Thoughts of Life
Rinban Kenjun Kawawata

S‘wa’harmony

Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

8August 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 96817Tel: (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 Saiki

ometimes on my days off, I will venture out to Oahu’s shoreline andspend time watching fish dart about in the ocean, or observing honu,
or green sea turtles, come ashore to laze on a sunny beach. When I lookat the fishes and other creatures in the water, I always feel in awe of thewonder of life. There are so many living things existing
together on this planet. None of them are the sameand each one is living a different life. I am simply one ofthose many lives. Every life is unique and important.
A few weeks ago, a member of the Betsuin who
had read in our Wa newsletter about my difficultyfinding mizuna at the supermarket gave me somemizuna seeds. So I decided to start a small vegetablegarden. Besides mizuna, I planted cucumbers,
Rinban Ken Kawawata
tomatoes and string beans. I’m eagerly looking
forward to all the delicious, fresh vegetables we’ll be able to harvest andeat in the coming months.
Once the vegetables from the garden are ready for eating, mostpeople will say that I was the one who grew them. But when you think
about it, you come to realize that I am really not the one who grew them.
All I do is plant the seeds and water them. After that, the vegetables
receive nutrients from the soil and grow naturally in the sunlight. There
are various conditions that make the vegetables grow and I am just oneof those conditions.
It’s the same with everyone’s life. I didn’t create my own life. I wasborn as a result of conditions related to my father and mother. And I am
alive today because of various
causes and conditions. We aresupported by many other lives.
This kind of life or condition
has been called Amida. Amida
means immeasurable life, lifethat cannot be measured, lifethat cannot be counted. We
are alive and supported by thatimmeasurable and uncountablelife. And Amida is a word that
expresses the workings ofthe true teaching. This is thewisdom of our predecessors,
to bow down to the many lives
and live humbly while listening
to the true teachings.
Sunlight, water and soil nutrients are among
During Obon, we remember
conditions that cause string beans to flourish. our parents, grandparents andancestors. These people are also the life of Amida. We recite the Nembutsu
and express our gratitude for all lives, in the past as well as today.
In gassho,
Rinban Ken Kawawata私が作るのではないことに気づきます。

お盆:
いのちについて河和田賢淳
私は時々、休日には、海へ魚やカメを見にゆきます。水中で魚たちや他の生物を見ていると、いのちの不思議さを感じるのです。多くの生き物が一緒に生きている。そしてどれ一つをとっても同じものは無く、それぞれ違う命を生きていています。僕もその多くのいのちの一つなのです。どのいのちも大切でユニークないのちです。
先日別院のメンバーから水菜の種をもらい、小さな菜園をはじめました。水菜、キュウリ、トマト、豆などを植えています。きっとしばらくすると美味しい新鮮な野菜を食べることができるでしょう。

私は種を植え、水やるだけです。あとは野菜が土から栄養をもらい、太陽の光を受けて自然に育つのです。そこにはいろいろな条件があり、それによって野菜は育ち、実を付けるのです。だから私もただその条件の一つになのです。
みんなのいのちも同じなのです。自分のいのちは自分で作ったものではありません。父と母を条件に生まれたのです。そしていろいろなご縁、条件があって今、生きているのです。多くのいのちに支えられて生きている。
このようないのちや条件を阿弥陀と呼んできました。阿弥陀とは無量寿、量ることができないいのち、数え切れないいのちという意味です。その無量のいのち、数え切れないいのちによって生かされているのです。また阿弥陀とは真実の教えの働きを表す言葉です。だから南無阿弥陀仏と、真実の教えを聞きつつ、多くのいのちに頭を下げ、謙虚に生きる、これが私たちの先達の方々の智慧なのです。
お盆は近くは両親や祖父母を思い、先祖を思いお参りします。その方々も阿弥陀のいのちなのです。
合掌河和田賢淳

普通このように野菜などを作ると、皆、これは私が作ったものだと言います。しかしよく考えてみると、

ShŌtsuki Memorial Observance for AugustO

ur monthly shōtsuki service in the hondo, or mainhall, in remembrance of temple family members
who passed away in the month of August of a previous
year will be held at 10 am on Sunday, August 1. Shōtsuki
memorial services are also livestreamed on the temple’s
public Facebook page.

The following list includes temple members from thepast 50 years and others whose deaths occurred in thismonth. If you would like your family member’s name read
aloud during the memorial service following the sutrachanting or have any questions about the listing, please call
us at 531-9088 or email us at betsuin@hhbt-hi.org.

