Nov - Buddhist Churches of America

WHEEL
OF DHARMA
Official Publication of the Buddhist Churches of America
VOLUME 32
Dharma
Students
Create
Posters
1710 Octavia Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
NOVEMBER 2006
ISSUE 11
Celebration
Dedication of the
Jodo Shinshu Center
Ribbon cutting ceremony at the Jodo Shinshu Center. From left:
Gordon Bermant, BCA
president, Monshudesignate Shinmon
Kojun Ohtani, Berkeley
Mayor Tom Bates, and
Socho Koshin Ogui.
Photo lower right,
Chigo participants
marching.
Bottom right photo,
Boys and Girls Scouts’
color guards, from
left, Daniel Yakuma
(SACBC), Kenny
Moriyama (Fresno),
Kyle Wakabayashi
(Sacramento), Hitomi
Silver (BCSF), Michael
Suguro (Seattle),
Darren Moriyama
(Fresno), Matthew
Pating (BCSF), and
Terrence Yee (BCSF).
N
early one and one half year after
its long-awaited groundbreaking
ceremony, the new Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley was dedicated on the
weekend of Oct. 21-22. Honored guests included the Monshu-designate Shinmon Kojun Ohtani and his wife, Ruzumi-sama who
traveled from Kyoto to be in attendance at
the opening.
Friday’s activities commenced with an
all-day seminar sponsored by the Institute
of Buddhist Studies entitled “Varieties of
Nembutsu Practice.”
Saturday morning’s dedication ceremony began with a procession from the Berkeley Buddhist Temple, the site of the original Buddhist Study Center, predecessor to
the current Institute of Buddhist Studies,
around the block to the new Jodo Shinshu Center.
The procession was led the Kinnara
Gagaku Group and by Buddhist Boy and
Girl Scouts accompanying the American,
Buddhist and Hongwanji flags. They were
followed by 16 “ochigo” children, one girl
and one boy representing each of the BCA’s
eight districts, dressed in classical centuriesold outfits traditionally worn by Japanese
children who participated in temple processions and celebrations.
They were followed by Shinmon Kojun Ohtani, the current Monshu’s oldest
son and heir apparent, and his wife, Ruzumi-sama; then Socho Koshin Ogui and the
bishops from the South American, Hawaii
and Canadian Hongwanji districts. Others
participating in the procession to the Jodo
Shinshu Center included Dr. Manshi Ohyanagi representing Ryukoku University,
Rev. Ryosho Naito representing the HonContinued on Page 4
Photo credit: Tom Nishikawa
Jim Usui and Sady Hayashida receiving special recognition plaques from BCA President Gordon Bermant.
Photo credit: Tom Nishikawa
Photo credit: Tom Nishikawa
Emily Chin of Fresno holding a mobile.
PAGE WHEEL OF DHARMA
President’s
Message on
the JSC Opening
Campaign BCA – The 21st Century
By the Numbers
By Dr. Gordon Bermant
BCA President
As of July 21, 2006
By Robert Noguchi
BCA Fundraising Manager
T
From the Campaign Manager’s Desk:
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Judy Kono and everyone involved in the coordination of the Jodo Shinshu Center Dedication weekend activities held October 2022 (see acknowledgment list in this issue). It was really a memorable event!
We received many gifts over the Dedication weekend and would like to thank the following groups and individuals for their generosity:
Mr. and Mrs. Aki Arao
Central California Buddhist Women’s League
BCA Federation of Buddhist Women’s Assoc.
Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Women’s Association
Mrs. Terri Harada
Mr. Jim Hisanaga
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Louie
Kennon Nakamura Family
Mrs. Shizue Nakao
Nipponzan Myo Ho Ji
Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Osumi
Reedley Buddhist Church
Seattle Buddhist Church Kids Summer Program
Mrs. Hiroko Sugimoto
Mr. and Mrs. George Tanimoto
Dr. and Mrs. Gene Tsukamoto
Visalia Buddhist Church
Visalia Buddhist Women’s Association
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Yamashita
Check out the Jodo Shinshu Center construction slide show on the new campaign
website: http://campaign.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org under “Contacts.”
There’s also a Jodo Shinshu Center Photo Album at: www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org/album
In case you haven’t heard, the BCA Grand Raffle drawing has been postponed to Saturday, March 10, 2007 during the National Council Meeting in Oakland. Please continue to offer tickets to friends and family ($20 donation).
