Buddhist Church of Oakland

06/10/2026

Our Bazaar & Food Festival is coming soon! Saturday, June 20, from noon-6 pm - mark your calendar and come on down! Link to more information in 1st comment.

05/21/2026

Happy Birthday Shinran Shonin! Although today (May 21) is the day according to the solar calendar, we held our Gotan-e/Fujimatsuri Service commemorating the birth of our founder this past Sunday. We were very fortunate to have Rev. Marvin Harada, Bishop of the BCA, as our guest speaker (with a special repeat guest appearance from Freddie the Frog). Sensei also conducted a Kieshiki Affirmation Service, where 25 people received their Dharma Names. Link to the service video in 1st comment.

04/13/2026

We had a wonderful celebration of Shakyamuni Buddha's birthday with our Hanamatsuri Service yesterday! Our guest speaker was singer/songwriter Miharu Okamura - she is a member of Bonbu Stories and the duo KO-HA, and she debuted a new song for our Dharma School! We also got to hear a new version of the classic gatha "In Lumbini's Garden." You can check out the service on YouTube - link in first comment.

03/21/2026

Today is the Spring Equinox - the first day of Spring (whether it feels like it or not!), and one of two days a year when day and night are equal lengths. Japanese Buddhism commemorates this time of year with study and reflection. BCO observed Spring Higan last Sunday - Rev. Harry Bridge asked Gary T. Groundhog to help talk about it, drawing on a shared experience. They also talked about an important Buddhist concept and reintroduced the idea of EcoSangha, a Buddhist approach to taking care of our environment and planet.

This Sunday, we will NOT have in-person service due to the Oakland Marathon, but Rev. Harry will still be streaming! Since Higan is traditionally observed for the three previous and following days, he will talk about the Six Paramitas and AI.

Both services can be viewed on our YouTube channel - last Sunday’s service in 1st comment

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! It was nice to see people in person on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day! We had some technical difficulties on New Year’s Day, so Rev. Harry Bridge recorded a new Dharma Talk. You can watch the NY Eve service and the NY Day Dharma Talk on our YouTube channel! (linked in comments)

12/31/2025

We are ringing out 2025 and ushering in the New Year with our New Years Eve Service at 2 pm and New Year’s Day Service at 11 am. Both services are in-person and streaming online.

12/24/2025

Some last minute Buddhist-Xmas ideas from over the years, from a BCO gingerbread house with Dharma Wheel and Nenju/Juzu, to a couple of different “Bodhi Trees”

12/08/2025

Happy Bodhi Day! Different Buddhist schools commemorate the awakening of the Historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, in different ways - and on different dates! Japan uses the solar calendar with December 8 as the day. In Nishi Hongwanji the service is called Jōdō-e 成道会 - Attaining the Way Service. Unfortunately due to technical difficulties our service yesterday is not available online, but today we can think back in wonder and awe on the profound spiritual transformation undergone by the Buddha and our connection to that experience in its various manifestations!

08/01/2025

Chidori Band will be performing at our Obon Festival & Dance on Saturday, Aug. 2!!!

08/01/2025

This Saturday! Click the link for more information from our website!

Welcome to BCO’s 2025 Obon Festival! We, at the Buddhist Church of Oakland (BCO), wish to extend our warmest welcome to you. Try our Japanese delicacies at the food bazaar, enjoy the traditional Japanese cultural demonstrations and Ikebana Floral Exhibit. Complete the exciting evening by joining i...