GOLDEN CHAIN. Resident Minister: Rev. Carol Myokei Himaka April 2018

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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 April 2018 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. Dharma Not Complicated Everything is led by the mind; the mind is the leader; everything is made up on the mind. If one speaks or acts with an evil mind, suffering follows him like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox that draws it. He abused me; he beat me; she defeated me; she robbed me. The hatred in him who harbors such thoughts is never pacified. These lines are from the beginning of the Dhammapada, a collection of thoughts expressed by the Buddha that contain simple, but profound truths. The Buddha Dharma has always shown us that error begins in the mind. But error is not a concrete reality and so once it is done, one can either learn from it or continue to suffer from its consequences. Suffering comes from not letting go of the mistake and making adjustments in oneʼs thinking. This is what is being addressed in the first verse. Donʼt be put off by the use of the word ʻevil,ʼ because in Buddhism ʻevilʼ is more suggestive of that which is detrimental or non-beneficial. Moral judgment is not the point here. Discovering what is helpful or beneficial is the most important point to remember. If one does not let go of harmful ways of thinking it is going to drag along suffering as surely as the wheel that follows the foot of the ox that draws it. The second verse is more descriptive, giving actual examples of what is meant by an evil mind. Please notice that each complaint is aimed at someone else. That is because one cannot complain about or blame another without first creating an artificial difference between oneʼs own self and the other person. This is part of the rationale behind the mental conditioning soldiers are supposed to go through when they are taught to de-humanize the enemy. One cannot kill another without separating oneʼs own self from the other. Otherwise, if one is forced into such a situation without that separation, the killer suffers extreme pain and long lasting consequences. Perhaps the reason behind the rise in post-traumatic stress among our troops is that they could not successfully de-humanize the enemy. In that case, we should realize that their pain now is because their own humanity was too strong and would not allow them to split the fabric of Oneness that surrounds and binds us all. namoamidabutsu. Hatred is never pacified by hatred; it is pacified by the absence of hatred. This is the law from antiquity. The unwise do not know that they, too, will come to an end. He who realizes this has his struggles brought to an end.

2 APRIL SHOTSUKI HOYO Family, relatives and friends are invited to attend the monthly memorial service for the following on Sunday April 1, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. DECEASED FAMILY 1948 Magoichi Kawamoto Mrs. Shizuye Awamura 1953 Hiroshi Sekigahama Mr. Harry Sekigahama 1962 Yasujiro Asano Mr. Alan Arai & Mr. John Arai 1979 Yoshie Kitani Kitani Family 1982 Hanako Arai Mr. Alan Arai & Mr. John Arai 1982 Koomei George Kato Mr. & Mrs. Ted Sato & Kato Family 1985 Iwanari Kajikawa Kajikawa Family 1995 Eiichi Takayama Takayama Family 1997 Mitsuko Tanaka Tanaka Family 2001 Mitsuye Yamahara Mr. & Mrs. Tom Chun 2003 Tokiyo Kawaguchi Kawaguchi Family 2005 George Kawamoto Ms. Ann Kawamoto 2006 Shimako Naruo Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Naruo 2006 Bessie Shimoyo Karamatsu Mrs. Iris Yakuma 2007 Edward Ng Mr. Scott Ng & Mrs. Charisse Feldman 2007 Mieko Yoko Mr. Hisao Yoko 2008 Yoshiye Nagata Mr. & Mrs. Ken Nagata & Mr. Frank Nagata 2008 Yoshito Yakuma Mr. Steve Yakuma 2008 Kenji Osaki Ms. Noreen Osaki & Dr. Curtis Mark 2009 May Mark Dr. Curtis Mark & Ms. Noreen Osaki 2009 Yukie Nakano Mrs. Patricia Takemoto 2009 Yutaka Kotake Mrs. Jean Kotake 2009 George Kawaguchi Mrs. Tomiko Kawaguchi 2012 Joe Kimura Kimura Family 2014 Itsuko Uemura Mr. & Mrs. Tetsuji Uemura 2016 Nikki Fudenna Mrs. Sachi Fudenna 2016 Rie Ando Mr. Stan Ando & Mrs. Yumiko Fujii Tomiko Hayakawa Mrs. Haru Hamamoto 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 2018 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 April 2018 April 1, 2018 Shotsuki Hoyo 10 A.M. At this monthly memorial service, we will honor those loved ones who passed away in the month of April. April birthdays will be celebrated. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ April 8, 2018 Hanamatsuri 10 A.M. Hanamatsuri is the celebration of the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the person who became the Buddha, the Awakened One. The Buddhist Womenʼs Association will be chairing this service and hosting Otoki lunch. Dharma School will follow service. On Saturday, April 7, at 10 AM, please come help decorate the Hanamido. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ April 15, 2018 Family Service 10 A.M. Rev. Dr. Ronald Nakasone will be the guest minister. (Rev. Himaka will be in Canada) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ April 22, 2018 Family Service 10 A.M. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ April 29, 2018 Family Service 10 A.M. Dharma School will follow service. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ On Saturday, April 7, at 10 A.M., please come to the Hondo to help decorate the Hanamido for Hanamatsuri. There will be hundreds of flowers that will be put on the Hanamido to simulate the flowers that burst into bloom when Siddhartha Gautama was born. Please bring flowers from your yard if you have any. Everyone is welcome to join in!