Namu Amida Butsu
District/
Temple
2006
Dues-Paying
Membership
District Totals:
Gifts/
Pledges
Received
% of Temple
Membership
Total Gifts/
Pledges Rec’d
Total Bay2,537
61524.24%
$1,611,474
Total Central
78
4.79%
$51,350
Total Coast2,454
330
13.45%
$2,556,801
Total Eastern
502
172
34.26%
$370,354
Total Mountain
872
84
9.63%
$418,705
9.47%
$224,260
1,627
Total Northern2,829268
Total Northwest
1,352
35426.18%
$832,275
Total Southern
4,580
479
$3,900,311
10.46%
Total Unaffiliated Gifts
84
$621,164
Grand Total
2,478
$10,627,861
16,753
14.79%
he stories and photographs in this issue of
the Wheel document the wonderful weekend of the dedication and celebration of
the opening of the Jodo Shinshu Center. Also published here is a list of the many people who volunteered to ensure the success of this event. I would
like to add my personal thanks to every one on this
list, as well as to all who attended to share in our
collective joy and satisfaction of a job well done.
From my personal point of view, the IBS symposium on Friday and the events on Saturday occupied most of my attention before my wife
Geri and I arrived in Berkeley on Thursday evening. Although I knew I was to make brief presentations at the three family services on Sunday, it was as if I could not see through all the
events on Friday and Saturday to appreciate in
advance the significance of Sunday’s services.
But now that the weekend is behind us, I understand that Sunday was in some ways the most
important day of all. This was the day that people arrived by bus and car from near and far to
visit the location of the new heart of Jodo Shinshu education, training, and outreach for the
21st century. The kodo was filled three times
with members and friends who were able to see
and feel what they had only been able to hear
and read about before. In total, more than 400
visitors experienced the elegance of the naijin,
the excellent acoustics of the kodo as we chanted Gassho with Amida, the enthusiastic greetings provided by Ken Tanimoto and Glenn Kameda, Reverend Kobata’s service leadership that put
everyone completely at ease, the presence of distinguished guests including Shinmon Kojun, Ruzumi Ohtani, and Reverend Matsumoto’s masterful dharma talk on the meaning of Living
Buddhism in terms of the interdependence of our
three treasures of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
I had the privilege of offering greetings to the
visitors at each of the three services. This was perhaps the easiest and most gratifying task I have
yet performed as your president. I based my greeting on the significance our donning a monto shikisho when we attend services. This simple act reflects respect and devotion to our practice; it also
shows that we are willing to identify ourselves as
members of a group for whom such practice is important. When we wear an okesa, we show that
we are willing to “stand up and be counted” as a
member of a tradition that is almost 750 years old.
Beneath my okesa, pinned to my lapel, was a
big button that read I AM BCA! in bright red letters. I pulled my okesa aside to show the button.
I explained that the button represents our collective efforts to achieve our national goals. Symbolically, then, the organization, BCA, “is behind” the individual; it supports each of us. And
each individual “is in front of” the organization,
leading and representing it. The individual and
NOVEMBER 2006
We gratefully
acknowledge
contribution to the
Wheel of Dharma
by the
following donors:
Northwest BWA $100
Placer BWA
$100
Live A
Life of
Awakening
2006 BCA Theme
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.com
Email: bcahq@
pacbell.net
A monthly periodical with additional issues; postage paid at San
Francisco, CA and at additional
mailing offices. Subscription free
to BCA members; $12.00 annual subscription for nonmembers.
POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to “Wheel of Dharma,”
Buddhist Churches of America,
1710 Octavia Street, San Francisco CA 94109.
English Editor:
Rev. Ron Kobata
Japanese Editor:
Rev. Kodo Umezu
Print Production:
Jeffrey Kimoto
Continued on Page 3
My Gift to Campaign BCA—The 21st Century
PLEASE CUT OUT AND RETURN TO BCA HEADQUARTERS:
c/o Campaign BCA-The 21st Century, 1710 Octavia Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Date: Socho Ogui:
 Enclosed is my special gift of $
to Campaign BCA – The 21st Century.
–or –
Socho Ogui:
 I would like to pledge a total of $________ over
_______ (1 to 5 years) to Campaign BCA – The 21st Century.
$30 Million
$20 Million
$10.6 Million
Amt. to be paid
Date(s) payment(s) will be made to BCA
_____________________________
$____________
$____________
_____________________________
$____________
_____________________________
$____________
_____________________________
Thank you.
Name Address
(
)
City
State
Zip
Phone
Temple
For more information, please contact your temple representative, your local minister, or Robert
Noguchi at BCA Headquarters (1-877-222-0201, ext. 30), or e-mail [email protected].
NOVEMBER 2006 Hyobyakumon Aspiration
Jodo Shinshu Center
Dedication
WHEEL OF DHARMA
Opening Dedication
Comments
Tony Lewis, 9, Berkeley
“It’s really big and I like the indoors garden.”
Drina Fujishige, 15, Stockton
“I think it’s really nice and updated. It’ll
come to good use. It would be nice to stay
here a day to experience it.”
October 21, 2006
Today, on this occasion of the Dedication of the new Jodo Shinshu Center here in Berkeley, California, the ministers, leaders, members, and guests of the BCA, have gathered amidst the great wisdom
and compassion that is Amida. With deepest reverence and adoration for Amida, we endeavor to follow his teachings, and faithfully,
we put our hands in gassho and recite the Nembutsu.
