Newsletter - Buddhist Church of Lodi

Vol.XXVIII No. 8
August 2016
Buddhist Church of Lodi
Newsletter
23 North Stockton St., Lodi, CA 95240-2214
(209) 368-5589 [email protected]
http://lodibuddhist.org/
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
“Buddhism on Air” Chapter Four - 13&14
Saturday, August 6, 2016
BCL Peace Gathering
8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
A-bomb Exhibition
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Video Showing “ President Obama Historic Visit to
Hiroshima, Japan (Full Speech)”
9:30 AM -10:00 AM
Hiroshima/Nagasaki A-bomb Victims
Memorial Service
A-bomb Kamishibai (picture card show)
Sunday, August 7, 2016
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Chanting & Meditation
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Shotsuki Service
Sunday, August 21, 2016
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Chanting & Meditation
9:30 AM –
Family Sunday Service (Dharma School Kick Off)
Sunday, August 28, 2016
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Chanting & Meditation
9:30 AM –
Family Sunday Service (DS/)
The newsletter is a monthly publication of the Buddhist
Church of Lodi, 23 N. Stockton Street, Lodi, CA 95240.
There is no subscription charge for members and friends,
but donations are welcome.
23
Vol.XXVIII No. 8
MESSAGE FROM REV KATSU
[ Being different and one ]
Tolerance is disappearing. People’s minds
are getting narrower and smaller. I feel our world
may be progressing to a sad conflict.
Many sad tragedies happened within one
month. A terrible shooting happened in Orlando,
Florida and forty-nine people were killed. Five
policemen were shot in Dallas, Texas.
The
criminals were both dead. More tragedies happened
all over the world. I would like to express my
deepest sympathy to the families and friends who
lost their loved ones.
I attended a conference “The Role of
Interfaith Education in Conflict Prevention and
Sustainable Peace” held at the United Nations in
New York last month. Some members of the
Nagasaki Konwakai religious council also attended
this conference and gave some speeches to express
their wish for peace. On this opportunity, I would
like to introduce one of the speeches.
Religious people in Nagasaki
Father Isao Hashimoto, Catholic Priest
1. Forward:
I am very grateful for this opportunity to talk
about religion in Nagasaki here at the United
Nations in New York, the center of the present
world. 40 years have passed since religious leaders
in Nagasaki started to work together beyond the
religious boundaries. “Konwakai” a friendly
discussion and exchange has been matured over
times, I believe. When the Nagasaki Konwakai
Religious Council was originally formed, we started
to organize an annual Memorial Service for victims
of the Atomic bombing in Nagasaki. In recent years,
Muslims have recently joined the service and it has
become more globalized. This annual memorial
service is the main event of the Nagasaki Konwakai
Religious Council, and is held on the day before
August 9, when the atomic bomb was dropped in
Nagasaki. The memorial service is centered
around the theme of peace prayer in conjunction
with liturgies of Shintoism, Buddhism, Christianity,
and various forms of religions. The service itself is
a prototype of peace, because each religion
expresses itself differently yet aims at oneness and
togetherness. We want to realize a vision of living
together with the goal of “being different but also
August 2016
being one.” Concentric circles of death were spread
by a single atomic bomb. Yet at the very same place,
a concentric circle of life, based on the fusion of
our nuclei as human beings rooted in deep religious
principles, should be spread instead of the
destructive fusion of nuclear weaponry. This is the
long-cherished wish of the religious leaders and lay
people of Nagasaki.
2. Eternal challenges
Many peace activities have been deployed in
various ways throughout the world. We Nagasaki
religious leaders express a heartfelt tribute to those
peace movements and activities. At the same
time, I am keenly aware of the need to seek
and develop the activities that religions can
uniquely pursue, with our religious point of views.
Looking around the globe, it is sad to say, but often
religions which are supposed to create a world
of healing and reconciliation instead often help to
create the world of division and conflict. Daisetz
Suzuki (D.T. Suzuki), the well-known professor of
Buddhism, introduced Japanese Zen culture to the
Western world in the 1950's. Commenting on the
famous phrase of the New Testament, “Love your
enemy” (Mathew 5-44) Suzuki said, “’Love your
enemy’ is not bad, but Eastern sages do not
recognize the enemy from the beginning.
