What I Did On My Fall Vacation
Marian Tsuji

As a lay speaker at our Jan. 28 Sunday service,Betsuin board member Marian Tsuji talked
about her Hoonko Hoshidan experience inKyoto. This is a transcript of her remarks.

‘wa’
harmony

Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

3

March 2018

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 SaikiG

ood morning and Namu Amida Butsu.
I was very excited and honored to be invited toattend the 2017 Hoonko Hoshidan trip to Honzan. I didn’t
really know what to expect, but figured it was a trip to the main temple in
Kyoto (always breathtaking), in the fall (a bonus), and an opportunity to learnsomething I knew nothing about. Most of all, I was looking forward to slowing
down, and getting some time to think.
I must’ve really been attracting the vibrations for slowing down,because at the airport I picked up this book, Thank You for Being Late, byThomas Friedman. Part I is titled “Reflecting.”
The beginning of the book really put in context exactly how I’ve beenfeeling: rushed; can’t keep up; hamster on a wheel. I can never catch mybreath. The book describes how the pace of change has accelerated.
In less than 40 years we went from mainframes to desktops to laptops tosmartphones—each generation got easier and more natural for people touse than the one before. The power and speed of computing roughly doubles
every two years.
To illustrate: There is a legend about the man who invented chess. The kingwas so taken by the man’s invention that he offered him any reward. The man
asked for enough rice to feed his family. The king asked, how much? The man
asked the king to put one grain of rice on the first square of the chessboard,
two on the second, four on the next with each subsequent square receiving 2x
as many grains as the previous one. The king agreed without realizing that 63
instances of doubling yields something like 18 quintillion grains of rice.
So the change in technology is happening quicker and more broadly thanever before. Are we able to keep up? Can we adapt at the same rate of change?
We’re not keeping up. Our social institutions are falling behind. On
a personal level, I’ve got email, voicemail, texting, Facebook, Twitter andInstagram. If I don’t stay on top of it all, it just collects and I feel overwhelmed.
So I’m afraid to stop. Reading this book was an affirmation. It’s not just me…
it’s the world that’s spinning faster.
So you can imagine: I was really looking forward to getting on the planeand going to the temple and disconnecting, even if only for a few days. It
was the pause for reflection that I needed.
Our spiritual journey was called the HO-ON-KO Hoshidan Tour. It
included a memorial service for Shinran Shonin, held on November 28, thedate of Shinran’s passing.
My dad tells me that the service is held in the fall so that we can all
enjoy the fall foliage. Hoonko is also celebrated January 9-16 when using
the old Japanese lunar calendar, as Nishi Hongwanji does.
HO = repay; respond to
ON = debt of gratitude
KO = lecture; gathering
So Hoonko is a gathering, and it included many people from temples
all over Japan. We were there to take part in the services and lectures, andfor the fellowship.
(cont’d on p. 2)

Hoonko Hoshidan (cont’d from p. 1)

I wasn’t sure what to expect,
especially since the schedules
we received ahead of the trip
had us waking up and cleaning
our assigned areas at 5:20 every
morning. The day ended with a
10:00 pm lights out.
t Would I be able to spend thatmuch time with the Hawaii
group? I don’t spend thatmuch time with anyone on adaily basis…
t Would I be able to stand thecold? There’s no heat in the
open main temple and I wastold the dorms would be equally
cold. I hate the cold.
t How long would I be able tosit in the temple with my legs
folded under me?
t Wouldn’t I be hungry? The
schedule had only three temple
meals per day.
t Will I have to bathe in the
traditional communal bathingstyle? Ugh! Naked in public!
t What was I doing here?
The angst I had was peeled away
layer by layer, starting with ourgroup meeting at the airport. We
were in total, nine, from the Betsuin,Kaneohe, Palolo and Hilo temples,
including Rev. Fujimori and Rev. Kita.
Everyone was kind, thoughtful, funand easy to get along with. And I
met the nicest minister from Otani
University at the bath that evening,
so the communal bathing becamea social. She and I would meetthroughout the retreat and even offsite at a Zen temple.
So what was our day like? We
did start at 5:20 in the morning withgentle chimes and a soft wake-up
call through the speaker system. The
older women from Japan (we were
14 in our room) in their 80s helped
us fold up our futons and straighten
out the room. We were no matchfor their speed and strength inmanaging the futons. They couldn’t
speak English, and we could barely
speak Japanese, but we had such
fun trying to understand each otherand communicate.
We went to morning service at
6:30, followed by breakfast. The rest2

