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On the airplane heading to Japan, I watched the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody’. I believe you know this movie on the life story of Freddie Mercury of the legendary rock band “Queen”.

Freddie was influenced by his close boyfriend and was addicted to alcohol and drugs. He hurt his loving family and longtime friends of the band. When he became aware of it, he also found that he was infected by HIV. Those scenes in the movie reminded of the Buddhist story of Ajatashatru which appears in some sutras.

Prince Ajatashatru was incited by his friend Devadatta, and he confined his parents to a room and had his father killed. He was remorseful for his sins and suffered with physical body pain. He accepted his guilt and didn’t mind if he fell into hell to be liberated from his suffering.

Like Ajatashatru, Freddie Mercury accepted his condition and apologized to his band without expecting to be forgiven. He eagerly joined “Live Aid” a worldwide historical charity concert for

African refugees. His great passionate performance overwhelmed the audience and also other artists. Because he was looking in the face of Death, his performance was so lively, inspired and powerful. It seemed like the manifestation of his life as well as the sparkling liberation from his grief. The camera took a bird’s eye view of the huge number of people in the audience from the sky, it looked like a dense forest of trees coming together in one big tree. All told there were 80,000 people in the audience.

Buddhism sutras also

show us the number of audiences for the gathering of Shakyamuni Buddhas’ sermon. For instance, there were told 12,000 disciples and countless Bodhisattvas in the Larger Sutra, 32,000 Bodhisattvas and many others in the Contemplation Sutra, 1,250 disciples and many others in Amida Sutra. There was no microphones 2500 years ago, and so it might be physically impossible to hear the voice of the Buddha. However, what the sutras are trying say to us, I think, is that countless people got together to listen to the

Buddha’s teaching desperately in order to be liberated from their individual suffering. When I watched the scene of the audience in “ Live Aid”, I felt that there were actual people who eagerly wanted to meet the Buddha and his teaching in this real world.

Freddie Mercury, who was suffering physical pain from HIV, looked finally as if he was liberated together with carrying on his burden of sin. It is the same as Prince Ajatashatru who was liberated from his own restraints and attachment by the awareness of his sin that came from meeting the Buddha.

Like Prince Ajatashatru who finally knew the love of his parents whom he had hurt and had killed, in the end Freddie was finally aware of the love of his family and friends whom he hurt. Both of them carried their guilt and sadness but were not drowned by them. They burned brightly the rest of their life for others by awakening to their own sin and love from others. I think this was the liberation for them.

THE MOVIE “BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY’ AND THE LIBERATION OF SHIN BUDDHISM

Volume 14, Issue 4 www.bombu.org April 2019

Bombu (böm’bü) means “ordinary person.” Shinran used this term to express his reflection that he was an ignorant and self-centered person.. He encourages us to be aware of our true nature and to live fully every day.

Monthly Bulletin of Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple

By Rev. Ryoko Osa

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APRIL TOBAN (Toban #1) Janice Adachi,

Wendy Adachi, Nina Costales, Satoko Davidson, Grace Goto, Alice Horio, Doreen Imada, Elsie Lum, Denice Nakano, Diane Nishioka, Michi Takata

SHOTSUKI MEMORIAL SERVICE

Please note, our Shotsuki service will be held on April 14. The following families will observe memorials for family members who passed away this month: Chiyoko Araki, Dorothy Kinue Otani, George Nakamura, Hatsue Ouye, Seigo Ouye, Hideko Nagatoshi, Hiro Fujii, Maruo Fujii, Sam Toshiaki Yokota, Hisako Yokota, Yoshio Nakai. We hope you’ll attend this month’s Shotsuki service.

Celebrate Hanamatsuri! “Birth of the Buddha”

Our annual service commemorating the birth of

Shakyamuni Buddha, which occurred 2, 500 years ago, will be held on Sunday April 7, 10am. This is a special service in which we pour sweet tea over a baby Buddha statue, symbolizing the sweet rain that fell the day he was born. We will decorate the altar with lots of flowers the night before. Lunch will be served. Our guest speaker is Rev. Ryoze Wada who is a Higashi Honganji minister and a student of Institute of Buddhist Studies. Please join us for this special service. All Dharma school students are encouraged to attend.

Schedule We would like to ask you to help the following activities:

Omigaki Thursday, April 4, 1 p.m.

