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27. December 2021

Happy Imperfect New Year

December 29, 2021

Lunar new year greeting with picture of tiger holding fish

The start of a new year offers us the hope of a new beginning, a fresh start, a clean slate. As we begin the new year, many people make plans to improve their lives through New Year’s resolutions. And it is polite and kind to wish others happiness, prosperity, good health, love, and good fortune in the coming year.  These are great traditions—maintaining hope and offering good will to our neighbors are important.

But it’s also important to approach the new year with a sense of humility and realism. Buddhism reminds us that the world of samsara is imperfect and impermanent and we humans are motivated by self-interest and misguided by limited understanding. The 3 poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance motivate our actions.

Given our limited perspective it is easy to set high expectations for the new year and then become discouraged when a goal is not achieved. Remember a year ago when many thought COVID would go away and life would go back to “normal” in 2021! Clearly, we were wrong.  Across the globe, we were ignorant, greedy, and limited in our ability to respond wisely to the situation and so the problem was not resolved.

Looking around at our families and communities, as well as nationally and internationally, we see many other political, environmental, and personal issues to be concerned about. Regardless of differing beliefs about the severity, causes, and potential solutions to these issues, I think we all wish we humans were doing better. It is easy to imagine a safer, happier, more compassionate world, but hard to achieve it.

Because it is easy to imagine doing better, we may set our expectations for the new year too high. We may hope that with a fresh start everything will get better.  And, when it doesn’t, we become discouraged and give up. However, Buddhism emphasizes the middle path, avoiding these extremes of optimism and despair.  In the case of New Year’s resolutions, we want to avoid being too optimistic (expecting our goals for the new year to all be met) or too pessimistic (giving up on trying to make things better because we don’t believe it is possible).

The Jodo Shinshu Buddhist teachings that emphasize humility and compassion can help us approach the new year with more realistic expectations for ourselves and others. 

 

Embraced by Amida Buddha’s infinite and unconditional compassion, it is easier to accept mistakes and failures (our own as well as those of others) with compassion and even a sense of humor. 

I guarantee 2022 will NOT be perfect, and that’s OK. The Buddhist teachings encourage us to recognize our failures, acknowledge and repair our mistakes, and respond compassionately to the mistakes of others.  

Happy Year of the Tiger!  

あけましておめでとうございます。 Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu.

Namo Amida Butsu,

Rev. Anne Spencer (Assistant Minister, IOBT)

Female Buddhist Minister

11. December 2021

Seeing is Believing (or is it?)

December 11, 2021

With many different winter holidays coming up, I wanted to reflect on how we think about these holidays and our relation to each other. These holidays mean different things to different cultures. Here in the U.S. many people look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas. But there are lots of other holidays that are celebrated here and around the world. Here are just a few examples: Kwanzaa (Pan-African), Hanukkah (Jewish), Bodhi Day (Buddhist), Las Posadas (Latin America), Boxing Day (Canada), Ōmisoka (Japan), or even Kramer’s favorite, Festivus. Some people here in the U.S. think we should only use the greeting “Merry Christmas”, but “Happy Holidays” could be a more inclusive greeting. It’s all in how you look at it.

 

Different people and cultures have different perspectives and part of our spiritual practice, as Buddhists, is being humble about our own perceptions. At the 74th NW District Buddhist Convention in September, Sensei Koichi Mizushima gave a presentation “Seeing is Believing”  that points to the importance of noticing the limitations of our own personal perspectives.  He points out that our limited perspective is a weakness that we all share. It’s also something we can work on for the new year. 

We often use various phrases about how our own eyes can’t be wrong. We might say any of the following: “I saw it with my own eyes.” “Seeing is believing.” “It was an eyewitness account.” Sensei Koichi points out that our eyes see things, events, people from a certain perspective, but maybe another perspective reveals something totally different. We need to remember to think about another point of view.

Buddhism teaches that we should “see things as they truly are.” That might be very difficult for us foolish beings (bonbu). Can we really see things as they truly are? Our human egos have a way of inserting themselves into our perspective of what we see. Sensei Koichi’s presentation offers several examples of how seeing things from our own viewpoint can lead to disagreements. By examining things from another point of view, you might find out that you are totally wrong. (Be sure to watch the video in  for the car accident example.)

Here’s another illustration of perspective. What do you see in this picture?

 

At first, you might see two fish swimming in water. But don’t stop with the two fish. Expand your vision beyond the two fish. Do you see a face?

We might all be looking at the same picture, but different things jump out at us, depending on our perspective. At first glance, we may notice only one thing. By examining the situation a little longer, other details become clearer. We should remember that we need to be mindful of the many causes and conditions that are working all around us. If you forget to consider different points of view and refuse to change your perspective, you could easily get into an argument with a friend.