We are truly grateful for the many causes and conditions that
have allowed us to celebrate this historic event. May the fragrance
of the incense teach us of the purity of our intentions. May the
beauty of the flowers offered remind us of the glory of the Dharma. And may Amida’s Eternal Light of Wisdom continue to shine
upon our path towards sharing the teachings of the Buddha-Dharma with all peoples.
I, Shaku Koshin, a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha, humbly express our deep feeling of gratitude and appreciation.
-Namo Amida Butsu
President’s Message
Continued from Page 2
the BCA are separate yet touch
each other at all times, like my
okesa on top of the button.
I wish every BCA member could have this same button. I will distribute them when
I travel to temples until I run
out. Then I will get some more.
I think it would be wonder-
ful for all of us to wear one occasionally or perhaps to keep it
in the drawer next to their monto shikisho, as a reminder.
As Buddhists, we certainly can appreciate the interdependence of individual and group efforts in all
aspects of our lives. And specifically as Shin Buddhists, we
can reflect deeply on how the
efforts of others are always supporting us as individuals.
HURRY:
A limited number of raffle tickets are now available for the BIG!
Buddhist Churches of America
JODO SHINSHU CENTER
The 21st Century
GRAND RAFFLE
First Prize
$12,000
Second Prize
Third Prize
Fourth Prize
Fifth Prize
Myrtle Furukawa, Sacramento
“I think it’s wonderful…for our future generation.”
May and Teddy Saiki,
Stockton
“Very impressive building, really
well-planned. I’m glad I came.”
Lon Tsukamoto, Elk Grove
“This is a real nice, state of the art center. It’s going to attract new ministers.”
Ruby Kato, Stockton
“I was very impressed…I can see a lot of work
and effort went into this operation. I think it’ll
be good for future generation to come. We’re
just amazed and in awe.”
Aiko Kajiyama, San Francisco
“This is such a beautiful place...spacious, very impressive.
So many cubicles for everybody’s studying. Everything is
so computerized.”
Leslie Green, Spokane, Wash.
“A most impressive building. The work
they’ve put into this is just beautiful…you
get a feeling of warmth.”
$4,000
$1,500
$1,000
$500
Drawing Saturday, March 10, 2007
at the BCA National Council Meeting
in Oakland, CA
Your Raffle ticket donation will support, the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) as it reaffirmed
and refined its core mission to promote the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, as well as to propagate the
Jodo Shinshu teachings. BCA vision for the future calls for Jodo Shinshu Buddhism to stand forward
as a major religious tradition in the United States—with the opening of the new Jodo Shinshu Center
that will be recognized by the general public and embraced by a multi-ethnic Sangha.
– Need not be present to win –
A donation of $20.00 per ticket is requested.
(Checks can be made out to BCA Raffle)
All tickets must be purchased within the state of California
PAGE May Peace and
Tranquility
Prevail Throughout
the World
PAGE WHEEL OF DHARMA
Hey, TAXI!!!!
NOVEMBER 2006
Rev. Don Castro
Marries Shuri Saigusa
Make the light of
Truth be the lamp
unto yourself.
By Rev. Dean Koyama
Mountain View Buddhist Temple
T
his past Labor Day weekend, through the generous donation of the Mountain View Buddhist
Temple’s BWA, I was allowed to accompany 8
women to the 13th World Buddhist Women’s Federation Conference held in Honolulu, Hawaii. Now, don’t
get excited. It was for a conference. We left on Friday
morning and I returned with three other ladies on Monday morning, which left little time for fun and leisure.
In fact, the schedule was very tight. In order to accommodate the 4,000 conference delegates at the spacious Hawaii Convention Center, we had to eat breakfast at 6 AM, get on the shuttle bus by 7:10 AM,
arriving at the conference hall around 7:30. The conference didn’t start until 9 but the extra time was necessary to make sure all 4,000 people could get into
the room. The conference hall was huge. I think at
least three or four football fields could have fit easily inside the one hall that we were using. So we had
the conference on Saturday, all day and almost all
night because we didn’t get back to the hotel until after 10:30 PM which was really 1:30 our time.
I enjoy going to conferences and seminars so that
I can hear the Dharma. As a minister we are often
asked to speak but rarely do we have the opportunity
to listen to another speaker and hear the Dharma perhaps presented in another way or perspective. For this
World BWA conference the keynote speaker was Dr.
Rev. Ken Tanaka, who was a Dharma School and YBA
product of the Mountain View Buddhist Temple.
Also, I enjoy going to these conferences and seminars to learn how others are living, understanding
and appreciating the teachings of the Buddha and the
Nembutsu. So, here at a conference of 4,000 people
coming from Japan, South America, Canada, Hawaii,
and the United States, you would think that my chances of getting energized by seeing and hearing how others appreciate the Dharma would be astronomical.
