Monthly Bulletin of Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple Volume 13, Issue 8 August 2018 NAMU AMIDA BUTSU. By Rev.

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1 BOMBU BOMBU Monthly Bulletin of Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple Volume 13, Issue 8 August 2018 NAMU AMIDA BUTSU By Rev. Ryoko Osa People who have not heard of the Buddhist teaching are likely to think that the words Namu Amida Butsu are some kind of mysterious words with magical power. In fact, the words Namu Amida Butsu is a wish that means, Let me live my life by entrusting myself to the Immeasurable wisdom and compassion. This Immeasurable wisdom and compassion is the power that makes us realize that our lives are sustained by all of the other immeasurable elements in this world. We need the sun, water, air, earth, trees to live, do we not? But also we need the people who provide us with drinking water and vegetables and so on. I cannot live alone even for a single moment without these other resources. And this is true for all existence: nothing can exist alone. All things exist thanks to all the other things that support their life. If we realize this truth, we can say that we have received the calling of Immeasurable wisdom and compassion symbolized by Namu Amida Butsu. Where is this calling? It is around us right now. This calling is not text book knowledge, but our experience of life such as the kindness and love we have from our family and friends. Our own individual wisdom and compassion are limited. But if you think of all the accumulated wisdom of all human beings from the past, it will be immeasurable. Wisdom is not the same as knowledge. When we feel someone s love, then and only then can we say that love exists. In the same way, we can say Immeasurable wisdom and compassion exists if we can feel it calling to us. There is no condition to liberate ourselves from our suffering. We don t need knowledge or practice. We just need awareness. When we feel that Immeasurable wisdom and compassion accepts us as we are, and we open our heart to it, our suffering is no longer the same old suffering anymore. Immeasurable wisdom and compassion calls to us to realize that everything exists as it is because of various causes and conditions. Human beings of ancient times called Bombu (böm bü) means ordinary person. Shinran used this term to express his to refer to the ignorant and self-centered person he was. He encourages us to be aware of our true nature and to live fully every day. this calling by the name Amida Buddha. To worship this Immeasurable wisdom and compassion, human beings created a symbolic figure. And so in our temple or your home, we have a statue or scroll of Amida Buddha. If we receive this new viewpoint by encountering the Immeasurable wisdom and compassion called Amida Buddha, our world may not change but we can change our outlook on this world. At the individual level we may actually encounter a world filled with human hatred and sadness. But if we look at the world from our new viewpoint, we can see that the whole world in fact is actually quite tranquil, pure, and beautiful. The Pure Land is the symbolic image adorning this pure world. To listen to Buddhism is to liberate our hearts and minds from the darkness, which we created by ourselves. And to feel and to accept this Immeasurable wisdom and compassion is the first step to our listening to Buddhism. 1

2 CALENDAR OF EVENTS August 2018 Date Day Time Event 1 Wednesday 7:00p.m. Bazaar meeting 5 12 Sunday - Sunday Summer camping trip 11 Saturday & Sunday Diablo JA summer festival 12 Sunday 8:30 a.m. WBA meeting UPCOMING EVENTS AUGUST TOBAN (group #2) Toyoko Araki, Jane Fujii, Anna Hightower, Hiroko Higuchi, Shirley Imai, Tazuko Jitosho, Yukari McCarthy, Karen Morioka, Christine Sullivan, Sachiye Toyofuku SHOTSUKI MEMORIAL SERVICE This month, we will hold the Shotsuki monthly memorial and family service on August 12, Sunday at 10 a.m. The following families observe memorials for loved ones this month: Yoshii, Shinoda, Kaneko, Yanaba, Hiwano, Takahashi, Otani, Tominaga, Matsunaga, Moriwaki, Nagatoshi, Jung, Okumoto, Morodomi, Cooc, Nakazawa, Imazumi. This service is open to everyone. 10:00 a.m. Shotsuki memorial/family service 19 Sunday No service 25 Saturday ABA golf tournament (Tilden Park) 26 Sunday 9:30 a.m. WBA craft workshop / no service September 2 Sunday No Service (Labor Day Weekend) 9 Sunday 10:00 a.m. Shotsuki service/dharma school DHARMA SCHOOL CAMPING The annual Dharma school and family camping trip will be held at Calaveras Big Trees State Park from August 5 through August 12, Sunday through Sunday. For information, contact Patti at pbaba@berkeley.edu SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE We are pleased to announce that scholarships in the amount of $500 are available to high school seniors graduating this coming school year, and to college and trade school students, provided by the Sajiro Morita Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund was started several years ago by Sajiro Morita and has received subsequent donations from the Morita family. Only temple members and their children are eligible to apply. Applications may be requested by contacting the temple. The deadline to apply is September 30. Awards will be presented at our Ho-onko service in November. ABA GOLF TOURNAMENT REMINDER The Adult Buddhist Association (ABA) is sponsoring its annual Golf Tournament at Tilden Park Golf Course in Berkeley on Saturday, August 26, with check-in starting at 9:15 a.m. Registration, including lunch and carts, is $75. Registration is limited so sign up now. Deadline is August 1. Contact Michael Fujii at mfuj21@ yahoo.com or call the temple office for information. (Continued on page 3) 2

