of us .  Decl in inghealth of those we care for aswell as ourselves is an ongoing

process. Age and illness confront us all.  Despite such difficulties,stability and grounding allows us to proceed with strength and joy.

This series of classes is free of charge and open to the general public.

Monthly Memorials

The Monthly Memorial Service for the month of April will be held on Sunday, April 14, 2019.The names of those listed in the temple’s memorial list as having passed away during the month of March were listed in the February Upaya.

The monthly memorial service for those who passed away in the month of May will be held on Sunday, May5, 2019.

If 2019 is a special service year (as listed below) for a dear departed relative, please contact Rev. Dennis Joshin Fujimoto to arrange for special memorial arrangements.

Please inform the office of any corrections to this list.

Special Service1 Year3 Year7 Years13 Year

Year of Death2018201720132007

Special Service17 Year25 Year33 Year50 Year

Year of Death2001199519871969

The Names of Those Who passed away during the month of May(As listed on the temple’s Monthly Memorial List)

Nakata, Infant 1920Nakashima, Miss Kimi 1919Nakayama, Mrs. Akiko 1928Nakayama, Mr. Minoru 1945Nakaso, Ms. Virginia Tomie 2002Narahara, Mrs. Tokie 1952Nishino, Infant Takashi 1931Obata, Mr. Tomejiro 1970Okabe, Mrs. Mieko 1979Okada, Mr. Gary 2007Okamoto, Nobuko 2018Rice, Mr. Wilbur 1988Sakai, Mr. Makitaro 1957Sekigahama, Mr. Hiroshi 1953Setogawa, Mr. Tsurutaro 1919Shigematsu, Mr. Tosaka 1928Shimada, Mr. Kumataro 1954Shimada, Mr. Taichi 1984Soma, Mr. Gendayu 1919Sugiyama, Mrs. Shizue 1993Suyeyasu, Mr. Susumu 1998Taguchi, Miss Hisako1932Takayama, Mrs. Marue 2007Takayanagi, Mrs. Shigeko 1997Takayanagi, Mr. Tadao 2012Takizawa, Mr. Thomas 1950Tanaka, Mr. Kumao 1986Tsuchiya, Infant Hisashi 1923Tsuchiya Infant Tsukie 1922

White Elephant Donations

It has already been a year since we’ve asked for donations for our White Elephant booth! Thanks to your past donations, we have earned quite a bit for our Temple at our bazaar. Please search your cupboards, closets, attics, and basements for things you no longer need and bring them to the back of the Temple social hall by June 9th. Please sign the donation list, so we can properly acknowledge your generous contribution.

If you have items that are quite valuable, the Silent Auction committee will be happy to display them in the hall for our silent auction. Please mark them “silent auction”.

Sorry, we cannot accept furniture, electronic items, or any other large items because of limited space. Make sure your items are reasonably clean. We will not have time to wash them. Thank you in advance.

PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF ANY ITEMS AFTER JUNE 9. We spend many hours sorting and pricing and will not have time to organize late items. You can save them for next year, though. -

Metta,Amy Tomine and Marilyn Ishida-Lew