The Mizuna Lady
Rinban Kenjun KawawataT‘wa’
harmony

Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

3

March 2021

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii
At Higashi Hongwanji, we remaintrue to our origins as an open Sangha,
welcoming anyone who wishes tolearn more about the Jōdo Shinshū
tradition of Buddhism.
A registered 501(c)3 organization
Head Minister: Kenjun Kawawata
Resident Minister: Steven Toyoshima
Minister: Akiko Okada
President: Kenneth Saiki
Secretary: Marian Tsuji
Treasurer: Shigeru Numano
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 531-9088
Fax: (808) 531-3265
Email: betsuin@hhbt-hi.org
Website: betsuin.hhbt-hi.org
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
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 Saikihe Kawawata family’s New Year ozōni is a shōyu-based soup with
daikon, carrots, gobō, kamaboko and mizuna.
When I went grocery shopping to prepare for our family’s traditional
New Year’s dishes, I couldn’t find mizuna at any of the stores I visited. At
Times Supermarket, my last stop for the day, I asked the
produce clerk if they had any more mizuna in the backand she said they were sold out but were expecting
additional deliveries the next day.
The following morning—already New Year’s
Eve!—I went back to the market but the mizuna
produce bin was once again already bare. But then I
spotted a lady getting mizuna from the back. I hurried
there and asked the clerk if there was more, but she
replied, sorry, no, that was the last of it.
Rinban Ken Kawawata
The lady who got the mizuna must’ve noticed
my look of exasperation and disappointment, and asked, “Would you liketo have some?” and cheerfully handed me a bunch. I was so elated andrelieved that I finally got my hands on some mizuna,and was so grateful to her for that. The lady humbly
accepted my thanks with a gentle smile and went
to continue her shopping.
Returning to the temple, I reflected on what
had just happened. In retrospect, I realized I
was being so selfish, desperately thinking about
getting my own mizuna...my mizuna, my mizuna!
How fortunate to meet a sweet lady whooffered some to me. If she hadn’t offered
to share some of her precious bounty(cont’d on p. 2)

水菜夫人
河和田賢淳

昨年の年末にお正月準備の買い物に参りました。
河和田家のお雑煮は大根、人参、ごぼう、かまぼこ、水菜が入り醤油味です。どこのマーケットでも水菜が売り切れでした。最後に行ったマーケットで店員さんに聞くと明日の朝にはまた入荷するとのことでした。そして大晦日の朝マーケットに行ってみるともう見当たりません。探していると一人の婦人が奥から水菜を受け取っていたのです。僕もそこに行き店員さんに聞いてみると、その夫人の水菜が最後でもう無いとと言われました。きっと僕は彼女の水菜を欲しそうに見ていたのでしょう。するとその夫人は５束ぐらいあった水菜のひと束を分けてくれたのです。婦人の暖かい気持ちに感動し心よりお礼を言いました。謙虚な優しい笑顔の婦人でした。あの時、僕は自分の水菜しか手に入れる事だけしか考えていな
く。自己中心的な自分でした。そこでそのご婦人の優しさに出会って感動したのです。
(次のページに続く)

The Mizuna Lady (cont’d from p. 1)
with me, instead of this feeling ofgratitude, I might’ve even harboredresentment toward her. The more
I thought about it, the more I was
impressed by her generosity andkindness. The lady was, indeed, likea Buddha or a Bodhisattva! Do I havethat same kindness for others within
me like this lady had?
Among the basic teachingsof Buddhism are impermanenceand selflessness. Human beingschange according to the situation.
We change moment by moment.
Sometimes I may be an outwardly
good person, and sometimes I may
become evil. A Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde, if you will. I am impermanent,

