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

Becoming Myself

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

Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...

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Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

12

December 2015

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
DECEMBER 2015
HBC Bodhi Day service - Honpa Hongwanji(no service at Betsuin)
12/8 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
12/10 Thu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
12/12 Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
12/13 Sun 10 am Betsuin Bodhi Day service &Sunday school
12/13 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
12/6 Sun 9 am

現代語で仏教を聞こう

led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
12/13 Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Crafting class
12/15 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
12/20 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service &Sunday school
12/20 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
12/22 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
12/22 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Tokyo Story (1953)
12/26 Sat 9 am Annual temple cleaning (大掃除)Ehime Maru Memorial cleaning
12/27 Sun 8 am Mochi-pounding (no Sunday service)
12/28 Mon 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
12/31 Thu 5 pm Year-end service - 除夜会 (Joya-e)
Toshi-koshi soba served after service

1/1

Fri

1/3

Sun

1/3

Sun

1/9

Sat

1/10 Sun
1/10 Sun
1/12
1/14
1/17
1/17
1/17
1/19
1/24
1/26
1/26
1/28
1/31

JANUARY 201610 am New Year service - 修正会 (Shusho-e)Ozoni served after service
10 am Shōtsuki memorial service &Sunday school
12 pm Jimmy’s Auto Basics
led by Jim Hirakawa (Palolo Auto Service)
Fukuhara Conference Room
10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
10 am Sunday service & Sunday school
12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
現代語で仏教を聞こう

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 Sunday service & Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Crafting classTue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
Sun 10 am Sunday service & Sunday schoolTue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceTue 6:30 pm Movie night: Still Walking (2008)
Mon 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
Sun 10 am Sunday service & Sunday school

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: Koen Kikuchi
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 Saikit’s already December. This month we celebrate Bodhi Day, which is theday of Buddha’s awakening. Therefore, I would like to discuss the Buddha’s
awakening for this issue.
First of all I’d like to share a writing of Rev. Haya Akegarasu, who was amodern thinker and priest of Jodo Shinshu in the late 19th and early 20th
century.
“Jesus was not a Christian. Shakyamuni was not a
Buddhist. Jesus was Jesus himself and Shakyamuni was
Shakyamuni himself. When the disciples of Shakyamuni tried tobe like a Shakyamuni, they became Buddhists and the spirit of
Shakyamuni was destroyed.
I just need to be myself. No need to become a Christian,
to become a Buddhist, to become a Buddha or to become agod. According to Shakyamuni, to become a Buddha means
to become one’s own self. Thus, becoming true to myself is to
Rinban Ken Kawawata
become a Buddha (awakened one).”From this writing, we know that Buddhism is the quest of one’s true
self and the way of self-examination. Buddha said this world is fleeting.
This world is impermanent. We are born and living in this fleeting world ofimpermanence. We see and recognize this world through our six senses:
vision, hearing, smell,“Jesus was not a Christian. Shakyamuni wastaste, touch and mind,
not a Buddhist. Jesus was Jesus himself andor consciousness. The
center of perception
Shakyamuni was Shakyamuni himself.”
for this world is myself.
That is why Buddha and other teachers of Buddhism said that knowing ourtrue self is most important and they walked in the way of self-awakening, thepath of Buddha.
We know that we are living in the fleeting and floating world. However,
we tend to see this world in our ways. We also have many attachments for ourconvenience and smooth lives. When life goes smoothly, we don’t feel any
problems or sufferings. When the conditions change, however, our life does
not go the way we wish. We tend to push out others and try to get our own
smooth lives back.
I realize that I have all kind of weapons in my mind. I can picture guns,
knives and swords. I would harm and kill others for the sake of my convenientlife. Because I always wish for a smooth life, if someone appears in front of me
and disturbs my happy life, I am sure that I would wish that that person would
disappear from my life. Realistically, I won’t kill or harm him or her, but in mymind, I had already “killed” that person. Depending on conditions, we don’t
really know what we would do in the next moment.
Shiran Shonin said to his disciple, Yuien, “We do not kill, not because ourthoughts are good but because we do not have the karma to kill even a single
person. Yet, even though we do not want to injure anyone, we may be led
to kill a hundred or a thousand people. . . Under the influence of our karmic
condition we human beings will do anything.”(cont’d on p. 2)#0%)*%":4&37*$&4)BXBJJ#VEEIJTU$PVODJM#PEIJ%BZ4FSWJDF
Sunday, December 6, starting at 9:00 am
Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, 1727 Pali Highway)JHBTIJ)POHXBOKJ#FUTVJO#PEIJ%BZ4FSWJDF
Sunday, December 13, starting at 10:00 am
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, 1685 Alaneo Street

