Why We Celebrate
Hō-on-kōRev. Steven Toyoshima‘wa’harmony

Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

11

November 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 SaikiH

ere in Hawaii, the seasons may not change as drastically as they do in
California and Japan but the temperature has cooled down quite a bit.
In Japan, the cooler weather of fall brings a change in color to the leaves andpreparation for the Hō-on-kō holiday at Higashi Honganji temples.
Hō-on-kō is the anniversary of the death of Shinran Shōnin, who lived
from 1173 until 1262. Respected as the founder of Jōdo
Shinshū, Shinran made Buddhism accessible to everyday
people living in ancient Japan. Though he did not intend
to found a new school of Buddhism, his descendants andstudents established the Honganji, the “temple of theOriginal Vow/Innermost Aspiration.”In the United States, most of our holidays revolve aroundthe birthdays of important people in our country’s history.
Since we are not comfortable talking about death in America,
it is unusual for us to observe the day of death for a national Rev. Steve Toyoshimaholiday. Celebrating the day when Shinran died feels like amore Buddhist way of reflecting on the whole life and experiences of Shinran
Shōnin than just the day he happened to be born.
Shinran Shōnin is someone who lived the life of a true seeker, a life full ofdifficulty and joy. He was a Buddhist monk, an outcast, a family man, a writer whosaw himself as some where in-between a layperson and a monk.
He did not see himself as a teacher or leader, but as a simple ignorantperson who was fortunate enough to have come in contact with the truth andwisdom of the Nenbutsu. He realized that he had been living his life on a pathof “jiriki,” self-powered struggling to engage in the Buddhist practices.
The Nenbutsu that had been passed down to him through his mentor
Hōnen Shōnin was the “easy path” that cuts through countless eons of negative
karma. For many people of Shinran’s time, keeping the Buddhist precepts andhaving the discipline and time to do the difficult Buddhist
practices was impossible.
The Nenbutsu is somethingthat exists outside of our conscious
efforts, it rises up in us when we areharmonizing with the working of
Namu Amida Butsu in our lives.
In this way it is truly open to
everybody no matter whatsocial class, education or
circumstances we are living.
Shinran Shōnin found a
way to collect and present
the wisdom of the seven
wise men who had studied
and transmitted the Nenbutsu
through the ages.
It’s because of the life
experiences, the difficulties and joys of living his many lives as a layperson,
outcast, monk and more that we are able to understand these ancientteachings. In the seminary and in our study classes we are trying to recapturethat spirit of being a true seeker, a humble person, a person who is living in(cont’d on p. 2)

Hō-on-kō (cont’d from p. 1)
accord with the Nenbutsu. The
gratitude he expresses in hiswritings is the same that we arefilled with during Hō-on-kō. Wespend this time every year bowing
with respect not just to Shinran
ここハワイでは、カリフォルニアや日本のような急激な季節の変化はありませんが、気温はかなり低くなってきました。日本では、秋になると紅葉が始まり、東本願寺では「報恩講」の準備が始まります。
報恩講は、1173年から1262年まで生きられた親鸞聖人のご命日です。浄土真宗の宗祖として尊敬される親鸞聖人は、仏教を身近なものにしました。
親鸞聖人は新しい宗派を創るつもりはありませんでしたが、子孫や弟子たちが「本願寺」を建立しました。
アメリカでは、歴史上の重要人物の誕生日を中心とした祝日が多い事です。アメリカでは、死について語ることに抵抗があるため、御命日を記念することは珍しいことです。親鸞聖人が亡くなった日を記念することは、親鸞聖人がたまたま生まれた日だけではなく、その生涯と経験を振り返る、より仏教的な形であると感じます。
親鸞聖人は、困難と喜びに満ちた、真の求道者の、人生を歩まれた方でした。僧侶であり、流罪された方であり、家庭人であり、著作家であり、自分を一般人と僧侶の中間的な存在と考えていました。
師匠である法然上人から頂いたお念

Shōnin, but to the great teachings
and teachers that he illuminated forthe people who came after.
When he says “I have no otherteachings than to fully understandwhat my true teacher told me, that is,‘one should simply say the Nenbutsu