Hanamido altar flower decorating

Saturday, April 6, 5 p.m. Hanamatsuri service: Sunday, April 8, 10 a.m.

DOBO RETREAT On Saturday April 20, we

will have a one-day retreat/seminar at our temple sponsored by our Higashi Honganji North America District (NAD) with Rev. Frederick Brenion (Los Angeles Betsuin), speaking in English, and Rev. Masashi Fujii, of the North America District Higashi Honganji office, speaking in Japanese. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

PLEDGE DONATION It's that time of year again,

time to update your pledge contribution. The upkeep, repair and maintenance of our temple, as well as various programs and activities depend on the support and generosity of our members.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Date Day Time Event

4 Thursday 1:00 p.m. Omigaki altar polishing

6 Saturday 5:00 p.m. Hanamido altar decorating

7 Sunday 10:00 a.m. HANAMATSURI Buddha’s birthday service

13 Saturday 9:30 a.m. Southern Cal Dobo retreat (Los Angeles)

14 Sunday 10:00 a.m. Shotsuki/Dharma school service

16 Tuesday 7:30 pm Board meeting

20 Saturday 10:00 a.m. Berkeley Dobo retreat

7:00p.m. Concord Howakai

21 Sunday 10:00 a.m. Family Service/Dharma School

28 Sunday 10:00 a.m. Family service/Dharma school

CALENDAR OF EVENTSApril 2019

(Continued on page 3)

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Unlike other organizations, we don’t require a membership fee, however we do rely on voluntary pledge donations from our members. If you’d like to make a pledge, simply send a check for any amount, marked “2019 pledge” to the temple, payable to Berkeley Higashi Honganji.

To everyone who has pledged already for this year, we thank you very much.

SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE We are pleased to announce

that a scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is available to high school seniors graduating in

2020, and to college and trade school students, provided by the Sajiro Morita Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund was started several years ago by Sajiro Morita and has received subsequent donations from the Morita family. Only temple members and their children are eligible to apply. Applications may be requested by contacting the temple. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2019. The award will be presented at our Ho-onko service in November.

SUPPORT OUR TEMPLE BY SHOPPING When you shop

with Amazon, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of

the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers, at no cost to you. (If you shop $100 there, 50¢ will be sent to temple, it is small but "Many a little makes a mickle.") You just need to login to “smile.amazon.com” which will connect you to the same Amazon web-site you usually use. On your first visit, select “Berkeley Higashi Honganji Inc”. If you miss, no worries, go to “Your Account” then select the option to “Change your Charity”. Please support our temple while you enjoy shopping!

(Continued from page 2)

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Credits:This is a publication of the Berkeley Higashi Honganji. Please contact Rev. Ken Yamada at 1524 Oregon Street, Berkeley, CA 94703. 510-843-6933. www.bombu.org. ryoko.osa@gmail.com. Newsletter design by Kevin Sullivan

BIG THANK YOU’S TO THE FOLLOWING2019 SPRING BAZAAR Thank you to everyone who volunteered with their time, efforts, crafts and baked goods to help make The WBA Spring Bazaar another success. Our apologies if any names were inadvertently left off the lists.

Spring Bazaar Saturday Preparation Helpers Janice Adachi, Wendy Adachi, Kim Chew, Nina Costales, Mashie Eshima-Johnston, Chris Fujii, Jane Fujii, Akiko Imai, Shirley Imai, Eiko Iwata, Ichiko Jitosho, Tazuko Jitosho, Nancy Kubota, Galyn Lum, Iris Morioka, Karen Morioka, Connie Morita, Denice Nakano, Leslie Jo Sawada, Christine Sullivan, Judi Tanaka, Lisa Toyama, Naomi Yamada, Debbie Yatabe, Lorraine Yoshikawa.