Becoming Myself (cont’d from p. 1)

awakening and becoming our true
selves.
In Jodo Shinshu, listening to theDharma is our practice and leads toshinjin, or entrusting mind to theDharma. We listen to the Dharma,and little by little, our real selves
will prevail. So listening is the mostimportant practice in our daily lives.
I wish you a peaceful year-end
and a Happy New Year.
Thank you in gassho,
Kenjun Kawawata

Through the Dharma, we are taughtthat existence has a tendency tochange due to certain conditions.
The world of Dharma, however,always makes us realize thelimitations of our own world. Once
we know our limitations, we canget away from our small world andbecome able to see the world thathas no limitations.
Dr. Haneda likened a humanbeing to a frog living in a well. The
frog doesn’t realize how small it

is and that there is a huge world
outside of the well. If it gets out
from the well and sees the realworld, it would know its limitations
and that an unlimited world
sustained its world. The frog has toreturn to its well because that’s the
only place it can live out its life.
Similarly, we have to live with
our shortcomings and ego. That’s
why we have to leave for ourjourney to find our true selves.
Buddhism is the way of self-A

week or two before Higan was cold,sometimes get stuck. Maybe there
though it wasn’t a problem for me.
is a traffic jam in my brain. For the
I could sleep well but eventually, I
past eight years, I did not have thehad a difficult time getting up in theopportunity to use English all thatmorning. But coming to Hawaii, ah...
much. It isn’t easy for me to speak,summer has returned.
write and listen to English now, but I
I like summer and warm weather am trying my best.
because I was born and raised in
I’m here with my family, which
Akita prefecture, which is locatedincludes my wife Mai, six-year-old
in the northern part of Japan.
son Ren, and daughters Kokoro (4)Summers are very short and winters and Hana (2). Every day the children
are lo-o-o-ng. And it snows a lot.
run and play and shriek around
And I mean a lot. In places near
the temple grounds, so you can
my hometown, some people use
find them easily. They’re enjoying
a second floor window to enter
themselves and seem very happy totheir house! Even in my hometown,
be here.
overnight it may snow up to our
My teacher left me a saying I can’tknees or lower back.
forget. “To marry is living.” Recently,
Anyway, I guess you can tell that the words came to touch my heart
I really like summer. I also like yourdeeply. Marriage is not a fantasy or awarm and kind hearts. I was greeted dream, but it is a reality that I have toat the airport by both Rinban
accept, no matter what happens.
Kawawata and Bansaka-sensei and
Buddha dharma is a teaching
they brought me to the temple.
of our life. I’d like to listen and learn
Then when we reached thetogether with you. I’m looking
temple grounds, a lot of Betsuin
forward to meeting all of you soon.
members were waiting to welcome
Gassho,me. It was an unexpected surprise.
Koen Kikuchi
It was a feeling that I
don’t experience muchnowadays. I’m so happy
to be here, and I would
like to meet and talkwith a lot of members
in Hawaii.
My English is still awork in progress. Even
though I spent a year
in Malta, English words
still don’t flow out of
my mouth easily. Well,even Japanese words Rev. Kikuchi with son Ren, daughters Kokoro and Hana, and wife, Mai.

MPIB*N,PFO,JLVDIJ 
OFXSFTJEFOUNJOJTUFSBUUIF#FUTVJO*UTOJDFUPNFFUBMMPGZPVI arrived here in Hawaii on
October 14. As soon as theplane touched down at the
airport, I felt as if summer hadcome again. That’s because inJapan, it’s getting colder andcolder, and this year it seems tobe especially cold.

There is a Japanese saying, 暑さ寒さも彼岸まで (atsusa samusa
mo higan made), which means “hotand cold only lasts until Higan.”
Usually in Japan, the climate
and temperature would be more
comfortable until Higan. But thisautumn, it wasn’t as usual. The

2

MahaloGozaimasu.&.03*"- '6/&3"- */63/.&/5#63*"-4&37*$&
Ruth Yamauchi
June Ogawa & Family Sandra Ching
Richardeen Ishida
Victor Kimura
Sandie Kaneshiro
Ralph & Bette Nishida Raymond & Carolyn Ikeda

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.

