Hawaii Betsuin Autumn Higan Major Service
September 18, 2022 | 9:30 a.m.
Hybrid: In Person and Online via Zoom

Rev. LaVerne Sasaki, retired BCA minister

Guest speaker is retired Rev. LaVerne Sasaki, who served Buddhist Churches of America as a minister from 1953-2000.

Dharma Message: “Is the Other Shore Here? (Jodo Shinshu and Buddha Nature)”

Please note that Rev. Sasaki will stay after the service for a Dharma Dialogue, available both in person and via Zoom.

Complete Zoom connection details »

About Our Speaker

Rev. LaVerne Sasaki was born on March 5, 1930 in Stockton, California, the eldest son of Rev. and Mrs. Sensho Sasaki. He and and his wife Helen have 5 adult children, all married, and 13 grandchildren.

Rev. Sasaki graduated from Sacramento State University in 1952, Tokyo University (M.A. degree in Japanese Buddhism) in 1958, and University of the Pacific (M.A. degree in Religious Education) in 1965. He served as a minister in the Buddhist Churches of America from 1953-2000, at the Stockton Buddhist Temple, Mountain View Buddhist Temple, and Buddhist Church of San Francisco. He was formerly the BCA Ministerial Association Chair and an Institute of Buddhist Studies Trustee.

In the community, Rev. Sasaki has served local and national interfaith organizations, co-founded Sister City, and has served in Rotary Club and on the regional Scouting council.

Rev. Sasaki enjoys reading, sports, and afternoon naps.

About Higan

“Higan” means “the other shore.” It is an abbreviation for “to-higan,” meaning “reaching the other shore (of nirvana).”

During the vernal and autumnal equinoxes when days and nights are of equal length, temples conduct Higan services that encourage us to meditate on the harmony of nature and devote ourselves to the realization of this harmony in our inner lives.