Jan - Buddhist Churches of America

WHEEL
OF DHARMA
Official Publication of the Buddhist Churches of America
1710 Octavia Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
VOLUME 39 JANUARY 2013 New Year’s Greeting
Immeasurable Light and Life
From the
Desk of
Rev. Kodo
Umezu
Happy New Year!
I
hope everyone is savoring each moment of this new beginning
with joy and gratitude, within the Infinite Wisdom and Compassion. Because of your kindness and generosity, the Buddhist
Churches of America is able to say farewell to the year 2012 and welcome the New Year. I would like to ask you for your continued support
and guidance once again.
During this season, we exchange greeting cards. This is a beautiful
custom. By exchanging cards, we express our appreciation and also
show our consideration for one another. A greeting card is not just a
card. It is, indeed, an expression of a kind and caring heart. Therefore,
when we receive a card from someone who cares about us, feelings of
joy and warmth arise naturally.
Likewise, we receive a card from our Home, the True and Real
Realm. The card is called Namo Amidabutsu. The True and Real
Realm is the sphere which is not tainted by our deluded mind and
consciousness. It is serene, honest and sincere. We all belong to this
realm. Therefore, we call it our Home. Namo Amidabutsu is the voice
coming from there. Namo Amidabutsu is the most loving card that we
can receive.
Because of our doubts, we are lost in our own deluded and confused world of samsara. Those who have gone before us have wished
and prayed for us to find our Home. Finding our Home gives us the
strength to live through this life. It also makes us gentle and kind to
other fellow travelers. Finding our Home gives us the clarity that leads
to true joy and happiness.
Let us begin our new year by being kind to ourselves and others
and by finding the path to our Home together. Once again, I wish you
a very Happy New Year.
SAVE THE DATE:
BCA Ministers’ Association General Meeting
and BCA National Council hosted by the Bay
District Council at the Marriott San Mateo
February 26 - March 3, 2013
President’s
Message
Reciting the Nembutsu, we welcome the
new year. I express my warmest greetings to
you. Following the East Japan Great Earthquake, one year and ten months has passed.
More than a hundred thousand people continue to live in evacuation center housing,
unable to return to their homes. Personally, I
find the events of the Seven hundred fiftieth
Memorial for Shinran Shonin and East Japan
Great Earthquake to be inseparable.
I am sure that each person directly affected by the natural disaster has his or her
own sufferings and is being faced with various
problems and tasks. It goes without saying
that support and recovery efforts are important. However, with this as an opportune
W
time, as a fellow earthly being, I would also
like to reflect on the fundamental issues we all
have in common. What we need to reconsider
is how we have easily come to accept our
common values and ways of perceiving
things, regardless of whether we are conscious
of it or not. For example, there is the notion
that development in science technology and
economic competition increases happiness.
Although technological advancements and
economic strength may be immediate solutions for simple issues at hand, stopping there
can result in something else becoming overlooked. That is our infinite humanly cravings,
our limited intelligence, and our lack of harmony with the greater nature. This is an issue
ISSUE 1
that is deeply connected with Buddhism.
The beauty of Mt. Fuji and other mountains and valleys are all results of volcanic activity and earthquakes. Although nuclear energy may appear to be an efficient prescription
for the immediate situation, not only does it
become a problem when an accident occurs,
but with our current technological skills, we
are unable to safely dispose of radioactive
wastes. We cannot simply pick and choose
just what is convenient nor do we have the
power to control nature. It is my hope that
the measures we take will not simply end up
as temporary solutions. But rather, they will
help to make a positive change in our social
values and reflect on our own standards and
realize a sustainable society.
January 1, 2013
OHTANI Koshin
Monshu Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha
A New Year’s
Welcome
By Ron Murakami
BCA President
White River
Buddhist Temple
elcome to 2013! On
behalf of the Buddhist
Churches of America I
extend a warm Happy New Year
greeting to each of you. The beginning of each year brings forth hopes
and aspirations, both of which provide benefit by giving our lives a
sense of purpose.
As 2012 ended, Allan Fukumoto, our BCA Accounting Officer,
announced his retirement effective
at the end of December. Allan will
continue to provide support as
needed on a contract basis during
the transition period at the start of
2013. Allan has served BCA for
twenty years and has been a long
time member of the Buddhist
Church of San Francisco. I extend
our thanks to him for his dedicated
service and wish him well in his retirement.
December brought mixed emotions for my wife and me during
our visits with many different
friends and relatives. Several of the
people we visited were coping with
various health issues, some fairly
serious. Lives can follow difficult
courses and it can strongly affect us
whether we’re on that journey ourselves or it involves people we
deeply care about. There’s certainly
a sense of frustration when we
aren’t able to change the situation
and sometimes the best we can do is
offer our sympathy and moral support. At times like this it helps to
reflect on our viewpoint since it can
make a tremendous difference in
the way we see the world. That
viewpoint can also give us the best
chance to help fulfill the dreams we
carry forward.
There are people who see the
best of life despite their own difficulties and I’ve seen their positive
attitude spread to improve the
quality of life for everyone around
them. I’m always impressed and
thankful for people who can
brighten the world with their presence, whether it’s with sympathetic
eyes, a warm smile, or kind and
encouraging words.
This year for BCA we’ll continue to work toward building a
solid base for propagating the Jodo
Shinshu tradition. This means
striving to provide the resources
necessary to train ministers and
minister’s assistants for our temples,
and developing and nourishing
programs through the Center for
Buddhist Education that will benefit all of our BCA Sangha.
Looking back at the June and
December National Board Meetings, one of the most notable
achievements was the availability of
financial reports covering the first
two quarters of our 2012/2013 fiscal year. It wasn’t too long ago that
standard financial reports weren’t
available to help us understand the
financial workings and health of
BCA. As mentioned at the meeting,
we’re still on track to have our first
ever formal financial audit around
June 2013. This audit of the fiscal
year 2012/2013 will become the
baseline year, leading to our first
full audit the following year. Doing
well on the audit requires much
more than having financial reports
available. It also includes continued
work updating and documenting
our procedures and making sure
we’re using good accounting practices. Having accurate reports and
appropriate background materials
is an important step toward financial accountability. It takes expertise
and unending diligence to properly
implement the accounting for BCA
and we’ll continue to make this one
of our highest priorities.
We’re also progressing in having the BCA Endowment Foundation (BCAEF) assume the primary
responsibility for fundraising for
BCA as is consistent with their bylaws. The Ad Hoc Joint Strategic
Development Committee, chaired
by former BCA President Dr. Billy
Saeki, has developed options for a
joint strategic development/fundraising plan for BCA, the BCAEF,
and the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS). BCA, BCAEF, and IBS
are in the process of reviewing the
proposed plans with emphasis on
defining the responsibilities of each
organization. Dr. Saeki has drafted
memorandums of agreement to
help document the plans and provide additional details for the recommended development structure.
A target goal is to have the ad hoc
committee complete its responsibilities in the April 2013 timeframe
and to have the separate organizations coordinate their efforts from
that point.
During the same weekend as
the December National Board
Meeting, those of us on the Executive Committee enjoyed spending
time with seven Kyoshi aspirants
before we saw them off in the early
morning of December 1st for their
final “Kyoshi Shurai” training session at Nishiyama Betsuin in Kyoto,
Japan. The seven include Kenji
Akahoshi (San Jose), Bill Dearth
(Orange County), Christine Marr
(Spokane), Roy Mayhugh (Walnut
Grove), Lynn Sugiyama (Arizona),
Diana Thompson (Tri-State/DenContinued on Page 6
PAGE 2 WHEEL OF DHARMA
BUDDHIST TEMPLE OF ALAMEDA
On October 2, 2011, the Buddhist Temple of Alameda celebrated 95 years of
sharing the Nembutsu teaching with the members of its community. Housed in
what was once the residence of Alameda Mayor William Taylor, Taylor Mansion
was purchased on January 4, 1919 and has served as the Buddhist Temple of Alameda ever since.
As part of the 95th anniversary celebration, all temple members were asked to
draw and paint the beautiful floral images on the Onaijin (altar) ceiling tiles.
These tiles have become a symbol of the important role the Nembutsu teaching
plays in their lives, and the respect and pride that the members have for their
temple. Looking towards its centennial anniversary in 2016, other major projects
have been undertaken, including the restoration of the onaijin and the installation
of a new foundation.
