MARCH 2016

1

MINISTER’S MESSAGE

Aloha, Members and Friends of Taishoji,

“ONI HA SOTO!” “FUKU HA UCHI!”

Such voices rang out in Taishoji. We did the “Setsubun” after Sunday Service on February 7th. “Setsubun” marks the end of the year, and is derived from the old lunar calendar. Since the lunar calendar differs from our calendar, Setsubun now comes around February 4th. There is a tradition in which we scatter soy beans to get rid of the “Oni”, a demon during “Setsubun”. The oni also appeared at Taishoji this year! But it was no problem, because we scattered soy beans to get rid of the “Oni”. Then the “Oni” fled from fear of soybeans!

It is said that we will always have good health and a long life when we scatter soy beans because we can enjoy peaceful days. The mind of the Oni of this story can also be likened to the desire of people. It is somewhat like an idea of Buddhism to enjoy a happy life harboring no desire. The oni will also come to Taishoji next year. Then, let’s scatter soy beans!

In Gassho,

Rev. Shinsho Hata

HAKUHO Taishoji Soto Mission 275 Kinoole St. Hilo, HI 96720-2944

Hilo’s Zen Temple Phone (808) 935-8407 Fax (808) 961-6124

taishoji@hawaiiantel.biz

Member’s Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Last First

Donation For:

Membership Dues $60.00 (if not paid) $_________________

Hanamatsuri Donation $_________________

Toba_______@ $2.00 each $_________________

100th Anniversary Donation $_________________ Total $_________________ Toba Name (s) (Please Print) (Include another sheet if more is needed) 1)_____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ DONOR DEDICATED TO 2)_____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ DONOR DEDICATED TO 3)_____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ DONOR DEDICATED TO 4)_____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ DONOR DEDICATED TO 5)_____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ DONOR DEDICATED TO 6)_____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ DONOR DEDICATED TO ______________________________________________CUT ON LINE____________________________________________

HANAMATSURI / KANNON KO / TOBA KUYO SERVICE Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 9:30 am

Rev. Shinsho Hata Assisted by Deacon Juho Kirkpatrick

Celebration of Shakyamuni’s birthday which is held in April began among the early Indian Buddhists and soon spread to Central Asia, China, and Japan. Today, Buddhists all over the world honor the occasion. In Japan the correct name for the occasion is Kanbutsu; or the Ceremony of the Hana Matsuri or Flower Festival. At temples all over the country, statuettes of the new born Shakyamuni are housed in shrines with flower-bedecked roofs and pillar. Visitors ladle a liquid called amacha (sweet tea) over the figure and drink some of the tea themselves. The flowery shrine represents the garden where Shakyamuni is said to have been born. Pouring the sweet tea over the statuette symbolizes nectar poured on him by the Naga Kings in a first bath of purification and celebration.

Please attend this service to celebrate the birth of Shakyamuni and pouring sweet tea on baby Buddha. Everyone is welcomed. Donated by

Mr. & Mrs. Makoto & Sumiko Mikami

2

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Our Centennial Celebration is approaching very rapidly. October 16, 2016 will be upon us in no time. Notices are being sent to various temples, former ministers and guests. Information for our temple members will be forth coming. So please keep Sunday, October 16, 2016 open to attend our 100th Anniversary Celebration to make this a memorable and joyous occasion.

Our spring HSMA (Hawaii Soto Mission Association) meeting was held in Honolulu which I attended with Rev. Hata, Mrs. Hata & Edith Nishino. We discussed about the building of a monastery in California. Tenpyozan is a Buddhist training temple under construction in Northern California and the main building is to be completed by 2018. Envisioned as a world that is peaceful, sacred, and sustainable, Tenpyozan will provide a place for Soto Zen training and practical encounters with Buddhist wisdom for those who want to become a Soto Zen Minister.

Also discussed was how can we increase our membership at our temples. Suggestions were to have more information about your temple activities on a website which Rev. Hata is working on now and having brochures printed and readily available at the temple so non members can look at when attending temple services, memorial services or visiting with relatives and friends. What other activities besides Zazen, Taiko, Boy Scouts, Sunday School / Family service, and Goeika, would attract people to come to Taishoji and attend these activities and join our Sangha? If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

In Gassho,

Rodney Nishino

3

BAIKAKO NEWS As our ranks get thinner and thinner, we appreciate the help of young and energetic Zen Buddhists to swell our ranks. Please come and help us give beauty and joy to our gatherings and funerals in the Temple, Wailoa riverbank and elsewhere. We will try to simplify the choice of hymns to sing and play chimes for. Please call Reverend Hata.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS Happy Girls Day to everyone! We still reserve March 3rd to think of our young girls and our older girls, and all the sacrifices and joy they have brought to our lives. May you all enjoy a multitude of days and nights of happiness! Did you know that Sunday School was originally called Kodomo No Kai on June 5, 1927? Did you know that of the original Sunday School students, only 2 are still with us: Kazue Tanimoto (nee Murakami) and Fumiko “Helen” Takahashi (nee Abe)? Please come and enjoy time with them.

