April 2015 The Newsletter of Mililani Hongwanji Volume 38 Issue No. 4

Transcription

1 April 2015 The Newsletter of Mililani Hongwanji Volume 38 Issue No. 4 2 Thu 7:30 AM Set up Buddha Day Display on Front Lawn 3 Fri 7:30 PM Mindful Meditation 5 Sun 9:00 AM Buddha Day Soto Mission (No Service at Mililani Hongwanji) 8 Wed 7:30 PM Kyodan Board Meeting 11 Sat 9:00 AM Decorate Hanamido 12 Sun 9:00 AM Joint Memorial & Family Service & Buddha Day BWA Meeting After Service 14 Tue 8:00 AM Flower Arrangement Class 18 Sat 8:30 AM BWA Hosha Group 4 19 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service & Dharma School 19 Sun 9:00 AM BWA Eshinni & Kakushinni Memorial Service (Speaker: Lois Toyama) Light Lunch to be provided by BWA 21 Tue 7:30 PM Wrap-Up Bazaar Meeting 25 Sat 7:00 AM No-Host Kyodan Breakfast at Zippy's: All Welcome 25 Sat 9:00 AM Ehime-Maru Clean-Up 26 Sun 9:00 AM Baccalaureate Service (Speaker: Jennifer Taira) 28 Tue 8:00 AM Flower Arrangement Class 28 Tue 7:00 PM Movie Night: "Ola" See insert for more info. 30 Thu 9:00 AM Lotus Connection 1 Fri 7:30 PM Mindful Meditation 3 Sun 9:00 AM Joint Memorial & Family Service (BWA Meeting Following Service) 9:00 AM DSTO Songfest, Aiea Hongwanji (See insert for more info) 10 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service & Dharma School (Mother's Day) 12 Tue 7:30 PM Bon Dance Meeting #2 13 Wed 7:30 PM Kyodan Board Meeting 16 Sat 8:30 AM BWA Hosha Group 1 10:00 AM Hospital Visitation 17 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service & Dharma School 23 Sat 7:00 AM No-Host Kyodan Breakfast at Zippy's: All Welcome 24 Sun 9:00 AM Gotan-E Service with Rev. Satoshi Tomioka as Speaker (Last Day of Dharma School) 28 Thu 9:00 AM Lotus Connection 30 Sat 8:00 AM Adopt-A-Highway Clean-Up 31 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service (No Dharma School)

2 More Than What Meets the Eyes Buddhism has a wonderful method for classifying major concepts and ideals in numerical patterns; Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Three Treasures, Six Perfections; and the list goes on. Numerical patterns are wonderful devices as aids to help us remember Reverend Jan Youth and recall. Last month, I listed the Six Respectful Acts for promoting harmony in the Sangha. The six are: shared precepts, views, thinking, words, action, and sharing benefits, all to promote respect and harmony in the Sangha. At the first glance, all would seem very basic and commonly understood. Yet, if these were a common way of being, then harmony would prevail. If we gave our temple and Sangha a once-over-glance, it would appear to be so. As hard as it is to see or to admit, we contribute to and create the conditions that are disruptive at work, home and at the temple. Harmony is not a condition of being without conflict and differences. Harmony is the result of being respectful and appreciative of others. It is the result of honoring differences of others. Harmony is the result of the conditions that we create when we are intentional in how we live. Aloha Members and Friends, President s Corner Reverend Jan Youth and I hosted our first facilities users meeting on Sunday, March 8 th and it was a very productive meeting. I will be working with our temple leaders to outline temple facilities use policies and guidelines and we plan to disseminate this information to our facilities users. We are planning to host a Minister s Coffee hour to answer any questions that a user may have about our policies and guidelines and more information on this event will be forthcoming. If you are a facility user do you know what to do if the fire alarm goes off and what needs to be done to turn it off? What to do for emergencies? Changes to storage areas that could impact your organization and operations? I encourage our facilities users to attend this coffee hour and share your thoughts and discuss any concerns that you may have. In April there are several great events and I encourage you to attend to enhance your Jodo Shinshu experience, enjoy the fellowship, meet new members, make new friends, and to reacquaint yourself with others that you may not have seen for a while. These events include the Hawaii Buddhist Council s Buddha Day Service at the Soto Mission of Hawaii, our BWA Eshinni and Kukushinni Memorial Service, our Baccalaureate Service and luncheon, and our next movie night which we will show the documentary movie Ola directed by Matthew Nagato. Dean Sakamoto In Gassho. 2