2325 Pacific Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 522-5243 [email protected]
www.btoa.org
Not Again
By Rev. David Matsumoto, Berkeley Buddhist Temple
Sakyamuni appeared in this world and expounded the teachings of the way to enlightenment, seeking to save the multitudes of living beings by blessing them with
this benefit that is true and real.1
SHOCK. ANGER. SADNESS. DISBELIEF. People
around the world reacted with
these and other emotions when
we heard that 20 young children
and 6 adults were killed by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary
School in Newton, Connecticut
on December 14, 2012.
“Not again!,” we cried, especially in the aftermath of shootings at a Portland Shopping Mall
in December 2012, a movie theater in Aurora, Co. in July 2012,
Virginia Tech University in
2007, Red Lake High School in
2005, and Columbine High
School in 1999. For again a disturbed young person has gotten
hold of guns and stolen away the
lives of innocents.
We ask ourselves: Why do
such tragedies occur? In heated
discussions following such shootings, many are willing to offer
easy answers: It was because of
bad kids, poor morals, fate, or
God’s will. But self-righteous
finger-pointing brings no solution, for there is no single reason
for the violence in our schools,
neighborhoods and homes. Rather, there is a complex interweaving of many factors at work here:
a culture that glorifies violence,
bullying, social alienation, easy
access to guns [Why should obtaining a semi-automatic rifle be
easier than getting a marriage license?], ineffective parenting,
breakdown in the family structure, changes in morality, untreated mental illness, poverty,
social inequality, racism [Why
aren’t we equally enraged by the
almost daily murder of young
people in Oakland or Richmond?], gangs, drugs, alcohol
abuse, and the absence of a religious presence in our lives. The
list is long; the causes are many;
the problem of violence is widespread and deep-seated; and the
solutions are hard to find.
Buddhism teaches us that we
cannot simply throw up our
hands and surrender to the problem. We cannot simply say, “It’s
too hard to solve,” or “It’s their
problem,” and then act as if it’s
not our problem at all. Rather,
Buddhism suggests that we need
to awaken to the reality that the
violence in our schools, neighborhoods and homes, and in battlefields around the world is our
problem and my problem. Its
causes are complex, but they can
be defined. Solutions are possible,
and they can be attained.
In the passage above, Shinran
Shōnin describes us as the “multitudes of living beings” (gunmō
群萌). Gunmō actually refers to
clumps of swarming sprouts. We
human beings and the problems
that we create are like weeds that
are growing out of control. Our
greed, anger, and foolishness are
intertwined, causing and worsening problems with each entanglement.
But, he then declares that
Sakyamuni Buddha appeared in
this world in order to teach us the
way to enlightenment and bless
us with the benefit that is true
and real. That benefit is the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha, the
Buddha’s fundamental wish for
the world—that all living beings
may realize the full potential of
their lives and then share their
lives with others so that they
might live. In other words, despite the daunting scope of our
problems, our lives are not devoid
of hope. We can—we must—hear
the Buddha’s teachings, walk the
path of enlightenment, entrust in
the Buddha’s Vow, and together
make the Buddha’s wish our own.
Moved by the tragedies at
Sandy Hook, Aurora, Columbine, and those taking place every
day we can resolve to do whatever
we can to help make the Buddha’s Vow—our vow—true and
real in this world. And, like the
people of Hiroshima, Nagasaki,
Birmingham, Soweto, and Damascus before us, we can declare
to the world, “Not again!” “Never
again!”
Namu Amida Butsu
dhist League (WYBL) Reunion at
the JSC in August.
I was not disappointed. Along
with 50 other attendees in the
baby boomer demographic (those
born between 1946 and 1964),
the seminar, organized by a dedicated group of fellow baby boomers, opened my eyes, exercised my
mind, and enhanced my feeling of
connectedness.
As a first-time attendee at the
6th Annual Baby Boomers’ Seminar held on Nov. 10 at the Jodo
Shinshu Center and sponsored by
the BCA Center for Buddhist Education, I was hoping to experience similar feelings of gratitude
and serenity that I felt after attending the Western Young Bud-
BCA NATIONAL
BOARD 2012
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Ron Murakami, President
Dr. Kent Matsuda, President-elect
Susan Bottari, Vice President
Ken Tanimoto, Vice President
Pauline Sakuma, Secretary
Alan Kita, Treasurer
Rev. Kodo Umezu, Bishop
Rev. Marvin Harada, Executive
Assistant to the Bishop
Rev. Jerry Hirano, Chair,
Ministers Association
BAY - DISTRICT 1
Jefferey Matsuoka, Susan Bottari,
Karen Suyama
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA - DISTRICT 2
Paula Kanagawa, Ruth Yoneda,
Ellen Tanimoto
COAST - DISTRICT 3
Richard Uyematsu, Gary Omori
EASTERN - DISTRICT 4
Dr. Erick Ishii, Dr. Linda Engstrom,
Nancy T. Okada
MOUNTAIN STATES - DISTRICT 5
Frank Ciskovsky, Dot Richeda,
Joni Sakaguchi/Gail Ida
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - DISTRICT 6
Tad Shibata, Cathy Fujimori,
Mary Ann Miyao
NORTHWEST - DISTRICT 7
Pauline K. Sakuma, Mark Achterman,
Paul Mori
SOUTHERN - DISTRICT 8
Paul Jonokuchi, Jeffrey Folick,
Barbara Fukuji
DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE
Charlene Grinolds (2013)
Richard Stambul (2013)
Ken Tanimoto (2013)
Dr. Kent Matsuda (2014)
Tom Nishikawa (2014)
Calvin Doi (2015)
Richard Endo (2015)
Steven Terusaki (2015)
We gratefully acknowledge
contributions to the
Wheel of Dharma
by the following donor(s):
Seattle BWA ......................................
Enmanji BWA ....................................
San Mateo BWA ................................
Senshin BWA ....................................
West LA BWA ....................................
$200
$100
$100
$100
$100
1
Shinran Shōnin, True Teaching, Practice & Realization, Collected Works of Shinran (Kyoto: JS Hongwanji-ha, 1997), 7.
6th Annual Baby Boomers’ Seminar: Reflections
By Susan Higashi Rumberg
Placer Buddhist Church
JANUARY 2013
Continued on Page 6
BCA Bookstore News
Wheel of Dharma
(USPS 017-700)
Official Publication of the Buddhist Churches of America
1710 Octavia Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
Tel.: (415) 776-5600; Fax: (415) 771-6293
www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org or www.bcahq.org
Email: [email protected]
Wheel of Dharma (USPS 017-700) is published monthly by Buddhist
Churches of America, 1710 Octavia St., San Francisco, CA 941094341. Periodicals Postage Paid at San Francisco, CA, and at additional
mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to WHEEL OF
DHARMA, 1710 Octavia St., San Francisco, CA 94109-4341.
Subscription free to BCA members; $12.00 annual subscription for
nonmembers.
Submission Guidelines:
We recommend a length of approximately 800-1,000 words, typed,
single-spaced. Longer submissions will be rejected or, if accepted,
split into multiple parts.
We prefer Microsoft Word documents in an 11-point Times New Roman
font, as it translates best for our graphic design department. If you do not
have Word, a simple text file will work, even pasted into the body of an
e-mail message. In ALL cases, do not embed images in Word document.
Send as separate attachment. Please do not send text as PDF files.
Color prints or digital prints are acceptable. Color photocopies, inkjets, or
third-party photo sharing websites are not recommended.
Photo attachments should be sent at 300 dpi JPEG, TIFF or PDF format
for best resolution. Cell phone images are not recommended. Web-based
images (72 dpi) do not produce quality images for newsprint usage.
We reserve the right to crop photos and illustrations to conform with
space and design requirements.
Submission deadline: 20th of each month.
WHEEL OF DHARMA POLICY
By Gayle Noguchi
HARDCOPY PUBLICATION LICENSE:
Now available: “Japanese
Buddhist Temples in Hawai’i – An
Illustrated Guide” by George J.
Tanabe and Willa Jane Tanabe,
paperback, $22.99.
A fascinating look at Buddhist
temples of various denominations
in Hawai’i. Rich narratives with
more than three hundred and fifty
color photographs provide the
reader with historical information,
descriptions of architecture,
sanctuaries, statuary and ritual
implements, columbariums, and
grounds. This book serves not
only as an introduction to
Buddhism and guidebook, but also
as an invaluable historical record
of what exists today and what may
be gone tomorrow. BCA readers
will be inspired to look more
closely at our own temples, to
appreciate details that may have
previously escaped our attention,
and to understand their meaning.
