Thoughts on Masks
Rinban Kenjun KawawataI‘wa’harmony

Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

6June 2021

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii
At Higashi Hongwanji, we remaintrue to our origins as an open Sangha,
welcoming anyone who wishes tolearn more about the Jōdo Shinshū
tradition of Buddhism.
A registered 501(c)(3) organization
Head Minister: Kenjun Kawawata
Resident Minister: Steven Toyoshima
Minister: Akiko Okada

t’s been more than a year since we started wearing masks due to the spread of
the coronavirus. We mask up wherever we go and wear one no matter whom
we meet. There are many people who don’t like it whenentire faces can’t be seen or feel uncomfortable with amask on.
When someone wears a mask, all you can see is the
person’s eyes and head. You can’t see smiles, as a smile iscreated by the face, mouth and eyes together. Of course,
behind the smile, the heart may be smiling, but we cansee that partially. I’m only able to gauge the other person’s
emotions through their words and actions.
However, sometimes not being able to see others’
faces can also be a good thing. Instead of judging people
Rinban Ken Kawawata
by their faces or shapes, we look beyond these physicalimpressions and see people as human beings, as life, on an equal footing.
Our sense of beauty and ugliness is a human-made value system, and itchanges with time and place.
For example, in the Edo period, the image of a beautiful woman was thesame as that seen in ukiyo-e prints: narrow eyes, a small nose, a small mouth,
and an outline of a face called an urizanegao (literally, a gourd-shaped face).
Boys were favored for their long faces, narrow eyes, and straight-line mouth,
just as the preferred look for Kabuki actors was a beautiful boyish face. Thisis quite different from today’s sense of physical attractiveness. Nowadays, it
seems that the beauty ideal of both sexes is large eyes, high noses, moderately
large mouths and tall. The human sense of beauty value changes with time.
There is no universality in this.
However, with the advent of the coronavirus,
the human sense of value has been tossed aside,
and we can now view everyone equally as one life.
This fact of the emergence of the coronavirus tells
us what is real and true. Wearing a mask allows(cont’d on p. 2)

President: Kenneth Saiki
Secretary: Marian Tsuji
Treasurer: Shigeru Numano
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 531-9088
Fax: (808) 531-3265
Email: betsuin@hhbt-hi.org
Website: betsuin.hhbt-hi.org
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Wa is published monthly byHigashi Hongwanji Missionof Hawaii for its members
and friends. Comments,
articles and other items for
publication consideration
are welcomed.
Editor: Ken Saiki

マスクに思う輪番河和田賢淳

このコロナウイルスの感染拡大し、マスクを着用しての生活が始まりもう一年以上経ちました。
Ukiyo-e by Utamaro (1753-1806), どこに行くにもマスクが必要です。誰に会ってもpopular in his day for his “bijinga” prints of beautiful women. マスクしています。顔全体が見えない事の違和感、いつもしている時の不快感を感じる方も多い事でしょう。
マスクをしていると相手の目と頭しか見えないのです。笑顔が見えない、顔、口や目によって笑顔が作られる。もちろん、その奥には心が微笑んでいるのですが表情が半減しているのです。言葉で相手の感情を見なくてはならないのだと思います。
しかし顔が見えない事で良いこともあります。顔や形で人を判断しなくなります。人間の作る判断を超えて、人間を人間、いのちとして対等に見ることができるのです。
特に人間の美醜感覚は人間の作った価値観であり、時代や場所によって変わって行くものです。
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Thoughts on Masks (cont’d from p. 1)

マスクに思うus to see people not by their face orshape, but as individuals.
This is to see things from the worldof Dharma, the world of equality. This
current situation teaches us about theworld of Dharma and the equality of life.
It makes us realize that each person’s life
is equally alive beyond the disparities
of beauty and ugliness, race, status andwealth that we create. That is the worldof Oneness, the world of One Life.
Each one of us is different, but
we are living together in the world ofoneness. We are living as we are. It is
beautiful because it is as it is, and it ispure because it is as it is. It is a worldof truth that transcends the values
created by human beings, a world thatis beautiful and pure, and it is called thePure Land.
The call from that world is “Namu
Amida Butsu,” and we are called toreturn to that world and live with theDharma as our foundation.
In gassho,
Rinban Ken Kawawata

