Dharma School

Dharma School (DS) is a way of teaching Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and Japanese culture to interested families with children. Dharma School services start at 10 am on most Sundays, and offer a Dharma message for everyone to learn. Services are open to the public, and families are encouraged to attend together. Dharma School conducts classes, grouped by grade levels, after the service. While the children are in their classes, Sensei Henry regularly offers an adult lecture.
The Dharma School Year starts in September and continues until the following June, similar to the public school system. In June, Dharma School conducts an awards ceremony honoring students with perfect attendance and other achievements. In July, the Oxnard Buddhist Temple hosts Obon, an annual religious and cultural event, featuring Odori dancing--Japanese folk dancing. Dharma School families are encouraged to participate in the festival activities. During the year, some class activities are specific to a grade level, but interested persons may observe. Other activities are conducted for both children and adults, and then everyone is encouraged to participate. Please check the monthly calendar or bulletin for class dates. For questions, please contact the temple office: 805-483-5948 or email: mail@oxnardbuddhisttemple.org.

DHARMA SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

December 2011

Greetings Dharma Students and Families,

Life is change and so do humans. This year, the Bodhi Day service and Oseibo Taikai will be on SUNDAY, starting at 10AM. We hope more families with parents evening work-schedules, and more of our senior Sangha members will be able to attend with this new date/time change. There will be a guest speaker for the Bodhi Day service and we hope everyone comes to hear Rev. Akio Miyaji. It's important to observe Bodhi Day, the day when Siddartha Guatama meditated under the Bodhi tree and became enlightened. By his example he showed us that it was possible for man to become a Buddha - a fully enlightened person, and learn a way to enlightenment, Buddhism. The Oseibo Taikai luncheon and entertainment is a fun way to show our appreciation to other students, Sangha, and friends of the Temple. There's a delicious meal planned and Dharma school is in charge of the dessert. A wonderful array of manjus, snowcones and ice cream is planned.

Rev. Henry has completed his supervising duties with Guadalupe and San Luis Obispo temples, so he is available to add another Sunday service to the December schedule and all are welcome to attend December 18th. Oxnard will end its year with a New Year's Eve (Joya-E) service starting at 7pm. Everyone is invited to ring in the new year by striking the outside bell 108 times. Udon and earplugs will be available for all. Dress warmly since we'll be outside and then move to the social hall to warm-up.

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND ATTEND:

December 2011 (Observances: Bodhi Day)

Sun Dec 4 10 am Bodhi Day Service w/Guest Speaker Rev. Akio Miyaji

12 noon Oseibo Taikai Luncheon & Program

Sun Dec 11 MOCHI-TSUKI ***

Sun Dec 18 10 am Dharma Service BONUS

Sat Dec 31 7pm - Joya-E Service (New Year’s Tolling of the Bell) BONUS

***December 11, 2011 -- Mochi Tsuki Fundraiser --- With mochi-tsuki being a Japanese tradition, many people may wonder where this tradition began. Using steamed sweet rice and pounding it into a soft dough-like texture, mochi is shaped into small dumpling-like balls. Mochi-tsuki started as a Shinto ritual of not cooking for the first three days of the New Year, so that the kitchen can be blessed by the Shinto "kami "-god and so food had to be prepared to last the three days. Women were not to step into the kitchen, so the men had to make the mochi soup, ozoni, on New Year's Day. Now, mochi-tsuki is a very Japanese event with Temple members coming together to steam the rice, to pound it into the delicious dough and to shape them into the treats we eat. The "white-ness" of the mochi reminds us of the purity of heart and intentions. The "okasane" is two mochis--one small mochi placed on top of a larger mochi with a small orange on the very top and it represents the purity of your mind and body for good health and heart. The okasane is placed near the obutsudan or in a room used frequently by the family on New Year's day. Joining in the mochi-tsuki is an experience in itself. Joining other men and women shaping mochi into the little balls, making an mochi and okasane and listening to the laughter from the stories being exchanged and the smiles with the white powder smudges on the faces and aprons are memories that make the year ending brighter with the new year coming.

