THE GEPPO A publication of the Ogden Buddhist Temple 155 North Street Ogden, UT 84404 801/392-7132 P.O. Box 3248 Ogden, UT 84409 Temple President: Steve K. Supervising Reverend: Rev. Jerry Hirano Minister s Assistant: Annette K. Rev. Hirano contact info: Office 801-363-4742 Annette s Emergency Contact (omitted) Home 801-299-8727 Emergency 801-819-2648 Minister s Assistant: Geoffrey R. Web Site: www.slbuddhist.org/ogden Minister s Assistant: James A. Temple E-mail: ogdenbuddhisttemple@gmail.com Junior Minister Assistant: Charles A. Dance With My Mother Again By Minister s Assistant, Annette K. As a leaf falls from a tree and flutters to the ground, showing all sides of itself, front and back, So should you dance? Even though you are a congealed mass of greed, anger, stupidity, you should dance. Even though you are an enlightened saint, you should dance. Dance not for form, dance not for show, dance not for grace, dance not awkwardly to conceal your awkwardness, dance not for identity, dance not for Japaneseyness. Bon Odori is just a religious dance, which is to say it is Just dancing. Just as Amida Buddha accepts you sono mama Just as you are. For this we Just say the Nembutsu. Namo Amida Butsu. Obon, the Kangi-E, the Gathering of Joy calls us yet again to this world of just-ness, Thusness, as-it-is-ness. That is why we, Just Dance! Rev. Masao Kodani Rev. Hirano originally published this poem in the September/October 2011 issue of The GEPPO. I don t remember this being in The GEPPO, but even if it was, I think it is worth printing again. I really like what I feel it is saying. Our Obon has always been a fun time for me. I know it gets stressful with the planning, but the dancing has still been the joy of the night. I m one of the silly people that do believe in our ancestors coming back for a night of music, fun, food, and the dancing. I love that the very young are dancing with our more senior members and all are having a great time. Even when I was very new to all this I felt encouraged to get out and dance. This poem is so right, and so Buddhist just dance don t judge, don t show off, just dance. Be yourself, gather with friends and dance; find the joy in being happy just as you are. Buddha s nature is in everything around us, and just as the leaf falls from the tree to the ground it knows when to fall, how to fall, and takes its own sweet time doing it. We should really take the time to learn from all of nature, let go for even just a moment and not worry of what others may think and be free. I love to get people up from the chairs and help them with the movements. The best part of the night is when we have so many people moving around you can t see the circle anymore, just rows of people with laughter and high kicks. We have the best time! It does not matter that they have come to a dance practice or not, just dance! Minister s Assistant, Annette K. s Article ~ continued on the next page
The other part of our event is how we dress, I have a love hate thing going on with the Ukata, I would much rather just have the happi coat, but I want to dance with what Shiggie, my dear Mother-in-Law, would like to see me in. After all she is dancing with me, she never had the time to dance when she was alive. But, now she dances beside each of us all night long! So with Obon so close please join us and dance the night away, we only have friendly ghosts. I promise they will not scare you. PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Hello and I hope you are enjoying your start of summer. First of all I d like to thank everyone for their support during our June Church Rummage sale. Thanks to your donations and help, approximately $1000 was collected for the Church. You all know what s happening at the church in July Obon!!!. This year s Obon Odori Festival is July 19 th. Food sales will be held from 4:00 through 6:30pm, Taiko s first performance begins at 7:30 pm, and dancing begins at 8:00 pm. If you d like to brush-up on your dancing skills before the 19 th, Obon dance practice starts at the church Monday June 30 th, and again on July 2 nd, 7 th, 9 th, 11 th, 14 th and 16 th all beginning at 7:00pm. Obon, Hatsubon and July Shotsuki Hoyo service will be held at the Church on Sunday, July 20 th at 1:30 pm. Before service, gravesite visits will precede at the Syracuse cemetery at 10:30am, followed by Washington Heights at 11:00am, and concluding at the Ogden cemetery at 11:30 am. The BWA will serve lunch after the gravesite visits and prior to service. The Obon weekend requires a lot of effort so any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated. We ll have outside church clean-up the previous Sunday (13 July) at 8:00 am and Obon food preparation days will be July 17 th and 18 th beginning at 6:00 pm. If you have any questions regarding how you can help, contact Annette K., Ruth S. or myself. Unfortunately I have to mention that we have had some incidences of cars being broken into while in the church parking lot. Everyone please remember to lock your car doors while at the church. I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable summer and see you at Obon. In Gassho, Steven K. Lock Your Car Doors It is unfortunate, but we would like to remind you to lock your car doors! This is a good reminder to lock your doors, not only at church, but every time you leave your vehicle! It s always better to be safe than sorry! GEPPO Page 2