4 You re invited to join us for a Dharma Discussion and Lunch Part of a Series: Amida Buddha and the Vows Topic: How the Vows Show Us the Intention of Amida Buddha s Enlightenment. April 22, 2018 (Sunday) As part of our Spring discussion series, we will consider topics central to a deeper understanding of Jodo-Shinshu Buddhism: The Vows What are they, and what is their importance? We ll discuss Amida Buddha s purpose for creating a Buddha Pure Land. On Sunday, April 22, 2018, the Buddhist Education Committee will sponsor this Dharma Discussion. It will be an interactive and informal session. Come join us at 11:30am for lunch followed by the discussion from Noon 1:30pm, in the classrooms in the church. If you plan to attend, please RSVP: to sacbc@sbcglobal.net or leave a message at so we have a ballpark count on how many to plan for lunch. In an attempt to be green, we ask that you bring your own cup or mug.

5 BWA NEWS by Nancy Minamide It s been a long time since BWA had a craft class. We are scheduling one on April 25 (1:00 to 4:40). We have 4 to 5 instructors to make cards. The cost is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. You will make 5 cards. Please let us know if you planning to attend. Contact Pat Takemoto, Karen Suyama or myself to sign up for the class. We have yet to set a date for the second class. It is a repair workshop to fix broken or loose ojuzus. We will provide the materials. Later in the fall, we plan a cooking class. So, keep looking in the Golden Chain for these announcements. Thank you to those men and women who came to help set up and close our rummage sale. A special thank you to our own Jr. YBA students and parents, who came to help clean up. We need your energy and vitality. We are having a change of plan for funerals. I am asking 2 toban groups to provide the desserts, sunomono and salad. I have grouped Toban 1 and 3 together and Toban 2 and 4 together. I hope this meets with your approval. Toban leaders will call to remind you, so if you do not get a call, don t worry. ********************************************************* OBITUARY SACBC extends its sincere condolences to the Suyeyasu Family on the passing of Ms. Sumie Suyeyasu. She passed away on Saturday February 17, A funeral service was held at Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church on Saturday March 31, May the Nembutsu provide peace of mind and comfort during this time of sorrow. SACBC extends its sincere condolences to Mrs. Aileen Hisaoka and the Neyama Family on the passing of Mrs. Kiyoko Neyama. She passed away on Monday March 5, A funeral service was held at Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church on Saturday March 24, May the Nembutsu provide peace of mind and comfort during this time of sorrow.

6 SACBC-BEC Bookstore For the convenience of our Sangha, we have ojuzu s, incense, candles and an assortment of books including the Collected Works of Shinran, Ocean and many more available for purchase in the SACBC Office. Please see Larry Gissible, or Bill Sawasaki regarding these items.

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11 April 2018 Sacbc activities calendar Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 10:00a Dharma Family Service Shotsuki Hoyo 1:00p Jr YBA Volleyball 2 7:00p Kendo 3 6:00p AA 4 9:00a Boutique 6:00p AA 5 10:00a Boutique 6:00p AA 6 (Hayward Football) 7:30p Venture Scouts 7 10:00a Hanamido Decorating 8 10:00a Hanamatsuri Service Otoki following service 1:00p Jr YBA Volleyball 9 7:00p Kendo 10 6:00p AA 11 6:00p AA 12 6:00p AA 13 (SACBC) 7:30p Venture Scouts 14 9:00a JLS 3:00p AA Awards Dinner 15 10:00a Dharma Family Service 16 7:00p Kendo :00a Boutique 12:00p Golden Chain Deadline 19 10:00a Boutique 20 (Onami Taiko) 7:30p Venture Scouts 21 9:00a JLS 4:00p SACBC LUAU 22 10:00a Dharma Family Service 1:00p Jr YBA Volleyball 23 7:00p Kendo (SACBC JLS) 7:30p Venture Scouts 28 9:00a JLS 1:00p BWA Cardmaking Class 29 NO SERVICE 11:00a Jr YBA Pizza Making 1:00p Jr YBA Volleyball 30 7:00p Kendo

12 May 2018 Sacbc activities calendar Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 9:00a Boutique 3 10:00a Boutique 4 (Community Academy) 7:30p Venture Scouts 5 9:00a JLS 2:00p Jr YBA Volleyball 6 10:00a Dharma Family Service Shotsuki Hoyo (SACBC) 7:30p Venture Scouts 12 9:00a JLS 1:00p Scouts Mission Peak Dinner 13 10:00a Mother s Day Service :00a Boutique 12:00p Golden Chain Deadline 17 10:00a Boutique 18 (Heiwa Taiko) 7:30p Venture Scouts 19 9:00a JLS 20 10:00a Gotan-e Service Otoki following service 1:00p Jr YBA Volleyball (SACBC BWA) 7:30p Venture Scouts 26 Asian Festival 27 NO SERVICE 28 MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY (office closed)

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