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

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

Why We Gather at Ho-on-ko
Bishop Kenjun Kawawata

T

Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...

‘wa’
harmony• Why we gather at Ho-on-ko p. 1
• Help! I need Buddhism now! p. 1
• What’s in a name? p. 2
• October acknowledgments

Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin(to be published in November Wa)

10• Shotsuki observance for October p. 3
• News on the Betsuin Wireless p. 3
• Temple activities calendar p. 4

October 2013

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
OCTOBER 2013

NOVEMBER 201311/3 Sun 10 am Shotsuki memorial service &10/6 Sun 10 am Shotsuki/Perpetual memorial service &			
Sunday school			Sunday school
11/3 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class 		
10/6 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class			 現代語で仏教を聞こう			 			 led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese			 led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
11/5 Tue 7 pm Lecture series 1 - Dr. George Tanabe
10/8 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
11/7 Thu 7 pm Lecture series 2 - Dr. George Tanabe
10/10 Thu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
11/9 Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
			
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
			
led by Rev. Frank Childs
10/12 Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
11/10 Sun 10 am Sunday service			
led by Rev. Frank Childs
11/12 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice			
10/13 Sun 10 am Short Sunday service & Sunday school
11/12 Tue 7 pm Lecture series 3 - Dr. George Tanabe
			 Omigaki (Polishing of altar implements)
11/14 Thu 7 pm Lecture series 4 - Dr. George Tanabe
10/13 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting			 			 (no ABCs of Buddhism study class)
10/15 Tue 7 pm O-ko: Informal Dharma discussion
11/17 Sun 10 am Sunday service & Sunday school			Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji
11/17 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
10/19 Sat 10 am Ho-on-ko gathering
11/19 Tue 7 pm O-ko: Dharma discussion (Kaneohe)
10/20 Sun 10 am Betsuin Ho-on-ko service
11/24 Sun 10 am Palolo Hongwanji Ho-on-ko service
10/22 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice			 (No service at Betsuin)
10/22 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Jiro Dreams of Sushi		 11/25 Mon 1 pm Recitation circle (moved up from 11/28)
10/27 Sun 10 am Kaneohe Ho-on-ko (no service at Betsuin)
11/26 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
10/28 Mon 1pm
Recitation circle		
11/26 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Ikiru
Everyone is welcome to join in on our sutra chanting at 7 am daily (except Sundays) in the Betsuin Main Hall.

At Higashi Hongwanji, we
remain true 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
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: hhhb@me.com
Wa is published monthly byHigashi Hongwanji Mission of
Hawaii for its members andfriends. Comments, articles andother items for publicationconsideration are welcomed.
Editor: Ken Saiki

his month we observe Ho-on-ko, the memorial service for the founder of
our Jodo Shinshu denomination, Shinran Shonin, who died on Nov. 28, 1226,
in Kyoto, Japan.
Every year, from Nov. 21 through 28, there are special commemoration
services at the head temple in Kyoto, as well as at all branch temples in Japan,
the United States and South America.
Ho-on-ko is the most important occasion for followers of Jodo Shinshu,
and is the most meaningful memorial service because we are the ones wholisten to and live by the teachings of Shinran Shonin.
In our calendar of events, Ho-on-ko marks the end of one year and the
beginning of a new year. It is time for us come together to sit in front of ourteacher, Shinran Shonin, and listen earnestly to the teachings and re-examine
our lives according to his words and his life.
Ho-on-ko is not just a memorial service for
Shinran Shonin, but the phrase itself is full of deepis the occasion
meaning for us. “Hō-on” (報恩) means “to express
when we express our
gratitude for what we have received,” while “kō” (講)gratitude by listening
is “to explain to make the meaning clearer,” or “togather and come together as a group.”
to and living by the
Therefore Ho-on-ko is the occasion when weteachings more
express our gratitude by listening to and living by
thoroughly.
the teachings more thoroughly.
For Shinran Shonin, receiving the true essenceof Nembutsu teaching brought him to a most fulfilling life. He could not help
but feel grateful towards his teacher and all those who enabled him toencounter the teachings.
In his poem Ondokusan, he is saying, “To Amida Buddha with the greatcompassionate heart and to all my teachers from Shakyamuni to Honen, eachone opening the path of the nembutsu for me, I will express deep gratitudewith my entire being.”
Ho-on-ko should be a meaningful occasion for each of us if we can truly
feel grateful for receiving the teachings, which enable us to live our lives fully.
During Ho-on-ko time we express our gratitude and listen to Shinran Shonin’steaching and re-examine our belief (entrust, or shinjin) again. What kind ofdaily lives can we have, if we have a real entrusting heart (shinjin)?
(continued on p. 2)

