Embedded Files
Our Mission Statement
Our Mission Statement
The Placer Buddhist Church strives to nurture compassion, mindfulness, gratitude, peace, tolerance, inclusiveness, and spiritual exploration by providing a place where everyone is welcome. Our mission is to continually learn and live the Buddhist Teachings to reduce suffering and support our lives and the lives around us. We offer an open door to sharing these teachings, as well as friendship and community.
The Placer Buddhist Church strives to nurture compassion, mindfulness, gratitude, peace, tolerance, inclusiveness, and spiritual exploration by providing a place where everyone is welcome. Our mission is to continually learn and live the Buddhist Teachings to reduce suffering and support our lives and the lives around us. We offer an open door to sharing these teachings, as well as friendship and community.
PBC Office Hours
PBC Office Hours
Every Thursday from 9:00am - 1:00pm
Every Thursday from 9:00am - 1:00pm
A President's Reflection
A President's Reflection
March 2026
March 2026
By the time you receive this bulletin, we will be well into our landscaping and fencing project. This is the first major landscaping job since the Japanese garden and koi pond were installed in 1965. This is a large capital expense, and I want to thank PBC members for their generosity in contributing to this effort.
By the time you receive this bulletin, we will be well into our landscaping and fencing project. This is the first major landscaping job since the Japanese garden and koi pond were installed in 1965. This is a large capital expense, and I want to thank PBC members for their generosity in contributing to this effort.
The existing cherry tree grove had reached the end of their life cycle and we decided to remove them. I want to assure everyone that the plaque re: the cherry tree grove will remain. Also, the bronze and silver placards in the glass case honoring the donors and their relatives will always remain.
The existing cherry tree grove had reached the end of their life cycle and we decided to remove them. I want to assure everyone that the plaque re: the cherry tree grove will remain. Also, the bronze and silver placards in the glass case honoring the donors and their relatives will always remain.
As a reminder, we started thinking about this project about two years ago when the church was vandalized twice. Urbanization is encroaching on our tiny rural community and we felt the need to protect and preserve our property. I have been to many BCA temples in the Bay Area, Northern California, and Southern California, and PBC is the only one that is currently unfenced.
As a reminder, we started thinking about this project about two years ago when the church was vandalized twice. Urbanization is encroaching on our tiny rural community and we felt the need to protect and preserve our property. I have been to many BCA temples in the Bay Area, Northern California, and Southern California, and PBC is the only one that is currently unfenced.
This has been a very complex project involving two different contractors – one for the landscaping and another for the fence. Our team of volunteers have met with, and walked the property several times, with each of the contractors. We have consulted with them how many trees/bushes/shrubs to plant, where they will go, drainage, and also what kind of fence, and how high, etc. We have also met with the owner of Penryn 76 to make sure she is OK with all of our plans.
This has been a very complex project involving two different contractors – one for the landscaping and another for the fence. Our team of volunteers have met with, and walked the property several times, with each of the contractors. We have consulted with them how many trees/bushes/shrubs to plant, where they will go, drainage, and also what kind of fence, and how high, etc. We have also met with the owner of Penryn 76 to make sure she is OK with all of our plans.
I think all of you will be very happy with the results of this project.
I think all of you will be very happy with the results of this project.
A few words on transparency
A few words on transparency
At the annual meeting I stressed that we try to be as transparent as possible, not just about finances, but about everything we do and why. Your Board meets every month, and the minutes are published the following month. Every PBC member is entitled to know exactly how much money we take in, and how much money goes out. There are no secrets at PBC.
At the annual meeting I stressed that we try to be as transparent as possible, not just about finances, but about everything we do and why. Your Board meets every month, and the minutes are published the following month. Every PBC member is entitled to know exactly how much money we take in, and how much money goes out. There are no secrets at PBC.
And speaking of complex, collaborative efforts, this bulletin is put out by many volunteers. And coordinating it all is our editor, Janice Kemper.
And speaking of complex, collaborative efforts, this bulletin is put out by many volunteers. And coordinating it all is our editor, Janice Kemper.
In Gassho,
In Gassho,
David Unruhe, President
David Unruhe, President
2026 PBC Board Members
2026 PBC Board Members
If you sign up make sure you tell them you're from Placer Buddhist Church.
If you sign up make sure you tell them you're from Placer Buddhist Church.
PBC Annual Report's
PBC Annual Report's
The Placer Buddhist Church Annual reports are available for review. Use the links below to download and review the document.
The Placer Buddhist Church Annual reports are available for review. Use the links below to download and review the document.
Our Contact Information
Our Contact Information
Placer Buddhist Church
Placer Buddhist Church
3192 Boyington Road
3192 Boyington Road
P.O.Box 349 <-- New Mailing Address
P.O.Box 349 <-- New Mailing Address
Penryn, CA. 95663
Penryn, CA. 95663
(916) 652-6139
(916) 652-6139
Our Church
Our Church
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 halfway 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 halfway between San Francisco and Reno, Nevada.
The Church was founded in 1902 in the small foothill 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 1963. The church is well known in the community for annual food bazaar which is typically held on the 4th weekend of September. The annual food bazaar began in 1964, just after the church moved to its new location.
The Church was founded in 1902 in the small foothill 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 1963. The church is well known in the community for annual food bazaar which is typically held on the 4th weekend of September. The annual food bazaar began in 1964, just after the church moved to its new location.
The church supports organizations such as the Placer Buddhist Women’s Association (PBWA), Young Buddhist Association (YBA), Sierra Bonsai Club, Dharma School, and Placer Ume Taiko Groups. The church also holds various classes during the week including calligraphy, flower arranging, Tai Chi, Obon dancing and exercise classes. See the church calendar for class times.
The church supports organizations such as the Placer Buddhist Women’s Association (PBWA), Young Buddhist Association (YBA), Sierra Bonsai Club, Dharma School, and Placer Ume Taiko Groups. The church also holds various classes during the week including calligraphy, flower arranging, Tai Chi, Obon dancing and exercise classes. See the church calendar for class times.
Dharma services and group activities have been limited during the Covid-19 pandemic and will reopen when safe to publicly meet.
Dharma services and group activities have been limited during the Covid-19 pandemic and will reopen when safe to publicly meet.
Supervising Ministers
Supervising Ministers
Rev. Matt Hamasaki
Rev. Matt Hamasaki
Rev. Yuki Sugahara
Rev. Yuki Sugahara
Minister's Assistants
Minister's Assistants
Rich Kawahata
Rich Kawahata
Michi Mitani
Michi Mitani
Ed Nakamoto
Ed Nakamoto
2025 PBC Officers
2025 PBC Officers
President
President
David Unruhe
David Unruhe
Vice President
Vice President
Ed Nakamoto
Ed Nakamoto
Treasurer
Treasurer
Kent Kawamoto
Kent Kawamoto
Secretary
Secretary
Allan Yamashiro
Allan Yamashiro
Auditor
Auditor
Dan Tokutomi
Dan Tokutomi
Page updated
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