TEL (310) FAX (310) Vol. 54, No. 11 November Takeko Kujo and Vincent

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1 WEST LOS ANGELES BUDDHIST TEMPLE BULLETIN 2003 Corinth Avenue West Los Angeles, CA TEL (310) FAX (310) Web: 2 Vol. 54, No. 11 November 2011 REV. USUKI S PAGE Takeko Kujo and Vincent Whether toward a god, a mountain, or to the sun in heaven, there can be no pretension in a heart that bows sincerely. Regardless of the object of reverence, those who can bow in deep emotion with their entire body, are very fortunate. In the beautiful world of faith, there is neither doubt nor fear. The gassho (placing our hands together in reverence) that has been freed from all displays of affectation, is gratitude, just as it is. The feeling of gratitude is a world of ecstasy that only those with faith can know. I believe everyone wishes to live in a world without lies. But precisely because we live in a world full of deceit, we yearn for a world of mutual trust. Such a world, however, will come into being only when everyone is grateful for what they have, which finds expression in placing our hands together in gassho. Takeko Kujo, Muyuge, The Heart That Bows, p. 42 This passage is one of my favorites among the many Pure Land writings which express the true universality of our Jodo Shinshu teachings. Although Ms. Kujo s reference is an expression of Amida Buddha, Pure Land, Jinen (naturalness), and such Jodo Shinshu terms, she avoids using them. Nonetheless, she is able to describe her understanding of Shinran Shonin s deepest message through everyday words. It is also remarkable that the passage was written in the 1920s when the Shinshu tradition was known almost exclusively to Japanese people. Through words and emotions that express her personal experience, she references imagery that captures the essence of today s society and voices yearnings that anyone in the entire world can understand. Ms. Kujo speaks from the core of what takes place when one encounters, through utmost sincerity and untainted humility, the gratitude that neutralizes a self-prescribed notion of truth or orthodoxy that usually confines one to the limitations of words. She also describes our envy and admiration for those whose conviction and faith are undeniable. Thus, Ms. Kujo suggests that we engage in deeper self-reflection and challenges us to discover genuine expression in the form of heartfelt gassho. When I was young, without having any knowledge of Buddhism or even the least idea of how to articulate life s struggles, I was impressed with two figures, Miyamoto Musashi and later Vincent van Gogh. These two real life, historic personages exemplified, perhaps, the kind of expression Ms. Kujo describes. You may have your own spiritual and life heroes as well. I will save my discussion of Miyamoto Musashi for a later time. Vincent van Gogh ( ), as you may know, was a Dutch painter whose work includes such famous masterpieces as Sunflowers, Wheatfield with Crows, Starry Night, and many versions of irises and the wheat field which sell for hundreds of millions of dollars today. In his brief career that lasted only ten years, he drew and painted over (cont d on page 2)