Chanting ministers sway back and forth and from side to side during the special Hoonko
memorial service commemorating Shinran Shonin’s death on Nov. 28 nearly 800 years ago.
The style of chanting is said to echo the image of Shinran, who continued to offer fervent
prayers on a rocking boat in rough waters when he was exiled to Echigo province.

of the day was a combination of
lecture, a clean up project or, on the
28th, the special Hoonko service.
This special service was a privilege
to see. We were fortunate enoughto be able to sit up front next tothe chanting ministers. Imagine:
thousands of people kneeling next
to each other in this hall. At the front
were about 60 chanting ministers
who were not only selected for their
vocals, but also for their ability tosway. These ministers swayed inunison to the chants—and to seethem all move together as one—it was better than watching theRockettes at Radio City!
I learned so much. But what
were my biggest lessons?
1. I don’t know anything.
I was exposed to so much information,so many new concepts. There is somuch truth to the old saying that“you don’t know what you don’t
know.” It was a great reminder that
we really need to listen, truly listen,and question, and discuss with eachother, for better understanding.
2. Fellowship is important.
It is important to be aroundpeople who are on a like-minded
quest to be able to develop
this deeper understanding. Our
discussions during lecture andsidebar talks during breaks were
where I was able to learn more or
become more confused.

At the end of the retreat, a groupof us went to Ryoanji Temple, the one
with the famous Zen garden. Thisgarden has 15 rocks. No matter where
you stand, you can never see all 15
rocks. What a reminder that we cannever see the whole picture, so it’s
important to learn others’ perspectives.
3. Pause.
We all have busy lives: jobs thatdemand our attention; family;
volunteer commitments. Sometimes
we just go from day to day, or week
to week, just barely keeping up.
Add on top of that the accelerationof change in the world and theadded demands that come with it.
It’s OK to push the pause button
every once in a while.
We need to pause and reflect
and understand so that we
can rethink our assumptions.
Sometimes we need to makeadjustments to come back andreconnect to our core beliefs.
Being a part of the Hoonko tour
and learning about the life of Shinran
Shonin, Original Vow and BasicDesire, helped me reset my compass.
In closing, I would like to thank
Rinban Kawawata for giving me thisopportunity, and everyone who
made it possible, and to our great
escorts, Fujimori-sensei and Kitasensei, who really made sure we had
a great experience.
Namu Amida Butsu.

Special Hawaii District insert

Trade Wind

Higashi Honganji Hawaii District Newsletter
Higashi Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin / Kaneohe Higashi hongwanji / Hilo higashi hongwanji
Palolo Hongwanji / Waimea Higashi Hongwanji

winter 2018

Let Us Discover
the Joy of Living

Scroll of Amida Buddha
in a Frame

The 2018 District theme is “Let Us Discover the Joyof Living.” When I heard the theme, I thought, whatis the joy of living for me? What is the joy of living foryou? Is it eating delicious food, traveling, music or,coming to the temple? You can list many things.
I think playing sports is my joy of living. WhenI was a high school and university student, I played
rugby. I practiced and played rugby six times a week. I
preferred playing rugby to studying. But then I became
injured in a traffic accident, and I had to stay in thehospital for three months. I had two operations on
my leg. I had three broken bones and one compound
fracture. The pain was very terrible. Then, my physicalstrength began to decline. My doctor told me there
was possibility that I would be unable to walk as
usual. I had a very difficult time. I thought I had
wasted so much time practicing rugby before myaccident. I returned to playing rugby with the supportof teammates. But I know the fear of loss, and I knowwhat it is like to have a little disability.
In our lives, we struggle to be rich and have agood position. I think if I became rich and had a good
position I would fear losing them.
Shakyamuni relinquished his money and his
position. But we desire the things that Shakyamuni left
behind. However, we cannot relinquish everything as
Shakyamuni did. What should we do? I think becomingrich and having a good position are results. We need tofocus on the process -- not only the results. Without theprocess, the result of living might be death. So together
with you, I would like to focus on the process and thendiscover the joy of living through the Dharma.
Let us begin the journey!
— Rev. Hidesato Kita