Spring Bazaar Bake Sale Contributors Wendy Adachi, Clayton Au & Jayson Lee, Chris Fujii, Jane Fujii, Anna Hightower, Shirley Imai, Eiko Iwata, Julie Kihara, Leslie Imai Kramer, Karen Morioka, Connie Morita, Diane Nishioka, Christine Sullivan, Darlene Wong, Laurie Wong, Kyle Yamashita and Lorraine Yoshikawa

Spring Bazaar Craft Contributors Janice Adachi, Wendy Adachi, Kazuko Doi, Akiko Imai, Shirley Imai, Karen Morioka, Kazuko Matthews, Miyoko Truong, Naomi Yamada, Patti Yamashita and Carrie Yoshida

Spring Bazaar Kurimanju Helpers Janice Adachi, Wendy Adachi, Nina Costales, Satoko Davidson, Kasuko Doi, Jane Fujii, Anna Hightower, Shirley Imai, Eiko Iwata, Galyn Lum, Karen Morioka, Denice Nakano, Christine Sullivan, Michi Takata, Miyoko Truong, Naomi Yamada, Carrie Yoshida, and others

Teriyaki chicken Adult Buddhist Association, Irv Yamashita, Jimmy Kihara, Mike Yatabe, Dave Yatabe, Steve Morioka, Michael Fujii, Kyle Yamashita, Michael Hancock, and others.

Udon: Lowell Toyofuku, Paul Asazawa, David Asazawa ,Steve Yatabe and others.

Thank you to Toyoko Fish and Berkeley Bowl for their continued support of our Spring Bazaar.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Mrs. Yoshiko Hikoyeda passed away on March 3 at age 98.

Mrs. Hikoyeda was a longtime active member, a temple board member, and a Fujinkai President. At her request no services will be held. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, koden may be given to the temple in her memory.

Our condolences to Hikoyeda the family.

IN LOVING MEMORY

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HIGASHI HONGANJI NORTH AMERICA DISTRICT

2019Northern California Local Dōbō Retreat

If you have any questions, please contact the temple office at:Berkeley Higashi Honganji1524 Oregon Street, Berkeley, California 94703Phone: (510) 843-6933 / Email: osa@higashihonganji.org (Rev. Ryoko Osa)

Detach Here

I would like to participate in the Northern California Dobo Local Retreat (English Group).

Name Phone # or email

__________________________________________________ ________________________________

We wish to invite you to attend the 2019 Northern California Local Dōbō Retreat of the Higashi Honganji North America District. The lecture and discussion sessions

will be given separately in English and Japanese. The theme for this year’s English group is “Shin as an Expression of Authentic Buddhism.” To register, please send

the application form below to your local temple.

DateSaturday, April 20, 2019

Time9:30 am — 4:00 pm

Speaker—English GroupRev. Frederick Brenion (Los Angeles Betsuin)

Speaker—Japanese GroupRev. Masashi Fujii (North America District)

LocationBerkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple

1524 Oregon Street, Berkeley, California 94703Phone: (510) 843-6933

Fee$12.00 (Lunch included)

Please make your check payable toBerkeley Higashi Honganji.

Fill out the form below and send it to your temple by April 13 (Sat).

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東本願寺北米開教区

2019年北加地区同朋研修会

ご質問等ございましたら、下記までお気軽にお問い合わせ下さい。バークレー東本願寺1524 Oregon Street, Berkeley, California 94703Phone: (510) 843-6933 / Email: osa@higashihonganji.org （長良子開教使）

北加地区同朋研修会（日本語グループ）に参加致します。

お名前 お電話またはemail

__________________________________________________ ________________________________

東本願寺北米開教区主宰による2019年北加地区同朋研修会を下記の通り開催いたしますので、ご案内申し上げます。講義及び話し合いは、英語と日本語のグループに分かれて行われます。本年の日本語グループの主題は「親鸞聖人と私」です。参加をご希望の方は、下記の申込用紙にご記入の上、お手次の東本願寺までご送付下さい。

開催日2019年4月20日（土）

時間9:30am—4:00pm講師–英語グループ

ブレニオン・フレドリック師（ロサンゼルス別院開教係）講師–日本語グループ

藤井真之師（北米開教区）会場

バークレー東本願寺1524OregonStreet,Berkeley,California94703

電話:(510)843-6933参加費

$12.00（昼食代を含む）チェックの宛名はBerkeleyHigashiHonganji

にてお願い申し上げます。

ご記入の上、4月13日（土）までお手次の東本願寺宛にご送付いただきますようお願い致します。

キリトリ線

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バークレー東本願寺会報２０１9年 4 月号

4月お寺の行事予定

4日（木） 午後１時 仏具お磨き

6日（土） 午後5時 花御堂、内陣お荘厳

7日（日） 午前１０時 花祭り法要

14日（日） 午前１０時 祥月法要、家族礼拝、ダルマスクール

16日（火） 午後７時半 仏教会定例理事会

20日（土） 午前１０時 北カリフォルニア同朋研修会

　　 午後７時 コンコード法話会

21日（日） 午前１０時 家族礼拝、ダルマスクール

28日（日） 午前１０時 家族礼拝、ダルマスクール

4 月当番: あだちジャニース、あだち ウェンディ、Costales ニーナ 、Davidson さとこ、 ごとう グレイス、堀尾アリス 、今田ドーリン 、Lum エルシー、中野デニース、西岡 ダイアン、 高田みち (敬称略）

