Obon & Hatsubon Service

Rev. Charlene Kihara and Rev. Sol Kalu

Our annual Obon & Hastubon Service held on Sunday, July 6, 2025 with a Dharma Talk by guest speaker Rev. Charlene Kihara of Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin. Obon is a time when Buddhists remember those who have left this world before us, with gratitude for enabling us to exist and to encounter the dharma. This was also our Hatsubon Service, for families of those who passed away since the last Obon.

The service was officiated by Rev. Sol Kalu at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii.

Join us at our Bon Dance in Kailua on Saturday, July 12, 2025. One night only! Visit https://tinyurl.com/bondance2025 or https://windwardbuddhisttemple.org for details.

  • 00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

    00:12 - Ringing of the Kansho (temple bell)

    02:48 - Offering of Flowers & Light

    03:16 - Meditation

    04:11 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

    06:15 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)

    10:01 - Obon Aspiration

    10:43 - Offering of Incense

    14:20 - Sutra: Sanbutsuge (page 46 in the red service book)

    22:04 - Gatha: Obon, Obon, It's Festival Day (page 148 in Praises of the Buddha)

    24:31 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Charlene Kihara

    40:44 - Gatha: Ondokusan & Gratefulness

    42:59 - The Nembutsu (page 145 in Praises of the Buddha)

    44:51 - Announcements

    46:39 - July Birthdays

    48:02 - Bon Dance Announcements

    56:29 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)

    57:34 - July Dharma Service Schedule

    57:42 - How to Donate to WBT

  • We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description

  • Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook

July Birthdays & Intergenerational Activity