WHEEL OF DHARMA - Buddhist Churches of America

WHEEL
OF DHARMA
Official Publication of the Buddhist Churches of America
1710 Octavia Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
VOLUME 37 OCTOBER 2011 Executive Committee
Message
By Susan Bottari,
BCA Vice President,
San Mateo Buddhist Temple
I
n early August, 2011,
Rev. Ryuta Furumoto
and I were fortunate and
privileged to escort the BCA
delegates to the Young Buddhists International Cultural
Study Exchange (YBISCE) at
the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha in Kyoto, Japan.
This cultural study exchange also included Jodo
Shinshu youth/young adults
from Japan, Canada, Brazil
and Hawaii. As you might
expect very few participants
within and/or outside of the
various districts (countries or
states) knew each other prior
to the event but, in what
seemed like an instant, they
all bonded together.
The common bond was
that they were all Jodo Shinshu Buddhists. Despite language barriers, each participant chanted the same
sutras/gathas - Shonshinge,
Sanbutsuge and Juseige as
the meaning and significance
behind each was the same in
whatever language was spoken
It was encouraging to see
how these youths/young
adults interacted. I am sure
many of you, as parents, often wonder how much your
children learned in Dharma
School. What I realized from
being with the YBISCE participants is that they did
learn “something.” They
may not necessarily be able
to quote the Six Paramitas
verbatim, but through their
actions, they demonstrated
the essence of each of the
Paramitas. For example – all
of the BCA participants were
always on time to services, to
meals, etc. - they worked together and made every effort
to ensure they were all on
time. Do you know what
Paramita this example refers
to?
The bond of being Jodo
Shinshu is prevalent within
these young adults although
they may not realize it. As an
organization we should create and provide additional
programs so they can continue to learn and experience
the Jodo Shinshu teachings.
We certainly cannot predict
the future, but today’s youth
could very well be tomorrow’s leaders and it is our
“duty” to provide them with
the tools (classes, seminars,
conferences, retreats) to further their understanding.
They are eager to learn as
much as they can; they are
like sponges, absorbing all
that their minds can hold.
We should also develop
programs that cross districts
to include our Dharma
friends in Japan, Hawaii,
Canada and Brazil. I feel that
interacting with other Jodo
Shinshu youths/young adults
outside United States is another important aspect to
understanding themselves as
Jodo Shinshu.
My hope is that each of
you reading this article will
support our youth programs
whether locally, nationally or
globally. These youth/young
adults could potentially be
the future of the BCA and
Jodo Shinshu in America.
May Peace and
Tranquility
Prevail Throughout
the World
ISSUE 10
“What are you humans doing?”
Sermon on 9-11-2011 delivered by Socho Koshin
Ogui at the Gardena Buddhist Church (Summarized
and condensed as heard by Rev. Marvin Harada)
L
ast night I
had a strange
dream. In
my dream, an injured, dying horse
was speaking to
me. This horse had
been injured by a
bomb in a war, and
it was dying. It was
looking at me with
its big brown eyes.
It said to me,
“What are you humans doing?” His
eyes were wet with
tears.
When I woke
up, I thought about the dream that I had. It was a strange
dream, but then I remembered when I was about five years
old, our village in Japan was bombed. Our village in Japan
was also called “Ogui”, and I can still remember the deep,
rumbling sound of the B-29 American bombers. My temple
was burned to the ground, and about 1/3 of our members
were killed in the bombing. I also remember that many of the
farm horses that did a lot of the hard labor for the farmers
were also killed in the bombing. I remember seeing those
dying horses as a child.
Just last night, before I went to sleep, I watched the tv
shows about the tragic 9-11 events of ten years ago. I think
that the thoughts of the 9-11 tragedy somehow merged with
my memories of World War II and my childhood.
Horses have really big eyes. With its big eye looking directly at me, wet with tears, this horse in my dreams was
speaking to me. It kept saying over and over again, “What are
you humans doing?”
No one wins in war. Some people think that there are
winners and losers in war, but both sides lose in war. There is
no winner. Both sides suffer death and destruction. War is
ugly and cruel.
Do not let anyone ever tell you that there is such a thing
as a “holy war.” There is no holy war. During the 9-11 tragedy, we often heard the expression, “God Bless America.”
But what kind of God blesses only one country and not others? It should be God blesses the world, shouldn’t it?
The words of Honen Shonin come to mind. Honen
Shonin was the teacher of Shinran Shonin, the founder of
Shin Buddhism. Honen’s father was killed, but in his dying
moments, Honen was at his father’s side and said, “I will take
revenge and get the guy that did this to you.” Honen’s father,
however, pleaded with his son and said, “No. Do not take
revenge. If you kill the man who killed me, then that man’s
son will take revenge and will kill you. Instead, enter the path
of peace, the path of Buddhism.”
We, Americans, were glad to kill Osama Bin Laden, who
was considered to be the head of the Al Queda group. As a
result of our action, we now live in fear of revenge. Our politicians must investigate the reason and cause for the attacks
on 9-11. In seeking out the reason and cause, they must reContinued on Page 6
YBICSE Report
By Brandon Yanari,
Palo Alto Buddhist Temple
T
en BCA participants. Nine days.
One amazing experience. Countless memories. These all describe
what has come to be one of the most educational and culturally enriching trips that
I have ever been on, thanks to YBICSE.
I applied to the Young Buddhist International Cultural Studies Exchange aka
YBICSE, where they selected BCA youth
from the West to the East Coast to send to
Japan and stay in Kyoto in order to learn
about Buddhism and experience Japanese
culture first hand.
As the date to leave for Japan got closer,
I was really excited because I had heard
much about the interesting fashion, delicious food, and beautiful scenery, temples,
and buildings to see there. I was also happy
to be going with friends that I had met
from Jr. YBA, as well as our advisors, Susan
Bottari and Rev. Furumoto from San Mateo. However in my state of anticipation, I
also had questions and concerns about Japan as well. I had never been to Japan before, so I was concerned about how much
Japanese I needed to know, since all I
knew at the time was “Nihongo wa wakarimasen” (I do not understand Japanese). I
also wondered how services were conducted – was it true that they chanted Sho Shin
Ge everyday? And at some ridiculous
morning hour? I was also curious about
how Japan was affected by the tsunami,
earthquake, and nuclear power meltdowns
that occurred over the past few months.
Thus, I was eager to visit Japan, interested
Front row, left to right: Curtis Koyama (BCA), Rev. Kentaro Sugao (SA), Rev. Ryuta Furumoto (BCA), Monshu Ohtani Koshin, Governor Kuson Takeda, Rev. Tatsuya Aoki (JSBTC), Rev. Ryoshin Shirakawa. Second row: Anderson Takayuki Miyamoto (SA), Teryn
Hara (BCA), Emma Maron (BCA), Joceline Vu (BCA), Charlotte Ikuta (JSBTC), Paul
Noguchi (BCA), Asa Kariya (JSBTC), Brandon Yanari (BCA), Lisa Sakamoto (JSBTC),
Adam Taguchi (JSBTC). Third row: Ana Teresa Lopes Marra De Souza (SA), T.J. Nagao
(JSBTC), Kyle Gilbert (BCA), Matthew Miyake (BCA), Hitomi Silver (BCA), Marissa
Kawasaki (BCA), Dylan Ikuta (BCA), Wagner Hideki Moriai (SA), Fernando Katsuyoshi
Hoshida (SA). Fourth row: Rev. Kyoya Imai, Rev. Gene Sekiya, Rev. Osamu Nanjo, Mrs.
Susan Bottari, Ms. Joanne Yuasa.
about how it would be, and a little nervous
as well.
The day arrived for when I would begin my Japan adventure, and the BCA kids
all met up at SFO Airport with our respective families, where most people did not
know each other. Little did we know that
this program would bring everyone so
close. At this point, we had no idea that we
were in for the trip of a lifetime.
After landing in Japan, we were met by
our kind host, led to a bus, and taken to
Owariya Ryokan, and instantly given
omiyage, including a very nice happi coat
to use for the Nishi Hongwanji’s Obon. It
was as if right after our first steps in Japan,
we were already beginning to witness Japanese politeness first hand. Now obviously,
the first thing we were thinking about was
of course, food, so our first meal consisted
of ramen, yakimeshi, and karaage. Before,
Continued on Page 6
PAGE 2 WHEEL OF DHARMA
By Rev. Hiroshi Abiko, Rinban
Los Angelese Hompa Hongwanji
Buddhist Temple
E
very now and then, a tall,
well built man, alone, came
to the temple, sat toward
front-center of the Hondo. Occasionally gazing at central figure in
the Gokuden, he was reading Oshoshinge to himself. As I approached
him, it seemed he wanted to capture
the gist of the text.