報恩講とは？
豊島スティベン

仏は、数え切れないほどの宿業を断ち切る「易行道」だったのです。親鸞の時代の多くの人々にとって、戒律を守り、困難な仏道修行を行うための規律と時間を持つことは難しいことでした。
聖人は自分を先生や指導者としてではなく、幸運にも念仏の真実と智慧に触れた単なる無知な人間として見ていました。聖人は、自分が「自力」の道を歩んできたことに気づきました。
念仏は、私たちの意識的な自力の外存在するもので、私たちが南無阿弥陀仏の働きに調和しているときに、私たちの中に起こってくるのです。
このようにして、念仏は、社会階層、教育、生活環境にかかわらず、誰and be liberated by Amida.,” he is in
his typically humble way pointing
the way forward for us to walk in his
footsteps with “Namu Amida Butsu”
guiding us along that path.
In Gassho,
Rev. Steven Toyoshimaにでも開かれたものなのです。親鸞聖
人は、時代を超えて念仏を学び伝えてきた七高僧の教えを集めて発表する方法を見つけられました。
聖人の俗人として、また流罪人、僧侶としての多くの人生経験、困難や喜びがあったからこそ、私たちはこの念
仏の教えを理解することができるのです。私の卒業した専修学院や勉強会では、真の求道者、謙虚な人、念仏と共に生きている人間として、その精神を再現しようとしています。聖人が著作の中で表現している感謝の気持ちは、私たちが報恩講で感じている事と同じです。親鸞聖人だけでなく、親鸞聖人が後世の人々のために照らし出した偉大な教えや先生方に敬意を表して、毎年この時期に頭を下げ聴聞するのです。
親鸞聖人が「ただ念仏して弥陀にたすけられまいらすべしと、よきひとのおおせをかぶりて、信ずるほかに別の子細なきなり」とおっしゃったのは、聖人らしい謙虚な姿勢で、「南無阿弥陀仏」を道しるべに、私たちが聖人の足跡をたどって歩むべき道を示しているのだと思います。
合掌、
豊島スティベンJoin us for Hawaii District Ho-on-ko 2021
Saturday, Nov. 13 at 1 pm (HST)

Hō-on-kōon ZoomZoom
Hō-on-kōGathering
Gathering on

Hō-on-kō Service on Facebook Live

“Becoming“Becoming aa Buddha
Buddha throughthrough thethe Nenbutsu”
Nenbutsu”

Dharma message by Rev. Dr. Michael Conway

Rev.
Rev. Dr.
Dr. MichaelMichael Conway
ConwayJoin us live on our public Facebook page at Higashi
Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii or simply click on this link:
https://www.facebook.com/HigashiHongwanjiMission/.
Watch past videos at any time on our Facebook page.

Lecturer
LectureratatŌtaniŌtaniUniversityUniversity/PQSFSFHJTUSBUJPOSFRVJSFEt/PDIBSHFt%POBUJPOTXFMDPNFE
Click on this Zoom link: https://bit.ly/30MjtNX.FFUJOH*%t1BTTDPEF

2Sunday, Nov. 14 at 10 am (HST)&ODPVOUFSJOH#VEEIJTNBUUIF#VEEIJTU5FNQMFPG
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If you have any questions or need help connecting withZoom or finding us on Facebook, feel free to call us at(808) 531-9088 or email betsuin@hhbt-hi.org.

Nomi no Ichiba

flea market

G蚤の市場

oing shopping in Japan can be a great experience.
Shopping at a Nomi no Ichi (literally, “flea market”) at
a temple or shrine is an even greater experience as you’recertain to find lots of treasures or bargains. Make thattreasures and bargains!
In fact, many travelers will time their trips to make surethey get to rummage throughNomi no Ichiba the amazing bargains and rarefinds at well-known flea markets
Sat., Dec. 11in Kyoto, such as at Toji temple
9 am - 3 pm
and Kitano Tenmangu shrine. AtHigashi Hongwanji
those ichiba (marketplaces) you
Mission of Hawaii
can find everything from green tea
Otani Centerto katana (swords) to kimono and"MBOFP4U
freshly roasted chestnuts.
(corner N. Kuakini St.)Our Higashi Hongwanji Nomino Ichiba will be a scaled-down, controlled-entry version
of a sprawling Japanese flea market. We won’t have nearly
as much variety but we’re very excited about the extensive
array of used goods, collectibles, antiques and clothing weare offering to the public.
Among the treasures we’veamassed for this Nomi no Ichibaare several kabuki dolls made by amember who is downsizing. She isseeking a new home for her keepsakeclassical dancers, including Benkei
from the famous ,BOKJODIP, and thewhite- and red-maned parent andcub lions from 3FOKJTIJ.
Other art collectibles include
unique modular origami creations by Jeanne Kawawata, ourhead minister’s wife, who also teaches the technique in her“Art of Paper Folding” classes at the temple. Although thesmall, personalized classes have been suspended for the past
year and a half due to the pandemic, she is eager to startthem going again as soon as she gets the green light.
Another member’s hobby is making lap quilts for folks
in care homes and day carecenters. She has craftedsome especially for sale atthe Nomi no Ichiba to help
raise funds for the temple.
Each lap blanket is different
and has a design like noother. What a great gift forsomeone, especially as we enter our winter season! Cometo the sale early for best selection.
Otani Center will house the main collection ofitems for sale. We truly appreciate the generosity of ourmembers and friends who have donated so many usefuland valuable items for our sale. Everything from books
to children’s toys and clothing to housewares to sporting
equipment will be available, all at bargain prices. You’ll
find women’s and men’s clothing—including a wide
selection of Reyn’s, Tori Richard and other quality brandaloha shirts—accessories and an international boutiquewith kimono and obi for sale.
Also, author Chiemi Souen will be on hand for the saleand signing of her new book, Ikigai: Life’s Purpose.
Outside you’ll be able to visit our open-air tents andstroll through tables of homegrown potted plants andfresh produce.
Featured garden
items include
cranberry hibiscus
acetosella, queen’s
tears (lobster claw)
and double bird ofparadise, seldom
sold commercially.
Also, you’ll wantto pick up eyecatching kokedama,
succulents and luscious hanging plants to use as uniquegifts or dress up your own home for the holidays while
helping the temple at the same time.
Shopping makes one hungry, so we’ll have someready-to-eat foods and refreshments outside as well. At
this time we’re not certain just what kind of foods our“pop-up retail event” will be allowed to sell, but at thevery least, we’ll have some pre-packaged items available.
Save the date now: Sat., Dec. 11 for Nomi no Ichiba!
VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Fri., Dec. 10 setup from 9 am
Place items according to floor planSat., Dec. 11 sale day from 9 am
Sales, security, utility, clean up
7PMVOUFFSTNVTUTIPXQSPPGPGWBDDJOBUJPO
XJMMIBWFPQQPSUVOJUZUPQVSDIBTFFBSMZ
To volunteer or if you have questions:
Email: betsuin@hhbt-hi.org
or call (808) 531-9088