To order, go to www.bcabookstore.com or contact 510-8091435/[email protected].
Like us on Facebook to receive updates on the newest books, merchandise, and news.The BCA
Bookstore is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Authors who submit articles for publication in the Wheel of Dharma (“WOD”)
thereby grant WOD a royalty-free non-exclusive paid up license, worldwide, in
perpetuity and in all media (the “License”) to use, edit and republish the
article(s) and to grant sublicenses to any 3rd party to do so on the same terms.
WOD grants 3rd parties an identical License to republish its articles so long as
the article(s) is republished in its entirety, without edit, providing credit to the
WOD and the Buddhist Churches of America.
ONLINE PUBLICATION LICENSE:
Authors who submit articles for publication in the Wheel of Dharma online
(“WOD”) thereby grant WOD a royalty-free non-exclusive paid up license,
worldwide, in perpetuity and in all media (the “License”) to use, edit and republish the article(s) and to grant sublicenses to any 3rd party to do so on the same
terms.
WOD grants 3rd parties an identical License to republish only the first three
paragraphs of any article, without edit, providing credit to the WOD and the
Buddhist Churches of America including a hyperlink to the article in the WOD.
English Editor: Rev. Ron Kobata
Japanese Editor: Rev. Ryuta Furumoto
Print Production: Jeffrey Kimoto
JANUARY 2013 WHEEL OF DHARMA
PAGE 3
News and Highlights・January 2013
“In the midst of tragedy…”
by Rev. Marvin Harada, CBE Co-Director
As I wrote this article, I was listening to the horrific news reports of the tragedy at
the Connecticut elementary school that occurred on December 14. Twenty children
and eight adults were killed, including the alleged shooter and his mother. My wife
is an elementary school teacher. What if it had been her school? How tragic for the
parents of the children who lost their young lives. How tragic for the loved ones of
the adults who were killed. How tragic for the family of the shooter as well. Such a
tragedy is so saddening, it is something beyond words.
During the time of the Buddha, there was a woman by the name of Patacara
who faced great tragedy and sadness. Patacara was pregnant and close to delivering
her second child and she wished to return to her parents’ home to give birth. She, her
husband, and their first child began the trek home. Along the way, her husband was
bitten by a poisonous snake and died. Patacara went into labor and delivered her
child alone. She continued the journey home with her newborn baby and small child.
Because of a recent storm, a river that she had to cross was swollen with fastrunning water. She feared that she didn’t have the strength to bring both children
across the river together, so she told the older child to wait at the bank and took the
newborn infant across the river. She made a nest of branches and leaves for the baby
and headed back for her other child. A hawk saw the infant and began to circle overhead. Patacara shouted and waved at the hawk, trying to scare it off. The older child
thought his mother was calling him, so he entered the river but was swept away by
the swift current. Then the hawk swooped down and snatched away Patacara’s newborn infant. Patacara had now lost her husband and both children, but she somehow
continued the journey to her home. When she got closer to her village, she saw
smoke in the distance. She asked someone what happened and they told her, “Do not
go there. A great tragedy has occurred. An entire family has died in a fire.” It was
Patacara’s home. Her parents had perished.
Patacara lost her mind and roamed the village in shock and grief. Fortunately,
the Buddha was in the area. He comforted and consoled Patacara and brought her
back to her senses. The Buddha explained to her the true meaning of suffering and
the nature of impermanence. Patacara then dedicated her life to helping other women
who had encountered tragedy.
As difficult and hard as it is to face tragedy, there is a path through it. There is
meaning that can be found amidst grief and sorrow. The path of the Buddha-dharma,
the path of the Nembutsu, is the path that enables us to live on and through even the
most tragic of life experiences. The Nembutsu is more than just a word. It is a light
that illuminates our heart in times of deep darkness. It is comfort when we encounter
profound tragedy and sadness. It is strength and sustenance when we feel that we
cannot go another step further. It is meaning and resolution where there seems to be
no meaning and no resolution. It is the great unobstructed path.
“Take Refuge in the True and Real Light”
is the BCA’s theme for 2013. We begin the new year by looking back at all we have
accomplished in 2012. The Ministers’ Continuing Education (MCE) Program, Minister’s Assistant Program (MAP), and a range of lay outreach and leadership development
events blossomed last year. These core programs will continue into 2013, and additional
new programs and special projects will be introduced.
Below are a few
milestones that CBE
helped to coordinate
under the direction of
the Office of the
Bishop and in partnership with many
BCA districts and
temple leaders.
Thank you all
for your continued
support, participation,
and generous financial assistance.
(Above) BCA candidates received Kyoshi certification in December.
Back row, l. to r.: Mieko Majima (Ryukoku Univ.), Dr. Roy Mayhugh,
Christine Marr, Dr. Glenn Kenji Akahoshi, and Ungyo Lynn Sugiyama. Front, l. to r.: Christina Yanko-Ringle (Canada), Jon Turner,
Diana Thompson, and Sherman (Bill) Dearth. These ministers’ assistants represent the bright future of the Buddhist Churches of America.
(Photo by Yoshiko Morioka.)
Namuamidabutsu
The Institute of Buddhist Studies & Center for Buddhist Education present:
(Above, left) The first Winter Pacific Seminar
was held at the Los Angeles Betsuin in February.
Rev. Dr. David Matsumoto, Rev. Kodo Umezu,
and a panel of ministers drew close to 200 attendees. (Left) The first Jodo Shinshu Buddhism: A
Women’s Dharma Gathering was held in June,
with Rev. Yukiko Motoyoshi (far right) as the
keynote speaker. (Below) In September, nine
BCA ministers’ assistants were among this group
of foreign applicants to receive Tokudo ordination in our second “hybrid” Tokudo program.
Winter Pacific Seminar: Saturday, February 23, 2013
Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
815 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
The Path of the Nembutsu
with
Dr. Takamaro Shigaraki
Registration donation of $30 includes lunch. Deadline: February 4, 2013
Details and online registration at the BCA website
Hosted by BCA Southern District Minister’s Association & Buddhist Education Committee
DHARMA CARS WANTED … Running or not!
Your unwanted vehicle can drive CBE programs now and into the future!
BCA CBE VEHICLE DONATION PROGRAM
This program is administered by the Orange County Buddhist Church (OCBC) and is available in the State of California only
Free pick up and DMV paperwork • Tax-deductible at the vehicle’s selling price • Supports BCA CBE’s Annual Program Fund
To donate vehicles, contact OCBC: Phone (714) 827-9590 Fax: (714) 827-2860 Email: [email protected]
CBE 2013 Tentative Calendar of Events
(at the Jodo Shinshu Center unless noted otherwise.)
January 16: Ho-onko Service
February 23: Winter Pacific Seminar
with Dr. Takamaro Shigaraki @ Los Angeles Hompa
Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
February 26: Dr. Shigaraki lecture for BCA Ministers, IBS &
Minister’s Assistant Program (MAP) participants
March 8-10: TechnoBuddha Conference with
Rev. Peter Inokoji-Kim
March 16: Japanese Seminar: Rev. Eriko Eigetsu Satake
March 24: Streams of Light public film screening
March 28-30: MAP seminar for beginner/intermediate
April 16-18: Ministers’ Continuing Education (MCE):
The Meditation Sutra
April 25-May 7: Eastern District Tour: Rev. Jerry Hirano
June 22: Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Seminar
July 5-7: Summer Pacific Seminar with Dr. Mark Blum and
Prof. Keiko Toro (MAP credit for intermediate/advanced)
Center for Buddhist Education 2140 Durant Avenue Berkeley, CA 94704 www.BuddhistChurchesofAmerica.org E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 510.809.1460
PAGE 4 WHEEL OF DHARMA
JANUARY 2013
Horace the Hoonko Hippo
One day while I was reading the Letters of Rennyo (Gobunsho), I began to feel very sleepy. This isn’t uncommon when I am studying
and reading passages that require a great deal of thinking. However, through sleepy eyes, I noticed a Post Script in one the letters that I
had never noticed before. It was in one of Rennyo’s letters about Hoonko. It read as follows:
PS
On the eve of the founder’s memorial service the great Hoonko Hippo Horace will rise up from the depths of the jeweled ponds of the Pure
Land to shout Namo Amida Butsu, as a reminder to all the children and Nembutsu followers that they are embraced by Amida Buddha, never to
be abandoned. Thus this passage may also be known as Hoonko Hippo no sho, (The Letter on the Hoonko Hippo)
Listen to these words, Please listen to these words.