2 1,700 pieces that survive today. Despite this profusion of work, he sold only one painting during his short lifetime. He was called a misfit and crazy, even cutting off his ear to give to a prostitute. His life was filled with problems, anxieties, extraordinary emotions, doubt, and fear. Yet due to his sincere commitment to his brushes and colors, his life is revealed in a vivid array of expressions and unique patterns on canvas. Here he radically developed new textures and forms in landscapes, stills, and portraits that were uniquely his own. Although his style was criticized by his contemporaries for not conforming to any existing tradition, he continued to paint in the only way he could. The medium was an outlet for his severe internal crises that no one could see or acknowledge. Vincent eventually committed suicide at the age of 37. However, he once wrote this account, which strikingly suggests the passage by Ms. Kujo: While painting it I said to myself, I must not go away before there is something of an autumn evening in it, something mysterious, something serious. But as this effect does not last, I had to paint quickly. The figures were put in at once with a few strong strokes of a firm brush. It struck me how sturdily those little (sapling) stems were rooted in the ground. I began painting them with a brush, but because the surface was already so heavily covered, a brush stroke was lost in it then I squeezed the roots and trunks in from the tube, and modeled it a little with the brush. Yes now they stand there rising from the ground, strongly rooted in it. In a certain way I am glad that I have not learned painting, because then I might have learned to pass by such effect as this. Don t we find that the profound and genuine expressions of these two icons speak perceptively of the reality of this wonderful and mysterious world of ours? Yet, each of us is unable to truly interact with such truth until we allow it to speak to us. Perhaps Onembutsu and gassho are these two sides of the extremes as well. Perhaps when our hands come together in spontaneous gassho and the nembutsu arises without pretentious calculation we, too, will experience the joy of sincere gratitude for what we experience. Rev. Fumiaki Usuki Shinshu Corner Muyuge - Flower Without Sorrow by Takeko Kujo (The Nembutsu Press, 1985) Note (p. 7), Foreword (p. 11), and Honored Mother Maya (p. 13) Takeko Kujo s language is so flowing and elegant, and so perfectly suited to the poetic nature of the Japanese language that it is impossible to fit into the more practical English language. All that was attempted in this work is to present Ms. Kujo s thoughts in a form understandable in English. No attempt was made to convey her matchless style. This volume could not have come into existence without the help of many people, among whom Note Foreword the following must be singled out: Kakuei Miyaji, professor emeritus of Kyoto Women s University; Tatsuo Takatani, also of Kyoto Women s University; Shoten Sasaki of the Dendo-in; Reverends Keizo Norimoto, Chijun Yakumo, Masami Fujitani, Russell Hamada, Masao Kodani, and particularly Kodo Umezu of the Buddhist Churches of America; Kyoko Uehigashi; and Ken ichi Yokogawa. Like leaves blown by the wind, thoughts pile up in a corner. This volume is nothing but the leaves of my heart that budded, grew, and finally fell. There is little of value or beauty here, but if even one person should stop and pick these leaves, I can ask for nothing more. 2 My father instructed me in the path to follow since I was a child, and I have tried to follow the way he showed. This is the 25th year since my father s death. I wish to converse with him by offering this volume before his grave. Takeko Kujo (cont d on page 3)

3 Honored Mother Maya Honored Mother Maya played happily in Lumbini Garden. Flowers of the asoka tree (muyuge) blossomed everywhere. Mother Maya loved this honest and pure flower. Good flower, elegant friend, Always smiling and without a care, Basking in the spring-day sun. Blessed and without impurities, Limitless in your glory! Growing on tree limbs eternal That never grows old, Good flower, my elegant friend. It was not by chance that the Buddha was born in a pure body that could so love the flower of the asoka tree. Those in accord with the great universal law are touched by the heart of a pure and simple flower. When we feel compassion towards innocent trees and grass, the flower of the mind without worry blossoms naturally and without effort. UPCOMING SERVICES AND EVENTS October 15 (Saturday): Buddhist Men-BWA Memorial Service and lunch October 16 (Sunday): Matinee with BWA October 21 (Friday): Bingo October 23 (Sunday): Venice Hongwanji BT visits WLABT for service and lunch October 29 (Saturday): Family Fun Night November 20 (Sunday): Thanksgiving Service November 20 (Sunday): Matinee with BWA (see flyer elsewhere in this newsletter) November 21 (Monday): 80+ lunch December 3 (Saturday): Shotsuki Hoyo December 4 (Sunday): Bodhi Day and Oseibo Taikai; lunch October 31 (Monday): 80+ lunch November 5 (Saturday): Shotsuki Hoyo November 12 (Saturday) Buddhist Men Longevity Party December 10 (Saturday): Mochitsuki November 13 (Sunday) Eitaikyo Service Rev. Tetsunen Hirota (J) Rev. Fumiaki Usuki (E) November 18 (Friday): Bingo (See Mochitsuki flyer on page 11.) December 11 (Sunday): Clean-up 3

