WELCOME!

The Reedley Buddhist Church was established in 1936 with the Rev. Rijun Katsueda becoming the first resident minister. After World War II and the relocation of the Japanese residents, the church was rebuilt in 1952-53 and the Rev. Gibun Kimura became the third minister. In 1961, the Sunday School classrooms, conference room, office, and restrooms were started and completed in 1962. A boyhood statue of Shinran Shonin was donated by Mr. Seichi Hirose of Japan and placed in the U-shaped garden. The entire project was completed and dedicated on April 15, 1967.

Rev. George Shibata, our retired resident minister, began his association with the Reedley Buddhist Church in 1975 and completed 37 years in December, 2011. Rev. Hidehito Sakamoto was appointed as resident minister in March, 2012, until December, 2013. From January, 2014 through July 2015, the church was under the supervision of the Fresno Betsuin. In August, 2015, Reedley had three ministers under a shared system of the seven temples of the Central California District Council of the Buddhist Churches of America: Rev. Kakei Nakagawa, Rev. Alan Sakamoto, and Rev. Matthew Hamasaki. The shared system is coordinated by the Central California Ministers' Association, the CCDC Ministerial Advisory Committee, and the staff of the Fresno Betsuin. In December, 2016, Rev. Alan Sakamoto retired from the BCA. Rev. Matthew Hamasaki left in January, 2018, to become the minister in Sacramento, Rev. Kaz Nakata was assigned to the Central California in August, 2019, and Rev. Mieko Majima was assigned to the Central California in February, 2024. At the present time, Rev. Majima is the supervising minister of the Reedley Buddhist Church.

The church renovated the conference room and added a new kitchen facility in 2004. They added a new wrought iron fence surrounding the property in 2006, updated the hondo in 2007, and completed a storage building next to the small kitchen in 2008. The social hall bathrooms received an update in 2010 and in 2011 the grounds between the hall and the Japanese School building were graded and decomposed granite was added. In October, 2017 the church grounds between the hall the Japanese School building were cemented, and in January, 2018, a solar panel system went into service to minimize the utility costs. During the Covid pandemic, safety measures were taken and an AED was installed in the conference room, touchless features were added to the restrooms, and PPE were added so the members could safely return to church.

The membership is approximately 100 members. The Buddhist Women's Association, the Reedley Dharma School, and the Jr. Young Buddhist Association remain active and support all activities sponsored by the church.

The Reedley Buddhist Church welcomes you to join us at any service and encourages new members to join our organization.

Upcoming Services & Activities

ONLINE SERVICES:

There are services online each Sunday at 10:00 AM. Please follow the link: https://mobile.twitter.com/fresno_nishi You can also watch the service afterwards since they are recorded.

Websites for Dharma Talks has been moved to the our LINKS TO WEBSITES page.

Sunday, October 6, 2024 - 10:00 AM - October Shotsuki Memorial & Family Dharma Service

Refreshments will follow the service.

Sunday, October 20, 2024 - 10:00 AM - Eshinni-Ko, Kakushinni--Ko, BWA Memorial
Service and Family Dharma Service

Lunch will be served.

Followed by the Dharma School Halloween Party in the hall.

Reedley 70th Annual Food Bazaar

The Reedley Food Bazaar will be held on Sunday, November 3, 2024 from 3:00 - 6:00 PM in the church social hall.
The menu consists of: Chow Mein, Boneless Teriyaki Chicken, Rice, Teriyaki Beefstick, Namasu (cucumber salad), & cookie.
Please pre-order your dinner for $20 each downloading the form to the right and sending it with your payment to: Reedley Buddhist Church - P.O. Box 24, Reedley, CA 93654

The Country Store, Spam sushi, Inari sushi, & pastries will also be available to purchase.

October Calendar

Rev. Majima's Message
October, 2024 Newsletter Article

4 Slicing Meat for Bazaar - Conf. Room 8:00 AM

5 Naito Family Memorial Service -
Hondo & Kitchen & Hall 12:00 PM

6 October Shotsuki Memorial Service,
& Family Dharma Service 10:00 AM

6 Skewer beef sticks for bazaar
Conference Room 12:00 PM

6 Jr. YBA activity - church hall 3:00 PM

20 Eshinni-Ko, Kakushinni-Ko, BWA
Memorial Service & Family Dharma
Service 10:00 AM

20 Dharma School Halloween Party
in church hall 12:00 PM

22 Reedley BC Board Meeting 7:00 PM

Ānanda’s Compassion and Wisdom:
Paving the Way to Equality

This month, I would like to share a story about one of Shakyamuni Buddha's most trusted disciples, Ānanda. Ānanda is known as the disciple who heard the most teachings of the Buddha, earning him the title "Foremost in Hearing the Teachings." He was always by the Buddha’s side, listening to his teachings and faithfully passing them on to future generations. But Ānanda was not only a vessel of knowledge. He was also known for his deep compassion and warm-hearted nature, showing kindness and understanding to everyone he encountered.

Ānanda’s life truly embodies the spirit of Buddhism, where wisdom and compassion come together. Today, I would like to share one of the most touching episodes of his life, hoping it will allow us to feel the depth of Ānanda’s wisdom and the compassion that guided his every action.

One of the most significant stories involving Ānanda highlights his role in allowing women to join the monastic community. This episode reveals his deep compassion, wisdom, and sense of justice, which shaped the course of Buddhist history.