By Rev. J.K. Hirano
Salt Lake Buddhist Temple
The story of Horace
the Hoonko Hippo:
I
n the deepest darkest reaches of Africa
lived a rather grouchy Hippo named
Horace. Horace was just dissatisfied with
his lot in life. He didn’t like having to live in
the river all the time. It really affected the
reception on his television. He really liked the
Animal Planet station, but was extremely
jealous of the elephant and the white rhinoceros because of how wonderful these programs
made them out. They were big like him, yet
they didn’t have to live in the river. He was
also jealous of the whale, his other cousin, for
the whale was big, but had the entire ocean to
swim in. Horace wasn’t happy with anything
about his life. On Christmas, he also didn’t
get everything he thought he wanted or
deserved.
One day, as Horace was thinking all these
negative thoughts, he popped his head out of
the river and guess who he saw? It was Santa
Claus. He was watering Rudolph and the rest
of the reindeer after a practice run around the
world. Santa noticed Horace and naturally
shouted out with glee, “Ho Ho Ho Horace,
Merry Christmas!” When Horace heard this
he shouted back, “What do I have to be merry
about? And besides, Christmas was just over
with and you didn’t bring me that toy I
wanted. Is that why you are here? If not, you
are either way early or late.” Santa just smiled
at Horace and walked over and patted him on
the head. Horace continued his complaints,
“You know, Santa, besides you letting me
down, I don’t get any respect from the world.
I can run 19 miles per hour. But have you ever
heard anyone say, “As swift as a Hippo?” I
don’t think so. On these nature programs you
always hear about the majestic elephant or the
rare and wondrous white rhinoceros. I’ve
never been called majestic or rare and
wonderful. They always just show me yawning
and hanging out in the river.” Santa smiled
and then suddenly said, “Horace, I have a job
for you! You know there was a time when my
lead reindeer Rudolph didn’t get to play in
any reindeer games. He was treated as a freak
because of his big red nose, but look at him
now. He is the most famous reindeer of all.
Each of us is special and has a purpose in life.
Horace, in life you are embraced by the river,
just as you are. The river doesn’t ask anything
of you, even though you may complain and
wish you didn’t have to live in it. The river
continues to support you and accepts you just
as you are. We all have a place in this world
and just as you are embraced by the river, all
sentient beings are embraced in Amida’s
compassion. So Horace, with your mouth so
wide, won’t you teach all the children about
Amida Buddha’s compassion and the Nembutsu? And the reason you didn’t get that one
toy you saw in the commercial is that you
haven’t been the nicest hippo, have you? And
do you really need a fushigi ball? You don’t
even have fingers.”
Sharing Success
By Rev. Patti Oshita
Sacramento Betsuin
A
t the request of Bishop
Umezu, I write this article
to share some of what we
are trying to do to bring even
more energy to the Sacramento
Betsuin and our Northern District. In April 2012, I was honored
to be brought on board by the
Sacramento Betsuin as the Assistant Minister in charge of Programs Development. The Betsuin
created a third ministerial position
specific to developing new programs.
This first year has been both
interesting and experimental, as
we are trying to find new ways to
bring our Sangha members together. Although our Hondo is
full on Sundays; and we have an
active Sports and Scouting programs with hundreds of children
participating, a part of the new
vision of our Betsuin Board is to
develop programs to bring members of all ages together, as well as
implement programs that respond
to many unspoken needs within
our Sangha and community. We
have been trying to find innovative ways to share the Dharma and
to inspire our members to find
even more value in our Temple.
Too easily success can lead to
complacency and when we become complacent, we begin to
take for granted all that we have.
Since April, we have had a
number of wonderful special
Dharma lectures from Rev. Sunnan Kubose, Rev. Kosho Yukawa,
Rev. Koshin Ogui and Rev. Marvin Harada. We sponsored a
“hands-on” workshop entitled,
“Buddhism and Japanese Calligraphy” with Rev. Akio Miyaji. Additionally, we provided workshops
focusing on the areas of Grief &
Mourning with Dr. Satsuki Ina
and a Caregiving session called,
“Support for Caregivers” with
Frances Kakugawa. Both of these
sessions were extremely well attended and the participants were
able to leave with helpful information to share with their families.
In the summer, we had a
movie night and discussion. We
viewed the movie, “The Marathon
Monks on Mt. Hiei”. It was a
documentary on how some monks
of the Tendai tradition train for
seven years to attempt an amazing
challenge. During a 100 day
stretch, they would walk 52.5
miles daily in handmade straw
running shoes. We watched the
monk’s death-defying fast, his
vegetarian training diet and other
feats of endurance such as the
mummifying fire ceremony. It is a
tradition that goes back for over a
thousand years; and those able to
survive are considered “Living
Buddhas.”
We have also had some totally
fun events to bring our Sangha
together. We had a “Chili Cookoff” with eight individuals/
groups participating to earn the
recognition for making the best
chili. The three judges chose our
ABA (Adult Buddhist Association)
to win first place. ABA generously
donated the prize money back to
the Betsuin Legacy Endowment
and said they were satisfied to
have earned the bragging rights to
the best tasting Chili at the Betsuin. We also had a People’s
Choice Award that went to our
Betsuin Girl Scout 569’s, Cadettes
6 troop. This may have been an
indication that many Girl Scouts
came out to support their sister
Chefs!
From the beginning of September, the Betsuin has been
overseeing the Placer Buddhist
Temple. In November, we held a
Chicken Throwdown between the
Placer Buddhist Temple and the
Sacramento Betsuin. This was a
fun challenge to decide which
Temple made the best Bazaar
Teriyaki Chicken. As well as being
an event to bring our temples
closer together, it also served as a
fundraiser for the Placer Ume
Taiko Group and the Betsuin
Legacy Endowment.
And most recently, we sponsored a “Buddhist Got Talent”
Betsuin Talent Show. This was a
fun evening with participants,
young and young-at-heart, singing, dancing, playing instruments
(piano, guitar, trumpets and even
a harp). Our Betsuin Choir and
Ukulele group (Na Aikane) both
shared some of their songs with
us. It was a memorable and entertaining evening of fun and laughter. We had people asking that
night, “When will we be doing
this again?”
One important and timely
project I am currently working on
is a Senior Scam presentation for
our Senior Lunch Program members. With the economic downturn, even more, there are scams
trying to take advantage of our senior members. This will be a first
step in educating our community
about these insidious scams. We
are also planning a “Biggest Loser”
program to challenge our members (and ministers) to lose weight.
This should be both fun and
physically beneficial for all of us;
and the money generated from
this activity will go to help support the Betsuin.
By popular demand, we are
scheduled to have Dr. Satsuki Ina
discussing “Caregiving” in February. We are also planning to have
another movie night sometime in
the early Spring. We will view
“The Manzanar Fishing Club”
and perhaps have some of our
members who were held at the
Manzanar Camp share their remembrances and experiences. Of
course, we will continue to have
special Dharma lectures and discussions.
This position allows us to
think outside of the box to develop
new programs and find new ways
to bring our Sangha members together. In creating innovative
ways to share the Dharma, it is our
hope to inspire our members to
find even more value in our Temple.
We also have formed a committee to possibly create a Sister
Temple Exchange Program with
Hawaii, Canada and/or Japan.
In the nine months of being in
this position, the programs created
have been both enjoyable and
meaningful. In trying new things
and developing new programs and
activities, we hope to increase the
interest and add even more vitality
to our Betsuin Sangha. For more
information, please contact me at
[email protected].
Horace suddenly began bellowing “Namo
Amida Butsu! Namo Amida Butsu! I get it, I
get it!” And as he did this, he rose slowly into
the air, as light as a feather. Santa then led
Horace to the jeweled ponds in the Pure Land
where Horace now lives. It has been written
that on Hoonko Eve, he rises up out of the
jeweled ponds, shouting out the Nembutsu to
remind us of all we have to be grateful for.
