Monthly Bulletin of Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple Volume 13, Issue 7 July OBON By Rev. Ryoko Osa

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1 BOMBU BOMBU Monthly Bulletin of Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple Volume 13, Issue 7 July 2018 OBON By Rev. Ryoko Osa Obon is a Japanese custom and time to pay our respects to our ancestors. It s usually for one week either in the middle of July or the middle of August. Folklore says a deceased person will return to this world from the Pure Land during Obon. During this period, families visit cemeteries, decorate their home altar, make fruit offerings and so forth. However the origins of these customs are not Buddhist, rather, they are a mix of beliefs coming from ancestor worship, Shintoism, customs related to agriculture and superstitions. Some beliefs and customs have a distinctly local flavor influenced by region. Here in the U.S., Jodo Shinshu temples have summer festivals during Obon time, in part as a fundraising activity. I have been at many temples during Obon time, including Los Angeles, Honolulu and Berkeley. In Southern California and Hawaii, temples combine three events on the same day or same weekend. They hold an Obon service, a summer food bazaar and Obon dance. For example in the morning, there will be an Obon service and and Hatsubon (first year Obon memorial) in the temple. In the afternoon, there will be food and game booths, and booths selling vegetables, plants, crafts and used items. In the evening, people gather in the parking lot and dance. Just before the dance begins, there may be a short ceremony involving chanting by ministers and a dharma talk directed at dancers and guests. In this way, the summer Obon festival is a good opportunity to introduce Buddhism and the temple to visitors and people who are not Buddhist, but who come for the dancing and food. Here in Berkeley, these three activities are held on separate days. This year the Obon dance will be on July 14th, the Obon service will be on July 15th and our summer bazaar will be on July 28th and 29th. Obon comes from the Ullambana sutra in the Sanskrit language, which means, hanging upside down. Actually, we are the ones who 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. are hanging upside down and suffering. You may think, I am not suffering. But I think that we don t notice or that we ignore our suffering. If we truly feel that the anguish and pain in this world are our own pain, such as the pain of war, poverty and discrimination, we would feel a heavy pain as if we were hanging upside down. We may not think to listen to the Buddhist teachings, instead seeking to satisfy our desires. But our desires are endless, while our lifespan is limited. We don t take time to appreciate this life here and now. Our thinking is reverse from the great truths about life. This is what it means to see the word upside down. Obon is not a time when we worship our ancestors, hoping they will help us fulfill our desires. Rather it is a time from us to show our gratitude to the people who have come before us. We are encouraged to see the world right side up, that is, to see true reality. It is a time to wish that all beings in the world be liberated from suffering. This is a wish that we express through our Obon service, Obon dance and summer bazaar. 1

2 Date Day Time Event 1 Sunday No Service 3 Tuesday 7:30 p.m. Obon Practice 8 Sunday 8:30 a.m. WBA meeting / No service 10 Tuesday 7:30 p.m. Obon Practice 11 Wednesday District ministers meeting (Los Angeles) 12 Thursday 1:00 p.m. Omigaki altar ornament polishing 7:30 p.m. Obon Practice 14 Saturday 6:30 p.m. Obon Odori dance (Our Temple) 15 Sunday 10:00 a.m. Obon cemetery service (Sunset Cemetery) 2:00 p.m. Obon Family Service/Shotsuki 17 Tuesday 7:30 p.m. Temple board meeting 21 Saturday 9:00 a.m. Kurimanju preparation 22 Sunday 9:00 a.m. Concord Howakai Cemetery service (Oakmont) 1:00 p.m. Bazaar construction 27 Friday 9:00 a.m. Bazaar food preparation 28 Saturday 4 pm - 8 pm BAZAAR 29 Sunday noon - 4 pm BAZAAR 30 Monday 7:00 p.m. Bazaar cleanup 31 Tuesday 7:30 p.m. Diablo JA Club Obon service (Concord) August CALENDAR OF EVENTS July Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Bazaar wrap up meeting (everyone welcome!) 5-12 Temple Camping Trip (Calaveras Big Trees) 12 Sunday 10:00 a.m. Shotsuki service UPCOMING EVENTS JULY TOBAN (Toban #1) Janice Adachi, Wendy Adachi, Nina Costales, Satoko Davidson, Grace Goto, Alice Horio, Doreen Imada, Elsie Lum, Denice Nakano, Diane Nishioka, Michi Takata SHOTSUKI MEMORIAL SERVICE This month, we will hold the Shotsuki monthly memorial (Continued on page 3) 2

