BTSD Welcomes Rev. Von Magnin for Obon Service
The Buddhist Temple of San Diego welcomes Rev. Vonn Magnin to our Temlpe to provide Dharma messages for young and old at our Obon Service.
The service, which will take place on Sunday, July 23, at 10 a.m., will be officiated by Rev. Hōkai “Smitty” Smith and chaired by Ralph Honda. Musical accompaniment will be provided by organist Ann Ong. The service will be followed by hospitality and then dance practice, in the Annex Hall, for our Bon Odori. This year the Odori takes place on Saturday, July 29. Gates open at 5 p.m. for entertainment and food vendors, and and the dancing will start around 6:30 p.m.
About Rev. Magnin
Rev. Vonn Magnin is a Minister’s Assistant at the Arizona Buddhist Temple, where he and his family have been members for more than 15 years.
Rev. Vonn received his Tokudo Ordination in Kyoto in 2014 and his Kyoshi certification in 2022. He is currently working on his Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies at IBS. Upon graduation and his wife’s retirement as a kindergarten teacher, he hopes to serve BCA as a Kaikyoshi minister.
Vonn Sensei grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work as well as a Master of Public Administration degree from Arizona State University. He works a full-time job as an operations manager for a national company and is also a US Marine veteran.
Rev Vonn and his wife, Karen, have been married for 26 years and have two adult sons and two doggies. When not at the Arizona Temple, studying at IBS, and working his full-time job, he enjoys swimming in his pool, reading science-fiction books, and binge-watching “Midnight Diner: Tokyo” on Netflix – as well as many other shows. He is a huge fan of both Star Wars and Star Trek. Please don’t ask him which one he likes more as he might suffer from a small headache trying to decide!
He frequently contributes videos and podcasts to ABT’s Dharma in the Desert program. As a former military man he brings insights and perspective to his interpretations of Buddhism.
Links to San Diego Sangha
Rev. Magnin already has Dharma links to our Temple, having studied for his Tokudo ordination with our own Rev. Laverne Imori and his Kyoshi ordination with our own Rev. Smitty. Rev. Magnin has also actively supported Jr. YBA functions across the Southern District and is known to many Jr. YBA members.