NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Honolulu, HI
Permit No. 693

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

Ohigan:Observing the Other Shore

Address Service Requested

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Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin9

September 2014

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
SEPTEMBER 2014
9/7
9/7
9/9
9/11
9/13
9/14
9/14


Sun 10 am Shotsuki memorial service &Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Jimmy’s Auto Basics
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceThu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Sat 10 am Hawaii District Committee meeting
Betsuin - Fukuhara Conference RoomSun 10 am Sunday service & Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class

9/16 Tue
9/20 Sat
9/21
9/21
9/23
9/23
9/28
9/28
9/28

Sun
Sun
Tue
Tue
Sun
Sun
Sun



ਠ৻ୁदบઇ॑ୂऒअ

led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
7 pm O-ko: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
10 am Autumn Ohigan service
12 pm Betsuin board meeting
3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
6:30 pm Movie night: Dora-Heita
10 am Shinran Shonin memorial service
12 pm Recitation circle
1 pm Mako’s Computer Clinic

OCTOBER 2014
10/5 Sun 10 am Perpetual memorial service
Shotsuki memorial service &Sunday school
10/5 Sun 11 am Harmony of Japan workshop
10/6 Mon 6:30 pm Harmony of Japan workshop (Palolo)
10/9 Thu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
10/11 Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
10/12 Sun 10 am Sunday service
10/12 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
10/14 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
10/19 Sun 10 am Sunday service
10/19 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
10/21 Tue 7 pm O-ko: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
10/26 Sun 10 am Kaneohe Ho-on-ko(no Sunday service at Betsuin)
10/28 Tue 10 am Shinran Shonin memorial service
10/28 Tue 11 am Recitation circle
10/28 Tue 1 pm Mako’s Computer Clinic
10/28 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
10/28 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Woman in the Dunes

Everyone is welcome to join in on our sutra chanting at 7 am daily (except Sundays & 28th day of the month) in the Betsuin Main Hall.

At Higashi Hongwanji, we remaintrue to our origins
as an open Sangha, welcoming
anyone who wishes to learn more
about the Jodo Shinshu
tradition of Buddhism.
A registered 501(c)3 organization
President: Faye Shigemura
Vice President: Jonathan Tani
Secretary: Debra Saiki
Treasurer: Edmund Nakano
Auditor: Ken Saiki
Rinban: Kenjun Kawawata
Minister: Makoto Honda
Associate Minister:Frank Childs
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 531-9088
Fax: (808) 531-3265
Email: betsuin@hhbt-hi.org
Wa is published monthly byHigashi Hongwanji Mission of
Hawaii for its members andfriends. Comments, articles andother items for publicationconsideration are welcomed.
Editor: Ken SaikiO

bon season is over and it’s already September, Ohigan season. Every
Japanese temple observes Ohigan and reflects on the attainment of the
Other Shore. In our tradition, “Higan” means “Jodo,” or Pure Land. The term“other shore” might make you think of being on one shore of a river whilelooking at the shore on the other side.
This “other shore” is Higan, or the state of the mind of the Buddha.
However, unlike an actual river, in the Buddhism, you cannot measure thedistance, time, or space between “this shore” and the “other shore,” between
Buddha’s mind and us. If we really understand the Buddha’s teachings and weknow ourselves, there is no distance between the Buddha and us.
The Meditation Sutra says, “The land of Amida Buddha is not far fromhere.” But to reach this land, this other shore, we need something like a boat.
Listening to the Buddha’s teachings and recitating the Buddha’s name,
Nembutsu, are like a boat to reach the other shore and attain the state of the
Buddha’s mind.
Shinran said, “People who have an entrusting heart in Amida Buddha’s
innermost aspiration and recite the Buddha’s name will become Buddhas.”
Nembutsu is our daily practice and lives. The origin of Nembutsu is from the
Sanskrit “Buddha–nusmrti,” which means “remembering the Buddha in thebottom of one’s heart.”
After Shakyamuni Buddha passed away 2,500 years ago, people who had
heard his teachings wanted to see and listen to his teachings again.
Since then, Nembutsu has been one of the main practices in Buddhism.
On a deeper level, Nembutsu really means “to live with the Buddha’s
teachings.” It means to awaken our self, which is misguided. It also means to
ask for guidance on how to live our lives.
Furthermore, if you can simply accept and receive the Buddha’s teachings
honestly, you do not have to “believe” in anything like in other religions. In
Buddhism, there is no “contract” or “agreement” between the Buddha and us.
In some other religions you need to believe in divine beings, or someother person or thing. A religion like this might say that only then would you(cont’d on p. 2)

Invitation"VUVNO0IJHBOTFSWJDFtBN 4VOEBZ 4FQUFNCFS
Special guest speaker: Dr. Jay Sakashita
An alumnus of the University of Hawai‘i, Jay received his Ph.D.
degree from the University of Stirling in Scotland, where his
research focused on contemporary Japanese religions. His work
has appeared in newspapers, magazines, journals and books.
Jay is also Assistant Professor of Religion at Leeward Community
College, where he teaches several courses in religion, including
those related to Christianity and Japanese religions. He has no
hobbies, no time to read books, and absolutely no social life.
This is his children’s fault.