4 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE I was unable to attend September s Ohigan seminar, though I did go the next day to the Ohigan Service. Those of you who were able to attend the service heard a remarkable pair of dharma talks given by the seminar speakers Rev. Ensei Nekoda in English and Rev. Akio Miyaji in Japanese. And if you were like me and missed the previous day s seminars, you were just as regretful as I was. I often don t get very much out of the Japanese dharma messages, since I comprehend so little Japanese. But Rev. Miyaji alternated between Japanese and English, and I was delighted to find that I could follow him at least partially. His theme for the seminar was Furusato, or Homecoming, going back to one s birthplace. The next day he ended his dharma talk on Buddha-nature with some audio-visual aids: an astonishing pair of photographs that (perhaps in a punning play on the different meanings of the word nature ) depicted surprising images of the Budddha in nature: a reclining Buddha in the skyline of Mt. Aso in Japan, and of two Buddhas perhaps one Buddha within another, or parent/child Buddhas that were apparent in a reflection of a stone mountain in a lake at its foot. One of the things Rev. Nekoda spoke of was the first of the Eight Sufferings : birth. He said (and I paraphrase): We don t often think of birth as suffering, but just imagine: you re in a warm, dark world, hearing nothing except for the mother s heartbeat perhaps; and then you are suddenly, violently, and painfully thrust out into a totally different world where it is cold, and full of bright lights and strange sounds; and the only reaction you are capable of is to cry out. And this is the first suffering. I hadn t given much thought to that before, but it made me reflect on the fact that our lives are punctuated at the beginning and end with suffering and so much suffering in between. We have no control over our births, and little over our deaths but it is the in-between sufferings that we can mitigate, if we can hear the Buddhadharma. We are fortunate to have such thoughtful and engaging speakers for our seminars and services. I intend not to miss the next opportunity in the spring, and I encourage all members to make the same resolution. Namo Amida Butsu, Rob Kafka westlabtprez@gmail.com BWA NEWS Yasuko Shohara Gratitude and Thanksgiving November s arrival arouses thoughts of holidays and family gatherings, with hugging and eating! But with all the tragedies that occurred during the year, simply being able to meet again... namuamidabutsu Membership Chair Lorraine Soda reported that there are 55 members: 51 regular, 3 honorary, and 1 new member, Laraine Miyata. Welcome, Laraine! The SDBWL Representatives Meeting was held here on Saturday, September 24. Thanks to the following, who brought refreshments: Shirley Ito, Jacqui Pierce, Lorraine Soda, Beverly Yahata, and Connie Yahata. It was much more than the light refreshments mentioned in the notice. Not to worry, everyone enjoyed their second lunch of the day. BWA belatedly acknowledges donations received from Chiyo Nitta and Toshiko Uyekubo. Venice Hongwanji BT members will be visiting WLA for our 10 am service on October 23. Lunch will follow. November date to remember: (Toban #3) 20 Sun 11:00 am BWA Meeting 12 noon Matinee with BWA 4

5 DHARMA SCHOOL Grace Mizushima Welcome back, Dharma School Students, to a new school year. We look forward to another fun-filled Dharma School program for the 2011 to 2012 school year. We had five graduates last term: Ryan Ohkawahira and Nicholas Pedersen and from 5 th grade; and Katie Hoy, Maya Narumi, and Stefani Yamasaki from 8 th grade. Congratulations to the graduates and we wish you the best in your respective new schools. The other BIG event was our annual Obon Festival. Once again, we had a big turnout of Ondo Dancers visiting from other temples, outof-state, and of course we cannot leave out our local neighborhood supporters. I d like to thank all the volunteers again for assisting me with the Ondo Dancing because without their help, I would never be able to pull it off. Domo Arigato Gozaimasu!! Dharma School students and parents also worked at the Ring Toss Booth with the help of the WLA Youth Club members! Thank you all for your help! We look forward to next year s Obon which is just around the corner!! We know that everyone has busy schedules, so we are glad to see the Dharma School students whenever their schedules allow them. Also, we are still actively looking for Dharma School teachers so if anyone is interested, please contact me or Haru Matsumune. [Thank you to Mas Sasaki for photo below.] OBON 2012 Tosh Ishioka I m very pleased about our new Obon chairperson and Obon treasurer. Neal Yahata will be Neal, Terumi, Tamiye, Tsuyoshi, Connie the new Obon chairperson and he is very qualified for the position. His on-site experience with Obon is almost as long as my tenure as Obon chairperson. He is no stranger with the take-out and take-down situation and has assisted me over the years. His retired status is very important in dealing with last minute situations that 5 arise without warning, especially with the city permits. I will be working closely with Neal in the learning process and will fill in wherever I am needed. George Lin will be our next Obon treasurer and, as an accountant, is an obvious choice for the job. George has been involved in accounting situations at our Temple and is the designated Temple auditor. We are very fortunate and grateful to both Neal and George for serving our needs as Obon chairperson and treasurer, and I wish them the best. George and Tosh work well together