Some have even said that on Hoonko Eve,
Horace the Hoonko Hippo visits certain good
girls and boys on who have been especially
grateful. He gives them all the things they saw
in a commercial on television during the
Christmas season that they wanted but didn’t
get. So if you are reading this and didn’t get
all that you asked for, it means that you have
all that you need. So let’s join Horace in
spreading the word and on Hoonko Eve,
January 15th listen very closely and you might
hear, Horace rejoicing, “Ho (Dharma), Ho
(Dharma), Ho (Dharma) Happy Hoonko,
Namo Amida Butsu!”
THE INSTITUTE OF BUDDHIST STUDIES &
BCA CENTER FOR BUDDHIST EDUCATION
WINTER PACIFIC SEMINAR - 21ST CENTURY
“The Path of the Nembutsu”
Dr. Takamaro Shigaraki
Author of A Life of Awakening - The Heart of the Shin Buddhist Path (2005), The World
of Buddhist Awakening (1983) & Heart of the Shin Buddhist Path: A Life of Awakening (2013)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
815 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
———————————————————————
Keynote Presentation by Dr. Shigaraki (In Japanese)
English translation by Rev. Dr. David Matsumoto
Dialogue with Dr. Shigaraki & Panelists
(In Japanese and English)
Registration donation of $30 includes lunch. Deadline: February 4, 2013
Southern District Temple members: Please register through your temple.
General Registration: www.BuddhistChurchesofAmerica.org Click on CBE
Please make checks payable to “SD BEC” Memo: “Winter Pacific Seminar 2013“
Mail to LA Hompa Hongwanji at the address above.
For info: Ph: (510) 809-1460 Email: [email protected]
Hosted by the BCA Southern District Ministers Association & Buddhist Education Committee
The Institute of Buddhist Studies
and
The Center for Buddhist Education
A Conversation with
Shigaraki-sensei
信楽峻麿先生
IBS and CBE are very happy to invite all BCA ministers, ministers emeritus and
minister's assistants to take part in an informal conversation about the teachings
and path of Jōdo Shinshū with Dr. Takamaro Shigaraki. Shigaraki-sensei is a
world-renown Shin Buddhist scholar and minister. His work, The Heart of the
Shin Buddhist Path: A Life of Awakening, will reappear as a featured offering by
Wisdom Publications.
Tuesday, February 26, 2012
2:00 to 5:00 pm
Jodo Shinshu Center
2140 Durant Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
We anticipate a free-flowing and meaning conversation, which will take place
largely in Japanese with occasional explanations in English.
Participants will be invited to share a light meal at the JSC following the event.
******************
For more information or to inquire about transportation options, please contact
either:
The Center for Buddhist Education or
www.bcasites.net
The Institute of Buddhist Studies
www.shin-ibs.edu
Tradition
and Insight
Our encounter with the true
essence of the Pure Land Way
浄
土
真
宗
An exploration of the roles that a received tradition and personal engagement
play in our realization of the truth and meaning of Jodo Shinshu.
Keynote address by
Dr. Takamaro Shigaraki, Professor Emeritus, Ryukoku University
and presentations by
Dr. Michael Conway of the Eastern Buddhist Society
Rev. Henry Adams of the Oxnard Buddhist Temple.
Thursday, February 28, 2013, 1 to 5 pm
San Mateo Marriott Hotel
1770 South Amphlett Blvd,
San Mateo, CA 94402
A portion of the symposium will take place in Japanese, with English translation.
Free of charge. Open to all interested persons.
The Institute of
Buddhist Studies
Sponsored by the George T. Aratani Endowment for the
IBS Center for Contemporary Shin Buddhist Studies.
JANUARY 2013 WHEEL OF DHARMA
PAGE 5
WEST LOS ANGELES BUDDHIST TEMPLE STEPS UP!
WLABT Past President Rick Stambul (right) presents a
donation check to Socho Rev. Kodo Umezu (left).
Like many Churches and Temples in BCA, our Obon Festival is our biggest fund raiser. By far! All of our members work for
months in preparation for this annual event to financially support our temple. But this year was different. Under the leadership of Rev. Fumiaki Usuki, our Resident Minister; Rob Kafka,
our President; and Past President Rick Stambul, together with
the support of our Board of Directors, we decided that our total
donations to build and support the Jodo Shinshu Center was
lacking. Some of our members supported the Center with significant donations but most of our members were not able to do
so. We adopted a Shin attitude and decided to focus on the here
Recognizing JSC
Debt Relief Donors
Starting with this newsletter we’ll begin recognizing donors for their Debt Relief contributions to help pay off the bank mortgage for construction of the Jodo
Shinshu Center. When established by the National Council the remaining balance
on the bank loan was about $3,175,000. Even though the Debt Relief fundraising
effort was designated for only a 12 month effort, the bank mortgage has been reduced to about $1,550,000 thanks largely to almost $1 million total donated for
Debt Relief. Most importantly, paying down the mortgage allowed us to avoid
paying roughly $1,050,000 in potential interest on the loan and reduced monthly
payments on the bank loan from $19,900 to $10,200. This generous response came
during financially difficult times for many. Thank you and congratulations to the
thousands of donors who helped make this happen.
Alameda
Tsunetoshi and Sun Hui Akimoto
George Fukayama
Toshiye Hasegawa
Thomas Hashimoto
Yoko Hashimoto
Lily Hori
Satomi Ikeda
June Kuge
Joyce Maniwa
Michiko Matsumoto
Kiyoko Mitani
Takeyo Mori
Alison Nagahisa
Ronald and Jane Nakano
Yoneko Nakayama
Dorothy Narahara
Joan Narahara
Jean Nomura
Judy Oda
Tamiko Panzella
Hiko Shimamoto
Grace Shimono
Hamako Suico
Troy Taira
Betty Takano
Mas Takano
Ikuko Takeshita
Joyce Terao
Jackie Ito-Woo and Carl Woo
May Yamaoka
Haruno Yamashita
Yasuo Yamashita
Yumi Yasuda
Louise Yasuda-Ota
Tomiyo Yoshiwara
Robert and Kayko Azuma
Arizona
Janet Michiko Ikeda
Masaji Inoshita
Minoru and Kathy Inoshita
Charles and Elizabeth Matsumoto
Greg and Karen Petersen
Hajime Sugiyama
Marilyn, Alan and Tracey Tang
Mike and Megan Tang
Sallea Unger
Belgium
Rev. Fons Martens
Berkeley
Miki Adachi
Richard Adachi
Robert and Carol Akiyama
Diane Ames
Doreen Sakamoto and Bruce Buchholz
Georgia Daikai
Toshiko Ehara
Mr. and Mrs. Takane Eshima
William and Judith Fujimoto
Linda and Craig Griffin
Lucy Hamai
Question:
Why couldn’t
the Buddha
vacuum under
the sofa?
Answer:
Because
he had no
attachments!
Joanie and Don Hamasaki
Akemi Hamai and Amy Haruyama
Nora Hataye
Leroy Morishita and Barbara
Hedani-Morishita
Yo Hiraoka
Norman Hirose
Shig Hoki
Patrichia Hoshi Nagamoto
Dr. Toshiko Iwata
Ellen Jorgensen
Ronald and Margaret Kagehiro
Yoshio Kamimura
Kiyoshi and Emiko Katsumoto
Gordon and Judy Kono
Mr. and Mrs. Shigeru Kubota
Rev. Kiyonobu, Hitomi, Takato,
and Eight Kuwahara
Meriko Maida
Haruye Maki
Don and Fumi Matsubara
Ranko Yamada and Bob Matsueda
Rev. David and Diane Matsumoto
Mr. and Mrs. George Matsunaga
Andy and Lisa Mayeda
Masami and Fumie Mayeda
Chuck Messer
Catherine Nagareda
Ittsei and Kiriye Nakagawa
Aki and Emi Nakao
Ron Hiraga and Gayle Nishikawa
Gary Oda
Taeko Oda
Dii Lewis and Joyce Oishi
Dennis and Mary Okamura
Mr. and Mrs. Hayato Okimoto
Harry Okino
Hide Oshima
Yukiko and Eugene Otake
Makiko Shinoda
Fumiko Sugihara
Mae Takeda
Pat Takeda
Sally Takeda
Sandra Takeda
Miyeko Taketa
Elaine Yokoyama and Toshio Tsuda
Tamiye Umawatari
Kiyoe Unoki
Edythe Vassall
Opal Wakayama
Roy and Alice Wakida
Irene and Russell Wells
Yasuyo Wolfe
Bill and Sachi Yamasaki
Suenobu and Shizuye Yamasaki
Yaeko Yedlosky
In Memory of Mr. and Mrs.