Nathan Choy Akee
Jack Tatumi Ishida
Helen Tamae Marques George Minoru Sagawa Hatsuko Tsunoda
Reiko Arakaki
Tomochika Uyeda
Richard Hiroki Ishida Jr. Jean Katsuko Matsuwaki Robert M. Sakamoto
ThomasMimuroHarumi Fuchikami
Ruth Natsuko Sasabuchi Florence Chiyoko Uyeno
Gilbert Masami Ishii
Yukie Minatoya
Irene Masako Fujiki
Helen Yoshie Shimamura Adeline Sugai Ventura
Hatsuo Ishii
Kameo
Miyahira
Raymond M. Hamamoto Kenzo Ishii
Hellen Fumiko Shimazu Chiyoko Watanabe
Mae Mitsue K. Miyasato Alfred Sadamu Shimoda John Masami Yamada
Lorraine Yukie Hanai
Mitsuko Ishii
Thomas Miyashiro
Hisae Hebaru
Jane M. Shimogawa
Bernard K. Yamamoto
Shigeru Ishimura
Ayano Miyazaki
Ruth Tatsuyo Hiraki
Masao
Shimomura
Janet Setsuko Yamauchi
Toyomi Iwasaki
Haruo Nagashima
Masano Hirashima
Shizuko Sumiye
Wayne A. Yamauchi
Frank Minoru Kaito
Wallace Shigeru Naito
Janice Motoko Hirata
JohnChoong
Sur
Chiyoyasu Yano
Jack Shigeru Kaneshiro
Kiyoshi Nakagawa
Hiroko Hiroi
Harry Tatsuo Tagomori Ethel Matsue Yasuda
Harry Toshio Katsumoto Kenji Nakahara
Patricia K Hiroshima
Tomonosuke Takahashi Roy Masami Yasuda
Leatrice Namie Kimura Toshikatsu Nakahara
Edwin Hosaka
Matsue Takayama
Eiko Yoshida
Sayo KinoshitaRyoki Nakama
Yoneko Ihara
Hilda
HidekoTakehiro
Fumie Yoshida
James Kiyoshi Kodama Paul Naoto Nishida
Tatsue Ikeda
Hitoshi Yoshimura
Koto Kodama
Susan Yoshie Oi Moody Moriso Takenaka
Mitsuye Ikuta
Masami
TanakaKimiyo Yoshino
Yoshimi Kubota
Herbert Shunji Okamoto
Lawrence Masaru Imai Mabel Tora Kurisaki
Stanley Kiyoshi Yoshioka
Thomas Yoshio Okuda Tomie Tanijo

2

Obon 2021

Panoramic 180º view oflanterns in the main hallOur combined Hatsubon/Obon and Mantō-e service
was held on Sunday, July 18 at the Hawaii Betsuin andwas open to in-person attendance. It was also livestreamedon Facebook and archived for viewing at any time.
Normally our Mantō-e services immediately precede
our bon dance but for the health and safety of our island
community during the ongoing pandemic, crowd-drawing
bon dances state-wide were canceled this year.
We are hopeful that conditions will improve so that we’ll
be able to once again hold our bon dance next summer!
Bon dance or not, Obon is a time to remind us of how
much our parents and grandparents—all our ancestors—
have done to make our lives happy. We express gratitude
for all of the conditions, both past and present, that havehelped to sustain our lives. Obon is truly an opportunity for
all of us to rejoice in the life we enjoy.
As another way to thank departed loved ones, families
had a chance to customize their Mantō-e lanterns this year.
To help in the effort, we conducted a lantern decorating
workshop in June and supplied budding artists with starter
materials and ideas. Some came up with creative use of
washi, paint, calligraphy, origami, photos and original
artwork. The lanterns were strung up in the hondō anddisplayed for a week after the Obon service.

We remember loved ones we lost during the past year at theHatsubon service. Candles were lit for each of the 20 temple
family members who passed away since our previous Obon.

Rev. Steve takes a break from hanging Manto-e lanterns
to show the full-page feature article in The Hawaii Herald
about our lantern decorating workshop held on June 26.

Kevin Kawawata presents lighted candles for families who
were not able to attend. Rev. Steve Toyoshima and Rev. AkikoOkada assist Rinban Kenjun Kawawata with the sutra chanting.

3and , tol on theNews

Betsuin Wireless

Waterfront Park, attended by Betsuin
and Kaneohe temple members andsome folks who happend to pass by.
The service was preceded by athorough cleaning of the memorial andfollowed by Spam musubi, garlicchicken and other treats under thepavilion trellises at the water’s edge.

minutes. Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tues.,
Aug. 24. Free admission, Light
refreshments, or bring your own.
見栄を張る（みえをはる）

吉岡絵梨子（久保陽香）は女優として事務所に所属しておりCMに出演したこともあったが、最近はパッとせずに惰性

If you liked the movie Departures,you’ll want to see Eriko, Pretended

Framed between JMSDF officers, Rev. Steveis introduced before beginning chanting at
the Obon service at Makiki cemetery.

