BUDDHIST CHURCH OF FOWLER THE WHITE PATH MONTHLY BULLETIN VOL. 474 AUGUST 2018

Transcription

1 BUDDHIST CHURCH OF FOWLER THE WHITE PATH MONTHLY BULLETIN VOL. 474 AUGUST 2018 AUGUST 4 (Sat) 9:00 a.m. Farewell Fresno Betsuin 6 (Mon( 7:00 p.m. BEC Lecture, Greg Family Dharma Center 6 (Mon) 7:00 p.m. Golf Club Meeting 12 (Sun) 10:00 a.m. Monthly Shotsuki Memorial Service SEPTEMBER 1 (Sat) 9:00 a.m. BWA Meeting 3 (Sun) 4:00 p.m. BEC Dinner, Movie, Discussion Fowler BC FROM: BUDDHIST CHURCH OF FOWLER NON-PROFIT ORG 210 S. 9 TH STREET U.S. POSTAGE P.O. BOX 335 PAID FOWLER, CA FOWLER, CA PERMIT NO. 10 TIME VALUE

2 Very Buddhistic The Difficulty of Being Buddhist Shinran Shonin never thought of organizing any religious schools. I happened to be watching a As he mentioned in the sixth movie called Amongst White : פTannish chapter of the Clouds. It is an impressive documentary of a journalist s As for myself, Shinran, I do journey to visit and speak with not have a single disciple. If Buddhist hermits deep in the I could make others practice isolated mountains of China. He the nenbutsu through my own speaks with a young apprentice devices, they would be my and wise smiling man, among disciples. Otherwise, how others, and they share their arrogant it is to claim as disciples stories of trials and tribulations those who live the nenbutsu living a solitary life of Buddhist through the working of Buddha s wish-for-the-world. practice. One monk told the journalist that he ate nothing be grass and wood his first year. Wow! What dedication and determination. At the beginning of our Jōdo Shinshū history when Shinran Shōnin was living in thirteen century in Japan, there was no such temple I couldn t help but think while watching this movie that these as the Hongan-ji. We can trace the roots of the Hongan-ji back monks, no matter how difficult and noble a path they have chosen, to Shinran Shōnin s youngest daughter, Kakushin-ni, who moved seem to have avoided the difficulties of dealing with, working, and his ashes from the Toribeno cemetery to the Yoshimizu town and associating with people. The difficulties of a monastic lifestyle don t erected a mausoleum with a scroll of her father s image enshrined seem to address the daily problems and issues in my life. How in it. Her son, Shinran Shōnin s third generation descendant, many meetings do they attend? How about the difficulties working Kakunyo Shōnin, had the simple mausoleum raised to temple status, with a group of people, i.e. differing opinions, trying to work together, and gave it the name Hongan-ji. But it is Shinran Shōnin s eighth rude and insensitive people and their comments. What about family generation descendant, Rennyo Shōnin; who through his tireless issues or relationships? It seems to me that the hermit-styled or propagation efforts, and clear understanding of Jōdo Shinshu hierarchical monastic life avoids many of those daily issues that teachings, as revealed in his Gobunshō-Letters, to which we owe we encounter. Those monks have chosen their own unique path, the establishment of the huge Hongan-ji religious order that we and I have nothing but admiration for their efforts. have inherited. However, Shinran Shonin has led us to a pragmatic realization Through all of this, Rennyo Shōnin never lost sight of Shinran of a Buddhist way of life, after all, he did write that he is neither Shonin s teaching that each and every one of us is essentially in the monk nor layman. Shinran left the monastic lifestyle on Mt. Hiei same position. If we look at the 40th entry of the Rennyo Shōnin s after 20 years. He got married and had children. He taught and Kikigaki, we find the words; founded a Buddhist tradition that provided hope for those that were not able to enter a monastery. Jodo Shinshu Buddhism provides I put aside my social status and sit with you all. Shinran Shōnin us lessons that are grounded in reality. too said that in the entire world those who with the Shinjin - true and real awareness are brothers and sisters. So, I do as he said. So, it comes as no surprise that it is hard to know what to do sometimes in leading a Buddhist way of life. please see Very Buddhistic page 2 please see Being Buddhist page 2 Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple Rev. Kakei Nakagaw Rev. Kakei Nakagawa, R GEPPO Volume 49 Issue 10 Website: TAKE REFUGE IN THE TRUE AND REAL LIGHT Rev. Kakei Nakagawa, Rinban Rev. Alan Sakamoto OCTOBER 2014 We bid a fond Farewell to 1340 Kern Street! Since the first Hondo was built on Kern Street in 1901, the Fresno Betsuin has been the center of Nenbutsu practice in Central California for the last nearly 120 years. Then the first temple was lost to fire in 1919, the Issei and young Nisei immediately rebuilt in 1920, only one year after the fire. Now, the Fresno Betsuin is officially fixed in Fresno s history as a Historial Site. The Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple will hold a Farewell Service to the Kern Street Hondo at 9AM on Saturday, August 4 th, Fresno Buddhist Temple, Honganji-ha Betsuin, goes into a new era with both name and reality. We will use The Fresno Family Dharma Center on Alluvial Avenue as a Multi-purpose Hondo for which to provide amenities and learning opportunities to American Buddha-dharma followers and seekers, who already exceed 3% of the population. We are also planning for a new Hondo, the Nenbutsu Dôjô, for the future. With a thought full of respect to all of our past members, Issei, Nisei and Sansei alike, it is my hope that everyone with ties to the Fresno Betsuin will attend the Farewell Service to Kern Street Betsuin Hondo. Gassho, Reverend Kakei Nakagawa, Rinban Meeting with and entering into the depth of the Buddha-Dharma, to what can we compare such happiness? Fervently listening and having the Way open to me, I receive how to enjoy the Truth of Life. Shinshu Shuka, 3 rd verse