Their attitude is like the vast ocean.” This clearly
shows the difference between a peace movement
based upon a clear distinction of existing enemies
whom we choose to love anyway and a peace
movement,
which
is based
upon
a
concept of creation of enemies from the beginning.
It also shows a difference in thoughts between the
eastern and western thinking. The point Suzuki
makes gives a great suggestion to us religious
people, in term of considering the foundation of
peace. When speaking of enemies, we may think of
a battlefield of flying bullets. But if "enemy" means
people who are different from us, we inevitably see
everyone as an enemy because this world consists
of different people. But different people living
differently, separately without any relationship to
each other may not be called “peace,” either. How
can we create the prototype of peace without
conflict and with respect for differences? This is
the eternal challenge for religious people
Vol.XXVIII No. 8
3. Learning from nature:
The basis of Japanese culture is the idea of unity
with nature. Gods and Buddhas are dwelling in the
vast nature. This idea is not the same as so-called
pantheism. It is not the contrast between the nature
of transcendental nature, which belongs to God’s
realm, and the nature, which does not belong.
Instead it rather means human beings are in unity
with the nature, and we understand our existence
from the eyes of the natural world. When Yasunari
Kawabata, the Japanese author, received the Noble
prize for literature in 1968, he gave an acceptance
speech titled, “Japan the Beautiful and Myself.”
Many reporters reacted sharply, because it was not
about “Japan the Beautiful and Myself”, but rather
expressed the author’s worldview about the oneness
of nature. Simply put, when the ground dries out, it
makes cracks here and there. It tries to suck some of
the water of life from morning dews and evening
dews, through the wound of its cracks. If the
blessed rains fall, the water is sucked deep into the
ground, and nurtures life on the earth’s
surface. Many lives of infinitely all variety are
nurtured equally without discrimination, unlike
human beings who distinguish between weeds and
grasses. For human eyes, there are beneficial insects
and harmful insects, but nature keeps the balance
well. Humans are the ones who damage the balance
of the nature. This coexistence, which is a starting
point of peace, is found in the visual model of great
nature. The eastern idea of not creating enemies
as pointed out by Professor D.T. Suzuki is perhaps
rooted in this view of nature. We, religious leaders
in Nagasaki aim at such a coexistence with
miraculous balance.
4. In addition…
About ten years ago, an NPO planned an
exchange program for high school students from
Israel, Palestine and Japan. They attended the
Memorial Service for Atomic bomb victims on
August 8. They were all really surprised to see
people from various religions were friendly and
praying together. For people who came from
a world where it is impossible to get along with
each other among different religions, it was so
shocking to witness it. The next day, during the
exchange program, a person whose brother was
killed by the other country held hands with the high
August 2016
school students from that country, and they forgave
each other. It was a very moving scene.
Though the influence of the memorial service is not
the only reason, the service certainly moved the
students.
5. Conclusion
We, religious leaders of Nagasaki, consider
realization of coexistence - “Being different and one”
- as the starting point of peace. Each individual is
valued ultimately as they are, and people are also all
connected as one. It is the world described as “One,
that is, many, and many, that is, one.” This stage is
only possible for Gods and Buddhas to be realized;
it cannot be achieved by the power of human beings.
With a humble mind, various religions and sects
need to admit this reality without falling into
syncretism,
or
exclusiveness
or
fundamentalism. With clarity of the core of each
religion and sect, still we can become one. This is
our exchange for peace. Though our activities may
be a small practice in a tiny part of the world, we
are convinced that this can be a global principle
philosophy. Thank you for listening.
<Thank you>
Our Obon Bazaar ended in success. I could not go
around all booths to acknowledge everyone who
help during the Bazaar. I would like to take this
opportunity to thank all of you. DOUMO
ARIGATO GOZAIMASHITA.
Gassho, (Palms together)
The evaluation of 2016’s resolution
(E-excellent, G-good, S-so so, B-bad) Propagate & Advertise Jodo Shinshu
Take English enunciation class
Play a golf once a month Win a successive championship Bake raisin & apricot scone -The number of attendees – (Lodi)
Attendees
Attendees
Date
Date
th
th
July 10
40
July 17
62
E G B B E Vol.XXVIII No. 8
2016 Memorial Service Schedule
2016 is the memorial year for those who passed
away in:
2015 1 year
2000 17 year
2014 3 year
1992 25 year
2010 7 year
1984 33 year
2004 13 year
1967 50 year
Rev. Katsu: [email protected]
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Sangha members:
Thank you so very much. With your help, we
completed another successful Obon bazaar. I know
errors were made, but with people pulling together
we overcame most of them. In the future, I hope
you all give the next president and the next Obon
chairperson the same support as you have given me.