We conversed for hours, much
of the morning. Not only did he
recall each line of Oshoshinge fondly, he furthermore, recited lines
from Tannisho. I enjoyed those
hours of exchange for it was rare to
meet a person who was so intent on
grasping the heart of Shin Buddhism. After he left, I learned that
he was one time a fast-ball sensation
from Japan, played for Yankees,
Hideki Irabu. That was about a
year ago, and just the other day, I
learned that he committed suicide
at his home in Palos Verdes. Apparently, alienated from all, he was not
able to find way out from severe
depression. I still regret from not
having been more helpful with
him.
Alienation
As a result, some issues have
kept me pre-occupied these days
and they are: Why does one think
and feel alienated? Who and what
does one feel alienated from? And,
what to do about it?
Alienation has been a recognized problem throughout the
world for some time, affecting everyone to some degree. Despite
studies and attempts to resist the
spread, more people find themselves being alienated, finding difficulties in resisting various social
forces that make people feel they
are isolated and withdraw from
personal interaction. Our parent
temple in Kyoto has long been
aware of this problem and have established an office with professional
staff devoted to resisting the escalation. But, the suicide rate which
began with alienation continues to
rise, even in Confucian society such
as Japan where family values are
outstanding. So what are these
global forces that make us alienated
and feel separate from?
Most glaring one is the consumerism. Signs, messages surround all of us with “if you want to
be happy, buy this.” Influenced by
this seductive promise, one buys it,
and remain unhappy. Buddha’s
teaching of dukkha precisely points
out that it is always the next thing I
desire and buy that should make
me happy. Consumerism does not
necessarily imply alienation, but it
does trigger one to be separate from
others, deepening delusion to think
“I have more and better things than
others.”
The new and newer technolo-
OCTOBER 2011
gies also make us alienated. We
spend far less time to interact with
others so that we have more time
for living in a private cocoon with
TV, computer, cell phone, etc.,
isolating ourselves from actual and
living beings. As the world continues on its track on technological
advancements, the result is certain
to be that of polarization to either
hyper-individualism or deep depression. In both cases, withdrawal
from active relationship with other
people will be the effect and will see
more people alienated.
Thich Nhat Hanh, the wellknown Vietnamese monk said,
“We are here to awaken from the
illusion of our separateness.” That
the line drawn between the self
from the other is an illusion and
Continued on Page 6
The BCABookstore News
By Gayle Noguchi
N
ew release at the BCA Bookstore:
The Buddhist Education Committee of the Orange County Buddhist
Church has released their latest publication
– the reprinting of “The Hands and Feet of
the Heart” (paperback, list $10). This is the
amazing life story of Hisako Nakamura as
told in her own words.
Born in 1897 in Takayama City, Japan,
Hisako Nakamura lost both hands and both
feet when she was three years old due to
complications from frostbite. Reverend
Bunyu Fujimura compiled selected parts of
her own writings and articles she wrote
throughout her life and edited them to form
this book. Reverend Kodo Umezu, Director
of the Center for Buddhist Education,
recounts in the foreword message his
memorable first meeting with Hisako
Nakamura when he was a child. Former
Bishop and Minister Emeritus Reverend Dr.
Seigen Yamaoka express words of appreciation.
Readers will be moved by the unimaginable hardships she endured and overcame
and inspired by her realization of the all
embracing compassion of Amida. The book
is filled with photographs showing the
beautiful calligraphy she wrote, the intricate
dolls and kimonos she sewed, the hats and
doilies she crocheted, and the Sumie
painting she created. She also reveals how
she managed the tasks of daily living that we
take for granted. With the assistance of her
husband and daughter, Hisako Nakamura
made many speaking engagements to share
her story. This book not only provides
insights into her extraordinary life, but will
also help readers to see their own lives
differently.
Also available at the BCA Bookstore:
“Dharma Talks” by Sensei Craig Horton
(edited &
compiled by
Stefan J.
Padfield,
paperback list
$21.95). This
book
contains
excerpts from
dharma talks
delivered by
Cleveland Buddhist Temple Minister
Assistant Craig Horton. He shares his
reflections on the dharma, practice, and the
nembutsu path. Each reflection is accompanied by beautiful photographs of nature
taken by Tim Averre. The book concludes
with The Bodhisattva’s Vow and the Heart
Sutra. Horton Sensei’s clear, poignant
thoughts remind readers that our constant
striving and struggling is unnecessary. With
each of his reflections we realize that
Southern District Tees It
Up for Campaign BCA!
awakening is simple, but not easy.
To order these books, go to www.
bcabookstore.com or contact Gayle Noguchi
at [email protected], phone (510)
809-1435. The BCA Bookstore is open
Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
We gratefully acknowledge
contributions to
the Wheel of Dharma
by the following donors:
Buddhist Church of San Francisco BWA ...... $200
Hoseki Design, San Jose ............................. $50
By Steve Ishii, Golf Tournament Chair
O
n Aug. 22, 80 golfers and 19 volunteers gathered together at the
beautiful Tustin Ranch Golf Club in Southern California for a fun
day of friendship and golf. The purpose of the event was to raise
funds in support of Campaign BCA – The 21st Century.
The Honorary Chair for the event was Socho Koshin Ogui, Bishop of the
Buddhist Churches of America, who also golfed in the event. Through the
collaborative efforts of the 15 temples of the Southern District Council, we
were successful in raising funds for the campaign, and also providing a “fun”
event for the participants. Many commented on how much they enjoyed
participating in the tournament.
There are many people to thank for making this a successful event. This
includes our golfers, sponsors, prize donors, committee members and volunteers. We couldn’t have done it without their support! Thank You So Much!
Namu Amida Butsu.
For more photos of the Southern District Golf Tournament, go to:
http://bcasdgolftournament.shutterfly.com
Donors (Silent Auction,
Raffle Prize, Event Donations)
Wheel of Dharma
(USPS 017-700)
Official Publication of the Buddhist Churches of America
Rev. Kojima, Jeff Folick, Socho Koshin Ogui, Rev. Marvin Harada.
1710 Octavia Street
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Tel.: (415) 776-5600
Fax: (415) 771-6293
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WHEEL OF DHARMA POLICY
HARDCOPY PUBLICATION LICENSE:
AKI Restaurant
BCI
Barry Bridge
Cherrystones
Jeff and Namy Folick
Nancy Fujii
Rev. Marvin Harada
Chris Hirata
Akira Hirose
Darcie Kameda
Steve & Joanne Ishii
JANM
Keith and Noreen Kamimura
Gerald Kato
Alan & Dawn Kita
Mick Kubota
Richard Kunisaki
Mitsuyoshi Restaurant
Alan Miya
Rev. Akio Miyaji
John Murakami
Tatsushi Nakamura
Dale Noriyuki
Sharon Ogomori
OCBC
Rainbow Golf
Sakura Restaurant
Sanyo Foods Corporation
Senshin Buddhist Temple
SDDSTL Hongwanji Place
Kent Suzuki
Minoru Suzuki
Nancy Tamehiro
Brian & Seiko Tamura
Debbie Tennyson
Tustin Ranch Golf Club
Jim Usui
Venice Buddhist Temple
Tom Yamaguchi
Irene and Louie Yamanishi
Authors who submit articles for publication in the Wheel of Dharma (“WOD”)
thereby grant WOD a royalty-free non-exclusive paid up license, worldwide, in
perpetuity and in all media (the “License”) to use, edit and republish the
article(s) and to grant sublicenses to any 3rd party to do so on the same terms.
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English Editor: Rev. Ron Kobata
Japanese Editor: Rev. Kodo Umezu
Print Production: Jeffrey Kimoto
OCTOBER 2011 WHEEL OF DHARMA
PAGE 3
October 2011・News and Highlights
Minister’s Assistant Program MAP III
The newest group of the Minister’s Assistant Program, MAP III, met for the second
time from September 8-11. Sessions were conducted by Rev. Harry Bridge, Rev. Kodo
Umezu, and Sensei Roy Mayhugh. An interesting collaboration occurred when the
BCA Budget Committee, which was meeting at the Jodo Shinshu Center at the same
time, sat in on a session. No one can better sum up what was learned than the attendees
themselves. Below and to the right are comments by four minister’s assistants.
