Weekly Wheel: Recent Episodes
Orange County Buddhist Church
Reverend Jon Turner: "Insight into the past, present, and future by way of the Dickens classic: 'A Christmas Carol' "
Reverend Jon Turner: "Shin Reader: Fluke: Chance, Chaos, And Why Everything We Do Matters"
Minister's Assistant James Pollard: "Yonezawa's 'Awaken to Your True Self:' Deeply Sinful Foolish Beings"
Minister's Assistant James Pollard: "Excerpt: Yonezawa's 'Awaken to Your True Self' (Being Sustained by the Other Shore)"
"Twenty Five Years in the Making" [Turner]Reverend Turner thinks back to his first moments at OCBC, 25 years ago, and, later, his first Korin article.
Don't get hit by the SECOND arrow of suffering: the one you fire at yourself: Reverend Jon Turner discusses how we can be hurt by a second, self-imposed round of suffering. [Turner]
Minister's Assistant Janis Hirohama discusses Thanksgiving Day's feature item: the food! Not specific to this day (yet apropos), as Buddhists, everything around us deserves our gratitude, including that which is on the dinner plate. [Encore presentation]
Minister's Assistant Teresa Shimogawa: "Arigato [有難う] in a 7-11" -- Japanese "attitude of gratitude" in a simple, yet not-so-simple word [Shimogawa]
The five "Love Languages:" which one(s) to you speak? Which one(s) do you hear? Reverend Jon Turner discusses how we can accept and give love to those whom we love. [Tuner]
"A BOOdha Halloween:" Reverend Jon Turner discusses how the fate of the Gaki (餓鬼) reminds us to be mindful of our current place within the six realms, while still enjoying our "treats."And don't forget your toothbrush! [Turner]
Excerpt: "Awaken to Your True Self" (Yonezawa) ~ people who live with Shinjin: Ms. Kamishiro [Pollard]
Excerpt: "Awaken to Your True Self" (Yonezawa) ~ people who live with Shinjin: Ms. Takinami [Pollard]
Reverend Ellen Hamada Crane tells the story of her two greatest Dharma teachers: her own own mother, Masako Hamada, and well-known temple member Sachi Ochiai.
Reverend Ellen Hamada Crane: Hongan (本願, or "primal vow"): as inner-most aspiration [Crane]
We return after hiatus with episode #114: "Group Karma: It's Nothing Personal" [Rev. Jon Turner]
Minister's Assistant James Pollard: Taitetsu Unno's Epilogue to Gyodo Haguri's "The Awareness of Self"
Minister's Assistant James Pollard: Taitetsu Unno's Prologue to Gyodo Haguri's "The Awareness of Self"
Minister's Assistant Janis Hirohama: "Our True Home Is the Here And Now (Thich Nhat Hanh)"
Reverend Doctor Mutsumi Wondra: "Do Buddhists Ever Eat Meat?" (live family service audio)
Minister's Assistant Janis Hirohama: "Life Affirming Practice of Visiting Graves" (cf. Obon)
Guest speaker BCA Bishop Reverend Marvin Harada returns for our 100th episode to discuss: "Transcending Worldly Wishes" "
Reverend Jon Turner: Bodhi Day (December 8th), the day Siddharta Gautama discovered Enlightenment
Reverend Ellen Crane discusses the origin story of the Bon celebration: "Why We Have Obon"
What do we believe? A common question asked of Buddhists every day. Minister's Assistant Ron Taber discusses why the most direct answer to this question is: "nothing."
Minister's Assistant Ron Taber speaks to the message of something simple: the Kansho (beckoning / calling) bell, a harkening to action and a form of sound meditation, all wrapped up into one (even before the "real" meditation begins).
Reverend Jon Turner touches upon what most people usually ask about Buddhism (from the outside), but: are the questions the right questions, or questions that lead to non-answers about who we truly are? What can bring us closer to understanding the true Buddhist heart?
Reverend Jon Turner recollects a special memory, seeing Stevie Ray Vaughn, and connects to one of the star's single-most important moments, a point that is more poignnant now than it was in the moment.
Minister's Assistant Janis Hirohama shares, from her own experience, that even pain can be a teacher of the Dharma.
Reverend Jon Turner speaks regarding the three ... perhaps FOUR poisons and their antidotes.
Minister's Assistant Ron Taber explains "Shigata ga Nai," a phrase loosely translated as "it can't be helped." This phrase isn't a defeatist attitude; it represents a hands-off approach to life, what will come will come, and what will be will be.