3 (Continued from page 2) WBA CRAFT WORKSHOP Berkeley Higashi s Women s Buddhist Association invites you to Repurpose Egg Cartons & Newspapers into Daruma (aka Berkeley Higashi Honganji on Sunday, August 26, :30 AM 2:30 PM (Please Bring Your on Lunch) Cost: $0, But Please Bring any of the Following if you have ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BIG THANK YOU S TO THE FOLLOWING them: 1) Paper Egg Cartons 2) Newspaper 3) Washi Paper. You will make one Daruma for the temple and one for yourself. Please RSVP to Naomi Yamada / Women s Buddhist Assn. (WBA) yamadanay@hotmail.com or by 8/10/2018 Buddhism Class Beginning this Fall, Rev. Ken Yamada will be teaching an Introduction to Buddhism OBON DANCE Dance Instructors: Mmes. Michiya Hanayagi and Michisuya Hanayagi, Berkeley Buddhist Temple, Rev. Kiyonobu Kuwahara (Food Donations Dance Practice) Kim Chew, Dorise Ouye, Kellie Ouye, Nina Rizzo, Lesli Jo Sawada, Christine Sullivan, Lorraine Yoshikawa (Udon Donation for Dance Night) Joey Ouye (Udon Cooks) Joey Ouye, Dorise Ouye, Kellie Ouye, Kevin Sullivan (Baked Goods and Serving) Janice Adachi, Wendy Adachi, Kim Chew, Steve Chew, Brandon Chew, Satoko Davidson, Shannon Davidson, Tazuko Jitosho, Yukari McCarthy, Karen Morioka, Michi Takata, Jack Toyama, Lisa Toyama OBON SERVICE (chair) Irving Yamashita (organ) Greg Takahashi (refreshments), Women s Buddhist Association; (refreshments/snacks) Doreen Imada, Tazuko Jitosho, Elsie Lum, Yukari McCarthy, Connie Morita, Dorise Ouye, Naomi Yamada, Karen Morioka, Janice Adachi OMIGAKI (altar ornament polishing): Akiko Imai, Shannon and Satoko Davidson, Wendy Adachi KURIMANJU MAKING Janice Adachi, Wendy Adachi, Jenny Chan, Nina Costales, Kazuko Doi, Mashi Eshima- Johnston, Jane Fujii, Akiko Imai, Eiko Iwata, Tazuko Jitosho, Galyn Lum, Yukari McCarthy, Karen Morioka, Connie Morita, Denice Nakano, Michi Takata, Judi Tanaka, Miyoko Truong, Naomi Yamada and Debbie Yatabe (Note: More Obon & Bazaar thank you s and donations will be listed in the next bulletin) Thank you everyone for your donations, time, energy and support. Because of you, our temple exists for us and for future generations. Help us by calling or ing the temple if names are inadvertently omitted from acknowledgements or donations. Domo arigato gozaimashita! Temple Picnic class at Berkeley Adult School. The class is open to both residents and non-residents. The class will provide an easyto-understand overview of basic Buddhist philosophy, history, and practices, covering topics such as karma, nirvana, oneness, interdependence, enlightenment and Pure Land, with ample time for discussion. More information: bas.berkeleyschools.net 3

4 Credits: This is a publication of the Berkeley Higashi Honganji. Please contact Rev. Ryoko Osa at 1524 Oregon Street, Berkeley, CA osa@higashihonganji.org. Newsletter design by Kevin Sullivan 4

