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

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

The Point of a Myth
3FW'SBOL$IJMET

Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...

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Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

5
May 2015

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
MAY 2015
5/3
5/3
5/9
5/10
5/10
5/12
5/14
5/17
5/17
5/17
5/19
5/24
5/24
5/26
5/26
5/28
5/31

Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service(Rinban Kawawata) & Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Crafting (Tsuru assembly)
Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
Sun 10 am Mother’s Day family service(John Ishikawa, lay speaker)
Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in JapaneseTue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceThu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Sun 10 am Tanjo-e service (Rev. Frank Childs)
Celebration of Shinran Shonin’s birth
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Crafting (Kusudama)Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
Sun 10 am All Wars memorial service
Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Crafting (Men in Boat)
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceTue 6:30 pm Movie night: Sanjuro
Sat 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
Sun 10 am Sunday service (Rev. Takafumi Bansaka)

JUNE 2015
6/7
6/7
6/9
6/11
6/13
6/14
6/14
6/16
6/17
6/21
6/21
6/23
6/23
6/28

Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service(Rinban Kawawata) & Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Jimmy’s Auto Basics
led by Jimmy Hirakawa
Fukuhara Conference RoomTue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceThu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara Conference RoomSat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
Sun 10 am Sunday service
Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
Wed 7 pm Dharma Study Center lecture
Dr. Michihiro Ama
Betsuin main hall
Sun 10 am Father’s Day family service
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meetingTue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceTue 6:30 pm Movie night: Yojimbo
Sun 10 am Onicchu and Sunday service

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
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 Missionof Hawaii for its members
and friends. Comments,
articles and other items for
publication consideration
are welcomed.
Editor: Ken Saiki

Rev. Frank Childs, associate minister at our Betsuin,delivered the dharma message at our Hanamatsuri
Buddha Day service on April 12. Below is a transcript ofhis message.

We well know that when Shakyamuni Buddha
was born he took seven steps in the four directions, pointed up
and down, and said, “I alone am noble.”But do we know this as a cold and hard fact? Not at all: we know it
as a myth. Many people of our time now might see a myth as “a silly old
tale told because folks back then did not know any better, and lacked
the science and technology we now have.”
Let’s see if such really is the case.
Joseph Campbell (1904-1987), a historian of the mythic, said
toward the end of his life, “We’re so engaged in doing things to achieve
purposes of outer value that we forget that the inner value, the rapturethat is associated with being alive, is what it’s all about.”
I feel Campbell is touching upon why we need the sense of
release and wonder what a mythic moment can offer us. How many
people only “go through the motions” of being alive?
Myth is defined as “a story that embodies the values of a culture”;
it is not a “lie.” Even if we can’t calculate each act in Buddha’s life ina literal way, is not his life story
important to our individual lives“I alone am noble.”right now?
The Buddha birthday “flower
house” and “tea bath”...don’t these
repeated acts link us with Buddha invery everyday human ways?
I often felt stymied by the “Ialone” part of the story. Allowing
the sense of myth to work upon me,
I can feel joy in the nobility of thechild-like wonder that we could all
do well to touch again in our often
jaded present.
I find that I’ve raised questions
FACT OR MYTH?
here that perhaps you have yourown feelings about. Good! Taketime to ponder and share your views along this path we share at thistime. We each live in our own flower house, and fade with the petals. If
we don’t feel alive in this very life, I doubt we will have the option any
other time.
Namuamidabutsu.



/FXTPOUIF#FUTVJO8JSFMFTT
classes to make a kusudama balland men in a boat have beenscheduled for May 17 and 24,
respectively, from 12 noon to 2 pm.
If you’re interested in joining theclasses, please call 531-9088 toregister. Seating may be limited.
There is a $4 fee for each set.

4BOKVSPJTNPWJFPGUIFNPOUI In May we feature the 1962samurai drama Sanjuro, directed by
Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshiro
Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai and Yuzo
Kayama. Need we say more?
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tues., May 26,
Jeanne Kawawata demonstrates folding techniques at her April 26 paper crafting class.
96 min. monochrome, Japanese audio
Not your ordinary folded
4DIFEVMFTFUGPSBEEJUJPOBM"SU
with English subtitles. Free admission.
origami crane, the end result is a
PG1BQFS$SBGUJOHDMBTTFT
椿三十郎 （つばきさんじゅうろう）
work of art. The first class wasSome 15 temple members and
監督：黒澤明、出演者：三船敏郎、仲devoted to folding the hundreds offriends gathered in the Fukuhara
代達矢、加山雄三
paper squares. At the May 3 session,
Conference Room at the Betsuin on
公開：1962 、言語 : 日本語、字幕 :attendees will learn the technique
April 26 to learn how to make英語
、映時間 : 96分（モノクロ) 、5月
of assembling their cranes.
intricate paper cranes from craft
26日(火)午後6:30時、入場無料。
With so much interest, follow-up
instructor Jeanne Kawawata.

