Typical Sunday at OCBC

There is a Meditation Service from 8:30-9:30 AM in the Mini Chapel. This is the smaller structure to the left of the Main Hondo. Do not enter the Mini Chapel through the large double doors. Instead quietly enter the alcove through the door to the right of the double doors. Next remove your shoes. You may go barefoot if you wish. Please take a service book and a cushion and enter the Mini Chapel. You may sit on the floor or on a chair. We perform sitting meditation for ten minutes, then walking meditation for five minutes, then another ten minutes of sitting meditation. Then we chant a sutra for ten minutes and then have a ten minute Dharma talk given by the Sensei. Then we offer incense. This is called Oshoko. When you exit the Mini Chapel please return the service book, cushion and put your shoes back on.

There is Family Service from 10:00-10:45 AM in the Main Hondo. You may sit in any row as long as it is not reserved. If the row is reserved then a small sign will be posted on the first seat along the center isle. The Family Service begins with the ringing of the bell. When you hear this you should sit down and quietly wait for the service to begin. First a sutra is chanted. Then we repeat some Buddhist sayings and sing a couple songs. Then we have a Dharma talk given by one of the Sensei’s. After the Dharma talk we offer incense.

After the Family Service there is an Adult Study Class from 11:00-11:30 AM in the Social Hall. This is the building directly across from the Main Hondo. At the Adult Study Class the Sensei will present a topic related to Buddhism. The setting is very informal. The presentation is followed up by a discussion along with questions and answers. During the Adult Study Class the children attend Dharma School which is analogous to Sunday School in the Christian tradition.

About once a month we have a Special Service. The Special Service commemorates a special day or event in Buddhism. On these Sundays, the Family Service is replaced by the Special Service. The format of the Special Service is similar to that of the Family Service except that the Dharma Talk is given by a guest speaker. The format of the Meditation Service and the Special Service is also a bit more formal. We do not have the Adult Study Class or Dharma School when we have a Special Service but we do have the Meditation Service.