3 A Passing of an Era Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple The Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple property located at 1340 Kern St has been sold! An overwhelming approval vote was received from the membership to sell the property to a group that has Buddhist ties with plans to maintain the property in their own traditions. There will be a high level of activity in the next 60 days as we plan and coordinate our departure and we will appreciate all the help from the membership when called upon. The members will receive a much more detailed report of our plans in a separate mailing. The office will be the first to depart from the Temple by August 3. Of initial importance is how do we communicate with the Temple? During the transition our temple office manager, Lee Osaki, will be working full-time out of her home and the current Temple phone number will continue to be used. Though changes may occur as we complete our transition, her plan is to be at the Family Dharma Center (FDC) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00a to 1:00p. If you wish to meet with her at any other time, she is happy to make arrangements that are convenient for you, so please feel free to contact her. There will also be a special secured box for items to be dropped off at the FDC for her. There is a plan in place to change our mailing address to a Post Office Box Number. This will also affect all organizations that use the 1340 Kern St address. More information to follow. A time like this is a wonderful opportunity to reflect and remember what each of you may have experienced at the temple in your life but more so remember the Issei s and Nisei s who built the temple/annex. You may not remember or know their names, but their legacy of passion, belief and determination will never be forgotten. We are planning a final service in the downtown Hondo on Saturday, August 4 th at 9:00am. Please plan to attend. Reverend Kakei Nakagawa, Rinban Steve Mukai, Fresno Betsuin Temple President Gordon Misaki, Transition Coordinator