3 Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii HEADQUARTERS UPDATE 2015 RYUKOKU UNIVERSITY BSC SPRING SEMINAR: The keynote lecturer for this year s Ryukoku University Buddhist Study Center s Spring Seminar is Professor Akio Tatsudani of Ryukoku University. His lecture at the Spring Seminar will be on Daiei Kaneko. MINISTERIAL ASSIGNMENT - JINJI Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii welcomed its newest minister, Rev. Mieko Majima, on March 1, After graduating Ryukoku University, she moved to the United States to work at the ZEMI Corporation as a researcher. In 2003, she became an independent contractor for US software companies and Japanese Medias, and started to write articles for magazines. In 2010, she returned to Japan to further her study at the Department of Buddhist Studies at Ryukoku University for both the Masters Course and Ph.D. Course. She will be the Resident Minister as of April 1, 2015 at Kapaa Hongwanji. Rev. Majima said, First of all, I would like to thank Bishop Matsumoto, for inviting me as a minister to beautiful islands of Hawaii. I really appreciate to have the opportunity to join Sangha here. I also would like to thank everyone at Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii for sharing Buddha dharma with me. Buddha Day Observances On April 5, 2015, the Mililani Hongwanji Sangha will join other Oahu Buddhist temples at the Soto Mission of Hawaii located at 1708 Nuuanu Avenue. This is a B & B outing (Bus and Bento). Please join us and remember to sign up at the temple. In conjunction with our temple s Buddha Day service on April 12, we will hold an Infant Initiatory Service to welcome all the newborns of our Sangha. Please let Rev. Jan know of any newborns whose families may wish to participate in this service. Hanamido Decoration In preparation for the Buddha Day service, we are preparing the flower pavilion (hanamido) as part of the service ritual. The flower pavilion will be decorated on, April 11 at 9:00 am. Please bring your flowers and greens to adorn the pavilion. 3

4 BWA NEWS On Sunday, March 8, over 30 members attended our annual meeting/luncheon. Not only did we enjoy great Italian dishes at Paesano Restorante but also sang songs accompanied on guitar by Rene Mansho, received door prizes donated by everyone and were treated to an excellent guest speaker. U. S. Attorney Florence Nakakuni graciously agreed to talk to us about Elder Fraud. Who it happens to (not only elders), why everyone should report it if it happens to you and who you can report it to. She also answered questions after her very informative talk. It coincided well with International Women s Day. Thank you to the Program and Membership committee members who worked so hard to put on a most enjoyable luncheon program. Thanks to everyone who donated door prizes! We had so many prizes that we had to pick names twice! Many thanks to everyone who brought canned goods and/or clothing for our BWA Dana Day project on February pounds of food was donated to the Hawaii Food Bank and 316 pounds of clothing were given to Savers. UPCOMING BWA ACTIVITIES/EVENTS April 12 Sun BWA meeting (2nd Sunday) following service April 18 Sat 8:30 AM Hosha Group 4 (Diane Yoza coordinator) April 19 Sun Eshinni/Kakushinni Day service. Speaker will be Lois Toyama. Light lunch to be provided by BWA. April 25 Sat 9:00 AM Ehime-Maru. Meet at temple. Lunch to follow. If interested contact Claire Doi or Debra Hiyakumoto. May 3 Sun BWA meeting following service May 16 Sat 8:30 AM Hosha Group 1 (Nora Yasunaga coordinator) 10:00 AM Hospital visitation 4 Adopt-A-Highway - February 2015 Report By: Tyler Oshiro We held our first quarterly Adopt-A-Highway clean up on Saturday, February 21, Our hardworking trash pickers reported that the roadside was fairly clean. Perhaps our Mililani community is getting better about putting their trash in the proper receptacles and this will be a trend for the year! Upon returning from their assigned areas along Kam Hwy., the trash pickers were treated to a delicious and healthy breakfast lovingly prepared by the kitchen ladies. And a special treat was on the morning s menu dragon eye fruit (also called longan). Chloe said it tasted like a cross between a lychee, a grape and an apple. Thank you Carrie for bringing in this unique fruit! As always, this project would not be possible without the dedicated members of the Sangha. Thank you to the following who assisted in the clean up: Roger B., Mike G., Larry H., Aki K., Karl K., Dennis K., Mas N., Lester O., Susan O., Dennis O., Stan S., Gay T., and Gordon W., and the breakfast crew; Janet A., Carol K., Carrie K., Chloe O., and Lynn W. Mark your calendars the 2 nd quarter clean-up day will be on Saturday, May 30 th. Please note that the date is moved back a week from the usual 3 rd Saturday as that is the weekend of the Mililani High School graduation (the Adopt-A-Highway coordinator will be a little busy that weekend). More photos of Adopt-A-Highway in Photo Gallery