水菜夫人 (前ページより続く)お寺に帰って考えてみると、自分にはあのような優しさはあるのかな？ またもしあの婦人が水菜を分けてくれなければ、感謝でな
く、かえって恨みを持って帰って来たかもしれないのです。
この自分の心は事に応じてコロ
コロ変わる存在だ。俄者（にわかもの）だと思いました。人間はその状況に応じて変わる俄者なのです。私は一瞬一瞬に変わる存在
で, 真に良い自分など本来ないのです。
そして親鸞聖人はご和讃を思い出しました。
浄土真宗に帰すれども真実の心はありがたし
虚仮不実のこの身にて清浄の心もさらになし（浄土真宗に帰依する身となっても、我が心が正しく立派になる
ことはあり得ない。外面は誠実をよそおっても、内心はうそいつわりにみちた不実なわが身であって、清浄の心も全くない。注釈：伊藤博之）
またご和讃の中で超世の悲願ききしより われらは
生死の凡夫かは 有漏の穢身はかわ

2have no concrete self, and live in aconstantly changing world. I have nocontrol of my life, and live myself inthe moment.
I recall one of Shinran Shōnin’ s
hymns that goes,“Although I take refuge in thePure Land way
It is hard to have a true andsincere mind.
This self is false and insincere;
I completely lack a pure mind.”
In another hymn,“We are confused humanbeings listening to theteachings of the Amida
Buddha’s innermost
aspiration. We are bonbu,
ordinary humans with blindpassions. However, ourhearts are in the Pure Land,the world of the dharmathat purifies us. “I think Shinran Shōnin looked
into his own self and could not
find any good. Thus, Shōnin justdepended on the Dharma. Listening
to the Buddha dharma is to meet
one’s true self, and to be born into
the Pure Land.
It was a busy end of the year,
but I was so fortunate to haveencountered The Mizuna Lady. I’m
grateful to listen to the dharma
again. (With editing assistance from
Kevin Kawawata)
In gassho,
Rinban Kenjun Kawawata

らねど 心は浄土に遊ぶなり（帖外和讃）

自分を生きるしかない。何でもしかねない可能性を持った存在が自分なのです。親鸞聖人は真の善がない自分を見続けられ仏法を頼りに生きられた方でした。仏法を聴聞するとは本当の自分に出会ってゆくこと、また浄土（法の世界）に往生しつつ生活することに水菜
夫人の出会いより改めて知らされたことでした。

“私どもは迷いの凡夫で阿弥陀仏の本願の教えを聞かせていただく
事により、煩悩にみちた身である
けれども心は浄土、清浄なる法の世界にあるのです。“と言われております。
仏教の基本的な教えは、無常、無我、苦、涅槃です。無常だから無我、変わってゆく世界に生きる
我は常に変わる存在であり、恒久的な我はないのです。だから今のRECIPE合掌河和田賢淳

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and , tol on theNews

Rev. Patti Nakai Zoomed in Feb. 28 asguest speaker at our New Year Gathering.

General meeting held on Zoom
in conjunction with Shinnenkai
Our annual General Membership
Meeting was held on Sunday, Feb. 28,
online on Zoom, immediately
followed by a virtual Shinnen Enkai
New Year Gathering.
Rinban Kenjun Kawawata greeted
attendees with his welcome message
to members and friends who logged
in the meeting.
Board president Ken Saiki called
the meeting to order. After theminutes of the 2020 meeting wereapproved, he compared the temple’s
financial condition, 2019 pre-COVID
and 2020 yearend. Even with greatly
reduced in-person services and otheractivities, we’ve been fortunate tosee increased donations and dues
collection because of loyal member
support. Lockdowns and restrictions
on Otani Center class attendance,
however, have led to markedly
reduced rental income. Overall thetemple was able to just about breakeven for the year.
Resident Minister Rev. StevenToyoshima presented an overview of
temple activities for the year,
including the pivot to Facebook Liveweekly services starting the first week
in March, reduction or cancelation ofvarious events due to restrictions ongathering and addition of new ways
to continue our mission, such as
virtual and remote services andadoption of PayPal to help incollecting funds for the temple.