In Memory The Ogden Buddhist Temple Sangha extends its deepest sympathies to the families of the following members who recently ently passed away.. May the family members find solace and comfort ort in the Nembutsu. Namo Amida Butsu Dale Kano ~ May 30 th Misuko June Shimada ~ June 3 rd rd BWA DONATIONS (OMITTED FOR ONLINE VERSION) BWA 2014 Membership Suzan Yoshimura GEPPO - Page 3
DHARMA SCHOOL NEWS Dharma School celebrated our April, May, June, and July birthdays recently! Happy Birthday to Bryson H., Charles A., Marlane H., and Kobe H.! CONGRATULATIONS to MADISON Y.! She was the ONLY Dharma School student to obtain our PERFECT ATTENDANCE Award this year! WAY TO GO MADISON! Dharma School News ~ Continued on next page. GEPPO Page 4
At this years Hatsu Mairi celebration, three babies were presented before our Sangha! WELCOME to JayLyn S. R. ~ parents Jason & Jaclyn R. Aida K. C. ~ parents Trapper & Lindsay C. and Gavin T. E. ~ parents Tim & Jamie E. and big sister Miya! Congratulations! We hope to see you at Dharma School soon! Dharma School Donations (OMITTED FOR ONLINE VERSION) Special donation made to the Junior YBA: (OMITTED FOR ONLINE VERSION) GEPPO Page 5
It s that time of year already! \ OBON DANCE PRACTICE SCHEDULE 7:00 p.m. Monday & Wednesday, June 30, July 2 Monday, Wednesday & Friday, July 7, 9, 11 Monday & Wednesday, July 14, 16 OBON Sunday, July 20, 2014 Cemetery Service Schedule: 10:30 a.m. Syracuse 11:00 a.m. Washington Terrace 11:30 a.m. Ogden 12:00 Otoki Lunch 1:30 p.m. Obon / Hatsubon Service July Shotsuki Hoyo This special service is held on the Sunday following the Obon Festival. This memorial service is held in dedication and gratitude for all the members of our Sangha who have died over the previous year. Its basis is the same as our Obon Festival. Kangi-E is the name used traditionally in our Jodo Shinshu Tradition. This name represents the joy we feel for Amida Buddha's vow to save all sentient beings and the joy in knowing our deceased Sangha members are likewise embraced in that compassion. GEPPO Page 6
July Shotsuki Hoyo July 20, 2014 ~ 1:30 p.m. July Shotsuki Hoyo Obon and Hatsubon Memorial Service July 20, 2014 ~ 1:30 p.m. July 21 July 7 July 22 July 17 July 10 July 5 July 3 July 3 July 28 July 12 July 6 July 20 July 1 July 1 July 30 July 14 July 25 July 7 July 3 July 8 July 30 July 23 July 10 July 22 July 17 2012 Ryuji Dick Hirasuna 1990 Bessie Toki Hokoda 1995 Mito Imaizumi 1961 Kantaro Inouye 1977 Kinshiro Itakura 1984 Yuki Kawashima 1982 Reiko Koga 1982 Shigeru Sam Matsumura 1986 Taki Mayeda 1977 Manji Miya 1977 Kichiro Morimoto 1965 Monkichi Murakami 1995 Sam Sunao Nagata 1977 Bukatsu Nakahara 2010 Jack Nisogi 1991 Tome Sakiyama 2004 Emma Yayoi Stewart 1971 Heibei Sugimoto 1984 John N. Takabayashi 1982 Tome Taura 1999 Minoru Watanabe 2005 Lily Watari 2007 Tomio Yamada 1986 Hiroshi Yamasaki 2004 Seiichi Yei This memorial service is held in dedication and gratitude for all the members of our Sangha who have died over the previous year. Hatsubon observance will be held for the following members: Roy Endo Toddy Sameshima Miyuki Nakano Jayden Endo Hisaye Shiki Ted Yamada Hisano Higashiyama Debbie Yoshimura Dale Kano Misuko June Shimada AUGUST Shotsuki Hoyo will be observed in September 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: 363-4742, Home: 299-8727, Emergency: 819-2648. Corrections/Additions to the Shotsuki Hoyo list, please contact Ruth S., (Omitted for online version) GEPPO Page 7
GEPPO Page 8
July, 2014 Toban Cleaning Group: GEPPO Page 12
August, 2014 Toban Cleaning Group: GEPPO Page 13
OBON MEMORIAL LANTERNS The Ogden Buddhist Church is selling Memorial Lanterns for our OBON Festival. You can purchase a lantern in the name of family or friends that are no longer with us. Your lantern will be personalized with their name and hung on the Yagura during the OBON Festival. This is a great way to pay tribute to your ancestors and to watch them just dance right alongside of you! OBON MEMORIAL LANTERNS ORDER FORM You can purchase a lantern to honor a friend or family member that has passed away. The lantern will be personalized and hung from the Yagura during the OBON Festival. You will be given the lantern at the completion of OBON. YOUR NAME: TOTAL AMOUNT DUE $ In MEMORY of: (please PRINT first and last names below) Lanterns are $5.00 per name. Please fill out this form and return it to Ellen K. or any board member. You can also mail this form with your payment to: Ogden Buddhist Church P.O. Box 3248 Ogden, UT 84409 GEPPO Page 14