I truly appreciate the knowledge that Rev. Bridge has regarding the topics
discussed during this session (Buddhism 101). Although I have been mostly
exposed to our sect of Buddhism, I always find it helpful to review the different schools of Buddhism and the ways in which they are similar and how they
differ. – Candice Shibata, Stockton
The best thing I heard today was from Harry Bridge: “RESPECT DIVERSITY.”
You might not agree with something or someone’s beliefs, but at the very
least, you respect it. – Fred Pelger, Tacoma
. . . Though we are separated by many miles, we are not alone in our Grand
Task of keeping Jodo Shinshu a vital and important stream of Buddhism in
America. Bringing us together for these sessions, services, and dinners creates a broader Dharma family, plants the seed that connects our Temples and
our ideas, and defines our mission. The people I met this weekend I will be
with for many years, growing together in our deeper understanding of Amida
Buddha. – Jefferson Workman, Spokane
Photos: (Left) Sensei Roy Mayhugh (far left) observes as the minister’s assistants brainstorm.
(Below) MAP III attendees conduct a service in the JSC Kodo.
Today’s classes led by Sensei Roy Mayhugh were a good lesson learned. In
three separate sessions, we were given three separate questions: What are
the good things that that we have accomplished? What are the things that we
have struggled with? What can we do for a brighter future? . . . It was interesting to have the Budget Committee join our class so we could present our
ideas to them. And it was even more interesting to find out that some of our
ideas were already being worked on or almost completed. It’s good to know in
some cases we were on the same page. – Karen Mukai, Fowler
MAs and MAs
During the MAP III seminar, eight Ryukoku University M.A. students were at the
Jodo Shinshu Center studying the American Buddhist movement. This accidental
encounter of “MAs” from the USA and “MAs” from Japan turned into a great
meeting of two groups, who were able to learn from each other. The Ryukoku
students were very impressed with our programs and decided to take some ideas
back to their home temples in Japan. This is a fortunate byproduct of having the
JSC as an educational hub. For a picture of the entire group of MAs, please see the
photo in the Japanese section of this newsletter.
EARTHQUAKE IN SIKKIM
On Sunday, September 18, a 6.8 earthquake occurred in Sikkim, India, the hometown
of Reverend Sonam Wangdi Bhutia of the Kathmandu Hongwanji in Nepal. We wish to
express our sincere condolences to all the people who were affected by this disaster.
A few days after the quake, we were happy to receive the following email:
… Thank you very much for the email and concern for worrying about my sangha and
relatives. My sangha and all the relatives are safe and fine. Please do not worry. We
all are doing well and enjoying Dharma talks and discussion. Well, please convey my
warm regards to Rev. Umezu Sensei and all the CBE group.
In Gassho, Namo Amitabha Buddha.
Sonam Wangdi
CBE Calendar of Events (October 2011-January 2012)
October 14-16: College YBA Conference at the Jodo Shinshu Center
October 20-23: Minister’s Assistant Program (MAP I)
October 25-27: Ministers’ Continuing Education Seminar
November 12: Japanese Seminar
December 2: BCA National Board Meeting “Dharma Happy Hour”
January 9-19, 2012: CBE Educational Japan Tour
Programming subject to change: check the CBE website for more details
CBE Educational Tours to Japan in 2012*
A - January 9 - 19, 2012
Re-trace Shinran Shonin’s footsteps and
attend the last two days of the series of events that began last April for Shinran Shonin’s 750th Memorial Observances. Shinran Shonin’s actual 750th
memorial date is January 16, 2012. There will be many services going on
while we are in Kyoto, so you can experience a true Hoonko Service. This
opportunity will not be repeated for another 50 years.
B - March 29 - April 10, 2012
Step back into history as we visit
Kagoshima. We will visit sites of the “Kakure Nembutsu” underground movement from the samurai era when the Nembutsu teaching was banned, and
peace memorials and other sites at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We will spend
four days in Kyoto and attend “751st” Shinran Shonin memorial services on
April 8 at the Nishi Hongwanji.
If you are interested in these tours, please contact Judy Kono at
510.809.1460, or by email at [email protected], or Mieko Ogata of JTB at
415.986.4764, or by email at [email protected].
*These two tours were originally planned for April, 2011 but had to be rescheduled
due to the East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011.
CBE Programs Outside of the JSC Rev. Kodo Umezu, CBE Director
I often hear from members that they want to see more programs in their local areas. I
understand their feelings and appreciate their positive comments about CBE programs.
It is our desire, too, that more people throughout the country hear the nembutsu
teaching by attending services, events, and special programs. What the CBE is trying
to do is first, to help nurture future leaders who can go back to their temples or
churches and communities and help develop more programs, and second, to sponsor
workshops and seminars for various groups both within the BCA and among other
Buddhist organizations.
We are now going into the fourth year of Generation Y “TechnoBuddha” Conferences. Since we started this program, more young adults have begun showing interest
in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism for their spiritual guidance. Just last month, the Venice
Young Adult Buddhist Association (YABA) hosted their first conference in the
Southern District (please see the article “Twenty-First Century Jodo Shinshu” elsewhere in this newsletter). Another outcome of our programs is that the Central California District Council Vision and Preservation Committee has started its own Baby
Boomers’ Seminar.
Three years ago, we sponsored a public event at the Buddhist Church of Florin
entitled “Perspectives on Buddhism & Social Issues: Seeking Guidance in the Buddha-Dharma.” It was very well attended and appreciated. This coming January, the
Institute of Buddhist Studies and CBE are going to present the Winter Pacific Seminar - 21st Century in Los Angeles. We would like to invite people in the area to come
out and join us. (Please see the announcement below for more details.)
In this confused world, more and more people are looking into Jodo Shinshu Buddhism for guidance. Let us all take refuge in the Immeasurable Light (Wisdom) and
Life (Compassion) so that we can truly live our lives to the fullest.
In gassho.
Coming Saturday, January 28, 2012
Winter Pacific Seminar 21st Century
“Life of Shinjin”
at the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple (Nishi Betsuin)
815 East First Street, Los Angeles, California
Co-sponsored by the Institute of Buddhist Studies and Center for Buddhist Education
Hosted by the BCA Southern District Ministers’ Association
Rev. Dr. David Matsumoto, keynote speaker
with Rev. Yushi Mukojima, Rev. Patricia Usuki,
Rev. Henry Adams, and others TBA
We will explore the Life of Shinjin through group and panel discussions
and a Horaku workshop including chanting, haiku, and Buddhist
etiquette. Event is from 9 am – 5 pm. Registration donation of $20
includes lunch. Deadline is January 15, 2012.
Please make checks payable to CBE and mail to the address below.
Center for Buddhist Education 2140 Durant Avenue Berkeley, CA 94704 www.BuddhistChurchesofAmerica.org E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 510.809.1460
PAGE 4 WHEEL OF DHARMA
“And Having Received the Teachings and
Rejoicing in the Teachings, What Can I Do Now?”
By Jeanette Arakawa,
BCA FBWA
Secretary General,
Palo Alto Buddhist Temple
T
he Honorable Lady
Otani, ministers,
special guests,
delegates and friends:
Before I give my
presentation, on behalf of
the BCA FBWA, I would
like to express our deepest
sorrow for the devastation
which has struck Japan.
The tragic loss of life, limb
and home of so many as a
result of the Earthquake/
tsunami and nuclear
accident touches each one
of us very deeply. It is a
heartbreaking reminder of
the truth of impermanence
as well as a profound
lesson on interdependence
and interconnectedness.
Although mired in such
tragedy, the Japanese
people have exhibited
unprecedented calm,
cooperation and kindness
towards each other. The
world is watching in awe
and sees the Japanese as
people to admire and
emulate. Although there is
seemingly insurmountable
work to be done to return
to normalcy, the world has
every confidence that
Japan will rise magnificently from the rubble and
emerge as a guiding light
of compassion for all of
humanity. Namu Amida
Butsu.”