Members of our Sunday School will be attending the Buddha Day celebration sponsored by the Hawaii Association of International Buddhists (HAIB). This event will be held at the Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in Kealakekua on Sunday, March 20th at 9:30 am.

BACCALAUREATE SERVICE

A Baccalaureate Service to honor our High School Graduates will be held at Taishoji on Sunday, May 1st at 10:00 am. Former Sunday School student Kaycie Jyo will be our guest speaker. Please attend this important milestone in their young lives.

If there are any other high school graduates who would like to participate in this program, please call Reverend Hata at 935-8407.

Guest Speaker Chad Nakagawa at

Kaycie Jyo’s Baccalaureate Service

TIME AND LIFE

Time ordinarily, is measured by the ticking of a clock. However, the length of time seems to differ with each individual, depending on his attitude. For example, when one is happy an hour seems very short but when one is unhappy the same hour appears to be very longN.For time is relative.

Dogen Zenji said, “A life of hundred years wasted is the sum of days and months deplorably spent. What truly matters is not HOW LONG ONE LIVED. but THE WAY OF LIFE HE LIVED.” Time should be measured by the way it was spent, because it is continuity of one’s creation.

Time is moving on and on. Being young or old does not really matter. Old people, on one hand, live in the past which is already gone. No matter how happy and glorious the past has been, it is no longer with them. The young, on the other hand, live in the future. No matter how brilliant the future may seem, it is just a dream which has not yet materialized. The most important thing is to live THE LIFE moment by moment.

We must realize that the present moment contains the totality of time—the past, the present and the future. Time itself is life. The eternity is hidden in this continuity of time. Each moment is irreplaceable. Even a single day which has passed can not be relived. With this realization, therefore, we strive to live the present moment with full mindfulness.

IMPERMANENCE

Impermanence is unreliable; we know not on what roadside grasses the dew of our transient life will fall.

Our bodies are not our own; our lives shift with the passing days and cannot be stopped for even an instant. Once rosy-cheeked youth has gone, we cannot find even its traces. Careful reflection shows that most things, once gone by, will never be encountered again. In the face of impermanence, there is no help from kings, statesmen, relatives, servants, spouses, children, or wealth. We must enter the realm of death alone, accompanied only by our good and bad karma.

“Shushogi"

4

“YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT SO FAR AS BUDDHA-NATURE IS CONCERNED, THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ENLIGHTENED MAN AND AN IGNORANT ONE. WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT ONE REALIZES IT AND ONE DOESN’T.” --- William Wray, Sayings and Tales of Zen Buddhism; Reflections for Every Day

OUR ZEN BUDDHIST RELIGION AND BELIEFS Zen is a unique blend of the philosophies and idiosyncrasies of three different cultures. It is a way of life which is typically Japanese, and yet it reflects the mysticism of India, the Taoists’ love of naturalness and spontaneity and the thorough pragmatism of the Confucian mind. — The Tao of Physics, Fritjof Capra

The meaning of Life is living in awareness and deep appreciation

Buddha taught us “Live like the Lotus”

MARCH 2016

2 Wed 1:00 pm Centennial Meeting 5 Sat 7:30 am Temple Cleaning Group #2 6 Sun 8 - 8:35 am Zazen 9:00 am S/S Family Service 1:00 pm Fujin Kai Meeting 12 Sat 7:00 am Temple Cleaning Group #4 1:00 pm Kyodan Meeting 13 Sun 8 - 8:35 am Zazen 9:00 am S/S Family Service 10:00 am Spring O-Higan Kannnon Ko Service (Fujin Kai) 19 Sat 7:00 am Temple Cleaning Group #5 20 Sun 9:30 am Buddha Day at Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. 26 Sat 7:00 am Temple Cleaning Group #1 27 Sun 8 - 8:35 am Zazen 9:00 am S/S Family Service

WEEKLY SCHEDULE FOR TAISHOJI ORGANIZATIONS

Zazen: Mondays 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm (New) Sundays 8:00 am - 8:35 am

Taiko: Tue., Thu., Fri. 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Sundays 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Boy Scout Troop 95 Wednesday 7:15 pm

APRIL 2016 - TENTATIVE TAISHOJI CALENDAR

2 Sat 7:00 am Temple Cleaning Group #2 3 Sun 9:30 am Hanamatsuri / Kannon Ko / Toba Kuyo Service (Kyodan)

6 Wed 1:00 pm Centennial Meeting 9 Sat 7:30 am Temple Cleaning Group #3 1:00 pm Kyodan Meeting 10 Sun 8 - 8:35 am Zazen 9:00 am S/S Family Service 1:00 pm Fujin Kai Meeting 16 Sat 7:00 am Temple Cleaning Group #4 16 & 17 Sat & Sun UHSSWA Conference (Nuuanu Soto Mission) 23 Sat 7:00 am Temple Cleaning Group #5 24 Sun 8 - 8:35 Zazen 9:00 am S/S Family Service 30 Sat 7:00 am Temple Cleaning Group #1

5

6