3 (Continued from page 2) service together with our Obon service on July 15, at 2 p.m. The following families observe memorials for loved ones this month: Asazawa, Fujikawa, Jung, Umemoto, Hikoyeda, Kaneko, Jitosho, Kaida, Koike, H. Fujii, T. Fujii, Sasaki, Sakurai, Shigemoto, Uchino, Tsuyuki, Yanaba and Watanabe OBON DANCE Obon is one of our temple s most important services, and along with it, we hold an Obon odori, when we dance. Did you know the first Obon in Japan was observed about 1,400 years ago (year 606 C.E.). Obon is an abbreviation for Urabon, or Ullambana in Sanskrit, which means to hang upside down and implies unbearable suffering. For us, Obon is a time of year when we reflect on impermanence, which we see in the passing away of loved ones. We gather together and remember people who have been a part of our lives, and with gratitude and joy, celebrate this wonderful life by dancing. This year our Obon dance is on July 14, Saturday, at Our Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple. Dancing will begin at 6:30 p.m. so please arrive by 6 p.m. if you plan to dance. It s a tradition in which anyone may join by just following along. Practice sessions will be every Tuesday and Thursday (except July 5) until Obon dance night on July 14. CEMETERY AND OBON SERVICE On Sunday, July 15, we pay our respects with a cemetery service and laying of flowers beginning at 10 a.m. at Sunset View Mortuary, El Cerrito (meet in the Heian Garden section) and afterwards at Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland. Our Obon service will be at the temple at 2 p.m. Hatsubon ( first obon ) families: We will have a special candle lighting ceremony as part of the hatsubon observance. The families of the following people who passed away in the past 12 months are cordially invited to attend this year s Obon service: Grace Imada, Kimie Kurahara,Taeko Sano, Grace Uratsu and Richard M.Fujii. If your loved one is not listed and you are observing Hatsubon this year, please call Rev. Ryoko. SUMMER BAZAAR 2018 Once again, it s time for our Summer Bazaar, an annual tradition of fun, food, and friendship for our members, family, friends and community. Our bazaar has become known for its tasty Japanese food, signature dishes such as kushikatsu (tempura-style skewers) and friendly atmosphere, where many new and old friends meet. It s also one of the few times of the year, where all of our members come to the temple to work, eat, and enjoy themselves. The success of our bazaar depends on the help and support of our members and friends. Please make a special effort to come out, lend a hand, eat lots, and have fun! Even if your name is not on the work schedule, please come and help anyway. See the calendar for dates to help. ABA GOLF TOURNAMENT Our Adult Buddhist Association annual golf tournament will be held on August 25, Saturday at Tilden Park Golf Course. Please see the enclosed flyer for more information. FALL CASINO WBA OUTING Save the date, September 16, 2018, for WBA Casino Trip to Thunder Valley. More info coming later. 3

4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BIG THANK YOUS TO THE FOLLOWING DHARMA SCHOOL/GRADUATION PARTY (food and goodies) Nancy Kubota, Karen Morioka, Naomi Yamada, Mashi Eshima-Johnston, Patti Yamashita, Shannon & Satoko Davidson, Naomi Yamada, Wendy Adachi, Steve Chin, Lisa Toyama, Rev. Osa, Christine Sullivan, Steve Chin, Chris Pong, Miyoko Truong, Janice Adachi, Lorraine Yoshikawa, Kim Chew, Anna Hightower, Tazuko Jitosho, Connie Morita, Connie Wong SUMMER PICNIC Special thanks to Artie and Patti Yamashita for chairing the picnic, also Jimmy Kihara, Irv Yamashita, the Dharma school teachers and all the people who brought food and goodies and Lee s Florist for the African violet bingo prizes. 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! IN LOVING MEMORY Mr. Richard M. Fujii passed away May 30 at the age of 76. He served as temple president two different times and as treasurer for many years and supported the temple in many ways. A memorial service was held June 16 at the temple. Our condolences to the Fujii family. Dharma School Party 4