6 BUDDHIST MEN: Fall Ohigan Day Ohigan day is observed during spring and fall equinoxes, the period of pleasant surroundings. Today, Temple members and friends pay respects to our deceased loved ones. Nirvana, Enlightenment, is to cross over to the other shore (Higan) from the shore we reside in (Shigan), with its impermanence and suffering. I was informed one must comply with six pathways to reach Nirvana; the 21 st century world provides many obstacles and to conquer the pathways becomes extremely difficult. To make this a very pleasant day, Buddhist Men served a delicious teriyaki chicken lunch. The chickens were prepared Friday afternoon by Hidemi Ohkawahira and Milton Iwamoto and cooked on Sunday morning by Buddhist Men; Mas Sasaki lunches were served after service concluded. I heard many positive comments about the luncheon; thank you for your satisfying gesture. I ve taken photos of Buddhist Men preparing and cooking the chickens, and members enjoying the meal. Thank you to Rev. Usuki, Rev. Akio Miyaji, Rev. Ensei Nekoda, and Rev. Naomi Nakano; and thank you, Richard Stambul, for being the chairperson and Connie Yahata for keeping the congregations in tune. This was a wonderful day but this too shall pass in the world of impermanence. 6

7 80-PLUS LUNCH Happy Birthday to Mary Yanokawa and Miyoko Tachiki Ikuko Yamamoto and Miyoko Tachiki FALL OHIGAN SEMINAR Session in Japanese with Rev. Akio Miyaji standing: Kazuko Seike, Kay Kafka, Hisako Nakagawa, Terumi Iwamoto, Toshie Doi, Tamiko Hada, Ritsuko Uto seated: Miyoye Takahashi, Rev Akio Miyaji, Torako Akutagawa, Michiko Takata Session in English with Rev. Ensei Nekoda standing: Yasuko Shohara, Masako Ishioka, Ichiro Ouchi, Tosh Ishioka, Sei Shohara, Miyoko Matsubara, Rick Stambul, Shiz Sera seated: Kiyoko Nakamura, Rev. Ensei Nekoda photos by Rev. Fumiaki Usuki 7