Ohigan (cont’d)be saved and be able to go
to heaven. This is a kind of anagreement with divine beings.
This is also true in our society. In
our daily lives especially, we thinkagreements and contracts are very
important. I give you something, andin return you give me something. In
Western culture, this kind of thought
is based on the agreement between
divine beings and the people.
But in Buddhism, it is different.
Buddhism does not fit into theconcepts of general religion. In fact,
Buddhism is not a regular religion,
but a teaching.
Of course, it is still very difficult
to receive this teaching. When we try
to listen to the teachings of Buddha,
we realize that our human limitations
often prevent us from hearing thisteaching. We may find it difficult totake the words of Buddha or Shinran
to heart, to believe them absolutely.
Fortunately, Buddhism doesn’t
require this kind of blind belief.
For example, can you absolutely

believe or trust someone 100%? Can
you believe your wife or husband,
girlfriend or boyfriend 100%? If
someone asked me, I would haveto say, “no.” In our relationships withothers, we cannot have a true belief
or true trust. But we can understandeach other. We can understand what
he or she is thinking or why he or she
did this or that. We can listen to eachother’s opinion or thinking even if we
do not agree with their opinion. We
are able to know what he or she isthinking.
“Faith” or “belief” works in
Buddhism in a similar way. We may
not be able to absolutely believe
or trust something infinite like theBuddha Dharma, but we can cometo an understanding of it if we listen
deeply. In fact, Shinran said that
it is the process of “listening” that
leads to the true entrusting of the
Buddha Dharma, to the receiving ofshinjin. When we listen to the Buddha
Dharma and really understand it, wehave this mind of true entrusting.
Our mind will be settled and we will

#PUBNPDIJPSPIBHJ

D

uring ohigan season, it’s traditional to have a sticky
rice ball dessert made with mochi rice covered
with tsubushi-an, mashed azuki beans. One of myfondest small-kid-time memories was looking forward
to the special occasions when my aunty used to makethe sweet botamochi, and I
would eat so many I would
get a sore stomach. Well, thestomachache part isn’t reallypart of the fond memory but I
recall eating so many I had to
be told to stop.
Years later, while visiting therefined city of Kyoto in the fall,
I was served a mochi rice ball
dessert covered with mashedazuki beans. Only this time the shape was a bit more
oblong, compared to my aunty’s more rustic-looking,hamburger patty-shaped botamochi, and the azukicovering was smoother, more like koshi-an. It tasted thesame. I was told that I was eating ohagi.
So for a long time I thought that an ohagi was amore refined version of botamochi, until I learned at2

discover the same peace that the
Buddha himself found. We will havereached the other shore.
Shinran Shonin emphasized
the importance of listening to theDharma. In the Notes on Once-Callingand Many-Calling, he said, “To hear
the name of Amida Buddha is to hear
the name that embodies the Buddha’s
primal vow.”“Hear” means to hear the
Buddha’s innermost aspiration andbe free of doubt.
He also said in the Shoshinge,“All foolish beings, whether good orevil, when you hear and entrust the
Amida’s innermost aspiration, arepraised by the Buddha as people ofvast and excellent understanding.
Such a person is called a pure white
lotus.”“Hearing” and “listening” to theDharma are most important and thebasic beginning for everything in our
Jodo Shinshu practice.
Listening to the Dharma is
Nembutsu, which leads us toattaining the other shore, Higan.

a Japanese sweets shop that they’re really exactly thesame thing. Any differences in appearance are simply
due to the maker’s preference.
Well, there is actually one difference, and that’s thetime of year you see them. Ohagi makes its appearance
during the autumn ohigan, when the hagi, or bush
clover, is in season. Botamochi, on the other hand, is aspring ohigan item, making
its debut when the botan,
or peony, blooms. Hagi
season, ohagi. Botan season,
botamochi.
But even that difference
seems to be disappearing, as
now you’ll find the desserts
labeled as “ohagi” yearround at convenience storesthroughout Japan.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of having a good,old-fashioned ohagi/botamochi in a while, you’ll havea chance to eat the traditional dessert to your heart’s
content after our Ohigan service on September 21. And
I promise to try to refrain from eating too many so that
others may enjoy some, too.
— Ken Saiki

MahaloGozaimasu

We gratefully acknowledge the following for their generous
contributions. If we’ve missed any donor’s name, please accept
our apologies and let us know by calling the Betsuin at 531-9088
so we can make corrections to our records.

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Shirley Nishizawa
Paul & Judith Tanaka Dorothy Takeuchi
Roy Nakamoto
Frances Maekawa Sachiko Yoshino
Peggy Arita
Tadao Iwasaki
Katharine Sakai
Joann Kubota-Phung Faye Shigemura
Haruno FamilyCharles NishidaMatsumoto family
Betty Nishida
Wayne Ishii
Kikue Yuen
Chester Oda
Jean Shishido
Keizaburo Tsuji
Yoji Kawakami
Judith Kaneshiro
Ann Kaneshiro
Patsy Nikaido family
Haruo Tanida family George Abe family Dennis & Debra Saiki Hiroharu Uyesato family Robert & Edwina Takayama
Kiyoko Dorothy Moriyama family
Thomas Tadao Tsukamoto family
William & Jeri Sue Wilson
Michael & June DeBusk

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Wayne Shinbara
Keizaburo Tsuji
Diane Shimizu
Helen Suzuki

Mildred Tashiro
Gainor Tomokiyo
Kinji & Grace Nomura
Betty Nishida0)*("/

Dorothy Tanaka
Katherine Kurakake
Bertha Kawada
Collin Segawa
Yuko Oshiro
Eiko Yoshida
Bert & Millicent Yamamoto,:0%"/%0/"5*0/
Dr. Teruo Kurube
Harriet KiharaCharlene Watanabe
Moriso Teraoka

Kendall Shimazu
Aaron Uyema
Kinuko Matsumura
Mabel Saruwatari(0+*,"*.&.#&34)*1
Gladys Murakami

Ken & Gale Shodai

Frances Maekawa
Dawn Hirakawa
Lillian Hara
Atsuko Nonaka

Tadao Iwasaki
James Hirakawa
Winona Matsui
Kazue Uechi

Peggy Arita
Clara Ching
James Hirakawa

Peggy Ishida
Marilyn Yonekura
Sasayo Okazaki
Harold & Jane Kudo Kikue Kaneshiro
Moriso Teraoka
Minako Ito-Song
Lynn Murakami Akatsuka
Robert & Edwina Takayama
Karen Kamihara
Leslie Kobata
Toshio Kobata
Betty Miyasaki

Stacie Yamaguchi
Nobu Davenport
Stanley Takemura
Higashi Honganji USA HQ"-5"3'-03"-"33"/(&.&/54

Minako Ito-Song

Joyce Masaki

Sachiko Yoshino
Kihara Family
Marilyn Kuroda

Betty Koizumi
Shigeru Gushikuma

In Memoriam
We wish to extend our deepest
sympathy to the family of the late
Harumi Fuchikami (91)
August 16, 2014