I was not born into a
Jodo Shinshu family. The
first Buddhist service I ever
attended was when I was
interned in a camp in
Rohwer, Arkansas during
World War II. The
minister, Rev. Enryo
Unno, father of Reverends
Taitetsu and Tetsuo Unno,
spoke in Japanese. What I
understood and remember
of his sermon was that
listening to the Dharma
was important. And when I
held my hands in Gassho,
if my fingers were splayed,
the Dharma was leaking,
and if my palms were not
touching each other, my
mind was elsewhere. I still
find myself occasionally
checking to see if I am
listening properly.
When my family
returned to San Francisco
after the war, I spent much
of my free time at the San
Francisco Buddhist
Church. It was a social hub
for Japanese American
teenagers. In order to play
basketball, I was required
to be a member of the Jr.
YBA. and attend Sunday
services. Rev. Sanada
delivered his sermons in
Japanese. I understood
little of his message. But he
was a kind man and that
shone through.
While a college student
it was my extreme good
fortune to meet and
eventually marry Kiyoto
Arakawa, a man who had
come from a devout Jodo
Shinshu family. When we
settled in Palo Alto,
California, we joined the
Palo Alto Buddhist
Temple.
When I enrolled our
son in Dharma School, I
was recruited as a teacher. I
then began to study
Buddhism in earnest, in
order to stay ahead of my
students. One of the major
problems I faced, was that
few ministers were English-
speaking and Shin Buddhist literature was not
readily available. One of
the first books on Shin
Buddhism I ever read was
entitled “The Awareness of
Self,” by Haguri, Gyodo
and translated by Rev.
William T. Masuda, one of
the young pioneer ministers who were born in the
United States. In the years
since then, many more
English speaking men and
women have dedicated
their lives to spreading the
Nembutsu teaching in the
United States, from Japan
as well as from America.
Many other books have
since become available in
English, including “Kyo
Gyo Shin Sho,” and most
recently, the Gomonshu’s
“Buddha’s Wish for the
World,” written in lay
terms and a wonderful
guide to everyday living.
Today, however, in
addition to holding a book
in one’s hand, one can be
connected to written as
well as video messages over
the internet. On YouTube,
under Jodo Shinshu
Buddhism Sermons, a
person can find “Ordinary
People and Spiritual
Liberation,” a Dharma
Talk by the Gomonshu,
then share this by email or
post the link on Facebook.
I am told that Facebook
can be an incredibly
inexpensive and efficient
way of communicating
with many people at one
time and spread the
Dharma unhindered by
geography or social
boundaries.
However, not everyone
has the skills to do this.
But most of the younger
members of our Sanghas
do. Perhaps we can enlist
the aid of our young
people to help us learn. It
may be a way to bring
them into the BWA fold.
But the importance of
personal contact cannot be
minimized. We are witness
to this as we meet in our
individual temples and
interact with our Sanghas
and ministers as well as
when we are gathered, as
we are today, with fellow
Nembutsu followers from
around the world.
The World BWA is the
only lay World Jodo
Shinshu organization in
the World. Wouldn’t it be
wonderful if we invited
other organizations within
our Sanghas to our conventions? We could have
programs focused on
Dharma School Teachers,
youth, and men as well as
on women and plenary
sessions for all. Women
would be providing an
opportunity for everyone
to listen to the Dharma in
an intercultural, intergenerational and intergender
setting.
In summary, I am
deeply grateful to all who
have enabled me to listen
to the Dharma by various
means over the past 50 or
so years. My wish is for
others to be similarly
enabled to listen to the
Dharma, as it continues to
reveal itself in so many
new and different ways.
Thank you, too, to all who
have enabled me and
permitted me to share my
thoughts with you today.
Namo Amida Butsu.
Venice Hongwanji
YABA and Jodo
Shinshu in the
21st Century
By Amy Umezu
Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
The Venice Young Adult Buddhist
Association (YABA) hosted on Sept.
10, its first (hopefully annual) YABA
Seminar at the Venice Hongwanji
Buddhist Temple. The theme of the
seminar was “21st Century Jodo Shin-
shu.”
Seventeen young adults between
the ages of 21 and 35 years gathered to
listen to a keynote Dharma talk by
Rev. Kurt Rye (Fresno Betsuin). Attendees then split up into discussion
groups moderated by Rev. John Iwohara (Venice Hongwanji) and Rev.
Rye.
OCTOBER 2011
Racist Words We
Should Avoid
By Rev. Carol
Myokei Himaka
Enmanji Buddhist Temple
I
was recently at a Bay
District
Buddhist
Women’s Association
Meeting and noticed something that probably did not
catch the attention of many
there. It happened so fast
that if anyone would ask
those in attendance if anything out of the ordinary happened
they would probably not be able to tell you that they noticed
anything. What I’m talking about is the casual use of the
term ‘hakujin.’ While many may not feel that this warrants
the determination of a ‘racist’ term, if we think about it for
a moment it really should be purged from our conversation
within the Buddhist community of the Buddhist Churches
of America.
The term itself seems innocuous and innocent, after all it
just is a descriptive term for people who are Caucasian - they
are racially identified as ‘white,’ therefore, the term ‘hakujin’
literally means, ‘white person.’ It was used very much by the
Japanese early immigrants and has been incorporated by
their descendents as a causal identifier to easily convey what
“kind” of person someone is referring to. But all that – the
need to identify a different “kind” of person – isn’t that basically what is behind the harmful hurt that we also feel when
racists terms like ‘Jap’ are used by people and the media?
Language is a powerful tool. The use of language as a
tool to separate and differentiate oneself from others can be
seen in history. If it used exclusively by any one group it can
become as impermeable and as physical as a stone wall and
any attempt by “outsiders” to reach through can be perceived
by those who use such language as an invasion of their world.
The most incredible term applied to Japanese-Americans
born in the United States during WWII was “Non-Alien.”
This term was used by the United States to differentiate
those that they knew full-well to be legal “Citizens” of the
United States from other U.S. Citizens. Somehow it made it
easier to “process” these “different” people during WWII
and place them into concentration camps. The government
probably came up with the “Non-Alien” category in order to
avoid the use of ‘American Citizen’ since the term ‘Japanese’
would not include the descendents of such people.
Words do matter.
To continue to use - even casually - the term ‘hakujin’ is
insulting to our non-Asian Buddhist members. It continues
to emphasize that a separation exists between them and ‘us’
Continued on Page 6
BUDDHIST TEMPLE OF MARIN
EDUCATIONAL EVENTS
Introduction To Buddhism Series
With Rev. Carol Himaka
Thursdays, 7:30 – 9:30 pm, Free
Oct. 6: Dharma – The basic teachings
Oct. 13: Sangha – History of the Buddha’s
original followers
Rev. Carol Himaka is resident minister at
Enmanji Buddhist Temple, Sebastopol and is an
instructor for the correspondence course, Jodo
Shinshu, Level 1, from the Jodo Shinshu Center.
After the discussion, everyone participated in icebreaker games and had
a choice of two out of three workshops:
wonton making, Buddhist Resources
Outside the Temple, and a discussion
on “21st Century Jodo Shinshu” led
by Rev. Rye. It was a very enjoyable
and successful event of listening to the
Dharma with old and new friends.
SAVE THE DATE:
2012 BCA NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING
SACRAMENTO, CA. FEB. 22, 2012
JSC Fundraiser golf tournament Feb. 23; Ministers Association General Meeting, Feb. 24-25;
National Council meeting followed by Eitaikyo Service and closing banquet on Feb. 25.
On-going weekly activities*
Tuesdays
Yoga
Meditation
9:30 – 10:45 am
7:30 – 8:30 pm
Wednesdays
Yoga
6:00 – 7:15 pm
*check website for cancellations
Buddhist Temple of Marin
390 Miller Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Phone: (415) 388-1173
www.buddhisttempleofmarin.org
OCTOBER 2011 BCA Minister’s Assistants
Surpasses 100 Mark
WHEEL OF DHARMA
Saint Shinran
We realize true gratitude when we are awakened to the fact that
the foolish being who fails in being compassionate is the very object
of Buddha’s compassion. —Rev. Ken Tanaka
By Gary Gach
T
Rev. Marvin Harada, Cyndi Yasaki, Kory Quon, Socho Koshin Ogui.