It isn’t easy to see things as they truly are, especially if you’re a foolish being which we know we all are. We can’t rely on what we see at first, or even second, glance. We have to be able to open our minds, think outside the box, think about other possibilities before we come to a conclusion. We have to be willing to change our minds if someone shows us another possibility. Slowing down and thinking mindfully is part of our path as Shin Buddhists. We have to acknowledge that we can’t know it all. 

We are foolish beings, full of blind passions. We are limited beings, surrounded by Infinite Wisdom and Compassion, and accepted just as we are. What better gift is that knowledge?

I wish you happy holidays, whatever you celebrate,  and may we all look forward to a better year ahead—no matter our point of view. 

NAMO AMIDA BUTSU

Rev. Kathy Chatterton, Assistant Minister

 

Female Buddhist Priest in Robes

19. November 2021

Expressing our Gratitude: Four Conversation Starters

November 19, 2021

 

One way that we express our gratitude is by placing our hands together in "gassho" as seen here in this picture taken in 1959 when our beautiful gingko tree was planted by the Gomonshu, the leader of our Jodo Shinshu Buddhist tradition. 

A group of temple members in gassho while a tree is planted

 

Last month we celebrated Eitaikyo, a Japanese Buddhist tradition which expresses our appreciation for those who have gone before us.  This month we celebrate Thanksgiving, a very American tradition which also focuses on gratitude. These two very different occasions are reminders of the value of gratitude across time and culture.  In the spirit of these two holidays, I wanted to share an activity that works with people of all ages and from all religious backgrounds. It just takes a few minutes and it can be a good conversation starter.

It involves thinking about and/or discussing these 4 questions that you can reflect on quietly or can be a topic of conversation at your holiday gatherings.  

1) Who were all the people—the relatives, the teachers, the friends, the ancestors, and the strangers--who have contributed to me being the person I am today?  What would my life be like without them?

painting of two hands holding a heart

 

2) How much food have I eaten in my lifetime? Consider all the plants and animal whose lives have been sacrificed so you can live—remember both the delicious meals and the less tasty ones.  They all made you who you are today.

 

Bento lunch with inari sushi, onigiri, chicken, orange slice, egg roll, Jello, seaweed salad

 

3) Review all the resources you have used to stay alive and comfortable, to build your houses and keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer--the clothing you’ve worn and all the people who made it.  The tools you’ve used and the people who made them. The vehicles and fuel that have allowed you to travel for work or pleasure.  

4) Finally, think about all your pets, houseplants, and all the wild plants and animals that have enriched your life.  Remember the joy and beauty they have given you.

 

dog, boy with guinea pigs, and cat

We have received a lot from others in order to have the lives that we are now living.  Having thought about how much we have received, we can also think about ways of sharing compassion, insight, joy, beauty, comfort, and care with others. This kind of sharing is at the core of our spiritual practice--a practice that grows from our own gratitude and appreciation for our lives.  And it is at the heart of the Buddhist teachings.

In case you are wondering, this is what that little gingko tree planted in 1959 looks like now! 

Buddhist Temple with Gingko tree

Even if we can’t ever fully repay our many debts to those who have been compassionate and generous toward us, we should not give up trying.   We can honor those who came before us by making sure that we continue to share the gifts we have received with others. 

And feel free to share things that you are grateful for in our comments section!

Namo Amida Butsu

In gratitude, 

Rev. Anne Spencer, 

Female Buddhist Minister

Assistant Minister, Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple

19. November 2021

Expressing our Gratitude: Four Conversation Starters

November 19, 2021

 

One way that we express our gratitude is by placing our hands together in "gassho" as seen here in this picture taken in 1959 when our beautiful gingko tree was planted by the Gomonshu, the leader of our Jodo Shinshu Buddhist tradition. 

A group of temple members in gassho while a tree is planted

 

Last month we celebrated Eitaikyo, a Japanese Buddhist tradition which expresses our appreciation for those who have gone before us.  This month we celebrate Thanksgiving, a very American tradition which also focuses on gratitude. These two very different occasions are reminders of the value of gratitude across time and culture.  In the spirit of these two holidays, I wanted to share an activity that works with people of all ages and from all religious backgrounds. It just takes a few minutes and it can be a good conversation starter.

It involves thinking about and/or discussing these 4 questions that you can reflect on quietly or can be a topic of conversation at your holiday gatherings.  

1) Who were all the people—the relatives, the teachers, the friends, the ancestors, and the strangers--who have contributed to me being the person I am today?  What would my life be like without them?

painting of two hands holding a heart

 

2) How much food have I eaten in my lifetime? Consider all the plants and animal whose lives have been sacrificed so you can live—remember both the delicious meals and the less tasty ones.  They all made you who you are today.

