BCA (San Jose, California)- The observance of the 750th Memorial for Shinran Shonin was held on February 28 for the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) at the Fairmont San Jose Hotel. More than 1,400 people, including ministers, temple members, and friends, gathered for the commemoration service during which everyone participated in the sange, majestically showering the Imperial Ballroom of flower petal cut-outs and leading into the melodious chanting for the Shuso Sango Saho (service style). Preceding the service was the screening of a video message by Monshu Koshin Ohtani.

Program events included art and haiku contests based on the 750th Memorial theme “Peace and Tranquility,” symposium, dinner banquet, and special exhibitions on the life history of Shinran Shonin.

The symposium began with a Keynote talk by Rev. Dr. Kenneth Kenshin Tanaka, professor of Buddhist Studies (Musashino University, Tokyo) who spoke on the topic of “Shinran Shonin’s Wish for Us and the World: From Inner Peace to Outer Peace.”

Mr. Pieper Toyama, Principal of Pacific Buddhist Academy (Honolulu, Hawaii) served as guest speaker during the Banquet.

Details from the BCA 750th Memorial for Shinran Shonin can be found on their website at buddhistchurchesofamerica.org. Click on “Wheel of Dharma” (March and April 2010 editions) or “Shinran/750th Memorial.”

A note of thanks!…Photos taken by Mr. Tom Nishikawa, BCA.

 

 

(Excerpt from Hongwanji Journal, April 1, 2010)