By no means am I criticizing the work and effort
of the hosting Hawaii delegation. As a colleague of
mine often says, “A conference that we are not hosting is a wonderful conference.” The altar set up for
this world conference was spectacular with the transparent scroll of the o-myogyo (Namo Amida Butsu in calligraphy) above the Wheel of Dharma choreographed to the changing background colors of
green, purple, blue and red. We had a panel discussion of women from each of the five overseas districts
talk about what inspired them to become Buddhist
ministers. We had workshops and demonstrations on
hula, pineapple, hula, kukui nut, hula, tropical plants,
hula, songs of Aloha and hula. So there was definitely an opportunity to fulfill my objectives at the conference. However, the most interesting part of this
trip, for me, was the taxi ride taking us from the hotel to the airport on our last day leaving Hawaii.
We got picked-up at the hotel by a taxi van
around 9 AM to catch a 12:30 flight back home.
There were three ladies and myself. Of course being the gentleman that I am, I let the ladies get
into the cab first. They all sat in the back of the
cab forcing me to sit up front with the taxi driver. After telling the driver our destination of the airport, I notice that he had a little picture of the Buddha on his dashboard. So I pointed to it and said,
“Buddha?”
He smiled and with a Vietnamese accent said, “I like the Buddha very much.”
I said, “You do? Well, I am a Buddhist minister.”
He pointed to a book written in Vietnamese that he called the Buddhist Bible. He said that
he is trying to study and learn about Buddhism and
he wanted me to quiz him on the important dates
like: when the Buddha was born (April 8th), when
he attained enlightenment (Dec. 8th) and when
the Buddha died (February 15th). He got all the
dates right. He was so animated and full of life.
I asked him, “How old were you
when you came to Hawaii?”
He said he came when he was 14.
I then asked him, “How old are you now?”
He replied, “49.”
“49???!!! I exclaimed, “I’m 49, too, but you look so
much younger like you’re 26. You could be my son!”
With a big grin on his face he said,
“It because I love life and I love
the Buddha’s teaching.”
He continued, “You know what I like most about
the Buddha’s teachings? I like the part where the Buddha said, ‘Don’t believe in the teachings just because I
said so. You have to try to discover the truth yourself.’”
We suddenly arrived at the airport, and I commented how quickly we had gotten there. The cab driver
said, “It is because we had good conversation. We talked about the Buddha’s teachings so time goes by fast.”
As I thought about his comments, I realized
what a tremendous teacher this taxi driver was. He
was very profound. When we are engaged in something we enjoy, time seems to go by very quickly. When we are not engaged, time seems to drag
on forever. It is important for us to be engaged, become connected, be involved and live this life.
Usually, we say that we going to the temple for service. Then at the temple during the service we just
sit and watch. Perhaps a few of us will chant. Maybe one or two of us will sing the gathas in more than
a whisper, but mainly we just sit and watch. The Japanese word for service is O-mairi, which is a polite form of saying to go or to come, In other words,
it implies some form of action. Thus o-mairi doesn’t
mean to come and just sit and watch. But it means
to participate in the service by chanting, doing Gassho, oshoko or listening to the sermon. All these are
important. They are important because they are reminders for us to engage and participate in life itself.
We go to the temple to learn about the teachings
of Buddha and the Nembutsu so that we can truly engage with life itself. And as this Taxi driver reminded
me, the beauty of the Buddha’s teachings is not simply to believe in them because the Buddha said so,
but more importantly, as the Buddha had remarked,
“Make the light of the Dharma be the lamp onto yourself.” It is to test them and see for ourselves whether
or not they are true. The truths of Impermanence, Interdependence, Four Noble Truths, Eight-fold Path,
Six Paramitas, Gratitude, Nembutsu are not to be believed in but rather they are all for us to experience.
It was a very long weekend conference. But
the 15-minute taxi ride made it well worth it.
Gassho,
Rev. Dean Koyama
www.bcayouth.org
Rev. Don and Sensei Shuri (Saigusa) Castro were married on
Aug. 17 in an outdoor ceremony in Seattle, officiated by Socho
Koshin Ogui.
Rev. Shin Receives
Kaikyoshi Certification
Rev. Jeanette Yuinen Shin received her Kaikyoshi certificate
and wagesa from Ogui Socho on Sept. 19 at the Bishop’s office.
JSC Dedication
Continued from Page 1
gwanji Headquarters, BCA
President Gordon Bermant,
ministerial and lay representatives from the BCA’s eight
districts, representatives from
the BCA’s affiliated organizations and departments, and
representatives from several other Buddhist denominations who were joining in the
weekend’s celebration.
At the main entrance of
the Jodo Shinshu Center, the
assembled ministers chanted
the “San Bu Jo.” Socho Ogui,
Shinmon Ohtani, Gordon
Bermant and Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates participated in
the ribbon-cutting ceremony and then everyone was led
into the Center’s lobby.