Ho-on-ko

HO-ON-KO EVENTS THIS MONTH AT THE BETSUIN
Our Betsuin Ho-on-ko Service will be observed on Sunday,
Oct. 20, starting at 10 a.m. Rev. Ken Yamada, resident ministerat the Berkeley Higashi Honganji, will present the dharma
message. Everyone is welcome to attend.
In addition, there will be special Ho-on-ko Gathering the
day before, on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Rev. Yamada will present “Help! I Need Buddhism Now!”
Rev. Ken Yamada(Decoding Buddha, Shinran and Myself). Fee for the Saturday
gathering, which includes lunch, is $10. You may register for this event by
mail or in person at the temple office. Call 531-9088 if you have questions.

Ho-on-ko (cont’d from p. 1)
Shinran was born as the son of
low-ranking aristocrats. His motherdied and his father left him when hewas very young, so he entered thepriesthood at Mt. Hiei at the age of 9.
He studied Tendai (Mahayana)
doctrine for 20 years. He kept
precepts, meditated and chanted
sutras. But those practices did notlead him to Buddhahood. He
became depressed and felt
miserable. He couldn’t understandwhy he was unsuccessful. At thattime he realized he was not well andneeded a doctor and medicine. He
set out to find a doctor and medicine
for curing his sickness.
Then at age 29, he met Honen
Shonin and was liberated. Shinran
was deeply moved by Honen. This

What’s in a Name?

Remember Rap Reiplinger’s
hilarious routine, “Japanese
Roll Call,” in which he poked fun
at Japanese names with all theinterchangeable syllables?
“...Hirayama, Yamanaka,
Nakashima, Shimakura, Kurasato,
Satogata, Gotta go nowwww!”Some 90% of Japanese last names
come from place names, such as
villages or landscape features.
We all probably know someone
named Sato, Suzuki or Takahashi
because those are the top three mostcommon Japanese names. I’m willing
to bet you don’t know many people
named Kunomasu, Hyobanshi or
Tankoshitsu. The Japanese have morethan 120,000 different last names, butmore than half the population can befound in the top 250 or so surnames.
Compare that with China, where
there are a total of only about 300
surnames currently used. About halfof the country’s population share oneof just 20 last names. If you guessed
Wong is number one, you’re right!

2

was a radical change in his life.
Shinran became a follower of Honen.
He had found a doctor, teacher andmedicine, the teaching of thenembutsu.
The result of his 20 years ofpractice with the Tendai sect was therealization of his own foolishness andincompetence. This realization — andthe encounter with his teacher, Honen— resulted in his gaining humility.
Humbleness and humility made him
realize non-self, selflessness.
Shinran Shonin achieved the same
awakening as Shakyamuni Buddha
going through a way opposite ofgeneral Buddhism. However, bothways of Buddhism can lead us to havethe state of selflessness, or “awakeningof true self.”
After six peaceful years with Honen,

Shinran was exiled by the governmentand sent to Echigo province(contemporary Niigata prefecture).
Following his pardon at age 41, hemoved to the Kanto area near presentday Tokyo. Then, at 62, he returned to
the Kyoto area, where he lived fornearly 30 years.
He left many writings for his
dharma friends, the nembutsu
followers. He lived a creative life,
much like Shakyamuni Buddha’s for
50 years, until he died at the ripe
old age of 90.
We can see that the lives andteachings of Shakyamuni and Shinran
were nearly identical. They walked
the same path of awakening and led
dynamic and creative lives.
Jodo Shinshu is in the mainstreamof Buddhism.

