GOLDEN CHAIN. Resident Minister: Rev. Carol Myokei Himaka March 2017

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1 GOLDEN CHAIN Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church Alvarado Niles Road Union City, CA Church Office: (510) Reverend s Cell Phone: (510) Reverend s revhimaka@gmail.com Website: Resident Minister: Rev. Carol Myokei Himaka March 2017 I am a link in the Buddha s golden chain of love that stretches around the world. I must keep my link bright and strong. I will try to be kind and gentle to every living thing and protect all who are weaker than myself. I will try to think pure and beautiful thoughts, to say pure and beautiful words, and to do pure and beautiful deeds, knowing that on what I do now depends not only my happiness or unhappiness, but also that of others. May every link in the Buddha s golden chain of love become bright and strong,and may we all attain perfect peace. Why is Discrimination so Bad? Unfortunately, more and more we hear about groups of people or governments declaring that "others" are not acceptable. This is basically determining a standard for discrimination, or determining that "some" people are good, or OK and acceptable while "other" people are not. There are all kinds of different discrimination that people practice. Such efforts to separate and place arbitrary value on some people while projecting criticism, even hatred, on others is bad because it does not reflect a Truth in Buddhism. The sutras make the case about discrimination as being not True when they compare the differences people make-up between the 'world of Enlightenment' and the 'world of confusion.' To understand the teachings of the Buddha leads people to ultimately realize that Everything in this world is equally characterized by "non-substantiality" - meaning that they do not have any permanent nature to claim which would make them truly 'different' from each other. Those who follow the teaching of Buddha. because they understand that everything is characterized by "non-substantiality," do not treat lightly the things that enter into a man's life, but they receive them for what they are and then try to make them fit tools for Enlightenment. They must not think that this world is meaningless and filled with confusion, while the world of Enlightenment is full of meaning and peace. Rather, they should taste the way of Enlightenment in all the affairs of this world..... The fact is there is only one world, not two worlds, one meaningless and the other full of meaning, or one good and the other bad. People only think there are two worlds, due to their discriminating faculty. If they could rid themselves of these discriminations and keep their minds pure with the light of wisdom, then they would see only one world in which everything is meaningful. Of course, it is important to realize that this deep view of "non-substantiality" is meant to help us to realize ULTIMATE ONENESS. It is still helpful, if we apply some level of difference to elements of this world, otherwise we could injure ourselves by confusing sponges for bread! We must always remember that the Buddha taught the "Middle Way" not a fixed or absolute standard of seeing things or doing things in this world. This is why Compassion is paired with Wisdom, especially in Jodo Shinshu. namoamidabutsu.

2 MARCH SHOTSUKI HOYO Family, relatives and friends are invited to attend the monthly memorial service for the following on Sunday March 5, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. DECEASED FAMILY 1956 Saburo Koyama Koyama Family 1962 Teisuke Nishi Nishi Family 1968 Minoru Ando Ando Family 1969 Keiji Hatsushi Mrs. Yoko Hiramine & Mr. Kazuo Hatsushi 1973 Tomoe Tanaka Tanaka & Shibata Family 1980 Eiichi Kobayashi Mrs. Nancy Minamide 2000 Toshiaki Abe Mr. David Abe 2002 William Pong Mr. & Mrs. Martin Shiba 2003 Christine Nishihira Mr. Thomas Nishihira 2005 Renee Yonekura Mrs. Toyoko Yoshioka 2005 Robert Kitajima Mr. & Mrs. Bob Kitajima 2006 Kimiyo Asakawa Mrs. Neile Mori-Tang 2007 June Handa Mr. Bill Handa 2011 Shiro Sakaki Mrs. Noriko Sakaki & Mr. & Mrs. Tetsuji Uemura 2013 Kenji Neyama Mrs. Kay Neyama & Mrs. Aileen Hisaoka 2015 Claire Teshima Ms. Paige Ajimura 2016 Kay Otani Mr. Richard Otani & Ms. Debbie Yamaoka 2016 Roy Nakagawa Mrs. Mary Nakagawa 2016 Gilbert Hirabayashi Mrs. Joyce Hirabayashi Aiko Yamaguchi Mr. & Mrs. Tsuyoshi Teshirogi Jo Kamiji Mrs. Sachi Fudenna & Mrs. Michi Handa Yoshiharu Mori Mrs. Takae Wong NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU NAMO AMIDA BUTSU Memorial Service 2017 Memorial year for those who passed away in: year year year year year year year year year If this is a special service year for a departed relative, please contact Rev. Carol Myokei Himaka at (510) to schedule a memorial service.

3 Services for March 2017 March 5, 2017 Shotsuki Hoyo 10 A.M. At this monthly memorial service, we will honor those loved ones who passed away in the month of March. Rev. Hoshu Matsubayashi will be the guest minister. He will speak in both English and Japanese. Rev. Himaka and four Board members will be attending the BCA National Council Meeting. March birthdays will be celebrated. Dharma School will follow service. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ March 12, 2017 Family Service 10 A.M. Kendo will be chairing this service. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ March 19, 2017 Spring Ohigan 10 A.M. Ohigan marks the Spring or Vernal Equinox. This is the time when the Earth and the Sun are situated such that the hours of Daylight is equal to the hours of Night. Ancient Japanese Buddhist nobles marked this auspicious time by practicing the 6 Paramitas and dedicating their spiritual path to the Pure Land. Dharma Discussion (11:30 AM-1:30 PM) After service, lunch will be served to start the Dharma Discussion. Please RSVP to Bill Sawasaki ( ) or sacbc@sbcglobal.net ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ March 26, 2017 Family Service 10 A.M. Dharma School will follow service.

