rev. usuki’s pagewestlosangelesbuddhisttemple.org/wp-content/uploads/2010...(cont’d on page 2)...

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Vol. 53, No. 4 April 2010

REV. USUKI’S PAGE

New Hongwanji “Shokuji no Kotoba” - Words Before and After Meals

It is customary in any cultureand tradition, whether you arereligious or not, to offer somekind of “grace” before andafter meals. In the JodoShinshu tradition there areprescribed formal passages

known as “Mealtime Words” (Shokuji no Kotoba),which appear in Japanese service books, but arenot often translated and included in Englishservice books. During BCA events, words beforeand after meals were graciously offered, buttoday, even in my short time as a minister, thisform of thankful expression has become simply(Namo Amida Butsu) Itadakimasu andGochisosama.

In the December 1, 2009 Nishi HongwanjiShimpo newsletter there was an announcementof change in the traditional Shokuji no Kotoba

that may radically reform the way some peopleunderstand the meaning and appreciation of thefood we eat. This is a significant development inJodo Shinshu, especially in the Hongwanjitradition, as it poses greater implications withregard to the doctrinal interpretation of AmidaBuddha, which often varies in Asian andWestern contexts.

The reason offered by the Hongwanji for theneed for new Shokuji no Kotoba is that sincetheir inception in1958 and due to the currentmindset of Shinshu followers, the words may bemisunderstood as suggesting that the source ofour food comes from a “creator” such as thatwhich is understood by Christian grace. Thefollowing is a simple attempt at translating thecurrent and new versions. Due to space limita-tions, the complete article is not provided here.

Words Before the Meal

Current version

Mihotoke to, Minasama no Okage ni Yori,Kono Gochiso wo Megumaremashita.Fukaku Goon wo Yorokobi, ArigatakuItadaki masu.

(Due to Amida Buddha and the effort and kind-ness of everyone, this wonderful food is placedbefore us. We are gratefully indebted to allcauses and conditions as we receive this food.)

New version

Oku no Inochi to Minasama no Okage ni Yori,Kono Gochiso wo Megumaremashita.

(We are gratefully indebted to the many livesand everyone’s kindness as we receive thisfood.)

Words After the Meal

Current version

Totoi Omegumi ni yori, Oishiku Itadaki mashita.Okage de, Gochiso sama deshita.

New version

Totoi Omegumi wo Oishiku Itadaki,Masumasu Go On Ho Sha ni Tsutome masu.Okage de, Gochiso sama deshita.

Email: [email protected] Web: www.wlabt.org

West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple April 2010

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(Due to precious (Amida’s) blessings, we enjoyedthis delicious meal.)

(We enjoyed the wonderful and precious bless-ings. We will continue to express gratitude withgreat indebtedness.)

Part of the translation of the Nishi Hongwanji Shimpo article follows:

These words were changed to reflect the idea that our daily food comes from the countlesssacrifices of all lives, animals, and living things. Also we constantly receive indirectly anddirectly from the caring and many efforts (Gokuro and Okage) of countless people. Thereason for this change is to be able to express the sense of true understanding of deepestgratitude. Understanding the intent of Amida’s most profound embrace and our desire torecognize and return this benevolence, yet truly unable to do so, we offer our thoughts. Thiscomes about due to the manifestation of a sincere resolution.

The meal (shokuji) is not simply objectified food supplied to us for nutritional purposes.Therefore the words must express our awakening to the countless blessings and benefits wereceive. We must understand the great value that all things have in our lives to support ourexistence, and we must respond with proper words to make our connection to them.

The Hongwanji’s explanation indicates a significant rethinking of the Japanese concept of Amida Bud-dha to include the understanding of the interconnectedness of all life.

Rev. Fumiaki Usuki

Shinshu Corner

Introduction to Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land) Three Sutras(continuation from March issue)

II. Contemplation Sutra

2. Transmission of Shan-tao’s View to Honen

In Japan, the oldest record of the name ofContemplation Sutra appears in the ShoshinArchives dated 742. In 763 the famous TaimaMandala, a tapestry with a picture of Amida’sPure Land preserved in the Taima-dera Temple,was drawn up based on Shan-tao’s Commentaryand other works. Later in the Heian period,Ryogen (912-985) composed the Explication ofBirth in the Nine Grades, which is regarded asthe first commentary on the ContemplationSutra in Japan. Genshin (942-1017) also quotespassages from the sutra and its Chinese com-mentaries in his Essentials for Attaining Birth.With the spread of the Pure Land thought dur-ing the Heian period, the art of making statuesand picture scrolls of Amida and the attendantbodhisattvas reached its peak under the influ-ence of this sutra.