O
n Sept. 11, Socho Koshin Ogui officially recognized and
certified Mr. Antoku Kory Quon as a Minister’s Assistant for the Gardena Buddhist Church in a special
ceremony held at the Gardena Buddhist Church.
Under the guidance of the late Rev. Hosho Shindo, and
current Supervising and Mentoring Minister, Rev. Marvin
Harada, Kory became the 105th Minister’s Assistant under the
BCA’s Minister’s Assistant’s Program.
In making this commitment to serve the Gardena Buddhist
Church as a Minister’s Assistant, Kory takes the next step forward
to fulfilling his desire to becoming a Kaikyoshi minister with the
Buddhist Churches of America.
As a Minister’s Assistant, Kory was granted the privilege of
conducting regular services, delivering Dharma talks, and conducting other appropriate religious activities under the guidance
of his Resident/ Supervising Minister.
Following the ceremony, Cyndi Yasaki was also introduced to
the Gardena congregation as a Youth Minister’s Assistant. Cyndi
completed the Youth Minister’s Assistant Training Program at
the Buddhist Church of Sacramento under the guidance of Rev.
Bob Oshita, Rinban of the Sacramento Betsuin.
As part of his remarks following the ceremony, Socho Ogui
noted that, “The Minister’s Assistants are the strength of the BCA
and the foundation for the development of the Buddha Dharma
and Nembutsu realization. I am so encouraged to be witness to
this positive change taking place in the BCA, and to have recognized over 100 Minister’s Assistants since taking office as Socho,
Bishop of the BCA nearly eight years ago.”
PAGE 5
welve centuries after appearing on the scene, and
with numerous developments, the Pure Land path underwent its supreme formulation,
thanks to Shinran Shonen
(1173–1262). So deeply did his
reinterpretations resound that
they were now celebrated as the
path of the true essence of Pure
Land teaching, hence the name of
his school, Jodo Shin-shu (True
Pure Land School). Of all his
contributions, it was his interpretation of the Vow we need most to
look at. Of course, it wasn’t necessarily an interpretation, since he
was only bringing to the foreground something that had been
there in the background all along.
What Shinran says of the Vow
is truly radical. The idea had been
that faith in the Vow would bring
a person to the Pure Land. But,
Shinran argued, that’s as if the
Pure Land were a reward, rather
than a fait accompli. It’s our common heritage, like the sun in the
morning and the moon at night.
Why? Because we’re all already
embraced by the Vow, we just
aren’t always aware of it (especially
while leading workaday lives and
in a world such as ours is today).
Amitabha has not only already
guaranteed our ticket to his pure
land, but we’ll arrive without
traveling. A done deal. So recitation of his name need be done
only in gratitude. Like saying
“Thank you.” Recitation with any
expectation would only continue
our delusion of self. Once we realize our true identity as no different
than Buddha’s, and that it has always been thus, there’s nothing
else to realize, except gratitude,
and seeing how illusion has kept
us from awareness, and skillfully
relieving the needless suffering of
others who still haven’t awoken.
This deep insight echoes the
trap of trying to quiet the mind,
rather than letting it be. And it’s
emphasized in holding Right
View and Intention, in the Eightfold Path. Entering Buddhism
with an attitude that it’s like some
kind of self-help or do-good
movement is booby-trapped from
the get-go. That’s like trying to
grab a bar of soap with wet fingers.
The harder you try, the farther
away the goal slips. An Englishlanguage dictionary has pages and
pages of definitions all beginning
with the suffix “self-,” so it’s no
wonder how self-centered Westerners are in need of a more balanced view.
Shin’s realism and wisdom is
truly from the heart. Jodo Shinshu speaks terms of the enlightenment of Amitabha (Amida), with
his Vow at the center of his story.
As for us mere mortals, it speaks
of a transformation within our
own everyday lives. Not some piein-the-sky State of Enlightenment
for us to hanker and hunger after.
But a transformation which, interestingly, begins with an awakened sense of our own limitations.
A fiercely honest awareness each
of us comes to of our shortcomings … failure, even (a verboten
word to most Americans) … that
each of us might have tried to
clamber up a 10,000-foot pole to
grab a slice for ourselves of some
of that tantalizing enlightenment
pie up at the top … and even felt
some kind of spiritual pride at
how much progress we were making on our way up and up … only
to slide back down, realizing ulti-
mately how much we were only
patting ourselves on our back,
self-congratulatory; really fooling
only ourselves. What fools we
mortals be!
Then comes the sideways step.
Here we’d been like worms inside
a dark stick of bamboo climbing
up and ever up, when all the time
we can just bore a hole out, zip!,
right where we are, and climb out.
Horizontal liberation!, we’re already enlightened as we are. Shin
asks us to look at ourselves in the
plain light of day, just as we are,
entrusting ourselves in the Vow,
saying nembutusu in gratitude.
And we can also study the Middle
Way, listening deeply to our
teachers’ Dharma talks, and learn
in community with our sangha.
Indeed, the pure land of Amida
resembles very much the monastic
Sangha, only in Shin we hold
down jobs and raise families.
If we want to learn more about
Zen or Insight Meditation, or
whatever, that’s fine, too. Dharma
doors are endless, and a bodhisattva vows to enter them all. But
just so long as it isn’t practice:
self-effort. Indeed, Shin is so simple you can’t even speak of a
practice. You say the name of
Amida Buddha, Namo Amida
Butsu, out of gratitude for his
Vow. Instead of practicing anything, just be joyful for What Is.
From The Complete Idiot’s
Guide to Buddhism, Third Edition
(© 2009 Alpha Books). Reprinted
with permission.
An Evening with a D.T. Suzuki Confessor
By Brian Hickey
New York Buddhist Church
B
y the time of his death at the
age of 96 in 1966, Daisetsu
Teitaro Suzuki – known to
the world as D.T. Suzuki – had established himself as one of the
principal architects of Western
conceptions of Buddhism generally
and Zen (as well as Shin) Buddhism
in particular. Born the fourth son
of a physician in Honda-machi,
Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture (his
birthplace no longer exists, although a monument marks the
spot) Suzuki was barely underway
in his lifelong career as a translator,
teacher, author and lecturer on Zen
when a worldwide revival of Buddhism began to emerge in the
1880s. It was this revival – comprising other proponents such as
the German scholar Paul Carus,
Shaku Soen and Imakita Kosen,
among others – that Suzuki would
join and expand upon in successfully bringing to Western culture a
specific approach to the understanding of Zen.
On Sept. 7, the American Buddhist Study Center in New York
had the distinct pleasure of hosting
an evening of revelations and ruminations by guest speaker Rev.
Wayne Yokoyama, former editor of
the Eastern Buddhist and an accomplished scholar, translator and
researcher. Rev. Yokoyama’s presentation, titled “Confessions of a
D.T. Suzuki Researcher,” was a
rare and intriguing opportunity for
those in attendance to gain insights
from an accomplished expert who
has researched and catalogued the
voluminous works of Suzuki. Rev.
Yokoyama’s credits include translating Buddha’s Wish for the World,
a rich discourse on the teachings of
Shin Buddhism by the venerable
Monshu Koshin Ohtani, 24th
Monshu of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwaji-ha. He also translated Shinmon Aoki’s Coffinman, which was
later made into an AcadedmyAward winning movie.
Rev. Yokoyama brought Suzuki
to life with a rich presentation that
drew upon his wealth of knowledge. Suzuki’s mother practiced
Shin Buddhism, a feature of his
upbringing that would influence
him throughout his life. As Rev.
Yokoyama writes in his presentation, “D.T. [Suzuki] is a Zen man
who has a Shin Buddhist mother,
Back row, from left: Charlotte Patton, Brian Hickey, Rev. Watanabe, Anthony
Armstrong. Second row: Rev. Wayne Yokoyama, Josephine Seki, Sets Yoshida,
Deborah Bailay, Gary Jaskula, and Tomomi Seki. Front row: Jaycee, Ayaka
Hayashi, Emiko Iinuma.
and this fact alone goes a long way
toward explaining why, to his
mind, Zen Buddhism and Shin
Buddhism went together naturally,
like horse and carriage, mother and
son, sun and moon.” Suzuki’s later
works on Shin comprise writings
and lectures, including a volume of
his talks given at ABSC in New
York in the late 1950s published
posthumously by Rev. Hozen Seki
as a small book called Shin Bud-
dhism.
