The History of the Buddhist Church of San Francisco (BCSF) Organization
Buddhist Church of San Francisco 1898-1998 Centennial Oral History Project
My Participation in the Buddhist Church of San Francisco Centennial Oral History Project
Visiting the Buddhist Church of San Francisco
Special Events, Honors, and Affiliated Organizations
I will be doing my individual project on the Buddhist Church
of San Francisco (B.C.S.F.). Last spring semester, I worked with
the church in producing their first webpage. I took photographs of
the church and their activities. I also participated in one of their
events. For this project, I will visit the church again, this time
doing an in-depth study on the church organization itself by participating in their Centennial Oral History Project. In addition, I will see how their community and church events have a significant impact on the greater community. I feel this church has a rich combination of the Japanese American community and strong cultural religious ties that I never observed before. Thus, I feel it appropriate to continue my observations and community work with them. You can visit my previous work with the church at:
http://aas.ml.org/bcsf. Further work will be presented here in the coming future.
Many of the Japanese American communities come together through different events, including performing arts concerts, a board
meeting, or a Japanese American organization such as the Buddhist Church of San Francisco.
Buddhism was one of many religions that Japanese Americans practiced. Buddhists believed that suffering is inseparable from existence and the human self and its senses belonged in a state of illumination called nirvana, the state of blessedness and great harmony.
For this project, I wanted to study in depth of the church,
including its history. In addition I wanted to know more of the kinds of events they offered to the greater Japanese American community.
YMBA Young Men's Buddhist Association was officially established on July 30, 1898 in grand cermony held at Pythian Castle Auditorium,
909 Market Street. It was not only the forerunner of the present day Buddhist Church of San Francisco, but was also the first Buddhist organization to be established on the North American continent. On this
occasion the members elected a 21-men Board and adopted a constitution.
The Hompo Hongwanji headquarters designated the San Francisco
Bukkyo Seinenkai an official branch office, or Shutcho-jo. As a branch office of the Kyoto headquarters, the Bukkyo Seinenkai was to serve as a central driving force for Buddhist missionary work in both San Francisco and the outlying Japanese communities in California. Thus, the Bukkyo Seinenkai, which became the Buddhist Church of San Francisco and the Hongwanji Shutcho-jo, which later became the Buddhist Churches
of America, were inseparable and interdependent.
With the active mission, headed by its two ministers, Buddhism soon spread beyond the confines of San Francisco's Japanese population Caucasian members of the public expressed great interest in Buddhadharma. Soon, a Caucasian group was organized and lectures and services were held in English for the Caucasian public. These classes were also useful in teaching English to Japanese immigrants. In 1901, through the combined efforts of the group of 25 Caucasian and Japanese
members, the book "Light of Dharma" or "Ho no Hikari" was published
in English.
The Hompa Hongwanji in Kyoto, Japan sent two missionaries to San Francisco, Reverend Dr. Shuya Sonada and Reverend Kakuryo Nishijima. With their arrival on September 1, 1899, Buddhist mission activities stepped up significantly. News of their presence and their expertise spurred the ethusiasm and conscience of Japanese community throughout California.
The location of the BCSF has moved a total of five times after
its original location in 1898. From 909 Market Street, the church moved to 7 Mason Street, to 532 Stevenson Street on April 15, 1899, to 807 Polk Street, then the 1906 earthquake destroyed the building and moved
to its temporary site at Buchanan Street then to 1617 Gough Street,
and finally to its present site on 1881 Pine Street. Other than the
natural disaster that occured in 1906, the BCSF wanted to accomodate as
many Buddhist members and those influx of Japanese immigrants.
I worked with the BCSF on their upcoming centennial anniversary
celebration in 1998. The objectives of this project are:
As part of the centennial celebration of the BCSF, the San Francisco Young Adult Buddhist Association (SF YABA) is coordinating interviews with church members as part of a Oral History Project.
Interviews are to be performed in one session (1-1.5 hours). If thought to be necessary, a follow-up interview will be conducted by an additional team of interviewers.
