Mountain View Buddhist Temple
Eitaikyo Perpetual Memorial Fund Donation
Background
The word Eitaikyo is a contraction of the more formal term, Ei-tai dok(u)-kyo 
. “Ei” means eternal. It is composed of the Chinese Characters for a river with many tributaries that flows on and on. “Tai” means generations. “Kyo” means sutras or the words of the Buddha. “Doku” means to read or chant. Thus the meaning of Eitaikyo is to eternally chant the sutras on behalf of our loved ones for generations and generations to come.
The Eitaikyo Perpetual Memorial Fund
A special Eitaikyo Perpetual Memorial Fund was established to ensure the continuation of the teachings of the Buddha and Nembutsu. It is to be used specifically for religious services such as to purchase candles and incense, religious articles, altar enhancements and altar repairs. This fund is established through the donations made in memory of deceased members of the family, relative, and friends. This ensures a perpetual service for the deceased even when there is no one left in the family to observe a Buddhist Service.
Because the purpose of Eitaikyo is to ensure that a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Service be conducted eternally in memory of a loved one, an initial substantial donation is requested to place a loved one’s name in the Eitaikyo Registry. An amount of $500 or more is suggested. However, due to circumstances any amount will be considered. Please consult with Reverend Koyama.
The Eitaikyo Registry
After completing the Eitaikyo form and donating to the Eitaikyo fund, the name of your deceased loved one will be entered into a Special Eitaikyo Registry book. This is a calendar type book listing the deceased names on the day of death. This book is kept in the Mountain View Buddhist Temple’s altar. Each day, the morning service is dedicated to the names that appear on the page for that particular day. Thus by donating to the Eitaikyo Fund, a sutra will be chanted in memory of your loved one for eternal generations to come.
As an expression of appreciation and gratitude for the guidance, leadership and support in the growth of the Mountain View Buddhist Temple, automatically entered into this Eitaikyo registry will be:
1. Past Ministers and Minister’s spouses who served the Mountain View Buddhist Temple
2. Past Mountain View Buddhist Temple Presidents who have served two or more years in office.
No donations from the family will be expected in these cases.
The Annual Eitaikyo Service
Every November an Annual Eitaikyo Service will be conducted at the Mountain View Buddhist Temple. This service will be dedicated in special memory to those loved ones newly recorded into the Eitaikyo registry within the past year. Those families will be sent an invitation to this service so that they can o-shoko in memory of their loved one during the service.
Download the Eitaikyo Perpetual Memorial Fund form using the link below. Bring the filled-out form to Reverend Koyama or the temple office.