Rev. Yokoyama brought to
light Suzuki’s genius for synthesizing Eastern and Western spiritual,
religious, philosophical and cultural
tenets – he took in everyone from
Hegel and Shelling to Twain, Emerson, Whitman, and William
James’s Varieties of Religious Experience in his wide embrace of Western
thought. Inevitably, this also left
him open to critics who felt his
representations of both cultures reflected problematic biases. What is
indisputable, Rev. Yokoyama explained, was that Suzuki “had a
very clear idea of what he wanted to
assert to Westerners.”
Among the most interesting aspects of Rev. Yokoyama’s discourse
was his account of a singular high
point of his own career. In 2007,
in the course of a years-long extended editing project at the D.T.
Suzuki library in Kamakura, he
happened upon the handwritten
manuscript pages of Suzuki’s introduction to the Kyogyoshinsho,
which Suzuki was at work on at the
time of his death, secreted away in a
trunk in the library’s attic. Only
after restoring them to their appropriate place in the library’s archives,
did Rev. Yokoyama realize the
handwritten manuscript had never
been published. Some 50 years after its prestigious author committed it to paper, Suzuki’s introduction to the Kyogyoshinsho is slated
to be published in 2012 by Oxford
University Press.
Another intriguing element of
Rev. Yokoyama’s presentation was
his account of Suzuki’s marriage in
Continued on Page 6
PAGE 6 WHEEL OF DHARMA
YBISCE Report
Continued from Front Page
New Eagle Scouts Dan Sordetto (left), Russell Kato, Taylan Yuasa and
Harrison Chinn (right) pose with other Eagle Scouts in attendance at the
Court of Honor ceremony.
An Eagle Court of Honor was held on April 17 for Boy Scout Troop 252 members Taylan Yuasa (14), Russell Kato (18), Harrison Chinn (17) and Dan Sordetto
(19) at the Seattle Buddhist Temple. Each was honored by more than 300 attendees including their families, church members, council executives and other Eagle
Scouts. The four young men became the 92nd, 93rd, 94th and 95th to join the
troop’s honor roll of Eagle Scouts that dates back to 1952.
With support of troop members each had to complete an Eagle Project before
earning their awards. Russell redesigned the landscape and painted fences on the
temple’s property. Dan made the temple’s AED (automated external defibrillator)
easily accessible, and trained temple members to use the AED and basic CPR.
Taylan conducted a collection drive for Operation Nightwatch in Seattle near the
temple, a group that provides help for homeless people. Harrison organized and
planned a work party to repair the road leading to the temple’s property in North
Bend.
Rev. Abiko
Continued from Page 2
ignoring that self-imposed notion is
the beginning of dukkha of disease,
dissatisfaction, faced with one problem after another…is the very basic
Buddhism. For 2,500 years, Buddhism has been all about overcoming
dukkha suffering which includes
alienation. And in order to overcome
illusion of alienation, Buddhism
emphasizes “interbeing” as described
by Thich Nhat Hanh. What is
meant here is that not only is everything changing, but nothing has
self-existence of its own apart from
everything else. Happy or not, we
are all parts of each other. So, in
other words, helping others is likened to taking care of my own leg
which I do without thinking. By
taking care of others, I am also taking care of myself.
In overcoming alienation, what
is needed of our self is the motivations. If I were to be motivated by
ill-will or separateness, I will make
problems for myself and others. If
friendship, kindness, or generosity
be the actions, they cause good and
healthier connection with others.
Among all schools of Buddhism,
Jodoshinshu is the front-runner of
motivated Sangha for that motivation is nurtured in listening to the
direct call of Amida-sama whose
wish is to make Buddha out of you.
Deeper my closed-mind is, Amidasan’s call becomes louder. The way
of Onembutsu is dynamic, moving
and engaged for that is the wish of
Amida-san’s call being heard.
Despite of, or perhaps due to,
self-imposed alienation, one becomes dynamic interbeing, joyfully
receiving the connections from all.
After all being said, there are a
few exceptions. I still would rather
be alienated from debt and tax collectors, war makers, and sickness. In
between alienation and interconnection, life turns.
Gassho
during, and after this meal, our eyes
widened at all of the udon, soba,
tempura, and tonkatsu in the windows of the restaurants in Kyoto
Station, becoming even more excited
for the meals that we would have in
Japan.
The next day, the program officially started off with service and the
opening ceremony, where we met
other participants from Canada and
Brazil. Aside from differences in
language or accents, we quickly
found that the others from outside
BCA were just like us – loved to
laugh and have fun, and eager to
learn about Jodo Shinshu Buddhism
and Japan. We received welcomes
and instructions in Japanese, English, and Portuguese. Then, we took
a tour of Nishi Hongwanji, our
home base. We explored the different halls and were surprised to see
that there was a Noh stage and really
beautiful gardens, wall panels, and
gates all around the grounds. It was
simply amazing to witness the beauty
of our mother temple, the Nishi
Hongwanji.
On the YBICSE trip, we also
had informative lectures from Rev.
Gene Sekiya about the history of
Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and Shinran Shonin, going over subjects including the Six Paramitas, Enryo,
Karma, and Nembutsu. In addition,
we attended many 6 AM services.
Those services were quite intense.
They were held everyday, and we
chanted San Butsu Ge, Sho Shin Ge,
and Wasans, often getting very warm
inside the temple due to weather in
August. We also did this while sitting seiza (Japanese style) – that was
hard to get used to. However, with
practice, by the end, we got used to
the services, and I especially enjoyed
it when there were many ministers
present that all chanted and moved
together. Upon watching these services, I am able to connect why we
have similar practices from what I
learned to become a Youth Minister
Assistant.
Also on the trip, we went on a
historical sights tour. We visited Mt.
Hiei, where Shinran Shonin studied
and practiced Buddhism, Hino
Jodo Shinshu Buddhism
in America Survey
By Anne Spencer
Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple, GTU-IBS MA Candidate
I am conducting a survey of participants in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism
which I hope will provide information to help temples and the BCA
plan for the future. This research is being done as part of my Master’s
Degree at the Institute of Buddhist Studies. The completely anonymous survey asks demographic questions as well as questions about
political views, Buddhist practice, religious background, and attitudes
toward different aspects of temple life.
This survey will be most accurate and most useful if a wide range of
people from all over the country respond. I would like to hear from
old and new members, people who only come to the temple occasionally and people who come regularly. If you are part of a Jodo Shinshu
temple in any way, you are welcome to participate. I plan to present
the results in a future issue of Wheel of Dharma.
The survey does not ask for any identifying information (such as
name, telephone, email, or address) so any information you provide
will be anonymous and cannot be traced back to you; however, participation is completely optional.
The survey can be found online at http://edu.surveygizmo.com/
s3/621208/Jodo-Shinshu-Buddhism-in-America or email me at
[email protected] and I will email you a direct link.
Tanjoin (where he was born),
Shoren’in (where he received Tokudo), and Tsunobu Betsuin (where he
passed away). They all had beautiful
temples and it was kind of mindblowing that we were literally following the path of our founder.
One of the most incredible experiences to me was having an audience
with Monshu Koshin Ohtani. To be
in the same room with a direct descendent of Shinran Shonin was unreal, let alone being in the same picture. He has this amazing presence,
and we were very fortunate to meet
with him.
In order to gain a better sense of
Japanese culture, the program involved living with a host family for a
couple days. My amazing homestay
family consisted of a couple that
lived in Shiga-ken - Sugimoto Sensei, and Mika-san. I really got the
Japanese cultural experience living
with them, sleeping on a futon on
tatami mats with sliding doors –
their house looked like it was right
out of a Miyazaki film! However,
communication proved a bit difficult, since they did not speak that
much English. Luckily, Sugimoto
Sensei and Mika-san spent time
teaching Buddhism in Brazil, so we
were able to talk with a little Japanese, a little English, and a little
Spanish/Portuguese. They treated
me with such incredible hospitality,
taking me to the onsen for the first
time, going to the ninja and samurai
museum, and even to a ceramics
factory with the Canadian girls. And
the food that Mika-san cooked was
amazing. Homemade yakisoba was
one of my favorite dishes on the entire trip.
