I hope you had a wonderful start to the new year. Welcome to the Year of the Snake. We had a wonderful attendance at the Crab Feed this January. February is going to be a quiet month at the temple, but as always, the Sangha is what creates the space that allows us to come together to hear the Dharma.

I hope you can join us for temple clean-up, People’s Kitchen, and our services this month. If you want to share your knowledge and skills with the Sangha, reach out to us so we can build the community together.

There is a core group of dharma travelers that has been attending SLOBC’s Sunday services on a regular basis. It is gratifying to see them sitting in the hondo, chanting and listening to the dharma talks. The people in this core group are friendly, willing to share experiences with others, and welcome new-comers with open arms. They are the main reason for the increase in attendance at our services.

There are many people in our communities that never knew that a Buddhist temple existed in San Luis Obispo. Others have been curious about the sign posted near our front gate: “San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church, a Jodo Shinshu Temple.” They have passed by that sign many times but never had the “courage” to drop in and learn more about this sect of Buddhism. Still others may have attended our Obon Festival and decided to “check out” our Dharma Services.

Whatever the reason, people who attend our service for the first time are met by friendly people whose open arms make these newcomers feel welcomed. It is for this reason coupled with the lessons from Dharma messages that make these newcomers return the following week. Soon, these newcomers become part of the core group, in turn welcoming others to our temple. The expanding core group exemplifies the first two lines of “Amida’s Golden Chain of Love”:

I am a link in Amida’s Golden Chain of Love that stretches around the world. I will keep my link bright and strong.
As our group of attendees continue to grow, so does the optimism that Jodo Shinshu will flourish in our community. Namo Amida Butsu.

In Gassho,

Bryce Willis Cape