祥月法要: 今月の施主は横田、中井、荒木、藤井、中村、 永利、大上、大谷の諸家です。お誘い 合わせお参り下さい。

花祭り法要: 約二千五百年前に誕生されたお釈迦さまの誕生を祝う「花まつり」法要は、 ４月7日（日）午前１０時より勤められます。 ご法話は和田良正（わだりょうぜ） 先生です。 お誘い合わせのうえ、お参り下さい

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映画「ボヘミアン・ラプソディー」と仏教のすくい 長　良子

　日本へ向かう飛行機の中で「ボヘミアン・ラプソディー」を観ました。ロックバンドクイーンの 伝記映画で時代の最先端を走った音楽とボーカリストのフレディーマーキュリーの人生が 描かれていました。フレディーは悪い仲間に唆されドラッグやお酒に溺れ、家族のようなバンド 仲間を傷つけてしまう。その事に気付き悔やんだ直後、彼は体調の悪化に苦しみエイズに侵されている事を告知されます。その時の彼の落ち着きを保ち納得した表情を見て、私は経典に出てくる 話を思い出しました。

お釈迦様の時代に、阿闍世(アジャセ)という王子がいました。王子は提婆達多（ダイバダッタ）に唆され父母を幽閉し父を餓死させてしまいました。その罪を悔い全身の苦痛に悩まされた 阿闍世は心から詫び、自らの罪から逃げずに、地獄に落ちても構わない、救われなくていいという救いに達するのです。

　フレディーは病を受け入れ、許される事を期待せず友人達に謝罪し、アメリカ難民救済のための慈善コンサート、ライブエイドの舞台に参加しました。その圧倒的なパフォーマンスに観客は もちろん共演者も絶賛しました。死に向きあっているからこそフレディーは舞台を走り回り全身を 楽器のようにして、自分のためだけでなく他者のために歌いました。それはいのちの発露―救われた姿でした。上空から映し出された観客はまるで木が密集する大きな森のようで観客数は８万人とも言われています。

お経では、お釈迦様が説法する時に集まった聴衆の数が示されます。例えば大経では直弟子が 12000人と菩薩が無数、観経では菩薩が32000人と他多数、阿弥陀経では直弟子が1250人と 他多数とあります。2500年前の当時はマイクがないので後ろの人には物理的にはお釈迦様の声は聞こえなかった事でしょう。しかし、お経が伝えようとしていることは、無数の人間が一カ所に集まり一体となって仏の言葉を聞き救われていこうとした人間の有様なのではないでしょうか。 ライブエイドに熱狂する観客の映像を見て、命がけでお釈迦様の教えとそのいのちに出遇おうと した無数の人間がこの世に実際にいたのだと感じました。

　エイズになったフレディーは、全てを受け入れ罪を背負いながらもやっと自由になったよう でした。その姿は、仏との出会いによって自己の犯した悪に目覚め束縛や執着から解放された 阿闍世の救いと同じように私には写りました。殺害し傷つけた後にやっと父母の愛を知った 阿闍世、家族や友人の愛に目覚めたフレディー。二人とも罪悪感を持ちながらしかしその悲しみと苦しみに押しつぶされるのではなく、自己の悪と他者の慈愛に気づくことによって、いただいた 残りのいのちを他者のために燃やしたのです。これが二人にとっての救いだったのではない でしょうか。

Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple1524 Oregon Street Berkeley, CA 94703U.S.A.

Address Correction Requested

Words of the Month |今月のことば

Shakyamuni Buddha said, “I will not attain the Nirvana for the sake of Ajatashatru.”

(The Buddha won’t leave anyone behind.)

「阿闍世王の「為」に涅槃に入らず」教行信証（信）　（仏陀は、阿闍世王のために涅槃に入らない、一切衆生を見捨てないと言いました）