It was Honen (1133-1212) who first establishedthe doctrine of attaining birth in the Pure Landthrough saying the nembutsu alone, based onShan-tao’s Commentary. Declaring the inde-pendence of the exclusive practice of the nem-butsu, he founded a new Buddhist schoolnamed Jodo-shu. In his magnum opus, Pas-sages on the Nembutsu Selected in the Primal

Vow, he makes a radical claim for the view of“birth in the Pure Land through the nembutsualone”: that the nembutsu is the only cause forattaining birth in the Pure Land, and that it isan act attested to in the Eighteenth Vow of theLarger Sutra.

After many years of seeking the way to lib-eration, Honen, at the age of 43, was awakenedby the following passage from Shan-tao’s Com-mentary:

Single-heartedly practicing the saying of theName of Amida alone—whether walking,standing, sitting, or reclining—without re-gard to the length of time and without aban-doning it from moment to moment: this iscalled “the act of true settlement,” for it is inaccord with the Buddha’s Vow. (CWS I: 87)

The “single-hearted practice of saying Amida’sName” as proclaimed by Shan-tao was thushanded down to Honen. Consequently the viewof this sutra as expounding primarily the prac-tice of contemplation on the features of Amidaand the Pure Land was totally rejected byHonen. Concerning the discrimination of the

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Honen. Concerning the discrimination of thePure Land aspirants into nine grades, he states:

Discrimination of the nine grades as aspi-rants for the Land of Perfect Bliss is notmentioned in Amida’s Primal Vow. It isnot found in any of the Forty-eight Vows.This is Sakyamuni’s skillful preaching. Ifhe taught that both good persons and evilones were equally born there, evil peoplewould become self-conceited; therefore, heteaches that a good person ascends to the

upper rank and an evil one descends tothe lower rank. (Instruction to the Aspi-rants of the West, SSZ IV: 214)

Another important point in understandingShan-tao and Honen’s view is that the nembu-tsu is effective not because of the merit gainedby the practicers’ diligent efforts, but because ofthe working of Amida’s compassionate Vow.That is why the nembutsu that they advocatedis described as being “in accord with the Bud-dha’s Vow.”

(Next Bulletin - “Shinran’s Unique View”)

THE WLABT BOOKSTORE IS UP AND RUNNING

In the December 2009 issue of the Bulletin, it was announced that Rev.Usuki completed the construction of a “mini-bookstore” by joining togetherthree fine large wooden bookcases donated by the estate of the lateMasaru Sunada. You might recall from the photo in the December issuethat each bookcase came with roughly the bottom third enclosed by twodoors. To these three bookcases, Rev. Usuki fabricated and mounted sixglass doors with locks to enclose the open upper two thirds, and installedlights to illuminate the shelves. The same photo showed there were only afew items on the shelves at that time.

Now things are different. Rev. Usuki has stocked the shelves attractivelywith a wide selection of onenju, incense, Buddhist books, and related itemsfor sale. See the three photos below of the display shelves with the glassdoors open. There is one more shelf above the ones shown here that is toohigh for displaying items. That space, and the space enclosed with thewooden doors (below these photos), could be used for stocking inventory.

The intent of this bookstore is to serve the needs of our members ratherthan to make profit, so the prices are right. Please come by and shop herefirst for your religious needs. Just looking is welcome too. It’s located onthe east side of the meeting room behind the hondo.

xxx xxx xxx

Available at your WLABT Bookstore


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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Many of you may have heard thisparable previously; however, Ithink it carries a strong, moving,and inspiring Buddhist messagefrom which we can all learn.