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6 8 月お寺の行事予定 バークレー東本願寺会報 2018 年 8 月号 5 日 -12 日ダルマスクールキャンピング (Calaveras Big Trees) 12 日 ( 日 ) 午前 8 時半婦人会会議 午前 10 時 祥月法要 25 日 ( 土 ) ゴルフ大会 (Tilden Park, Berkeley) 26 日 ( 日 ) 婦人会クラフトワークショップ 9 月 2 日日曜礼拝なし 9 月 9 日午前 10 時祥月法要 8 月当番 :: トヨコアラキ ジェーン藤井 アナハイタワー ヒロコヒグチ シャーリー今井 地頭 所多鶴子 ゆかりマッカーシー カレン盛岡 クリスティーンサリバン 豊福さちえ 祥月法要 : 今月の祥月法要は 8 月 12 日 ( 日 ) 午前 10 時より勤められます 今月の施主は 吉井 篠田 金子 柳場 肥和野 高橋 大澗 富永 松永 永利 ジャング 奥本 もろどみ ク ック 中澤 いまずみ 森脇の諸家です お誘い合わせお参り下さい キャンピング : ダルマ スクール主催のキャンピングは 例年のように Calaveras Big Trees 州立公園で 8 月 5 日から 8 月 12 日まで行われます お問い合わせは 山下 Patti さんまで Obon 6

7 南無阿弥陀仏 長良子 なむあみだぶつ という言葉は お寺でこの言葉の意味を聞かれたことのない方には呪文やお願い事の言葉のように聞こえることでしょう 南無阿弥陀仏 とは 限りない智慧と慈悲 に私の全てを預けて生きていきます という誓いのような言葉です 太陽 水 空気 土 木等 数え切れない自然によって私たちは支えられています また水を飲み水に変えて私たちに届けてくれる人々のはたらきもあります 私という存在は私一人では存在できません 他とのつながりによってしか 他も私も存在しえません これを縁起と言います この縁起に気づいたならば それは 限りない智慧と慈悲 の呼びかけにであったからです この呼びかけは どこにあるのでしょうか それは 今 ここに 私の周りに満ちています この呼びかけは教科書の中の情報ではなく 親や友人や 先生から優しさや愛情を感じ取るように 個々の人生において体験し感じ受け取られるものです 一人一人の人間の 智慧と慈悲 には限りがあります しかし太古の昔からの無数の人類の 智慧と慈悲 を合わせると 無限の智慧と慈悲 となります いま 私たちは 実際に出会った人々からだけでなく 過去の全ての生きとし生けるものから 智慧と慈悲を受け取っているのです 智慧とは 知識のことではなく 過去の人類の智慧を結集した文化や生活様式をも含み 自分の生活の支えとなっているものです 私たちが愛を感じた時に そこに愛があったと言えるのと同じように 私たちが 限りない智慧と慈悲 を感じた時に 限りない智慧と慈悲 について語ることができるのです 悩み 苦しみから解放されるには 人間の人格や知識 経験は一切の要因とはなりません 私たちが解放されるために修行は必要ありません 必要なのは目覚めです 限りない智慧と慈悲が私の前に注がれており 私はそのままですでに受けとめられているのだと気づき そこに自分の心を開きさえすれば 苦しみが苦しみでなくなるのです そして 迷いこそが私たちの目覚めの材料となったのだと知ります 智慧と慈悲 はいかに私たちが自分の世界に閉じこもり迷っていようとも 決して見捨てず 私たちに注がれているのです 縁起に気づきなさいというこの呼びかけの無限の力を 遠い昔の人は 阿弥陀仏 と名付けたのです そして この智慧と慈悲と仰ぐために 仮に姿を作って 礼拝の対象となったのが 阿弥陀仏の絵像あるいは木像です 限りない智慧と慈悲 阿弥陀仏 と出会い 新しい視点をいただくと 世界の方は変わらないのに 世界が変わって見えるのです 一つ一つの世界の片隅は悪と苦しみに満ちているかもしれません しかし本来の丸ごとの世界は 静かで浄らかで穏やかな世界として見えることでしょう その世界を文字や形でお荘厳 ( お飾り ) したものを昔から人々は お浄土 と呼んでいるのです 仏教の教えを聞くということは 限りない智慧と慈悲 の呼びかけを感じ受けとめ 縁起の道理に気づき 私の心の闇が明るく解き放たれることなのです 7

8 Words of the Month 今月のことば For Those To Come For those to come in the future, We work hard and sacrifice, We put aside our own desires tilling the fields, getting the seeds ready For those to come in the future,, Shinmin, you leave behind your poems, For those to come in the future, We keep the mountains, the rivers, the ocean clean Yes, for those to come in the future,, We direct all of our energy, For the children to come in the future, we do what each of us can. By Shinmin Sakamura あとからくる者のために坂村真民 あとからくる者のために苦労をするのだ我慢をするのだ田を耕し種を用意しておくのだあとからくる者のためにしんみんよお前は詩を書いておくのだあとからくる者のために山を川を海をきれいにしておくのだああ後からくる者のためにみなそれぞれの力を傾けるのだあとからあとから続いてくるあの可愛い者たちのために Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple 1524 Oregon Street Berkeley, CA U.S.A. Address Correction Requested