Mamoru Wakida and Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Matsui
Canada
B.C. Jodo Shinshu Buddhist
Churches Federation
Cleveland
Joseph and Carolyn Ahern
Brian Bate
Sue Asako Nakamura
Delano
In Memory of Masaru Takaki
Dinuba
Fusako Fukushima
Michiko Fukushima
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fukushima
Mr. and Mrs. Kay Hada
Dr. and Mrs. Glenn Hamaoka
Takehiko Hamaoka
Gilbert Hara
Masuyo Hasebe
Mr. and Mrs. Shigeomi Hatai
Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Hiramoto
Akito Hirata
Rosie Katayama
Richard Kawano
William Kawano
Shigenori Kitauchi
Chisato Kobayashi
John Matsuno
Mr. and Mrs. Hiroshi Mayeda
Tsugiko Mikasa
Mr. and Mrs. James Morioka
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nii
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Nii
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Niino
Lyle Ogata
Nobuko Sekishiro
Marie Shinoda
Shigeshi Tashiro
Mr. and Mrs. John Valentino
Rosie Watanabe
Bernice Yamada
Grace Yamada
Fumiko Yamamoto
Judy Yoshida
Melanie Hatter
Ekoji
Rev. Shojo Honda
Dr. Erick Ishii
Ann Ishikawa
John Ishikawa
Jean Lee
Valorie Lee
Bert Motonaga
Nora Nagatani
Rev. Kazuaki and Michi
Nakata
Fujie Ohata
Mary Okamoto
Rich Wolford
Enmanji
Mrs. Hiroko Abiko
Tetsuro and Rose Fujii
Robert and Katherine Furukawa
Tomio and Kinuko Iwamoto
Mary Kawahara
Hiroko Kobayashi
Harue Koga
Kent Matsuda
Tadao and Kay Matsuda
Linda and Loren Miyasaki
Tsuneo and Terumi Moriki
Harue Okazaki
Makoto Okubara
Gary and Kimie Paulson
Martin Shimizu
Sachi Shimizu
Barbara Shimizu Dinkelspiel
Toshiko Shimomura
Matsumi Sugiyama
Tsutomu and Teruyo Taniguchi
Etsuko Thow
Fumio Thow
George Thow
Kazuo Thow
Miyeko Tsujihara
Mieko Whitt
Raymond and Caroline Yamasaki
Roy and Sydney Yamashita
Judy Yokoyama
Lloyd and Nancy Yoshioka
Pam Yoshioka
Anonymous
Ewa Hongwanji Mission
Ernest and Ruth Wakimura
Florin
James and Betty Abe
Raymond and Laura Abe
George and Meri Akiyama
Eve Baishiki
Sadao and Midori Baishiki
Yukiye Baishiki
George and Joni Bennig
James and Karen Cairel
Philip Chong
Asami Dunahoo
Eric and Elizabeth Fujii
Glenn and Jennifer Fujii
Juline Fujii
May Fujii
George and Myrtle Furukawa
Randy and Cindy Furukawa
Riichi Fuwa
Vicki Hallberg
Joy Anne Hamamoto
Myrna Hitomi
Gordon and Rose Ito
Larry and Catherine Ito
Tomio and Shirley Ito
Hideo Kadokawa
Fusaye Kadoya
Harvey and Kay Kadoya
Richard and Sally Kadoya
Kenny and Cindy Kakutani
Michael and Carla Kakutani
Amy Kanemoto
Eddie and Etsuko Kanenaga
Takashi Kanenaga
Paul and Lois Kashiwase
Kiyomi Kato
Mary Kawanishi
Toni Kinney
Grace Kodama
Liz Kono
Tadao Koyama
Steve and Jennifer Kubo
Gordon and Donna Kunisaki
Janet Kuroda
Bennie and Jo Ann Kusaka
Christine Lopez
Scott Louie
Roy and Yukiko Matsui
Esther Matsumoto
Walter and Kathleen Menda
George and Judie Miyao
Masaye Miyao
Teri Mizusaka
Gregg Morioka
Helen Mukai
Mitsuye Mukai
Wayne and Sally Mukai
Julia Mullican
Jim and KimiMunekawa
Sally Muranaka
Sue Nakahira
Alan and Ruby Nakano
Diane Nakao
Jack and Chizuko Nakao
Roger Nakao
Teruko Nakao
Lois Nakashima
Thomas and Susan Nakashima
Norma Nakata
Flora Nishida
Amy Oda
Robert and Amy Oda
Tom and Nancy Oda
Kelley Ogawa
Ken and Peggy Okabayashi
Bette Okamoto
Gary and Sharon Okamoto
Joy Okamoto
Tom and Jean Okamoto
Etsuko Okasaki
Kay Okimura
Lloyd Okimura
Ron and Alice Okimura
Shig and Doris Okimura
Alfred and Yvonne Onodera
Edward and Loretta Otani
Mary Otani
Steven and Lorraine Otani
Suzie Otani
Hiroko Saigo
Harry and Sue Saito
Vickie Sakamoto
Lucy Sasada
Craig and Diana Shijo
Ron and Judy Shimizu
Dean and Donna Shimozaki
David Sisler
Tom and Janet Sonoda
Rev. Yuki Sugahara
Janet Sumida
Roy and Nancy Sumida
Margie Sunahara
Ginny Syphax
Shigeo and Carol Tahara
Shiro Tahara
and now; to recognize that the Center is here for generations to
come and is something of which we can all be proud. It is one of
the most, if not the most significant center of Buddhist learning
from which to spread the Shin Dharma in the United States.
Fund raising efforts for the JSC have been a rather incredible
success story by any standards. In January of 2007 our outstanding debt was almost $12 million, and our monthly interest expense for the debt was $65,456! A staggering number. In less
than 5 years and as of November of 2012 our total debt was
down to just over $5 million, and our monthly interest expense
Bob and Susan Takeda
Tatsuko Takemori
George and Yuriko Takeoka
Janice Takeuchi
Lois Tanaka
Roy and Susan Taniguchi
Takeko Taniguchi
Ray and MayTanihara
Kenny and Louise Teranishi
Lori Thielen
Rick and Sheryl Tokunaga
Andy Noguchi and Twila Tomita
Masako Tomono
Raymond Tonai
Lon and AnnTsukamoto
Stan Tsukamoto
Timothy and Melanie Tsukamoto
Toyoko Tsukamoto
Yoshio Tsukamoto
Sharon Tsushima
Carl Watanabe
Yuriko Watanabe
Debbie Yamamoto
Gary and Nancy Yamamoto
Mitsuo and Jayne Yamamoto
Sharon Yamamoto
Tosh Yamamoto
Tony Yamaoka
Linda Yamashita
Leo Yasukawa
David and Holly Yee
Burt and Carol Yoshioka
David and Joanne Yu
Larry and Judy Yuki
Fowler
Toshiko Arasuna
Sharon Asakawa
Barton Ashida
Tina Clarey
Yumi Clevenger
Diane Eskelsen
Arthur Fujikawa
Frank Fujikawa
Jim Fujikawa
Joe Hara
Kenneth Hashimoto
Kim Hashimoto
Howard Hiyama
Misao Hiyama
Craig Honda
Earl Honda
Harry Honda
Miyoko Honda
Tayoko Honda
Ann Ideta
Chuck Ideta
Haruo and Hiteyo Ii
Yoshiye Ii
Joan Ishimoto
Ken Ishimoto
Gary Iwai
Hisa Iwamoto
Sue Kageura
Hiroyuki Kamine
Shig and Aiko Kamine
Yoshiko Kataoka
Lilly Kato
Mitchell Kato
Tomoko Kawamoto
Setsuo Kikuta
Robert and Ayako Kondo
May Koyanagi
Don Kubose
Carol Masumoto
Russell Matsumoto
Betty Mayebo
Dennis Mikuni
Rick Miyasaki
Toshie Miyasaki
Yoko Miyoshi
Gary Mukai
Greg Mukai
Shizue Mukai
Yoshiye Mukai
Tom Nagata
Allan Nakagawa
Rose Nakagawa
Mikiko Nakahira
Mitsuko Nakamura
Shizue Nakamura
Tad Nakamura
Betty Nakayama
Gerald Nakayama
Pete Nakayama
Kim Nishina
Yaeko Otani
Emily Rose
Craig Sakaguchi
Ross Sakaguchi
Shizue Sakoda
Wayne Satow
Clifford Sera
Kimihiro Sera
Ida Shimizu
Mark Shimizu
George Shimoda
Toshiaki Shinkawa
Richard and June Shomoda