As she stood in front of her 5th

grade class on the very first day ofschool, she looked at her students

and said that she loved them all the same.However, that was impossible because there inthe front row, slumped in his seat, was a littleboy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the yearbefore and noticed that he didn’t play well withthe other children, that his clothes were messy,and that he constantly needed a bath.Furthermore, Teddy could be unpleasant. It gotto the point where Mrs. Thompson wouldactually take delight in marking his papers witha broad red pen, making bold X’s, and thenputting a big F at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, shewas required to review each child’s past recordsand she put Teddy’s off until the last. However,when she did review his file, she was in for asurprise.

Teddy’s first grade teacher had written, “Teddyis a bright child with a ready laugh. He does hiswork neatly and has good manners … He is ajoy to be around.”

His second grade teacher had written, “Teddy isan excellent student, well liked by hisclassmates, but he is troubled because hismother has a terminal illness and life at homemust be a struggle.”

His third grade teacher had written, “Hismother’s death has been hard on him. He triesto do his best, but his father doesn’t show muchinterest, and his home life will soon affect him ifsome steps aren’t taken.”

Teddy’s fourth grade teacher had written,“Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show muchinterest in school. He doesn’t have many friendsand he sometimes sleeps in class.”

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problemand she was ashamed of herself. She felt evenworse when her students brought herChristmas presents wrapped in beautifulribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy. Hispresent was clumsily wrapped in the heavy,brown paper of a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompsontook pains to open it in the middle of the other

presents. Some of the children started to laughwhen she found a rhinestone bracelet with someof the stones missing and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled thechildren’s laughter when she exclaimed howpretty the bracelet was, putting it on, anddabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that dayjust long enough to say, “Mrs. Thompson, todayyou smelled just like my Mom used to.”

After the children left, she cried for at least anhour. On that very day, she quit teachingreading, writing, and arithmetic. Instead, shebegan to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paidparticular attention to Teddy. As she workedwith him, his mind seemed to come alive. Themore she encouraged him, the faster heresponded. By the end of the year, Teddy hadbecome one of the smartest children in the class,and despite her lie that she would love all thechildren the same, Teddy became one of her“teacher’s pets.”

A year later, she found a note under her door,from Teddy, telling her that she was the bestteacher he ever had in his whole life.

Six years went by before she got another notefrom Teddy. He then wrote that he had finishedhigh school third in his class, and she was stillthe best teacher he ever had in life.

Four years after that she got another lettersaying that while things had been tough attimes, he’d stayed in school, had stuck with it,and would soon graduate from college with highhonors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that shewas still the best and favorite teacher he hadever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet anotherletter came. This time he explained that after hegot his bachelor’s degree, he decided to go alittle further. The letter explained that she wasstill the best and favorite teacher he ever had.But now his name was a little longer. The letterwas signed, “Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.”

The tale does not end there. You see, there wasyet another letter that spring. Teddy said he hadmet this girl and was going to be married. Heexplained that his father had died a couple ofyears ago, and he was wondering if Mrs.Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding inthe place usually reserved for the mother of thegroom. Of course Mrs. Thompson did. Andguess what? She wore that bracelet, the onewith several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she


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made sure she was wearing the perfume thatTeddy remembered his mother wearing on theirlast Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddardwhispered in Mrs. Thompson’s ear, “Thank you,Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. Thank youso much for making me feel important andshowing me I could make a difference.”

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes,whispered back, “Teddy, you have it all wrong.You were the one who taught me that I couldmake a difference. I didn’t know how to teachuntil I met you.”

Namo Amida Butsu.

Rick StambulWLABT President

APRIL SHOTSUKI HOYO, 10 a.m. Saturday, April 3

Araki, WalterBaba, HiroichiDohi, MisaoDote, YasuoFuchiwaki, MomoyoFujimura, Rev. BunyuFujita, GeorgeFukumoto, TomikoHada, BettyHara, BenHara, KameichiHirano, JamesHisaoka, WayeIkemiya, KitayeIwasaki, DorothyKafka, Robert Sr.Kakuta, ToraKishi, ZenichiKitajima, George

Kotake, AlanKotake, SumioKubota, KanjiKuramoto, JerryKurosaki, KamezoKuwamoto, ChieMaeda, ToyoshigeMasuda, ShizukoMataga, AsaMatsui, TaroMatsumi, TaiMatsuura, HanaMayetani, GaryMayetani, JohnMiyata, TatsuyeMorita, KintaroMukai, AkiraMukai, IsaoMukai, Itsuo