8 MATINEE WITH BWA 8

9 NOVEMBER SHOTSUKI HOYO, 10 a.m. Saturday, November 5, 2011 Arita, Toshio Deguchi, Setsuko Dote, Shikanosuke Fujimoto, Helen Fujimoto, Larry Fujimoto, Ronald Fujimoto, Ume Fujimoto, Yutsuma Hada, Art Hada, Niichi Hata, Tsutomu Hatanaka, Torazo Ichiho, Tsuyako Ige, Sueko Ikeda, Kuni Ishibashi, William Kakehashi, Tatsuyo Kawaguchi, Doris Kitagawa, Kaoru Kurauchi, Tamayo Kurokawa, Juro Maeda, Goro Marumoto, Shigeru Maruyama, Hideo Masukawa, Tomoko Matsumoto, Kichinosuke Miyada, Genji Miyake, Torao Mochizuki, Keiko Morikawa, Gosuke Morita, Chiyoki Murakami, Sugae Nagaoka, Hiroshi Nagaoka, Sachi Nagayama, Yoshio Nakagawa, Ayako Nakagawa, Misao Nakagawa, Shinso Nakamura, Frank Nakamura, Michael Naramura, Hiroshi Nimori, Misu Nishida, Hirotoshi Nishimoto, Akira Nishimoto, Kyo Nomura, Toshihiro Nonoguchi, Matsuyo Ohigashi, Hozumi Okita, David Okitsu, Jou Onami, Yaeko Oshinomi, Sally Osumi, Chie Ota, Kane Ota, Tokizo Oyanagi, Tamaichi Sherriff, Shirley Shibata, Shozo Shimano, Katsu Takata, Hatsuko Takemoto, Yonezo Tanimura, Hirokichi Tanimura, Thomas Tenma, Shiro Terashita, Masaru Tomita, Carol Tsuruzawa, Ayako Watanabe, Osamu Yahata, Tozo Yamaguchi, Helen Yamaji, Chieru Yoshidome, Saichi DECEMBER SHOTSUKI HOYO, 10 a.m. Saturday, December 3, 2011 Abbott, Glenn Asai, Taijiro Bodnar, Florence Cook, Helen Dowdy, Joseph Fuchiwaki, Satsuo Fujikawa, Masami Hamada, Sadahisa Hashimoto, Shizu Hatanaka, Betty Hayashi, Sachiko Hayashida, Yukino Ikkanda, Shunichi Ikkanda, Tazu Jeffers, Lilli Kamibayashi, Suga Kimura, Yukiko Kiriyama, Sugi Kiyama, Mary Kiyohiro, Ayame Kofuku, Ato Kofuku, Yoshiyuki Kosaka, Tomiko Kotake, Eric Kubota, Masako Kuroda, Choichiro Maruko, Kazuo Masuda, Eiko Masuda, Kenichi Masuda, Shoichi Matsumoto, Toshimitsu Minazumi, Takashi Miyada, Masu Miyada, Reigyu Miyata, Ren Muramatsu, Mae Murayama, Yasuhiro Nakamura, Chikano Nakamura, Hideko Nakamura, Kanichi Nakamura, Kiyoko Nakazaki, Tobei Narahara, Shinobu Nekoda, Masako Niida, Tom Nimori, Masatoshi Nishida, Goichiro Nishikawa, Hatsuko Nishimoto, Burt Noda, Ayano Ohkawahira, Hite Oshinomi, Shizuko Sakai, Thomas Shinto, Bunsuke Shiosaki, Kenji Sugimura, Tsune Suzuki, Kenny Takayama, Kameyoshi Tamura, Ben Toguchida, Kei Tominaga, Chiyono Toya, James Tsuboi, Joe Uchida, Juhachi Yamauchi, Masao Yasuda, Margaret 9

10 WLABT Mochitsuki 2011 Saturday, December 10, 2011 ORDER FORM The West LA Jr. YBA will be having its annual Mochi Tsuki on Saturday, December 10, The cost of the mochi will be $3.00 per pound. The okasane will also be $3.00 per pound. To accommodate all orders, please order your mochi and/or okasane by December 4, Please make checks payable to WLA Jr. YBA. Please pay for your mochi order in advance only. We will charge you for the okasane when you pick up your order. Mochi/okasane will be available for pick up between 12:30pm and 3:00pm on December 10. We appreciate your support and look forward to filling your mochi/okasane orders this year. We would also appreciate any help from the temple members. For more information, please call Vance Nishimoto at or Jim Shimomaye at Please mail order forms and check by December 4 to: Mochi Tsuki c/o West LA Jr. YBA 2003 Corinth Avenue West Los Angeles, CA Please fill out the order form below and detach along the dotted line. Name Phone ( ) Address Suite/Apt. No. City State Zip # of $3.00/lb. = $ Okasane : Please indicate the quantity of each: SMALL (Base is 3 in diameter) MEDIUM (Base is 4 in diameter) LARGE (Base is 5 in diameter) 11

11 TRAVELS THROUGH CHINA Ted Tanaka 12

12 WLABT MEMBERS ATTEND SFVHBT EVENTS FEATURING REV. PATTI NAKAI We extend our appreciation to San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple for inviting us to their District Mini-Seminar and their Eshinni-Kakushinni Service. Thank you to Rev. Patricia Usuki and SFVHBT member Roger Itaya for the photos. District Mini-Seminar (Saturday, October 1, 2011) Rev. Patti Nakai WLABT Visits SFVHBT (Sunday, October 2, 2011) 12a