5 IN MEMORY OF CARL KURAHARA 19TH ANNUAL BERKELEY OHTANI ABA GOLF TOURNAMENT Date: Saturday, August 25th, 2018 Feel free to invite your friends and make your own team We have only 64 spots open, So it s first come first serve. Format: Team Scramble Fees*: $75 * Entry fees also include carts, range balls and lunch Place: Tilden Park Golf Course Grizzly Peak and Shasta Rd Berkeley, CA All Entries must be received by August 9th SCHEDULE Time Event 9:15 Check-in 10:00 First tee time Return entries to: Player Hdcp Lunch Choice H-Ham T-Turkey V-Veggie HD-Hot Dog B-Hamburger Michael Fujii 4185 Walnut Blvd. Walnut Creek, CA Home: (925) Cell: (510) mfuj21@yahoo.com 5

6 7 月お寺の行事予定 1 日 ( 日 ) 日曜礼拝なし バークレー東本願寺会報 2018 年 7 月号 3 日 ( 火 ) 午後 7 時半お盆おどりの練習 8 日 ( 日 ) 午前 8 時 30 分婦人会会議 / 日曜礼拝なし 10 日 ( 火 ) 午後 7 時半お盆おどりの練習 12 日 ( 木 ) 午後 1 時おみがき 午後 7 時半 お盆おどりの練習 14 日 ( 土 ) 午後 6 時半お盆踊り 15 日 ( 日 ) 午前 10 時お盆墓参り (Sunset View Cemetery, El Cerrito) 午後 2 時 お盆 初盆法要 祥月法要 17 日 ( 火 ) 午後 7 時半仏教会定例理事会 21 日 ( 土 ) 午前 9 時栗饅頭作り 22 日 ( 日 ) 午前 9 時法話会お盆墓参り (Oakmont Cemetery, Walnut Creek) 午後 1 時 バザー準備 27 日 ( 金 ) 午前 9 時バザー準備 28 日 ( 土 ) 午後 4 時 8 時バザー 29 日 ( 日 ) 午後 12 時 4 時バザー 30 日 ( 月 ) 午後 7 時バザー掃除 31 日 ( 火 ) 午後 7 時半ディアブロ JA クラブお盆法要 ( コンコード ) 7 月当番 : あだちジャニース あだちウェンディ Costales ニーナ Davidson さとこ ごとうグレイス 堀尾アリス 今田ドーリン Lum エルシー 中野デニース 西岡ダイアン 高田みち ( 敬称略 ) 祥月法要 : 7 月 15 日午後 2 時に 祥月法要が勤められます 今月の施主は 浅沢 藤川 Jung 梅本 彦江田 金子 地頭所 渡邉 H 藤井 T 藤井 佐々木 重本 内野 露木 小池の諸家です お誘い合わせお参り下さい お盆おどり : 今年のお盆おどり大会は 7 月 14 日午後 6 時半より 私たちのお寺バークレー東本願寺で行われます 是非お誘い合わせの上 お寺にお越しください 一緒に踊りましょう 盆おどりの練習日はカレンダーをご覧ください お盆法要 : 7 月 14 日午前 10 時からSunset View Cemeteryでのお墓参りがございます 当日 午後 2 時 お寺においてお盆初盆法要が厳修されます どうぞご参詣ください 夏バザー :7 月 28 日 29 日にはバザーが開催されます 準備のお手伝いもどうぞよろしくお願いします 当日は美味しい日本食 お買い物などをお楽しみ下さい 6

