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9:45 AM: Zen Shin Sangha: During these cold winter months, give yourself a moment of contemplation and self-reflection by quiet sitting and guided meditation. We will have sutra chanting including the Heart Sutra, and sutra recitations. We sit to calm our mind and body in order to focus on the present moment revealing our profound connection to all beings. With this calmness we are more prepared to hear the Buddha Dharma shared in the Shin Buddhist service to follow. All levels, including beginners, and families with children are welcome.

(Check out our Children’s Table, complete with coloring books)

10:30 AM: Cleveland Buddhist Temple: Rev. Anita Tokuzen Kazarian

• Shin Buddhist Service
• Shin Buddhist Memorial Service to express gratitude to ancestors who passed away in the month of February. Those attending may include the name of a loved one in our Memorial Service. Please provide Rev. Anita with the name by 10:15 AM.
• Animal Memorial Service

Following the Service:

Following coffee and our 80^th CBT & Sangha’s February birthday cake, we will discuss a short reading. Handouts of text provided.

Dhammapada
Dhammapada, a collection of verses of Shakyamuni Buddha

“I’m right, you’re wrong!” How many times has someone implied or said that to you? How many times have you told others that they are mistaken in their understanding, their beliefs, their knowledge?

What if we just, as difficult as it is, step over that fence and try to imagine the perspective of the sentient being on that side? To make it easier, pick a hot button issue. The hot button issues are simple because they are so obvious. IF we can begin to see an alternate world view from the other side of that fence on big issues, then we can begin to identify the little ones that trip us up the most often. The ones we don’t even realize have an alternate world view.

I stand on this side of the zoo fence and see a calf and think “Yum, veal cutlet.” The calf on the other side of the fence may be yearing for its mother that was taken away for milk production sales.

I stand on this side of the zoo fence and see a jaguar pacing back and forth and think “How powerful and beautiful it looks,” then move on to another animal forgetting about the jaguar. That jaguar has been pacing for years and years in that confined space, a space that should be 20 to 50 square miles large.

Or, let’s consider our political beliefs and the 2024 Presidential elections in the Untied States. How difficult is it to be as compassionate for the “other” party as we were for the party of our/my choice? Is it even possible to put oneself on the other side of that fence? If we cannot do this, then there is little hope of understanding our own judgemental egocentric self, let alone walk the Buddhist path to compassion and wisdom.

No, I’m not suggesting anything goes. What I am exploring is how rigid our way of thinking can become that we cannot even begin to imagine, let alone understand how and why someone else can be “so very wrong.”

May we understand Amida Buddha’s 18^th Vow ¹, not just intellectually, but its intent. As bonbu sentient beings we may be incapbable of that level of compassion, but at least we may be able to catch ourselves when we forget the infinite causes and conditons that bring about infinite perspectives.

Namo Amida Buddha

Namo Amida Buddha

Namo Amida Buddha

In Gassho

Rev. Anita

¹ If, when I attain Buddhahood, the sentient beings of the ten quarters who, with sincere and *entrusting heart, aspire to be born in my land and say my name even ten times, should not be born there, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment

Excerpt from: Three Pure Land Sutras, Volume II: The Larger Sutra, pg. 22

One morning, Percy was walking through the forest. He was thinking about the village fair and how he longed to win the running race. “But it’s no good,” he sighed, “I will just bump into everything.” Just as he was thinking that, he almost stepped on a quail’s nest! “Look out, you long legged fool! You nearly trod on my eggs,” squawked Mrs. Quail. She flapped her feathers and flew up into Percy’s face. “Shoo!”

“What’s going on?!” He cried in surprise and ran away. Wallop! Poor Percy ran straight into a tree. “Ouch!” He said. His knees crumbled and he slid to the ground in a daze. He began to cry. Tears flowed down his beak and plopped onto the ground in a big puddle. “Please stop crying. You’re going to drown me,” muttered a tiny voice at Percy’s feet.

Percy gulped back his tears and rubbed his eyes. He lowered his head, screwed up his nose and squinted at the ground. He could just make out a bright, rainbow colored shell. Two twinkling blue eyes on long stalks stared up at him. “Hello, I’m Kevin,” said the snail and one twinkly blue eye winked at Percy. “Why are you crying?” By now, he had climbed up onto Percy’s foot out of the puddle of tears.

Percy broke into sobs again. “Oh, Kevin,” he said, “I want to win the running race at the village fair. I have the fastest legs for miles around.” “Lucky you!” said Kevin kindly, “I can’t run fast. I don’t have any legs.” He wiggled his squishy body and laughed. “But my fast legs are no use,” said Percy. “Not really. My eyesight is so bad I can’t see where I’m going.” “Oh dear,” said Kevin. “I wonder what can be done?”

He was a clever little snail and believed every problem has a solution. So he sat and thought. “I know,” he said at last. “I could be your eyes. I have excellent eyesight. I’ll sit on your head and tell you where you’re going.” “Really?” said Percy. “You would help me like that?” “Of course I would!” said Kevin. He was already slithering up toward the top of Percy’s head “I would very much enjoy a fast ride. Let’s have a practice now.”