Shotsuki Observance for SeptemberOur monthly shotsuki service in remembranceof temple family members who passed away inthe month of September of a past year will be held
on 4VOEBZ 4FQUFNCFSThe following list includes
members from the past 25 years (1989).
While shotsuki services for a loved one areobserved every year, special nenki hoyo memorial
Frank Motoshi Arita
Mitsuko Egaki
Nancy Shizue Goya
Toshimi Harauchi
Tsuyako Haruki
Dorothy H. Haruno
Florence Y. Hirakawa
Yaichiro Hosaka
Shizuo Ichiyama
Vernon Hiroshi Imura
Lois Yoshie Inabata
Dorothy M. Ishikawa

Chiyoko Kakazu
Nancy M. Kawamoto
Yoshiko Kishimoto
Kiyoko Kono
Hatsuko Kotsubo
Eleanore T. Kumamoto
Toshio Matsuura
Alice M. Matsuzaki
Curtis S. Matsuzaki
Masanobu Miyashiro
Leatrice Asae Morita
Frank Takeo Muraoka

services are held during certain auspicious years.
These years include the 1st anniversary, followed bymemorial services for the 3rd, 7th, 13th, 17th, 25th,
33rd and 50th years, normally held during the year
prior to the actual anniversary date.
Call the Betsuin office at 531-9088 for assistance orfor more information.

Umeko Nishida
Jenny Lynne Nishioka
Tadaichi Oda
Dennis Hiroshi Oishi
Harry Y. Okamura
Kiyoto Okumura
Violet Midori Ono
Fumiyo Sagawa
Kazuhisa Sakamoto
Kohei Sakuma
Frank David Santiago
Koji Sekiya

Kameko Sunabe
Tsugio Takaki
Tomoyo Takamatsu
Yukiyo Tanaka
Fumino Teraoka
Masao Harry Terukina
Ralph H. Teruya
Fujiye Teshima
David Koichi Tomita
Miyoko Tsubaki
Chiyoko Tsumoto

Walter Ujimori
Mildred M. Urasaki
Mildred S. Wada
Chiyo Watanabe
Tadayoshi Yamane
Shizuko Yamanuha
Elaine M. Yamashita
Ethel H. Yamashita
Sumiko Yamashita
Shizuko Yonemura
Namio Yukutake

7

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moment you
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MondaySunday11:00amHigashi
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Betsuin

10 6

6:30pmHarmony of Japan

Palolo Higashi
Hongwanji

The traditional art to link Hawaii and JapanFree Admission

Takamasa Fujima
Japanese dance

Kakushin Tomoyoshi
Biwa

Akinori Inaba
Oshichiriki

Directed by Takamasa Fujima Japanese dance instituteContact us : http://www.takamasafujima.com/

Attendees listen intently to helpful tips provided at Jimmy’s class.

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immy Hirakawa’s first Auto Basics class on August
3 attracted some 15 attendees—mostly ladies—
eager to hear car care and maintenance advice fromthe knowledgeable and amiable second-generation
proprietor of Palolo Auto Service on Waialae Ave.
They received easy-to-understand and -implement
tips on maintaining their cars in tiptop condition to
maximize driving life of the vehicles and accessories.
Jimmy also fielded questions on maintaining
resale value and what to expect when you eventuallysell or trade your car in for another one. Futureclasses will include peeks under the hood to see
what’s under there.
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4VOEBZ 4FQUFNCFS BUOPPO, immediately after
our monthly shotsuki service and after-service
refreshments. Starting next year, the class will alternate
on the first Sundays of the month with Mako’s
Computer Clinic. Check the Wa newsletter or call thetemple at 531-9088 for class schedules.
This month’s meeting of Mako’s Computer Clinic will beon Sunday, September 28 at 1 pm, immediately following
Rev. Honda’s monthly recitation circle at 12 noon.

Mako’sComputer
ClinicSunday, September 28, 1:00 pm
Get answers to your computer and smartphone
questions and problems. Also hands-on assiistanceusing Internet, email, WiFi, LINE & more!
Head Geek: Makoto Honda-UIQT"PMZT\[(OUIQTKWU8PWVM"̆!

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hat if there was a generous benefactor who
told you he would match the donations
you made to charities ths month? Well, there issomeone—a program called “Give Aloha”—that will
match your gift, with a few limitations, all throughSeptember.
The Foodland and Western Union Foundation will
match each donation made to our temple (as wellas other participating non-profit organizations) up
to $249 per person at any Foodland, Sack N Save or
Foodland Farms checkout.
The total amount of matching Give Aloha dollars
available is $300,000,
so if the total amountdonated to all theorganizations ismore than $300,000(as is expected
to happen), then the matching gift is prorated—
divided proportionately—among all participatingorganizations. But very extra dollar we get, even if
just a fraction of the $300,000, is like getting free“bonus money”!
Here’s all you need to do to multiply your temple
donation dollars through Give Aloha:t "UDIFDLPVU TIPXZPVS'PPEMBOE.BJALBJ$MVCDBSEt 5FMMUIFDBTIJFSZPVXPVMEMJLFUPNBLFB(JWF
Aloha donation to )JHBTIJ)POHXBOKJ or giveour 5-digit code number 
t *OGPSNUIFDBTIJFSPGUIFBNPVOUPGZPVS
donation (any amount up to $249), which will be
added to your grocery total. You can pay in cash,by check or by credit/debit card. You don’t haveto make a purchase to make a donation.
t 5IFDIFDLPVUDBTIJFSXJMMHJWFZPVBSFDFJQU 
which will indicate “Higashi Hongwanji” andthe donation amount. Keep it for income tax
purposes, since it is your official record of yourtax-deductible contribution to our 501(c)(3)charitable organization.
t :PVNBZBTLGPSBEVQMJDBUFSFDFJQU XIJDIZPVNBZ
want to send to us or drop off at our office so we
can acknowledge your gift. Your tax adviser, if you
have one, should be familiar with this program
since it’s been ongoing for the past 15 years.
 "OEJGEPOUIBWFB.BJALBJDBSEZFU EPOUGFFMMFGU
out…you can easily get one free at the register.
Please consider taking advantage of thisopportunity to make your temple donation enjoy an
extra boost through the Give Aloha program.