The processional participants were then led into the
Kodo where they participated
in a brief opening service and
floral offering to the Buddha.
Shinmon Ohtani and the
Mayor Tom Bates addressed
the gathering in expressing
their best wishes to the BCA
and the Jodo Shinshu Center.
BCA President Gordon Bermant made special presentations to Jim Usui and Sady
Hayashida thanking them for
all of their efforts to get the
Jodo Shinshu Center completed.
After the completion of
the speeches, the general
membership was invited into
the Kodo to make a floral offering to the Buddha and
view the beautiful, modern
and high-tech nearly 40,000
square foot facility.
In the afternoon, the Buddhist Bookstore which will
be moving into the new Jodo
Shinshu Center in the near
future, sponsored book readings and signings by Hoshin
Seki, Gordon Bermant, Hiroshi Kashiwagi, Jerry Bolick
and Rev. Seigen Yamaoka.
Many months of intense
planning, logistics and negotiations went into making
this a very successful BCA
gathering possible. Led by
Judy Kono and her dedicated committee, and with help
from several temples and affiliated organizations, nearly
1,000 members and friends
viewed the Jodo Shinshu
Center on this grand opening
weekend.
Now that the Center is
officially open, temples, affiliated organizations and members are invited to schedule
individual appointments for
tours of our Jodo Shinshu
Center, our new home from
which we hope to bring Jodo
NOVEMBER 2006 WHEEL OF DHARMA
Grace V. McLeod
Remembered
G
race was born to
a pioneer family that settled on
Fidalgo Island, Washington. She graduated in 1925
from St. Ann’s Academy,
Vancouver, B.C., and Holy
Names Teaching Academy
in 1928. She did graduate
work at Northeastern University, Seattle University, and at the University
of Washington. She then
became a primary school
teacher.
In 1950, she was asked
to establish a nunnery in
Sikkim, India, which was
consecrated in 1985 and is
still active today.
Grace was active in
many groups and organizations including the Buddhist Churches of America,
Seattle Betsuin Buddhist
Church, Daughters of the
Pioneers. She began writing
articles and books in 1950,
when Rev. Shoko Masunaga asked her to write an
article for children. After
several more stories, Grace
was made editor and chair
of the newly formed Research Committee at the
Seattle Betsuin. For almost 40 years, she continued regularly writing for
the Temple and her material was distributed worldwide to Buddhist Temples
of various sects.
Grace taught the different levels of Dharma School
and teachers-in-training.
She taught and developed
the course of study for the
WHERE WE ARE AND
WHERE WE NEED TO BE:
THE STATUS OF THE CAMPAIGN AFTER THE
OPENING OF THE JODO SHINSHU CENTER
Opening the Jodo Shinshu Center is a wonderful achievement for BCA.
Everyone who visits the Center immediately senses that this is indeed a
special place. Let us use the opening of the center as an occasion to rededicate ourselves to completing the challenge that we set when we began
the Campaign.
Grace V. McLeod
early Sangha Award classes developed for Buddhist
Boy Scouts. She also developed the course of study
for the Karuna Award that
became a national award
sanctioned by both the
Buddhist Churches of
America and the Campfire
Girls Incorporated.
On May 11, 2002, the
Seattle Betsuin Buddhist
Temple (sic) hosted the
first annual Family Dharma Day and dedicated it to
Grace V. McLeod.
In 1950, the original
Research Committee was
composed of nine members, Marian Matsushita Matsui, Mrs. Masunaga, Grace McLeod, Nobue
Shimizu, Sachi Iwami, Fumiko Uyeda Groves, Masako Shimada Shibuya, Irene
Yamauchi, Yuki Miyake.
Today there are only six
surviving members of the
original committee.
We will all miss the
gracious lady, a wonderful
friend, teacher and mentor,
but her work and her memory will live on.
(On Mrs. Grace McLeod)
By Masako Shimada Shibuya
W
PAGE hat began as a project to benefit our Sunday School children, became a huge project for the Research Group.
Grace, with Rev. Masunaga’s help and guidance, began writing stories for the Sunday School
children. The publication was called “The Buddhist Reader.”
Before long the Buddhist Reader was recognized by the BCA. Churches not only on the
West Coast but all throughout the United States,
thirsting for materials in English for their Sunday School, became subscribers to the Buddhist
Readers. It started out as a monthly publication
but eventually Grace was burdened with writing
three different stories for three age groups.
It was a time of stress and pressure for Grace
but she always came through. The deadlines were
met each month and the Readers were mailed on
time. It was a time of hard work but we all enjoyed it very much.
Note: Whenever any of us we went to Sacramento, we visited Rev. and Mrs. Masunaga.
They were always so happy to see us and they
always talked about the wonderful memories they
have working with the Research Group. In fact,
being able to serve in Seattle is their most favorable and happy memories.
THE REALITY IS NOW WE MUST COMPLETE THE
CAMPAIGN FOR THE BCA IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
• We have raised approximately $10 million of our $30 million target.
