Hongwanji International CenterNEWSNovember 2017

Monshu visits Hawaii district
Monshu Sennyo, visited Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii from September 9 – 13 as part of hisvisitation to the overseas districts and regional districts. Since his appointment as Monshu (Head priest) inJune 2014, this is his second visit to an overseas district, following his first visit that was made to Canada.
Covering the four islands of Big Island, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai, Monshu Sennyo made visitations to a totalof 15 temples during which a Confirmation Ceremony was held at three temples. While in Hawaii, Monshu
Sennyo also attended the dedication and grand opening ceremony of the new campus of Pacific Buddhist
Academy, the first Jodo Shinshu Buddhist high school in the U.S., and the centennial of the completion anddedication of Hawaii Betsuin’s main temple building.
Monshu and his entourage, with Governor Keiichi Abe as his attendant, were warmly greeted with leis
and well wishes by kaikyoshi ministers and sangha members at the temples. Temples with preschool facilities
also joined in the festive moment as they lined up with excitement to welcome Monshu Sennyo.
After entering the temple and offering incense, Monshu Sennyo offered a message in English before thosegathered, expressing his respect to our predecessors who first immigrated to Hawaii from Japan, and withthe temple as their spiritual place helped to establish the Hawaii Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha temples andtransmit the teaching to us today. Monshu Sennyo stated, “The Jodo Shinshu teaching expounded by Shinran
Shonin about eight hundred years ago became known and supported by more and more people during Rennyo
Shonin’s tenure due to his skillful propagational efforts. After the Meiji era, the teaching was spread beyond
the national borders to the rest of the world, therefore making it possible for us to meet here today. This
global propagation is realized because the Jodo Shinshu teaching can essentially serve as anyone’s spiritual
foundation without regard to time and place. Being aware of Amida Buddha’s great compassion embracing
every one of us, we are enabled to accept each incident we come across as a great opportunity, and thus weare able to live our lives energetically even though life itself is filled with a variety of limitations. However,
we cannot help but stop thinking of only our own desire or convenience and find it difficult to accept things
as they are. That is why it is important for us to continue listening to the Dharma and understanding how
Amida Buddha’s working reaches us. Through such efforts, our views and ways of living gradually changes.
In conclusion, I hope that every one of you who have gathered here today will continue your efforts in listening
to and sharing of the Dharma with as many others as possible.”A brief history on the respective temple was shared by the resident minister that preceded a message by
the temple president who introduced the temple’s current activities and situation. Those in attendance later
gathered for a group photo with Monshu Sennyo before he toured the temple facilities and interacted withmembers and preschool children.
Welcome dinners and luncheons were also organized for the special occasion with lively entertainment andfellowship.
(Hongwanji Journal, October 10, 2017, p.1)

Dharma Names received by 134 participants from ages 1 to 93
A total of 134 Jodo Shinshu followers ranging in age from 1 to 93 received their Dharma Names during theConfirmation Ceremony which was conducted at Hilo Betsuin on the Big Island, Wailuku Hongwanji on Maui,and Hawaii Betsuin on Oahu. Many families were among those taking part in the ceremony.
Peyton Tanabe (1) was carried by her mother Lisa Tanabe, a member of Hilo Betsuin, to take part in theceremony. “This is a good opportunity for my daughter to encounter Buddhism. I am relieved that she wasquiet during the ceremony. This will be a memorable event in my daughter’s life,” shared Tanabe as Peyton
playfully watched her mother being interviewed.
Hawaii Betsuin members, Miki Saito (48) and her children Byron (14), Cora (11), and Vincent (9) took partin the Confirmation Ceremony as a family. Saito’s grandparents were devout members and her parents had
their wedding ceremony at the betsuin. While being raised in the mainland U.S., she would go to the temple
for funerals. Since moving to Hawaii, she and her family have been going to the temple regularly. She
expressed her appreciation to her parents and grandparents, and also for being able to take part in theConfirmation Ceremony.
(Hongwanji Journal, October 10, 2017, p.1)
~Smiles of three generations of Big Island family~
Hilo Betsuin members, Jill Yokoyama Atwall (45), daughter Maya (13), son Tevin (11), and mother Netlie
Yokoyama (70), took part in the Confirmation Ceremony. The family of three generations regularly attends
weekly Sunday service. Atwall shared, “I wanted to share my joy with my children. Being able to receive ourDharma names by Monshu here at our home temple is truly meaningful. The temple is a place where welearn many things. I would like my children to continue learning at the temple.” In receiving their Dharmanames, Atwall’s children shared, “In receiving our Dharma name, we feel even closer to Buddhism. Beginningtoday, it’s as if we took a new step as Buddhists.”(Hongwanji Journal, October 10, 2017, p.1)