Can you imagine being withouta toilet and shower for two months?
Under what conditions would thishappen to people today? Perhaps
as a victim of a natural disaster andbeing forced to live temporarily in awarehouse?
No, this was the unfortunate
life of our own Bishop Kawawata
and his family earlier this year at his
residence at the Betsuin.
Sewer line problem
When his plumbing became
clogged, we immediately called
RotoRooter to the rescue. But they
couldn’t resolve the problem so aheavy-duty rooting specialist wascalled in, who couldn’t handle iteither, so they had to call someone withsuper heavy-duty rooting equipment,
all to no avail. Fortunately, since wehave other toilets and showers onproperty, Bishop and his family wereable to still get business done.

2

After an extended period of
follow-up phone calls, excuses anddelays, plus an ultimatum from
Bishop that he would consider
moving to a hotel, we secured
another plumber to accomplish thetask, which involved connecting
bigger pipes, redirecting the flow andinstalling a pump.
Although the concrete work tohouse the pump and the electrical
work are yet to be completed, Bishop

Eroding walls and spalling concrete cracks
are scheduled to be repaired with industrial
rust inhibitor and epoxy concrete.

is happy now that he can finally study
on his own throne.
We apologize to Bishop for any
inconvenience and thank him and his
family for their patience.
Structural repairs
I don’t know how the Greeks andRomans did it, but they must have
had exceptional builders to havetheir buildings last so long.
After less than 50 years, ourtemple is having structural problems
which should be addressed now to
avoid more costly repairs down theline. I now have extreme empathy
to homeowners. If it’s not the roof,
it’s the plumbing or worse, thesupporting structure. Well, maybe
plumbing is the worst fear for
women. There’s something to be said
for renting versus ownership.
We will start repair work on
the main temple building soon.
We apologize in advance for any
additional noise or inconvenience
due to repairs, and ask for yourpatience and understanding. Workwill primarily involve the ewa andmakai sides of the building.

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. For
donations of $250 or more, receipts/acknowledgment will be
issued in compliance with IRS regulations. For other amounts
receipts will not be issued unless requested. Thank you.

.&.03*"- '6/&3"- */63/.&/5#63*"-4&37*$&
Peggy Arita
Howard Nikaido
Craig Miyasato

Mitsue Ikari
Margaret Higa
Lester KaichiJane Kaneshiro
Helen Suzuki
Harvey Shima
Ralph Tanijo family
Doris Goto family
Annie Malama
Wallace & Jane Naito Warren & Evelyn McKeon,:0%"/%0/"5*0/(including Otani Center, nokotsudo, altar supplies, parking) 
Francine Fujinaka
Fujiwara Family
Haruko Yoshioka
June Omura
June Takasaki
Mrs. Nakura
Patti Sato
Randall & Amy Yuen Rev. Hosui Toyama
Susan Kanemoto
Jonathan Tani
Dennis & Debra Saiki Cheryl Kojima
Atsuko Nonaka
Aikido Ohana
Briana Sugai
Rev. Marcos Sawada Sharon Kawagoe0)*("/

Atsuko Nonaka
Keizaburo Tsuji(0+*,"*%6&4

Charlene Watanabe
Larry Tsuchiyama
Shirley Nishizawa

Mildred Tashiro
Walter Yamada
Vaiana Block

Betty Nishida
Patrick Miyamura

Chieko Sugimoto
Peggy Arita

James Hirakawa
Roy Nakamoto

Jane Watanabe

Florence Sueyoshi
Miyoko Kimishima

Haruko Yoshioka
Nancy Nakatsu

Helen Suzuki
Peggy Arita

Jane Okazaki
Roy Nakamoto

Kawakami family
Shigeko Tsuchida

Katherine Kurakake
Gladys MinamiPaul Motoyama
Roy Nakamoto
Judith Nakata
Ikuto Taketa
G. T. TanoueHarvey/Norma Shima
Elmer Shiraishi
Barbara Soma
Faye Sueoka
June Takasaki
James Hirakawa
Kathryn Okazaki