A beautiful, high-quality scroll of Amida Buddha
is now available through the Higashi Honganji USA
Headquarters of Hawaii. The scroll comes in a wooden
frame and can be placed inside a family altar (onaibutsu),
hung on a wall with the included hook, or placed on atable on the wooden stand.
Amida is the Buddha of Pure Land Buddhism, andultimately represents the profound wish that each ofus appreciates every moment of our lives. With thisappreciative attitude, we can live
our lives in the most dynamic
and creative way, regardless ofwhether we are experiencing
happiness or sorrow.
The image of Amida Buddha,
also known as Amida Tathāgata,is the focus of our reverence.
The image depicts the Buddha
standing, with right hand held up
and left hand down. This posturesymbolizes the Buddha constantly
working to reach everyone.
The image represents the Buddha’s wisdom andcompassion ever present, working to liberate us from thesuffering caused by our own egocentric way of living.
The halo behind the Buddha is meant to show that those
attributes are like a light that illuminates all beings inevery corner of the world.
The word, Amida, comes from amitābha (boundlesslight) and amitāyus (limitless life), which are words fromthe ancient language of Sanskrit. “Boundless light”
signifies the Buddha’s wisdom and the “limitless life,”
the Buddha’s compassion. The word, Tathāgata, is alsoof Sanskrit origin and one of its meanings is “the truth
working toward us.”
Amida Buddha is the embodiment of the Buddha’s
wisdom and compassion which works tirelessly to liberateeach one of us regardless of what kind of person we are.

Trade Wind
Higashi Honganji Hawaii District Office
Bishop Kenjun Kawawata
Rev. Hidesato Kita
1685 Alaneo Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Telephone/Fax: (808) 531-1231
Email: adminaloha@higashihonganji.org$100.00 donation per set — Please direct inquiries to
Higashi Honganji Hawaii District Office or your temple.

Special Hawaii District insert

Activities

REPORTS

FUTURE PLANS

Hoonko Hoshidan Tour
November 24-30, 2017

Rainbow Ekiden
March 11, 2018, 8 am (10 am potluck)
Kapiolani Park
Our two teams from the Hawaii District and Higashi
Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii (Betsuin) will compete at
the Rainbow Ekiden. Members will cheer for us and will
have a potluck picnic after. Please come for the fun! Lookfor us near the tennis courts across from the aquarium.

Seven tour members and two ministers represented the Hawaii
District in attending the annual Hoonko memorial service for
Shinran Shonin at the Honzan in Kyoto. People come from allover Japan for this very special chanting called a Bandobushi.
The tour group also visited Shorenin and Otani Sobyo.
Joint Dharma Gathering
January 20-21, 2018

For the Joint Dharma Gathering we welcomed Rev. Akinori
Imai. His lecture on our theme, “Let Us Discover the Joy of
Living,” was a meaningful topic for all who atttended.

Public Seminar
March 23, 2018, 7 pm
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
We have invited Dr. Michael Conway to be our speaker atthis special event. The topic will be History in the Buddha’sLight: Reading a Komyo Honzon Scroll. Please join us
and listen to Dr. Conway’s insights. If you have questions,contact your local temple or Hawaii District Office.
Fukushima Recovery Project
March 26, 2018
Four university students and two children from
Fukushima will share their experiences and thoughts
at a welcome reception immediately after their arrivalin Hawaii. Please help us show our Aloha Spirit at the
Betsuin’s Otani Center on Monday, March 26, at 10 am.
Joint Buddhist Seminar with Honpa Hongwanji
April 13 - 14, 2018
Buddhist Study Center (1436 University Ave.)
Dr. Nobuo Haneda of Maida Center in Berkeley
will talk about Shakyamuni Buddha and Shinran:Buddhism as the Teaching of Self-Examination. This
very interesting and informative seminar topic begins
on Friday from 6 pm-8:30 pm and continues all day
Saturday starting at 9 am. The $20 fee includes meals
and refreshments. If you have any questions, please contact
the Buddhist Study Center or Hawaii District Office.

Financial Report
Fiscal Year (7/1/2016 - 6/30/2017)

ACCOUNT
General AccountShuso Shinran Shonin 750th Goenki Fund
Hoonko/YBA Hoshidan FundWorld Dobo Convention Fund
Fukushima Recovery Project Fund
Scholarship Fund
Emergency Fund

INCOME$51,337.57$36,304.64$9,387.86$16,983.46$33,955.88$5,669.45$12,013.83

EXPENSE$25,274.89$31,056.85$0.00$590.00$15,489.74$2,000.00$0.00

DIFFERENCE$26,062.68$5,247.79$9,387.86$16,393.46$18,466.14$3,669.45$12,013.83

News on the

Temple volunteers make sure the altar floral
vases and other items sparkle and shine.