VOLUNTEERS

asonedeslla
C al l i n g r d gr owe r s t s
backya nt enthusias
and plaWe are accepting plant and produce
donations. Please drop off during normal
temple hours 9 am - 5 pm daily and nolater than 3 pm Thursday, Dec. 9.

3News on theBetsuin Wireless

New C&C rules allow return ofsome large gatherings & events

A new COVID-19 emergency orderfor Honolulu eases capacity rules forseveral categories of large events. Rules
vary depending on whether the event
is indoors or outdoors and seated orinteractive (i.e., includes mingling,food, beverages). The key tradeoff inallowing the return of big events is
COVID-19 vaccination for all attendees.
The )POPMVMV4UBS"EWFSUJTFS hasreported that 86% of Oahu residents
eligible for the COVID inoculation are
fully vaccinated and 95% havereceived at least one dose.
The new rules issued on Oct. 27
allow indoor interactive events toincrease attendance to 50% of
capacity of facilities for activities suchas weddings and funerals as long as
all attendees are fully vaccinated andappropriate COVID-19 mitigationplans are followed.
Other activities and uses of ourtemple facilities are covered as well.
We’ll publish our new guidelines once
they’re ready.
The relaxed proclamation permits
and provides guidelines for “indoorand outdoor pop-up retail events,”
such as our long-postponed Nomino Ichiba flea market. Since we’ll beready and able to conform fully withthe conditions for such activities,
we’ve set the date for the event onSaturday, December 11.
We look forward to when we canall gather once again in-person for
all our activities. Meanwhile, let’s allroll up our sleeves and get thoseshots in arms!

November distribution anticipatedfor 2022 Hawaii District calendars

Otoki after-service meals havealways been an opportunity toenjoy the Dhama and good food
together. The soon-to-be-published
Hawaii District calendars for 2022feature several of these otoki
dishes, including favorite recipes
shared by members.

45IFDBMFOEBSGFBUVSFTSFDJQFTGPSPUPLJNFBMT OPTUBMHJDQMBOUBUJPOEJTIFT CPOEBODF
GPPEBOEPUIFSUSBEJUJPOBMGBWPSJUFTThe calendars, suitable for wall
hanging or lying flat for writing in daily
reminders, are scheduled for
distribution later this month. Watch foran announcement of whencalendars will be available. Each
Higashi Hongwanji temple in Hawaii
will have a supply for its members
and friends.
Besides being a useful Nenbutsu
teaching tool and a way to keep you
up-to-date on various local temple
events, the calendars are also part ofeach temple’s fundraising efforts,
which we hope you will help
support, especially during thesechallenging times.
Email us at betsuin@hhbt-hi.org orcall (808) 531-9088 to order
additional copies to share with others.

