Services
For many members, young and old, the ministers' Dharma message at the regular Sunday service affords the primary opportunity to listen to the Teachings. During the major Buddhist holidays special services are held with guest ministers invited to address the Sangha, in English and Japanese. The monthly evening memorial services provide additional opportunities to listen to the Dharma while paying respects to loved ones who have passed on.

Dharma School
The primary objective of the Orange County Dharma School is to promote and spread the teachings of the Buddha and to help the students have a better understanding of Jodo Shinshu. The Dharma School curriculum consists of Buddhist Holidays, Buddhist Etiquette, the Life of the Buddha, the Life of Shinran Shonin, and many other Buddhist related topics.
Currently there are approximately 200 active students registered in the Dharma School. There are twelve classes from pre-school to college age. About twelve students from the second to the sixth grade are members of the Orange County Dharma School Choir.

Many temple members are involved with the Dharma School. Most of the volunteers are parents of Dharma School children. Fifty-five staff members teach in the classroom, help in the library and with resources, serve on the hospitality committee, organize the Sunday services, and baby-sit infants and toddlers.

A governing body within the Dharma School staff is made up of a Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Publicity/Historian. Monthly staff meetings are held on the first Sunday of the month to discuss activities and to share ideas of teaching topics and techniques.

Teachers' Conferences
Teachers attend the Southern District Dharma School Teachers' Conference and the Federation of Dharma School Teachers' Conference. These annual gatherings provide them with an opportunity to share and discuss ways in which Buddhism can be exposed to the students. Ministers are involved in the workshops and provide teachers with guidance. By attending these conferences teachers are always learning new things about Jodo Shinshu which in turn benefit the students.

Adult Classes
In conjunction with the Dharma School classes, classes for adults are conducted in English by Rev. Doami and in Japanese by Rev. Hirata. Study sessions range from discussions on general Buddhism to intensive study of Jodo Shinshu utilizing texts and other materials. Topics in comparative religions are also covered.. In the Japanese session one of the subjects is everyday Japanese expressions which have their origin in Buddhism. In addition to these formal classes, all three ministers take turns every Sunday in presenting subjects of a more general nature to a larger group of parents and adults.

Summer Session
After Obon the Dharma School takes a recess until September when the school year begins. During the summer months the ministers take turns conducting an informal discussion session every Sunday morning.

Special Class in Buddhism
From time to time, Rev. Harada conducts a series of evening classes to those persons who desire a basic understanding of Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu. The response has been excellent. Subjects covered include life of Sakyamuni Buddha, basic teachings of Buddhism, life of Shinran Shonin, basics of the Pure Land Teaching, description and meaning of the altar, and everyday Buddhist practices and observances.

Special Translation Class
Rev. Harada conducts an on-going translation study class in which Buddhist materials are translated from the Japanese to English. Discussion is then held on the translated materials.

Orange County Buddhist Church Seminars
For a number of years the Orange County Buddhist Church has held a one day seminar twice a year during the Spring and Fall Ohigan. These seminars are organized by the Religious Vice President, assisted by the ministers, and have both English and Japanese sessions. Guest ministers are invited to conduct the seminars. Temple members look forward to these gatherings as they allow exposure to Jodo Shinshu from various viewpoints.

Howakai
Home gatherings have been conducted to accomodate families living in newly developing areas of the county relatively far from the temple. The mostly young families have generously offered their homes as a gathering place for appreciative members to listen to the Dharma. Presently a monthly howakai is held for members in the Irvine, or South Orange County area.

Conferences and Seminars

Buddhist Women's Association (BWA)
Members of the Orange County BWA participate in district and national meetings annually and the World Conference every four years. Educational opportunities are presented by special speakers and panel discussions. Discussion topics are relevant primarily to Buddhist women.

At the temple level, an annual Eshinni-sama memorial service is combined with a memorial service for deceased BWA members. Ministers present Dharma messages in Japanese and English.