 

Bento lunch with inari sushi, onigiri, chicken, orange slice, egg roll, Jello, seaweed salad

 

3) Review all the resources you have used to stay alive and comfortable, to build your houses and keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer--the clothing you’ve worn and all the people who made it.  The tools you’ve used and the people who made them. The vehicles and fuel that have allowed you to travel for work or pleasure.  

4) Finally, think about all your pets, houseplants, and all the wild plants and animals that have enriched your life.  Remember the joy and beauty they have given you.

 

dog, boy with guinea pigs, and cat

We have received a lot from others in order to have the lives that we are now living.  Having thought about how much we have received, we can also think about ways of sharing compassion, insight, joy, beauty, comfort, and care with others. This kind of sharing is at the core of our spiritual practice--a practice that grows from our own gratitude and appreciation for our lives.  And it is at the heart of the Buddhist teachings.

In case you are wondering, this is what that little gingko tree planted in 1959 looks like now! 

Buddhist Temple with Gingko tree

Even if we can’t ever fully repay our many debts to those who have been compassionate and generous toward us, we should not give up trying.   We can honor those who came before us by making sure that we continue to share the gifts we have received with others. 

And feel free to share things that you are grateful for in our comments section!

Namo Amida Butsu

In gratitude, 

Rev. Anne Spencer, 

Female Buddhist Minister

Assistant Minister, Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple

31. October 2021

Northwest District Buddhist Convention and 75th Anniversary of IOBT September 2022

 
September of 2022 will be here soon and we are trying to gear up for A BIG EVENT that combines the 75th Northwest District Convention AND the 75th Anniversary of Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple.  The theme for our event is "Reflecting on the Past; Looking to the Future." 
 
This is our poster announcing the event.  It has pictures of all our IOBT resident ministers from our first minister in the upper right to our current minister in the upper left.  Can you name them all?!?
Poster for 2022 NW Buddhist Convention Sponsored by Idaho Oregon Buddhist Temple with pictures of previous ministers Reverends  Shibata, Ohata, Takemura, Hirota, Hasegawa,Tada, Fujimoto, Hirano
As we begin the planning stages of this event, we are filled with a sense of uncertainty.  There is so much we don't know about what the world will be like in 2022.  Will the corona virus continue to challenge the safety of large gatherings?  Will our conference need to be virtual, like the Oregon Buddhist Temple's convention was this year?  If we have a face-to-face conference, will the switch to a fall convention schedule (it used to be winter) affect how many volunteers we have, since we rely on our many members and friends who are busy with harvest that time of year?  If it is face-to-face, will people feel safe traveling?  If it is virtual, will our older members and friends want to deal with the technology? How do we balance the need to be both safe and connected?  With all these questions, it can seem hard to get started. 
 
But then I think about the Issei and Nisei who founded our temple 75 years ago (this photo was taken at the groundbreaking on Jan 13, 1952 after years of fundraising and planning):
 
Ground breaking for  Idaho Oregon Buddhist Temple Ontario Oregon on Jan 13, 1952 Temple members and dignitaries on snow covered lot
 
When they set out to raise the money to build our Ontario, Oregon temple in 1947, shortly after the end of World War II, they were also facing all kinds of uncertainty.  Although some of our founders had been in the area for several years, many more had recently moved into the area after having been released from internment camps where they had been incarcerated during the war.  Many were just starting their new lives here without money or possessions. Some were newly married and raising children. And yet they were willing to take a chance and make an investment in their future, their family's future, and their community's future. They wanted to share the teaching of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism with their families and their communities. 

January 12, 1952 Japanese Community Hall Ontario Oregon Temple Members and Dignitaries at event to honor the groundbreaking for the new temple building Children in front row, adults in back row. visiting ministers on stage/altar area in back
 
Thinking of the risks that our founding members took and the difficulties they faced helps put our current uncertainty in perspective.  People have always faced challenges and sharing the Dharma is not always easy.  
 
Compared to what our founders did for us, putting on a convention is a pretty small commitment!  We honor our founders and all those who came before by doing our best to share the Dharma and the story of our temple's history with others through our convention and anniversary celebration.  
 
So, with a sense of joy, gratitude, and dedication to the Dharma, we are beginning to plan next year's convention. 
 
Do you want to help?  We would love to have you join us!  Because  current technology makes communication so easy, you can help from wherever you are, so please don't be shy about offering to help. Leave a comment or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to volunteer.  (We would also appreciate your leaving a comment on the blog if you or a loved one are in one if these photos or if you have a temple memory to share.) 
 
Rev. Anne Spencer
Assistant Minister, Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple
Ontario, Oregon 
 
06. October 2021

Masking—Not the Covid Kind

October 06, 2021

 

Woman with hat and mask

 

The first thing that comes to mind for the month of October is Halloween, along with costumes, candy, and masks. It’s fun to walk along the store aisles stocked with Halloween costumes and candy and think about how you’d like to disguise yourself. However, my attention is always on the candy since I’m not much for getting into costume.