Minister's Assistant Ron Taber speaks to the paradox of social distancing, as we start to see the "light at the end of the tunnel" of COVID-19 and its effect on our daily lives. The concept of "distancing to stay alive" is in direct conflict with the power of "Sangha" (Buddhist community), and our need as humans to interact regularly.
"The Wisdom of Zen Monk Ryokan" (presented by guest lecturer: Minister's Assistant Ros Dong, Vista Buddhist Temple)
Vista Buddhist Temple's Minister's Assistant Rosalyn Dong starts each day with a simple question. Mother nature vs human nature: how's the weather inside ... you?
Minister's Assistant Janis Hirohama discusses one of the most troubling aspects within our attempts to see our Buddha-nature: the Ego-Self.
BCA Bishop Reverend Marvin Harada has a message to all of us who are NOT graduating from school this year: you never graduate from Buddhism! We never "know it all" but instead, we are always learning, always seeking, always growing in Namo Amida Butsu.
Reverend Ellen Crane discusses: why do we have Obon? Obon is a special celebration within Buddhism, most popularly identified by its Bon-Odori (盆踊り: Bon dance). The festival itself and the dance both honor those who have lived (and passed) before us. We honor their contributions to the "causes and conditions" that brought us to where we are today, and join with them, in memory, and in Namo Amida Butsu.
As The Weekly Wheel approaches its first anniversary, Reverend Jon Turner discussed Obon, and why the origin of the Bon-Odori (盆踊り) is, in fact, a dance for joy.
Reverend Jon Turner discusses how our daily practice (and our daily actions) are, in fact, "spiritual exercises."
Minister's Assistant James Pollard discusses how our practice (our thoughts, words, intentions, and actions) are not just representations of our faith but themselves are beyond faith.
Reverend Ellen Crane shares the two of the greatest sources of inspiration on her path from the Gejin to the Naijin. Can you guess who they are?
"The Shin Buddhist Path:" Reverend Ellen Crane discusses the journey that brought her to (and along) the Shin Buddhist Path.
BCA Bishop (and special guest) Reverend Marvin Harada discusses "お影様" (o-Kage-Sama), an expression of gratitude to all those who participated in ksuccess.
Silent meditation: 10 minutes sitting, 10 minutes standing, and 10 minutes sitting [led by Reverend Jon Turner]
"Practicing at a Distance:" Reverend Jon Turner talks about how we should "physically distance" but not "socially distance," keeping those things that are dear to us near and within reach.
Meditation with music: 15 minutes sitting, 5 minutes standing, & 10 minutes sitting. Leader: Reverend Jon Turner
"Decluttering Both Our Home And Ourselves:" Reverend Jon Turner ponders: would Marie Kondo's method of de-cluttering work for our own selves as well as our homes?
Quick bites: BCA Bishop Reverend Marvin Harada links the "cabin fever," self-quarantine, and the Wizard of Oz together to share his new BCA program: "Dial the Dharma."
"Power of Resilience by Hearing the Buddhas Deep Wish to Us" -- Rev. Dr. Wondra reminds us: despite the social separation, fear, and worry: we are never alone; the Dharma binds us all, interconnectively, throughout the ten directions.
"Intersections" -- Reverend Ellen Crane shares a previous experience at a lecture, learning about how we can approach the intersections of our lives through the view of the Buddha-Dharma.
"Putting Away Samsara:" one of the biggest hopes we have as Buddhists is to break the cycle of delusion (the world of Samsara). Minister's Assistant James Pollard highlights a simple path to understanding the cycle, why we're stuck in it, and how to break free.
Minister's Assistant James Pollard leads us in the JUNIRAI chant, the latest entry in our "chant-only" podcast episode series.
This podcast episode features a frequently-requested change: meditation with background music. The music is donated by artist Riley Lee (used with permission).
Reverend Jon Turner leads us in the Shoshinge chant, Gyofu style (the more formal format).
Special guest Reverend Marvin Harada revisits a topic he, and his family, have faced before: finding peace in a chaotic world.
Reverend Ellen Crane leads us in the Sambutsuge chant. The words are available as a PDF download on our website: http://OCBuddhist.org/
Silent meditation only, led by Reverend Jon Turner (10 minutes sitting, 5 minutes standing, & 15 minutes sitting).