3

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Rev. Ishida, Bishop Kawawata and Rev.
Honda at Makiki Japanese naval cemetery.

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Bishop Kenjun Kawawata and Rev.
Makoto Honda, along with Rev.
Ryodo Ishida of Tendai Mission of
Hawaii, performed the sutra chanting
at a bon service held Augut 15
honoring Meiji-era Japanese sailors
buried at the Makiki Japanese naval
cemetery. The ceremony, hosted by
Hawaii Meiji Kai, also remembered
early Japanese immigrants to Hawaii
buried or memorialized at thecemetery in Makiki.
On August 19, Bishop Kawawata,Rev. Bansaka and Rev. Honda joined
Bishop Eric Matsumoto and Rev.
Toshiyuki Umitani of Honpa Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii for the annual Hawaii
Buddhist Council bon service at the old
Moiliili Japanese cemetery behind
Kuhio Elementary School. Trivia
note: that’s why so many florists
were in Moiliili on King St., where
people from all over town got off at
the streetcar stop to visit the cemetery.

A big shout-out to all who helped
support our summer Hoku barbecue
chicken and sushi fundraiser.
To all those who purchased
tickets, we hope you enjoyed theunbeatable pairing of old-fashioned
local-style rotisserie BBQ chicken andmakizushi, and perhaps were able toshare the great taste with others.
Rest assured that with every bitetaken, you helped the temple
continue serving our many long-time
families and friends, as well as thecommunity-at-large.
We also appreciate those who
assisted us with donations in lieu ofVolunteers from the martial arts groups
pack the hot barbecue chicken into
individual bags for the temple’s fundraiser.
ticket purchases. And let’s not forget
our many member and martial arts
group volunteers who turned out
early Sunday morning to get the morethan 1,100 chicken and nearly 800
sushi ready for sale, and then turned
to running the efficient drive-thru
pickup operation. Otsukaresama
deshita! Mahalo for your hard work!

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Rev. Honda, Rev. Bansaka, Bishop
Kawawata, Bishop Matsumoto and Rev.
Umitani gather at Moiliili cemetery.

4

As the Japanese movie studios
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legendary directors from thatcountry’s “golden age” of cinema—
Kon Ichikawa, Masaki Kobayashi,
Keisuke Kinoshita, and, of course,

Akira Kurosawa—banded together
to start their own production
company. Their projects were put on
hold after their first one bombed.
One of the shelved works was astory adapted from Shugoro
Yamamoto’s Diary of a Town
Magistrate and was originally going
to be directed by all four masters.
With the passing of Kurosawa andKinoshita in 1998, directing dutiesof this almost-forgotten script fellto the group’s sole survivor,
85-year-old Ichikawa.
Dora-Heita, or “Alley Cat,” centers
on Koheita Mochizuki (played bycharismatic leading man, Koji
Yakusho), a samurai selected by theregional lord to be the magistrate of
the lawless district of Horisoto.
The movie, screened at the 2000
Berlin Film Festival, won a Best Actor
award for Yakusho at the Japanese
Academy Awards, along with awards
for Supporting Actor, Cinematography,
Lighting, Art and Editing. Japaneseaudio with English subtitles.
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tuesday,
September 23. 110 minutes. Free
admission, open to all. Ample seatingin Fukuhara Conference Room.
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৉ఝध৲खञَᎱਗُ॑੝୓घॊधःअৈः
ಂ॑ुढथᄛભखथऌञभदँढञ‫؛‬ফ঩ম॔ढ़ॹ঑‫ش‬ೖ‫؟‬਌౰੬રೖ
૽ਚઁఘ‫ؚ‬ஃ౰੬રೖ‫ؚ‬๡୶ೖ‫ؚ‬ස৥ೖ‫ؚ‬஖୒ೖ‫ؚ‬ౣૐೖ‫؛‬੉ୁ঩মୁ‫ؚ‬ஊొஶୁ‫ؚ‬಩ৎ৑
ীোৃ૮મা঩ ౌ ଏ৏ৎ‫؛‬

5IF(JTU
PG4IJO

A

Rev. Frank Childs

fter being a priest for eight
years, I wish to share what I
feel the core of Shin Buddhism isfor me. I worry that the power ofShin is often compromised in orderto make it “nice and fun.” My views
will seem odd and strange to some;I can’t worry about that anymore.
Our “bonno” is not somethingoutside of ourselves: we do nothave problems…
our very own
self is the great
problem. “Bonno”
is the greed, lust
and anger that
informs all wethink, say, and do;Rev. Childs
ringing a bell 108
times on New Year’s Eve, having
services or debating at an O-ko areat best gates that lead us to meet
our very own self that we dreadfacing. Again, we are not ill…
we are illness itself. The good wethink we do is but the distorted
projections of our ego.
Once we get a hint of how wereally are, things get worse. We
slowly learn that we are incapableof fixing ourselves. Poison poured
on poison won’t poison poison.
To get to the gist of the cure, ourwhole being must be broken down
to nothing. Only at this point canwords like “Amida,”“Other Power,”“Vow” and “Finding Faith” ring truein our broken self.
I can only call this a greatparadox that demands the greatest
risk. The role of a teacher—one
who has “been there”—cannot be
stressed enough. How amazing. It isonly at our own “zero point” that weopen to a quiet joy unlike anythingelse. Of course, all things pass. After
this “release,” one returns their toxic
everydayness. But one can say they
have been changed forever.
I have risked much and said too
much…no matter.
Namuamidabutsu.