Toshimasa Arai
Tatsuo Kubota
Collin Segawa
Gladys Abe
James & Edith Endo Frances Maekawa
Esther Shioi
Chiyoko Fujii
Janice Fukuda
Shizuko Miyazaki
Russell Shoji
Rev. Hosen Fukuhara
Gerald & Linda Gono Sharon Yamada
Richard Sonomura
Margaret Hamachi
Natalie Hanai
Ed & Diane Nakano Helen & Carol Suzuki Doris Hanai
Wayne & Violet Harada Cynthia Nishimura
Jean Hayashi
Shirley Nishizawa
Jean Nitta
Pui Heng Tang
Carolyn Ikeda
Diane Noguchi-Soo
Jane Okazaki
James Tanouye
Peggy Ishida
Patrick Ohara
Satsuye Tanaka
Wayne Ishii
Jasmine Okuda
Moriso Teraoka
Tadao Iwasaki
Michiko Otsuka
Shigeko Tsuchida
Bert Kaizuka
Nancy Nakatsu
Eleanor Urakawa
Marion Kanemori
Dennis/Debra Saiki
May Uyeda
Dennis /Yasuko Kawada Michael Sawai
Kumiko Sakai
Viola Uyeno
Stanley Kono
Kenneth Sakamoto Kazue Yamamoto
Betty & Renee Koizumi Marilyn Yonekura
Robert/Edwina Takayama
Gladys SakataBeatrice Nakano
Ken & Kumiko Saiki#&/&'*5'6/%3"*4&3)"/"."5463*

Ikuto Taketa
David Fujihara

Kazue Uechi'-03"-"33"/(&.&/54
Minako Ito-Song

Joyce Masaki

In Memoriam
We extend our deepest sympathy
to the families of the late
Richard Isami Hanai (88)
February 18, 2015
Ethel Etsuko Fujihara (91)
March 21, 2015

Shotsuki Observance for MayO

ur monthly shōtsuki service in remembrance oftemple family members who passed away in themonth of May of a past year will be held on 4VOEBZ .BZThe following list includes members from thepast 25 years .
While shōtsuki services for a loved one are observed
every year, special nenki hōyō memorial services are

Jo Ann Sayoko Dawson
Kiyoshi Fujieda
Fujie Fujieda
Masako Fukuhara
Jean Haruko Hifumi
Michiko Higa
Kiyoshi Hikari
Helen Ayame Hirata
Ike Torao Ikari
Sueto Ikari
Tsuruko Ishikawa
Doris Umeko Ishikawa

Shigeru Ishimatsu
Hazel Sachiko Iwaki
Roy Hideo Kaneshiro
Grace Matsue Kaneshiro
Francis Kawada
Masao Kitayama
Gary Ken Kudo
Raymond Eiwo Kurakake
Masatoshi Matsumoto
Shizuko Matsumoto
Phyllis U. Matsunaga
Randal Kiyoshi Michioku

held during certain auspicious years. These years
include the 1st anniversary, followed by memorialservices for the 3rd, 7th, 13th, 17th, 25th, 33rd and50th years, normally held during the year prior to theactual anniversary date.
Call the Betsuin office at 531-9088 for assistance orfor more information.

Yoshino Mimuro
Harry M. Minamishin
Robert Seigi Miyagi
Tsutayo Miyamura
George Kazuyuki Morita
Kiyoko Dorothy Moriyama
Kenichi Mukai
Chiyoko Nakagawa
James Kiyoshi Nakamoto
Toshie Nakamura
Harry Masao Nishida
Muraichi Nishida

Mildred Yukie Saida
Ishi Sawamura
Asako Sekimoto
Sueko Shima
Florence Mitsue Shimada
Katherine Miyoko Shirabe
Hiroshi Shoji
Hisako Suyama
Myron Nagao Suyetsugu
Richard Kakuji Takasaki
Yoshinobu Takayama
Shigeru Tamanaha

Fred Gyoun Tamayose
Cherie Toshiko Tamayose
Hatsue Tanoue
Caesar Shinzo Tsutsumi
Harumi Ujimori
Takino Umeda
James Shigeru Umeda
George H. Umemoto
Laura Tsuki Yamamoto
Sharon Taeko Yamamoto
James Takeo Yamamura
Rik Rikio Yamashita