5 2015 Baccalaureate The annual Mililani Hongwanji Baccalaureate Service will be held on April 26, The service will begin at 9:00 am with a program and lunch to follow. The service is traditionally set at Commencement to honor our high school graduates as well as provide them with spiritual guidance as they enter into adulthood. The guest speaker will be our own Jennifer Taira. The 2015 Baccalaureate Service Committee is preparing a list of graduates who will be participating in this year s event. Thus far, we have Courtney Togo, daughter of Clifford and Fae Togo; Trevor Yasunaga, son of Ralph and Janice Yasunaga; Ty Yamamoto, son of Reid and Roxanne Yamamoto; and Tyler Oshiro, son of Patrick and Susan Oshiro. The Committee is asking Mililani Sangha family and friends to provide names of any graduating senior who would like to participate in this special ceremony. College graduates are welcome as well. Thus far Tiffany Honda, Taylor Yasunaga and Laura Nakamura will be recognized as college graduates. Please contact Rev. Jan Youth at with any other student graduate names by April 12, A signup sheet has been posted to assist the committee in ordering lunch from Taniokas. Cost will be $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Payment can be made to Mililani Hongwanji and given to Jill Kyhos or Roger Babcock. April 12 th is the deadline. Let s give our graduates a warm Aloha as they begin another chapter in their lives. $1,000 Kyodan Scholarship Opportunity The Mililani Hongwanji Kyodan will be accepting applications for a $1,000 post high school education scholarship. The scholarship is open to all 2015 high school graduating seniors whose family are members in good standing of the Mililani Hongwanji Kyodan. Application forms and instructions are available on-line at Mililani Hongwanji s website: The deadline for submitting applications is on April 30, Applications should be sent to Mililani Hongwanji, P.O. Box , Mililani, HI or dropped off at Kaloapau St., Mililani, Hawaii. Attention Scholarship Committee. Seniors should take this opportunity to defray some of the cost of higher education. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Rev. Jan Youth at cell, or temple office. Ministerʻs Coffee Hour If you ever watched some of the television programs like The View on ABC or The McLaughlin Group or Insights both on PBS, you see and hear the energetic and lively exchange of points and counterpoints on diverse topics of current issues that may or may not arrive at any definitive conclusion. The joys of these programs are in the journey of the minds that meander while also managing to hold steadfast on the issues at hand. At Mililani Hongwanji, we will initiate a quarterly Ministerʻs Coffee Hour with this concept on a Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm. Please consider joining with others for an hour of exploration, interpretation, and maybe innovation. The first session will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 7:00 pm. A DIALOGUE ON DEATH PENALTY Legal, Ethical and Buddhist Perspectives A dialogue on social issues sponsored by the Honolulu Hongwanji Council and funded by the HHMH Committee on Social Concerns on Saturday, March 21, 2015 from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm at the Buddhist Study Center. The following resource speakers will contribute to furthering our awareness and understanding of the death penalty in the U.S. and other societies: Williamson B.C. Chang Professor of Law, The University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) at the William S. Richardson School of Law. Joel A. Lebel -- Lecturer/Instructor, Department of Philosophy, University of Hawai i at Manoa (UHM). Pat Masters -- Associate Director, campus diversity programs, University of Hawai i at Manoa. 5

6 Dharma School Students Getting Involved. BWA Enjoying Their Luncheon. Theme: Don t be the same, be better! Adopt-A-Highway Volunteers Hard at Work. 6

7 Sangha Day Pearl City Hongwanji March 1, 2015 Namo Amida Butsu 7

8 The Buddhist Study Center (BSC) will offer a full program of classes for beginners to devotees starting in January The Dharma Light Program, developed at the Hawaii Betsuin Temple, has moved to the Buddhist Study Center to better serve the community and Kyodan temples. Under the BSC, classes will be offered throughout the year at the BSC and at local temples. The program is designed to gradually develop understanding of both basic Buddhist teachings and Jodo Shinshu ( Shin ) concepts, as well as serve as a resource for ministers lay assistant education. For more information, contact: BUDDHIST EDUCATION CLASSES 8

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10 Please join us in a First Friday Mindfulness Meditation at 7:30-8:30 PM Mililani Hongwanji Temple, What is mindfulness practice? keep your attention focused on the work, be alert and ready to handle ably and intelligently any situation which may arise Thich Nhat Hanh, The Miracle of Mindfulness, p. 14. Mindfulness is our capacity to be fully present in our own lives, to be aware of what we are doing as we are doing it. As we develop our awareness, an inner stillness naturally grows. We are better able to embrace the world, better able to respond wisely and lovingly. If we are not mindful, we are split, and disconnected from the life energy that is in us and in the world. Mitchell Ratner, Dharma Teacher, Still Water Mindfulness Practice Center Movie Night with Matthew Nagato Please join us for another evening with filmmaker, Matthew Nagato for the free screening of Ola: Health is Everything. This is a documentary of the state of health in Hawaii. The screening will be at Mililani Hongwanji of Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 7:00 pm. Matthew will be joining us for a discussion following the screening. In addition, Sooriya Kumar, founder of Mouna Farms in Waianae featured in this film, will be invited to share his experience in the production. See insert for more information. If you continue this simple practice every day you will obtain some wonderful power. Before you attain it, it is something wonderful, but after you attain it, it is nothing special Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner s Mind, p. 43. *** Our Friday evening will have a guided sitting meditation, a walking meditation and some time for dharma sharing. Ernestine Enomoto, a dharma teacher in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, will be leading these meditations. Anyone with an interest in the practice of mindfulness is welcomed to join the sitting; no experience is necessary. For more information, please contact Mel Hayase at WCCHC Adult Day Care at Mililani Hongwanji Aloha! We would like to let everyone know that we are accepting applications for Adult Day Care enrollment. Do you know anyone caring for a loved one that needs respite or help caring for their loved one throughout the day? We are welcoming new clients. For any interested new applicants, we are offering tuition assistance. Please contact our ADC Director Trece White for more information at (808) We are OPEN at Mililani Hale 5 Days a week Monday thru Fridays from 8am 5pm; with early drop off available as early as 7am. 10

