Welcome Rev. John Iwohara (Gardena Buddhist Church)
The Buddhist Temple of San Diego welcomes Rev. John Iwohara, resident minister at Gardena Buddhist Church, for not one but two speaking engagements. Both are to help us observe and celebrate the birthdate and the debt we all owe to the founder of our tradition, Shinran Shonin.
Two Chances to Learn about Shinran
Saturday, May 17, 7 p.m. in the Conference Room for BEC Lecture
In this lecture, "Understanding Our Indebtedness to Shinran Shonin.," Iwohara Sensei will go deeper on why we observe Gotan-e. We will start at 7 p.m. in the Conference Room on the Office Level of our main building. The event is expected to run some 90 minutes, which will also include Q&A and discussion. Light refreshments will be served.
The lecture is free and open to the public.
Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 10 a.m. in the Hondo, Youth and Adult Messages
Our Gotan-e Service, officiated by Rev. Hōkai “Smitty” Smith, Rev. Iwohara will share both a Dharma School talk for the youth and an adult Dharma Talk. Our services are free and open to the pubic.
For a good sense of the depth of Rev. Iwohara’s understanding of Shinran, click on the image below to watch his brief Dharma Talk, as posted on the BCA Website, “Not as Students, but as Equals.” The video runs 11 minutes.
You may also see the video by clicking here. In this video, after a brief recitation in Japanese, Iwohara Sensei quotes Rennyo Shonin in understanding Shinran Shonin’s assertion that he, Shinran, is no one’s teacher.
About Rev. Iwohara
Rev. Iwohara grew up as a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist, and in his youth, he attended services, Dharma School, and Japanese School at the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple (Nishi Betsuin). At Nishi he played sports on the temple’s basketball and baseball teams, and was a member of the Jr YBA.
As an adult, he taught Dharma School at Nishi. Iwohara Sensei holds degrees from UCLA (BA, Psychology), Wilfrid Laurier University (MA, Social/Community Psychology), and Ryukoku University (MA & PhD, Shinshu Studies). After being ordained as a minister, Rev Iwohara has served BCA at the Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple, Vista Buddhist Temple, Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple, Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, and currently as the Resident Minister of the Gardena Buddhist Church.