Sally Shito
Bert Kaizuka,:0%"/%0/"5*0/(including Otani Center, nokotsudo, altar supplies, parking)
Chester Oda
Rene Yoshida
Alicse Ibaraki
Walter Yamada
Anonymous
Clement FujimotoAtsuko Nonaka
Briana Sugai
Uptown Gracie Jiu Jitsu LLC)00/,0

Dorothy Tanaka
Pearl Kurihara
Marilyn Kuroda
Charlene Watanabe
Kikue Kaneshiro
Takuo Sakai

0)*("/

Beatrice Nakano(0+*,"*Ikuto Taketa

Catherine Moribe
Gladys Abe
Michiko Terada
John Quoc Ke Tiet



Shirley Nishizawa
Keizaburo Tsuji
Patrick Miyamura
Viola Uyeno
Jane Naito
Iris Kubota
Noboru Hayase
Robert Takayama
Marilyn YonekuraFrances Makiyama
Dr. Alfred & Dorothy Bloom$"-&/%"3

Ezra & Norma Koike Ed & Diane Nakano

Kazuto TaketaCarey Taketa

Family of Tokio Shito Ishii Family
Konrad Sasaki
Peggy KimuraAnonymous
GJ Tanoue
Moriso Teraoka
Marrilyn Kobata
Jozenji Temple, Ibaraki The Aikido Ohana
Jonathan Tani
Eye Productions

Eugene Chun & Family
Helene Kamita
Minasan-HawaiiCharlotte Tsukamoto
James & Edith End
Kathleen Uyema
Patricia Nitta
Beatrice Nakano

Katherine Kurakake
Harold & Jane Kudo
Sharon Kawagoe
James Hirakawa
Anonymous

Collin Segawa
Ben Kaito
Minako Ito-Song
June Omura
Okuda Family

In Memoriam
Dennis & Debra Saiki&*5"*,:0

Chieko Sugimoto"-5"3'-03"-"33"/(&.&/54
Minako Ito-Song

Joyce Masaki

We extend our deepest sympathy
to the families of the late
Tokio Shito (83)
October 10, 2015
Betty Michiko Toma (93)November 5, 2015

Shotsuki Observance for DecemberOur monthly shōtsuki service in remembranceof temple family members who passed away inthe month of December of a past year will be held on
4VOEBZ %FDFNCFSThe following list includes
members from the past 25 years .
While shōtsuki services for a loved one are observed
every year, special nenki hōyō memorial services areheld 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.

Ayako Arima
Hatsuyo Fujimoto
Gladys Shizuko Gono
Hideo Gushikuma
Tsuruko Gushikuma
Thomas Togo Higuchi
Shizuko Imura
George Iwao Inabata
Tsukasa Ishimatsu
Florence Hisae Kaichi
Terry Toshiharu Katsumoto
Kenneth Sunao Kawamoto
Kenso Kimura
Harry Seiji Kimura

Halord Sueto Ogata
Hiromu Ogata
Haruko Ogata
Miyoko Ohara
Patric Takeshi Okawa
Heizo Ono
Ichiro Oyeda
Sumie Sakai Sagawa
Herbert Hiroshi Shima
Jean S. I. Shindo
Sumi Hirayama Starnes
Yasunari Sugimoto
John Hiroshi Sugimoto
Shichiro Takahashi

Hanae “Daisy” Kobata
Midori Kojima
Miyoko Goto Kubota
Tsukasa Matsumoto
Hitoshi Matsumoto
Tatsuko Matsuoka
Helen Kiyono Motoyama
Henry Takao Murakami
Natsuko Nakahara
David Kiyohiko Nakamura
Larry Shigeru Nii
Toyoko Nishimura
Shinko Nohara
Goro Nonaka

Matsuyo Takaki
Gilbert Tsugio Tokunaga
Yukito Torikawa
Uto Uehara
Teruo UjimoriDavid Sadafumi Uyehara
Hanae Uyeno
Mildred Shigeko Wada
Chiyo Watanabe
Tadayoshi Yamane
Shizuko Yamanuha
Sumiko Yamashita
Ethel Hatsuyo Yamashita
Shizuko Yonemura