Again I want to thank you for all the support you
have given me.
With Gassho,
Gordon Nitta
BUDDHIST CHURCH OF LODI
General Meeting July 12th
Members present: President Gordon Nitta, Rev.
Kusunoki, Ayano Kusunoki, Judy Waters, Annie
Tanimoto, Hannah Egi, Steve Ogata, Sach
Watanabe, Bruce Sasaki, Beth Oesterman, Tom
Iwamiya and David Morimoto.
Pres. Gordon Nitta called the meeting to order.
The minutes of the June 8, 2016 General Meeting
were approved as published.
Treasurer’s Reports
General Treasurer’s Report – Bruce Sasaki
Bruce submitted his report to the Board and
reviewed the details. He stated that the only one
significant expenditure for the month was a transfer
of a donation to the bazaar fund for the purchase of
a new bingo board. Otherwise all other items were
normal expenses. He did note that for the month
expenditures did exceed revenue by a significant
amount, even excluding the bingo board cost.
August 2016
Special Treasurer’s Report – Steve Ogata
Steve presented his written report to the Board. He
reviewed the various accounts for the Board and
explained that there were no unusual items in this
month’s report other than the bazaar expenses and
revenue. He noted that he was still receiving bills
from the bazaar and did not have a final tabulation
on the bazaar. He did feel that it appears that the
bazaar did as well or better than in the past several
years in spite of the hot weather. He will not have a
completed figure until all the revenue and expense
figures are submitted.
Steve asked the Board whether he should eliminate
the Building Fund account and merge it into the
Reserve Fund. The Board decided that they will
maintain the Building Fund as a separate account
for the present time.
Following a review of the reports, both the General
and Special Treasurer’s Report were approved on a
motion by Judy Waters and a second by Sach
Watanabe.
Minister’s Report - Rev. Kusunoki
June 15th through July 12th: conducted 1 49th-day
memorial service, chanting and meditation service,
and Shotsuki service at BCL; conducted Shotsuki
service at Walnut Grove Buddhist Church.
I participated in the conference on the Role of
Interfaith Education in Conflict Prevention and
Sustainable Peace in New York, NCBWA meeting,
NC ministers’ meeting, NCDC meeting, Lodi Obon
Bazaar, and Walnut Grove Obon Bazaar, LBWA
meeting, and a Baby Shower. I was invited to the
Stockton Buddhist Church 110th anniversary and the
Enmanji’s Eshinni-ko/Kakushinni-ko memorial
service as guest speaker.
Rev. Roy: Conducted one Meditation/Dharma
School/Adult study at Walnut Grove Buddhist
Church. Participate in bazaar construction last two
Sundays in June, food preparation July
1; Brentwood study group June 25th; Bazaar July 23; Bazaar cleanup July 4; Shotsuki Service July
10; Greet interested visitors in Hondo July 2-3
during bazaar.
Vol.XXVIII No. 8
LBWA Report – Hannah Egi
Thank you for the many families, extended families
and friends for all the help for the food preparation
and cooking of the many bazaar foods.
I observed how organized ordering and selling of
foods was compared to other bazaars. We still need
some suggestions how to streamline the prep and
cooking times and areas.
For the Obon Service we need people to bring
cookies for after the service.
Next BWA meeting is Sept. 8, Thursday at 9:00 am.
Shinyukai Report – Ayano Kusunoki
There was no Shinyukai report. The next Shinyukai
Luncheon will be July 26, 2016 at 12:00.
If you need a ride to attend Shinyu-kai, please
feel free to ask us. We will arrange your
transportation as much as we can do. Also, if you
cannot come to Shinyu-kai, your family or
friends can pick up the Bento, or we can deliver
the Bento for your dinner. Please ask Ayano
Kusunoki, Rev. Katsuya Kusunoki, or leave the
message at the office. No Enryo (えんりょ）,
please.
Dharma School Report – Beth Oesterman
Hannah Egi read the report in Beth’s absence.
Having over 100 guests at a shower is a major feat
and we all worked together to give them a
wonderful memory.