Sensei and Mika-san lived in the
countryside, in a temple with living
area attached. The countryside was
absolutely gorgeous, with clouds,
rice fields, forests, and mountains
everywhere. We even went on a canal
boat trip with another host family,
writing haiku on the waters - an incredibly peaceful experience. They
even got me accustomed to some
foods I had never tried before, like
sazae (turban shell), tororo (sweet
potato), yakinasu (eggplant), and
natto in fried age, and they taught
me how to make tsukemono too. By
the end of the homestay, I was sad to
Socho
Continued from Front Page
spond to their anger with dialogue, negotiation, and compromise. Not with violence. Our politicians are elected and paid
for by the people of the country.
I also remember a wonderful Chinese
proverb that said, “If you take revenge,
you should prepare two graves…..one for
Rev. Himaka
Continued from Page 4
- meaning JA’s who have grown up in the
BCA temples. We are at a critical transition in BCA, if we cannot even include
whole-heartedly those people who have
attended out services, worked in our
D.T. Suzuki
Continued from Page 5
1911 to Beatrice Erskine Lane. Lane was
a Radcliffe graduate and Theosophist
who was in contact with Bahai practitioners in America and Japan. A tireless integrator of ideas, Suzuki himself became
an active Theosophist alongside Lane. In
1919, Suzuki and Lane (who died in
1939) moved to Kyoto where they lived
OCTOBER 2011
leave them, since we grew to be basically a mini-family in those three
days.
Upon returning to the group we
all had a ton of stories to tell, and we
really bonded during the last couple
days of the program, staying up late
to share our experiences and just
hanging out. The YBICSE program
ended with a huge 750th Memorial
Service at Nishi Hongwanji with
well over 1,000 people attending.
The chanting sounded amazing, and
I was shocked at the number of people that they fit in the Amida-do. It
really made me aware of how Buddhist the Japanese population is. Before we knew it, the program was
over, and we were sad to leave everyone after the incredible time that we
had in Japan. We had really bonded
with the participants from other
countries, the advisors, and the
YBICSE staff, and already began
talking about a reunion in the years
to come.
I have an immense appreciation
for so many things after coming back
from Japan. For the people of Japan,
I respect them for working together
to save energy by turning down air
conditioners and being conscious
about power to avoid rolling blackouts. I appreciate the people and
families for the kindness that they
showed us, and for having a lot of
relics, shrines, pictures, and other
symbols of reverence to commemorate ancestors. And I deeply appreciate my roots in Jodo Shinshu. There
is this sense of a Jodo Shinshu way of
life that I cannot fully explain, but
felt while I was in Japan. Everyone is
very kind-hearted and they all seem
to enjoy their everyday life.
A huge “Domo Arigato Gozaimasu” also goes to the YBICSE
staff, Michael Endo, Bishop Socho
Ogui, our advisors Susan Bottari and
Rev. Furumoto, and those in BCA
that made this program possible. I
had an amazing experience in Japan
this past summer, and I learned so
much, gaining much appreciation
for Japan, the Japanese people, and
Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. I am
greatly looking forward to the next
time that I am able to visit what I am
now truly proud to call, the “Motherland.”
your enemy, and one for yourself.” I
think ancient Chinese masters had great
wisdom.
On this day, 9-11, my message is that
there is no such thing as a holy war, and
the words of that dying horse, with tears
in its eyes, that speak to me, saying,
“What are you humans doing? What are
you humans doing?”
fund-raisers, married into our families,
joined our temples, serve in our organizations and recite the Nembutsu beside us,
what future do we have to expand or
convince anyone about the inclusive embrace of the Nembutsu Vow?
Please, stop using the term ‘hakujin.’
Gassho
in a cottage on the Engaku-ji. Together
they would found the Eastern Buddhist
Society.
D.T. Suzuki was an exceptional
scholar, humanist and proponent of Zen
and Shin Buddhism.
The exciting work of Rev. Yokoyama
and others continues to lead to new discoveries and new dimensions in our unfolding understanding of the story of
Buddhism in modernity.
SEPTEMBER 2011 WHEEL OF DHARMA
PAGE 2
ではありません。それとは逆に、どんな開教使でも、気の合うお寺と
合わないお寺がある・・・というのも、事実でしょう。
仏教的に言わせていただければ、若い開教使を年配のご門徒さん方
が支援し、育てる・・・ということが理想であり、また、年配の経験
豊かな開教使は、偉そうにすることなく、常に相手に合わせられる寛
容な心を維持していることが、もっとも望ましい姿ではないでしょう
ワッソンビル仏教会 駐在開教使 花山 勝清 か。加齢と共に意固地になって、融通の利かない開教使にだけは、な
りたくない・・・と思っています。
人生経験も浅く、年齢も若い大統領が、
本来ならば、「老を敬い、若きを助ける・・・」という精神が、今
年上の経験豊かな部下に強引な命令を下す
後の米国仏教団を育て、親鸞聖人のみ教えを世界に広める上で、必要
アメリカ。戦後の急激な経済成長を勝ち抜