Please consider experiencing some Japanes culture and teaching your children too. Help out at the Mochi-Tsuki event on Sunday, December 11th. Everyone is welcome and all help is appreciated. The high school youth group (Jr. YBA) and women's association (OBWA) will be working to make and package mochi for the new year. If you come early to help before lunchtime you and your children can enjoy hot tasty mochi for lunch! Mochi and New Year's Day is as closely connected together as Turkey and Thanksgiving day. Think about it. Come out and help at this Japanese traditional and cultural event!

See you at Temple!

In gassho,

Namu Amida Butsu

November 2011

Greetings Dharma Students & Families,

Instead of "Spring" cleaning we clean in November in preparation for the New Year.The first Sunday service will be Omigaki of the gejin (public seating area) and the second Sunday service will be Naijin cleaning. Please come dressed to dust, sweep, and vacuum the Hondo after service. Rev. Henry has added a service focusing on "Gratitude for Animals that Support our Lives" to round out our services in November. Please take time to attend that service too. Everyone is welcome to attend.

November 2011 (Observances: Eitaikyo)

Sun 6 10 am Dharma Service

11:30 am Gejin Omigaki

Sun 13 10 am Dharma Service

11:30 am Naijin Omigaki

Sun 20 10 am Dharma Service/Gratitude for Animals that Support Our Lives

NEW TIME AND DATE -- DECEMBER 4, 2011 is Bodhi Day Service and Oseibo Taikai! *PLEASE NOTE OSEIBO TAIKAI IS ON SUNDAY THIS YEAR!** This is OBT's annual Appreciation event and we hope more senior Sangha members will attend this year. Driving at night is an concern so OBT changed to SUNDAY AFTERNOON for the Oseibo Taikai event. Please make a note of it and attend. If you can help with car-pool for some members, please let Yasuko Kujiraoka or Rev. Henry know so that all Sangha members can attend and share in a wonderful day or friendship, fun and dharma.

See you at temple!

In gassho,

Namu Amida Butsu

OCTOBER

Greetings Dharma Students & Families,

In September, Dharma School started the new school year with a picnic at Nancy Buch Park in Camarillo. We would like extend a BIG THANK YOU to the many Dharma families who helped organize and run the games at the picnic. We apologize for the change in location, but the turn-out was great and many Sangha members were in attendance to greet Shoko-san's mother and relatives who were visiting from Japan. We hope they had fun too. THANK YOU Bryan and Nancy Fujii for organizing the drinks, dessert, and game prizes! The picnic is open to all OBT members and their families. We hope to see you all next year!

In October, Dharma School and OBT members are traveling to San Fernando Valley for a joint-temple service to hear Rev. Patti Nakai, from the Chicago's Buddhist Temple, as a guest speaker. Japanese service is at 9:30am while the English service starts at 10am. San Fernando Valley is planning refreshments and lunch, so please let Oxnard DS or Rev. Henry know if you plan on attending.

October 2011 (Observances: Eshinni & Kakushinni Memorial)

Sun 2 10 am JOINT SERVICE AT San Fernando Valley Buddhist Temple BONUS (please RSVP for lunch)

Sun 9 10 am Dharma Service

Sun 23 10 am Dharma Service

Sun 30 10 am Dharma Service

11:30 am Halloween Party & Lunch **Immediately after service. Come dressed in a costume for fun and

games, but please leave the swords, knives and other scary props at home.

EVERYONE'S INVITED!

HAVE YOU HEARD OF SANGHA TEENS OR JUNIOR Y.B.A.? Besides Dharma School for the children of elementary grades, there are two youth groups for middle school and high school age kids--Sangha Teens (middle school: 6, 7, 8 grades) and Jr. Y.B.A. (high school: 9, 10, 11, 12 grades). Please consider having your youth join either groups in order for them to meet and have fun with other dharma kids from other temples. As our children get older, there's a need to help them to grow in understanding, connect with other dharma kids, and make new friends. These youth groups can help lead the way. Please contact Bruce Arikawa, Sangha Teens advisor, or Eileen Tanaka, Jr. YBA advisor for more details.

Thank you again for your support and participation in Dharma School. See you at Temple!

In gassho,

Namo Amida Butsu

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