5)JHBTIJ)POHXBOKJ)BXBJJ%JTUSJDU$BMFOEBS/PX"WBJMBCMF

A

wakening to Your
Deepest Wish is thecentral theme of Higashi
Hongwanji Hawaii District’s
2016 full-color calendar,
which is now available for
distribution through all
district temples.
The calendar focuses on
the Hawaii District’s Shinran
Shonin 750th memorial and
Betsuin centennial. Local
members’ words were matchedwith photographs submitted
by others to portray thoughts that
demonstrate Buddha’s wisdom.
From the calendar’s foreword:“Hongan is universal feelings,
universal love, universal sharing,
universal care, universal profit,
universal sadness, universal pain, andeach one means compassion. In ourbusy daily routines, we are not always
aware of how life is connected withall which make us insensitive to the
feeling of gratitude.”“All words have the Truth inside,
but you cannot look into just one
fragment. Like a puzzle, the piecesof your daily experiences
will conect one-by-one to show the
Truth when you touch the world of
Buddha’s wisdom.““Deepest aspiration is theway to encounter the Truth, theWisdom. It’s the Dharma. We have
only our background as humans.
We are forgetting our existence, ourconnection to others.”“Through this calendar, you canfind your other piece or connection.
You have to start from your heart, yourroots, your origin to understand theinfinite connections. We are human.
We have aloha. Our diversity makes us

see connections with otherpeople, races and cultures aswell as to Master Shinran’steachings and Buddha’s
teachings.”
The 2016 calendar
project was coordinatedby Rev. Marcos Sawada of
Hilo Higashi Hongwanji,
with the assistance ofmany other Hawaii
District members andfriends, who generously
contributed their favorite
quotations, photos, ideas
and technical assistanceto the calendar project.
We hope you will use
the calendar to keep youaware of key events happening
year-round at the Betsuin andthroughout the Hawaii District. For
the latest updates and activities, besure to check the monthly “Wa”
newletter or the Betsuin’s website at
CFUTVJOIICUIJPSH
If you would like copies to sharewith family and friends, please ask
one of our ministers the next time
you visit the temple. If you prefer, you
may call us at 531-9088 or email us at
CFUTVJO!IICUIJPSH.
We are gratefully accepting
donations to help defray the cost of
printing and mailing the calendars.
Mahalo for your continued support.

Higashi Hongwanji 12th Dobo Convention in Los AngelesI

t’s not too early to start making plans for exciting
events coming up in 2016. Besides our Betsuin
centennial celebration and Goenki observancein Honolulu, there’s the Higashi Hongwanji Dobo
Convention being held Aug. 26 - 29 in Los Angeles.
JTB Hawaii has drawn up a tentative itinerary for
those interested in joining the group tour to save youtime and trouble. Here’s how the schedule works out:
Day 1: Aug. 26 (Fri) HNL to LAX
Depart HNL United 1231 6:30 am
Transfer to Hilton Los Angeles Universal City
DinnerDay 2: Aug. 27 (Sat) LA (Breakfast/lunch/dinner)
12th Dobo Convention Day 1
Welcome dinner
Day 3: Aug. 28 (Sun) LA (Breakfast/lunch)
12th Dobo Convention Day 2
Visit Little Tokyo, Japanese American National

4

Museum, Los Angeles temple
Memorial service
Day 4: Aug. 29 (Mon) LAX to HNL (Breakfast)
Depart LAX United 1431, arrive HNL 3:44 pm
Price:   per person double occupancy (as of 11/6/15)
With Las Vegas extension option:
Day 4: Aug. 29 (Mon) LAX to LAS (Breakfast)
Depart LAX United 531 1:50 pm
Transfer to Monte Carlo Resort & Casino
Free at leisure
Day 5: Aug. 30 (Tue) Las Vegas (Breakfast)
Free at leisure
Day 6: Aug. 31 (Wed) LAS to HNL (Breakfast)
Depart LAS United 486, arrive SFO 2:04 pm
Depart SFO United 73, arrive HNL 6:33 pm
Price:  per peron double occupany (as of 11/6/15)

Call the temple at 531-9088 for more information.