In Korea, where there are only
about 200 unique last names, morethan half the people are either Kim,
Lee or Park. Similarly, in Vietnam 60%of the population are named Nguyen,
Tran or Le.
Sato and Suzuki each have about
two million people in Japan sharing
those names. But here in Hawaii
the Nakamuras
and Tanakas
outnumber
both theSatos andSuzukis.
Why is
this
so?
Well,
Nakamura andTanaka happen to be among themost common names in WesternJapan, which includes the prefecturesof Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka
and Kumamoto, from where themajority of contract laborers
immigrated and consequently,
where most Japanese-Americans in
Hawaii today trace their roots.
Family names provide someclues as to where one’s ancestralroots lie. To pinpoint exactly where

your ancestors came from requires
further research.
Fortunately there are various
resources available to help us
discover more about our heritage.
For example, our temple libraryhas genealogy manuals as well asa directory of all Japanese living
in Hawaii in the 1930’s, including
occupations, addresses andhome prefectures. Other temple
documents, such as kakocho, or
death register, may also help.
We are considering starting an
informal study group to meet at the
Betsuin and help people find out
more about their roots.
We ‘ll discuss the process ofgetting a koseki tohon, or Japanesebirth certificate, and should you be
successful in obtaining one for yourfamily, we’ll help you decipher it.
In addition to genealogy study,
we plan to check out family crestsand discuss other unique Japanesecustoms and traditions.
We’d like to hear from you if
you’re interested in joining ourheritage study group. Call the temple
office at 531-9088 or email us at
hhhb@me.com.
				– Ken Saiki

News on theJeanne Kawawata helps Brady finish his
nenju while his dad and Debra Saiki look on.

Betsuin WirelessSunday School classes meet on
the 1st and 3rd Sundays every
month, from 10 to 11:30 am.
Holiday crafts, zoo excursions,lunchtime outings in healthy, natural
surroundings and introduction to live
animals are among the exciting
hands-on activities we are looking
forward to with our youngsters.
If you’d like to find out more
about our Sunday youth program, callRev. Honda at 531-9088.

Sunday School Program Launches
Our “Golden Deer” Sunday School
and Youth Activities program kicked
off Sept. 15 with making hand-crafted
nenju as its first activity.
The next meeting included a field
trip to the quiet surrounds of Queen
Emma Summer Palace garden in
Nuuanu Valley, where the children
could explore, enjoy and appreciate
the many blessings of Nature.

O

ur October 6 service is ourmonthly shotsuki
remembrance of our temple family
members who passed away in
October of a past year, including:(past 25 years only)
Yoshiko Anami
Tsuruko Asato
Thomas Tamotsu Fujihara
Helen Yukie Fujiki
Takeshi Fujishige
Ryonosuke Fujisue
Gladys Sakiko Fujiwara
Ted Tsuruo Gono
Clarence Haruo Hanai
Harry Yasumasa Higa
Hisako Hirakawa
Tatsuo Hiraki
Myles Kuro Hirata
Kinsuke Hosogai
Patrick Miyao Imamura
Yoshio Inouye
George Toshio Ishii
Thomas Masayuki Ishimoto
Terri Mitsuko Kamihara“Jiro Dreams of Sushi” Is
October Movie
This 2011 documentary follows
Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi
master and owner of a Michelin
3-star restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro, on
his continuing quest to perfect theart of sushi. Japanese audio andEnglish subtitles. 81 minutes.
Showtime is 6:30 pm on Oct. 22.
Admission is FREE. Ample seating in
the Fukuhara Conference Room.
二郎は鮨の夢を見る

Mya and her mom work together to makenenju out of colorful beads.