During the Buddha’s time, the monastic order consisted only of male monks. However, Mahāpajāpatī, the Buddha’s aunt and foster mother, along with a group of women, expressed a strong desire to become fully ordained disciples. Mahāpajāpatī had cared for the Buddha since childhood, and now, inspired by his teachings, she sought to follow the path of liberation. She respectfully approached the Buddha several times, asking to be ordained as a female monk, but each time, the Buddha gently refused her request.

Despite the refusals, Mahāpajāpatī was determined and persisted. She shaved her head, donned simple robes, and, along with 500 other women from the Shakya clan, walked barefoot for numerous miles to where the Buddha was residing. When she arrived, exhausted yet undeterred, she again made her plea.

Ānanda, witnessing the dedication and determination of Mahāpajāpatī and the other women, felt moved by their sincerity. Understanding the importance of fairness and compassion, Ānanda approached the Buddha to speak on their behalf. With deep respect, Ānanda asked, “The

exalted one, is it possible for women, just as men, to attain enlightenment if they follow the path of the Dhamma?”

The Buddha responded affirmatively, acknowledging that women, like men, are capable of realizing enlightenment and achieving liberation from suffering. Encouraged by this, Ānanda continued, “If this is true, should we not allow women who are devoted to the teachings, such as your aunt Mahāpajāpatī, to be ordained and join the monastic order?”

After reflecting on Ānanda’s words and the dedication of Mahāpajāpatī and the other women, the Buddha agreed. However, he established particular guidelines for the new community of female monks to maintain harmony within the monastic order. This marked the founding of the Bhikkhunī Sangha, the community of fully ordained female monastics, a groundbreaking development in the history of Buddhism.

This event is not only significant for its role in establishing the Bhikkhunī order, but also because it demonstrates Ānanda’s deep compassion and wisdom. By advocating for the inclusion of women in the monastic community, Ānanda helped create a more inclusive and equal Buddhist Sangha, where both men and women could dedicate their lives to the path of enlightenment.

Ānanda’s role in this story shows his understanding that genuine compassion extends to all beings, regardless of gender, and that wisdom must be accompanied by fairness. His efforts paved the way for generations of women to practice Buddhism fully, leaving an enduring legacy of equality and kindness in the Buddhist tradition.

With deep gratitude,
Namo Amida Butsu

The Peacock King and the Hunter
(for the children)

Once upon a time, in a lush, green forest, there lived a magnificent Peacock King. His feathers were more beautiful than any other bird's, with colors that sparkled in the sunlight like a rainbow. But more than his beauty, the Peacock King was known for his kindness. He lived peacefully with all the animals in the forest, always helping others and never causing harm.

Far away, in a grand palace, there was a human king. One day, he heard stories about the Peacock King’s incredible feathers, and he decided he must have them for himself. So, he called for a hunter and gave him a challenging task. “Go to the forest and bring me the Peacock King,” the human king said. “If you succeed, I will reward you with gold and treasures. But if you fail, there will be consequences.”

The hunter, worried but determined, went into the deep forest. He knew it wouldn’t be easy to catch the wise Peacock King, so he set a clever trap. He placed delicious fruit on the ground, hoping to lure the peacock in. After some time, the Peacock King, curious about the sweet smell of the fruit, wandered toward the trap. Not knowing it was dangerous, he stepped onto the trap, and suddenly a net closed around him! The Peacock King was caught.

The hunter quickly came to see his prize. But when the Peacock King looked up at him, his eyes were calm and full of wisdom. He did not fight or cry for help. Instead, he spoke softly to the hunter. “I live in this forest peacefully with all the other animals. I have never hurt anyone. If you take me away, my friends will be very sad. Please, let me go,” said the Peacock King.

The hunter felt a pang of guilt in his heart. But he was afraid. “The king’s orders are very important to me,” the hunter said, “How can I disobey the king and let you go?”

The Peacock King smiled gently and replied, “Even if you must break the king’s orders, saving a life is always the right thing to do. If you choose what is right, it will bring you true happiness and guide you throughout your life. Gold and riches cannot bring you the joy that kindness will.”

The hunter stood there, thinking about the Peacock King’s wise words. His heart began to soften, and he knew what he had to do. “You are right,” the hunter said. “I will follow my heart and do what is right.” With that, the hunter carefully removed the net and set the Peacock King free.

The Peacock King stretched his beautiful wings and said, “Thank you for your kindness. Remember, the good you do today will always be with you. It will be a light that guides you through life.”

The hunter watched as the Peacock King flew gracefully into the trees, disappearing into the forest. The hunter returned to the human king and told him the truth about what had happened.

To his surprise, the human king was not angry. Instead, he praised the hunter for being honest and following his heart. “You have shown true wisdom,” the king said, “and that is more valuable than any treasure.”

And so, the hunter lived peacefully, knowing that he had done the right thing, and the Peacock King continued to live happily in the forest, his kindness remembered by all the animals.

Congratulations to Kenji Kajihara, the 2024 Reedley Dharma Scholarship Recipient. L to R: Reedley BC President; Larry Nishida, Kenji Kajihara, & Rev. Mieko Majima.

The 2024 Reedley Buddhist Church Cabinet and BWA Cabinet

Reedley Board Meetings

The Reedley Buddhist Church Board started the year having their meetings online using Zoom, but moved to in-person when everyone was fully vaccinated. They have met each month and discussed ways to improve procedures when we return to on site church services and activities.
The restrooms have been updated with touchless faucets, soap dispensers, and paper towel dispensers. Doors to the restroom do not have any handles as they are being changed to push only. An AED defibrillator was purchased for any emergencies as well.
Church services resumed, but depending on the local health directives, this will change from month to month. We may be sitting further apart, but at least we'll be together to listen to the Dharma.

Reedley Buddhist Church

​WELCOME!