News on the)#$#PEIJ%BZTFSWJDFPO%FDIPOPSTQFBDF BOEFOMJHIUFONFOU
The Hawaii Buddhist Council(HBC) will celebrate Bodhi Day alongwith an observation of the 70th
anniversary of the end of World War
II at 9 am Sunday, Dec. 6.
The special joint service,sponsored by the seven HBC
Buddhist denominations including
Higashi Hongwanji, will be held at
Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin.
Guest speaker is COL Edwin
Hawkins, USAF (Ret), president
emeritus of the Japan-America
Society of Hawaii.
The Ohana Arts Theatre
Company will perform selections
from “Peace on Your Wings,” amusical tribute to Sadako Sasaki, a
victim of the WW II Hiroshimabombing who inspired the foldingof 1,000 cranes to symbolize thedesire for peace.
Donations of canned andpackaged goods will be collectedfor Hawaii food banks. Light
refreshments will be served.
Bodhi Day commemorates theenlightenment of Siddhartha
Gautama, who was “born” as
Shakyamuni Buddha while
meditating under a bodhi tree.

Betsuin Wireless)PPOLPCSJOHTUPHFUIFSBUUFOEFFTGSPNGBSBOEXJEF

much attention to them, and theirwidowed daughter-in-law, who treats
them with kindness.
It is widely regarded as Ozu’s
masterpiece and is often cited by
critics worldwide as one of thegreatest films ever made.
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tues., Dec. 22,
136 min. Monochrome. Free
admission. Light refreshments. Feelfree to bring your own snacks.

%FDFNCFSTNPWJFPGUIFNPOUITokyo Story XJUI4FUTVLP)BSB

日本映画を代表する傑作の1本。巨匠・小津安二郎監督が、戦後変わりつつある家族の関係をテーマに人間の生と死までをも見つめた深淵なドラマ。故郷の尾道から20年ぶりに東京へ出てきた老夫婦。成人した子どもたちの家を訪ねるが、みなそれぞれの生活に精一杯だった。唯一、戦死した次男の未亡人だけが皮肉にも優しい心遣いを示すのだった…。いまでは失われつつある思いやりや慎ましさといった“日本のこころ”とでもいうべきものを原節子が体現している。家でひとり侘しくたたずむ笠智衆を捉えたショットは映画史上に残る名
ラスト・シーンのひとつ。
日本映画史上 ベスト 10、英国映協会
映画史上最高の作品 ベスト 10。
出演者 ：笠智衆、東山千栄子、原節子、杉村春子、山村聡。
公開 ：1953、言語 : 日本語, 字幕 :英語 、映時間 : 136分、白黒、12月22日(火)午後6:30時 、入場無料。

The Nov. 14-15 Ho-on-ko
weekend gathering brought
together Jodo Shinshu followers
from Oahu and neighbor island
temples throughout the Hawaii
District, and Overseas District Abbot
Choyu Otani as well.
Rev. Noriaki Fujimori led theHigashi Hongwanji Hawaii District
gathering theme discussion of“Awakening to Your Deepest Wish”.
To help attendees understand theteaching of the temple, he used the
12 lights radiated by Buddha toillustrate Buddha’s wish and thedifference between shallow anddeepest wishes.
As an example of a shallow wish,
we try to avoid people we dislike.
Accepting whomever we meet is adeepest wish. Enemies and others
are our teachers just as they are.
Group discussions and asummary was followed by a shortservice before dinner.
The Ho-on-ko weekend wascapped by a service on Sunday
officiated by Overseas District Abbot
Otani and dharma message
presented by Rev. Hiroko Maeda of
Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji.

Although we had previously
announced that Still Walking would
be our December movie, we’ll befeaturing Tokyo Story instead, as atribute to beloved Japanese actressSetsuko Hara, whose death at age 95
was recently announced by her
family. Still Walking will be shown
next month.
Tokyo Story, a 1953 Japanese
drama film directed by Yasujirō Ozu
and starring Chishu Ryu, Chieko
Higashiyama, Setsuko Hara, Haruko
Sugimura and Soh Yamamura, tells thestory of an aging couple who travels toTokyo to visit their grown children. The
film contrasts the behavior of theirchildren, who are too busy to pay

