Teachings and Services

Koganji Temple

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LIFE OF GAUTAMA BUDDHA

Buddhism is a religion founded by Gautama Buddha. He was named “Siddhartha,” which in Sanskrit means “All wishes accomplished.” When he became a hermit, he took the name “Gautama.” He was born on April 8 in the northern part of India in Lumbini’s garden in 566 B.C. to King Sudhodana and Queen Maya.

At the age of nineteen, he married Princess Yasodara, the eldest daughter of Suprabuddha, King of Koli. Koli was the birth place of his mother. Two years later, he was the father of a lovely child “Rahula.”

Although he seemed to have a good life, he was puzzled by the great problem of Life and Death. The Prince Siddhartha begged his father, the King, for permission to wander out into the field.

On the first occasion, the Prince drove out of the east gate into the field and he saw old men. The second time the Prince drove out of the south gate into the field, he saw sick people. The third time the Prince wandered out of the west gate and he met a funeral procession with a corpse on a bier. The fourth time the Prince wandered out of the north gate and on the way he met a person clad in a brown robe. The man had a shaven head and a bowl in his hand. He respectfully bowed to the man, left him and went into a park in the suburbs where Siddhartha enjoyed the rest of the day.

The Prince was then twenty-nine years old. It was on the day of full moon of the month of Ashada. The Prince went out with Chandra, a friend from his court. They arrived at the river Gandaki and crossing it, the Prince stood on the sand, took off his clothes and giving them to Chanda said “0 Chanda, go back and give this to the King and say, ‘This world is tne bond of love, there is no way out of birth, age and death. The Prince will never come back unless he has attained the truth.”

Then taking off the jewel he had on, he said: “There is in the world the suffering of parting. The Prince has left home to cut off the root of suffering. Please do not sink into sorrow and do not worry.” The Prince ordered Chandra to go quickly back to the court.

After six years, the Prince made penance into the forest to attain enlightenment. During penance, he attained the knowledge of Dhyana, which accompanies one who has attained the perfect stage of a sage. Gaining the power of sight, he saw the course of birth and death of all living beings.

Thus at the age of thirty-five, on December 8, 531 B.C., at dawn when the herald star shined brightly in the heavens, enlightenment came with the first beam of the rising sun. The earth shook in six ways and the world shined brightly all over. The Prince steps forth and is now the Buddha.

‘Buddha’ means ‘one who is awake.’ He attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree through meditation. After attaining enlightenment, he traveled from south to north, from east to west to teach the truth.

Buddha crossed the Ganges River and passing the city of Varanasi, went on to the Deer Park where he gave the first sermon to five bhikshus. As a result of the Buddha’s sermon at the Deer Park, Yasha, the son of a rich merchant at Varanasi, entered the path. And his father, mother, and his wife who came after him were all converted.

Buddha’s second sermon was delivered at a place near the river Nairanjana. The third sermon of the Buddha was delivered at Rajagriha. The fourth sermon was given in His native country, Kapilavastu. His life of teaching was also full of compassion and wisdom.

At the age of eighty, the Buddha’s footsteps turned north. It seemed He desired to pass His days in the place where He was born; the land under the snows of the Himalayas. He crossed the Ganges, and from the east bank of river Gandaki entered the state of Vaishali. And then He reached the forest of shala trees in Kushinagara. Here the Buddha delivered His last sermon. He said: “0 bhikshus, I now tell ye, all things verily are impermanent. Do endeavor and accomplish. This is the last world of the Tathagata.”

Having accomplished His goal and having now reached the end of His life, the Buddha entered Nirvana. The Buddha died on February 15, 486 B.C.

THE TEACHING OF THE JIZO BODHISATTVA

The Earth Store Bodhisattva is named after the earth, which not only gives birth to things and makes them grow but can store a great many things within itself as well. Because this Bodhisattva is like the earth, He can produce a myriad of things and make them grow. Anyone who believes in Him may obtain the treasures stored in the earth.

Bodhisattva is composed of two words: bodhi, which means “enlightenment,” and sattva which means “being.” A Bodhisattva can be said to be either one who enlightens living beings or an enlightened living being.

Past vows also means “fundamental vows”; vows that were made eons ago. Long ago in the distant past, Earth Store Bodhisattva vowed, “If the hells are not empty I will not become a Buddha; when living beings have all been saved, I will attain to Bodhi.”

The hells cannot cease to exist until the karma and the afflictions of living beings have come to an end, and that can never happen because of the nature of living beings. Thus the vow made by the Jizo Bodhisattva is one of ultimate compassion.

Regularly Scheduled Services

Services are held at 8:30 a.m. every Sunday

On the 4th, 14th and 24th of each month, services are held at:

8:00 a.m.

When service dates fall on a Sunday or holiday, service times are:

8:00 a.m.

Services for Special Individual Events

The following special services are scheduled by request

Business blessing (for prosperity)
Car blessing
Newborn blessing
House blessing
Weddings
Prayers to alleviate mental and physical problems
Prayers to alleviate children’s problems (problems with school, work, mental or physical illness)
Marital problems
Memorial services
Consultations

Call Koganji Temple at 988-4905 for more information.

Annual Events

January 4	Daihan Service (First Service of the Year)
February	Mame Maki and Omikuji Services
March	Honma Service
April	Bazaar
May (1st Sunday)	Children's Day Service
June	Jizo Nagashi (Stamping for special blessings)
July 4	Jizo Nagashi Service
July/August	Obon Dance
August	Obon Service
December	Temple Clean Up
December	Mochitsuki Preparation of rice cakes for good luck in the new year
December 31	New Year Midnight Service (Daihanya)