LAS VEGAS BUDDHIST SANGHA

LV BUDDHIST SANGHA SCHEDULE FOR 2021 (VIRTUAL OBON FESTIVAL, SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021)

BISHOP HARADA WILL ZOOM INTO MARCH 14 SERVICE

LVBS Service Mar 14, 2021 09:30 AM Pacific Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83460478912 Passcode: LVsangha

VANDALISM AT HIGASHI HONGWANJI Higashi Honganji in Los Angeles was hit by vandalism Thursday, February 25. A fire was started, concrete lan-terns, windows broken. This was obviously a hate crime against Asians due to the “China Virus.”

Reverend Peter Hata and Reverend Ken Yamada of Higashi have both been visiting ministers at our services. The Sangha will be sending a donation to Higashi. If you would like to add your donation to the Sangha’s gift, please mail a check or click on the DONATION button on the website. Thank you for your support!

HAWAIIAN BENTO SALE Our next bento sale features Hawaiian-style food from 2 Scoops of Aloha. It features a Hawaiian-style hot dog, Spam, shrimp tempura, teriyaki chicken, spring roll, furikake rice, and kamaboko (fish cake).

Please look for the flyer on page 7 of this newsletter. Preorder deadline is Monday, March 8.

LVBS BWA 2021 MEMBERSHIP PAID

Cathy Arakaki Eileen Castle-Hopper Brenda Creed Dr. Sharl Edwards Dhyana Estrada Dr. David Hopper Harriet Huber Julie Monteiro Sharleen Nakaoka-Aoki Muriel Scrivner Tilda Silao Meya Stout Caryl Suzuki Michael Tanaka Deborah Tyrone Dennis Tsukagawa Patty Yamano

MARCH TOBAN LIST Toban III List of Sangha Members: Bob & Chizuyo Reynierse, Jason & Marlo Sando, Muriel Scrivner, Brian Segawa, Edna Shiotani, Tilda Silao, Ron and May Soeda, Akira & Madeline Sonomura, Roy & Caryl Suzuki, Alan & Oratai Takemoto, Michael Tanaka, Wayne & Sadie Tanaka, Dennis Tsukaga-wa, Deborah Tyrone, Bob & Sachi Uyematsu, Charlie Van Acker, Masaichi Yamada, Fred & Patty Yamano are asked to show up for the Sangha Center cleanup on the second and fourth Saturdays of the following months: March, June, Sept, & December... to help clean the hallways, entry ways, kitchen and restrooms at 12:30 and the main sanctuary (hondo) from 1 p.m. to sweep and mop as the ikebana group has finished putting up the tables & chairs. Thank you for your help!

EXERCISE CLASS We had 15 participants at our Sangha exercise group. New members included Sharleen Nakaoka-Aoki, Eileen Castle and Dr. Dave Hopper! Contact Dan if interested!

info@lasvegasbuddhist.org

info@lasvegasbuddhist.org

EXERCISE PROGRAM STARTED AGAIN! Now that pandemic restrictions are eased, we are starting our exercise class again! Time to lose those pounds!

LADY KUJO AND LADY OHTANI DHARMA TALK: 02/28/2021 by Meya Stout

Good morning everyone, and welcome to this February Dharma talk about Lady Kujo and Lady Ohtani. I would like to begin by reflecting on Work Immortal, that poem that Eileen just read. It is written by Lady Takeko Kujo. Those of you that were here last service were fortunate enough to learn about this historical poet from Reverend George Matsubayashi. The final line of this poem, “Life becomes immortal through work,” could not have better explained Lady Kujo herself or how she lived her life according to the teachings of Shinran Shonin.

Lady Takeko Kujo had a short life. She was born on October 20th, 1887, and died on February 7, 1928 at the age of 42. Although most of what we are taught in the United States is of her work in her adult life, she accomplished so much in that time. She truly did pour her life into her work—and her work was compassion. She was already born into our Shin Buddhist way of life, the daughter of the 21st Monshu Myonyo (Koson Ohtani).