語（とうきょうものがたり）

3)JHBTIJ)POHXBOKJ)BXBJJ%JTUSJDU$BMFOEBS/PX"WBJMBCMF

A

wakening to Your
Deepest Wish is thecentral theme of Higashi
Hongwanji Hawaii District’s
2016 full-color calendar,
which is now available for
distribution through all
district temples.
The calendar focuses on
the Hawaii District’s Shinran
Shonin 750th memorial and
Betsuin centennial. Local
members’ words were matchedwith photographs submitted
by others to portray thoughts that
demonstrate Buddha’s wisdom.
From the calendar’s foreword:“Hongan is universal feelings,
universal love, universal sharing,
universal care, universal profit,
universal sadness, universal pain, andeach one means compassion. In ourbusy daily routines, we are not always
aware of how life is connected withall which make us insensitive to the
feeling of gratitude.”“All words have the Truth inside,
but you cannot look into just one
fragment. Like a puzzle, the piecesof your daily experiences
will conect one-by-one to show the
Truth when you touch the world of
Buddha’s wisdom.““Deepest aspiration is theway to encounter the Truth, theWisdom. It’s the Dharma. We have
only our background as humans.
We are forgetting our existence, ourconnection to others.”“Through this calendar, you canfind your other piece or connection.
You have to start from your heart, yourroots, your origin to understand theinfinite connections. We are human.
We have aloha. Our diversity makes us

see connections with otherpeople, races and cultures aswell as to Master Shinran’steachings and Buddha’s
teachings.”
The 2016 calendar
project was coordinatedby Rev. Marcos Sawada of
Hilo Higashi Hongwanji,
with the assistance ofmany other Hawaii
District members andfriends, who generously
contributed their favorite
quotations, photos, ideas
and technical assistanceto the calendar project.
We hope you will use
the calendar to keep youaware of key events happening
year-round at the Betsuin andthroughout the Hawaii District. For
the latest updates and activities, besure to check the monthly “Wa”
newletter or the Betsuin’s website at
CFUTVJOIICUIJPSH
If you would like copies to sharewith family and friends, please ask
one of our ministers the next time
you visit the temple. If you prefer, you
may call us at 531-9088 or email us at
CFUTVJO!IICUIJPSH.
We are gratefully accepting
donations to help defray the cost of
printing and mailing the calendars.
Mahalo for your continued support.

Higashi Hongwanji 12th Dobo Convention in Los AngelesI

t’s not too early to start making plans for exciting
events coming up in 2016. Besides our Betsuin
centennial celebration and Goenki observancein Honolulu, there’s the Higashi Hongwanji Dobo
Convention being held Aug. 26 - 29 in Los Angeles.
JTB Hawaii has drawn up a tentative itinerary for
those interested in joining the group tour to save youtime and trouble. Here’s how the schedule works out:
Day 1: Aug. 26 (Fri) HNL to LAX
Depart HNL United 1231 6:30 am
Transfer to Hilton Los Angeles Universal City
DinnerDay 2: Aug. 27 (Sat) LA (Breakfast/lunch/dinner)
12th Dobo Convention Day 1
Welcome dinner
Day 3: Aug. 28 (Sun) LA (Breakfast/lunch)
12th Dobo Convention Day 2
Visit Little Tokyo, Japanese American National

4

Museum, Los Angeles temple
Memorial service
Day 4: Aug. 29 (Mon) LAX to HNL (Breakfast)
Depart LAX United 1431, arrive HNL 3:44 pm
Price:   per person double occupancy (as of 11/6/15)
With Las Vegas extension option:
Day 4: Aug. 29 (Mon) LAX to LAS (Breakfast)
Depart LAX United 531 1:50 pm
Transfer to Monte Carlo Resort & Casino
Free at leisure
Day 5: Aug. 30 (Tue) Las Vegas (Breakfast)
Free at leisure
Day 6: Aug. 31 (Wed) LAS to HNL (Breakfast)
Depart LAS United 486, arrive SFO 2:04 pm
Depart SFO United 73, arrive HNL 6:33 pm
Price:  per peron double occupany (as of 11/6/15)

Call the temple at 531-9088 for more information.

