“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.

Rev. Ron Kobata, Resident Minister for the Buddhist Church of San Francisco, will be our guest speaker. Rev. Kobata will also speak the day before, Saturday, March 16, for our Spring Higan Talk Story. Please join us!

About Our Guest Speaker

Rev. Ron Kobata (a video still from talk to Marin Interfaith Council)

Reverend Ronald Kobata (Shaku KenGu) is no stranger to Sangha members of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii. From November 1981 to January 2005, he served as an Associate Minister at Hawaii Betsuin; a Resident Minister at Kahului Hongwanji and Makawao Hongwanji (respectively). In 2005, he returned to the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) as Executive Assistant in the Office of the Bishop. Since March 2009, Reverend Kobata is the Resident Minister for the Buddhist Church of San Francisco and is currently the Supervisor for Buddhist Temple of Marin and Enmanji Buddhist Temple.

Reverend Kobata is recognized for his open-hearted engagement with the Interfaith Community; involved with Japanese American Religious Federation (Past President), Japanese Community Youth Council (Former Board Member) and San Francisco Interfaith Council (Former Board Member). And he currently serves as Chairperson of the Bay District Ministers Association (BCA).

He was born in Ogden, Utah and grew up in San Francisco. He is a graduate of University of California at Berkeley (Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies); and obtained a Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS). (Jodo Shinshu Hongwanj-ha Credentials: Tokudo 1974; Kyoshi (Teaching) Certification 1974 and Kaikyoshi (Overseas Minister) Certification 1975).

Kobata Sensei is married; he and his wife, Sayoko, have raised three daughters (Tabitha; Mindy; Trina) and have two grandchildren.