A month later, Tora-san notices
Haruko (Komaki Kurihara), akindergarten teacher who’s renting
a room upstairs, and falls in love, notknowing about her boyfriend...
Director: Shunichi Kobayashi. Stars
Chieko Baisho as Sakura, Chieko Misaki
as Tsune, Shin Morikawa as Tatsuzo.
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tues., Nov. 23,92 min. Color, Japanese audio, English
subtitles. Admission free. Refreshments.
新•男はつらいよ (しん•おとこはつらいよ)

競馬で大穴を当てた寅さん(渥美清)は、タクシーで名古屋から柴又へ帰り、恩返しとばかりにおいちゃん夫婦にハワイ旅行を手配した。喜ぶおいちゃん達の出発の日、旅行会社の社長に金を持ち逃げされたことが発覚。近所の手前から電気もつけないでひっそり暮らすことになった。ところが留守の筈のとらやに泥棒が入ったから大変！それから一ヶ月、寅さんは自分の部屋に下宿している美しい幼稚園の先生・春子

In Tora-san’s Grand Scheme, atrip to Hawaii runs into a snagTora-san (Kiyoshi Atsumi) wins big
at the horse races and returns home
to Shibamata by taxi from Nagoya. Hearranges to take his Aunt Tsune andUncle Tatsuzo on a trip to Hawaii asrepayment for their kindnesses, but on
the morning of their departure, they
discover that the president of thetravel agency has made off with theirmoney. Afraid they’ll be the laughing
stock of the neighborhood, they sneakback home and pretend they are on
the trip, not turning on the lights.
However, the scheme unravels
when a thief, expecting everyone tobe away on a trip, enters Toraya!

(栗原小巻) を見てウットリ。恋人がいるのも知らずに日増しに熱をあげるのだた。
監督：小林俊一、諏訪さくら：倍賞千恵
子、 車つね：三崎千恵子 、車竜造：森川信、公開 : 1970年、カラー、言語 : 日本語、
字幕 : 英語、映時間 : 92分、11月23日(火)午後6:30時、入場無料。

t-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...
t8IZ8F$FMFCSBUF)ǯPOLǯp. 1
t報恩講とは？ p. 2
t Hawaii District Hō-on-kō events p. 3t Nomi no Ichiba - Flea Market 12/11 p. 3
t News on the Betsuin Wireless Q
t New C&C rules for large events Qt District calendar coming soon Q
t Nov. movie: Tora-san’s Grand Scheme Q
t Acknowledgments p. 5
t November shōtsuki memorial service p. 5tTemple activities calendar p. 6Temple Activities Calendar
NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

11/1 Mon10 am Amida Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
11/3 Wed 5:30 pm Karaoke Night at the Betsuin - Zoom
11/7 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service - Facebook/In-person
Dharma message: Rinban Kenjun Kawawata
11/7 Sun 11:30am Basic Buddhism discussion - ZoomとZoom ーティン
led by Rinban Kenjun Kawawata in Japanese
11/9 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Zoom
11/9 Tue 6 pm The Larger Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
11/13 Sat 1 pm Hawaii District Hōonkō Gathering - Zoom
Guest lecturer: Rev. Dr. Michael Conway
11/14 Sun 10 am Hawaii District Hōonkō service - FB Live only
Guest speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Conway
11/18 Thu 6 pm Okō/Tea time gathering - Zoom
11/21 Sun 10 am Sunday service - Facebook Live
11/21 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting - Zoom
11/21 Sun 12 pm The Art of Paper Folding class - Ōtani Center
11/23 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Zoom
11/23 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Tora-san’s Grand Scheme (1970)
11/28 Sun 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service - FB LiveSUNDAY SERVICES: In-person attendance limited up to social
distanced capacity of 26. Temperature check and face coverings
required for the health and safety of all attendees.
Recommend viewing of services livestreamed on our publicFacebook page. Videos available for viewing at any time.

12/1 Wed 5:30 pm Karaoke Night at the Betsuin - Zoom
12/5 Sun 9:30 am Hawaii Buddhist Council Bodhi Day serviceZoom (No service at Betsuin)
12/6 Mon 10 am Amida Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
12/10 Fri 9 am Nomi no Ichiba setup - volunteers wanted
12/11 Sat 9 am Nomi no Ichiba flea market at Otani Center(until 3 pm) Volunteers wanted
12/12 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service - FB Live/In-person
Dharma message: Rinban Kenjun Kawawata
12/12 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting - Zoom
12/14 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Zoom/In-person
12/14 Tue 6 pm The Larger Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
12/16 Thu 6 pm Okō/Tea time gathering - Zoom
12/19 Sun 10 am Ōsōji - Top-to-bottom temple cleaning(No service at Betsuin)
12/26 Sun TBA
Virtual mochitsuki - Facebook Live(No service at Betsuin)
12/28 Tue 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service - FB Live
12/31 Fri 5:30 pm New Year’s Eve service - Joya-e (Bell ringing 108 times following the serviceFacebook Live
1/1/22 Sat 10 am New Year’s Day service - Shushō-e (Facebook LiveCOLUMBARIUM OPEN DAILY: The columbarium is open forvisitation and floral offerings daily from 9 am to 5 pm.