Dates to mark on your calendars

March is a busy month with all of
our regular activities but here are a
few special dates to point out foryou to make sure they get on yourcalendar schedule.
Omigaki: We will be polishing ouraltar decorations in preparation for
Ohigan observances at 12 noon onSun., March 4. It’s easy, fun and agreat opportunity to meet others.
Picnic: We’re going to be at
Kapiolani Park on Sun., March 11 at
8 am to cheer on our young
ministers and temple members
participating in the Honolulu
Rainbow Ekiden relay race. You may
join us at 10 am with your goza or
blanket to stretch out, relax andenjoy a cozy potluck picnic. Look for
us by the tennis courts across fromthe Honolulu Aquarium. No Betsuin
service on this March 11 Sunday.
Ohigan service: The advent ofspring gives us an opportunity torenew our efforts to strengthen ourcommitment to the Buddhist life.
Former Betsuin minister Rev.
Hosen Fukuhara is guest speaker at
our March 18 Ohigan service startingat 10 am. After the service, weadjourn to Otani Center and enjoy alight lunch, along with somenostalgic botamochi—just likeGrandma used to make—for dessert.
Public lecture: Dr. Michael
Conway returns to Hawaii to present
a public lecture on March 23,
starting at 7 pm, intriguingly entitled
History in the Buddha’s Light: Reading a
Komyo Honzon Scroll.

Betsuin Wireless

Fukushima Youth Project: Six
young people who were victims of
the Tohoku triple disaster in March2011 will be spending a week in Hawaii
for R&R. We can use your kokua withdonations of cash and nonperishable
foodstuffs for use while they’re here.
Upon arrival on Monday morning
on March 26, they will attend a shortservice and then have lunch at Otani
Center. Please help welcome themand join us for lunch at about 11 amas they share their experiences andthoughts with us.
Bon dance: While it’s not until
summertime, we’d like to give you aheads up on the dates of our Betsuin
bon dance, Fri. & Sat., July 20 & 21,
and not July 13 & 14, as shown in our
2018 Higashi Hongwanji Hawaii
District wall calendar.
If you’d like more details about
any of the events listed, feel free tocall the office at 531-9088 or email us
at betsuin@hhbt-hi.org.

This 2012 film directed by Sion
Sono won him the NETPAC Director’sAward at the Toronto InternationalFilm Festival, while Isao Natsuyagi
was named Best Actor at the 2013
Mainichi Film Awards for his tenderacting performance in the film.
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tues., Mar. 27,
134 min. Color, Japanese audio,
English subtitles. Free admission.
Light refreshments, or bring to share!
希望の国（きぼうのくに）

20○○年、日本の長島県(長崎＋広島＋福島県かな？)の東方沖で起こった大地震により、原子力発電所が事故を起こ
し、原発から半径20km圏内が警戒区域に指定された。酪農家の小野泰彦 一家の家は区域から外れたが、道路を隔てた鈴木家は強制的に避難させられる。かつての東日本大震災における原発事故時の政府の対応を思い出し、康彦は息子夫婦を避難させた。原発の状況が刻々と悪化していく中、ついに小野家を含む地域もFictional Land of Hope depicts
possible future real-lifescenario

A nuclear power plant accident
occurs in the year 20XX due to a major
earthquake off the east coast of thefictional Nagashima (a combination ofNagasaki + Hiroshima + Fukushima?)
prefecture. The area within a 20 km
radius from the nuclear power plant isdesignated as a warning area.
Dairy farmer Yasuhiko Ono (IsaoNatsuyagi), his dementia-afflicted wife,
Chieko (Naoko Otani) and their family
are allowed to stay in the area, but theSuzuki family, husband Ken (Denden),
his wife, Meiko (Mariko Tsutsui) andson Mitsuru (Yutaka Shimizu) acrossthe road are forced to take refuge.
Remembering the government’s
response at the time of the nuclear
accident at the time of the Great East
Japan Earthquake in March of 2011,
Yasuhiko evacuates his son, Yoichi(Jun Murakami) and his wife, Izumi(Megumi Kagurazaka).
Meanwhile the situation at thenuclear power plant is getting worse
from moment to moment until...