4 Thank you * Thank you * Thank you To all who have so generously sent gifts of "Oseibo" to me over the past few months. Your warmth and kind benevolence are overwhelming. It has taken me several weeks to make sure that no gift has been misplaced or overlooked. Once again, I beg your forgiveness, and hope that this one statement of gratitude for these gifts will serve to express my thanks. I was only able to make a list of who sent me an 'oseibo' and unable to write individual thank you notes. If anyone wishes to check if their gift was received, just contact me and I can check my list. In gassho, Rev. Carol Himaka Our club will be practicing for the upcoming Bay District JrYBA Volleyball Tournament in May. We want to invite anyone who enjoys the sport to come help us out, especially 7 th & 8 th graders who will be joining JrY next year. Practices will start on SUNDAY, MARCH 26TH from 1-3 pm and will continue on Sundays thru May. Contact Noreen Osaki if you have any questions at n.osaki@comcast.net. Wow!WhataturnoutwehadforourJapaneseMovieAfternoon.Itwasthe biggestoneever.thankssomuchforshowingupandsupportingour efforts.wehopeyouenjoyedthemovieaswellasourbulgogilunch.wehadfunputtingiton. Abigthankyoutoourprojectionist,TetUemura.Weappreciatehimhelpingusouteven thoughhisboysareoutofjry.anotherthankyoutolaniuemuraforhelpinginthekitchenand bringinginherfamousbuttermochi.itwasgreatworkingwithyoutwoagain. ThankstoourJrYparents,DeanOsaki,CurtisMark,Glen&GingerSekigahama,TinaTakayama, andcindysakiharaforhelpingwiththecooking,set-up,andcleaning.theyareagreatcrewand makethejobsoeasy.

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7 March 2017 Sacbc activities calendar Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 9:00a Boutique 2 10:00a Boutique 3 ( Logan HS) 4 9:00a BWA Rummage Sale 5 Shotsuki Hoyo 11:00a BWA Rummage Sale ( SACBC) 11 AA Basketball Tournament 12 AA Basketball Tournament 19 10:00a Spring Ohigan Service 11:30a Dharma Discussion AA Basketball Tournament :00a Boutique 12:00p Golden Chain Deadline :00a Boutique (Heiwa Taiko) 24 ( SACBC JLS) 18 AA Basketball Tournament :00p Jr YBA Volleyball OFFICE CLOSED 31 (American HS) OFFICE CLOSED

8 April 2017 Sacbc activities calendar Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 1:00p Bay District Jr YBA Mtg :00a Boutique 6 10:00a Boutique 7 (ASUCB) 8 4:00p AA Awards Dinner 9 1:00p Jr YBA Volleyball ( SACBC) :00p Jr YBA Volleyball :00a Boutique 12p Golden Chain Deadline 20 10:00a Boutique 21 (ONami Taiko) :00p Jr YBA Volleyball ( ) :00p Jr YBA Volleyball

9 SACBC S MRS. MASUKO KITAYAMA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 2017 Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church is inviting high school seniors to apply for the Mrs. Masuko Kitayama Memorial Scholarship. The funds for this scholarship were donated by the late Mayor Tom Kitayama in memory of his mother. This scholarship is awarded to deserving Shin Buddhist youth in their pursuit of higher education and to enhance their practice and commitment to Buddhist principles throughout their lifetime. Applicant s immediate family must be a Temple member, not an associate member, of the Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church for at least 5 years (or have had previous membership at a Buddhist Temple). Scholarships are awarded without regard to sex, race, nationality or national origin. The following criteria will be used to judge each applicant: (A) GPA 25% (no minimum GPA); (B) SAT or ACT scores 25% (no minimum score) ; (C) Essay 20%; (D) SACBC Activities 30% Applicants must prepare an essay, not less than 1 double-spaced typed page nor more than 2 double-spaced typed pages, addressing how Buddhism or Buddhist practice relates to their career or educational goals. Examples of topics for this essay might be: "Buddhist Compassion and My Career", "How my Religious Activities at SACBC have guided me to my Career Goal". These are only two topic examples. Students are encouraged to be creative with their choice of topic. The only stipulation is that students relate some aspect of their Buddhist religion to their educational or career goals. For an Application: please contact Larry Gissible, SACBC Scholarship Committee Chairperson by sacbc.treasurer@yahoo.com or call and leave a message. Please submit all material: Completed Application Form, Copy of High School Transcripts, Evidence of Scores Received in either SAT or ACT, Copy of Essay; on or before May 1, 2017 to: SACBC Scholarship Committee; Alvarado-Niles Rd.; Union City, CA The SACBC Scholarship Committee will present its recommendations for scholarship awards to the SACBC Board of Directors. If there are any questions, applicants or their families may contact Larry Gissible, Scholarship Committee Chairperson.. THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ALL MATERIAL: MAY 1, 2017

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