Rinban Noriaki Ito for Shinran Memorials (Ho Onko) —Saturday and Sunday Jan. 18 & 19
We are honored by a very special guest coming to our Temple this month.
Special Guest
We are grateful for our special guest, Reverend Noriaki Ito.
Ito Sensei is Rinban of the Los Angeles Higashi Honganji Betsuin, Bishop of the Higashi Honganji of North America Mission, and Director of the Shinshu Center of America.
While here, in two separate events, one formal and one informal, he will help us focus on the benefits that we have received from the teaching of Shinran Shonin.
FORMAL: Sunday Morning, Jan. 19: Shinran Memorial Service (Ho Onko)
Our memorial service for Shinran starts at 10 a.m. on Jan. 19 and Rev. Ito will help us appreciate Shinran’s efforts to help us directly experience Amida Buddha’s wisdom and compassion.
Dharma. There will be two Dharma messages, one for Temple youth and Dharma School students, and the other for the adult component of the Sangha.
Chanting. Resident Minister Kenji Akahoshi will lead us in chanting Shinran’s Shoshin Ge, one of the longer and more melodic of the chants in our tradition.
Party! Following the Sunday service, the Temple holds its New Year’s Party. See here for more information. Note orders for lunch (bento, vegetarian bento, or KFC) are due by Sunday, Dec. 12.
What a great way to set our course for the year.
INFORMAL: Saturday Night, Jan. 18, BEC Lecture
On the night before the formal Sunday service, please join us at 7 p.m., in the Sangha Hall for this friendly and interactive discussion.
In the context of Shinran, Ito Sensei will speak on the topic of “How Interreligious Dialogue Has Deepened My Appreciation of Shin Buddhism.” The lecture is expected to last from 60 to 90 minutes with Q&A. Light refreshments will be served.
Friends and Guests: Recommend Donation of Five Dollars. We are asking a suggested donation of $5 for this special presentation.
Temple Members: Free. For all Temple members (and their immediate family), the Temple will waive the recommended donation. Temple members already support the Buddhist Education Committee programs through their membership, and in most cases if a BEC event has a suggested donation, it will be waived with our gratitude.
About Rinban Noriaki Ito
The Reverend Noriaki Ito was born as the first son of Rev. Horyu and Kazuko Ito in Kumamoto, Japan in September 1948.
He came to the United States with his family in April 1955, settling in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles where his father was serving as Rinban (head minister) of the Los Angeles Higashi Honganji Betsuin. He received his elementary and secondary education in East Los Angeles, graduating from Roosevelt High School in January 1967. In September of that year, he enrolled at Occidental College in Los Angeles. In June 1971, he graduated with a BA degree in Religious Studies and a minor in Asian Studies.
Following his graduation, he moved to Kyoto, Japan in September 1971 to enroll at Otani University. In December of that year, he received tokudo ordination at the Higashi Honganji headquarters. In March of 1975, he completed his studies, receiving a Master of Arts degree in Shin Buddhism. He also received kyōshi, the teaching credential.
With his orders from the headquarters to serve as an overseas minister (kaikyōshi), he began his duties as a full-time minister at the Higashi Honganji Los Angeles Buddhist Temple in September 1975. In June 1988, he was transferred to the West Covina Higashi Honganji to serve as resident minister. In November 1993, in conjunction with the 90th Anniversary of the Higashi Honganji North America District, he returned to the Los Angeles Betsuin to assume the position of Rinban (head minister of a regional headquarters temple).
He concurrently serves as Director (Bishop) of the Higashi Honganji North America District and of the Shinshu Center of America. Rev. Ito currently resides in La Crescenta, California. He is married and has three children.