Spring has sprung and with it the beautiful flowers on our temple grounds: the red/orange blossoms of the
flowering quince, the white blossoms of the quince (fruit variety), the pink or white Japanese cherry blossoms,
and the purple wisteria racemes. These blossoms, though beautiful, all convey the message of impermanence – that nothing lives forever: birth is followed by death.

Attending our Sunday services are regulars whom I call the core group. It’s good to see their smiling faces and their presence is comforting to me. Added to the core group are new attendees not just from the local area but visitors from faraway places like Utah and Maine. It’s a big surprise when the 10 attendees sitting in the hondo at 10:50 am suddenly grows to 30 by the time our service starts at 11 am.

Our after-service coffee/tea social has become a popular gathering for our sangha. What started with beverages
and pastries has morphed into various dishes such as fresh fruits, salads, chips and salsa, chili, soups and other delicious offerings making for a satisfying lunch. The socials are a good time to sit down with others and “talk story”. Everyone attending the socials make for a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere. Join us.

Gassho,
Gary Hongo