The BCSF are very much interested in learning the personal and sociological histories of the interviewees as well as focus on the BCSF
history and the role of the BCSF in the Japanese American community. Interviewees are encouraged to share favorite anecdotes and pictures
(which may be used in a publication). The three basic areas the BCSF
stresses as important to cover are as follows:
As a part of the Centennial Oral History Project, I interviewed Mr. and Mrs. Tokuji Hedani in their home. They are active members of the Buddhist Church of San Francisco. Mr. Hedani, a retired optometrist. Personally, I really enjoyed my interview with Mr. Hedani.
Some parts of the interview questions Mr. Hedani did not want to answer. He found them "too personal" and as he said over the telephone "he did not want the whole world to know everything about himself." This was fairly understandable and we took that seriously into account as we went along with the interview. Other than that, the whole interview went smoothly.
Mr. Hedani’s wife often popped in and out of the room answering or adding a comment to what her husband had stated. It was difficult for his wife to not be present during the interview, but I think overall she added valuable pieces to the interview.
The whole interview was a great learning experience for myself. Learning about Japanese Americans from a classroom context by listening
to lectures and reading relevant material was even more reinforced when
actually getting the experience through an interview of a real Nisei. I was able to get a much better feel for what kind of life a Nisei lived through during the pre-war, internment, and postwar times. Also, after the interview I had a bit more understanding of the Japanese culture and I was more educated about the Buddhist Church’s ideals and principles.
I would like to see more interviews conducted on other Japanese Americans for upcoming semesters in Asian American classes. I feel these older Nisei (and some Issei) can pass on much valuable information about their experiences as a Japanese American and their involvement with the Buddhist Church of San Francisco.
During the course of the interview, Mrs. Hedani talked about the Sunday morning services and offered me to come and listen to the service. I took up their offer and attended their 9:30 Sunday service.
The Buddhist Church service was a special service- it was the Annual Y.A.O. Service. The service was primarily an offering for the Buddhist youth who are playing their sport’s tournaments. The Dharma talk of the service was given by Reverend Sasaki. He talked of the Buddhist connection in sports. "If you had the opportunity to play sports, don’t forget to express humble and gratitude," he said. He also talked of Buddhism as a path or a way, not a religion. A religion means to "bind with one’s God." Buddhism is just the opposite. As a thought to leave with the youth as they played their tournaments, Reverend Sasaki said, "to remember where you belong to." I liked how the Reverend uses real life situations to make connections with Buddhism.
The service also consisted of the Kansho bell ringing, an opening meditation, Sutra chanting of Gassho to Amida, Gassho meditation, Buddhist readings, the Gatha of A Special Place, incense offering by the youth representatives, a closing Gatha of Farewell, and the incense offering.
The service ended at 10:30 and their was a lunch served in the gymnasium.
During my third visit on November 30, I walked into the church during their weekly 9:30 AM English service.
And each time I see something different that I did not see during my prior visits. In the corridor, there was a commerating plaque that read,
Whereas, Buddhist Church of San Francisco Fujin-Kai was founded and organized April 17, 1900 celebrating its 75th Anniversary with siginificant service; and
Whereas, the Fujin-Kai members with their compassion and
love have been our backbone in upholding the teachings of the Jodu
Shinshu Buddhist faith; and
Whereas, the Fujin-Kai so generously volunteered their efforts during these 75 years to the cause with active moral, material, and financial support to the numerous projects and activities which required the leadership, assistance, contributions and efforts of the many members and having countless has over the yeats in this true spirit of Dana; now therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Board and Directors and the members of the
Buddhist Church of San Francisco express their deepest gratitude and
appreciation to the Buddhist Church of San Francisco. Fujin-Kai. For
commendable and exemplary services to the church and its various affiliated organization and to the community.
August 12, 1976.
Attest Reverend Koshin Ogui, Minister
Tetsuo Ochi, President Board of Directors Buddhist Church of San Francisco
There was the usual board of events and sign-in book for visitors. For those touring the church for the first time, guided tours of the building are greatly granted upon request. The church also
sells religious books and Juzu.
In addition to looking around the church, I sat through the service.Reverend Sasaki was dressed in a black robe with an embellished silk piece of fabric, tied at the end by a short tassel and hung around on his neck. I noticed that the members had these string of beads tied in a circle called "ojuzu." Some were embellished with a tassel at the end. They were worn around both hands when put together as you bowed to the Buddha when either you entered or exited the church. Some row of beads represented the church community, two beads on opposite sides of the ring represented the parents and the big bead at the bottom symbolized Buddha. As members entered the church, they bowed their heads to the Buddha which was located at the front of the church in the altar.