7 アメリカのお盆 お盆は日本の風習で 亡くなった人たちがお浄土から私たちの今生きているこの世に戻って来ると言われている期間です 時期は 東京は7 月中旬 その他の地方は8 月中旬で 家族はお墓参りをし 玄関に提灯をつけたり お内仏 ( お仏壇 ) にお供えをしたりして先祖の精霊をお迎えして供養します この風習の由来は仏教そのものではなく 農耕儀礼 神道 祖先供養の儀礼など様々な習慣が取り入れられて今のような形となりました そのため 地方色が強く現れます およそ 100 年前から始まったアメリカの日系社会でのお盆の迎え方も 地方によって異なった形へと発展して来ました アメリカの寺院では寺院の基金集めの夏祭りがこのお盆の時期に開催されます 私は ロサンゼルス ハワイ バークレーのお寺の経験をさせてもらいました ロサンゼルスとハワイのお盆の時期は お盆の法要 お盆踊り 夏祭りの 3つの行事が同じ一日あるいは二日間に行われます 午前中 本堂においてお盆あるいは初盆法要が勤められ 午後から寺院の駐車場や会館で 食べ物 ゲーム 野菜などの屋台が開きます そして夕方になると 短いお勤めとご法話の後に お盆踊りが始まります この行事は 観光者や食べ物や踊りを楽しみに来られた方々に対し ご法話を聞いていただきお寺と仏教に出遇ってもらう貴重な機会なのです こちらバークレーでは この 3つの行事が別々の日に行われます 今年は お盆踊りが 7 月 14 日 法要が 15 日 そしてサマーバザーと呼ぶいわゆる夏祭りは 7 月 28 日 29 日になります ある時 お盆はいつ? とメンバーさんに聞かれ その意図がすぐにわからず 日本の風習のお盆の時期について説明を始めたところ 意味するとことは お盆踊りのことでした お盆法要やお墓参りよりも お盆といえば踊りと言う印象が強いのでしょうね お盆という言葉は サンスクリット語のウランバナから来ており それは 逆さ吊り という少々恐ろしい意味です ウランバナとは 限りある命を生きているのに 限りのない自己の欲をまず満たし それから仏法を聴こうと 真実を逆さまに見ている姿であります この逆さまに吊り上げられて苦しんでいる者とは 私たちなのです 私たちは 自分の苦しみに気づいていない あるいは目をつむっているのかもしれません 今 この世の中で起こっているあらゆる悲しみ 苦しみを自分のこととして思うと まるで逆さまに釣り上げられているかのような痛みを感じます 2018 年のこの夏はアメリカとメキシコの国境で不法入国の子供と親が引き離される事件が起こっています 世界では難民が大勢います このことをまさに自分のこととして感じるならば ひどい苦しみ痛みを感じます お盆は 私たちが先祖供養を行ってご先祖さまを救ったり または我々がご先祖様から救われたりする期間ではありません お盆をいう行事によってご先祖様へのご恩の感情を自らに呼び起こすことによって 自分のいのちがご先祖様をはじめこの世の全てのいのちと繋がっていることを確認します 繋がりに気づかない間は自分一人の利益だけを優先し 逆さに吊り下げられものごとをまっすぐに見ていないわけなのです 多くの方々の尽力によって開催されるお盆法要 お盆踊り 夏祭りを通して 自分はこの世の中全体と繋がっていることに気づき そしてこの世の全ての人びとと共に救われていきたいと 共に願う期間がお盆のもつ意義だと私は受けとめております 7

8 Words of the Month 今月のことば Obon is a Buddhist Memorial Day. While reflecting on our interdependence to our ancestors, we rejoice in our opportunity to encounter the Buddha s teaching. お盆の時期に 私たちと先祖とのご縁を再確認し 仏教と出会えたことに喜びを感じましょう Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple 1524 Oregon Street Berkeley, CA U.S.A. Address Correction Requested