Placer Buddhist Church
3192 Boyington Road P.O.Box 349 <-- New Mailing AddressPenryn, CA. 95663(916) 652-6139office@placerbuddhistchurch.org
facebook.com/Placer-Buddhist-ChurchUpcoming events:
Upcoming events:
PBC Obon - August 3
PBC Obon - August 3
PBC 57th Annual Food Bazaar - September 28-29
PBC 57th Annual Food Bazaar - September 28-29
A Dharma Message by Rev. Matt Hamasaki
A Dharma Message by Rev. Matt Hamasaki
August 2024
August 2024
As someone who is continuously learning about religions and their history, the presence of deities is constant. From our post-modern, scientific point of view, it is easy to be dismissive of such beliefs as primitive, simply attributing this worldview as ignorance of the past. When we look at the technological advances we have made based on the incredible number of discoveries of the physical world in all fields, the position taken of such a lofty attitude is, at the very least, reasonable.
As someone who is continuously learning about religions and their history, the presence of deities is constant. From our post-modern, scientific point of view, it is easy to be dismissive of such beliefs as primitive, simply attributing this worldview as ignorance of the past. When we look at the technological advances we have made based on the incredible number of discoveries of the physical world in all fields, the position taken of such a lofty attitude is, at the very least, reasonable.
However, when we take a closer look at the state of the world today, perhaps our discoveries are not also without their faults. Rather than disproving the existence of gods, we have simply replaced them with different ones. Day until night, do we not worship our phones and TVs? Do we not offer our money, the symbol of our labor, at the altar of Netflix and YouTube? Do we not get our insight of the world from prophets and shaman on the news, telling us what the weather will be? The gods may have no faces, and our sacrifices may not be live animals but, all the same, we are participating in a belief system.
However, when we take a closer look at the state of the world today, perhaps our discoveries are not also without their faults. Rather than disproving the existence of gods, we have simply replaced them with different ones. Day until night, do we not worship our phones and TVs? Do we not offer our money, the symbol of our labor, at the altar of Netflix and YouTube? Do we not get our insight of the world from prophets and shaman on the news, telling us what the weather will be? The gods may have no faces, and our sacrifices may not be live animals but, all the same, we are participating in a belief system.
And perhaps those in the past had something right all along, for when we attribute human characteristics to natural things, it allows us to empathize with them, to respect them. If we believed that trees, rivers, dirt, and rocks had gods living in them, would we be so quick to displace them? If we knew the ground we walk upon had a heart that was beating, would we fill it up with trash? If the wind had lungs and was breathing, would we be concerned about what we put in the air?
And perhaps those in the past had something right all along, for when we attribute human characteristics to natural things, it allows us to empathize with them, to respect them. If we believed that trees, rivers, dirt, and rocks had gods living in them, would we be so quick to displace them? If we knew the ground we walk upon had a heart that was beating, would we fill it up with trash? If the wind had lungs and was breathing, would we be concerned about what we put in the air?
In the texts that we read, it’s so easy to skip over the fantastical aspects that seem ridiculous from the logic we have today. But upon a closer reading, it is pointing us to a truth greater than we can imagine.
In the texts that we read, it’s so easy to skip over the fantastical aspects that seem ridiculous from the logic we have today. But upon a closer reading, it is pointing us to a truth greater than we can imagine.
Gassho,
Gassho,
Rev. Matt
Rev. Matt
The Placer Buddhist Church is located at 3192 Boyington Road in Penryn California, County of Placer. It is located at the scenic base of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains just off Interstate 80. It is approximately half way between San Francisco and Reno, Nevada.
The Placer Buddhist Church is located at 3192 Boyington Road in Penryn California, County of Placer. It is located at the scenic base of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains just off Interstate 80. It is approximately half way between San Francisco and Reno, Nevada.
The Church was founded in 1902 in the small foothills town of Penryn. The original church was near the center of town approximately 3 miles from its current location. The church moved to its current location in approximately 1963. The church is well known in the community for the annual food bazaar which is always held on the 4th weekend of September. The annual food bazaar started in 1964, just after the church moved to the new location.
The Church was founded in 1902 in the small foothills town of Penryn. The original church was near the center of town approximately 3 miles from its current location. The church moved to its current location in approximately 1963. The church is well known in the community for the annual food bazaar which is always held on the 4th weekend of September. The annual food bazaar started in 1964, just after the church moved to the new location.
The church supports many organizations such as the Placer Buddhist Women’s Association (PBWA), Sierra Bonsai Club, Dharma School, and Placer Ume Taiko Group. The church also holds various classes during the week including Buddhist Study Classes, Tai Chi, Obon dancing and exercise classes. See the church calendar for class times.
The church supports many organizations such as the Placer Buddhist Women’s Association (PBWA), Sierra Bonsai Club, Dharma School, and Placer Ume Taiko Group. The church also holds various classes during the week including Buddhist Study Classes, Tai Chi, Obon dancing and exercise classes. See the church calendar for class times.