Rissho Kosei-Kai of San Antonio

Some of our Nisei Week attendees got up and spoke about their amazing experience last weekend in Los Angeles with Rissho Kosei Kai LA. We want to thank all our members for your support over the years.

We’re riding the rest of 2024 with high energy and filled with excitement for the rest of what’s to come this year.

Be on the lookout for RKSA-sponsored events to help our members attend more exciting activities throughout America and the world 🌏

Another great turnout at our Tuesday night Lotus Sutra Study. If you haven’t made it by yet, every Tuesday @ 7 PM 🪷

Full house at lotus sutra class tonight!! Hope to see you here next week!

Every Tuesday @ 7PM 🪷

Today, our sangha joyfully celebrated Ubon, embracing a time-honored tradition to reverence our ancestors and express deepest gratitude for their guidance and love.

This past weekend Reverend Kevin was in Connecticut for the installation of the Gohonzon at our new Place Of The Way!

We want to give a HUGE THANK YOU to the Unitarian Universalist church for allowing our members, Pam Mulready and Jennifer Maynard, to offer services and share in the dharma with and around the UU community. We look forward in continuing to share in the dharma with one another here.

Let’s give the Connecticut sangha a great big CONGRATULATIONS 🎉🎊🎊🎉

Our sangha was honored to have Dr. Scarangello visit our dharma center last week and share in the dharma together. We thank you for all your insight and dedication to your translation of Buddhism For Today.

This was a very special experience for our sangha to have you. Please come visit us again! 🫶🏻🙏🏼🪷

We had an amazing group of attendees join us on our Tuesday lotus sutra class the past two weeks.

We are using the newest copies of the Threefold lotus Sutra and Buddhism For Today, which makes for great discussions and question asking.

If you haven’t attended one of these yet, please join us on Tuesdays at 7PM !

You are ALWAYS welcome

We had an awesome crowd at our Buddhism for Beginners class today. We want to thank everyone in attendance for their participation and making the class as lively as it was.

Come experience our Buddhism for Beginners class hosted every Saturday at 10am (except 3rd Saturday of the month). If you’re an early bird, please join us for our meditation class hosted on Saturdays at 8:30am (except 3rd Saturday of the month).

We can’t wait to see y’all here!

RKSA has some campers!

Our members had a blast spending time together at Government Canyon state natural area. What a great way to bond with your fellow members.

Look out for our next camping trip!!

Last weekend Reverend Kevin and Allen Niesinov helped a fellow member with moving some furniture from one house to another.

Thank you all for supporting our local sangha with all you do. Helping your fellow members the most important thing the sangha can do!!

Our sagha honored all mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and mother figures today, remembering those who have passed and cherishing those still with us.

This coming weekend, we are honored to be hosting the 3rd segment of the Four-part Advanced Sutra Study class. These students from around the nation have been working for over 1 year together to learn more about the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha and Rissho Kosei kai.

The Class will take place from Friday - Sunday afternoon. RKSA will provide all meals throughout the weekend for these participants. Therefore, we will need ALL the help we can get from our sangha members.

We need several people on Friday Evening, Saturday morning, Lunchtime, and in the evening.

We will also need several helpers on Sunday morning.

Sunday Lunch will be a Sangha-wide effort : a Spaghetti festival for Everyone ! We need your HELP to make this happen. Please contact any of the Leaders if you can help. Or simply answer this email.

Due to this Event - there WILL NOT BE ANY REGULARLY SCHEDULED CLASSES HELD AT THE CENTER THIS WEEKEND.

Please note that the ONLINE Saturday Basic Buddhism class is on Hiatus until early May, 2024

The "in-person" Saturday classes will continue year-round, with the exception of the 3rd Saturday each month.

Reverend Akagawa, Worldwide Director of RK International, and Rev. Yoshizawa, Director of RK North America, will be joining us for a wonderful Celebratory Service of OHIGAN on Sunday, March 17. Rev. Akagawa and Rev. Roche will be arriving from Japan and Rev. Yoshizawa from L.A.

Both the Japanese-language members and the English-language members will join together for a wonderful service and a talk about the future of RKSA from Rev. Akagawa.

The reverends will enjoy talking with all of you after the service and there will be a catered lunch for all.

This is a very great occasion for RKSA. Please make your best effort to show Rev. Akagawa how much our Practice means to us.

We are going to have a Volunteer Landscape event this coming Saturday, Feb 24, beginning at 11:00 (just after Basic Buddhism Class). If you have an hour or two to spare, please join us.

Winter has definitely found us now, so what better time to begin "Winter Training" !!!

"Winter Training" - or MidWinter Recitation Practice is an ancient Buddhist Practice done in many formats at different times in the coldest part of Winter. It is a discipline practice that RKSA will offer for 7 days, beginning Wednesday, 1/24/24 - Tuesday 1/30/24. We will join together on 7 consecutive mornings at 6am in the RKSA Sanctuary to chant chapters of the Lotus Sutra together. It is a wonderful practice we have kept for many years at RKSA. Please join us Wednesday morning as we begin our MidWinter Recitation.