5IFSFTBCB[BBSJOZPVSGVUVSF

A

peek in the crystal ballshows a temple bazaar
in the works for late October,so start looking waaay inthe back of your closets andwaaay high on your garage
shelves for those used but still
usable personal treasuresthat you kept neatly stored
because they’re “still good’,” or “willbe worth something someday.”
Then there are those unused
items from five years ago, which weplan to gift to a deserving celebrantsometime in the not-so-distant future.
However we may identify them in our
minds, when we’re ready to admit it,
the items are still excess baggage that
we really don’t need.
The idea of downsizing seems
to have caught on, starting with thebaby-boomers. Not all boomers haveembraced downsizing, but afterchildren and grandchildren are nolonger in the equation, simplicity
seems to be the order of the day. I
hear and agree with “less is more.”
To the rescue...our almost
annual bazaar!

Higan is the Japanese word forpāramitā, the other shore ofenlightenment, the world of peace andliberation. According to Jodo Shinshu
teaching, we exist on the shore of
suffering, anger and depression. The
practice of the Six
Pāramitās enables
us to cross over tothe other shore.
%ǋOB - giving, offering, generosity.
This is the practice of an open heart ofgiving freely what is needed by others.
ƴǟMB - discipline, observing the precepts.
This is to develop good behavior, toobey the rules of parents and teachers,
and the laws of society. Buddhism
encourages the development of thethree-fold disciplined behavior ofbody, speech and mind.
,TǋOUJ- patience, inclusiveness. One
who is patient can endure long and isable to overcome many difficulties. WithAs appreciative as we are foryour thoughtfulness in donating
all kinds of items for our bazaar, wehave some basic rules for items
that are brought for sale.
They are simple, almost
common sense, but need
to be mentioned here asa reminder.
 *UFNTNVTUCFVTBCMFBOEOPUCSPLFO
Games and electronicequipment with missing parts
should not be brought for sale. For
instance, don’t bring a deck of cards
with only 51 cards.
 %POPUCSJOHBODJFOU57T (nonflat screen).
 %POPUCSJOHDMPUIJOHXJUIIPMFT TPJMFEDMPUIJOH VOXFBSBCMFDMPUIJOHIn other words, don’t bringclothing you would not wear yourself.
 %POPUCSJOHJUFNTXIJDIIBWF
CFFOTJUUJOHPVUJOUIFFMFNFOUT
BOEBSFGBEFEBOEEJSUZWe don’t
have enough helpers to clean and
get items ready for sale. Items should
be ready for sale as is.
Otherwise, we are grateful forthe new and gently used items you
don’t need any more that can findanother useful life for someone else!
— Faye Shigemura
patience, we can develop an open heart,and frustration and anger will diminish.
7ǟSZB - endeavor, diligence,
perseverance. This is to strive with
one’s whole heart, not for shortperiods of concentrated effort, but
continuously
over long
periods. Spiritualstrength enables
the invidual to continue on without
giving up in the face of difficulties.
%IZǋOB- meditation, contemplation.
The practice of meditation helps one
to develop the other pāramitās.
1SK×ǋ - wisdom, insight,
understanding. This is to see things as
they are without the prejudices andperspectives that come from them. It
is the letting go of opinions andconcepts, the relinquishment of theself that brings wisdom that leads toenlightenment.

The Six Pāramitās5

/FXTPOUIF#FUTVJO8JSFMFTT

##2DIJDLFOBOETVTIJTBMF
SBJTFTGVOETGPSUFNQMF

Rev. Ishida, Bishop Kawawata and Rev.
Honda at Makiki Japanese naval cemetery.

#FUTVJONJOJTUFSTIFMQIPOPSMFHBDZPG+BQBOFTFQJPOFFST

Bishop Kenjun Kawawata and Rev.
Makoto Honda, along with Rev.
Ryodo Ishida of Tendai Mission of
Hawaii, performed the sutra chanting
at a bon service held Augut 15
honoring Meiji-era Japanese sailors
buried at the Makiki Japanese naval
cemetery. The ceremony, hosted by
Hawaii Meiji Kai, also remembered
early Japanese immigrants to Hawaii
buried or memorialized at thecemetery in Makiki.
On August 19, Bishop Kawawata,Rev. Bansaka and Rev. Honda joined
Bishop Eric Matsumoto and Rev.
Toshiyuki Umitani of Honpa Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii for the annual Hawaii
Buddhist Council bon service at the old
Moiliili Japanese cemetery behind
Kuhio Elementary School. Trivia
note: that’s why so many florists
were in Moiliili on King St., where
people from all over town got off at
the streetcar stop to visit the cemetery.

A big shout-out to all who helped
support our summer Hoku barbecue
chicken and sushi fundraiser.
To all those who purchased
tickets, we hope you enjoyed theunbeatable pairing of old-fashioned
local-style rotisserie BBQ chicken andmakizushi, and perhaps were able toshare the great taste with others.
Rest assured that with every bitetaken, you helped the temple
continue serving our many long-time
families and friends, as well as thecommunity-at-large.
We also appreciate those who
assisted us with donations in lieu ofVolunteers from the martial arts groups
pack the hot barbecue chicken into
individual bags for the temple’s fundraiser.
ticket purchases. And let’s not forget
our many member and martial arts
group volunteers who turned out
early Sunday morning to get the morethan 1,100 chicken and nearly 800
sushi ready for sale, and then turned
to running the efficient drive-thru
pickup operation. Otsukaresama
deshita! Mahalo for your hard work!

%PSB)FJUBJT4FQUFNCFSNPWJFOJHIUGFBUVSF

Rev. Honda, Rev. Bansaka, Bishop
Kawawata, Bishop Matsumoto and Rev.
Umitani gather at Moiliili cemetery.