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16 November 2011 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Bulletin folding toban: Buddhist Men 1 Rev. Usuki off 2 7:30 pm Service and board mtg 3 1 pm Study Class (E) 7:30 pm Taiko am Shotsuki hoyo :30 am Service and discussion Rev. Usuki off 10:30 am SDMA mtg at LA Betsuin 1 pm Study Class (E) 7 pm B-Men mtg 7:30 pm Taiko 5:30 pm SD BEC mtg, Gardena 7 pm SD Council svc/ mtg, Gardena 5:30 pm B-Men longevity dinner NO Sunday service 10 am Eitaikyo service Rev. Tetsunen Hirota (J) Rev. Fumiaki Usuki (E) Rev. Usuki off Rev. Usuki off 7:30 pm Asoka service and mtg 1 pm Study Class (E) 7:30 pm Taiko 7 pm Bingo :30 am Thanksgiving service 11 am Jr YBA class 12 pm 80+ lunch 11/23-27 (Wed - Sun): Temple closed 11 am BWA mtg 12 pm Matinee w/bwa Rev. Usuki off 27 (NO service) Temple closed 28 Rev. Usuki off 29 Rev. Usuki off 30 Office hours: 10 am - 4 pm Phone: westlabt@verizon.net Web site: 15

17 : : :30 10:30 / 1 7 7:30 5:30 SD BEC 7:00 SD council 5:30 13 NO :30 / : :30 Thanksgiving 11 Jr YBA ( - ): 11 BWA 27 (NO )

18 Tri-Temple Seminar & 2011 SDDSTL Conference Saturday, November 12, 2011 Back to Basics The Lost Art of Storytelling With Special Performance by Grateful Crane & Keynote Speaker Rev. Bob Oshita Hosted By Gardena Buddhist Church Dharma School Time: 9:30 am to 12:00 pm Location: Gardena Buddhist Church 1517 West 166 th Street Gardena, CA (310)

19 Tri Temple Seminar / 2011 SDDSTL Conference Saturday, November 12, :00 am to 12:00 pm Back to Basics The Lost Art of Storytelling Time Activity Location 9:00 9:30 Morning Refreshments 9:30 10:00 Opening Service Hondo 10:00 11:00 Performance by Hondo Grateful Crane 11:00 11:15 Break 11:15 12:00 Keynote Address by Hondo Rev Bob Oshita 12:00 1:15 Lunch Social Hall 1:15 2:15 Workshop I Social Hall 2:15 3:15 Workshop II Social Hall 3:15 4:00 Closing Service Hondo Options for Tri Temple Members Free Seminar $20.00 Reg fee for lunch and workshops WLABT is a Tri Temple member Registration not necessary if attending the morning session only (9:00 am to 12:00 pm) Registration Fee: $20.00 for optional lunch and afternoon workshops only Payable to: Gardena Buddhist Church Dharma School Registration Deadline: October 22, 2011 Registration via fax, , or regular mail to: Gardena Buddhist Church Dharma School 1517 West 166 th Street Gardena, CA Please provide the following information Name Temple Affiliation Phone: Phone: (310) Fax: (310) gbc.conf@gmail.com

20 Live Music & Japanese Children Songs! Grateful Crane Ensemble Soji Kashiwagi, Executive Producer p r e s e n t s Fun for the Entire Family! Featuring the telling of three classic Japanese Children s Stories: The Tortoise & The Hare Tanabata Momotaro: The Peach Boy Written by Soji Kashiwagi Directed by Darrell Kunitomi Musical Direction by Scott Nagatani Featuring Haruye Ioka Keiko Kawashima Kurt Kuniyoshi Helen H. Ota Michael C. Palma 2011 Southern District Dharma School Teachers Conference and Tri-Temple Seminar Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. Gardena Buddhist Church 1517 W 166th St., Gardena, CA, (310) GratefulCrane.com