Mukai, MitsuyeNakagawa, TadashiNakamura, EmikoNakamura, KenzoNakasako, GeorgeNakawatase, HidemiNakawatase, MoyoNishida, HirokichiNishimoto, HideoNishimoto, YahichiOgawa, TakeshiOhigashi, SensukeOnami, SaichiPierce, RobertSakoda, CarlSera, MikioSera, TokiyeShintaku, HisayeShirai, Yanokichi

Takahashi, GeorgeTakeda, KumazoTakeda, TsutomuTakemoto, KinukoTanaka, FusaTanigawa, HasuTaniguchi, SusumuTashima, YachiyoTerada, ChiyoTerada, FujioTomita, CarolToya, AkiUchida, HarryYabuta, AyakoYamaguchi, ChiyeYamaguchi, PeterYasui, MiyekoYugawa, Harry


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CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

May 16, 2010Hours 10:00 – 6:30

Strawberry Meadows of College Park3250 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard, CA

COST: General Admission - $12.00Seniors (62 +) $ 8.00

Children (5 -12 yrs) $ 5.00 Children 4 and under FREE

WLABT visits Oxnard Buddhist Temple on May 16th.San Fernando will also be attending this service.Service starts at 10:00 a.m.Address: 250 South H Street, Oxnard

We are planning to attend the Strawberry Festival after servicefor a fun-filled afternoon.

PLAN TO COME AND JOIN THE FESTIVITIES!!!

If you need transportation to Oxnard, pleasecontact the temple by May 5th.


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BWA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEConnie Yahata

This month, I was asked to submit an articleabout myself. I was reluctant at first, but afterthinking about it, I thought it would be a goodopportunity for you to get to know me and whatI’m involved with. I have been married to NealYahata for 31 years. We have three children –Tamaye, Tsuyoshi, and Terumi.

L to R: Neal, Terumi, Tamaye, Tsuyoshi, Connie

Like many of you, my life is no busier thanyours. I work full time as a Program Administra-tor for a company that supplies military sparesto the government, usually for the F-16 and C-130 aircrafts. July of this year will mark my 15th

year with this company, but I’ve been in thisbusiness for over 30 years. Aside from my job, Iam also a Girl Scout Leader. My troop, whichhas over 50 girls, meets at the Venice Hon-gwanji Buddhist Temple. It is a multi-level troopand we have a total of nine leaders.

Since all three of my children were involved withbasketball and had a positive experience whileplaying, I decided to give back to the VeniceYouth Council (the basketball program locatedat the Venice Japanese Community Center). Iam one of the Girls’ Athletic Directors for VYC,as well as one of the Japanese AmericanOptimist Basketball Commissioners.

Taiko … I LOVE to play taiko. I have been partof WLA Taiko since its inception, but prior tothat, I had my own group called Tenshin Taiko.Playing is not only enjoyable, it is also greatexercise, and we can ALL use some exercise.

Aside from my volunteer positions, there areother facets of my life. I enjoy cooking (because Ilove to eat), jogging (because I love to eat),playing piano (or should I say playing at piano),concerts, plays, traveling, and being BWAPresident. Yes, I did include being BWA

President. I was very honored to have beenasked to be President this year. I promise I willdo my best during my tenure and I inviteanyone to contact me about ANY issues youmay have regarding BWA matters. My emailaddress is: [email protected]. I wantto see our organization grow in numbers. I wantour group to be more active. I have plenty ofideas, but I can’t do it alone. Please come outand join us at our monthly meetings. As Imentioned previously, I’ll do whatever I can,even if it means picking you up personally andbringing you to the temple. To borrow a linefrom Nike—JUST DO IT! See you soon!

BWA NEWS Yasuko Shohara

2009 ended on a sad note with the news of thesudden passing of Mr. Masayuki Matsumune,father of Haru Matsumune. His funeral washeld in Salinas.

Having read the previous column by our veryenergetic and youthful president, ConnieYahata, we can see that we will have a very fullschedule of activities this year.

Our April meeting will take place on Sunday,April 4, from 12:00 noon. Matinee with BWA willfollow at 1:00 p.m. The flyer on the next pagehas more details.