Takashi Sugimoto
Kiyoko Sumida
Continued on Page 6
Chikara Suzuki
Kaye Takeda
Dorothy Takeno
Kiyoshi Taniguchi
George Teraoka
Akira Tokubo
Haruko Tsuboi
Hiroshi Tsuboi
Mikio Uchiyama
Teri Uchiyama
Mike Yada
George Yamamoto
Nofuko Yokomi
Ben Yosako
Tema Yosako
Janice Yoshimoto
Mike Yoshimoto
Ronald Yoshimoto
Shizuko Yoshimoto
Joe Yoshimura
Kenneth Yuen
Fresno
Sam Ando
Anna Aoki
Alex and Roberta Araki
Grace Araki
Tad and Sachiko Araki
Jimmy Bungo
Daryl Doi
Itsumi and Mary Goto
Alvin and Hatsuko Hanashiro
Harue Hata
Jun Hotta
Michi Hotta
Jack and Helen Ikawa
Giichi Ikuma
Haruo Imamura
Nancy Inouye
Tokiye Inouye
Frank Isogawa
Yoshiki and June Kagawa
Robert Kakiuchi
June Kamigawachi
Dallas and Paula Kanagawa
Mr. and Mrs. Ken Kanemoto
Kelvin Kawano
Kenneth Kawano
Aya Kimura
Royce and Karen Kimura
Sumio and Sayo Kubo
Tomio Kudo
Masami and Hideko Kurihaara
Mr. and Mrs. Satoshi Kuwamoto
Hideko Lefkowitz
Mr. and Mrs. Tomiaki Maekawa
Kenji and Keiko Maruko
Myrtle Masumoto
Akira and Sally Matsubara
Gordon and Laurette Misaki
Shigeto and Tayeko Miwa
Grant and Lynn Miyamoto
Marion Miyamoto
Merika Motoyoshi
Edward and Akiko Nagai
Gene and Sharon Nagata
Ben and Jessie Nakamura
Masao and Fujiye Jean Nakashima
Mitch and Lynn Nakashima
Frank and Amy Nishikawa
Ayleen Osaki
Clifford and Lee Osaki
Aileen Parmeter
Rev. Kurt Rye
Jim and Kanae Sakamoto
Miyako Sakazaki
Jimmy Sakoda
Masami Sakomoto
David Sasaki
Mr. and Mrs. Kazuto Sasaki
Nancy Suda
Willy and LilySuda
Teruko Sugimoto
Jane Suo
Linda Takahashi
Yoshiye Takahashi
Janet and Frank Tamura
Henry and Jean Teraoka
Sachiko Tokubo
Jean Tonooka
Charles Torii
Roy Torii
Gary Tsudama
Mr. and Mrs. Minoru Tsudama
Gene and Cynthia Tsukamoto
Toshiye Uyemura
Kiyoko Uyeno
Priscilla Uyeno
David Yamaguchi
George and Miyako Yamaguchi
Joyce and Kent Yamaguchi
Yutaka and Mitsuko Yamamoto
Sue Yamasaki
Ann Yokomi
Craig and Amy Yoshikawa
Alice Yoshimura
Don and Marsha Yoshimura
Gardena
Masato Akahoshi
Setsuko Mary Eguchi
John Fujikawa
Fumiko Fujita
Thomas Fukuman
Yuso Hamada
Dr. and Mrs. Henry Iida
Mikiyo Ikegami
Marie Imahori
Hazel Imamura
Ken and Kay Inose
Ben and Teruko Inouye
Jimmie and Kimi Jinkawa
Tadashi Kajikawa
Nadine Kakimoto
Isao and Mary Kato
Herbert Kawahara
Y.M. Kawahara
Hiroshi Kawai
Masao and Akiyo Kawamoto
Yoshiko Kita
Rosemary Kitaoka
Gene Komatsu
Yukie Kurisu
Tom and Akiko Maeda
Nolan Maehara
Haruo Masamoto
Florence Matano
Louise Mayemura
Arthur and Edith Mikamo
Flo Mikawa
Kayoko Mitsunaga
Yoshiko Miwa
Julie Miyata
Harumi Miyazono
Ted and Tomoko Mizukami
Helene Mori
Mr. and Mrs. Hiroshi Mori
Harumi Morishige
Mark and Nancy Munekata
John Murakami
Ken and Kiyoko Nakagawa
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Nakakura
Burt and Sadie Nakamura
Jason Nakashima
Martha Nakashima
Ayako Nakatani
David and Lily Nakatani
George Nakatsu
Haruye Nakawatase
Koko Nishi
Joe and Violet Nishihira
Bill Nishimura
Shunji and Patti Nishimura
Steve and Rachel Noguchi
Misao Mitzi Okada
Mr. and Mrs. Tomiaki Okada
Rodney Okamura
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Okazaki
Tamiko Okazaki
Megumi Osa
Fujie DorothyOshima
Chisato Otani
Keiko Otani
Joyce Ouchi
Paul Ozawa
Kenneth and Jean Sakai
Emiko Sasaki
Toshiyuki and Midori Seino
Jiro and Doris Shikuma
Kazuko Shimbashi
Kenneth and Edith Shimokochi
Asama Sueda
May and Robert Sueyoshi
Ronald Tajii
Mildred Takamatsu
Dianne Takao
Donna Takao
Ron Takao
Nancy Tamehiro
Mary Tamura
Nancy Tanaka
Tony Tanaka
George and Helen Tenpo
Ernest Terao
Ann Togioka
Yuriko and Ronald Toma
Shiro Toyoaki
Michael and Marilyn Tsuge
Miyoko Tsukamoto
Cathy Uyemura
Yemiko Wakahara
Ami Yamagishi
Flora Yamanaka
Dick and Judy Yamane
William and Shigeko Yamane
James and Gladys Yokota
Masami Yokoyama
James and Midori Yoshimura
Wallace and June Yuki
Gardena Buddhist Women’s
Association
Guadalupe
Tadashi AokiGuadalupe
Clara Hamasaki
Bette Kurokawa
Tomiko Miyamoto
Kanemi Muranaka
In Memory of Rev Kanno and Mrs.
Jane Imamura and the Rev Issei
Matsuura Family
Kawahara Family
PAGE 6 WHEEL OF DHARMA
JANUARY 2013
Going with the flow
By Vonn Magnin, Arizona Buddhist Temple
Other Power means to be free of any form of calculation.
(Lamp for the Latter Ages, CWS, p.537)
L
ast month, as a part of my
training of becoming a Minister’s Assistant, I had the fortunate opportunity to attend the
August workshop for the Jodo
Shinshu Correspondence Course
held at the Jodo Shinshu Center.
The workshop was wonderful
and I learned many things from
the ministers, teachers and fellow
students that attended along with
me. I am truly grateful to the
Arizona Buddhist Temple Sangha
for supporting me along my
spiritual path and for granting
me the privilege to participate in
the Correspondence Course.
Although the workshop was
wonderful, my trip to Berkeley
was fraught with some challenges.
But before I get into that, please
allow me to explain the kind of
traveler I am. Having never travelled to Berkeley before, I was a
little nervous about how to get
there, what my journey from the
airport to the Jodo Shinshu
Center would be like, how I
should dress for the weather, etc.
Many weeks before the trip, I
asked Lynn Sugiyama how to get
around. He was very thoughtful
and sent me detailed directions.
This allowed me to “Googlemap” the step-by-step directions
from the Oakland Airport to the
JSC using the Bay Area Rapid
Transit train that he provided,
which even allowed me to see the
course from a detailed “street
view.” It was almost like I was
already there when I was looking
at the photos. I felt comfortable
that I knew where I was going.
Fast-forward to the day that I
departed from Phoenix. I was
packed, I had my pre-boarding
pass and I was sure that my
preparations and calculations
would lead me safely to Berkeley
without incident. Needless to
say, I was very surprised when I
arrived at Sky Harbor and could
not find my flight number
MA Certification
Ceremony at NYBC
From left to right: Rev. Shobo Gary Jaskula, Minister’s Assistant Cheryl
Ikemiya, and Rev. Hoshu Matsubayashi. Photo by Gertrude Kihara.