When Takeko was 5 years old, her future sister-in-law, Kazuko Kujo, came to live at the temple to receive training in the Buddhist way of life. Kazuko was the daughter of Prince Michikata Kujo. She was 10 years old at the time and was betrothed to Takeko’s 16-year-old brother Kozui. The two girls became very close. During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, Takeko Kujo and Lady Kazuko Ohtani (her sister-in-law) co-founded the Buddhist Women’s Association (BWA) to do public service and foster the solidarity of Japanese Buddhist women. Takeko was only 20 years old at that time. The BWA sent care packages to soldiers at the front and helped families who had lost sons and husbands in com-bat.

In 1909, Takeko married Kazuko’s brother, Baron Yoshimune Kujo, and thus became a baroness. She spent ten years apart from her husband as he spent that time in Cambridge University and she stayed in Japan. She used her strong personality and high social status to continue to make great contributions to Japanese society.

Unfortunately, Lady Kazuko Ohtani passed away in 1911 at the age of 30. Lady Kujo had to take over the BWA herself. Fortunately, she was a free thinker. Women’s voting rights were granted in the United States in 1920, but they didn’t get that right in Japan until 1946. Yet here she was, an advocate for women’s rights and education. She wanted to start a Kyoto Girls School, an institution of higher learning for women based on Buddhist philosophy, and by 1920, Kyoto Women’s University was established.

In 1923, the Great Kanto earthquake devastated Tokyo and the surrounding region. Lady Kujo sponsored various hu-manitarian efforts which lead to the reconstruction of the Tsukiji Hongwanji. She wrote a collection of essays and po-ems which were published under the title, “Muyuge,” which means Flower Without Sorrow. She was able to use the funds from the popular book to open a small, free clinic which became the Asoka Hospital, one of Japan’s first modern medical centers. She continued tirelessly amongst all people regardless of caste or class, helping the poor, the or-phaned, and the injured for years until she contracted blood poisoning, and passed away on February 7, 1928.

After World War II, Lady Yoshiko Ohtani (Ourakata or Sosei) (1918–2000), the spouse of the 23rd Monshu, Kosho Ohtani worked to revive the association. Many BWA chapters observe an annual service in her memory She instituted Japan-wide and worldwide conferences. Therefore, by tradition, the World BWA is under the honorary leadership of Lady Ruzumi Ohtani, spouse of the 25th Monshu, Kojun Ohtani (aka Sennyo Shonin).

The BWA is important in the preservation of Japanese and Japanese-American Buddhist traditions, and oral history. Many BWA chapters sponsor lectures, conferences, and social activities. They also visit infirm or elderly members. The BWA plays an important role in the practice and transmission of traditional Buddhist values such as compassion, com-munity, and gratitude for others.

At the last service, Rev. George did a memorial for all the women that have passed this past year. For this service, I would like to honor all of the women that have worked tirelessly for the success of the Buddha, the Dharma, and this Sangha. The Nembutsu women of the past, the Shin Buddhist women of the future, and the women of the present, who have worked with a determination to get the BWA of this Sangha where it is today. They all represent dana, that selfless service and giving, that work which becomes immortal. To all of you, I express my most deep and profound gratitude and appreciation. Iro iro to domo arigatougozaimasu.

Namo amida butsu

Namo amida butsu

Namo amida butsu

EXERCISE CLASS

TAKAKO OGATA VISIT 100 year old Takako Ogata is still at the Canyon Vista Post Acute Center at 6352 Medical Center St near Post Road. Takako, who is very lucid, would probably appre-ciate visitors to break up her recuperation time. Any visitors may want to call there first M-F at 702-541-6200 & visit during the morning hours when her case manager is there. After her release on March 8, the Wellness Committee will arrange for some take out meals since Sangha members gave generously for a floral arrangement and there was enough left over to cover some take-out meals when she gets home.

Tea, water and Sachi’s brownies at the service Cathy & Michael Arakaki celebrate his 13th Birthday

He was born on February 29, 2008!

Tuesday & Thursday Exercise Class with instructor Janaina Montero

BWA NEWS by Sharleen Nakaoka-Aoki, President

New Members

We wish to welcome Julie Monteiro, Tilda Silao, Meya Stout, Dr. David Hopper, Michael Tanaka, and Dennis Tsukagawa.

Happy Birthday

Belated birthday wishes to Tilda Silao and Michael Tanaka for the month of January.