4

As the Japanese movie studios
XFSFEFDMJOJOHJOMBUFAT GPVS
legendary directors from thatcountry’s “golden age” of cinema—
Kon Ichikawa, Masaki Kobayashi,
Keisuke Kinoshita, and, of course,

Akira Kurosawa—banded together
to start their own production
company. Their projects were put on
hold after their first one bombed.
One of the shelved works was astory adapted from Shugoro
Yamamoto’s Diary of a Town
Magistrate and was originally going
to be directed by all four masters.
With the passing of Kurosawa andKinoshita in 1998, directing dutiesof this almost-forgotten script fellto the group’s sole survivor,
85-year-old Ichikawa.
Dora-Heita, or “Alley Cat,” centers
on Koheita Mochizuki (played bycharismatic leading man, Koji
Yakusho), a samurai selected by theregional lord to be the magistrate of
the lawless district of Horisoto.
The movie, screened at the 2000
Berlin Film Festival, won a Best Actor
award for Yakusho at the Japanese
Academy Awards, along with awards
for Supporting Actor, Cinematography,
Lighting, Art and Editing. Japaneseaudio with English subtitles.
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tuesday,
September 23. 110 minutes. Free
admission, open to all. Ample seatingin Fukuhara Conference Room.
नै਴୬‫ ؙ‬नैषःञ‫ك‬ফपਁ৫औोञ঩ম಩઺‫؛‬૰୚म‫ؚ‬৘ਆន‫؛‬ফप৘ਆន‫ؚ‬హ᫖৥‫ؚ‬਽ৣᠷஂ‫ؚ‬৵௔ਫ౴भযपेढथ಩઺੫઺‫؞‬ଲ੿ॢঝ‫ش‬উَ஛࿻भভُऋ੥ਛऔो‫ؚ‬৛মఢ૜୙भَ঴ိষ঩੶ُ॑੪प಩઺॑ଲ੿ख
ेअधુ৊खथ३ॼজड़॑෋ൿखञ‫؛‬जभ৏‫ؚ‬ऒभ੫઺मຬप೟ःञऽऽपऩढथः
ञऋ‫ؚ‬৘ਆभ૰୚दड़জ४ॼঝ࿄ম॑প்
प૗ಌखथଲ੿‫؛‬ফपਁ৫धऩढञ‫؛‬‫ँؙ‬ॊ৵ᇲभৗભ঴ိষधखथ‫ؚ‬௖ૺऊै஦া৵਴୬‫૽ق‬ਚઁఘ‫ك‬ऋାભखञ‫؛‬ೀपमजभ੊௫वॉऊैَनै਴୬ُभँट੡ऋण
ःथःञ‫؛‬खऊखजोम਴୬ऋॎकध૴औच
ञ௯௬द‫ؚ‬ৰम‫ؚ‬ഡୟ‫ؚ‬ਲ਼ஐ‫⎐ؚ‬೗ऩन૮১
৉ఝध৲खञَᎱਗُ॑੝୓घॊधःअৈः
ಂ॑ुढथᄛભखथऌञभदँढञ‫؛‬ফ঩ম॔ढ़ॹ঑‫ش‬ೖ‫؟‬਌౰੬રೖ
૽ਚઁఘ‫ؚ‬ஃ౰੬રೖ‫ؚ‬๡୶ೖ‫ؚ‬ස৥ೖ‫ؚ‬஖୒ೖ‫ؚ‬ౣૐೖ‫؛‬੉ୁ঩মୁ‫ؚ‬ஊొஶୁ‫ؚ‬಩ৎ৑
ীোৃ૮મা঩ ౌ ଏ৏ৎ‫؛‬

5IF(JTU
PG4IJO

A

Rev. Frank Childs

fter being a priest for eight
years, I wish to share what I
feel the core of Shin Buddhism isfor me. I worry that the power ofShin is often compromised in orderto make it “nice and fun.” My views
will seem odd and strange to some;I can’t worry about that anymore.
Our “bonno” is not somethingoutside of ourselves: we do nothave problems…
our very own
self is the great
problem. “Bonno”
is the greed, lust
and anger that
informs all wethink, say, and do;Rev. Childs
ringing a bell 108
times on New Year’s Eve, having
services or debating at an O-ko areat best gates that lead us to meet
our very own self that we dreadfacing. Again, we are not ill…
we are illness itself. The good wethink we do is but the distorted
projections of our ego.
Once we get a hint of how wereally are, things get worse. We
slowly learn that we are incapableof fixing ourselves. Poison poured
on poison won’t poison poison.
To get to the gist of the cure, ourwhole being must be broken down
to nothing. Only at this point canwords like “Amida,”“Other Power,”“Vow” and “Finding Faith” ring truein our broken self.
I can only call this a greatparadox that demands the greatest
risk. The role of a teacher—one
who has “been there”—cannot be
stressed enough. How amazing. It isonly at our own “zero point” that weopen to a quiet joy unlike anythingelse. Of course, all things pass. After
this “release,” one returns their toxic
everydayness. But one can say they
have been changed forever.
I have risked much and said too
much…no matter.
Namuamidabutsu.

5IFSFTBCB[BBSJOZPVSGVUVSF

A

peek in the crystal ballshows a temple bazaar
in the works for late October,so start looking waaay inthe back of your closets andwaaay high on your garage
shelves for those used but still
usable personal treasuresthat you kept neatly stored
because they’re “still good’,” or “willbe worth something someday.”
Then there are those unused
items from five years ago, which weplan to gift to a deserving celebrantsometime in the not-so-distant future.
However we may identify them in our
minds, when we’re ready to admit it,
the items are still excess baggage that
we really don’t need.
The idea of downsizing seems
to have caught on, starting with thebaby-boomers. Not all boomers haveembraced downsizing, but afterchildren and grandchildren are nolonger in the equation, simplicity
seems to be the order of the day. I
hear and agree with “less is more.”
To the rescue...our almost
annual bazaar!