Reflections
Continued from Page 2
As a child, I attended Sunday
School in my home temple in Monterey, California, and was active in
the YBA and WYBL during my
teen years. However, like some of
my peers, I became a lapsed Buddhist during many of my adult
years that were spent on the East
Coast.
After returning to California
several years ago, I joined the Placer
Buddhist Church, my new home
temple. As I move deeper into my
“boomer” years, and try to make up
for lost time, I am eagerly seizing
every chance to learn and absorb
the Buddhist teachings—about
which I am embarrassingly ignorant. The advertised agenda for this
seminar promised the opportunity
to reconnect, listen to the Dharma,
and address issues relevant to our
baby boomer sangha. The seminar
met all those goals – and more.
Rev. Ron Miyamura of Chicago’s Midwest Buddhist Temple de-
matching my expected Oakland
Airport destination. According to
my flight number, I would be
arriving at San Jose. It seems that
my wife and I weren’t paying attention when buying the plane
ticket and ended up buying one
for the wrong city. I tried to
change my flight to Oakland, but
it would’ve cost several hundred
dollars more. My wife suggested
that I rent a car and drive the
hour to Berkeley from San Jose.
Now, I would like to say that
I am a “goes with the flow” kind
of guy, but the truth is I sometimes struggle greatly with accepting things as they come. For
me, the airport mix-up was a
travesty. Flying into San Jose was
not part of my calculations. But,
what choice did I have?
In the end, this was probably
the best possible outcome. By
driving from San Jose to Berkeley, I was able to see much more
of a part of California that I was
Preceding the annual Jodo-e (Bodhi
Day) service of the New York Buddhist
Church on Dec. 9, a special certification
ceremony was held. Resident Minister
Rev. Hoshu Y. Matsubayashi, acting on
behalf of Bishop Kodo Umezu, certified
Cheryl Ikemiya as the Church’s newest Minister’s Assistant. The ceremony
began with Ms. Ikemiya reciting the Three
Treasures, the Six Paramitas, and the
Jodo Shinshu Creed, following which Rev.
Matsubayashi presented Cheryl with her
MA certificate, robe, kesa, and chukei.
Cheryl has been an active member of
the New York Buddhist Church since 1985,
and has served on the Board of Trustees
and as a representative to the Eastern District and BCA National Councils. She holds
a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oberlin College and a Master of Arts degree in Asian
Art History from the University of Hawaii,
and currently is the Senior Program Officer
for the Arts at the Doris Duke Charitable
Foundation in New York City.
livered the keynote Dharma message and launched the first
discussion group of the day. The
organizers’ goal was to create a
comfortable and safe atmosphere
for participants to freely and candidly express themselves, and an
environment where attendees who
just wanted to listen were equally
comfortable.
The afternoon workshops addressed Jodo Shinshu etiquette and
rituals, the history and meaning of
the o-nenju, and information on
aging and dementia.
During the 12 short hours at
the JSC on Nov. 10, I experienced
so many gifts. I really heard for the
first time the pattern and beauty of
the ringing of the kansho. I more
fully understood the significance of
Jodo Shinshu rituals and improved
my techniques of everyday practices
(such as entering and exiting the
hondo, bowing, doing oshoko, and
opening and closing the chanting
book). I gained a greater appreciation of the symbolism of the o-nenju and admired their vast array of
colors, materials, and sizes. And,
especially meaningful for me, I reconnected with former YBA friends
after more than forty years, enjoyed
the camaraderie of new friends, and
expanded my Buddhist community
and family. The delicious meals
(including CBE’s signature “Dharma Dawgs”) prepared by staff and
volunteers, the fun and spirited after-dinner competitive games, and
the comfortable overnight JSC accommodations were added bonuses.
Before attending the August
and November events at the JSC, I
felt no real connection to the Center. However, because of the
warmth of the CBE staff, volunteers, and other participants, and
the opportunities to participate in
relevant and inspirational discussions, the JSC has become more
than just a building to me. It now
represents a dynamic, vibrant center of learning and fellowship. I
look forward next year to the 7th
Baby Boomers’ Seminar and another “time out” day to refresh, renew, and reflect.
unfamiliar with. Since I arrived
many hours before the workshop
began, I was able to drive to the
nearby Cesar Chavez Park which
is located right on the San Francisco Bay. Anyone who knows
me well knows that I love the
ocean. Without the travel mix-up
and the rental car, I wouldn’t
have been able to drive to and sit
at the park in peaceful contemplation by the Bay. After the
workshop concluded on Sunday,
I followed a fellow student back
to San Jose who took me to visit
the San Jose Buddhist Church
Betsuin, where I had the pleasure
of meeting Rinban Fujimoto. My
classmate also pointed out several
great restaurants and shops.
Again, the change in my original
calculations allowed me to have
an enjoyable time that I had not
planned for.
In the case of my unplanned
flight to San Jose, I had no choice
but to go with the flow. Once I
President’s Message
Continued from Front Page
ver), and Jon Turner (Orange County). I felt very privileged to be able to
visit with this dedicated group of aspirants at shared meals and during the
brief breaks in their demanding
schedule as they worked through their
final training before their journey to
Japan. We can be very proud of this
group as all received their Kyoshi certification. Rev. Kuwahara, Center for
Buddhist Education Co-Director, will
be providing more details in an article
for the February Wheel of Dharma.
One lasting message from their training session at the Jodo Shinshu Center
is that their religious education will be
a lifetime journey, which is true for all
of us on the Nembutsu path.
In December my wife, Karen, and
I were able to attend several services
and functions at White River Buddhist Temple, our home temple in
Auburn, Washington. Due to travel
for BCA I haven’t been able to attend
each service at White River and I even
had to miss our major Obon Festival
fundraiser last July. Fortunately our
White River members have been very
understanding and accommodating.
I’m very appreciative of the encour-
stopped struggling with the
change in plans, I was able to
discover that things were really
working out for me. It was a
great reminder for me that I need
to get better at going with the
flow since it can sometimes lead
to wonderful moments of learning.
I think our founder Shinran
Shonin recognized this as a necessary part of accepting Amida
Buddha’s compassion for all beings: “Once you have come to
simply believe that it [saying the
Nembutsu through the Buddha’s
direction and benevolence] surpasses conceptual understanding,
there should be no struggle to
reason it out [your birth in the
Pure Land]” (CWS, p. 537). I am
humbled by his example. Namo
Amida Butsu.
agement they’ve shown all of us from
the temple who’ve served at the district and national levels. I’ve also
learned during my travels that many
people don’t realize White River is not
the name of a town but only applies to
our temple and a nearby river. However, many people have asked me how
Rev. Koshin Ogui and his wife, Mayumi, are doing since they know he
became our minister after completing
his duties as Socho. We’re very fortunate to have them with us and I appreciate hearing Rev. Ogui’s Dharma
messages as well as having the opportunity to get to know his family better.
Rev. and Mrs. Ogui were joined for a
time by their dog, Howie. Howie had
serious health issues for many years
but seemed to gain energy by being
here so it was a shock when he died
suddenly in mid September. It was a
heartbreaking loss, especially for Mrs.
Ogui, but we were comforted by having seen Howie enjoy his time running
on the grass and feeling the fresh
breeze surround him. I know the
Oguis still miss Howie but I also
know they’ll always have fond memories of him as a source of happiness
and comfort.
In Gassho
WLA Steps Up
Continued from Page 5
was reduced to $14,099: a monthly savings of more than $50,000. We recognized the urgent need to pay off this debt; stop the monthly bleeding; and get
on with our true goal, namely, supporting our temples; celebrating the Three
Treasures; and spreading the Dharma.
Our WLA Temple Board voted to contribute most of our net receipts realized from our 2012 Obon Festival to BCA to reduce this debt. Consequently,
on December 1, 2012, at the BCA Board Meeting held at the Jodo Shinshu
Center we presented Bishop Umezu with a check in the amount of $42,882.43.
West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple is hopeful that all BCA temples and
churches will donate a significant portion of their 2013 Obon Festival proceeds
for this same worthy purpose. Let’s retire this debt and get on with it.
Namo Amida Butsu,
Rick Stambul, Past President
West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
JANUARY 2013 WHEEL OF DHARMA
PAGE 2