Doris Shizue Kaneshiro
Brandon Mitsuo Kawasaki
Taichi Kimura
Robert Isamu Koyama
Susumu Kunishige
Yoshio Kunitomo
Hideo Matsuo
May Mizue Miura
Robert Shigeyoshi Murakami
Hajime Nishizawa
Kikue Nonaka
Irene Teruko Odagiri
Deann Sanae Oi
Richard Asao Okuda
Helen Hisako Okuda
Ushi Oshiro
Yoshito Sagawa
Elton Hiroshi Sakamoto
Makaa Shimabukuro
Toshio Shimamura
Toshiki Shimizu
Toshio Shinko
Milton Shigeru Shishido
Torao Shizuru
George Kumato Sonoda

2011年のドキュメンタリー映画。
85歳の寿司職人で「すきやばし次郎」の店主である小野二郎を追い、すしの技を極めようと探求し続けるその姿と、伝説的存在である父に追いつくべく奮闘する長男禎一を捉えた作品。
日本語、英語字幕 映時間 : 81分
入場無料
10月22（火）午後6:30時

Taiji Suzuki
Kazuto Taketa
George Yoshiro Tanaka
Judith Fumiye Tokunaga
Katsuko Tsukamoto
Steven Kenji Uesato
Stanley Takito Ujimori
Mitsuko Uyehara
Tsugi Watase
Hatsumi Yamada
Take Yamamoto
Susumu Yamashita

In Memoriam
We wish to extend our deepest
sympathy to the families of the lateMrs. Florence Yaeko Hirakawa (82)September 5, 2013
Mrs. Elaine Mitsuko Yamashita (87)
September 15, 20133

Ho-on-ko (cont’d from p. 1)
Shinran was born as the son of
low-ranking aristocrats. His motherdied and his father left him when hewas very young, so he entered thepriesthood at Mt. Hiei at the age of 9.
He studied Tendai (Mahayana)
doctrine for 20 years. He kept
precepts, meditated and chanted
sutras. But those practices did notlead him to Buddhahood. He
became depressed and felt
miserable. He couldn’t understandwhy he was unsuccessful. At thattime he realized he was not well andneeded a doctor and medicine. He
set out to find a doctor and medicine
for curing his sickness.
Then at age 29, he met Honen
Shonin and was liberated. Shinran
was deeply moved by Honen. This

What’s in a Name?

Remember Rap Reiplinger’s
hilarious routine, “Japanese
Roll Call,” in which he poked fun
at Japanese names with all theinterchangeable syllables?
“...Hirayama, Yamanaka,
Nakashima, Shimakura, Kurasato,
Satogata, Gotta go nowwww!”Some 90% of Japanese last names
come from place names, such as
villages or landscape features.
We all probably know someone
named Sato, Suzuki or Takahashi
because those are the top three mostcommon Japanese names. I’m willing
to bet you don’t know many people
named Kunomasu, Hyobanshi or
Tankoshitsu. The Japanese have morethan 120,000 different last names, butmore than half the population can befound in the top 250 or so surnames.
Compare that with China, where
there are a total of only about 300
surnames currently used. About halfof the country’s population share oneof just 20 last names. If you guessed
Wong is number one, you’re right!

2

was a radical change in his life.
Shinran became a follower of Honen.
He had found a doctor, teacher andmedicine, the teaching of thenembutsu.
The result of his 20 years ofpractice with the Tendai sect was therealization of his own foolishness andincompetence. This realization — andthe encounter with his teacher, Honen— resulted in his gaining humility.
Humbleness and humility made him
realize non-self, selflessness.
Shinran Shonin achieved the same
awakening as Shakyamuni Buddha
going through a way opposite ofgeneral Buddhism. However, bothways of Buddhism can lead us to havethe state of selflessness, or “awakeningof true self.”
After six peaceful years with Honen,

