Gratitude at HŌonko
Rev. Koen KikuchiO‘wa’harmony

Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin9

September 2017

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii
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
Rinban: Kenjun Kawawata
Minister: Koen Kikuchi
President: Faye Shigemura
Vice President: Jonathan Tani
Secretary: Debra Saiki
Treasurer: Edmund Nakano
Asst. Sec’y & Auditor: Ken Saiki
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 Saikin September 9 and 10, we will observe Hōonko, the memorial
observance of our denomination’s founder, Shinran Shōnin. The
Hōonko service is the most significant event for Jōdō Shinshu followers. We
have learned and been nurtured by the Buddha Dharma through Shinran
Shōnin. At this time, we express our gratitude and respect to Shinran
Shōnin by gathering, chanting and hearing the Buddha
Dharma together. This is the Hōonko tradition that wehave observed up until now.
Thank you, Shinran Shōnin! I appreciate your great
work! Are words like this the way we show our gratitude?
Hōonko is the service in which we express appreciation,
but how do we feel appreciation? I would like to reflect
about what gratitude is and how we show appreciation.
As I mentioned, we usually say “thank you” or “Iappreciate you” to show our gratitude to somebody. InRev. Koen Kikuchi Japanese, we say “arigatō,” as you of course know, butthere are other ways of saying “thank you.” These include“gomen nasai” (I’m sorry) and “sumimasen’” (excuse me).
If I want to make my way through a crowd of people, in English I mightsay, “Excuse me!” If I dropped something and someone picked it up forme, I say, “Thank you.” If I water the plants and flowers, and I accidentally
spray water on someone, I say, “I’m sorry.” However, in Japanese, the word“sumimasen” can apply to all of these situations. “Sumimasen” contains themeanings of both appreciation and apology. The word also implies anddemonstrates “humility” by putting oneself aside and respecting others.
Let’s look at marriage proposals. The traditional way of proposing is,“Will you marry me?” “Yes, I will.” In Japan, there are some interesting waysof proposing marriage. One is, “I want to drink your miso soup every day.”
Another is, “Would you wash my underwear?” These are the old ways ofasking. But now, people might say, “I will make your life happy.” And theanswer is, “I’m willing, too.” This is a more direct expression, and they arestating their feelings honestly. But in the old days in Japan, when women
were asked to wash underwear, they would reply, “Futsutsukamono desuga”(不束者ですが), or “I’m not worthy, (but I’m willing).” This is an example ofthe humble attitude that wasprevalent in Japan.
Would you wash
We’ve just looked at two
my underwear?
different examples of expressing
humble appreciation andhumble willingness. So how does
I’m not worthy,
this relate to our Jōdō Shinshu?
but I’m willing...
During Buddhist services,
we say “Namu Amida Butsu.”
Literally, Namu Amida Butsu
means to take refuge in Amida
Buddha, but when we checkbeneath the surface, the processactually involves someone
receiving the teaching, thenfeeling gratitude and saying“Namu Amida Butsu” to show
appreciation for the teaching.
However, Namu Amida Butsu
itself is the name of Buddha, which Humble willingness and humble appreciation put(cont’d on p. 2)

one’s own self aside and allows us to respect others.

Ho-on-ko (cont’d from p. 1)
is calling us as “take refuge in Amida
Buddha!” Namu Amida Butsu is thecalling from Buddha, which appears as
the voices of teachers and dharma
friends. Namu Amida Butsu is thecalling, but also it is the answering.
Namu Amida Butsu teaches us to takerefuge in the Amida Buddha. Once we
received the teaching, we recite NamuAmida Butsu to show our gratitude.
This gratitude is not just the feeling of
being joyful, but it is also the feeling ofboth sadness and relief. This is thehumble expression of appreciation. Ithink I can say this is the same
expression as “sumimasen,” or putting
our ego aside and showing our respect.
Buddhism is the teaching ofself-examination. The teachingreveals our reality, which is usuallywhat we don’t want to accept. But
when we accept the reality as it is,
we can understand how much wewere deluded by and attached toour self-ego. We suffer from our egocentered thinking because we don’tunderstand that the suffering is fromthat very thinking.
If we are in a dark room, westruggle and feel uncomfortable. But
If we can see the inside of the roomwith light, we feel relieved. We canunderstand the darkness and thelight of our surroundings at the sametime. This is the same thing. We feelappreciation toward the light.
Once we receive the teaching,
our room of life becomes more clear.
We can then have confidence to live
our lives with all its difficulties andsufferings. Namu Amida Butsu has
feelings of both sadness and relief
together, and it shows our humble
appreciation to the Buddha Dharma.
Hōonko is the gathering during
which we show our appreciation for
Shinran Shōnin’s work. He made theteachings clear that the Buddha Dharma
is for anytime, anywhere and anyone.
Hōonko is the time to gather, chantand hear the Buddha Dharma alongwith Dharma friends. At this special
time, we listen to the voice of Namu
Amida Butsu and we recite Namu
Amida Butsu together.
In Gassho,Koen Kikuchi

2Higashi Honganji Hawaii District
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
You are cordially invited to ourHōonko Gathering“Gratitude”
Saturday, September 9
1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

$10 fee. Please call 533-9088 to register.