Higan is the Japanese word forpāramitā, the other shore ofenlightenment, the world of peace andliberation. According to Jodo Shinshu
teaching, we exist on the shore of
suffering, anger and depression. The
practice of the Six
Pāramitās enables
us to cross over tothe other shore.
%ǋOB - giving, offering, generosity.
This is the practice of an open heart ofgiving freely what is needed by others.
ƴǟMB - discipline, observing the precepts.
This is to develop good behavior, toobey the rules of parents and teachers,
and the laws of society. Buddhism
encourages the development of thethree-fold disciplined behavior ofbody, speech and mind.
,TǋOUJ- patience, inclusiveness. One
who is patient can endure long and isable to overcome many difficulties. WithAs appreciative as we are foryour thoughtfulness in donating
all kinds of items for our bazaar, wehave some basic rules for items
that are brought for sale.
They are simple, almost
common sense, but need
to be mentioned here asa reminder.
 *UFNTNVTUCFVTBCMFBOEOPUCSPLFO
Games and electronicequipment with missing parts
should not be brought for sale. For
instance, don’t bring a deck of cards
with only 51 cards.
 %POPUCSJOHBODJFOU57T (nonflat screen).
 %POPUCSJOHDMPUIJOHXJUIIPMFT TPJMFEDMPUIJOH VOXFBSBCMFDMPUIJOHIn other words, don’t bringclothing you would not wear yourself.
 %POPUCSJOHJUFNTXIJDIIBWF
CFFOTJUUJOHPVUJOUIFFMFNFOUT
BOEBSFGBEFEBOEEJSUZWe don’t
have enough helpers to clean and
get items ready for sale. Items should
be ready for sale as is.
Otherwise, we are grateful forthe new and gently used items you
don’t need any more that can findanother useful life for someone else!
— Faye Shigemura
patience, we can develop an open heart,and frustration and anger will diminish.
7ǟSZB - endeavor, diligence,
perseverance. This is to strive with
one’s whole heart, not for shortperiods of concentrated effort, but
continuously
over long
periods. Spiritualstrength enables
the invidual to continue on without
giving up in the face of difficulties.
%IZǋOB- meditation, contemplation.
The practice of meditation helps one
to develop the other pāramitās.
1SK×ǋ - wisdom, insight,
understanding. This is to see things as
they are without the prejudices andperspectives that come from them. It
is the letting go of opinions andconcepts, the relinquishment of theself that brings wisdom that leads toenlightenment.

The Six Pāramitās

5

3FDFJWFBGSFFCPPTUUPZPVSUFNQMFEPOBUJPOJO4FQUFNCFS

W

和
の
心

2
0
1
4

大

Workshop和Theharmony
Themoment
moment you
you feel
feel JapaneseJapanese harmony

10 5

2
0
1
4

MondaySunday11:00amHigashi
Hongwanji
Betsuin

10 6

6:30pmHarmony of Japan

Palolo Higashi
Hongwanji

The traditional art to link Hawaii and JapanFree Admission

Takamasa Fujima
Japanese dance

Kakushin Tomoyoshi
Biwa

Akinori Inaba
Oshichiriki

Directed by Takamasa Fujima Japanese dance instituteContact us : http://www.takamasafujima.com/

Attendees listen intently to helpful tips provided at Jimmy’s class.

"VUP#BTJDTDMBTTPòBOESVOOJOHJ

immy Hirakawa’s first Auto Basics class on August
3 attracted some 15 attendees—mostly ladies—
eager to hear car care and maintenance advice fromthe knowledgeable and amiable second-generation
proprietor of Palolo Auto Service on Waialae Ave.
They received easy-to-understand and -implement
tips on maintaining their cars in tiptop condition to
maximize driving life of the vehicles and accessories.
Jimmy also fielded questions on maintaining
resale value and what to expect when you eventuallysell or trade your car in for another one. Futureclasses will include peeks under the hood to see
what’s under there.
5IFOFYU"VUP#BTJDTDMBTTJTTDIFEVMFEGPS
4VOEBZ 4FQUFNCFS BUOPPO, immediately after
our monthly shotsuki service and after-service
refreshments. Starting next year, the class will alternate
on the first Sundays of the month with Mako’s
Computer Clinic. Check the Wa newsletter or call thetemple at 531-9088 for class schedules.
This month’s meeting of Mako’s Computer Clinic will beon Sunday, September 28 at 1 pm, immediately following
Rev. Honda’s monthly recitation circle at 12 noon.

Mako’sComputer
ClinicSunday, September 28, 1:00 pm
Get answers to your computer and smartphone
questions and problems. Also hands-on assiistanceusing Internet, email, WiFi, LINE & more!
Head Geek: Makoto Honda-UIQT"PMZT\[(OUIQTKWU8PWVM"̆!

Ɣ঩মୁ2.

hat if there was a generous benefactor who
told you he would match the donations
you made to charities ths month? Well, there issomeone—a program called “Give Aloha”—that will
match your gift, with a few limitations, all throughSeptember.
The Foodland and Western Union Foundation will
match each donation made to our temple (as wellas other participating non-profit organizations) up
to $249 per person at any Foodland, Sack N Save or
Foodland Farms checkout.
The total amount of matching Give Aloha dollars
available is $300,000,
so if the total amountdonated to all theorganizations ismore than $300,000(as is expected
to happen), then the matching gift is prorated—
divided proportionately—among all participatingorganizations. But very extra dollar we get, even if
just a fraction of the $300,000, is like getting free“bonus money”!
Here’s all you need to do to multiply your temple
donation dollars through Give Aloha:t "UDIFDLPVU TIPXZPVS'PPEMBOE.BJALBJ$MVCDBSEt 5FMMUIFDBTIJFSZPVXPVMEMJLFUPNBLFB(JWF
Aloha donation to )JHBTIJ)POHXBOKJ or giveour 5-digit code number 
t *OGPSNUIFDBTIJFSPGUIFBNPVOUPGZPVS
donation (any amount up to $249), which will be
added to your grocery total. You can pay in cash,by check or by credit/debit card. You don’t haveto make a purchase to make a donation.
t 5IFDIFDLPVUDBTIJFSXJMMHJWFZPVBSFDFJQU 
which will indicate “Higashi Hongwanji” andthe donation amount. Keep it for income tax
purposes, since it is your official record of yourtax-deductible contribution to our 501(c)(3)charitable organization.
t :PVNBZBTLGPSBEVQMJDBUFSFDFJQU XIJDIZPVNBZ
want to send to us or drop off at our office so we
can acknowledge your gift. Your tax adviser, if you
have one, should be familiar with this program
since it’s been ongoing for the past 15 years.
 "OEJGEPOUIBWFB.BJALBJDBSEZFU EPOUGFFMMFGU
out…you can easily get one free at the register.
Please consider taking advantage of thisopportunity to make your temple donation enjoy an
extra boost through the Give Aloha program.