Dharma School Obon game reflections: Thank you
to the JACL for once again passing on their prizes
from their picnic to us. We have lots of prizes in
the attic and tried to give out more win tickets and
priced the prizes low. I think that all the kids had a
great time even though it was pretty hot. I’m not
sure how much we contributed to the overall
revenue but would be interested if figures are made
available. Volunteers are always hard to find but
we managed to find enough this year. There were 6
Key Club volunteers able to help and allowed us to
run most of the booths. Next year we plan to ask all
members of the church for volunteers, they might
have younger family members who can help. If we
have more volunteers, then we can offer more game
options and more booths. Next year we might add
mesh tarps over the booths to keep the temperature
down.
August 2016
Building Maintenance – Sach Watanabe
The two swamp coolers on the annex roof had been
repaired or replaced. They seemed to help keep the
temperature down in the annex. The other problem
that needs to be taken care of is the air conditioner
in the Issei room that does not seem to be
working. Sach noted that the water heater should
not be turned off but should just be turned down to
the lowest temperature when not in use.
Propagation Committee – Reverend Kusunoki
Rev. noted that there were two people who
expressed interest in Buddhism as a result of the
seminars and the temple tour. He hopes to continue
with similar activities.
Old Business
1) Basement Chair lift. Gordon explained that
Fred Nagata has been trying to get someone to
repair the chair lift to the basement. So far he has
not had any success. Gordon said that he would try
to contact the manufacturer to see if there was a
factory authorized repair person in the area who
could order the necessary parts and do the repair.
2) NCDC Buddhist Family Conference. The date
is September 17, 2016 in Sacramento. There will be
a service and various discussion groups. Hopefully
the Lodi church will be sending some people to the
conference. Transportation maybe required for
some of the older members.
3) National Conference Meeting – February 2025, 2018 in Sacramento. Lodi will be in charge of
booster activities and preparing 350 “goodie” bags
for the attendees.
New Business
1) Teriyaki Chicken fundraiser. October 8,
2016. Ron Oye and Steve Fujinaka will chair the
event. The price will be $10.00 per box
lunch. Bruce Sasaki will try to get a sponsor to pay
for the printing of the tickets.
Upcoming Service – Obon Service, July 17, 2016
at 10:00 am. Cemetery Service: 8:30 Pine Street
and 9:00 Cherokee Memorial.
The next General Meeting will be on September
13, 2016 at 7:00pm.
Vol.XXVIII No. 8
Respectfully submitted,
David Morimoto, recording secretary.
LBWA UPDATE – Hannah Egi
The BWA is very grateful to the many families who
brought out extended members and friends to help
prep and cook the many foods we were able to sell
at the bazaar. We can still improve, so any ideas
can be submitted to the church office before the
next bazaar.
We will take a short break in August, but will begin
September with a meeting on Thursday, September
8 at 9 AM in the annex.
The Age Appreciation Bento will be Saturday,
September 10. If you know of anyone who should
be on our list to receive a bento, please contact the
office with the name, phone contact, and address.
As a footnote to Hannah’s article, I would like to
express my appreciation to the Key Club and the
Japanese Club students from Tokay High School
who helped throughout the day on Saturday and
Sunday at the Obon bazaar. Their contribution
assisted us in many areas in the food areas. I look
forward to their volunteerism at our next bazaar.
Thank you to all who helped. (Judy Waters)
DHARMA SCHOOL – Jill Walter
On August 21, Dharma School will begin the 2016 2017 school year with a fun kick off party. Warren
Ito and Rev. Katsu will be making Ramen for
everyone to enjoy. We ask that students bring their
own Ramen bowl. To add to the fun, Mr. Ito is
bringing a Ping Pong table for students to enjoy a
few rounds of Ping Pong. Friends are welcome to
attend but please let Rev. Katsu know who is
attending so that we can plan accordingly.
Following our kick off party, Dharma School
parents and teachers will meet to organize our
activities for this school year.
SCRIP UPDATE – Kelly Yamane
El Pollo Loco scrip is available at a 6% benefit.
Ulta scrip is available at a 4% benefit. Your scrip
orders may be the easiest fundraiser we do, so
please continue to participate.
August 2016
The SHARES program at Save Mart is changing,
effective April 1st. The SHARES cards will no
longer be needed. Beginning April 1st, the Save
Mart SHARES program will be powered by eScrip.