Betsuin WirelessWhile the pandemic resulted in thecancelation of the bon dance and amajor fundraising event, sales ofMantō-e lanterns went up and weredisplayed in the temple’s hondo as atribute to loved ones who havepassed. He also reported on families
adjusting to funeral, special anniversary
and shotsuki memorial services
conducted virtually.
The board election was done with
mail-in ballots. Marian Emi Tsuji wasreelected for a three-year term set to
expire on Feb. 25, 2024. Rinban
Kawawata conducted an installation
ceremony online.
The meeting was adjourned, thenfollowed immediately by the start of
the Shinnen Enkai, emceed by Rev.
Steve Toyoshima, who introduced our
special guest speaker.
Rev. Patti Nakai, a Sansei from
Chicago, studied under Dr. Nobuo
Haneda before receiving her master’s
degree in Shin Buddhist Studies from
Otani University and kyoshi ordination
as a Higashi Honganji minister.
After eight years as a part-timeminister at the LA Betsuin, shereturned to her hometown in 1995,
serving as Associate Minister at the
Buddhist Temple of Chicago until she
was named Resident Minister in 2013.
Rev. Patti selected two verses of
Shinran Shōnin’s Jōdo Wasan (Versesof the Pure Land) to illustrate hertheme, “Relying on Kindness,” singing
them to the melody of the gatha, Norino Miyama, and even doing an encore.
Rev. Patti described Amida’s“protection” as unlike a protective
spaceship hovering above, beaming
force fields of compassion on us, butmore like ordinary water, surrounding
us in many shapes and forms, inside ofus, and everywhere we may happen
to be. How comforting to think of such
ubiquitous 24-hour protection.
Rev. Patti used the Chicago
temple’s annual Summer Festival as
an example of relying on kindness.
The sale of chicken teriyaki at thefestival is a major fundraiser for thetemple. As individual hard work andself-sufficiency are considered virtues,
members put much time and effort
into preparing the food for sale. The
members, especially vulnerable
elders, however, would be placed in
an uncomfortable position if asked tohelp with the risk of COVID infection.
Asking for help from a Japaneserestaurant to prepare the chicken
teriyaki is an exercise in kindness.
Temple members can remain safe,
the restaurant obtains some businessin a difficult time and the community
receives safely prepared food...awin-win proposition all around.
Through collaboration we can findways to mutually benefit.
Rev. Patti fielded questions andpromised to visit Hawaii in person
once conditions allow.
As a finale, Rev. Steve randomly
selected winners of Longs/CVS andStarbucks gift cards, then closed the2021 Shinnen Enkai by sharing avideo of Ondokusan performed by
the Dharma Hawaiians.
Here’s hoping next year’s General
Membership Meeting and Shinnen
Enkai will be a live, in-person eventwith food, fun and fellowship.
See you all next year!

Los Angeles Betsuin vandalized;
GoFundMe fundraiser initiatedOn Feb. 25, the Higashi Honganji
Los Angeles Betsuin in downtown
LA’s Little Tokyo was victim of an act
of deliberate vandalism.
A 12-foot-high glass window at
the entrance was destroyed, twometallic lanterns were ripped off
their concrete bases and two
six-foot wooden lantern stands were
set on fire.
Shocked and saddened, community
partners in Little Tokyo have started
a crowdfunding campaign to show
love and support for the Higashi
temple and set a goal of $50,000 to
help cover the costs of repair andongoing and future security needsof the temple.
Here’s a link to the GoFundMe page:https://gofund.me/dcae218d

3

HIGASHI HONGWANJI HAWAII BETSUIN REOPENING STRATEGY
Tier

TIER 3

Case Count(7 day average)

20 - 49

Test Positivity Rate

1 - 2.49%

Sundayservices

Restricted

In-person attendance intended for those with no accessto livestreamed services. Others please join virtually.

Shotsuki memorialservices

Restricted

In-person attendance intended for those with no accessto livestreamed services. Others please join virtually.

Anniversary
memorial services

24

Pre-arranged with social distanced seating. Others may
join virtually. Please consult a minister for arrangements.

