Welcome to the Orange Country Buddhist Church - Dharma School Web site. We hope you will find this information helpful. For more information on any of the special services or Dharma School questions, please contact the church office
Sunday School, as Dharma School was previously known, began in the late 1920s at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Toichi Kodama of Santa Ana. From 1931, Sunday School utilized the facilities of the Japanese School in the community of Talbert, now part of the city of Fountain Valley. This arrangement continued until the first temple building was built in 1935 on the property of Mr. and Mrs. Taikichi Kato in Talbert.
Regular weekly services are held on Sunday beginning with a Meditation Service at 8:30 am in the mini chapel followed by the Family Service at 10 am with Dharma School classes, Adult classes in English and Japanese beginning about 10:45 am.
Family services are held in the Main Hondo with overflow seating available in the mini chapel. After family service, Dharma School classes are held for school-aged students from Pre-School to College level. There are also adult study classes in English and one in Japanese.
Dharma School students may enroll once they have reached the age of three and all new students may enroll at anytime during the school year. Registration forms are available at the Hospitality table at the entrance of the Hondo.
During major Buddhist holidays, special services are held with guest ministers invited to address the Sangha in English and Japanese. These services commemorate a special day or event in Buddhism. On these Sundays, the family service is replaced by the special service and Dharma School and Adult classes do not meet.
Special Service and Dharma School Event calendar
January:
- Shusho E (New Year's Day)
- Ho-on-ko (Shiran Shonin Memorial Day)
March:
April:
- Hanamatsuri (Sakyamuni Buddha's Birthday)
May:
- Gotane (Shinran Shonin's Birthday)
- Hatsumairi
July:
September:
November:
- Eitaikyo (Perpetual Memorial Service)
- Ti-Sarana
December:
- Oseibo Taikai
- Mochitsuki
- Joyane (New Year's Eve Service)
Dharma School Objective:
The primary objective of Dharma School is to promote and spread the teaching of the Buddha and to help the students have a better uderstanding of Jodo Shinshu. Dharma School curriculum consists of Buddhist holidays, proper etiquette in the temple, the life of Buddha, the life of Shinran Shonin, and many other Buddhist related topics.
The Dharma School consists of the following classes:
Momo: Pre-School (ages 3 -5)
Sakura: Kindergarten
Fuji: First grade
Yuri: Second grade
Kikyo: Third grade
Ume: Fourth grade
Kiku: Fifth grade
Sumire: Sixth grade
Hasu: Seventh grade
Ayame: Eighth grade
Matsu: Ninth grade and higher.
During the Calendar year, there are special presentation services for Dharma School students.
In November, the fourth grade class participates in the Ti-Sarana Rites, which is held in conjunction with the Eitaikyo Service. Yodo Nyumon Shiki is a service in which a child, age nine or older, will solemnly pledge to endeavor, learn, and follow the Buddha Dharma to the best of their ability. At this gathering, the students receive a certificate from the Bishop verifying the student's participation and an Okesa from the temple.
December has our Oseibo Taikai service, which is the end of the year party. After the family service, student work from the past year is on display.
Hanamatsuri Service and Bazaar happens on consecutive weekends in April. The Hanamatsuri Service, where Dharma School student participate by presenting flowers and pouring sweet tea over a miniature statue of Amida Buddha in the Hanamido. The following weekend is the annual Hanamatsuri Bazaar in the church parking lot. Here there are games to play, food to eat and displays of Dharma School students work, in the mini chapel, along with other organizations part of OCBC in the classrooms.
In May, in conjunction with the Gotan-E service, is the Hatsumairi Rites or the presentation of infants to the Buddha and a commitment of the part of the parents to raise their infants in a Buddhist home. Infants presented are those born since the previous year's Gotan-E service.
The last Family Service, in June, is the awards service where graduating seniors from high school and college are recognized. During this service, the Dharma School Students who have perfect attendance throughout the Dharma School year receive a lapel pin - indicating the number of consecutive years of perfect attendance, a ribbon, and a certificate of attendance. Students with one or two day absences receive a ribbon and a certificate of attendance. The following guidelines have `been established in 2004, to clarify a student's attendance.
OCBC Dharma School Attendance Guidelines.
Other groups related to the Dharma School are the OCBC Library, Family Choir, and our SCRIP Program.
The Library, located on the second floor of the classroom building in Room 2, houses books on Buddhism to Japanese American culture which are available for check-out. The library also has Ojuzus, Obutsudans, and accessories for sale. Library hours are from 11:30 am to noon - after Dharma School classes. Ojuzus are also for sale in the church office.
The OCBC Family Choir is comprised of members young and old. They perform at many services during the school year and have also been on tour Hawaii. If you are interested in joining the choir, rehearsals are after Dharma School classes, in the Main Hondo.
Each Sunday after service, there is a table outside the Main Hondo where you may purchase SCRIP for many different eating and shopping locations. These make excellent gifts!! Profits from this program supplement Dharma School activities.
For more information on any of the special services or Dharma School questions, please contact the church office for more information. |