Shinran was exiled by the governmentand sent to Echigo province(contemporary Niigata prefecture).
Following his pardon at age 41, hemoved to the Kanto area near presentday Tokyo. Then, at 62, he returned to
the Kyoto area, where he lived fornearly 30 years.
He left many writings for his
dharma friends, the nembutsu
followers. He lived a creative life,
much like Shakyamuni Buddha’s for
50 years, until he died at the ripe
old age of 90.
We can see that the lives andteachings of Shakyamuni and Shinran
were nearly identical. They walked
the same path of awakening and led
dynamic and creative lives.
Jodo Shinshu is in the mainstreamof Buddhism.

In Korea, where there are only
about 200 unique last names, morethan half the people are either Kim,
Lee or Park. Similarly, in Vietnam 60%of the population are named Nguyen,
Tran or Le.
Sato and Suzuki each have about
two million people in Japan sharing
those names. But here in Hawaii
the Nakamuras
and Tanakas
outnumber
both theSatos andSuzukis.
Why is
this
so?
Well,
Nakamura andTanaka happen to be among themost common names in WesternJapan, which includes the prefecturesof Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka
and Kumamoto, from where themajority of contract laborers
immigrated and consequently,
where most Japanese-Americans in
Hawaii today trace their roots.
Family names provide someclues as to where one’s ancestralroots lie. To pinpoint exactly where

your ancestors came from requires
further research.
Fortunately there are various
resources available to help us
discover more about our heritage.
For example, our temple libraryhas genealogy manuals as well asa directory of all Japanese living
in Hawaii in the 1930’s, including
occupations, addresses andhome prefectures. Other temple
documents, such as kakocho, or
death register, may also help.
We are considering starting an
informal study group to meet at the
Betsuin and help people find out
more about their roots.
We ‘ll discuss the process ofgetting a koseki tohon, or Japanesebirth certificate, and should you be
successful in obtaining one for yourfamily, we’ll help you decipher it.
In addition to genealogy study,
we plan to check out family crestsand discuss other unique Japanesecustoms and traditions.
We’d like to hear from you if
you’re interested in joining ourheritage study group. Call the temple
office at 531-9088 or email us at
hhhb@me.com.
				– Ken Saiki

News on theJeanne Kawawata helps Brady finish his
nenju while his dad and Debra Saiki look on.

Betsuin WirelessSunday School classes meet on
the 1st and 3rd Sundays every
month, from 10 to 11:30 am.
Holiday crafts, zoo excursions,lunchtime outings in healthy, natural
surroundings and introduction to live
animals are among the exciting
hands-on activities we are looking
forward to with our youngsters.
If you’d like to find out more
about our Sunday youth program, callRev. Honda at 531-9088.

Sunday School Program Launches
Our “Golden Deer” Sunday School
and Youth Activities program kicked
off Sept. 15 with making hand-crafted
nenju as its first activity.
The next meeting included a field
trip to the quiet surrounds of Queen
Emma Summer Palace garden in
Nuuanu Valley, where the children
could explore, enjoy and appreciate
the many blessings of Nature.

O

ur October 6 service is ourmonthly shotsuki
remembrance of our temple family
members who passed away in
October of a past year, including:(past 25 years only)
Yoshiko Anami
Tsuruko Asato
Thomas Tamotsu Fujihara
Helen Yukie Fujiki
Takeshi Fujishige
Ryonosuke Fujisue
Gladys Sakiko Fujiwara
Ted Tsuruo Gono
Clarence Haruo Hanai
Harry Yasumasa Higa
Hisako Hirakawa
Tatsuo Hiraki
Myles Kuro Hirata
Kinsuke Hosogai
Patrick Miyao Imamura
Yoshio Inouye
George Toshio Ishii
Thomas Masayuki Ishimoto
Terri Mitsuko Kamihara“Jiro Dreams of Sushi” Is
October Movie
This 2011 documentary follows
Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi
master and owner of a Michelin
3-star restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro, on
his continuing quest to perfect theart of sushi. Japanese audio andEnglish subtitles. 81 minutes.
Showtime is 6:30 pm on Oct. 22.
Admission is FREE. Ample seating in
the Fukuhara Conference Room.
二郎は鮨の夢を見る

Mya and her mom work together to makenenju out of colorful beads.