例えば、江戸時代の美人像は浮世絵に見られるような美感覚で、目は細く、鼻は低く小さく、口も小さなおちょぼ口、そして顔の輪郭は瓜実顔（うりざね顔）で、また身体つきは背は高からず、このような人が好まれたのです。そして男子は面長（おもなが）、目は細く、くっきり、口は真一文字で、ちょうど歌舞伎の男子役が美男子と言われ好まれたのです。それは全く今日の美感覚とは異なります。今風ですと、男女ともに目は大きく、鼻は高く、口も適度に大きく、背の高い人に美の中心があるようです。人間の美感
覚、価値観は時代によって変わるのです。そこには普遍性がないのです。

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しかしコロナウイルスの出現より、人間の価値観は崩され、皆、一つのいのちとして平等に見ることができるようになりました。
コロナウイルスの出現というこの事実が、何が本当か、真実かを教えてくれているのです。マスクをすることにより、顔や形で人間を見るのでなく一人のいのちとして見ることができるのでしょう。
これは法の世界、平等の世界からものを見ることなのでしょう。この現状が法の世界を教え、いのちの平等性を教えてくれている。私たちの作る美醜感、人種、地位や貧富の異差を超えた
ところで一人一人のいのちを平等に生かされていることに気づかされるのです。それが一如の世界、ひとつのいのちの世界に生きているのです。
一人一人違うけどひとつの世界に一緒に生きている。そのまま生きている。そのままだから美しい、そのままだから清浄なのです。そこは人間の作った価値観を超えた真実の世界だから美しく、清浄な世界、それを浄土というのです。その世界からの呼びかけが「南無阿弥陀仏」であり、その世界に帰れ、法を拠り所として生きなさいと呼びかけられているのです。

合掌河和田賢淳

HIGASHI HONGWANJI HAWAII BETSUIN REOPENING UPDATEWith more than half of Hawaii residents now fully vaccinated, decreasing rate of new COVID-19 cases and loosening ofrestrictions both locally and nationally, we are selectively beginning to open temple activities to in-person attendance
as described below to vaccinated individuals. We will continue to observe current Oahu Tier guidelines, including facemask, social distancing and sanitation precautions, for the health and well-being of all in our Betsuin ohana. To arrange
for temple use or if you have questions, please feel free to call us at (808) 531-9088 or email betsuin@hhbt-hi.org.

Shotsuki memorialand Sunday services

Join us for services in person or via livestreaming from our public Facebook page. Social
distanced seating for up to 24 persons or families may sit together.

Funeral/anniversary
memorial services

Social distanced seating for up to 24 persons in the main hall; others may participate
virtually. Please consult a minister to make arrangements.

Columbarium(Nōkotsudō)Open for visitation and floral offerings daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Morning services
conducted daily at 7 am.

Otani Center
multi-purpose hall
Conference room
Temple study classes &other activities

Reserve for classes, meetings and other social gatherings, subject to current Tier
restrictions on capacity and gathering maximums for the intended activity. Pleasecontact the temple office for rental and availability information.
Basic Buddhism, The Larger Sutra, Meditation Sutra and TeaTime Okō: ZoomMovie Night: In person starting in July
Ukulele band, Karaoke Night: Hybrid (both Zoom and in-person) starting in July.

Subject to change. Please check with the temple office for any new updates.

2

- -e Tradition:
The Mant o

Decorating Obon with “10,000 lanterns”

The Mantō-e tradition started in Japan about

1,200 years ago during the reign of Emperor Shōmu, when
10,000 lights (“mantō-e) were lit in honor of the Buddha
around the Tōdaiji Temple in Nara.
At the Hawaii Betsuin of Higashi Hongwanji, wecelebrate the tradition of Mantō-e every July at obon.
Usually the lanterns are outdoors, radiating out from thebon dance yagura. With no bon dance being held this year,
the lanterns will be displayed in the temple’s Main Hall for
our Obon/Hatsubon/Mantō-e service held on Sunday,
July 18, through the following week.
With your donation of $35 for each lantern you may wish
to offer in memory of a loved one, we will imprint his or hername, along with your name as donor, on a small tablet hungfrom each Mantō-e lantern.
The custom lanterns are yours to keep. You may pick up
anytime after the July 18 service, through the end of August.
Return the form below with your check to reserve yourlantern. Or scan the QR code, fill out the online form andmake your donation with PayPal. Only a limited supply oflanterns are available, so don’t delay. First come, first served.
The entire $35 donation qualifies as a tax-deductible contribution under current
IRS reporting requirements. Consult your tax advisor. Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

q YES! PLEASE RESERVE A MANTO-E LANTERN FOR ME!
Lantern in memory of:

Dharma name

1._____________________________________

2._____________________________________

Lantern donor name(s)Phone(Use another sheet for additional names)___________________________ ____________
Email:____________________________________
I wish to decorate my lantern q Yes q No
Join a lantern-decorating workshop Sat., June 26? q Yes q No
Preferred time: q 1:00 q 1:20 q 1:40 q 2:00 q 2:20 q 2:40
Checks for $35 for each lantern may be made payable and sent to:
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii,1685 Alaneo St., Honolulu, HI 96817

Join our lanterndecorating workshop
on Sat., June 26,
from 1:00 - 3:00 pm!

Create your own unique message
in memory of a loved one!
Each lantern is approximately 7-1/4” wide by 11” tall, withtwo panels pre-printed with “Mantō-e” and “Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin” in Japanese calligraphy. A 2” x 8-1/2” tablet
is hung from each lantern, one side showing the loved one’s
name, dharma name (if known) and donor’s name. Two of
the lantern panels and the reverse side of the hanging tablet areavailable for decorating, if desired.
If you wish to decorate your lantern, you may join our freeworkshop on Sat., June 26 from 1 to 3 pm in Otani Center. Or
you may decorate it on your own and return it to us by July 15
for display during Obon. If no decorating is desired, we will
simply print your tablet with the application information.
Scan this QR code
to order lantern
Scan this QR code
to donate via PayPal

3and , tol on theNews
Rev. Miyoshi is guest speaker forLocal Dharma Gathering from Hilo
Hilo Higashi Hongwanji Resident
Minister Kazuya Miyoshi is slated toserve as guest speaker for the Hawaii
District Virtual
Sunday Serviceand Local Dharma
Gathering set forSun., June 27, from10 am to 12 noon.
The theme of
the Zoom online
gathering is Let Us
Rev. Kazuya Miyoshi Discover the Joy of
Living: Living in Uncertainty, and is afollow-up to the District’s Honolulu
Zoom gathering held May 15 andfacilitated by Rev. Noriaki Fujimori of
Palolo Hongwanji.
Rev. Miyoshi, assigned this pastFebruary as the new minister of theHilo temple, wants to share his viewon living in uncertainty with others inthe Hawaii District.
Born and raised in a temple familyin Kagawa prefecture in Japan, hewould follow his grandfather andfather in chants together at memorialservices and, at age nine, received hisinitial ordination. After graduatingfrom college, his keen interest infashion apparel led him to working atvarious boutiques.
Eleven years ago, he returned tohis hometown and family temple andtook a sales position at a company
that distributed Buddhist altars andaccessories. He furthered his studies
in Jōdo Shinshū teachings at Dōhō
University and met the requirements
to become a fully ordained minister.
Rev. Miyoshi worked at the Higashi
Honganji Ōtani-ha branch headquartersin Tōkyō as well as temples in Aichi,
Saitama and Chiba prefectures before
being selected and assigned to an
overseas position at Hilo Higashi
Hongwanji. His life’s journey has taken
many twists and turns along the way.
“I learned from Buddhism toaccept myself as I am. The teachings
tell us how precious and meaningful

4Betsuin Wirelessthis daily life is because we can’t
always live as we want to,” he says.
“The teachings make me feel
comfortable and make life easier.”
Accompanying Rev. Miyoshi in Hilois his wife, Eriko.
To participate in Hilo’s service andthe District gathering, simply send yourname, contact phone number, email
address and temple affiliation to theHigashi Honganji Hawaii District Officeat hawaiikantokubu@gmail.com ormail to Higashi Honganji Hawaii
District, 1685 Alaneo St., Honolulu,
HI 96817. You will be sent the Zoom
link to the service and gathering byemail. While everyone is invited toparticipate at no charge, check
donations are greatly appreciatedand may be mailed to the Higashi
Honganji Hawaii District Office.