BWA General Meetings - 2021

Future general meetings will be scheduled quarterly on the 1st Tuesday: April 6, July 6, and October 5. We will have an easy/simple activity at 5:30 pm, then at 6:00 pm our meeting.

Inclusion of Men

Starting this year, we are inviting men of our Sangha to join our BWA. If you are interested in joining, our membership application is attached.

BWA Memorial Observances - February

February is the month all BWAs honor Lady Takeko Kujo as our founder. During her short time, she has displayed the spirit of Dana. We are also honoring Lady Yoshiko Ohtani (spouse of the 23rd Monshu, Kosho Ohtani) who has instituted world-wide conferences whereby BWA chapters of diverse regions could better communicate and learn about cultural traditions of those active BWA chapters. MA Meya Stout’s Dharma talk on February 28 is included within this newsletter. We thank both Rev. George Matsubayashi and MA Meya Stout for their messages. As this memorial month is our BWA’s first observance in honor of Lady Kujo and Lady Ohtani, we wish to honor our ladies of our Sangha from the very beginning in 1985 who have tirelessly committed themselves in establishing the Las Vegas Buddhist Sangha. The LVBS Women Memorial list from 1985-2020 includes a majority of our charter members. Also, the LVBS Women Honor Roll shows our Sangha women who continue to contribute to our Sangha.

LVBS WOMEN MEMORIAL 1985 - 2020

Frances Akamine * Akiyo Amano * Sumiko Cann * Mary Fukawa * Hanako (Hana) Fukumoto * Mabel Fukumoto * Fukiko Frazer * Clara Hamasaki * Tomico Honda * Bertie Kasai * Tuney Kodama * Makiyo Mayeda * Skeeter McLean * Sueno Migaki * Lillian Morizono * Margaret Nakata * Myrtle Noguchi * Susie Oshita-Tanaka * Yumi Peck * Kinuko (Kay) Sakaguchi * Catherine Shiraishi * Hana Tachiki * Doris Takahashi * Mitzi Tanaka * Sharan Tanaka * Akiko Toba * Hatsumi Toguchi * Agnes Tsuchiyama * Kiyoko Wakita * Sadako Wanless * Grace Wertz

LVBS WOMEN HONOR ROLL 1985 - PRESENT

Takako Ogata (100) * Kay Enomoto (100) * Hideko Shimabukuro (99) * Mariko Ushiroda (99) * Chiyo Goto (98) * Eleanor Takaki * Lily Sakemi * June Maruyama * Michele Hondo * Sally Hanagami * Winona Kashiwada * Helen Itow * Helen Koga * Edna Shiotani * Yoko Arana * Mamie Suyeyasu * Fusako Cox * Hanako Shimizu * Yoshiye Abe * Janet Clark * Sumiko Evans * Gladys Akita * Rosie Kakuuchi * Eleanor Chow (100) * Alice Branton * Kumiko Kashiwada * Harriet Huber * Chizuko Reynierse * Eleanor Oshiro * Sadie (Sadie) Kasamoto * Alice Sakamoto * Delana Wakita * Janet Sakahara * Rosan Ito * Sadie Tanaka * Irene Tanaka * Nan Muraoka * Caryl Suzuki * Muriel Scrivner * Ulli Miyashiro * Deborah Harlig * Barbara Kinkade * Hedy Ito * Mary Ozaki * May Soeda * Emiko Aoki * Aiko Mayeda * Pati Lira * Patty Yamano * Brenda Creed * Dhyana Estrada * Sharleen Nakaoka-Aoki * Becky Suyeyasu * Oratai (Oh) Takemoto * Sachi Uyematsu * Nancy Isa * Eileen Castle-Hopper * Katie Iida * Gay Kurashige * Tilda Silao * Jan-Ie Low Uehara * Susan Mayhew * Kristin (Sakahara) Cummings * Cathy Arakaki * Meya Stout * Sandi Hiyane * Heidi Morishige * Deborah Tyrone * Brianne Isa * Fumiko Anne Aoki * Chelsea Kurashige * Megan Arakaki * Cristal Isa * Aydan Kotarski

2021 DUES!

The new year is here! Please send in your dues! Anything you send in, be it $20 or $2,000, will be counted, just note it on your check or on your website DONATION! We will publish a list of those who have paid their dues in the next newsletter. THANK YOU!