Join SBWA for their Annual Women of Jodo Shinshu Service
On Feb. 8 at 11 a.m., in the main condo, please join our Sacramento Buddhist Women’s Association (SBWA) for their annual Women of Jodo Shinshu Service honoring four key women figures in the history of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism — Lady Eshinni, Lady Kakushinni, Lady Takeko Kujo and Lady Yoshiko Ohtani. We are honored to have Rev. Patti Oshita serve as our guest speaker who will deliver this year’s Dharma message.
Lady Eshinni was the wife of Shinran Shonin, married in the year 1220. Lady Eshinni, the daughter of high-ranking samurai, was well-educated and a landowner. This allowed her and her husband Shinran to raise a family while Shinran pursued his life’s mission of spreading the Nembutsu teachings.
Lady Kakushinni was the daughter of Lady Eshinni and Shinran. Kakushinni took care of Shinran in his last years until his death in 1263.
Lady Kakushinni became the protector of Shinran’s legacy by playing an important role in securing the land in Kyoto and establishing Shinran’s mausoleum which became the focal point for early Shin pilgrimages.
Lady Takeko Kujo born in 1887 and youngster daughter of the 21st Abbott of Nishi Hongwanji and was the founder of the Women’s Buddhist Association in Japan back in 1904. She was a poet and a playwright and greatly revered by the Hongwanji women for her leadership. She also established Kyoto’s womens college. She also wrote the gatha lyrics, including to song Seiya which will be sung by our choir later in the service.
Lady Yoshiko Ohtani the wife of the 23rd Gommonshu Kosho Ohtani, established the world Women’s Buddhist Association after WWII. Lady Otani visited many temples in Japan and around the world and worked to revive the association. At this time, the first worldwide conferences were held so BWA chapters could communicate. Many BWA chapters observe an annual memorial service in her memory to commemorate her dedication to Buddhism.
