year end

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Remembrance Day Service

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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.

  • 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

  • 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

Watch the Service

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Year End Dharma Service

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Rev. Sol Kalu

Year End Dharma Service for Sunday, December 29, 2024 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Sol Kalu. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service was officiated by Rev. Kalu. Rev. Kalu reads the Gomonshu's New Year Message and, in his Dharma Talk, reflects on the concept of time.

  • 00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

    00:22 - Ringing of the Kansho (temple bell)

    03:06 - Meditation

    03:51 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

    05:57 - Sutra: Juseige (page 54 in the red service book)

    12:19 - Recitation: Shinshu Pledge II (page 6 in the red service book)

    13:17 - Gatha: Gentle Hands

    15:08 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Sol Kalu

    29:59 - Gatha: At Our Altar (page 16 in Praises of the Buddha)

    31:56 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in the red service book)

    34:07 - Announcements

    41:01 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)

    42:09 - January Dharma Service Schedule

    42:24 - 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

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Year End Family Service

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In his year-end Dharma message, Rev. Umitani asked us to express gratitude for the past year and reflect on the interdependency on all life and all the things that have made it possible for one to live through the year. The saying, ichinichi senkin (一日千金), "every day is worth a thousand pieces of gold," reminds us that each and every day holds great meaning for our lives and we must live it wisely and meaningfully. 

After the service, we rang the kansho (temple bell) to celebrate the end of the year. Jyo-ya no Kane (除夜の鐘) is the Japanese tradition of ringing the temple bell 108 times on New Year's Eve. Watch the video and see if we came close (we weren't counting!). After ringing the bell, we enjoyed soba noodles, also a year-end tradition.

The year-end service also marked the conclusion of Rev. Umitani's assignment as Kailua's interim minister. Mahalo Rev. Umitani and family for being a part of our temple in 2017!

Happy New Year!