News on the)#$#PEIJ%BZTFSWJDFPO%FDIPOPSTQFBDF BOEFOMJHIUFONFOU
The Hawaii Buddhist Council(HBC) will celebrate Bodhi Day alongwith an observation of the 70th
anniversary of the end of World War
II at 9 am Sunday, Dec. 6.
The special joint service,sponsored by the seven HBC
Buddhist denominations including
Higashi Hongwanji, will be held at
Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin.
Guest speaker is COL Edwin
Hawkins, USAF (Ret), president
emeritus of the Japan-America
Society of Hawaii.
The Ohana Arts Theatre
Company will perform selections
from “Peace on Your Wings,” amusical tribute to Sadako Sasaki, a
victim of the WW II Hiroshimabombing who inspired the foldingof 1,000 cranes to symbolize thedesire for peace.
Donations of canned andpackaged goods will be collectedfor Hawaii food banks. Light
refreshments will be served.
Bodhi Day commemorates theenlightenment of Siddhartha
Gautama, who was “born” as
Shakyamuni Buddha while
meditating under a bodhi tree.

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much attention to them, and theirwidowed daughter-in-law, who treats
them with kindness.
It is widely regarded as Ozu’s
masterpiece and is often cited by
critics worldwide as one of thegreatest films ever made.
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tues., Dec. 22,
136 min. Monochrome. Free
admission. Light refreshments. Feelfree to bring your own snacks.

%FDFNCFSTNPWJFPGUIFNPOUITokyo Story XJUI4FUTVLP)BSB

日本映画を代表する傑作の1本。巨匠・小津安二郎監督が、戦後変わりつつある家族の関係をテーマに人間の生と死までをも見つめた深淵なドラマ。故郷の尾道から20年ぶりに東京へ出てきた老夫婦。成人した子どもたちの家を訪ねるが、みなそれぞれの生活に精一杯だった。唯一、戦死した次男の未亡人だけが皮肉にも優しい心遣いを示すのだった…。いまでは失われつつある思いやりや慎ましさといった“日本のこころ”とでもいうべきものを原節子が体現している。家でひとり侘しくたたずむ笠智衆を捉えたショットは映画史上に残る名
ラスト・シーンのひとつ。
日本映画史上 ベスト 10、英国映協会
映画史上最高の作品 ベスト 10。
出演者 ：笠智衆、東山千栄子、原節子、杉村春子、山村聡。
公開 ：1953、言語 : 日本語, 字幕 :英語 、映時間 : 136分、白黒、12月22日(火)午後6:30時 、入場無料。

The Nov. 14-15 Ho-on-ko
weekend gathering brought
together Jodo Shinshu followers
from Oahu and neighbor island
temples throughout the Hawaii
District, and Overseas District Abbot
Choyu Otani as well.
Rev. Noriaki Fujimori led theHigashi Hongwanji Hawaii District
gathering theme discussion of“Awakening to Your Deepest Wish”.
To help attendees understand theteaching of the temple, he used the
12 lights radiated by Buddha toillustrate Buddha’s wish and thedifference between shallow anddeepest wishes.
As an example of a shallow wish,
we try to avoid people we dislike.
Accepting whomever we meet is adeepest wish. Enemies and others
are our teachers just as they are.
Group discussions and asummary was followed by a shortservice before dinner.
The Ho-on-ko weekend wascapped by a service on Sunday
officiated by Overseas District Abbot
Otani and dharma message
presented by Rev. Hiroko Maeda of
Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji.

Although we had previously
announced that Still Walking would
be our December movie, we’ll befeaturing Tokyo Story instead, as atribute to beloved Japanese actressSetsuko Hara, whose death at age 95
was recently announced by her
family. Still Walking will be shown
next month.
Tokyo Story, a 1953 Japanese
drama film directed by Yasujirō Ozu
and starring Chishu Ryu, Chieko
Higashiyama, Setsuko Hara, Haruko
Sugimura and Soh Yamamura, tells thestory of an aging couple who travels toTokyo to visit their grown children. The
film contrasts the behavior of theirchildren, who are too busy to pay

語（とうきょうものがたり）

3

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

Becoming Myself

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

Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...