Yet fewer than one in five church members have made contributions.
In order to remain on schedule and keep construction costs as low
as possible, we have needed to borrow money.
• A committee chaired by BCA President-lect Billy Saeki is developing a plan
for repaying our debt in a financially prudent manner.
THERE IS MORE TO THE CAMPAIGN THAN COMPLETING
THE FINANCING OF THE JODO SHINSHU CENTER.
We must also meet the other Campaign goals:
• To support our ministers benefits
• Strengthen the ministerial training program and enhance outreach to our
lay members and newcomers who seek the Dharma.
• To become more fiscally self-reliant.
• And through all of these, to allow Jodo Shinshu Buddhism to take its proper
place as a major contributor to religious life in the United States
WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS!
To all who have done so much already, thank you. To all who will take us
forward, thank you in advance. We are all in this together and through our
combined efforts we can do it!
Campaign Chairpersons: Joyce Iwasaki and Steve Yamami
JSC Dedication and Celebration Planning Committee and the Family
Day Service and Activities Planning Committee members:
Reverend Kodo Umezu
Ken Tanimoto
Michael Endo
Henry Shibata
Maya Lawrence
Joline Furuya
Reverend Ron Kobata Lucy Hamai
Mimi Kagehiro
Victor Iwamura
Chizuko Kakiuchi
Tom Nishikawa
Judy Kono
JoAnn Shibata Lena Yin
Susan Bottari Brian Nagata
Kent Matsuda Sumi Tanabe
Terry Morioka
Richard Endo
Janet Umezu
Jeff Suda
Roy Yamashita
Jodo Shinshu Center Family Day Report
By Ken Tanimoto
On Sunday, Oct. 22, the new Jodo Shinshu Center
was bustling with over 550 Sangha members of all ages
coming from all BCA Districts. The Family Day Service, sponsored by the Bay and Coast District Dharma
School Teachers Leagues, was in conjunction with the
Jodo Shinshu Center Dedication weekend.
This day charged with excitement and anticipation,
started with service in the Kodo with Rev. Ron Kobata,
executive assistant to the Bishop, Tad Shibata, Federation of Dharma School Teacher’s League president, and
Gordon Bermant, BCA president, each giving a warm
welcome to all participants. Service ended with an entertaining and insightful Dharma talk by Rev. David
Matsumoto, resident minister at Berkeley Temple.
Accompanied by Dharma School guides, everyone
then toured the three different levels of the Jodo Shinshu Center. After the tour, participants went to the
Berkeley Temple for all age activities. There were Dharma School sing-a-longs with Dii Lewis, a book titled
Buddhist Animal Wisdom Stories read by Mrs. Sadako
Kashiwagi, an assembling of commemorative JSC mo-
biles headed by Joline Furuya, making commemorative
book markers designed by Maya Lawrence, and a slide
show presentation produced by Karen Suyama.
Susan Bottari organized the roster as well as arranged
bento lunches for a satisfying ending to a memorable
day.
For those who attended, this fun filled Family Day
Service will hold fond memories of an historical moment in BCA history.
PAGE WHEEL OF DHARMA
Lifetime
Students
Acknowledgements
The Jodo Shinshu Center Dedication and Celebration events held on Oct. 20-22 were a huge undertaking
hosting nearly 1,000 people over the three-day celebration. The Buddhist Churches of America gratefully acknowledges the contributions and support of the following organizations and many, many BCA members.
If any names have been accidentally omitted at this
time, we apologize in advance and will recognize them in the next issue.
Bay District Women’s Association
BCA Ministers Association
Berkeley Buddhist Temple
Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai America
Kinnara Gagaku
Magicbell Communications Inc.