Here is our Schedule for the RKSA MidWinter Practice :

WEDNESDAY 1/24/24 6:00A SUTRA OF INNUMERABLE MEANINGS CHAPTER 1.2,3

THURSDAY 1/25/24 6:00A LOTUS SUTRA CHAPTER 2 SKILLFUL MEANS

FRIDAY 1/26/24 6:00A LOTUS SUTRA CHAPTER 7 PARABLE OF THE CONJURED CITY

SATURDAY 1/27/24 6:00A LOTUS SUTRA CHAPTER 11 THE APPEARANCE OF THE JEWELED STUPA, CHAPTER 12 DEVADATTA, CHAPTER 13 ENCOURAGEMENT TO HOLD FIRM

SUNDAY 1/28/24 6:00A LOTUS SUTRA CHAPTER 16 LIFE SPAN OF THE TATHAGATA, AND CHAPTER 17 SPECIFICATION OF MERITS

MONDAY 1/29/24 6:00A LOTUS SUTRA CHAPTER 24 THE BODHISATTVA WONDEROUS SOUND, AND CHAPTER 25 THE BODHISATTVA REGARDER OF THE SOUNDS OF THE WORLD AS UNIVERSAL GATEWAY

TUESDAY 1/30/24 6:00A THE SUTRA OF THE METHOD FOR CONTEMPLATING THE BODHISATTVA UNIVERSAL SAGE

Since we will not be able to chant the Entire Sutra together, you can read the remaining chapters in your home or you can join the RKINA WINTER RECITATION PRACTICE on Zoom at 8am for 14 consecutive days, from 1/20/24 - 2/3/24.

Happy Martin Luther King Day! Even though the event has been dampened by chill weather, please take some time today to consider the life of a single person who changed the world peacefully. Incredibly, he accomplished his mission before his death at the age of just 39!

Due to the freezing weather conditions - the Monday evening REFUGE RECOVERY MEETING has been postponed. We apologize for the inconvenience, but your safety is our paramount concern.

Reminder: there will NOT be a LOTUS SUTRA CLASS tonight!

Here is the plan for the New Year's three-day weekend:

Saturday morning 10 am: ONLINE Classes will be held BUT the IN-PERSON classes will be postponed

Saturday morning 10 am: In every Buddhist Temple in the world, the facility is cleaned out just prior to the New Year, so that all that remains belongs to the New Year! The annual tradition of cleaning out the facility will happen Saturday morning, beginning at 10 am. Please come and lend a helping hand.

Sunday 10 am: Sunday Service and Hoza

Monday New Year's Day 9:30 am: We will continue our tradition of striking the bell 108 times, to rid ourselves of the 108 delusions. We will begin slowly striking the bell at 9:30 am. During this time, members will follow the tradition of coming to the altar, making a donation, striking the bell 3 times while making a goodwill wish, and bowing to the Buddha. We do this so that we begin our New Year with generosity as our primary energy force.

After the service we will hold a potluck lunch. So please bring a dish to donate to the Sangha.

This is going to be an amazing year for RKSA! Please join us for our celebration!

Winter Coat/Jacket Donation Drive: The weather outside will soon be freezing cold and many people in our community do not have sufficient clothing to stay warm. We have a great big Santa's Bag in the lobby to collect coats, jackets and blankets for our less fortunate friends in San Antonio. Please search your closets and bring some extra warm clothing to our Center. This event will be ongoing through December!

Greetings everyone! Happy Friday! Today is Bodhi Day, the date we historically honor Shakyamuni Buddha's Attainment of Awakening. The formal celebration will be held this Sunday morning at 10 AM. There will be a pasta lunch held afterwards. Please join us and bring a dish if you would like!

To mark the special occasion, Dr. Dominick Scarangello will give a special presentation at 5 PM Central time. This is an annual event so please make an effort to come in and listen. The subject will be The Ten Suchnesses.

Below is a link to RK's Annual Bodhi Day Dharma Talk from Dr. Dominick Scarangello, live from Tokyo, Japan.

Dec. 10, Sunday
3pm-5pm Pacific Time
6pm-8pm Eastern Time
Zoom Meeting ID: 833 2535 3909
Passcode: LS2023

Greetings everyone! Happy Gohonzon Weekend! The date has finally arrived for the RKSA and RKOK members who will be receiving their Gohonzon. This is a very significant moment in the lives of RK members; an embarkation point for a lifelong practice.

We would like to thank ALL the members for supporting the 25 RKSA recipients in their Buddhist Practice.

We would also like to thank all the members who worked so diligently to prepare for this occasion.

Now for the details of the weekend:

1. There will NOT be a Sunday Chant Service for the general public

2. There will NOT be any online activity, either Saturday or Sunday daytime.

3. Saturday Rehearsal at 3pm is intended only for participants. No other people will be in the Sanctuary at that time. +1 Family/Friend of the Recipient are welcome to wait in the Center main areas until we finish around 5:30pm, or the +1 person will please join us at the Center at 5:30pm for dinner together with all the participants and Staff. Dress is casual.