Doris Shizue Kaneshiro
Brandon Mitsuo Kawasaki
Taichi Kimura
Robert Isamu Koyama
Susumu Kunishige
Yoshio Kunitomo
Hideo Matsuo
May Mizue Miura
Robert Shigeyoshi Murakami
Hajime Nishizawa
Kikue Nonaka
Irene Teruko Odagiri
Deann Sanae Oi
Richard Asao Okuda
Helen Hisako Okuda
Ushi Oshiro
Yoshito Sagawa
Elton Hiroshi Sakamoto
Makaa Shimabukuro
Toshio Shimamura
Toshiki Shimizu
Toshio Shinko
Milton Shigeru Shishido
Torao Shizuru
George Kumato Sonoda

2011年のドキュメンタリー映画。
85歳の寿司職人で「すきやばし次郎」の店主である小野二郎を追い、すしの技を極めようと探求し続けるその姿と、伝説的存在である父に追いつくべく奮闘する長男禎一を捉えた作品。
日本語、英語字幕 映時間 : 81分
入場無料
10月22（火）午後6:30時

Taiji Suzuki
Kazuto Taketa
George Yoshiro Tanaka
Judith Fumiye Tokunaga
Katsuko Tsukamoto
Steven Kenji Uesato
Stanley Takito Ujimori
Mitsuko Uyehara
Tsugi Watase
Hatsumi Yamada
Take Yamamoto
Susumu Yamashita

In Memoriam
We wish to extend our deepest
sympathy to the families of the lateMrs. Florence Yaeko Hirakawa (82)September 5, 2013
Mrs. Elaine Mitsuko Yamashita (87)
September 15, 2013

3

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

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

Why We Gather at Ho-on-ko
Bishop Kenjun Kawawata

T

Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...

‘wa’
harmony• Why we gather at Ho-on-ko p. 1
• Help! I need Buddhism now! p. 1
• What’s in a name? p. 2
• October acknowledgments

Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin(to be published in November Wa)

10• Shotsuki observance for October p. 3
• News on the Betsuin Wireless p. 3
• Temple activities calendar p. 4

October 2013

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
OCTOBER 2013

NOVEMBER 201311/3 Sun 10 am Shotsuki memorial service &10/6 Sun 10 am Shotsuki/Perpetual memorial service &			
Sunday school			Sunday school
11/3 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class 		
10/6 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class			 現代語で仏教を聞こう			 			 led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese			 led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
11/5 Tue 7 pm Lecture series 1 - Dr. George Tanabe
10/8 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
11/7 Thu 7 pm Lecture series 2 - Dr. George Tanabe
10/10 Thu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
11/9 Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
			
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
			
led by Rev. Frank Childs
10/12 Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
11/10 Sun 10 am Sunday service			
led by Rev. Frank Childs
11/12 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice			
10/13 Sun 10 am Short Sunday service & Sunday school
11/12 Tue 7 pm Lecture series 3 - Dr. George Tanabe
			 Omigaki (Polishing of altar implements)
11/14 Thu 7 pm Lecture series 4 - Dr. George Tanabe
10/13 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting			 			 (no ABCs of Buddhism study class)
10/15 Tue 7 pm O-ko: Informal Dharma discussion
11/17 Sun 10 am Sunday service & Sunday school			Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji
11/17 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
10/19 Sat 10 am Ho-on-ko gathering
11/19 Tue 7 pm O-ko: Dharma discussion (Kaneohe)
10/20 Sun 10 am Betsuin Ho-on-ko service
11/24 Sun 10 am Palolo Hongwanji Ho-on-ko service
10/22 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice			 (No service at Betsuin)
10/22 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Jiro Dreams of Sushi		 11/25 Mon 1 pm Recitation circle (moved up from 11/28)
10/27 Sun 10 am Kaneohe Ho-on-ko (no service at Betsuin)
11/26 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
10/28 Mon 1pm
Recitation circle		
11/26 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Ikiru
Everyone is welcome to join in on our sutra chanting at 7 am daily (except Sundays) in the Betsuin Main Hall.