Abey, Jean
Abey, Kaz
Abiko, Rev. Hiroshi
Akahoshi, Karen
Akahoshi, Kenji
Akiyama, Isamu & Kiiku
Anzai, Michiko
Becker, Arnie
Bellizi, Yumi
Bermant, Dr. Gordon
Bolick, Jerry
Bottari, Susan
Castro, Rev. Don
Castro, Donna
Chin, David
Crivello, Irene
Dawkins, Doug
Endo, Chieko
Endo, Michael
Endo, Richard
Eshima, Tak
Fujimoto, Gloria
Fujimoto, Mina
Fujimoto, Rev. Dennis
Fujioka, Koji
Fukuda, Corrie
Fukumori, Derek
Fukumori, Julie
Fukumori, Noreen
Fukumori, Wes
Fukumoto, Alan
Furumoto, Rev. Ryuta
Gabriel, Gabe
Gabriel, Susan
Griffin, Craig
Griffin, Linda
Hamai, Akemi
Hamai, Lucy
Hamamoto, Donna
Hamasaki, Don
Hamasaki, Joanie
Hamasaki, Matt
Hamasaki, Tiffany
Hanayama, Rev. Shosei
Hara, David
Hara, Grace
Hedani-Morishita,
Barbara
Hayashida, Sady
Hikoyeda, Allan
Hikoyeda, Nancy
Hiraga, Cory
Hiraga, Ron
Hirahara, Alan
Hirahara, Larry
Hiraoka, Yo
Hirose, Norman
Honda, Dina
Horiuchi, Mas
Hoshi-Nagamoto, Pat
Inaba, Harley
Inaba, Judy
Ishida, Betsy
Ishida, Fumiko
Ishii, Erick
Ishimoto, Michael
Ito, Emma
Ito, Yuri
Ito-Taylor, Dean
Ito-Woo, Jackie
Iwamura, Victor
Iwasaki, Joyce
Joo, Grace
Kagehiro, Erin
Kagehiro, Mimi
Kajiwara, Susan
Kakiuchi, Chiz
Kameda, Glenn
Kaneshige, Don
Kanzaki, Lillian
Kashiwagi,Shadako
Kataoka, Nan
Kato, Karen
Kato, Lia
Kato, Vernon
Katsumoto, Emiko
Katsumoto, Kiyoshi
Kawahara, Deanna
Kawamoto, Jon
Kawata, Jean
Kimoto, Jeffrey
Kobara, Kelsi
Kobara, Mrs.
Kobata, Rev. Kengu
Kohara, Joni
Kono, Judy
Kujo, Rev. Ejun
Kuritsubo, Ruby
Lawrence, Maya
Lee, Suzy
Lewis, Dii
Matsuda, Kent
Matsueda, Bob
Matsueda, Ken
Matsui, Sachi
Matsumoto, Diane
Matsumoto, Rev. Ryoe
Matsuoka, Dianne
Matsuoka, Eddie
Matsuoka, Jeff
Matsuoka, Pam
McGuire, Robin
McGurie, Jeff
Menda, Kathy
Menda, Walter
Minamoto, Gail
Minamoto, Lou
Miura, Rev. Kyogyo
Miyakawa, Julia
Miyamura, Emi
Miyasaki, Loren
Morioka, Terry
Morishita, Leroy
Mukojima, Rev. Yushi
Murai, Michiko
Nagafuji, Jerry
Nagafuji, Pearl
Nagamoto, Michael
Nagata, Brian
Nagata, Tom
Nakagaki, Rev. Kenjitsu
Nakagawa, Eric
Nakagawa, Junko
Nakao, Emi
Nakashima, Carol
Nakashima, Toshio
Narasaki, Hisako
Nasu, Eisho
By Rev. Kazuaki Nakata
Sacramento Betsuin
G
Photo credit: Richard Endo
North American Food Distribution Company
Oakland Buddhist Women’s Association
Buddhist Church of Oakland
San Jose Betsuin Fujinkai
Watsonville Fujinkai
Negoro, Dora
Negoro, George
Neishi, Lynne
Nishikawa, Gayle
Nishikawa, Greer
Nishikawa, Tom
Nishimura, Art
Nodohara, Ed
Noguchi, Robert
Normura, Ron
Ogi, Naoyuki
Ogui, Mayumi
Ogui, Socho
Oishi, Joyce
Okamura, Dennis
Okamura, Mary
Otake, Gene
Otake, Yuki
Oto, Hishi
Otsuka, Tak
Otsuka, Valerie
Patterson, Scott
Rye, Kurt
Saeki, Billy
Saeki, Sandy
Sakamoto, Alan
Sakamoto, Rev. Gerald
Sakamoto, Sam
Sakuma, Pauline
Sasaki, Agnes
Sasaki, Dick
Seelawimala, Bhante
Seki, Hoshin
Seki, Josephine
Shibata, Alice
Shibata, Henry
Shibata, JoAnn
Shiroyama, Ruth
Silver, Nanayo
Styles, Janice
Styles, Jim
Suda, Jeff
Suda, Pam
Sueki, Gail
Sugihara, Eiko
Sugimoto, Aiko
Suwada, Keith
Suyama, Karen
Suyama, Ken
Takano, Betty
Takeshita, Cookie
Tanabe, Sumi
Tanaka, Sets
Tanaka, Tsuyumi
Taniguchi, Rev. Shoyo
Taniguchi, Rev. Zuikei
Tanimoto, Ken
Tennes, Richard
Terada, Keiju
Toriumi, Mitsue
Tsujimoto, Daisy
Tsutsumi, Emi
Umezu, Janet
Umezu, Michelle
Umezu, Rev. Kodo
Ushijima, David
Ushijima, Emily
Usui, Jim
Usuki, Lisa
NOVEMBER 2006
Uyematsu, Richard
Uyemoto, Aileen
Wada, Kristyne
Watada, Everett
Watanabe, David
Watanabe, Julie
Wells, Irene
Weston, Elaine
Yamada, Minoru
Yamami, Steve
Yamaoka, Landon
Yamaoka, Rev. Haruo
Yamaoka, Shigeko
Yamashita, Roy
Yamashita, Sydney
Yanari, Brandon
Yanari, Brian
Yanari, Carl
Yasui, Irene
Yin, Lena
Yoneyama, Mollie
Chigo Participants
Derek Amano
Hayley Arima
Kaylyn Arima
Ariana Berta
Kristy Anne Carpenter
Lindsay Fumiko Jay
Sara Sachiko Jay
Evan Akio Kimura
Jessica Fuji Lum
Kregg Maruyama
Devon Matsumoto
Liam McGill
Brayden Nagata
Toshi Steimetz
Kenjo Hata-Wong
Azaad Omead
Zimmerman
Scout Participants
Darren Moriyama
Kenny Moriyama
Matthew Pating
Hitomi Silver
Michael Sugaro
Kyle Wakabayashi
Daniel Yakuma
Terence Yee
Gagaku Musicians
Chris Aihara
Donna Ebata
LeRon Harrison
Shobo Ishihara
Kenjun Kawahata
Denise Kodani
Rev. Mas Kodani
Sharon Koga
JoAnn Komai
Titus Levi
Ronnie Matsuda
Satoshi Miyata
Johnny Mori
Nancy Sekizawa
Qris Yamashita
Thomas Yee
Iku Yuge
ood Morning Everyone! How are you?