4 Buddhist Church of Fowler Monthly Board Meeting July 10, 2018 I. Welcome/Gassho. Meeting was called to order by Church President Barton Ashida at 7:10 pm. Gassho was lead by Joan Yamaguchi Members present: Barton Ashida, Ron Yoshimoto, Kevin Nagata, Sharon Asakawa, Joan Yamaguchi, Aiko Kamine, Rick Miyasaki, Kenny Hashimoto, Craig Sakaguchi, Diane Eskelsen A quorum was not present so approval of minutes and treasurer's report will be done at September meeting. II. Treasurer's Report. Reviewed and no changes were noted III. June Board Minutes. Reviewed and no changes were noted IV. Old Business A. BCF Website. No update B. Obon -Hatsubon families have been contacted -Obon Teachers. It was agreed to follow past practice and give Leslie Arzola-Guerra and Lindsay Guerra a monetary thank you gift. Thank you to Irene Hara for opening the church for the practices. -General Church clean-up is Saturday, July 14th at 7:00 a.m. Everyone is encouraged to come out and help. -Set up (Yagura, lanterns, chairs, booths, PA system) is Saturday July 23 at 7:00 a.m. C. Audio Visual Equipment. No update D. Cleveland Buddhist Temple Wheel. Cost to move the wheel would be prohibitive V. New Business a. Parsonage. The property manager has informed us that the previous tenants have moved out and new tenants are moving in shortly. b. Reverend Kaz Nakano. Members enjoyed meeting Reverend Kaz for dinner at Favorito's Restaurant on June 20th. Reverend sent a note thanking the members for an enjoyable dinner. b. Mikiko Nakahira. Funeral will be July 19 at 9:00 a.m. at the Fowler Buddhist Church. c. Federation BWA Conference. Fowler BWA is in charge of the hospitality room on Saturday, September 15th. Sharon will contact members if assistance is needed. VI. Reports A. Jr. YBA. No report B. Dharma School. No report C. BWA, Next meeting July 14th. Seven members will attend the National BWA Conference. D. Fishing Club, No outings planned E. Golf Club. Aug 5 Morro Bay, August 16th Madera F. CCDC dues will be paid G. V & P. No report H. CCMAC. Meeting was held July 9th I. BCA. No report VII. Communications/Announcements. Keiro Day will be Sept 23rd following Family Service VIII. Next Meeting: September 11, 7:00 p.m. IX. Acknowledgements. Thank you to Aiko Kamine and Janie Yuen for providing refreshments for the meeting, Gassho was lead by Craig Sakaguchi. Meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

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7 July 2018 Donations Hatsubon/Obon Shotsuki $ Earl Honda $ Kaye Takeda $ Deanna & Robert Hanashiro $ Betty Mayebo $ Shizuko Yamamoto $ J.L. Hayashi $ Robert & Susan Uchiyama $ Jim & Michiko Fujikawa $ Russell & Susan Uchiyama $ Mitchell & Lynn Nakashima $ Brian Nagata $ Shizue Sakoda $ Carole Masumoto $ Ms. Sharon Asakawa $ Dean & Sandy Shimizu $ Mitchell & Lynn Nakashima $ May Mukai In Memory of Shizue Fujikawa, $ Eiko Matsumura 13th Year Memorial $ Tad & Gail Nakamura $ Arthur & Alice Fujikawa $ M/M Bey Driss & Family $ M/M Frank Fujikawa $ Linda, Nicolas & $ Toshiko Fujikawa Christopher Matsumoto $ Chuck Ideta $ Betty Mayebo In Memory of Tom Nagata, Harry & Miyo Honda, $ Tina Kato-Clarey Rev. Jim Yanagihara & Shirley Honda $ M/M Toshiaki Shinkawa Memorial Services $ Howard & Satomi Hiyama $ Jane, Brian, Kevin & $ Mitchell & Lynn Nakashima Colleen (Alvarez) Nagata $ Mitchell & Lynn Nakashima $ David & Laureen Uyematsu, $ Maryann Miyasaki Ryan, April Uyematsu, $ Ken & Janie Yuen Gregg Uyematsu $ Rodney Kikuta $ Mitchell & Lynn Nakashima $ Betty Nakayama $ Tayoko & Craig Honda $ Ms. Jane Nagata $ Harry & Fumie Honda Trust $ Vance & Kathy Uchiyama $ Earl Honda $ Pat & Dayna Matsumura $ Mitchell & Lynn Nakashima & Family $ Carole Matsumoto $ Ms. Sharon Asakawa $ Mitchell & Lynn Nakashima $ M/M Gerald Nakayama $ Mrs. Florence Nakayama $ Cindy Inouye In Memory of Hitoshi Pete Nakayama, $ Tak & Yoko Miyoshi 49th Day Memorial $ Gary & Arlene Keithley $ Linda, Nicholas & $ Rich & June Shimoda Christopher Matsumoto $ Tim & Jean Matsumura $ M/M Bey Driss & Family

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