Funeralservices

24

Pre-arranged with social distanced seating. Others may
join virtually. Please consult a minister for arrangements.

Weddings10Pre-arranged with social distanced seating. Others may
join virtually. Please consult a minister for arrangements.

Columbarium(Nōkotsudō)

10Open for visitation and floral offerings daily from 6:30 am
to 5:00 pm. Morning services conducted daily at 7 am.

Otani Centersocial hall

10

Expect availability starting this Spring for meetings,
classes and other social gatherings if conditions permit.
Please email betsuin@hhbt-hi.org or call 531-9088
for availability information.

Conference room

6

City & County of Honolulu

Temple study classes& activities

Virtual only

In the interest of the health and safety of everyone,
we have adopted a very conservative approach toreopening the temple to in-person activities. As manyin our temple ohana are in the most vulnerable groups,
we appreciate your understanding. We hope to welcome
everyone once again as soon as conditions safely
allow. Please observe face mask and social distancing
requirements at all times while on temple grounds.

Expect availability starting this Spring for meetings,
classes and other social gatherings if conditions permit.
Please email betsuin@hhbt-hi.org or call 531-9088
for availability information.
Basic Buddhism, The Larger Sutra, Meditation
Sutra, Dharma Hawaiians ukulele band, Karaoke
Night, TeaTime Okō, Dharma Gatherings, general
membership, board & other committee meetings.

Tier restrictions and temple reopening strategy subject to change.
Mahalo for your patience and understanding as we look forward to the time we can join together
once again before Amida Buddha without restrictions to listen to the Dharma together.
4

Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii

Spring Ohigan Service
Date:
Sunday March 14, 2021
Time:
10:00 a.m.
DharmaTalk:
Rev. Peter Hata
(Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple)
Place:

Higashi Hongwanji Missionof Hawaii Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/HigashiHongwanjiMission/live_videos/Rev. Peter Hata completed Minister’s Assistanttraining in 2009, received Tokudo ordination in 2011
and, in spring 2012, received Kyoshi or full
ordination.In the fall of 2012, he received Kaikyoshi
status and was appointed West Covina Buddhist
Temple’s resident minister.
In 2014, Rev. Peter was transferred to the Higashi
Honganji Los Angeles Betsuin, which began a newchapter of his life. He currently moderates the
temple’s
Wednesday Night Study Class. For the past four
years, the class has studied the Larger Sutra andShoshinge. He also advises the Dharma Seeds layleaders group which studies not only Shin
Buddhism, but also the dynamic interaction between
its teachings and our American cultural andintellectual traditions.
Rev. Peter Hata

Rev. Peter is also a musician and was an original
member of the Sansei jazz-fusion group Hiroshima
for over 10 years. He also spent a number of years
as an adjunct music professor at Cal State
University Los Angeles.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please Call Higashi Hongwanji
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii: (808)531-9088

5

HIGASHI HONGANJI HAWAII DISTRICT
2021 DOBO RETREAT PROGRAM

District Dharma Gathering
We wish to invite you to attend the 2021 District Dharma Gathering of Higashi Honganji
Hawaii District. We will invite Dr. Takami Inoue, the professor of the Otani University, Kyoto as
our guest speaker. The theme of the Gathering is “Let Us Discover the Joy of Living - Living inUncertainty-” Please send the application form below to the Hawaii District office or to ministers of your local temple.
Date:
Saturday, March 13, 2021
Time:
2:00 pm — 4:00 pm
Speaker:Rev. Dr. Takami Inoue (Otani University, Kyoto)
Theme:“Let Us Discover the Joy of Living -Living in Uncertainty-”
Location:Zoom( We’ll send the link to applicants)
Phone:(808) 531-1231
Contribution: $10.00 (payable to Higashi Honganji Hawaii District)
Dr. Takami Inoue Biography
1959 Born in Nagano, Japan.
1984 Graduate from Kyoto University (B.A. in Buddhist Studies)
1984-89 English Language Teacher (Okaya Minami High School)
1991 Received M.A. in Buddhist Studies, Otani University, Kyoto.
1994 Received M.A. in Religious Studies, UC Santa Barbara.
1995-99 Writing a dissertation in Berkeley, CA, while working part-time
for the Higashi Honganji North America District.
1999 Secretary of the Eastern Buddhist Society in Kyoto.
Managing Editor of The Eastern Buddhist.
2003 Lecturer of Shin Buddhist Studies, Otani University
2010 Received Ph.D. in Religious Studies, UC Santa Barbara.
Associate Professor of Shin Buddhist Studies, Otani University.
2016 Professor of Shin Buddhist Studies, Otani University.