避難区域に指定される。
受賞:第67回毎日映画コンクール日本
映画優秀賞、男優主演賞：夏八木
勲、2012トロント国際映画祭NETPAC監
督賞： 園子温。
監督 ： 園子温、小野泰彦：夏八木勲、小野智恵子：大谷直子、小野洋一：村上淳、
小野いずみ：神楽坂恵、鈴木健：でんでん、
鈴木めい子：筒井真理子、鈴木ミツル：清水優、ヨーコ：梶原ひかり、公開 : 2012
年、カラー、言語 : 日本語、字幕 : 英語 、
映時間 : 134分、3月27日(火)午後6:30

5

SHINSHU CENTER OF AMERICA (HIGASHI HONGANJI)

PUBLIC SEMINAR ON SHIN BUDDHISM

History in the Buddha’s Light:
Reading a Kōmyō Honzon Scroll
Rev. Dr. Michael Conway
Lecturer, Otani University, Japan

Friday, March 23, 2018, 7:00 pm
Free and Open to the Public

No background in Buddhism is required.
The Seminar will be followed by a Q&A.

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

Rev. Dr. Michael Conway
Rev. Dr. Conway was born in Chicago in 1976. He graduated from Northwestern University
with a degree in History in 1997. Soon after, he started attending the Buddhist Temple ofChicago in 1998. In 2003, he entered Otani University’s Graduate School in the Shin Buddhist
Studies Major. There, he served as Departmental Assistant in Otani University’s Department
for Shin Buddhist Studies from 2009 to 2011. He completed his Ph.D. in Shin Buddhist Studies in 2011. He served as the Managing Editor of The Eastern Buddhist academic journal from2011 to 2015. He has been a Full Time Lecturer at Otani University since 2015. Rev. Dr. Conway
is also an ordained minister of the Shinshū Ōtani-ha (Higashi Honganji).
Higashi Honganji Hawaii District Ofﬁce
1685 Alaneo Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Tel & Fax: (808) 531-1231 Email: adminaloha@higashihonganji.org

6

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

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

Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...
t8IBU*%JEPO.Z'BMM7BDBUJPOp. 1 - 2
t Special insert: Trade Wind p. 3 - 4t/FXTPOUIF#FUTVJO8JSFMFTTp. 5
t.BSLZPVSDBMFOEBSTp. 5
March special activities p. 5
t.PWJFLand of Hope (2012) p. 5
t Public lecture: Dr Michael Conway p. 6
t Acknowledgments p. 7
t March shōUTVLJTFSWJDFp. 7
t5FNQMFBDUJWJUJFTDBMFOEBSp. 8

Temple Activities Calendar
3/4
3/4
3/8
3/11
3/12
3/13
3/18
3/18
3/20
3/20
3/23
3/24
3/25
3/26
3/27
3/27
3/28

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4

MARCH

Sun 10 am Shōtsuki service/Sunday school
Sun 12pm Omigaki polishing of altar decorations
Thu 7 pm The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara Conference RoomSun 10 am Temple picnic at Kapiolani Park(no service at Betsuin)
Mon 10 am Betsuin study classTue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceSun 10 am Ohigan service/Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meetingTue 10 am Ministers’ training (through 3/22)
Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
Fri 7 pm Public lecture
Dr. Michael Conway, Otani University
Sat 10 am Temple presidents’ meeting
Higashi Honganji Hawaii District
Sun 10 am Rennyō Shōnin memorial service
Mon 11 am Hawaii District Fukushima project(though 4/2)
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceTue 6:30 pm Movie night: Land of Hopeの国
Fukuhara Conference Room
Wed 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service

4/1
4/8
4/10
4/12
4/13
4/14
4/15
4/15
4/16
4/17
4/22
4/22
4/24
4/24
4/28
4/29

APRIL

HBC Buddha Day service @ Soto Mission(No service at Betsuin)
Sun 10 am Hanamatsuri service @ Betsuin
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceThu 7 pm The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fri 6 pm Joint Higashi-Honpa seminar Pt 1
led by Dr. Nobuo Haneda
Buddhist Study Center next to UH-Manoa
Sat 9 am Joint Higashi-Honpa seminar Pt 2-5(continues at BSC all day, including lunch)
Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meetingMon 10 am Betsuin study class with Dr. Haneda
Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
Sun 10 am Shōtsuki service/Sunday school
Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Folding class
Led by Jeanne Kawawata @ Otani Center
Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practiceTue 6:30 pm Movie night: Kikujiroの夏
Sat 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
Sun 10 am Ehime Maru Memorial cleaning
Kakaako Waterfront Park
Short service and picnic to follow
Sun 9 amEveryone 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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