Buddhist high school Pacific Buddhist Academy new building completed―Monshu expresses bright expectations of PBA to “develop bright young leaders at the global level”―
On September 8, a dedication ceremony was held at the Pacific Buddhist Academy to celebrate thecompletion of its new school building. Beginning with the offering of lit candles and flowers by students andthe offering of incense by Monshu Sennyo, words of appreciation and congratulatory messages were given by
PBA representatives and distinguished guests as everyone gathered in the multi-purpose hall of the newfacility. PBA started out using the dormitory facilities of Hawaii Betsuin that were renovated into fourclassrooms. As the first Jodo Shinshu high school in the U.S., in order to be able to increase student
enrollment, the construction of the new facility was started as a project in conjunction with the 120th
anniversary of the establishment of Hawaii district.
Despite a five year delay due to difficulties in the collecting of funds, through generous contributions by
the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha, the Buddhist Women’sFederation, Ryukoku Sogo Gakuen, and many other countless supporters, the project was efficientlycompleted. The 2-story 10-classroom building consists of a Japanese tea room, an extensive open-spaced foyer
where students can both socialize and study, and the multi-purpose hall which houses the school’s Buddhist
altar. The interior design concept of the classrooms and science lab on the second floor allows forrearrangement to cater to the lessons being instructed.
With Buddhism as its foundation, PBA continues to nurture the importance of peace within their education
principles. Enrollment at PBA currently consists of a total of 55 students, ranging from grades 9 through 12.
(Hongwanji Journal, October 10, 2017, p.8)
Hawaii Betsuin temple hall turns 100
To mark the opening celebrations of the centennial since the construction of the Hawaii Betsuin temple
hall, a special service was held on September 10, with attendance by Monshu Sennyo. The service beganwith the unveiling of the newly decorated altar walls with painted images of the phoenix and Gumyocho, or
two-headed bird which both represents the inconceivable light and life of the Buddha, by Monshu Sennyoand Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii Bishop Rev. Eric Matsumoto. Following the chanting of Sam
Butsu Ge, congratulatory messages by Monshu Sennyo, Bishop Matsumoto, and Hawaii Betsuin Rimban
Rev. Hagio were presented, before the Dharma School and Adult choir of Hawaii Betsuin collaborated in a
performance of Buddhist gathas, and the service closed with everyone joining in the singing of Ondokusan.
Takeko Oda (85), who was attending the service commented, “I am so thankful to have such a special
opportunity to attend the ceremony and an honor to meet Monshu Sennyo for the first time.”
Expressing concerns of the younger people distancing themselves from Buddhism in Hawaii, Betty
Morimoto (88) hopes that the Nembutsu can be transmitted on to the next generation. With the upcoming
centennial activities, Hagio shared his concerns of the many challenges Hawaii district is confronted with.
Last December, the last sugar plantation in Hawaii closed on Maui, marking the end of an era in Hawaii.
As younger families move to Oahu for work, adjustments are necessary so that the younger families will
come to the betsuin. Conveying the Nembutsu on to younger family members is becoming difficult, thatimmediate action needs to take place in developing a program in Hawaii that is similar to Japan’s Monto

Suishin-in (membership promotion committee) to assist ministers in propagation activities.
(Hongwanji Journal, October 10, 2017, p.8)

Altar palace-like structure that houses the image of Amida at Honohina Hongwanji on the Big Island. It
was made from used wooden orange boxes. The carpenter is unknown, but was likely a member who built
the structure, using what was available when the sermon hall became a temple in 1969.
(Hongwanji Journal, October 10, 2017, p.8)