If you have any questions, please contact your local temple or the district office at:
Higashi Honganji Hawaii District Office1685 Alaneo Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Phone: (808) 531-1231, Fax: (808) 531-1231, Email: hawaiikantokubu@gmail.com
Detach HereName

6

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Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
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Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

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Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...
t5IF.J[VOB-BEZp. 1
t 水菜夫人 p. 1
t Calling for recipes for calendar p. 2
t News on the Betsuin Wireless p. 3
t General meeting/Shinnenkai p. 3tLA Betsuin vandalism p. 3
t Betsuin Tier 3 info p. 4tFall Ohigan service p. 5
t Joint Dharma Gathering p..6t Acknowledgments p. 7
t March shōtsuki memorial service p. 7
tTemple activities calendar p. 8

Temple Activities Calendar
MARCH

APRIL

Meditation Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
Karaoke Night at the Betsuin - Zoom
Omigaki - Polishing of altar decorations
Shōtsuki memorial service - Facebook Live
Dharma message: Rinban Kenjun Kawawata
3/7 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism discussion - Zoom
Zoom ーled by Rinban Kenjun Kawawata in Japanese
3/9 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Streamyard
3/9 Tue 6 pm The Larger Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
3/13 Sat 2 pm Joint Dharma Gathering - Zoom
Guest speaker: Rev. Dr. Takami Inoue, Ōtani Univ.
3/14 Sun 10 am Betsuin Ohigan service - Facebook Live
Dharma message: Rev. Peter Hata, LA Betsuin
3/18 Thu 6 pm Okō/Tea time gathering - Zoom
3/21 Sun 10 am Rennyō Shōnin memorial service
Facebook Live
3/21 Sun 11:30 am Betsuin board meeting - Zoom
3/23 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Streamyard
3/28 Sun 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service - FB Live

4/4 Sun 10 am HBC Buddha Day service
Facebook Live
4/5 Mon 10 am Meditation Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
4/7 Wed 6 pm Karaoke Night at the Betsuin - Zoom
4/11 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service - Facebook Live
Dharma message: Rinban Kenjun Kawawata
4/11 Sun 12 pm Basic Buddhism discussion - Zoom
Zoom ーled by Rinban Kenjun Kawawata in Japanese
4/13 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Streamyard
4/13 Tue 6 pm The Larger Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
4/15 Thu 6 pm Okō/Tea time gathering - Zoom
4/18 Sun 10 am Sunday service - Facebook Live
4/18 Sun 11:30 am Betsuin board meeting - Zoom
4/25 Sun 10 am Sunday service - Facebook Live
4/27 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Streamyard
4/28 Wed 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
Facebook Live

3/1 Mon 10 am
3/3 Wed 6 pm
3/6 Sat 10 am
3/7 Sun 10 am

6

WEEKLY SUNDAY SERVICES: For the health and safety of our
Betsuin ohana, in-person attendance at Sunday services isrestricted until further notice. Sunday services are livestreamedon our public Facebook page and may be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/HigashiHongwanjiMission

COLUMBARIUM OPEN DAILY: The columbarium is open for
visitation and floral offerings daily from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm.
Morning services are conducted in the columbarium daily at 7
am. Please observe face mask and social distancing courtesies
when others are present.
Niches are available for purchase by gojikai members.