Hōonko Service

Sunday, September 10
10:00 a.m.
Hōonko Gathering & Service speaker: Rev. Nobuko Miyoshi
West Covina Buddhist Temple
We gather to express our appreciation to Shinran Shoninfor showing us the teaching of the Nembutsu.
Light meals immediately following Gathering and Service.

報恩講法要
日時：9月10日(日)午前10時
英語法話： 見義 信香 師ウエスト•コビナ東本願寺開教使
法要後お斎がございます。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。

Guest Speaker: Rev. Nobuko Miyoshi
Rev. Nobuko Miyoshi
was born in Toyama,
Japan. Both of herparents and her brotherare also ministers.
She first visited theU.S. in 1996 while at theInstitute of Buddhist
Studies in Berkeley, CA
for her master’s thesis.
She subsequently received her
Masters of Arts degree from theUniversity of Shizuoka in 1997.
She received the Tokudo andKyoshi in the Higashi Honganji
Shinshu Otani-ha tradition,
and was ordained in 2000. The
following year, she returned to theU.S. and the Institute of Buddhist
Studies in Berkeley, graduated witha Masters degree in 2004 andthen served as a ministerand part of the office staff at
Higashi Honganji BuddhistTemple in Los Angesles.
Rev. Miyoshi returned toJapan to train at the Higashi
Honganji headquarters inKyoto in 2008, and after
two months of training,received Kaikyoshi (OverseasStatus). She was then assigned toHigashi Honganji Buddhist Temple
in LA, where she remained until
2014, when she was transferred toWest Covina Buddhist Temple, hercurrent assignment.
Rev. Miyoshi is married to Rev.
William Briones, a minister at Nishi
Hongwanji Los Angeles Betsuin.

News on theBBQ chicken and musubi, synonymouswith picnics and family gatherings, arealso part of our annual fundraising efforts.

Mahalo for your help with ourBBQ chicken/musubi fundraiser
A sincere Thank You! goes out toall our members and friends for theirticket purchases and donations at ourbarbecue chicken fundraiser. We’realso grateful for the volunteers whohelped with the Aug. 27 distribution.
Our chicken sale was enhanced thisyear by inclusion of a musubi combo ata lower price and tasty andagi.
Dōmo arigatō to everyone!

Give Aloha matching gifts
boost your temple donation

The Foodland and Western Union
Foundation will partially match eachdonation made to our temple in themonth of September up to $249 perperson at any Foodland, Sack N Saveor Foodland Farms checkout.
Here’s all you need to do tomultiply your temple donation
dollars through Give Aloha during
the entire month of September:t"UUIF
checkout,
show yourFoodland
Mai‘kaiClub card.
t -FUUIFDBTIJFSLOPXZPVSFmaking a Give Aloha donation toHigashi Hongwanji, or give our5-digit code number, 78784.
t *OGPSNUIFDBTIJFSPGUIFBNPVOUPG
your donation—any amount up to$249— which will be added to yourgrocery total. You can pay in cash,by check or by credit/debit card.

Betsuin WirelessYou don’t have to make a purchaseto make a donation.
t5IFDIFDLPVUDBTIJFSXJMMHJWF
you a receipt, which will indicate“Higashi Hongwanji” and thedonation amount. Keep it forincome tax purposes, since it isyour official record of your taxdeductible contribution to our501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Consult your tax adviser for moredetails about eligible deductions.
t"TLGPSBEVQMJDBUFSFDFJQU XIJDI
you may want to send to us ordrop off at our office so we canacknowledge your gift.
If you don’t already have aMai‘kai card, ask and you’ll get one atno charge at the register.
Your temple donation can enjoy
an extra boost through the Give
Aloha program. But remember...thisprogram ends September 30!

Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tues., Sep. 26,
90 min. Color. Japanese/English audio,English/Japanese subtitles. Free
admission. Light refreshments.
ハーフ

厚生労働省の統計によると、日本の新生児の49人に1人が、日本人と外国人の間に生まれています。この新たに浮上したマイノリティについては、文献も十分ではなく、メディアでも深く取りあげられていません。長編ドキュメンタリー映画『ハーフ』は、重要な会話の糸口となることを目的としています。
本作品では、日本の多人種・多文化社会での人種、多様性、多文化、国籍やアイデンティティを取りあげます。この探求を通して、次のような質問を投げ掛けようとします；ハーフであるとは、どういうことなのか？ 日本人であるという意味は？ 一体、それは日本にとって、どういう意味を持つのか？

Japan Times gives timely Hāfu
documentary ★★★★ rating

One in 49 babies born in Japan
today is born into families with onenon-Japanese parent. This newly
emerging minority in Japan is underdocumented and under-explored inboth literature and media. The
feature-length documentary, “Hāfu– the mixed-race experience in Japan”
opens this increasingly importantdialogue. Exploring race, diversity,
multiculturalism, nationality andidentity within the mixed-racecommunity of Japan, the film seeks toanswer the following questions: What
does it mean to be hāfu ; What does itmean to be Japanese?; and ultimately,
What does all of this mean for Japan?
Narrated by the hāfu themselves,
along with candid interviews andcinéma vérité footage, the viewer isguided through a myriad of hāfu
experiences that are influenced byupbringing, family relationships,education and even physicalappearance. As the film interweaves
five unique life stories, audiences
discover the depth and diversity ofhāfu personal identities.