5

'VLVTIJNB$IJMESFOT1SPKFDU

Tanjo-e Service

0VUEPPSBDUJWJUJFTIFMQSFDIBSHFLJET
by Faye Shigemura

In celebration of the birth of Shinran Shonin

H

Hatsumairi Ceremony
Held in conjunction with Tanjo-e Service

Sunday May 17, 2015 10:00 am
English Message : Rev. Frank Childs

親鸞聖人誕生会
新生児初参り法要
２０１５年５月１７日 午前１０時
日本語法話：河和田賢淳輪番

A ceremony for infants and children up to 6 years of age who shallbe presented initially before the Buddha. It signifies the foundation
towards a spiritual life. Please fill out the apprication form and sendback to the temple office.
初参りは、新しいいのちの誕生を祝う儀式です。６才までのお子さんを受け付け致します。お早めにお寺まで申し込んでください。

Child's Name
BirthdayAge

Parent's Name
Address
City

State

Zip

Telephone

Sex

M F

igashi Hongwanji Hawaii District
sponsored six 10- to 12-year-old
students from Fukushima, Japan, tocome to Hawaii for a week of respitefrom the stress and contamination
concerns as a result of the 3/11
earthquake and tsunami.
The children enjoyed basking in the sun and frolicking in the surf of Kauai’s fabled beaches.
These youngsters took nothing
Playing outdoors is a rare treat among many Fukushima youngsters who are often kept
for granted, inhaled their new
experiences in Hawaii with refreshing indoors by their parents out of concern about effects of radiation on their young bodies.
children’s project. The children were
was the first group to come underenthusiasm not often seen intreated to lunch by the Kauai Mariott
the Hawaii District’s charge, and wechildren their age. I want to say that
Resort, along with a tour of the grounds learned a lot about organization andthe children were like any otherand gifts to fill a shopping bag fromplanning. This Fukushima children’s
pre-teens I’ve met before, but not
Sales Manager Barbara Gusman andproject can only get better as wethese young ladies and gentlemen.
The children were a joy to be around. Japanese Language Liaison, Art Umezu, prepare for the next group of children.
and his wife.
In the future, we hope to get more
The shortest but the most vocal was
Shopping for omiyage for friends Higashi Hongwanji members, friends
a 10-year-old boy who responded
and family in Japan was next on theand partners involved to help with
with a loud, “Arigato Gozaimasu!”
agenda. After dinner, the children
this project. If you would like to getwhenever they received anything.
made their own Spam musubi for
involved, or if you have connections
Each day started or ended withbreakfast. The next day, they went on at airlines, hotels or anyone in thea service, with the children chanting
an adventurous boat ride around the travel industry who might be able toand ringing the gong. They trekked
Napali Coast.
help, please contact us. We hope toto Waimea Canyon and experienced
Members and volunteers at
improve the lives of victims, many
probably their first bed-and-breakfast
Waimea Higashi Hongwanji prepared who will not recover their homes fora sumptuous welcome pot luck feast, a long time to come, and many more
snacks throughout the visit and an
who may be negatively affected byequally festive farewell party. Several radiation exposure.
members gave the children little
A grateful mahalo and deep
gifts to take home. In gratitude, thearigato to all participants and donors
children sang for everyone: theirto this much needed project.
school song and the well-loved
Kokyo, all in beautiful harmony.
As a chaperone, I met manykind and generous people whowill remain in my heart for a long
Picking their own cacao beans to maketime. Members and ministers of
their own cocoa was a fun experience.
the small Kauai community get
together to help one another withat Moloa’a. The beach was close by,
Sunday, May 10 at 10:00 am
temple and non-temple activities.
so the children were able to walk
Higashi
Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
It was wonderful to see people indown for some fun in the sun. They
Message:
John Ishikawa
the community with a true desire tolearned how to pick and husk cacao
belong and help each other.
beans and prepare them for sunThis was by far the mostdrying. Grinding beans that had been
important and far-reaching project indried beforehand, they were able towhich I participated as a member ofenjoy delicious cups of hot cocoa....
月日午時
Higashi Hongwanji. The responsibility
prepared with their own hands!
本
Dan and Jean Chapp of the Waimea was huge, but as far as return rewards：
go, the look on the faces of thetemple recruited fellow Lions Club
participants spoke volumes. Thismembers to help with the Fukushima

Mother’s Day
Family Service日

Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
1685 Alaneo St., Honolulu, HI 96817
Telephone (808) 531-9088

4

3

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

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

The Point of a Myth
3FW'SBOL$IJMET

Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...

