March 2025

One of the things I most appreciate about Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, and PBC in particular, is the way we remember and honor those who have gone before us. We do this through our monthly Shotsuki Hoyo services, our twice-yearly cemetery services, and our Cherry Tree Memorial Grove.

This is the 123rd year of Placer Buddhist Church’s existence in the tiny community of Penryn, but our Sangha has actually existed longer than that as members began worshiping in homes before the formal establishment of PBC in 1902.

The devotion and dedication it took to establish PBC is incredible. Almost all of the founding members were immigrant farmers. Most were itinerant agricultural workers who were forbidden by law from owning land. The hills between Auburn and Rocklin were covered with fruit orchards. Life was difficult, and money was short, but PBC thrived as roots were established and families grew over the next 40 years.

And then the bombs literally fell. Our country was at war with Japan, and our members looked like the enemy. The government soon rounded up ALL persons of Japanese ancestry, American citizens included, and kicked them out of Placer County. Most spent the next three plus years in the desolate Tule Lake Internment Camp. And our members continued to practice Buddhism, even behind barbed wire.

When the war ended and the camps closed, our members returned to a hostile Placer County, starting their lives all over again. If life was hard before the war, it was brutal afterwards. Many had lost everything, their homes, farms, businesses, and friends. And yet, for the next 20 years, PBC and Penryn’s Japantown boomed again.

In the early 60’s, church leaders realized that life in Penryn would no longer be centered along the railroad, but along the interstate a few miles east. I believe that the decision to move to our current location saved our Sangha, and we have again thrived here for the next 60 years.

This history lesson brings me to my point. We are now facing a very serious challenge with the proposal of a huge low-income apartment complex directly adjacent to our property. The plans currently call for an emergency vehicle right-of-way through our front parking lot, something we have not agreed to. The Board will hold a Town Hall meeting sometime in the March/April timeframe and will be open to all concerned citizens and stakeholders.

The Board has appointed a team consisting of Carole Kawamoto, Frank Perrott, Allan Yamashiro, Darin Hirota, and myself, to investigate this very complex issue. Further information can be found on the church website, and updates, when necessary, will be sent out via email blast.

Our Sangha members have “gamaned” thru harder times than this, and together we will gaman thru this challenge too. 

In Gassho, 

David Unruhe, President