Junior Young Buddhist Association (Jr. YBA)
Members of the Jr. YBA participate in an annual two-day District Conference. Educational agenda items include services, speakers, workshops, and discussions. The range of subjects include those of interest to youths. The Orange County Jr. YBA hosts the conference every six or seven years.

A southern district retreat is held offsite at a campground. This two-day event has its emphasis on a religious program with in-depth discussion of general Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu. Also, an Orange County Jr. YBA retreat is held occasionally at the temple.

Southern district seminars are held twice a year and is hosted by different chapters. Services, speakers, and panel discussions make up the educational aspect of these gatherings.

Senior Young Buddhist Association (Sr. YBA)
Members of the Sr. YBA attend the annual one day district conference and the annual weekend Western Young Buddhist League (WYBL) Conference hosted by one of the districts on a rotation basis every four or five years. Services, speakers, and discussions are offered as part of the religious educational program.

Young Adult Buddhist Association (YABA)
Services, speakers, and discussions make up the educational program of the annual Cal-YABA Conference at which Orange County members participate.

Southern District Shinto-taikai (Adult Buddhist Conference)
Orange County members participate in the annual Shinto-taikai and listen to the Dharma messages presented by various speakers.

Sangha Teens
Rev. Harada presents a Dharma message annually for the Sangha Teens (7th to 9th grade students) as part of their religious program.

Sangha/Padma/Award Class
About every other year, classes are held for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts who wish to earn the Sangha/Padma award. Dharma School students who are not in the scouting program also participate and receive recognition for completion of the course. The number of participants range from 15 to 25. Classes are held twice a month in the evening for one year, and cover the fundamentals of Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu. As part of the program a short service is conducted at the beginning of each class in which one student leads the sutra chanting and another student gives a short talk on Buddhism. Students are required to write essays, take examinations, and answer questions before a final board of review.

Monshinko
As part of the monthly Monshinko meeting, Rev. Hirata gives a message in Japanese. Subjects include such topics as Buddhist etiquette, Buddhist holidays, incense offering, the meaning of the sutras, and basic Shinshu practices.

Library
A main function of the temple library is to provide the Dharma School teachers with the reference and teaching materials needed to assist them in sharing the Dharma with the students. The library is available to all temple members and is a valuable resource in furthering the understanding of Buddhism. There is an extensive selection of books on Jodo Shinshu, Theravada, and Zen Buddhist teachings available for loan. In addition, the library has a continually growing selection of video tapes for use in the classroom and for home viewing.

The library also serves as the temple book store. A variety of books on art and poetry, Japanese history and culture, and children's stories are for sale. Ritual items such as ojuzu, obutsudan, incense, and candles are also available for purchase. The library is open each Sunday morning under the supervision of the Dharma School.

Korin
An important feature of the temple's monthly bilingual newsletter are the messages contributed by the ministers. Often times the minister's Sunday sermons are reproduced. At other times, thoughtful essays are presented for contemplation by the members. These articles serve the members who are confined to their homes and those who are unable to attend the services on a regular basis.

Senior Citizens Gathering
Once a month the Buddhist Women's Association sponsors a senior citizens gathering. A vital part of the enjoyable day which includes lunch, birthday recognitions, and socializing, is the Dharma message presented by Rev. Hirata in Japanese to the attendees who are fluent in that language. A major topic is an explanation fo Shinran Shonin's Wasan (poems) which he wrote in his later years.

Outside Speaking Requests
On numerous occasions, Rev. Harada is asked to speak at schools, colleges, and churches in the community. Despite his heavy workload he responds to these requests as much as possible to educate the interested parties about our religion.

Annually Rev. Harada spends time at the Los Angeles Buddhist Coordinating Council Summer Camp in the San Bernadino mountains, which is a week long Buddhist camp for children from the various temples in Southern California, including temples of different Buddhist denominations than Jodo Shinshu. At the camp, ministers conduct morning services with Dharma messages and also conduct religious classes for the children of ages 8 to 13.