At Higashi Hongwanji, we
remain true 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
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: hhhb@me.com
Wa is published monthly byHigashi Hongwanji Mission of
Hawaii for its members andfriends. Comments, articles andother items for publicationconsideration are welcomed.
Editor: Ken Saiki

his month we observe Ho-on-ko, the memorial service for the founder of
our Jodo Shinshu denomination, Shinran Shonin, who died on Nov. 28, 1226,
in Kyoto, Japan.
Every year, from Nov. 21 through 28, there are special commemoration
services at the head temple in Kyoto, as well as at all branch temples in Japan,
the United States and South America.
Ho-on-ko is the most important occasion for followers of Jodo Shinshu,
and is the most meaningful memorial service because we are the ones wholisten to and live by the teachings of Shinran Shonin.
In our calendar of events, Ho-on-ko marks the end of one year and the
beginning of a new year. It is time for us come together to sit in front of ourteacher, Shinran Shonin, and listen earnestly to the teachings and re-examine
our lives according to his words and his life.
Ho-on-ko is not just a memorial service for
Shinran Shonin, but the phrase itself is full of deepis the occasion
meaning for us. “Hō-on” (報恩) means “to express
when we express our
gratitude for what we have received,” while “kō” (講)gratitude by listening
is “to explain to make the meaning clearer,” or “togather and come together as a group.”
to and living by the
Therefore Ho-on-ko is the occasion when weteachings more
express our gratitude by listening to and living by
thoroughly.
the teachings more thoroughly.
For Shinran Shonin, receiving the true essenceof Nembutsu teaching brought him to a most fulfilling life. He could not help
but feel grateful towards his teacher and all those who enabled him toencounter the teachings.
In his poem Ondokusan, he is saying, “To Amida Buddha with the greatcompassionate heart and to all my teachers from Shakyamuni to Honen, eachone opening the path of the nembutsu for me, I will express deep gratitudewith my entire being.”
Ho-on-ko should be a meaningful occasion for each of us if we can truly
feel grateful for receiving the teachings, which enable us to live our lives fully.
During Ho-on-ko time we express our gratitude and listen to Shinran Shonin’steaching and re-examine our belief (entrust, or shinjin) again. What kind ofdaily lives can we have, if we have a real entrusting heart (shinjin)?
(continued on p. 2)

Ho-on-ko

HO-ON-KO EVENTS THIS MONTH AT THE BETSUIN
Our Betsuin Ho-on-ko Service will be observed on Sunday,
Oct. 20, starting at 10 a.m. Rev. Ken Yamada, resident ministerat the Berkeley Higashi Honganji, will present the dharma
message. Everyone is welcome to attend.
In addition, there will be special Ho-on-ko Gathering the
day before, on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Rev. Yamada will present “Help! I Need Buddhism Now!”
Rev. Ken Yamada(Decoding Buddha, Shinran and Myself). Fee for the Saturday
gathering, which includes lunch, is $10. You may register for this event by
mail or in person at the temple office. Call 531-9088 if you have questions.