Betsuin ministers assist withObon observances around town

The United Japanese Society ofHawaii held its annual Obon Service atthe Hawaii Japanese Contract Laborer
Immigrant Memorial at Makiki
cemetery on July 17, Rev. Steve
Toyoshima officiated at the COVIDrestricted ceremony attended by theConsul General of Japan in Honolulu,
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forceofficers and other invited guests.
On July 25, Rinban Ken Kawawata
conducted an Obon service at theEhime Maru Memorial at Kakaako

In this poignant, yet comedic, film,
Eriko Yoshioka (Haruka Kubo) chases
her dream of becoming an actress inTokyo. Although appearing in a few
commercials, she mostly auditions
and lives the life of a freelancer.
Following the death of her estranged
sister in an accident, she returns to herhometown in Wakayama to attend thefuneral. Relatives are leery about
Eriko’s pretend life as an actress anddistaste for her hometown. She
decides to take care of her sister’s son,Kazuma (Atsuya Okada), but is having
a difficlult time.
Eriko discovers her sister was a“nakiya,” or professional mourner
whose job at funerals was to fill out
seats and ensure people cry properly.
She decides to follow in her footsteps.
Where will her life’s path take her?
Directed by Akiyo Fujimura.
Released in 2016. Japanese audio,
English subtitles, color, runtime 93

Rinban Ken Kawawata (center) led the Obon service at the Ehime Maru Memorial,assisted by Rev. Marcos Sawada of Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji, Rev. Steve Toyoshimaof the Betsuin and Rev. Akiko Okada of the Hawaii District Office of Higashi Honganji.

4

でオーディションへ通い続けてフリーターのような生活を送っていた。
そんなある日、疎遠だった姉の訃報が絵梨子に届く。姉の葬儀のために故郷の和歌山県へと戻ってみると、親戚連中は絵梨子のことを「東京で浮ついた生活をして、故郷に顔を出さない」と冷たい。
姉が女手一つで育てた甥っ子の和馬（おかだあつや）を引き取ろうとするが、絵梨子は料理もまともにできない。親戚連
中は「女優に子供の世話は無理」と絵梨子を責める。
絵梨子は生活のため、姉が働いていたという泣き屋の仕事をはじめることにした。
葬儀で参列者の涙を誘う泣き屋の仕事の意義を理解できなかった絵梨子であったが、死者と遺族とをつなぐという泣き屋の仕事をすることで、見栄を張り自堕落だった自分を捨て、「なりたい自分」を取り戻していく。
監督：藤村 明世 、 公開 :2016年、 言語 : 日本語、字幕 : 英語 映時間 : 93
分、カラー、入場無料、８月24日(火)午後6:30時。

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...
t5IPVHIUTPG-JGFp. 1
tお盆：いのちについて p. 2
t August shōtsuki memorial service p. 2tObon 2021 p. 3
t News on the Betsuin Wireless p. 4t Betsuin assists with Obon services p. 4tMovie night: Eriko, Pretended (2016) p. 4t Acknowledgments p. 5tTemple activities calendar p. 6Temple Activities Calendar
AUGUSTSEPTEMBER

8/1 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service - Facebook/In-person
Dharma message: Rinban Kenjun Kawawata
8/1 Sun 11:30am Basic Buddhism discussion - Zoom（おZoom ー ィン
led by Rinban Kenjun Kawawata in Japanese
8/4 Wed 5:30 pm Karaoke Night at the Betsuin - Zoom/In-person
8/8 Sun 10 am Sunday service - Facebook Live/In-person
8/10 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Zoom/In-person
8/10 Tue 6 pm The Larger Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
8/15 Sun 10 am Sunday service - Facebook Live/In-person
8/15 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting - Zoom
8/19 Thu 6 pm Okō/Tea time gathering - Zoom
8/22 Sun 10 am Sunday service - Facebook Live/In-person
8/24 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Zoom/In-person
8/24 Tue 6:30pm Movie night: Eriko, Pretended 見栄を張る (2016)
Betsuin Hondō (Main Hall)
8/28 Sat 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service - FB Live
8/29 Sun 10 am Sunday service - Facebook Live/In-person

9/1 Wed 5:30 pm Karaoke Night at the Betsuin - Zoom/In-person
9/5 Sun 10 am Shōtsuki memorial service - Facebook/In-person
Dharma message: Rinban Kenjun Kawawata
9/5 Sun 11:30am Basic Buddhism discussion - Zoom
（おZoom ー ィン
led by Rinban Kenjun Kawawata in Japanese
9/6 Mon10 am Amida Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
9/12 Sun 10 am Sunday service - Facebook Live/In-person
9/14 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Zoom/In-person
9/14 Tue 6 pm The Larger Sutra study class (English) - Zoom
9/16 Thu 6 pm Okō/Tea time gathering - Zoom
9/19 Sun 10 am Fall Ohigan service - Facebook Live/In-person
9/19 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting - Zoom
9/26 Sun 10 am Sunday service - Facebook Live/In-person
9/28 Tue 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service - FB Live
9/28 Tue 3 pm Ukulele band practice - Zoom/In-person
9/28 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: Movie selection TBAWEEKLY SUNDAY SERVICES: In-person attendance at Sunday
services has returned, temperature check & face covering
required, up to social-distanced seating capacity. You may
also view our Sunday services ivestreamed and archived on
our public Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HigashiHongwanjiMission

COLUMBARIUM OPEN DAILY: The columbarium is open forvisitation and floral offerings daily from 9:00 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.