11 Mililani Hongwanji A Shin Buddhist Temple Minister: Rev. Jan Youth, c Kyodan Pres.: Dean Sakamoto Mail to: P.O. Box Mililani, HI Location: Kaloapau St Mililani, HI Phone: dharma.connection@gmail.com Weekly Services on Sundays, 9:00 am Visit us at mililanihongwanji.org The Dharma Connection A Publication of the Mililani Hongwanji. Submit articles, photos, dharma reflections by the 3rd Sunday of each month for publication in the following month to Editor, Reverend Jan Youth at: dharma.connection@gmail.com March 11, 2015 Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health: Approved new draft of lease agreement effective from March 1, 2015 through July 3, Clarification of role of Advisors on the Board to participate but not make motions for action or vote. Key boxes installed. Approved purchase of 2,000 bon towels with new design. Look into Vendors to produce polo shirts with embroidered temple logo. Look into a monitored fire and burglar alarm system. Embrace Change: Awareness (Seek Opportunities) 2 ways to get the Dharma Connection the newsletter of the Mililani Hongwanji: By snail mail US Post Office will deliver to your mailbox. available by request only! (This edition is online at mililanihongwanji.org) In your inbox available by subscription only! Please forward to friends and others interested. If you wish to receive the Dharma Connection by , contact dharma.connection@gmail.com Spread the news to your family members. For additional information check out our Facebook Page Mililani-Hongwanji-Buddhist- Temple/ Gomi Tsuris for Sale Rene Mansho In celebration of our upcoming 40th Anniversary, we are conducting a special fundraiser, accepting donations for special, sturdy, hand made gomi tsuri, metal dustpans. The X-Large size is $35, the LARGE size is $25, the smaller one called our pooper scooper, is $15. Proceeds will go towards our planned columbarium and outdoor extravaganza celebration on March 11, Please call or your order to : renemansho@hawaii.rr.com at your earliest convenience. Make checks payable to MILILANI HONGWANJI. NAME ADDRESS $35 = $ $25 = $ $15 = $ 11

12 February 18, 2015 to March 16, 2015 General Donation Mililani Hongwanji Qi Gong Class Allan & Helen Hasegawa Albert & Margaret Kayatani Gloria Okada Russell & Dale Saiki Joint Memorial Service Larry & Patsy Hiyakumoto Harry & Itsuko Honda Sharon Kaneko Memorial Service Nora Abe Other Rene Mansho help Social Concerns(HQ) Harry & Dorothy Abe Bazaar donation IMO Deborah Kayatani IMO Usuke & Umeno Okada IMO Tsuna Hiyakumoto IMO D. Yoshida & Y. Ukita IMO Chieko Sako IMO Haruno Abe Special donation for choir's Joint Memorial Service for the families of the following will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2015, 9:00 AM. Susumu Tsuruko Chad Hatsuno Flora Jane Tsuki Satsuma Gilbert Nancy Kona Kenichi Ando Asato Cortez Fuji Fujimoto Hamamoto Hashimoto Hayashi Hirano Hirata Itagaki Ito Masanobu Shinichi Chiyoko Mitsuko Taka Carl Hatsue Anna Yaeko Makoto Edith Susumu Kawahara Mashiba Kayatani Masuda Matsumoto Mutobe Nakagawa Nakamura Nakaue Nishioka Ohara Ono Donald Ronald Kazuki Saichi Masayuki Sally Hatsue Toby Benton Inao Dianne Sakahara Sato Tanioka Tanioka Tashima Tateishi Togashi Tsunezumi-Shin Yamanaka Yoshino Yoshizawa Please call the minister at and/or if there are corrections or additions to the published list. Families may call the minister to schedule special family memorial services for their loved ones. For 2015, special memorial years are observed for loved ones who passed away in: st Year th Year th Year rd year rd Year th Year rd Year th year th year th year 12