Hanamatsuri is the celebration service commemorating the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha in 566 BCE in Lumbini Garden. The Hanamatsuri service will be broadcast Sunday, April 11 at 10:00 am.
For this joyous occasion, the Hanamido will be decorated by the Temple children with flowers and a statue of the baby Buddha will be placed inside. Attendees will pour sweet tea over the shoulder of the statue instead of offering incense.
Temple will be open from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm so those who are comfortable can come to the temple and offer sweet tea to our Baby Buddha in the Hanamido and pick up a cupcake prepared by BWA's Toban 2. We will follow COVID precautions in place when you attend. Please make sure to wear a mask. We will ask you questions about your health and scan your temperature.
Donations are accepted to purchase flowers! We hope you will join us on April 11th. Contact Kyoko Gibbs if you will be able to make a donation of flowers.
For this joyous occasion, the Hanamido will be decorated by the Temple children with flowers and a statue of the baby Buddha will be placed inside. Attendees will pour sweet tea over the shoulder of the statue instead of offering incense.
Temple will be open from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm so those who are comfortable can come to the temple and offer sweet tea to our Baby Buddha in the Hanamido and pick up a cupcake prepared by BWA's Toban 2. We will follow COVID precautions in place when you attend. Please make sure to wear a mask. We will ask you questions about your health and scan your temperature.
Donations are accepted to purchase flowers! We hope you will join us on April 11th. Contact Kyoko Gibbs if you will be able to make a donation of flowers.
Ho-Onkoo
Ho-Onkoo, meaning a gathering to express our indebtedness and thankfulness, is a memorial service in honor of Shinran Shonin. It is also an occasion to express our gratitude to Amida Buddha for having awakened us to life's supreme meaning. Ho-Onko is the most important Jodo Shinshu ceremony. At Honzan, our parent temple in Kyoto, Japan, Ho-Onko is a week-long observance from the 9th through the 16th of January.
According to the western calendar, Shinran Shonin was born on May 21, 1173 and died on January 16, 1262. After his death, Shinran's followers would gather in memory of their teacher on the 28th day of each month according to the traditional lunar calendar. Some 33 years later, Kakunyo Shonin, the 3rd Gomonshu, a descendent of Shinran sama and head of the Hongwanji religious organization, established the regulations for this ceremony called Ho-Onko Shiki. Later, the 4th Gomonshu, Zonkaku Shonin, set the observance for once a year. The ceremonies were started on the 21st and concluded on the 28th of the 11th month according to the lunar calendar. In 1872, the Hongwanji-ha (Nishi Hongwanji) changed to the western calendar, setting the date of Shinran sama's death at January 16. The Otani-ha (Higashi Hongwanji) observes Ho-Onko according to the old lunar calendar and has established the date as the 28th of November.
Ho-Onko is one of the principal religious festivals in which one participates in "Hearing the Light" of Amida's Compassionate embrace through listening to Dharma Messages, holding ritual ceremonies, and participating in Sangha Fellowship.
According to the western calendar, Shinran Shonin was born on May 21, 1173 and died on January 16, 1262. After his death, Shinran's followers would gather in memory of their teacher on the 28th day of each month according to the traditional lunar calendar. Some 33 years later, Kakunyo Shonin, the 3rd Gomonshu, a descendent of Shinran sama and head of the Hongwanji religious organization, established the regulations for this ceremony called Ho-Onko Shiki. Later, the 4th Gomonshu, Zonkaku Shonin, set the observance for once a year. The ceremonies were started on the 21st and concluded on the 28th of the 11th month according to the lunar calendar. In 1872, the Hongwanji-ha (Nishi Hongwanji) changed to the western calendar, setting the date of Shinran sama's death at January 16. The Otani-ha (Higashi Hongwanji) observes Ho-Onko according to the old lunar calendar and has established the date as the 28th of November.
Ho-Onko is one of the principal religious festivals in which one participates in "Hearing the Light" of Amida's Compassionate embrace through listening to Dharma Messages, holding ritual ceremonies, and participating in Sangha Fellowship.