主人公であるハーフたち自身のナレーションと率直なインタビューに、シネマベリテーの映像を重ねて、ハーフたちの生い立ちや家族の関係、教育、時には彼らの外見が影響する彼らの体験を探ることができます。５人の人生をとうして、ハーフたちが体験する個人的且つ奥深い側面も垣間見ることができます。
公開 : 2013年、カラー 、言語 : 日本
語・英語、 字幕 : 英語・日本語 、映時
間 : 90分、9月26日(火)午後6:30時 、入場無料。

3Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Please join us at ourFall Ohigan ServiceHigan, meaning “The Other Shore of Awakening,” is aservice conducted on or about the vernal and autumnal
equinoxes. At these times of the year, we endeavor tostrengthen our commitment to the Buddhist life.

Date:
Sunday, September 17
Time: 10:00 am
Dharma message: Rev. Tatsuo Muneto

Former Rinban, Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin

Light lunch to follow after service
Rev. Tatsuo Muneto was born on March, 8, 1941 and raised in Hiroshima, Japan.
He graduated from Ryukoku University with a BA in Buddhist Studies in 1964. Hecame to Hawaii in August, 1965, and was assigned to be Assistant Director of Hawaii
Kyodan Department of Sunday School.
Rev. Muneto received a Hawaii Kyodan scholarship in 1967 and enrolled at Claremont
Graduate University in California, and finished the MA program in Religion andAsian Studies. Returning to the Hawaii Kyodan in 1970, he was assigned to various
temples in Honolulu and on the Big Island and Kauai. He retired from the Rinban’sposition at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin on December 15, 2015 at age 75.
While he served at local temples, he went to India twice and to China on pilgrimage
tours. He wants to visit China again in a few years. In 1995 he published a bookentitled “Dharma Treasures, Spiritual Insights from Hawaii’s Shin Buddhist Pioneers.”

秋のお彼岸法要

日時： ９月１７日（日）午前１０:００時
法話： 宗藤 達雄 師（前本派本願寺ハワイ別院輪番）※ 法要後お斎がございます。ご家族お揃いでお参りください。

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

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

Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...
t)ōonko p. 1tHōonko Gathering/Service p. 2t/FXTPOUIF#FUTVJO8JSFMFTTp. 3t##2DIJDLFONVTVCJNBIBMPp. 3t(JWF"MPIBDBNQBJHOp. 3t4FQUFNCFSNPWJFHāfu p. 3t'BMM0IJHBOTFSWJDFp. 4t September shōtsuki service p. 5tTemple activities calendar p. 6

Temple Activities Calendar
OCTOBERSEPTEMBER
9/3
9/3
9/4
9/9
9/10
9/12
9/14
9/16
9/17
9/17
9/18
9/19
9/24

9/269/26
9/28

64

Sun 10 am Shōtsuki service/Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Omigaki polishing of altar accessories
Your kokua is appreciatedMon 10 am Betsuin study class
Sat 1 pm District Hōonko gathering
Guest speaker: Rev. Nobuko Miyoshi
Sun 10 am Hōonko service/Sunday schoolTue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceThu 7 pm The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Sat 10 am Oahu MAP class
Sun 10 am Ohigan service/Sunday school
Guest speaker: Rev. Tatsuo Muneto
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meetingMon 10 am Betsuin study classTue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
Sun 10 am Ehime Maru Memorial cleaning
Meet at Betsuin, carpool to Kakaako Park
Short service and picnic lunch(no service at Betsuin)Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceTue 6:30 pm Movie night: Hāfu (ハーフ) (2013)
Thu 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service

10/1 Sun 10 am Eitaikyō and Shōtsuki service/
Sunday school
10/1 Sun 12pm The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
語で日本語 教教を こうBetsuin study class
Sunday service/Sunday school
Ukulele class/band practice
The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara conference room
10/14 Sat 9 am Garage saleOtani Center
10/15 Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
10/15 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
10/16 Mon 10 am Betsuin study class
10/17 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
10/22 Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
10/24 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
10/24 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: The Face of Another ( 人の )10/28 Sat 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
10/29 Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
10/2 Mon 10 am
10/8 Sun 10 am
10/10 Tue 3 pm
10/12 Thu 7 pm

Everyone is welcome to join the morning chanting held at 7 am daily (except on Sundays & the 28th day of the month) in the Betsuin main hall.

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