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1. What services are held on Sunday?

There is a Meditation Service from 8:30-9:30 AM in the Mini Chapel. From 10:00-10:45 AM there is Family Service in the Main Hondo. After the Family Service there is an Adult Study Class from 11:00-11:30 AM in the Social Hall. During the Adult Study Class the children attend Dharma School which is analogous to Sunday School in the Christian tradition.

About once a month we have a Special Service. The Special Service commemorates a special day or event in Buddhism. On these Sundays the Family Service is replaced by the Special Service. We do not have the Adult Study Class or Dharma School when we have a Special Service.

2. Do I have to go to all the services every Sunday?

No. You may go to as many or as few as you wish and often as you wish. Some prefer to come to Meditation Service only and others come only for the Adult Study Class.

3. What is the attire?

Most people dress business casual but you can also be more formal or less formal depending on what you are comfortable with.

4. What does it mean to be a Buddhist?

Being a Buddhist means different things to different people. In general, Buddhism tries to avoid making such distinctions. There is no formal oath and there is nothing to renounce. Buddhism is very inclusive and is for all people. For example, you may be a practicing Christian and attend OCBC. Ultimately you have to decide what it means to be Buddhist.

5. What is the meaning of offering incense?

Incense offering is called Oshoko. Offering incense is not a formal ritual like communion in the Christian tradition. Initially, offering incense expresses a sense of gratitude and humbleness. However, the act itself is not as important as is the mind of some one who can sincerely bow. Offering incense is not idol worship.

6. Do I have to be a member of OCBC?

No you do not have to be a member of the church to attend. Everyone is welcome.

7. What is a Sustaining Member?

A Sustaining Member is some one who would like to help OCBC financially in order to propagate Buddhism. You do not have to be a Sustaining Member to attend services or classes. If you would like to one day become a Sustaining Member then it would be greatly appreciated be it is not required. It is $180 a year for an individual and $360 for an entire family.

8. What is the BEC?

The BEC is the Buddhist Education Center at OCBC. The BEC offers courses on Buddhism in the Fall, Winter and Spring. We offer about three to four different courses per trimester. The courses are $40 each and meet one night a week for six to eight weeks. This is a very good way to learn about Buddhism.

9. What must I do as a Buddhist?

OCBC practices a form of Buddhism called Pure Land Buddhism. One of the schools of Pure Land Buddhism in Japan is called Shin Buddhism. The main practice in Shin Buddhism is to listen to the teachings and develop self awareness and over time the way you look at the world will gradually change on its own accord. There are not too many must do’s or should do’s in Shin Buddhism. In Shin Buddhism you do not have to do anything but you must do something. It is important for you to discover what this something is. It may be listening, reading or meditating. Discovering this something is the path.

Typical Sunday at OCBC

There is a Meditation Service from 8:30-9:30 AM in the Mini Chapel. This is the smaller structure to the left of the Main Hondo. Do not enter the Mini Chapel through the large double doors. Instead quietly enter the alcove through the door to the right of the double doors. Next remove your shoes. You may go barefoot if you wish. Please take a service book and a cushion and enter the Mini Chapel. You may sit on the floor or on a chair. We perform sitting meditation for ten minutes, then walking meditation for five minutes, then another ten minutes of sitting meditation. Then we chant a sutra for ten minutes and then have a ten minute Dharma talk given by the Sensei. Then we offer incense. This is called Oshoko. When you exit the Mini Chapel please return the service book, cushion and put your shoes back on.

There is Family Service from 10:00-10:45 AM in the Main Hondo. You may sit in any row as long as it is not reserved. If the row is reserved then a small sign will be posted on the first seat along the center isle. The Family Service begins with the ringing of the bell. When you hear this you should sit down and quietly wait for the service to begin. First a sutra is chanted. Then we repeat some Buddhist sayings and sing a couple songs. Then we have a Dharma talk given by one of the Sensei’s. After the Dharma talk we offer incense.

After the Family Service there is an Adult Study Class from 11:00-11:30 AM in the Social Hall. This is the building directly across from the Main Hondo. At the Adult Study Class the Sensei will present a topic related to Buddhism. The setting is very informal. The presentation is followed up by a discussion along with questions and answers. During the Adult Study Class the children attend Dharma School which is analogous to Sunday School in the Christian tradition.

About once a month we have a Special Service. The Special Service commemorates a special day or event in Buddhism. On these Sundays, the Family Service is replaced by the Special Service. The format of the Special Service is similar to that of the Family Service except that the Dharma Talk is given by a guest speaker. The format of the Meditation Service and the Special Service is also a bit more formal. We do not have the Adult Study Class or Dharma School when we have a Special Service but we do have the Meditation Service.