Minister's Assistant Matthew Stolz ponders: do otters understand the message of the Dharma better than we do? It seems so ....
"Putting Out Fire with Gasoline:" are we making the good or bad decisions in the craziness that is our "COVID-19 life?" Are our decisions like water on the fire, or, like gasoline? [Turner]
Minister's Assistant Matthew Stolz recalls when the Dharma, bad traffic apps, and nature all intersecting into Namo Amida Butsu.
"Wisdom from My Mother" -- Reverend Marvin Harada reflects upon his mother, her new car, his grandparents strong faith, and how life experiences can grant spiritual strength.
Reverend Jon Turner shares the lesson he learned about where the safest place to swim when rescuing a dog and rescuing yourself through the Dharma.
"Shin Buddhist Perspective on the Coronavirus" -- Reverend Doctor Mutsumi Wondra reminds us to remain calm and keep perspective in this time of panic and fear. Shinran Shonin himself also faced adversity and sickness; we too shall endure if we put faith in Namo Amida Butsu.
Minister's Assistant Janis Hirohama demonstrates an every-day example of "shallow graditute" vs "deep gratitude" and why the difference really matters
Reverend Jon Turner discusses the origins and benefits of why we chant.
Special notice: The OCBC campus is now closed until 2020-03-31. All regularly scheduled events, meetings, and groups are cancelled or postponed until then. See http://OCBuddhist.org/ for up to date information.
Reverend Jon Turner discusses how the Wheel of Dharma turns every day, and yet also turns from, age to age, representing the next stage in the methods of transmitting the Dharma.
One of Reverend Marvin Harada's favorite stories: "The Two Paintings" -- where you can find appreciation, sometimes with very little effort.
Reverend Jon Turner discusses Parinirvana day: the day when Gautama Buddha reached ultimate enlightenment.
When you walk in the rain: you get wet. Sometimes, you have to get wet to get anywhere. Reverend Jon Turner tells the story of how we must "get wet" with the Dharma in order to experience and learn it.
Shinmin Sakamura was an elegant Japanese poet. Reverend Doctor Mutsumi Wondra discusses two of his poems: "ありがたさ" (Arigata-sa: "Gratitude") and "二度とない人生だから" (Ni-Do to Nai Jinsei Dakara: "Life Vanishes, Once For All").
Anger is powerful, unless you give it a name. Reverend Jon Turner discusses the power of anger, and how it can be stripped of its power.
Do we really need to have "THE answer" to life, and the moments within? Will we ever run out of questions? Reverend Jon Turner discusses the value of the "critical thinking" approach to Buddhism and life as a whole.
Reverend Jon Turner reminds us: if we have a "plan" for the new year, make it a good plan. More importantly: make it a realizable plan.
Minister's Assistant Janis Hirohama answers a very common question we hear every December: DO Buddhists, in fact, celebrate Christmas?!
Reverend Jon Turner discusses how past, present, and future make us to what we are today (and will be tomorrow).
After celebrating Thanksgiving and anticipating Christmas (both seasons of appreciation and gratitude), Reverend Ellen Crane reflects on: why we are grateful?
Rev. Jon Turner speaks about what it is to be a Buddha. December 8th is Bodhi Day: the day during when Siddhartha Gautama (the historical Buddha) realized Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya at age 35. This date is known as "Nirvana Day" and marks the beginning of his 45 years of teaching the Dharma to the masses.
Minister's Assistant Janis Hirohama discusses eating with gratitude, involving really fun yet fattening county fair food.
Minister's Assistant Matthew Stolz talks about interconnectivity between the people you encounter in life.
Rev. Harada discusses exponentially-linked families, Monarch Butterflies, and (special guest) Freddie's famous family
Reverend Jon Turner discusses how the fate of the Gaki (餓鬼) reminds us to be mindful of our current place within the six realms, while still enjoying our "treats." And don't forget your toothbrush!
Episode #001: mini service with Obon theme, Dharma Talk "Dancing for Joy" by Reverend Jon Turner
2019-09-20: Meditation session featuring information from Dogen Zenji's Fukan Zazen-Gi (Universal Recommendation of Zazen [meditation]), presented by Reverend Jon Turner
Reverend Jon Turner discusses the path from the sutras to the chants: Jūseige, Sambutsuge, & Shijūhachi-Gan.
Episode #3: Meditation service. Dharma talk by Minister's Assistant Jim Pollard: "Why Meditate?"