Some of you may know
that I am a minister of
the Sacramento Betsuin. I have been serving at
the Betsuin since 2003. I
am enjoying so much being in Sacramento, because
our Betsuin Sangha members are so kind and supportive of me. And fortunately, Rinban Bob Oshita
always helps me to improve my English. I really
appreciate everyone here.
When I first came here,
one of our very dedicated Betsuin members, Mr.
Akio Imai used to come
to my office two to three
times a week. We would
often talk about Buddhism. He would bring
a book that he was reading with the pages marked
where he had a question.
One day in April of 2004,
after I responded to his
questions, he said “Sensei
(teacher)! you know everything about Buddhism.”
But I said to him, “No,
I am not a Sensei. I am not
a Sensei. I am just a disciple of Shinran Shonin.”
He wondered and said
“What do you mean that
you are not a Sensei?”
I told him that when
I was in the University
studying Jodo Shinshu, I
felt that I was learning everything about the teachings. But then, one of my
professors, Dr. Koju Fugen told me that “When
you feel that you are a
“teacher” of Jodo Shinshu teachings, you will
lose the heart of sincerity as a Jodo Shinshu Monto (Sangha member). And
you may begin to behave
haughtily with too much
pride. There is no difference between Members
and Priests for we are all
disciples of Shinran Shonin (御同朋 On-Dobo).
You should study together with members (御同
行 On-Dogyo) to spread
our wonderful Jodo Shinshu teachings to all. To
take the lead in On-Dogyo
is the only difference between you and members.”
Dr. Fugen gave this
advice to me and it always reminds me to try to
keep the spirit (On-Dobo
& On-Dogyo) of Shinran Shonin alive with me.
Then Mr. Imai said “I
see. But traditionally, we
call our minister ‘Sensei’.
Is it OK to call you Sensei?” I answered “Yes, that
is fine. But, please remember that more than being
Rev. Kazuaki Nakata
a priest I am a student of
Jodo Shinshu teachings”
He said “Ok… I will
remember that. And I have
a suggestion for you. Can
we have… a study class?
All my life I have come
to our Betsuin, and I still
continue to study Buddhism. And I have realized that it is very difficult to study by myself.”
I replied “Of course
we can have a study class.
We can begin with a history of traditional Indian
Buddhism and their Philosophy.” He was excited and said “Oh, that is
good. When do you want
to start?” I said “Let’s
see… maybe we can have
two semesters in a year.
So, shall we start from the
fall of this year (2004)?”
He was very pleased
and said “Ok, I will come
to your study class.”
But, Mr. Imai was not
able to attend the study
class he had encouraged
me to start… because he
passed away in June of
2004 at the age of 85.
As I had promised
Mr. Imai, in October of
2004, I started Shin Buddhist Study Classes in
English and in Japanese.
I was pleased, because
we had about 20 members come to study together that first semester.
This year 2006, I have
arranged to begin two additional classes for evenings. I always receive
many good questions and
in class discussions, I have
learned to understand and
appreciate more deeply
our Jodo Shinshu teachings. I have realized that
“teaching is learning”. And
I am sure that like Mr.
Imai, I will be a lifetime
student of the Dharma.
I will always appreciate Mr. Akio Imai’s support and encouragement
to have study classes…
now we are in our fifth semester, studying chanting
and trying to make new
interpretations of the larger Sutra every week. We
continue to try our best
to develop a strong future for Jodo Shinshu here
in the United States...
I am very happy to
have this chance share
the Dharma and my life
as minister and perpetual Dharma student with
the Sacramento Betsuin.
In Gassho