Rev. Toyoshima & Rev. Fujimori monitor
progress at the May 15 Zoom gathering.

Even those who may not befans of the ancient art of Kabuki will
surely be entranced by the sheer
beauty and craftsmanship of Benkei(top) from Kanjinchō, and the parent
and cub lions from Renjishi.
These traditional dolls areamong the 100’s of items that are
ready to return from hibernation instorage bags during the past year,
and are eager to return to theirformer glory and liven up a newowner’s home.
Our Nomi no Ichiba flea market
plans, which have been on hold forseveral months due to the pandemic,
is now scheduled for October. We’rereadying our vast selection of Reyn’s
aloha shirts, children’s clothing,jewelry, kitchen accessories andchinaware, books and many otheritems for quick sale.
We’re looking at possibly doing
pre-sales of selected items in the Wa
newsletter, during our Sunday
service live streamed broadcasts andat the upcoming Manto-e Lantern
Decorating Workshop on June 26.
Watch for more details!

t-Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGEPAIDHonolulu, HIPermit No. 693

Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...
t5IPVHIUTPO.BTLTp. 1t マスクに思う p. 1t Temple reopening update p. 2tMantō-e lanterns for Obon p. 3
t News on the Betsuin Wireless p. 4
t Local Dharma Gathering - Hilo p. 4t Nomi no Ichiba sneak peek p. 4t Acknowledgments p. 5
t June shōtsuki memorial service p. 5tTemple activities calendar p. 6

Temple Activities CalendarJUNEJULY

6/2 Wed 5:30 pm Karaoke Night at the Betsuin - Zoom6/6 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service - Facebook/In-person
Dharma message: Rinban Kenjun Kawawata
6/6 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism discussion - ZoomZoom ーled by Rinban Kenjun Kawawata in Japanese
6/7 Mon 10 am Meditation Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
6/8 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Zoom
6/8 Tue 6 pm The Larger Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
6/13 Sun 10 am Sunday service - Facebook Live/In-person
6/13 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting - Zoom
6/17 Thu 6 pm Okō/Tea time gathering - Zoom
6/20 Sun 10 am Father’s Day family service - Facebook/In-person
6/22 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Zoom
6/26 Sat 1 pm Manto-e Lantern decorating - Otani Center
See p. 3 for details on reserving your lantern
6/27 Sun 10 am Local Retreat: Living in Uncertainty - Zoom
Guest speaker: Rev. Kazuya Miyoshi (Hilo)No service at Betsuin. See p. 4 for details.
6/28 Mon 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service - FB Live

7/4 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service - Facebook/In-person
Dharma message: Rinban Kenjun Kawawata
7/4 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism discussion - Zoom
Zoom ーled by Rinban Kenjun Kawawata in Japanese
7/5 Mon 10 am Meditation Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
7/7 Wed 5:30 pm Karaoke Night at the Betsuin - Zoom/In-person
7/9 Fri and 7/10 Sat No bon dance this year due to COVID-19
7/11 Sun 10 am Sunday service - Facebook Live/In-person
7/13 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Zoom/In-person
7/13 Tue 6 pm The Larger Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
7/15 Thu 6 pm Okō/Tea time gathering - Zoom
7/18 Sun 10 am Hatsubon/Obon/Manto-e service
Facebook Live/In-person
7/18 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting - Zoom
7/20 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Zoom/In-person
7/25 Sun 10 am Sunday service - Facebook Live/In-person
7/28 Wed 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service - FB LiveWEEKLY SUNDAY SERVICES: In-person attendance at Sunday
services has returned, subject to face covering requirement& social distancing seating capacity. You may also view ourlivestreamed Sunday services on our public Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/HigashiHongwanjiMission

NO BON DANCE AT THE BETSUIN THIS YEAR: Due to current
restrictions on large gatherings in consideration of the healthand safety of participants, Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii,
as well as other denominations affiliated with the Hawaii
Buddhist Council, will not be holding a bon dance this summer.
We hope conditions will be right for us to gather once again for
our annual tradition next year.