3

NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Honolulu, HI
Permit No. 693

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

Ohigan:Observing the Other Shore

Address Service Requested

3JOCBO,FOKVO,BXBXBUB

In this issue of WA...

‘wa’
harmonyt0IJHBO5IF0UIFS4IPSFp. 1
t#PUBNPDIJPSPIBHJ p. 2
t "VUP#BTJDT$PNQVUFS$MJOJDp. 3
t (JWF"MPIBp. 3
t /FXTPOUIF#FUTVJO8JSFMFTTp. 4
t (JGUPG4IJOp. 5
t 5IFSFTBCB[BBSJOZPVSGVUVSFp. 5
t 5IF4JY1ǋSBNJUǋTp. 5t )BSNPOZPG+BQBOXPSLTIPQp. 6
t "DLOPXMFEHNFOUT*O.FNPSJBNp. 7
t 4IPUTVLJPCTFSWBODFGPS4FQUFNCFSp. 7t5FNQMFBDUJWJUJFTDBMFOEBSp. 8

Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin9

September 2014

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
SEPTEMBER 2014
9/7
9/7
9/9
9/11
9/13
9/14
9/14


Sun 10 am Shotsuki memorial service &Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Jimmy’s Auto Basics
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceThu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Sat 10 am Hawaii District Committee meeting
Betsuin - Fukuhara Conference RoomSun 10 am Sunday service & Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class

9/16 Tue
9/20 Sat
9/21
9/21
9/23
9/23
9/28
9/28
9/28

Sun
Sun
Tue
Tue
Sun
Sun
Sun



ਠ৻ୁदบઇ॑ୂऒअ

led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
7 pm O-ko: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
10 am Autumn Ohigan service
12 pm Betsuin board meeting
3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
6:30 pm Movie night: Dora-Heita
10 am Shinran Shonin memorial service
12 pm Recitation circle
1 pm Mako’s Computer Clinic

OCTOBER 2014
10/5 Sun 10 am Perpetual memorial service
Shotsuki memorial service &Sunday school
10/5 Sun 11 am Harmony of Japan workshop
10/6 Mon 6:30 pm Harmony of Japan workshop (Palolo)
10/9 Thu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
10/11 Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
10/12 Sun 10 am Sunday service
10/12 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
10/14 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
10/19 Sun 10 am Sunday service
10/19 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
10/21 Tue 7 pm O-ko: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
10/26 Sun 10 am Kaneohe Ho-on-ko(no Sunday service at Betsuin)
10/28 Tue 10 am Shinran Shonin memorial service
10/28 Tue 11 am Recitation circle
10/28 Tue 1 pm Mako’s Computer Clinic
10/28 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
10/28 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Woman in the Dunes

Everyone is welcome to join in on our sutra chanting at 7 am daily (except Sundays & 28th day of the month) in the Betsuin Main Hall.

At Higashi Hongwanji, we remaintrue to our origins
as an open Sangha, welcoming
anyone who wishes to learn more
about the Jodo Shinshu
tradition of Buddhism.
A registered 501(c)3 organization
President: Faye Shigemura
Vice President: Jonathan Tani
Secretary: Debra Saiki
Treasurer: Edmund Nakano
Auditor: Ken Saiki
Rinban: Kenjun Kawawata
Minister: Makoto Honda
Associate Minister:Frank Childs
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 531-9088
Fax: (808) 531-3265
Email: betsuin@hhbt-hi.org
Wa is published monthly byHigashi Hongwanji Mission of
Hawaii for its members andfriends. Comments, articles andother items for publicationconsideration are welcomed.
Editor: Ken SaikiO

bon season is over and it’s already September, Ohigan season. Every
Japanese temple observes Ohigan and reflects on the attainment of the
Other Shore. In our tradition, “Higan” means “Jodo,” or Pure Land. The term“other shore” might make you think of being on one shore of a river whilelooking at the shore on the other side.
This “other shore” is Higan, or the state of the mind of the Buddha.
However, unlike an actual river, in the Buddhism, you cannot measure thedistance, time, or space between “this shore” and the “other shore,” between
Buddha’s mind and us. If we really understand the Buddha’s teachings and weknow ourselves, there is no distance between the Buddha and us.
The Meditation Sutra says, “The land of Amida Buddha is not far fromhere.” But to reach this land, this other shore, we need something like a boat.
Listening to the Buddha’s teachings and recitating the Buddha’s name,
Nembutsu, are like a boat to reach the other shore and attain the state of the
Buddha’s mind.
Shinran said, “People who have an entrusting heart in Amida Buddha’s
innermost aspiration and recite the Buddha’s name will become Buddhas.”
Nembutsu is our daily practice and lives. The origin of Nembutsu is from the
Sanskrit “Buddha–nusmrti,” which means “remembering the Buddha in thebottom of one’s heart.”
After Shakyamuni Buddha passed away 2,500 years ago, people who had
heard his teachings wanted to see and listen to his teachings again.
Since then, Nembutsu has been one of the main practices in Buddhism.
On a deeper level, Nembutsu really means “to live with the Buddha’s
teachings.” It means to awaken our self, which is misguided. It also means to
ask for guidance on how to live our lives.
Furthermore, if you can simply accept and receive the Buddha’s teachings
honestly, you do not have to “believe” in anything like in other religions. In
Buddhism, there is no “contract” or “agreement” between the Buddha and us.
In some other religions you need to believe in divine beings, or someother person or thing. A religion like this might say that only then would you(cont’d on p. 2)

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Special guest speaker: Dr. Jay Sakashita
An alumnus of the University of Hawai‘i, Jay received his Ph.D.
degree from the University of Stirling in Scotland, where his
research focused on contemporary Japanese religions. His work
has appeared in newspapers, magazines, journals and books.
Jay is also Assistant Professor of Religion at Leeward Community
College, where he teaches several courses in religion, including
those related to Christianity and Japanese religions. He has no
hobbies, no time to read books, and absolutely no social life.
This is his children’s fault.