Soto Zen Buddhist Mission in North America 曹洞宗北アメリカ国際布教記録

The awkward gaps between the imperfection of this human life and the wisdom of the Buddhas are the place for us to grow and deepen our understanding. All the ancestral teachers and our parents and grandparents, and ancestors have been through this together with us in this journey to seek for human wisdom.
Neither do we need to pretend these gaps are not there or be cynical or dismissive about the Buddha-nature of all beings.

The lotus flowers of compassion and wisdom would rise ONLY from the rawness of the mud as their foundation. Other than through the footsteps of humans, how else can humans walk on the path of enlightenment?


EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER
FALL OHIGAN SERVICE September 8th 10 am
Fall Equinox Service will be held to honor the dedication and the effort of the ancestral teachers, families and community members



BUDDHIST MEDITATION
Meditation Practice Starts again from the second week of Sept as follows:
Sept. 9th Monday 7 pm Beginners' Class
Sept 11 (Wed) and 13th (Fri) 6 AM
Sept 15 (Sun) 8:30 am
And every Mon. Wed. Fri and Sun.


OCTOBER SHOTSUKI MEMORIAL SERVICE
September 29th 10 AM



PALA CASINO FUNDRAISER TRIP
SPONSORED BY LONG BEACH BUDDHIST CHURCH
Sunday, September 22, 2019 Cost: $20.00 per person
Check in begins at 8:00 am Bus departs at 8:30 am
Second pick up location: 9:00 am (Orange County)



CHOW MEIN DINNER
October 6 (Sun) Chow Mein Dinner Fundraising
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm　($10.00 per plate)

Preparation (Apron and Cap required)
Friday (2:00 pm - 5:00 pm)
Saturday (10:00 am - 5:00 pm)
Sunday (9:00 am)
Monday10 am Clean Up



NEWS FROM AUGUST
Terminal Islanders"s Nisei Week Parade
Coached by Keiko Shibata and led by June Donovan, the Terminal Islanders danced at the Nissei Week Parade in Little Tokyo, LA.



Terminal Islanders Premier "Terror"
The Season 2 of "Terror" reveals the history of the Japanese-Americans in the west coast.



Diana Doshin Johnson Complete her first 90-day training at Toshoji temple, Okayama, Japan
Doshin Johnson came back from her first 90-day monastic training at Toshoji temple, Okayama, Japan.


Devin Seigaku Amato and Christopher Tosei Storms conduct Obon service at Empty Moon Sangha
Rev. James Myoun Ford of Empty Moon Sangha in Anaheim gave Seigaku Amato and Tosei Storms an opportunity to share the Japanese tradition of Obon at their Sangha on August 31st. Seigaku explained the meaning of the rituals and mantras to people who were new to this tradition.



EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER


Sozenji Rummage Sale
Sat, September 14th 10 am

Maintenance and Improvement
David Isobe and the board have been working very hard to sort out the rooms to make them available for more activities in the future.




Autumn Ohigan Service
Sun, September 15 2:00 pm Autumn Ohigan Equinox & Shotsuki Service

In memory of our loved ones to honor their legacy
May the humble merit of our practice through our thought, speech, and actions all be extended to our loved ones and all those who share their life with them



October Shotsuki Service & Luis Shuko Laudermilk's Priest Ordination Ceremony
Sun, October 20 2:00 pm Shotsuki Service
Luis Shuko Laudermilk will have his novice ordination ceremony.

Mr. Luis Shuko Laudermilk will have his novice priest ordination ceremony on October 13th.
Ones who have taken hommage to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha and truly shown their respect for these three treasures are considered Buddhists. Buddhists must be respectful not only to the Buddha and his teachings but ones who follow with us in Sozenji sangha, community and all around the world. Luis has been exemplifying this Buddhist value throughout his lay practice.


Sozenji Fundraising: Pala Casino Trip
Join us at Pala Casino to support Sozenji Buddhist Temple!
Sunday, October 13th
8:00 AM – Check-in at 16112 La Salle Ave. Gardena (public parking lot next to San Iku East)
8:30 AM – Check-in begins at Sozenji.
8:45 AM – Bus departs from Sozenji to Pala Casino.
3:30 PM – Bus departs Pala Casino to return to Sozenji.
5:30 PM (approximately) – Bus returns to Sozenji.
6:00 PM (approximately) – Bus returns to Gardena.
Contact Kimi Yamato Cell Phone: 213-308-7942


Keeping the friendship with Long Beach Buddhist Church Sangha
Kimi Yamato, Emi Razo and Judy Fujii have been coming to Long Beach Buddhist Church for many years through their friendship with Atsuko Yomgoida and Keiko Shibata, both of whom have been serving Long Beach Buddhist Church since its beginning in 1951.


News from August

August Shotsuki Service

Diana Doshin Johnson Returns from her first 90-day monastic training
Our friend Diana (Doshin Johnson) has returned to the US after her first 90-day monastery training in Okayama, Japan.

With Doshin and Shuko, there will hopefully be more Buddhist activities available for members of the sangha and the community in the future.

Minister's Personal Note
I'd like to thank you for having my six-year-old son, Leo, at Sozenji and let him explore the temple during his visit in August. Although he lives in Ontario, Canada, and enjoys the Canadian way of life up there, he very much enjoyed the experience of Japanese culture, especially, Bon Odori in Southern California.
Being the first generation immigrant and knowing Canadian people since my teens, I strongly identify myself with the Canadian value that respects the existing local traditions and cultures of indigenous people, and all immigrants and their ancestors from across the world, I'm happy that Sozenji sangha shares the same value of diversity and respect to all traditions.
Special thanks to my friends, Robert and his family from Long Beach and Luis for helping keeping him a company.



Other services scheduled in 2019:
Sun, November 3 2:00 pm Shotsuki Service
Sun, December 8 2:30 pm Jodo-E Buddha’s Enlightenment & Shotsuki Service
Sun, December 29 4:00 pm Joya No Kane & New Year Eve Service