‘wa’
harmonyt5IF1PJOUPGB.ZUIp. 1
t /FXTPOUIF#FUTVJO8JSFMFTTp. 2
t "SUPG1BQFS$SBGUJOHDMBTTp. 2
t .BZNPWJFp. 2
t 'VLVTIJNBDIJMESFOTQSPKFDUp. 3
t .PUIFST%BZGBNJMZTFSWJDFp. 3
t5BOKPFTFSWJDFp. 4
t "DLOPXMFEHNFOUTp. 5
t 4IPUTVLJMJTUJOHGPS.BZp. 5t5FNQMFBDUJWJUJFTDBMFOEBSp. 6

Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

5
May 2015

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
MAY 2015
5/3
5/3
5/9
5/10
5/10
5/12
5/14
5/17
5/17
5/17
5/19
5/24
5/24
5/26
5/26
5/28
5/31

Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service(Rinban Kawawata) & Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Crafting (Tsuru assembly)
Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
Sun 10 am Mother’s Day family service(John Ishikawa, lay speaker)
Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in JapaneseTue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceThu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Sun 10 am Tanjo-e service (Rev. Frank Childs)
Celebration of Shinran Shonin’s birth
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Crafting (Kusudama)Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
Sun 10 am All Wars memorial service
Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Crafting (Men in Boat)
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceTue 6:30 pm Movie night: Sanjuro
Sat 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
Sun 10 am Sunday service (Rev. Takafumi Bansaka)

JUNE 2015
6/7
6/7
6/9
6/11
6/13
6/14
6/14
6/16
6/17
6/21
6/21
6/23
6/23
6/28

Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service(Rinban Kawawata) & Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Jimmy’s Auto Basics
led by Jimmy Hirakawa
Fukuhara Conference RoomTue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceThu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara Conference RoomSat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
Sun 10 am Sunday service
Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
Wed 7 pm Dharma Study Center lecture
Dr. Michihiro Ama
Betsuin main hall
Sun 10 am Father’s Day family service
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meetingTue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceTue 6:30 pm Movie night: Yojimbo
Sun 10 am Onicchu and Sunday service

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
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 Missionof Hawaii for its members
and friends. Comments,
articles and other items for
publication consideration
are welcomed.
Editor: Ken Saiki

Rev. Frank Childs, associate minister at our Betsuin,delivered the dharma message at our Hanamatsuri
Buddha Day service on April 12. Below is a transcript ofhis message.

We well know that when Shakyamuni Buddha
was born he took seven steps in the four directions, pointed up
and down, and said, “I alone am noble.”But do we know this as a cold and hard fact? Not at all: we know it
as a myth. Many people of our time now might see a myth as “a silly old
tale told because folks back then did not know any better, and lacked
the science and technology we now have.”
Let’s see if such really is the case.
Joseph Campbell (1904-1987), a historian of the mythic, said
toward the end of his life, “We’re so engaged in doing things to achieve
purposes of outer value that we forget that the inner value, the rapturethat is associated with being alive, is what it’s all about.”
I feel Campbell is touching upon why we need the sense of
release and wonder what a mythic moment can offer us. How many
people only “go through the motions” of being alive?
Myth is defined as “a story that embodies the values of a culture”;
it is not a “lie.” Even if we can’t calculate each act in Buddha’s life ina literal way, is not his life story
important to our individual lives“I alone am noble.”right now?
The Buddha birthday “flower
house” and “tea bath”...don’t these
repeated acts link us with Buddha invery everyday human ways?
I often felt stymied by the “Ialone” part of the story. Allowing
the sense of myth to work upon me,
I can feel joy in the nobility of thechild-like wonder that we could all
do well to touch again in our often
jaded present.
I find that I’ve raised questions
FACT OR MYTH?
here that perhaps you have yourown feelings about. Good! Taketime to ponder and share your views along this path we share at thistime. We each live in our own flower house, and fade with the petals. If
we don’t feel alive in this very life, I doubt we will have the option any
other time.
Namuamidabutsu.