Please sign up at escrip.com/shares to continue to
earn the same benefits for the church. Every time
you shop, the church receives up to a 3% benefit.
Please contact me if you need help signing up on
eScrip. For the first quarter in 2016, the church
earned $316, as a result of your participation in the
SHARES program.
If you purchase SaveMart gift cards (2% benefit),
we can continue to track your individual
contributions. You can use your SaveMart gift card
and Shares powered by eScrip, for a combined
benefit to the church!
In addition to the gift cards, Raley’s has a new
electronic scrip program and you don’t need a card
to participate! It is called Extra Credit and is part of
the Something Extra rewards program. In 2015, the
church earned $235, as a result of your participation.
To enroll, please sign up for a Something Extra
rewards account at www.somethingextra.com.
After enrollment, you can visit Extra Credit and
select the church (listed as Buddhist Church of
Lodi) as a scrip beneficiary.
Thank you to all who are participating in the
program! If you have any questions, please contact
Kelly Yamane at 365-7124 or any of the scrip
supporters listed below.
Scrip orders will be due by 10 a.m. on the order
date.
July Scrip Supporters
Arleen Mataga
Chris Smith
Corey Okazaki
Hannah Egi
Harriet Matsumoto
Janet Morimoto
Joy Sasaki
Kelly Yamane
Liza Kanemura
Mieko Komatsu
Nancy Burgess
Terry Oga
Calendar Dates:
Vol.XXVIII No. 8
Scrip orders due: 8/5 at 10 a.m. (Friday)
Scrip pick-up: 8/15 (Monday)
BAZAAR 2016- BINGO
Bingo this year had a different look, namely a new
flash bingo board. Fortunately, two long time
Bingo supporters donated this board to the Lodi
Buddhist Church. This board definitely made it
easier for the players to see the numbers but
unfortunately it was still hard to win!
Again, we would like to thank all the generous
donors who donated gifts cards and items for prizes.
Without all these donations bingo would not be
profitable. Also we would like to thank all our
friends and members who helped man the
games. Without you, we would not be able to
manage. Till next year, have a wonderful summer.
August 2016
board (Hannah and Judy) or Rev. Katsu if they need
a ride to Sacramento.
LBWA members – Your registration is paid by the
Lodi Buddhist Women’s Association.
Please
consider going to the conference. Call Judy Waters
(334-3556) or Hannah Egi (603-1107) to register.
We will arrange transportation for you
2016 WISH LIST – Donations may be made in
any amount to be used towards purchasing your
specified item:
Banister (hand rail) to the Kansho area
Banister (hand rail) to the podium in the Hondo
Roomba vacuum (for the Hondo)
Security screen door (residence front door)
Gift card (Scrip) from Staples
Baby Changing Stations for the Restroom
Ron and Michiko Oye
LOST & FOUND
During our Obon/Bazaar - Car key
Know anyone who might have lost, please call
office to describe and claim.
Thank you to the person(s) who made a donation
for the items listed.
Second Annual Northern California Buddhist
Family Conference Presents
DHARMALAND - HAPPIEST PLACE ON
EARTH
September 17, 2016
Time: 9am-3pm
Place: Sacramento Betsuin
Adults (31 years and older) - $25
30 years old & younger - free
The registration fee is $25.
People write a check payable to Buddhist Church of
Lodi and write "2016 NC conference" in memo.
Registrants can call the church office, E-mail to the
office or Rev. Katsu to register. People can also
register at a Sunday Service. People can contact the
church president (Gordon Nitta), LBWA executive
Thank you Mrs. Mitsuko Kishi for the beautiful
flower arrangement made especially for the
Obon/Hatsubon Service.
Vol.XXVIII No. 8
BABY SHOWER FOR AYANO AND REV. KATSU
On Saturday, July 9th, the Dharma School and the
LBWA coordinated a baby shower for Ayano and
Rev. Katsu. The potluck luncheon had many
delicious dishes for everyone to enjoy. Over 100
guests “showered” the new baby with diapers,
blankets, darling clothes, baby gadgets, and too
many to list individually. Many gave gift cards that
Ayano and Rev. Katsu will be able to use to
purchase a crib, stroller, high chair, and any items
that baby Kusunoki may need.
Following are a few pictures:
August 2016