“All right,” said Percy, and as soon as Kevin was settled, Percy began to run. “Whee!” cried Kevin as they thundered along the path. “Just look out for the tree on the left.” Percy swerved out of the way. “And Mrs. Quail’s nest is just in front of you,” warned Kevin. Percy darted sideways away from the precious eggs. “Thank you for being so careful!” cried Mrs. Quail. “Whoopee!” cried Percy, and he ran on faster than ever.

Percy was ecstatic! He told Kevin there was a whole week until the big race. The two friends practiced every day, enjoying lots of chatting and laughter as they did so. The other animals watched in wonder as Percy sped about, leaving a trail of dust behind them. “Look how fast I can run,” he boasted. “I’m going to win first prize!”

“We are going to win together,” said Kevin and his tiny voice. But Percy took no notice, he just kept on practicing, with Kevin showing him the way. Soon Percy didn’t bother even to say “good morning” to Kevin when they met to practice, and he never said “thank you” when they were finished each night.

Instead, he just blurted out instructions. “Hurry up and tell me where to go, he ordered the little snail. “Turn left,” said Kevin quietly. “And look out for the fallen tree trunk.” He was sad that Percy had started ordering him about in this way.

On the morning of the village fair, Kevin tried to tell Percy how he was feeling. “I thought we were a team,” he said. But the big bird just snapped his beak. “Stop moaning. You’re lucky you get to ride with me at all. Today is the big race and I am going to win the prize.” “We’ll win it together,” said Kevin again as Percy took his place with the other runners at the starting line. “Oh, do be quiet! If it wasn’t for me you’d still be living under a rock,” scolded Percy. “I am fast. I am a winner. I am the best of the best. You are not fast. You are not…”

But Kevin wasn’t listening anymore. He’d had enough. While the ostrich was bragging, and without saying a word, Kevin had climbed onto a leaf and disappeared into the bushes, leaving boastful Percy to race alone. BANG! The starting gun sounded and the race began.

Percy started to run, but without Kevin’s help, he couldn’t see where he was going. “Kevin! Where are you?” he squawked. All he could see was a fuzzy mist. He tripped over his own feet and landed in a heap in the thick bushes. The other runners sped away. “Oh dear,” he said, untangling his feathers from a particularly prickly bush. “I’ve been a very silly ostrich. I’ll never win the race now.” Then he started to cry. But it wasn’t losing the race that made him sad – it was a thought that he had lost his friendship with Kevin.

“Excuse me. Can you please stop crying.” said a voice below him, “or I’m going to drown.” Percy squinted at the ground. “Kevin!” He cried. “I’m sorry I was so mean, especially when you are so kind to me.” He hung his head in shame. “We were a team.” “Yes,” said Kevin, “we were.” Then, seeing Percy was truly sorry he said, “Thank you for realizing how bad you made me feel. I forgive you. Can we be friends again?” “Yes, please! Friends!” agreed Percy, and Kevin climbed up onto Percy’s head.

As they began to walk away together Kevin said “I’m sorry that you didn’t win the race. Perhaps we can have another go next year. You can try to win the prize then.” “That would be fun,” agree Percy. “But the thing that matters most is that you and I are friends again.”

Excerpt in gratitude from: The Calm Buddha at Bedtime. Dharmachari Nagaraja, London; Watkins Media. 2017

The Words of Gandhi

(1869-1948)

“In India, we have 3 million people who have to be satisfied with one meal a day, and that meal consists of a chapati containing no fat in it and a pinch of salt. You and I have no right to anything we have until these three millions are clothed and fed better. You and I, who ought to know better, must adjust our wants, and even undergo voluntary starvation in order that they may be nursed, fed and clothed.”

Excerpt in gratitude from: Richard Attenborough, ed, The Words of Gandhi. (New York: Newmarket Press, 1982)

NOTE: The British occupation of India was from 1858 to 1947 when India gained its independence.

Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash

October 9 - 11, 2025

Center for Buddhist Education

MAP Seminar

Jodo Shinshu Center, Berkeley CA

This in person training session is hosted by the BCA’s Center for Buddhist Education and is open to all BCA Minister Assistants both certified and non-certified. The BCA encourages all Minister Assistants to participate in continuing education. The sessions will cover basic Jodo Shinshu teachings, chanting, Onaijin etiquette as well as other topics. This is a great opportunity to learn from other BCA ministers and to build relationships with MAs from different temples.

Participating in the Minister Assistant Program (MAP) is available at all levels. The third Jewel in Buddhism is the Sangha. It is the Sangha that helps us understand and supports us as we put the teachings to the test on our Shin Buddhist Path. All who attend often are already engaged in the CBT Sangha. By exploring this next step you can deepen your understanding at a level and pace of your choice.

Please email Rev. Anita for more information, or if you wish, to set up a time to explore if participating in the Minister Assistant Program is for you.

Supervising Minister:  Rev. Ron Miyamura

Resident Tokudo Minister: Rev. Anita Tokuzen Kazarian

rev.anita.cbt@outlook.com

Buddha Post is published by the Cleveland Buddhist Temple, 21600 Shaker Blvd, Shaker Heights, OH 44122 

The Cleveland Buddhist Temple is an affiliate of the Buddhist Churches of America, founded in 1899: 

https://www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org/

© 2025 Anita Kazarian. All rights reserved.

Web and Newsletter Design: Stuart "Kodo" Ott KodoDojo@clevelandbuddhisttemple.org