I say that I don’t like to dress up in costume, but I can say that I have a number of masks that I wear. I’m sure that all of us have occasion to wear a mask or two. The masks I’m talking about are ones that we use in our everyday lives to present various faces to those around us. 

person with eye roll mask

Before retirement, I had a teacher mask. That’s the one that my students saw in the classroom. It was important to remove that mask when I returned home so I wasn’t being a teacher with my spouse. I guess my teacher mask does come in handy during a golf round, though. I talk to my golf ball, saying, “Go, go, go!” or “Sit, sit!” If the ball behaves, then my golf buddies say that I must have used my teacher voice.

Unfortunately, when we wear so many masks, we run into trouble figuring out who we really are. We might forget and use the wrong mask and end up confusing our family and friends and even ourselves.

For us, as Jodo Shinshu Buddhists, we are lucky that Amida Buddha knows our true selves and accepts us just as we are. Even though we are foolish beings/bonbu, we are surrounded by Infinite Wisdom and Compassion. Despite our human life of suffering/samsara, we can drop these masks and discover our true selves.

Amida Buddha Statue

While it might be fun to try different masks for Halloween, let’s work on becoming aware of who we really are and letting that true self shine forth. It will be difficult to accept ourselves as completely as Amida Buddha does, but we can start by making an effort to accept others as they are. Rather than judging others for their outward behavior, we can ask ourselves if we act in the same way. (We usually do.) Instead of using a flashlight to point out how others behave, we should use a mirror to see our own actions. If we are able to do this, we can begin to act with some kindness and compassion. We may come to understand that others’ foolishness is our own, leading to a feeling of humility and gratitude. We are accepted just as we are with all our blemishes and shortcomings.

Namo Amida Butsu

南無阿弥陀仏

Rev. Kathy Chatterton

Buddhist Minister

15. September 2021

Human Imperfections: Lessons From A Chair

September 15, 2021

My mother's health hasn't been too great this year.  She's spent a lot of time in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities and, to be honest, it's been a hard year for our family.  In this process we've met hundreds of healthcare providers and I know that each one of them is trying their best to take care of us, but there are a lot of stresses and not everything goes smoothly. 

EKG Heart

 

Reflecting on these stresses reminded me of something that happened about 3 years ago. My mother had heart surgery to replace her aortic valve. The surgery was pretty new and very high tech. The team of about 20 professionals were nothing short of amazing. They were skilled, organized, dedicated, thoughtful, generous, and kind. We really couldn’t have imagined a better group of people to work with and we always felt our mother’s heart was in good hands.

Mother and adult daughter

 

(here I am with my mom a few years ago)

They were so good that we started to see them as super-human, but one incident reminded us that this team was human just like us. A few weeks before the surgery we had a pre-op appointment. We met with one of the specialists in a small exam room. My brother and I were with my mother, so that made 3 of us, but the room only had two chairs. The nurse apologized and asked us to wait while she got another chair. A few minutes later she returned with a very nice rocking chair. It had the emblem of a respected educational institution on it and I recognized it as the kind of chair that is often given as an award to celebrate a special achievement; it was the kind of chair that was likely owned by a specific doctor and not part of the regular office furniture. 

Rocking Chair


My mom took a seat in the rocking chair and the appointment proceeded with the nurse getting blood pressure and pulse readings. We were interrupted by a knock on the door. It was another nurse wanting to talk to our nurse. We could not make out the full conversation, but it included our nurse saying “Well, we needed an extra chair in here” and the nurse in the hall saying “You know how he is about his chair.”  We deduced that the doctor whose chair we had borrowed wanted it back. The door closed. When our nurse opened the door a few minutes later, we saw an ordinary office chair was placed just outside our door. Our nurse pushed the rocking chair into the hall (I imagine someone quickly returned it to the doctor) and pulled the office chair into our room.  That was it. The crisis was averted. The doctor had his chair back and order was restored.

 

This incident reminds me that no matter how educated or skilled or even kind and compassionate we are, each of us will always have human limitations and imperfections. We each have our own preferences and attachments. We have things we are proud of and things we are embarrassed by. We get cranky and lose our tempers when things aren’t done the way we like them. The Buddha clearly taught that these attachments are the cause of our suffering and the Buddhist teachings are designed to help us let go of these attachments and become enlightened. But I’m not holding my breath that I or anyone I love will become enlightened any time soon. Certainly, I am not any closer to enlightenment than this doctor who was so attached to his chair.

 

So let’s all take a moment to stop and thank the people who put up with us, who help us, and who, like the nurses did at the doctor’s office, cover for us when our attachments cause inconvenience to others. Shinran Shonin teaches that we are foolish beings filled with confusion and bad karma.  How very fortunate we are to have people who love us and put up with us anyway!

 

In Gassho, 

Rev. Anne