Sunday Service

Our family Sunday service begins at 09:30 AM (Excluding Summer Months) and Adult Service begins at 10:15 AM on most Sundays unless otherwise announced.

Welcome

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a lifelong Buddhist or you are exploring Buddhism for the first time, all are welcome here. After entering the temple, please join us in the main hall to the left of the front door and sit anywhere you like unless the seating is marked as reserved. Our service chair(s) will provide guidance throughout our Sunday service to help you follow along by announcing what we will be doing and if there is a page number to accompany it. 

We hope to see you at the temple soon!

General Service Format

Family Service (09:30 AM - Not Held June, July, and August)

  1. Ringing of the Kansho (Service bell) – We begin our Sunday service by ringing the traditional bell used to call everyone to service and remind them it will begin shortly after.
  2. Opening Remarks
  3. Chanting of a Sutra (Buddhist text) – Chanting is ritually done in a Japanese form of Chinese, the Chinese having translated the sutras from Sanskrit. English translations are provided.
  4. Singing of a Gatha (Buddhist song) – As part of most services, we will sing a gatha in English or Japanese. These are an expression of our gratitude to the Three Treasures: The Buddha, the Dharma (Teaching), and the sangha (Buddhist community).
  5. Reading – We do a reading as a reminder of the teachings of Buddha.
  6. Dharma Message – Known as a sermon or homily in other traditions, these provide insights into Shin Buddhism and its doctrine. These are meant to give insight into how we can practice these in our everyday lives.

    During the family service, the Dharma message provided by the ministers are focused on the Dharma School children.
  7. Announcements – Informal time to share news about the temple or our community.
  8. Closing Remarks
  9. Oshoko (Burning of incense) – The time to contemplate on the impermanence of human life. Please take your time when you oshoko.

Adult Service (10:15 AM)

  1. Ringing of the Kansho (Service bell)
  2. Opening Remarks
  3. Singing of Vandana Ti Sarana – Vandana Ti Sarana is the Three Treasures which are: The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha (Community). We take refuge in the three treasures to make them central principles in our lives as Buddhists.
  4. Chanting of Sutra (Buddhist Text)
  5. Reading of The Threefold Refuge – We read the English translation of Vandana Ti Sarana sung at the beginning of service.
  6. Dharma Message
  7. Announcements
  8. Singing of a Gatha (Buddhist song)
  9. Closing Remarks
  10. Oshoko (Burning of Incense)

Common Terminology

Buddha and the Nembutsu (pron. nem-boot-soo) – The word Buddha usually refers to Sakymuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. However, we say there are many Buddhas not only one. The truth to which Sakyamuni awakened was not something he created. It is eternal. Through meditating and reflecting upon himself under the Bodhi tree, Sakyamuni awakened to the truth of enlightenment which was later expressed in many Buddhist stories compiled in Buddhist texts called Sutras.

Each story has a main figure, a Buddha. Our denomination of Shin Buddhism is based on the story of Amida Buddha, also known as the Buddha of wisdom and compassion. In this story, Amida Buddha is explained in terms of human knowledge so that we can engage with it, but the nature of Amida is ultimately inconceivable. For us to engage with the inconceivable nature of Amida here and now, we recite “Namo Amida Butsu”, which is known as the Nembutsu. Namo Amida Butsu means “I take refuge in Amida Buddha.”

“It is not we who call on Amida but Amida calling on us through us.”

Reciting the Nembutsu is crucial as the way to listen to the call of Amida and encounter the immeasurable wisdom and compassion.

Gassho (pron. gah-sho) –  Gassho is a gesture of placing your palms together. The proper way to Gassho is to keep all fingers straight up as you press your palms together softly and place your hands with your thumbs against your chest. Gassho is not done to pray or request favors. Gassho is a gesture of welcoming Amida’s wisdom and compassion into ourselves.

Itadaku (pron. ee-ta-da-ku) – Itadaku is a gesture performed before opening and after closing the service book. It is a motion to humbly receive the teaching. The proper way to Itadaku is to place the bottom tip of the service book against your forehead.

Onenju (pron. oh-nen-joo) also called Nenju or Ojuzu – The Onenju are religious beads. The beads are the symbol of our destructive desires—hatred, greed, ignorance—that we all carry within us. Our left hand represents ourselves and the right hand represents Buddha. When we Gassho and pass our hands through the circle of beads, the gesture shows that even though the destructive desires are part of us, Amida Buddha’s wisdom and compassion are always with us.

Oshoko (pron. oh-sho-ko)  Burning of Incense – Oshoko is a practice of the truths of impermanence and interconnection, open to everyone. The proper way of burning incense is to stop one step from the incense table and bow to the altar. Take a step forward, place a small pinch of incense and Gassho and slightly bow. Then take a step back and bow, and return to your seat via the side aisles.

Special Observances

Shotsuki Services are held on the fourth Sunday of each month. During the Shotsuki Service, names of those who passed away during that month in any year are read by the minister while family and friends oshoko to honor the memory of their loved one. To request that a name be read, please email prior to the fourth Sunday of the month.

The Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temples also hold a number of special observances throughout the year to commemorate holidays or other special events. Please visit this page to learn more.