4. Sunday Gohonzon Reception Ceremony begins at 9:53am. The participants, and their +1 family/friend, will be in the Sanctuary.

5. We have some additional seating for members who wish to attend.

6. FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO PLAN TO ATTEND, NO ONE WILL BE PERMITTED TO ENTER AFTER THE CEREMONY BEGINS. If you plan to attend, please plan to be in the Sanctuary by 9:45am.

7. Please dress appropriately for a solemn ceremony.

8. Please be aware the Service will last 2+ hours.

9. We strongly encourage ALL members to please join us at 12:30 for a catered lunch to celebrate with the Gohonzon recipients.

We are all SO very excited for this opportunity to share together.

We will be closed Thursday - Saturday this week, so that every member can spend some time with their family! Let's all come together on Sunday and share our gratitude!

This weekend we will celebrate Founder Niwano's 117th Birthday! Please join us Sunday for a special celebration.

On Monday evenings at 9pm, the "Evening Chant" group will feature a Buddhist-themed movie to watch and discuss. Two of our wonderful regular attendees at night, Traye Brown and Shane Merritt will host! Here is a message from the evening leaders:

"Join our Sangha online every Monday evening at 9:00 p.m. for an array of Buddhist-inspired films followed by a conversation with the Sangha about your feelings and thoughts on the video's content and message. So grab your rice bowl and a bucket of popcorn and take refuge with an evening of astonishment and inspiration presented by the Sangha of Rissho Kosei-Kai San Antonio. To participate, select the Zoom link for “Evening Chanting” on the website: https://rksabuddhistcenter.org/services.

Our bi-monthly presentation of "ASK ME ANYTHING" featuring Dr Dominick Scarangello will be held this evening, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 at 7pm Central time. This program represents an opportunity to learn more about Buddhism, the Lotus Sutra, and RK practices. In addition, it represents an essential opportunity to share the Dharma with one another.

This format is centered around YOUR questions, so please don't feel shy about asking questions tonight. Reverend Akagawa, Rissho Kosei kai's leader of the International Community, RKI, plans to be present as well.

The link can be found on our website, under "SERVICES".

Rissho Kosei-Kai Buddhist Center of San Antonio Buddhism for Today

We have clear skies predicted for Saturday morning - which should make our Ring of Fire Meditation/Eclipse viewing quite magical! Please come and experience it together. We will have some protective eyewear for us to share, but if you have your own, please bring it.

Saturday morning 8:30 am In-Person Meditation - seated / walking / guided

Saturday morning 9:30 am In-Person Kodo Mindfulness Practice

Saturday morning 10 am ONLINE and In-Person Basic Buddhism

Saturday morning during and after class: Ring of Fire Meditation and Eclipse viewing

Dawn Velligan, our dauntless traveling Dharma Teacher, would like to offer an Altar Training session for any member interested in taking part in our Sunday services. This class will happen at 6pm tonight, Wednesday, Oct 11. So please take advantage of the opportunity and drop in tonight. But please let us know if you plan to attend by RSVPing via email at [email protected].

This month, October 2019, we are focusing on the practice of introducing others to the Buddha's teachings (Dharma). In Japanese, this is called michibiki.

Last year, on October 28th, we celebrated the Grand Opening of our new building. An incredible amount of time, energy, and money was donated by our members to make this all possible, and now we are enjoying the fruit of that great labor.

Let's celebrate the First Anniversary of our new building by sharing this treasure with others! 🎉

We are designating October 2019 as "Bring-A-Friend" month. In addition, several members of the community are going to donate $1 for each new guest that comes through the doors for any activity in October, so let's make that offer a worthwhile venture. We will have a sign-in sheet so we can keep track of the amount of new people coming in this month.

Please help make this a wonderful October for sharing the Dharma by:

1. Bringing guests
2. Guiding new visitors to the sign-in sheet
3. Become a sponsor ($1 per guest in October)

Thank you 🙏🏽 and of course.....you (and your friends) are ALWAYS welcome!

"Greed is the Source of Trouble" is the title of this month's President's message. Greedy desire beckons disaster. Discover the happiness of enjoying satisfaction. Read more in the September issue of Living the Lotus International Newsletter.

https://www.buddhistcenter-rkina.org/living-the-lotus-sep-2023/

This weekend we welcome in Autumn by celebrating O Higan, which is the Japanese term meaning to "cross over to the other shore". One way in which to celebrate this is to remember and esteem our predecessors - our ancestors. Please join us on Sunday for the Service and PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING SOME FOOD OR DRINK ITEM TO SHARE in the big Lunch afterwards! If you have any ancestor names that you would like us to chant aloud during Sunday's O Higan Service, please send us those names or show up a little early on Sunday to fill out the form.

In addition, we will be starting our NEW ONLINE BASIC BUDDHISM CLASS AT 10AM Saturday. PLEASE SEE THE LINK UNDER "SERVICES"-- on our website = www.rksabuddhistcenter.org

Finally: There will NOT BE ANY SATURDAY "IN-PERSON" classes this weekend.

We will see you all online Saturday or "in-person" on Sunday!