Rev. Charlene Kihara
Remembrance Dharma Service for Sunday, December 28, 2025 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Charlene Kihara of Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service was officiated by Rev. Kihara. Rev. Kihara shares a year-ending look back at moments of change (and lessons in impermanence) through the year 2025, both at Honpa Hongwanji and personally.
And as we leave the Year of the Snake and enter the Year of the Horse, Rev. Kihara shares the "Legend of the Great Race," which explains how the Zodiac animals were chosen.
After the service, we went outside and rang the temple bell, or kansho, 108 times to “ring out” the year 2025 in the Japanese tradition of Joya no Kane.
The monthly Remembrance Service is a time to honor family, friends, and even pets who passed away during the month of December, regardless of the year. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist church service was recorded at Windward Buddhist Temple, a Shin Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii.
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00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program
00:25 - Ringing of the Kansho (temple bell)
02:43 - Meditation
03:36 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)
05:55 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)
08:45 - Remembrance
16:13 - Sutra: Gassho to Amida (page 123 in the red service book)
22:13 - Recitation: Shinshu Pledge II (page 6 in the red service book)
23:16 - Gatha: Shinshu Anthem (page 178 in Praises of the Buddha)
26:20 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Charlene Kihara
41:28 - Gatha: Becoming Free (page 30 in Praises of the Buddha)
44:17 - The Nembutsu (page 145 in Praises of the Buddha)
46:21 - Announcements
50:51 - Joya no Kane
51:27 - Altar Flowers Announcement
52:24 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)
53:11 - January Schedule
53:26 - How to Donate to WBT with Venmo
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Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook