155 North Street Ogden, UT / Web site: Emergency Bodhisattvas in Our Midst. By Rev. J.K.

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1 THE GEPPO A publication of the Ogden Buddhist Temple 155 North Street Ogden, UT / Supervising Reverend: Rev. Jerry Hirano Temple President: James Aoki Rev. Hirano contact info: Office Minister s Assistant: Annette Koga Home Web site: Emergency Bodhisattvas in Our Midst By Rev. J.K. Hirano Reverently contemplating the true essence of the Pure Land way, I see that Amida's directing of virtue tosentient beings has two aspects: the aspect for our going forth to the Pure Land and the aspect for our returnto this world. In the aspect for going forth, there is the true teaching, practice, shinjin, and realization. ~Kyogyoshinsho Chapter 1, CWS It was a couple of years ago, that I wrote about seeing a man near Pioneer park dancing by himself. I believe he was probably high on drugs or alcohol. However, the feeling of exuberance and joy that I witnessed in his dancing, remains with me to this day. That encounter motivated me to consider what it is that makes us happy. As individual human beings, what constitutes our happiness, is it money, is it physical well being, is it a sense of security? What makes us happy? In a similar manner, when I was in the Philippines, I met a small boy dressed in ragged clothes, possibly 5 or 6, begging for money on the street. I didn t understand what he was saying. He spoke very quietly in Tagalog, looking up at me with sad and weary eyes. I asked my niece Christine what he was saying and she said he was asking for a few pesos. I was about to give him 100 pesos, equivalent to $2.00 in American money and she told me that it wasn t a good idea. It only encourages him to beg and that if we gave him money others would soon follow us around. That encounter still plays over and over in my mind. Not just about giving him the money, but the suffering of this child. I understand the logic of not encouraging his begging and how it may only add to his suffering in the long term. However, I keep thinking about how it would have probably made him extremely happy that day. I can still feel the sadness that flowed from his eyes. How much happiness has that little boy had in his life? This man possibly high on drugs and this little boy in need, have enabled me to look deeper into myself. On the surface I know that they are separate from me. There is a physical distance between us. I will call them the others. Martin Buber the famous Jewish philosopher describes this relationship as I and it. The man in the park or the boy on the street are merely objects perceived by me. They are not in a true relationship to me, merely objects for my own use. I evaluate these objects in relation to what benefit do they have for me? In a spiritual sense the child and the man and I are the same. It is my moving beyond the perception of these two fellow beings as things or objects. This is what Buber refers to as a relationship of I and thou or I and you. It is authentic and real, rather then merely an objectification of the other. We may call this a true sense of ecology with the world around us. In common usage, the word ecology usually refers to environmentally friendly or merely looking at the natural environment. I believe that true ecology is when we can see the entire world in a relationship with ourselves with mutual benefit, an interdependence between I and you. The passage I began this month s article with is from the chapter on teaching in Shinran s Kyogyoshinsho. I am reminded of this passage as a result of a seminar I attended at the BCA national councilman s meeting. This seminar was put on by the Institute of Buddhist Studies. A number of speakers spoke on the topic of Shinjin. Rev. David Matsumoto s presentation was on the other, a short synopsis of what is also called monster theory. After his talk I was asking him how he came across this monster theory or other theory. He said it was from a discussion with a Ryukoku University professor who referred to

2 his son David, who has Down s syndrome, as a Bodhisattva having returned from the Pure Land (genso bosattsu). The idea of returning from the Pure Land also called genso eko is from this passage written by Shinran. Those who return from the Pure Land are the Bodhisattvas playing in the ocean of birth and death. We all have a tendency to view people, places and things around us as objects that are to be used for our personal needs. This is the relationship of I and it. In many ways it is a necessary aspect for survival. It is easier for me to live with perceiving a wild man on the street or a ragged homeless boy as something far removed from my own existence. They are the monsters in the closet. In a similar manner, our relationship with the environment is as though it were merely for our personal comfort. Switch on the air conditioning, heater, it s too hot or too cold, regardless of the effect to the present or future world. In either case, this sense of entitlement is a result of our bonno, passions of greed anger and ignorance. It is my hope that through our continued hearing of the Dharma, we may move beyond our I and it relationships with the world around us and into a I and thou relationship. Whether it is in personal or societal relationships, the environment or ecology, it is how we perceive and act in this dance of life. When I am allowed to look through the cracks of my own bonno and see the monsters in the closet. I can begin to see that I am surrounded by the music of the Pure Land and Bodhisattvas in my midst. BWA NEWS By Ruth Kawashima Our membership party was held on March 11 and everyone who attended had an enjoyable, relaxing afternoon. We welcomed 2 new members: Julia Fujimoto and Janice Shimada. Suzan called the Bingo games and everyone went home with some nice Bingo prizes. Our $50 raffle winner this year was Yuri Inouye and our special raffle for those 80 and older went to Fumie Koga. The rest of the honored 80 and over ladies each went home with a rose. The toban group did a great job. Thank you Aki Kato, Yuri Inouye, Yuko Aoki, Suzan Yoshimura, Tami Hirai and Lorraine Sanow. I would also like to thank Yuko Aoki for folding all the origami boats and bringing the sekihan, Aiko Hamada for the imagawayaki and Lorraine Sanow for her corn pop treats. We have 2 members who are celebrating their 92 nd birthday this year! Happy Birthday to Mrs. Shuzu Miya and Mrs. Fumi Kamigaki. FUJINKAI MEMORIAL SERVICE The BWA will be holding their Fujinkai Memorial Service on Sunday, May 6 at 2:00 p.m., following the 1:00 Family Service. The speaker for our service will be Rev. Jerry Hirano. Otoki lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. This is a memorial service for the wife of Shinran Shonin, Eshinni. Eshinni is considered the first role model of Jodo Shinshu womanhood. In this regard the memorial service is held in memory of any Fujinkai member who died during the previous year. In Gassho, Ruth Kawashima

3 BWA DONATIONS OMITTED FOR ONLINE VERSION For 2007 Membership: Kyoko Miya, Akiko Kato, Linda Enomoto-Russell, Yuri Inouye, Jeannie Painter, Lorraine Sanow, Kixie Oda, Ruth Kawashima, Marilyn Yoshida, Suzan Yoshimura, Yoshie Yoshimura, Yoshiko Yokota, Marie Hirabayashi, Ruth Sugimoto, Frances Hamada, Janice Shimada, Masako Ryujin, Julia Fujimoto, Tomoko Spry, Tami Hirai, Ellen Kato and Marcie Fujikawa. In Memoriam March, 2007 The Ogden Buddhist Temple Sangha extends its deepest sympathies to the families of the following members who recently passed away. May the family members find solace and comfort in the Nembutsu. Namo Amida Butsu Mr. Jim Tazoi March 2, 2007 Mr. Takeo Yamasaki March 10, 2007 GOT JUNK? Our annual RUMMAGE SALE will be on Saturday, June 2 nd and we need your stuff. Please bring any items you would like to donate to the church. This is a joint effort by all organizations of the Ogden Buddhist Church. Funds raised from the RUMMAGE SALE will go towards the general church budget. If you need anything picked up from your home or office or need any kind of assistance, please contact Steve Kato at Date of RUMMAGE SALE: Saturday, June 2, 2007 Time: 6:30am 12noon Place: Ogden Buddhist Church parking lot We will be meeting on Friday, June 1 st at 6pm to prepare for this fund raiser. All volunteers will need to be at the church by 6am on Saturday to being setting things up. PLEASE HELP US TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL FUND RAISER!

4 YBA NEWS By KayLene Yamada Our JR/JR YBA class attended a fabulous retreat with Rev. Hirano, Carmela Hirano and several Jr. YBA members from the Salt Lake Temple. The retreat was held at the Honeyville Buddhist Church. The Honeyville Church is a great place to play! Sensi tried to tell us it was haunted! What a kidder he is! We had a great time we learned a lot about Buddhism and meditation. We even learned how to food meditate! Ask one of us what that is all about! Our service project was to clean up the temple. We washed every window, inside and out! It s a two story building with lots and lots of windows! We worked hard but, loved every minute of it. We even had time to relax and enjoy getting to know new friends from Salt Lake at Crystal Hot Springs. On Sunday morning, we made breakfast for the Honeyville temple members. We enjoyed meeting them. They have a lot of great stories to tell. Food Meditation the best part EATING IT! We truly enjoyed spending time with Sensi and Carmela. It was great getting to know them better they are both great people and have so much wisdom to teach. The JR/JR YBA would like to thank Christy and Bruce Fong for organizing the event and Stan Hirai for spending the night and being our chaperone. We would also like to thank YOU for your generous support of the YBA. Without you, trips like this would not be possible. YBA DONATIONS OMMITTED FOR ONLINE VERSION

5 HANAMATSURI The Ogden Buddhist Church would like to thank JIMMY KUSUDA for donating and putting the flowers on the Hanamido for Hanamatsuri. As always, the Hanamido looked beautiful and really added that special touch to our service. Our Ochigo parade was perfect! The children did a great job! GOTAN-E Sunday, May 20, 2007 May Shotsuki Hoyo Service at 1:00 p.m. Hatsumairi This service is to celebrate the birth of Shinran Shonin ( ), the founder of our sect. It is also called Fujimatsuri in reference to the Wisteria flower which represents our sect. Unlike other flowers which seem to stand up straight and tall when in full blossom, the wisteria hangs down, when in full bloom, as if in humility. This teaches us that a true and real human being does not stand up in arrogance at their accomplishments, but rather realizes that they have so much for which to be grateful. In connection with this very special observance, we hold Shosanshiki also know as Hatsumairi (First visit ceremony) or Infant Presentation service. This service is held for all children born into our Sangha over the past year. It is a day to present the child to Buddha and to the Sangha, and to celebrate their first step upon following the Dharma. June Shotsuki Hoyo Sunday, June 17, 2007 held in conjunction with Family Service Service at 10:00 a.m.

6 May Shotsuki Hoyo May 20, 2007, 1:00 p.m. May Zentaro Higashiyama May Tomene Higashiyama May Tsunayoshi Iseki May Shujiro Kakushi May Buichi Kataoka May Tome Kawaguchi May Keitaro Kikuraku May Sumiko Koga May Shigeko Koga May Tsugi Miyagishima May Sakujiro Moriyama May Shinayo Nakano May Hana Nishihara May Tsurukichi Omori May Suga Omori May Ginichi Shigei May Tomeyo Shimada May Mike Maseo Shimizu May Naka Shiramizu May Hisako Teramoto May Harry Hisao Teramoto May Kiyoshi Kay Watari May Yoshiye Yamaguchi May Kamesaburo Yamasaki May Shigenori Yano May Toriko Yei May Sumiye M. Yoshimura May Masaji Roy Yoshinaga June Shotsuki Hoyo June 17, 2006, 10:00 a.m. June Haruye K. Endo June Yoshiyuki George Hirabayashi June Shizue Kano June Shegejiro Kawaguchi June Kanichi Kawaguchi June Kiku Kudo June Uji Miya June James Jusuburo Murakami June Hichiro Jim Nakano June Mine Ogata June Kakutaro Okawa June Masao Okuda June Kimiko Tsukamoto June Joe Yamashita June Suga Yano June Tome Yoshimura For those years not having a specific memorial service such as 2 nd, 4 th, 5 th, etc. the temple is holding these monthly Shotsuki Hoyo. During these services, the temple will list the names of those members who have died during the month in the preceding years. The families then attend that monthly service in memory of their loved one. These services are not meant to replace the specific memorial services. Please contact Rev. Hirano to make arrangements for those services. Rev. Hirano contact information - Office: , Home: , Emergency: Memorial Service Schedule for those who passed away in: year year year year year year year year year

7 TOBAN CLEANING Thanks to Ellen Kato and Kris Yamada we have a newly revised Toban Cleaning list. Please take the time to review it and make note of your month. This list is effective May, A monthly reminder will still be placed in the GEPPO. Since Dharma School does the toban cleaning on the 4 th Sunday of each month, it is best if you can complete your cleaning during the 2 nd week of the month. Your leader will contact you to schedule a specific date. Please remember the basic items that should be completed during toban cleaning are: clean-sweep-mom-toilets in all restrooms, clean-sweep-mom the kitchen, dust mop multipurpose room, vacuum chapel-library-officeclassrooms-hallway, clean entrance doors-windows, empty all trash cans, take the garbage out to the roadside-if necessary and dust, where needed. January July Blain & Suzan Yoshimura** Vern Waters & Mary McGreal ** Marie Hirabayashi Obon Cleanup Committee Debbie Yoshimura Karen DeVries Bart & Robyn Hirabayashi February Craig & Geniel Summers** Cohen & Ethan Summers Pam Sugihara Courtney & Kevin Sugihara March Roland & Janice Shimada** Todd & Stacie Heslop Lynard & Fran Hamada Kevin & Justine Hirasuna April Kirk & Betty Yamashita** Trenton Yamashita Steven & Kris Yamada KayLene Yamada August Tom & Marcie Fujikawa** Robyn & Kent Fujikawa Steve & Ellen Kato Valerie Kato September Marion Hori** Gerald & Teri Nisogi Carl & Marilyn Yoshida Kunie Oda October James & Marisa Aoki** Charles Aoki Max & Georgia Yoshida Toby Yoshida & Mui Tran May Harry & Alice Suekawa** Marie Suekawa Geoff & Linda-Enamoto Russell June Mike & Annette Koga** Scott Koga Sheldon & Kathy Shimizu November Ruth Kawashima** Jeanie Painter Lorraine Sanow Julia Fujimoto December Stan & Tammy Hirai** MacKenzie & Alex Hirai Alice Hirai ** = Toban Cleaning Leader

8 LAWN CARE We are in need of creating a lawn care schedule, similar to our Toban Cleaning list. We would only need to maintain this list during the months of March October. This would consist of mowing the lawn and possibly edging it once a month. If you think you could help us out by volunteering to be included in this list, please contact Steve Kato at SAVE THE DATES Looking ahead, please be sure to mark these special dates on your calendar now! OBON July 21 st & 22 nd Obon Practice schedule: All practices will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. Dates are as follows: July 2 nd and July 6 th July 9 th, July 11 th and July 13 th July 16 th and July 18 th Mt. States Conference 2007 Denver, Colorado September 1-3, 2007 BAZAAR October 20, 2007

9 WENDOVER TRIP Rainbow Casino Sunday, June 24 $15 per person (includes free meal, $7 back) Reservatio n Deadline: JUNE 17 Ellen Kato, (Board the Bus in Ogden, Riverdale, Layton or Woods Cross) Sponsored by The Ogden BWA

10 MAY, 2007 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :00am Beginning Taiko 10:00am Regular Taiko 11:30am Lunch - BWA 12:30pm Dharma School 1:00pm Family Service 2:00pm BWA Memorial Svc :30pm Board Meeting *SCRIP ORDERS DUE* 9:00am Beginning Taiko 10:00am Dharma School 10:45am Adult Discussion Group 1:00pm Regular Taiko Congrats Rachel Painter 19 9:00am Beginning Taiko 10:00am Regular Taiko 12:30pm Dharma School 1:00pm GOTAN-E Svc., Shotsuki Hoyo, Hatsumairi NO DHARMA SCHOOL Memorial Day Cemetery Service 9:00am Syracuse 9:30am Washington Terrace 10:00am Ogden

11 JUNE, 2007 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Prep for RUMMAGE SALE 6pm RUMMAGE SALE 6 AM NO DHARMA SCHOOL LAGOON DAY! :00am Beginning Taiko 10:00am Dharma School *Dharma School cleanup* 10:45am Adult Discussion Group 1:00pm Regular Taiko :30pm Board Meeting GEPPO Articles due :00am LAST Dharma School Service w/ Rev. Hirano Shotsuki Hoyo 10:45am Adult Discussion Group 10:45am Year End Dharma School Party! BWA BUS TRIP TO WENDOVER Have a GREAT summer!