最低条件なのですが、現実は必ずしも理想通りではありません。
き、やっとの思いで上り詰めた地位を譲れ
自分勝手なことだけを言わせて頂ければ、幼い子供を抱えた40代半
ず、いつまでも収入や名誉に執着している
ば過ぎの私は、人生で一番忙しい日々を過ごしているので、米国仏教
経営陣の多い日本。どちらも、私の眼に
団の将来のことまで考えておれない・・・ということになりますが、
は、美しい光景として写りません。人間と
今、米国仏教団が時代に即した組織に再構築されなければ、子供たち
いうのは、地位や金で、性格まで変わって
が成長したとき、米国仏教団が存在していないことになりかねませ
しまう・・・。一人の仏教者として、胸の
ん。事実として、どのお寺も、かつての様な活気を失い、自然淘汰さ
裂ける思いがします。
れている地域も少なくないのです。このままでは、確実に下降線を辿
るばかりでしょう。
私が米国開教使となったのは、地位や名
日本人のための日本語による日本文化としての「お寺」の時代は、
誉、ましてやお金のためではありません。ニュージャージーで生まれ
アメリカのみならず、日本以外の国で繁栄することは、決してありま
た私が、亡くなった父の代わりに、少しでもご恩返しをさせて頂きた
せん。その場、その時代、その人々に合わせた「お寺」作りが、地元
い・・・と思ったことがきっかけです。ニューヨークでのテロ事件の
に根付いた、「アメリカン・ブディズム」として、生き残ってゆくの
後、縁があって、現在の「ワッソンビル仏教会」に赴任させていただ
ではないでしょうか。
き、十年の月日が経とうとしているのですから、驚きです。
もちろん、寄付にだけ頼ってお寺を運営する時代も終わりました。ま
ついつい、居心地が良いと、そのままズルズルと長居をしたくなっ
して、事業仕分けすらせずに、無駄に寄付金を使い、更に寄付を依頼
てしまいますが、その結果は過去から学ばなければなりません。お寺
するような団体に、誰が救いの手を差し延べたい・・・と思うでしょ
のご門徒さんも「先生に任せておけばいい・・・」と危機感を持たな
う。先ずは、経費節減、運営節約、規模縮小が、最優先課題です。そ
くなってしまいますし、開教使も「今更新天地で初めからやり直すの
の努力こそが、感動を呼び、米国仏教団復興援助の輪がどんどん広げ
もしんどい・・・」と倦怠感を抱くようになってしまいます。確か
てゆく、大きなきっかけとなる・・・と信じています。
に、子供や家族のことを思えば、色々なお寺を転々とさせられること
は、ストレスにもなりますし、友人を作ることさえ難しくさせます。
今、この小さな「私」に、何ができるのか・・・を真剣に考えてい
どんなに優れた開教使でも、全員から支持を得ることは容易なこと
ます。
今月の法話
未来のための第一歩
東部教区研修会
親鸞聖人七百五十回忌法要
労働祭の週末、ニューヨーク仏教会（松林芳秀住職）に
おいて、米国仏教団の東部教区の研修会が開催された。研
修会には米国仏教団本部より小杭好臣総長、東部教区に属
するニューヨーク、バージニア、シーブルック、ミッドウ
エスト、シカゴ、ツイン・シティー、トロント等の仏教会
の開教使並びに信徒代表四十余名が出席した。
九月二日（金）午後七時より、ミッドウエスト仏教会の
宮村ロン師による、標語の「世の中安穏なれ」について、
仏教公開講 座があっ た 。翌九月三 日 （土）の 研修会は 、ト
ロント仏教会の藤井朋文師、恵光寺の中田和朗師、ミッド
ウエスト仏教会の宮村ロン師による仏教と浄土真宗の教理
についての講義、そして勤行の実践があった。
浄土真宗センターは総合教育施設としていろいろな団体や組織に利用されてい
る。その一つが龍谷大学である。
そして、その龍谷大学の修士課程の研修として嵩（だけ）教授の実践真宗学のゼ
ミの学生八名がセンターに宿泊し、アメリカにおける浄土真宗の活動の視察研究
を行っているところ、丁度開教使アシスタントの研修プログラムが行われてお
り、両グループの交流が行われた。 上の写真はその時のグループ写真である。
九月四日（日）午前十一時半には、日曜礼拝に併せて京
日米ＭＡ交流
日本 －龍谷大学修士学生 ＭＡ
米国 －開教使アシスタントＭＡ
ある死刑囚の歌
都の西本願寺においても
お勤めされている宗祖・
親鸞聖人七百五十回忌法
要が小杭総長導師、僧太
鼓 の 参 加 の も と に 宗 祖讃
仰音楽法 要のお勤めが
あった。午後二時から
は、帰依式が小杭総長司
式のもとに執行され、十
七名が仏教徒としての誓
いを新たにした。
浄土真宗の教えが
ニューヨークの地に紹介
されて、七十三年目の歴
史を迎えて、安穏なる安
らぎを考える有意義な研
修会並びに法要が勤めら
れた。
（松林芳秀開教使投稿 ）
釈尊の説き給いたる人の世の
四苦八苦の真理は永遠 （とわ）に新し
ミソ汁に母の好みし里芋を
見つけし朝の朝餉 （あさげ）うましも
茜色 （あかねいろ）に染まる西空見つめつつ
わが還りゆく浄土し思う
掌 （て）を合わせ念仏しまつるその間にも
起こりては消ゆかなしき煩悩
老い母の手を取り寺に詣 （まい）る夢覚めて
しばしを母恋いやまず
罪の身に着せんと母が送り給いし
白き夏着にわが身浄 （きよ）めん
滝田常春作
南無阿弥陀仏 となえれば
親鸞さまは ともしびを
私の行く手に かざされる
この世の旅の あけくれに
さびしいいのちを 嘆くとき
南無阿弥陀仏を となえれば
親鸞さまは 寄り添って
私の手を取り 歩まれる
これは四十二歳で死刑になった人の歌です。（『大乗』より）
親鸞さま
そよかぜわたる 朝のまど
働く手のひら あわせつつ
南無阿弥陀仏 となえれば
親鸞さまは よりそって
私のとなりに いらっしゃる
きらめく夜空 星のかげ
嵐に消えても かくれても
写真はニューヨーク仏教会での帰依式の記念写真
Photo by Karl Palma
2011年度教化標語
発行所 米国仏教団
Buddhist Churches of America
1710 Octavia Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
電話(415) 776-5600 FAX (415) 771-6293
E-メール住所 [email protected]
世の中安穏なれ
2011年
10月号
世 の 中 安 穏 な れ
－
真実明に帰命せよ －
争いを悲しむ
米国仏教団総長 小杭好臣
昨夜、不思議な夢をみました。爆弾
で傷ついた馬が道端に倒れ、息も絶
え絶えに私に話しかけてきたので
す。大きな目には涙を浮かべて言い
ました。
「人間は何をしているのだろうか」
と、悲しそうに問うたのです。
「一生懸命農場で働いていたのに、
爆弾にやられて死んでゆくのです」
と、涙を流したのです。
答えに困って目を覚ましました。オ
レンジ郡ブエナビスタにあるラディ
ソンホテルでの一室でした。
振り返ってみると、私が五歳の頃、第二次世界大戦で体験し
た思い出が夢の中に現われてきたことに気づきました。佐賀県
諸富町小杭村も爆撃にあったのです。私の生まれたお寺も全
焼、小杭村の人々も多く殺されたのです。
母は弟を背負い、私の手を引いて、亡くなった村人の枕経を
上げてまわりました。赤ん坊から老人まで、傷ついた血の流れ
る遺体でした。子供心に恐ろしかった思い出が今も残っていま
す。母が枕経を上げてまわる途中、道端に倒れて足を動かしな
がら苦しんでいた馬を数頭見かけました。その馬の大きな目が
印象に残って、昨夜の夢に現れた私に話しかけてきたのです。
また、昨夜は九月十日で、テレビには九月十一日、セッテン
バー・イレブンのニュースが生々しく放映されていたのです。
十年前の出来事はテロリストの攻撃として、三千余名の犠牲者
を出し、愛する人を亡くした人々の悲しみ、嘆き、怒りの声が
インタビューによって放映されていたのです。
耳に残る生々しいインタビューと、私の五歳の時の体験が反
応しあって私の夢の中に出てきたのでしょう。
傷を負った馬が、大きな目に涙を浮かべて、「人間は何をし
ているのだろうか」と、話しかけてきたのです。
私に言えることは、戦争は勝っても負けても残酷であり悲し
い出来事なのです。多くの生命が犠牲となり、大事なものが破
壊されるのです。
息絶え絶えとなった馬が、大きな目に涙を浮かべて、「人間
は何をしているでしょうか」と、今も私に語りかけるのです。
広木重之大使ニューヨーク本願寺仏教会を訪問
９月１１日同時テロ１０周年にあたり、各地で追悼の行事がもようされ
た。９月１１日に先立って、９月８日にはニューヨーク総領事の広木重之
大使が、平川繁行領事部長、竹内大一郎領事と共にニューヨーク本願寺仏
教会(松林芳秀住職)を訪問された。
仏教会では、表千家流茶道原宗鴻講師による、９月１１日の同時テロ犠
牲者追悼の供茶のお点前が執り行われた。
又、９月１１日(日曜日)午前１１時半の同時テロ犠牲者追悼法要に、広
木大使並びに平川領事部長が参詣された。
原マーテｲン氏撮影の写真
写真、前列左より竹内大一郎領事、平川繁行領事部長、松林芳秀住職、広木重之大
使、松林京子夫人、原宗鴻茶道講師、七原宗桂茶道講師、そして仏教会代表と原
社中の皆さん
仏法ひろまれ
開教使アシスタント百名を超える
小杭総長のもとにすすめられてきている、開教使アシスタントプログラ
ムにより、この七年半で百名を超える人達がアシスタントとして任命さ
れ、各地の仏教会で開教使を助け、活動に力をそそいでいる。
そして去る九月十一日には、ガーデナ仏教会で新たにもう一人の認証式
が行われ、コーリー・クヮン氏が百五人目のアシスタントとなった。また
同じ日には、この夏サクラメントでの高校生対象の研修会に参加し一週間
の勉学を終えたシンディ・ヤサキさんにはユース・アシスタントの認証が
行われた。
開教使不足が言われ続けているが、各地では多くの人たちが仏教会の活
動を助けたいという思いで奉仕している。この中から、開教使を目指す人
たちもでてくることが期待されている。
（写真右から二番目がコーリー氏）
戦争は人間の作り出した罪の行為なのです。決して聖戦とい
うことはありえないのです。『神はアメリカを祝福される』と
叫ぶ人々がいますが、アメリカだけを祝福されるような神は神
ではなく、『神は世界を祝福する』神なのです。アルカイダの
指導者オサマ・ビン・ラディンを殺したことで喜ぶ人々がいま
すが、すぐに新しい指導者が出てきます。復讐はまた復讐され
て、終わることはないのです。復讐した国の人々は恐怖の下に
生活することになるのです。
中国の諺の「復讐する時は二つの墓を用意せよ。一つは敵の
ため、もう一つは自分のために」という名言が光ります。親鸞
聖人の師匠、法然上人は父の遺言を守って、復讐することを止
め、世のため、人のためになることを誓って仏門に入り、八百
年も経た今でも、人々から尊敬されていられることは、それの
実証といえるでしょう。
国と国の争いは、その国を代表する政治家によって解決され
なければならないのです。政治家は国民によって選出された
人々で、国民の平和のためには最善の努力をし、原因を究明
し、忍耐強く話し合い、交渉し、妥協し、解決の糸口を見出さ
なければいけないのです。相手を悪者とし、武力によって押さ
え込むことでは解決しないのです。
９．11の追悼行事勤修