The actual church service only lasted about 30 minutes. Reverend first went up to the altar did a series of bangings on an iron bell that hung off to the side which was supposed to greet the Buddha. The Buddha was enclosed in its shiny gold temple with the light illuminated upon him. The whole gold shrine was beautifully decorated with black-lacquered tables with a pot-full of rice, jade sculptures, fresh flowers, candles, gold light fixtures and different fruits- oranges and apples which were alongside the Buddha. The food represented the giving and appreciation that the Buddha has done for its people. Different pictures of what looked like Buddha’s followers also hung on the walls. At the bottom front of the altar was a big black incense pot on a table that let out a fragrant smoke that permeated throughout the church and on each side of the pot were smaller pots of incense. On the left side of the altar was the American flag and on the right was the flag of India which was where Buddhism first originated. After Reverend burns the first incense, he leads the members into several prayers, chants, and songs. Some were in English and some were in Japanese. They recited the church’s creed- "Golden Rule" and sang "Amida Buddha is With Us." A representative from each grade/age level delivers a special gift to the altar and bows to the Buddha. Lastly Reverend delivers a sermon; he talked of togetherness and giving which was important when relating the Buddha to our everyday lives. At the end of the church service, each member lines up to the front of the altar to sprinkle some incense to its adjacent medium sized incense pot as a way of saying "thank you" to the Buddha. Afterwards, each of the different age groups gathered in different rooms to discuss certain issues, relating Buddha to everyday lives, just as the Reverend preached.
I liked how the church community extends its teachings of Buddhism to the different age groups from pre-school through college/adult groups. Each group was divided into whatever grade level you were in school. Until the end of high school, students attended Sunday Dharma school under the Buddhist Education program.
Volunteer teachers encourage the students to explore and to question the teachings of the Buddha. I could instantly sense the community about the members at the church. Everyone in the church knew each other. They all acknowledged one another. I noticed that many of the members of the church were from either the second through fourth generations. They are very kind and inviting people. The Buddhist Church of San Francisco extend their sense of community to other Temples in their Jodo Shin Sect of the Buddhist Churches of America. The church sponsors Girl and Boy Scout Programs, have flower arrangement classes called "ikebana," poetry singing called "shigin," Japanese language classes and books and movies relating to the Buddha-Dharma available at the church’s library.
At the gathering of the adult group, I was introduced and welcomed to the church community. They instantly acknowledged my presence which gave a good feeling inside. At first I thought I would feel uncomfortable amongst the church community. I did not know much about the religion of Buddhism, but after the service, I learned a great deal about their practice, their values, and their culture. I hope to continue to learn about its history and its culture.
The BSCF has special events each year. Some include: Obon, a Buddhist service where hommage and respect are paid to the deceased, beloved ones and to all who have returned to the Pure Land of Eternal Peace; Hanamatsuri "Buddha Day" commerates the birth of Siddharta Gautama who was later to become the Enlightened One,
Shakyamuni Buddha of Infinite Wisdom and Compassion manifested himself
among men in the person of Gautama; Annual Ginza Bazaar, major fundraising event of church, started in 1934; church picnics; garage sales; and Sakura matsuri-aki matsuri food bazaars.
In addition the BCSF honors upcoming students with the Matoba Scholarship and Horibes religious award.
The BCSF has also set up the JARF, Japanese American Religious Federation Housing for those Japanese Americans who are in need of
temporary or permanent housing. This was especially set up for those
families who were interned at the camps.
Those affiliated organizations with the BCSF include the Girl and Boy Scouts, Young Men and Women's Buddhist Association, Sunday
School, YABO-Young Adult Buddhist Organization, Junior and Senior
Fujinkai.
There are membership applications are available at the church.
Dues are categorized as follows:
Please direct any inquiries about the Buddhist Church of
San Francisco to Reverend Laverne Sasaki at (415) 776-3158. He will be most happy to answer any questions you may have. Church Office is open 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Saturdays 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. 1881 Pine Street, San Francisco CA 94109.