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Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

12

December 2015

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
DECEMBER 2015
HBC Bodhi Day service - Honpa Hongwanji(no service at Betsuin)
12/8 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
12/10 Thu 7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
12/12 Sat 10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
12/13 Sun 10 am Betsuin Bodhi Day service &Sunday school
12/13 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
12/6 Sun 9 am

現代語で仏教を聞こう

led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
12/13 Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Crafting class
12/15 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
12/20 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service &Sunday school
12/20 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
12/22 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
12/22 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Tokyo Story (1953)
12/26 Sat 9 am Annual temple cleaning (大掃除)Ehime Maru Memorial cleaning
12/27 Sun 8 am Mochi-pounding (no Sunday service)
12/28 Mon 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
12/31 Thu 5 pm Year-end service - 除夜会 (Joya-e)
Toshi-koshi soba served after service

1/1

Fri

1/3

Sun

1/3

Sun

1/9

Sat

1/10 Sun
1/10 Sun
1/12 Tue
1/14 Thu
1/17
1/17
1/17
1/19
1/24
1/26
1/26
1/28
1/31

Sun
Sun
Sun
Tue
Sun
Tue
Tue
Thu
Sun

JANUARY 201610 am New Year service - 修正会 (Shusho-e)Ozoni served after service
10 am Shōtsuki memorial service &Sunday school
12 pm Jimmy’s Auto Basics
led by Jim Hirakawa (Palolo Auto Service)
Fukuhara Conference Room
10 am What on Earth Is Namuamidabutsu?
led by Rev. Frank Childs
10 am Sunday service & Sunday school
12 pm Basic Buddhism study class
現代語で仏教を聞こう

led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
7 pm ABCs of Buddhism study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
10 am Sunday service & Sunday school
12 pm Betsuin board meeting
12 pm Art of Paper Crafting class
7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
10 am Sunday service & Sunday school
3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
6:30 pm Movie night: Still Walking (2008)
10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
10 am Sunday service & Sunday school

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: Koen Kikuchi
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 Saikit’s already December. This month we celebrate Bodhi Day, which is theday of Buddha’s awakening. Therefore, I would like to discuss the Buddha’s
awakening for this issue.
First of all I’d like to share a writing of Rev. Haya Akegarasu, who was amodern thinker and priest of Jodo Shinshu in the late 19th and early 20th
century.
“Jesus was not a Christian. Shakyamuni was not a
Buddhist. Jesus was Jesus himself and Shakyamuni was
Shakyamuni himself. When the disciples of Shakyamuni tried tobe like a Shakyamuni, they became Buddhists and the spirit of
Shakyamuni was destroyed.
I just need to be myself. No need to become a Christian,
to become a Buddhist, to become a Buddha or to become agod. According to Shakyamuni, to become a Buddha means
to become one’s own self. Thus, becoming true to myself is to
Rinban Ken Kawawata
become a Buddha (awakened one).”From this writing, we know that Buddhism is the quest of one’s true
self and the way of self-examination. Buddha said this world is fleeting.
This world is impermanent. We are born and living in this fleeting world ofimpermanence. We see and recognize this world through our six senses:
vision, hearing, smell,“Jesus was not a Christian. Shakyamuni wastaste, touch and mind,
not a Buddhist. Jesus was Jesus himself andor consciousness. The
center of perception
Shakyamuni was Shakyamuni himself.”
for this world is myself.
That is why Buddha and other teachers of Buddhism said that knowing ourtrue self is most important and they walked in the way of self-awakening, thepath of Buddha.
We know that we are living in the fleeting and floating world. However,
we tend to see this world in our ways. We also have many attachments for ourconvenience and smooth lives. When life goes smoothly, we don’t feel any
problems or sufferings. When the conditions change, however, our life does
not go the way we wish. We tend to push out others and try to get our own
smooth lives back.
I realize that I have all kind of weapons in my mind. I can picture guns,
knives and swords. I would harm and kill others for the sake of my convenientlife. Because I always wish for a smooth life, if someone appears in front of me
and disturbs my happy life, I am sure that I would wish that that person would
disappear from my life. Realistically, I won’t kill or harm him or her, but in mymind, I had already “killed” that person. Depending on conditions, we don’t
really know what we would do in the next moment.
Shiran Shonin said to his disciple, Yuien, “We do not kill, not because ourthoughts are good but because we do not have the karma to kill even a single
person. Yet, even though we do not want to injure anyone, we may be led
to kill a hundred or a thousand people. . . Under the influence of our karmic
condition we human beings will do anything.”(cont’d on p. 2)#0%)*%":4&37*$&4)BXBJJ#VEEIJTU$PVODJM#PEIJ%BZ4FSWJDF
Sunday, December 6, starting at 9:00 am
Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, 1727 Pali Highway)JHBTIJ)POHXBOKJ#FUTVJO#PEIJ%BZ4FSWJDF
Sunday, December 13, starting at 10:00 am
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, 1685 Alaneo Street