THE GEPPO. Update: Horace the Ho onko Hippo. ~ By J.K. Hirano As originally written in the February 2015 issue of Buddhist Thoughts O

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1 THE GEPPO A publication of the Ogden Buddhist Temple March/April, 2015 Issue 155 North Street Ogden, UT / P.O. Box 3248 Ogden, UT Temple President: Thomas F. Supervising Reverend: Rev. Jerry Hirano Minister s Assistant: Annette K. Rev. Hirano contact info: Office Annette s Emergency Contact *omitted online* Home Emergency Minister s Assistant: Geoffrey R. Web Site: Minister s Assistant: James A. Temple ogdenbuddhisttemple@gmail.com Junior Minister Assistant: Charles A. Update: Horace the Ho onko Hippo ~ By J.K. Hirano As originally written in the February 2015 issue of Buddhist Thoughts O ne day while I was reading the Letters of Rennyo (Gobunsho), I began to feel very sleepy. This isn t uncommon when I am studying and reading passages that require a great deal of thinking. However, suddenly I noticed a Post Script in the letters that I had never noticed before, it was in one of Rennyo s letters about Ho onko. It read as follows: P.S. On the eve of the Founder s memorial service the great Ho onko Hippo Horace will rise up from the depths of the jeweled ponds of the Pure Land to shout Namo Amida Butsu, as a reminder to all the children of Nembutsu followers that they are embraced by Amida Buddha, never to be abandoned. Thus this passage may also be known as Ho onko Hippo no sho, (The Letter on the Ho onko Hippo). Listen to these words, Listen to these words It s been a number of years since we visited Horace the Ho onko Hippo. Recently someone asked me what Horace had been doing since Santa had given him his new job and since Ho onko is over, what he did in his spare time. For those of you who don t remember him, Horace was a very grouchy hippo who didn t feel very appreciated in life. He was jealous of his more famous cousins -- the rhinoceros and the whale. He felt that he was just as grand and majestic as they were, but the world only saw him on Animal Planet T.V. hanging out in the river and yawning with his huge mouth. One day, he met Santa Claus taking a break after his Christmas rush and Santa took the occasion to teach Horace about gratitude and being embraced in Amida compassion. This caused Horace to begin bellowing Namo Amida Butsu! Happy Ho onko! It was also rumored that to a few very special and grateful boys and girls, he brings them all the toys that they saw on commercials during the Christmas season which they thought they needed but hadn t received from Santa. So I decided to see how Horace had been doing and gave him a call. Yes, Horace does have an iphone 6 Plus. He explained he needed the 6 Plus because he kept dropping the smaller phones in the Pure Land s jeweled ponds. Although he had become the Ho onko Hippo, he still didn t have any fingers and the 6 Plus helped a lot. He said that he had just finished his journey of rising from the jeweled ponds in the Pure Land during Ho onko and was on vacation. He was hanging out with some of his other mystical creature friends: Fawkes the phoenix from Harry Potter s books, Eve the Easter Bunny who worked for Cadbury chocolates, and Harry the *Rev. Hirano s article continued on next page.*

2 March/April, 2015 Issue Hanamatsuri groundhog. I was amazed how fame had really changed Horace for the better. He now had some very famous friends and sounded happy. I asked him to tell me a little about his famous friends. He explained that Fawkes really didn t have much to do since Professor Dumbledore had moved on in the spiritual plane and now he just hung out in the Pure Land, drifting around on the thermal currents of the jeweled ponds and living off his royalties from the books and movies. Horace was also helping Eve make chocolates for all the Easter eggs. I asked him about the groundhog, for I had never heard about Harry the Hanamatsuri groundhog. Horace explained, Well, Harry is kind of a mystical creature wannabe. His regular job is popping out of a box on February 2nd, Groundhog Day. He became a celebrity after the Bill Murray movie Ground Hog Day but never really made it to the big time. He doesn t really like living in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, so he likes to hang around the rest of us in the Pure Land, calling himself, Harry the Hanamatsuri groundhog. I asked Horace, How did Phil get from Pennsylvania to the Pure Land? He explained, You know the Pure Land is so far, yet so close, but it would take me a lot longer than this phone call to explain Pure Land metaphysics. I have been teaching my mystical friends about Buddhism and they like it a lot. Buddhism seems to fit in with most of their stories. Phil said the movie Groundhog Day was really a Buddhist allegory and he had become a Buddhist since it was released. After his experience of making the movie and reading Paul Coelho s The Alchemist, between his scenes, he too found his own Personal Legend like Santiago the Andalusian shepherd boy in the book. His Personal Legend was to be the Hanamatsuri groundhog. Actually a lot of my friends have been working on their Personal Legends. I m helping Eva the Easter Bunny with hers. She said she was never Christian in the first place. She was a Roman goddess named Eastre, but the Christians changed her personal legend to fit theirs. That s why she likes us to call herself Eve, in honor of the Christian legend, but has converted to being Buddhist. She said the Easter baskets could be used to explain the Buddhist Tripitaka ( three baskets ) or the eggs, the (trikaya) three bodies of the Buddha as easily as they explain the Christian Trinity. Anyways, my friends really like Buddhism. Fawkes has been practicing shooting water, in addition to the fire he naturally produced, and wants to be the Ohigan Phoenix. He wants to explain the Parable of the White Path for Ohigan. Shooting fire and water out of his wings, would make it possible to physically manifest the river of water and river of fire. We are working on an explanation for his healing tears. However, we might have to think of a new name for Fawkes, to match with Ohigan or Higan. He never really liked the name Fawkes in the first place; he says it sounds too much like a swear word. Actually Fawkes isn t male or female; phoenix reproduce by burning themselves up, so they don't need males or females. Could be a male or female name. Fawkes could be a good symbol for the LGBTQ Buddhist community. As you probably know, Harry the groundhog wasn t really Harry but named Phil. He says all the girls seem to like Harry Stiles from One Direction and liked the sound of Harry from the Harry Potter movies. So Phil now wants us to call him Harry rather than Phil. Besides he said his real name was Pete and a reporter named William A. Swartworth messed up and changed it to Phil in They made up a story that Phil s Dad was Pete and had died and Phil was Pete s son. Harry now says, he was the one and original groundhog from the Ground Hog Day legend. He has resented the name Phil ever since. He told me his new Buddhist legend is that he pushed up the flowers from the ground when the Buddha was born. Yeah right, I know, I know, 2600 years is old even for a mystical creature, but none of us have the heart to call him on it. He says that he also provides the treats for all the kids who perform at various Hanamatsuri programs around the world. I thanked Horace and told him that I d like to give him a call on occasion to check up on what he and his interesting friends are doing. He said, Sure, I don t have a lot to do between April and July. After Hanamatsuri I basically read a lot and around the middle of July to the first part of August, I help my friend Orlando the Obon Ostrich. Yeah, I know, I know, he s really a Gaki (Hungry Ghost), he even claims to have known *Rev. Hirano s article continued on next page.* GEPPO ~ Page 2

Mogallana s Mother. But after he learned about Buddhism, he s reformed and doesn t want to be a Gaki.

It s his thing, you know. Orlando says that he serves as an inspiration for all those people embarrassed to dance at Obon. If an Ostrich can dance, so could they.

But before you go I d like to leave you with a quote I read the other day, from my namesake Horace, the Roman Poet, he wrote, Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)!

3 Mogallana s Mother. But after he learned about Buddhism, he s reformed and doesn t want to be a Gaki. Since he has the same small mouth, skinny neck and big belly like the Ostrich, he just wears a few feathers and he s an ostrich. He goes around teaching Bon Odori (Obon dancing). It s his thing, you know. Orlando says that he serves as an inspiration for all those people embarrassed to dance at Obon. If an Ostrich can dance, so could they. Besides, who am I to question; I m a Ho onko Hippo. Santa helped me out a lot, so why not give a Gaki a break. I ll talk about him more another time. But before you go I d like to leave you with a quote I read the other day, from my namesake Horace, the Roman Poet, he wrote, Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It is later than you think. That is definitely a NAMO AMIDA BUTSU saying by me and that s saying a lot. Well, take care. Thanks, Horace. I will call you again soon. Namo Amida Butsu, Bye. PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Hello, I hope that everyone is well. I would like to start with thanking the new board members. I am looking forward to serving the Church. I hope that you take time to note many special services and activities listed in the calendar. Please come out and support these events. I would like to thank Steve K. for volunteering to join me in attending the National Council Meeting. Because of the timing of the National Council meeting, I will inform you of what happened in next GEPPO. In Gassho, Thomas F. BWA NEWS Greetings from the Ogden BWA In January we had Ho onko Service. The Toban ladies prepared an authentic Japanese lunch before service. Thanks for all the preparation and work that went into this meal. The Toban group was Ellen K., Annette K., Linda R., Ruth S., Betty Y., Yoshiko Y., Shauna R., Laverne K. and Julia F. We look forward to our annual membership party on March 1, our annual Sushi Fundraiser on May 10 ~ which is the same day as the Gotan-E Service, and our famous Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser which will be coming at a later date ~ more news to come on this event. As always, thank you for all the support. Upcoming dates to remember: March 1, 2015 Next BWA meeting, during the Membership Party March 22, 2015 Keirokai/Ohigan Service and lunch May 10, 2015 Gotan-E Service and Sushi Sale *BWA Article continued on next page.* GEPPO - Page 3

BWA DONATIONS * Omitted for Online Version * 2015 Membership: Kyoko M., Aiko H.

These guidelines for the Measles Vaccine were established by the CDC.

Usually the first shot should be given to a baby at one year old.

The CDC says that anyone born before 1957 should be automatically immune because

For more questions, call the Weber/Morgan Health Department at (801) 399-7250 or

4 BWA DONATIONS * Omitted for Online Version * 2015 Membership: Kyoko M., Aiko H., Marion H., Ruth S. These guidelines for the Measles Vaccine were established by the CDC. The Measles vaccine is very effective. Usually the first shot should be given to a baby at one year old. Then a booster four weeks later or they can get the booster when the child starts kindergarten or is five years old. If you had the measles disease, you are automatically immune. 1. The CDC says that anyone born before 1957 should be automatically immune because they had the measles disease. For more questions, call the Weber/Morgan Health Department at (801) or go to Please feel free to contact me with any questions as well at * Omitted for Online Version *. We would like to wish a very special BIRTHDAY to.. Masami M. Happy 88 th! George I. Happy 90 th! Many happy wishes for a fabulous special birthday! Happy 60 th Wedding Anniversary to George & Yuri I. on April 2 nd. GEPPO Page 4

Don t you think Steve K. does a great job organizing this outing? THANK YOU STEVE! We could not have the fun event without your assistance!

5 DHARMA SCHOOL NEWS A MESSAGE FROM OUR SUPERINTENDANT ~ Suzan Y. With the mild winter we are having, it s hard to believe in January we were out ice fishing and in February we were tubing at Solider Hollow. Ice fishing is one of my favorite activities. Don t you think Steve K. does a great job organizing this outing? THANK YOU STEVE! We could not have the fun event without your assistance! This year turned out to be a warm sunny day with plenty of fish to fillet. I d like to thank everyone for preparing the lunch, and bringing desserts and a special thank you to Toshi O. for making the Pork Udon. The tubing party with Salt Lake was a big hit. We appreciate Salt Lake Dharma School Superintendents, Stephanie S. and Sherrie H. for making the arrangements at Soldier Hollow. Chili s fundraiser was a big success! We realize some of you had a very long wait and appreciate your patience. I have to admit, for a Dharma School fundraiser it was nice to have someone else do the work and serve us. March 22, Dharma School will be serving lunch for Ohigan and Keirokai service. We look forward to seeing you there. In Gassho, Suzan Dharma School Donations * Omitted for Online Version * YBA Donations * Omitted for Online Version * Junior YBA Donations * Omitted for Online Version * *Dharma School News continued on next page.* GEPPO Page 5

6 Dharma School Happenings **Please check out the GEPPO online to see our pictures in full color!** Ice Fishing Tubing At Soldier Hollow *Dharma School News continued on next page.* GEPPO Page 6

2015 Dharma School Winter Party The annual Perch at the Church ice fishing outing was held January 11th at Pineview

Different than previous years, very few perch were caught but lots of small crappie provided good fishing action during

After fishing, the group met at the church and was treated to a potluck lunch of freshly fried crappie filets, assorted

Lots of fun was again had by all and it is hoped that you ll be able to participate next year if not for the ice fishing,

7 2015 Dharma School Winter Party The annual Perch at the Church ice fishing outing was held January 11th at Pineview Reservoir. Different than previous years, very few perch were caught but lots of small crappie provided good fishing action during the morning for the 30 or so fishermen/fisherwomen. After fishing, the group met at the church and was treated to a potluck lunch of freshly fried crappie filets, assorted salads and desserts, provided by the attendees, and Suzan Y. s and Toshi O. s udon noodles. Lots of fun was again had by all and it is hoped that you ll be able to participate next year if not for the ice fishing, at least for the post-fishing luncheon. In Loving Memory The Ogden Buddhist Temple Sangha extends its deepest sympathies to the family of the following member who recently passed away. May the family members find solace and comfort in the Nembutsu. Namo Amida Butsu Steven Koga January 27, 2015 Roy Gosaku Taketa February 8, 2015 GEPPO Page 7

8 OHIGAN SERVICE March Shotsuki Hoyo KEIRO-KAI Sunday, March 22, 2015, 1:30 PM Lunch at 12:00 noon The word Higan comes from the Sanskrit word Paramita - "Other Shore." The words "other shore" refer to the "world of Nirvana." As the name Higan denotes, this is the time to remind within each and every one of us the Bodhisattva practice of the Six Paramitas of charity, morality, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom. It is the means by which one crosses over the illusory ocean of birth and death to the other shore of Nirvana. Shotsuki Hoyo - Monthly Memorial Service HANAMATSURI SERVICE (Service will begin with traditional Ochigo Parade) April Shotsuki Hoyo Sunday, April 19, 2015, 10:00 AM Hanamatsuri or "Flower Festival" is held to commemorate the birth of Siddartha Gautama in Lumbini Garden. According to the ancient legend, the universe was filled with joyful music, flowers bloomed in full glory and sweet rain fell from the heavens to make this a joyful event. During the service a flower shine known as the Hanamido is set up in front of the main altar as a symbol of Lumbini Garden. In this shrine is placed a statuette of the infant Buddha and the Congregation offers flowers and pours sweet tea over the image. Shotsuki Hoyo - Monthly Memorial Service Lunch & Program to Follow Service GEPPO Page 8

9 March Shotsuki Hoyo March 22, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. March/April Shotsuki Hoyo April Shotsuki Hoyo April 19, :00 a.m. Mar Akio Dick Hamada Mar Kanekichi Hamada Mar Hisano Higashiyama Mar Francis Hirabayashi Mar Ricky Hirabayashi Mar Yukiyo Iseki Mar Kayzo Kano Mar Toyse Toshiharu Kato Mar Maxie Kimiko Kato Mar Tasaku Kumooka Mar Yoshimatsu Miyagishima Mar Hideo Miyawaki Mar Matsuyo Miyawaki Mar Mary M. Morinaka Mar Shuichi Murakami Mar Masako Nakagawa Burrell Mar Bunkichi Oki Mar Itsu Ota Mar Taiji Shimada Mar Yasu Shiotani Mar Utaro Sugihara Mar Masu Sugihara Mar George Joji Sugimoto Mar Mine Takabayashi Mar Judy Naoko Takara Mar Noble Edward Tsushima Mar Takashi Uemori Mar Saburo Butch Uyeno Mar Shinichi Yamada Mar Ted Teruo Yamada Mar Toshimi Yamada (Tsukaoto) Mar Mii Yamaguchi Mar Takeo Yamasaki Mar Ruby Toshiko Yamasaki Mar Kiyoshi Yei Mar Saburoji Yoshimura Apr Helen Haruye Estrada Apr Chohachi Fujita Apr Utaka Harada Apr Toraki Hattori Apr Joe Hideo Imaizumi Apr Miyoe Inouye (Miyamoto) Apr Ise K. Kato Apr Bunshiro Kikuchi Apr Mitsuru Koga Apr Fujie O. Kunimoto Apr Katsugoro Miya Apr Eimatsu Miyagishima Apr Kenjiro Mukai Apr Yukimi Nakashige (Naito) Apr Kosaku Nakata Apr Gentaro Nakashige Apr Kikue Kixie Oda Apr Chiyoichi Ogata Apr Haruge Okuda Apr Kumaye Okuda Apr Kirk Sakae Omori Apr George Sakae Omori Apr Kotaro Ono Apr Randall Petersen Apr George T. Ryujin Apr Tomotsu Tom Ryujin Apr Etsuko Ryujin Apr Mary Sase Apr Shige Shimada Apr Takino Sugimoto (Nakano) Apr Fred W. Taniguchi Apr Yoshiko Tawatai (Yamasaki) Apr Shizuyo (Shitsuyo) Uyematsu Apr Kiyoshi Yamamoto Apr Miyeko Yamane (Nakagawa) Apr Suzuko Yamashita Apr George Seiichi Yoshida Apr Debbie Yoshimura 2015 Memorial Service Schedule for those who passes away in: year year year year year year year year year The temple holds the Shotsuki Hoyo, monthly in memory of those Sangha members that have died during that month in previous years. During these services, the temple will list the names of those members who have died during the month in the preceding years. These services are not meant to replace the major memorial services as listed below. The numbers for the years of service are using the "kaiki" which beings the first year as 1 and second year as third year. To schedule a private memorial service please contact Rev. Hirano. Contact information - Office: , Home: , Emergency: Corrections/Additions to the Shotsuki Hoyo list, please contact Ruth S., * Omitted for Online Version * GEPPO Page 9