Higashi	  Hongwanji	  Mission	
  of	
  Hawaii	  	  October	
  1,	
  2013	
  Dear	
  Members	
  and	  Friends,	
  
	
  
	
  
The	
  Higashi	  Hongwanji	
  of	
  Mission	
  of	
  Hawaii	  and	
  its	
  Board	  of	
  Directors	
  cordially	
  invite	
  you	  to	
  attend	  the	
  Hoonko	  Service	
  and	
  Hoonko	  Gathering	
  which	
  will	  be	
  held	
  on	
  Saturday,	
  October	
  19	
  and	
  Sunday,	  October	
  20,	  2013.	
  The	
  schedule	
  for	  the	  service	
  and	
  gathering	  are	  as	
  follows:	
  	  Date:	  	
  Time:	  	
  Speaker:	
  	
  
	
  

	
   	
  
	
   	
  
	
   	
  
	
   	
  

	
  	
  	
  	
  Hoonko	  Gathering	
  Saturday,	
  October	
  19,	  2013	  10:00	
  a.m.	
  –	
  3:00	
  p.m.	
  Rev.	
  Ken	  Yamada	
  (Berkeley	
  Higashi	  Honganji)	
  

	
  
	
  

	
   	
  

Date:	  	
  Time:	  	
  Speaker:	
  	
  
	
  

	
   	
  
	
   	
  
	
   	
  
	
   	
  

Hoonko	
  Service	
  Sunday,	  October	
  20,	  2013	  10:00	
  a.m.	
  	
  
Rev.	
  Ken	  Yamada	
  (Berkeley	
  Higashi	  Honganji)	
  

	
  
We	
  will	  be	
  serving	
  Otoki	  Lunch	  immediately	
  following	
  the	  service.	
  
	
  
	
  
Hoonko	
  Service	
  is	
  the	
  memorial	
  service	
  of	
  our	
  founder,	
  Shinran	
  Shonin.	
  	
  We	
  gather	
  to	
  express	
  our	
  appreciation	
  to	
  Shinran	
  Shonin	
  for	
  showing	
  us	
  the	
  teaching	
  of	
  Nembutsu.	
  Gassho,	
  
	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  Kenjun	  Kawawata,	
  Rinban	  Faye	
  Shigemura,	  President	  啓拝
みなさまにおかれましてはお元気にお過ごしのことと存じます。さて今年も報恩講の季節がやってまいりました。報恩講は親鸞聖人のご命日法要で私どもの信仰生活を見直す機会とされてまいりました。本年は下記の如く報恩講法要を厳修いたしますのでご案内申しあげます。
記
報恩講法要
日
時：
英語法話：

２０１３年１０月２０日午前１０時
山 田 ケ ン 師
（バークレー東本願寺開教使）
以上の予定となっております。どうぞご家族お揃いで法要にお参りください。
合
輪

番

河和田

賢淳

教団理事長

1685 Alaneo Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Phone: (808) 531-9088 Fax: (808) 531-3267

重村

フェイ

掌

Help!

				I need Buddhism Now!
(Decoding Buddha, Shinran
and myself)

Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Ho-on-ko Gathering 2013
Date:
Time:
Speaker:

Location:

Rev. Ken Yamada

Fee:

Saturday, October 19, 2013
10:00 am — 3:00 pm
Rev. Ken Yamada

Minister, Berkeley Higashi Honganji

Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
1685 Alaneo Street, Honolulu(corner N. Kuakini St.)
$10.00 (includes lunch)(payable to Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii)

1980, University of California, Berkeley, B.S. Sociology
1982 - 1983, Institute of Buddhist Studies, Berkeley
1984 - 1986, Chuo Bukkyo Gakuin, Kyoto
1988 - 2004, Writer and reporter for various publications, including the Los Angeles Times, New York Newsday,
The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Red Herring Magazine
2005 - present, Minister, Berkeley Higashi Honganji

Questions? Please contact the temple office at 531-9088 • Fax: 531-3265 • Email: hhhb@me.com# Clip here and return

Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Ho-on-ko Gathering 2013 • Saturday, October 19, 2013

q YES! I would like to participate in the Ho-on-ko Gathering 2013 with guest speaker Rev. Ken Yamada.
Name:_______________________________________________________________________________ Phone:________________________________________________

Name:_______________________________________________________________________________ E-mail:________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii

1685 Alaneo Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: (808) 531-9088 • Fax: (808) 531-3265 • Email: hhhb@me.com