March, 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Bonwood Bowl in Salt Lake 11:30 am - BWA Membership Party ~

School Meeting 1:30 pm Family Service 9 10 7:30 pm Board

Service 15 22 12:00 pm Otoki Lunch 1:30 pm Ohigan / Keiro Kai

26 27 28 1:30 pm Family Service 29 30 31 Toban Cleaning Group:

10 March, 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 *SCRIP Orders Due* 10:30 am DS Bowling Bonwood Bowl in Salt Lake 11:30 am - BWA Membership Party ~ Begin at The Greenery 2 3 Girl s Day :00 pm Dharma School Meeting 1:30 pm Family Service :30 pm Board Meeting Daylight Savings Time Begins 1:30 pm Family Service :00 pm Otoki Lunch 1:30 pm Ohigan / Keiro Kai Service March Shotsuki Hoyo OBC :30 pm Family Service Toban Cleaning Group: Roland & Janice S. (Toban Cleaning Leader) Todd & Stacie H. Fran H. GEPPO Page 12

April, 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 *SCRIP Orders Due* 12:00

Outdoor Clean-Up Salt Lake Hanamatsuri 12 13 14 15 16 17 GEPPO Articles Due 18 5:00 pm Hanamido Making

Ogden Hanamatsuri April Shotsuki Hoyo Lunch & Program to follow 19 20 21 22 23 24 WFN JACL Prep @

11 April, 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday *SCRIP Orders Due* 12:00 pm Dharma School Meeting 1:30 pm Family Service Private Reservation Easter 8:00 am OBC Outdoor Clean-Up Salt Lake Hanamatsuri GEPPO Articles Due 18 5:00 pm Hanamido Making Party! Ogden Hanamatsuri April Shotsuki Hoyo Lunch & Program to follow WFN JACL 12:00pm OBC 6:00 pm 25 7:00 am 5:00 pm NIHON MATSURI 1:30 pm Family Service Toban Cleaning Group: Kirk & Betty Y. (Toban Cleaning Leader) Trenton Y. Steven & Kris Y. KayLe Y. GEPPO Page 13

THE GEPPO. 155 orth Street Ogden, UT / Web site: Emergency The Buddhist Way. By J.K.

THE GEPPO. 155 orth Street Ogden, UT / Web site: Emergency The Buddhist Way. By J.K. THE GEPPO A publication of the Ogden Buddhist Temple 155 orth Street Ogden, UT 84404 801/392-7132 Supervising Reverend: Rev. Jerry Hirano Temple President: James Aoki Rev. Hirano contact info: Office 363-4742