BWA will be toban for the Eshinni/Kakushinni/Takeko Kujo Service on April 11. Please comeand listen to Rev. Seikan Fukuma speak aboutthese three ladies who contributed so much tothe development of Jodo Shinshu.

FEBRUARY 80+ BIRTHDAYS

Alice Umeda Kiyo TeramayeTorako Akutagawa


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MATINEE WITH BWAPresents

Always: Sunset on Third StreetSanchome no Yuhi

a film by Takashi Yamazaki(in Japanese with English subtitles)

Date: April 4, 2010Time: 1:00 p.m.Location: WLABT Social Hall

2003 Corinth Ave. WLA

FREE SHOW – Family and friends welcomePopcorn and drinks will be served


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BUDDHIST MEN NEWSDr. Jack Fujimoto

Hanamatsuri (Flower Festival)service this year is April 4,2010. Buddhist Men are tobanand therefore, our members areencouraged to attend thisimportant service celebratingthe birthday of Sakyamuni

Buddha.

Monthly meeting of Buddhist Men is set for7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 8 (week after AprilFool's Day). Upcoming matters include our rolein the July Obon Festival, revising our bylaws,and other matters to be posted by PresidentMilton Iwamoto.

E-Mail addresses are becoming the way ofcommunicating. Members are urged to securean address (if you do not have one) andtransmit it to me (BM corresponding secretary)and Sei Shohara (BM recording secretary andBulletin editor) to receive Buddhist Men notices,Temple Bulletins, and other importantannouncements online rather than by “snailmail.” Buddhist Men notices sent by snail mail

require postage expense and more labor to print,fold, and mail. And this postage and labor issubstntially higher in the case of the Bulletin.

VENICE HBT’S FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARYCELEBRATION GOLF TOURNAMENT

As part of Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple’s50th Anniversary Celebration, WLABT golfers areinvited to a fund-raising golf tournament onFriday, May 14, at the Skylinks golf course inLong Beach, with check-in at 6:30 a.m. Theentry fee is $135, which includes golfing, cart,buffet lunch, and goodie bag.

The proceeds from the tournament will be usedto help refurbish Venice’s onaijin (altar), whichis estimated to cost $130,000 partly becausethe work will be done in Japan. Tournamentsponsorships are available at various levels from$800 to $25, and prize donations will begratefully appreciated as well.

If you are interested, contact Rev. Usuki, anavid golfer himself, at our Temple Office, 310-477-7274. Let’s support our neighboring sistertemple in their vital 50th anniversary project.

COMING on KCETApril 7 8:00 p.m.

The Buddha

Amazon’s description of the to-be-released DVD of this film reads:

Two and a half millennia ago, a new religion was born innorthern India, generated from the ideas of a single man,the Buddha, a mysterious Indian sage who famouslygained enlightenment while he sat under a large, shapelyfig tree. The Buddha never claimed to be God or hisemissary on earth. He said only that he was a humanbeing who, in a world of unavoidable pain and suffering,had found a kind of serenity that others could find, too.This documentary by award-winning filmmaker DavidGrubin tells the story of his life, a journey especiallyrelevant in our own bewildering times of violent changeand spiritual confusion. Richard Gere narrates.


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2010 SOUTHERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE ANNOUNCED

As the flyer below announces, this year’s Southern District Conference will convene at SenshinBuddhist Temple on Saturday, June 12. Attendance is expected from Southern District temples andtheir BWAs and Dharma Schools.

The provocative theme “Will I Really Meet Obachan in the Pure Land?” promises an interesting day. Thekeynote speaker in the morning will be Rev. Tetsuo Unno speaking in both English and Japanese, andthe afternoon session will be a zadankai, with everyone participating in the discussion of the theme.

Registration deadline is May 2, so watch for registration details and transportation plans through yourorganization. Or contact the Temple Office.


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I DIDN’T KNOW THAT ABOUT …

Rob Kafka

The Ventana Wilderness Alliance (VWA) WinterGathering took place on January 30, 2010 atMarina, California (northeast of Monterey) withRob Kafka, our President-Elect, as the featuredspeaker. A Ventana meeting invitation reads:

This year’s gathering willfeature Jeffers scholarand VWA member RobKafka. Rob will guide uson a visual and literaryjourney to the Big Surcountry, as seen throughthe short verses and epic narratives ofCalifornia’s greatest poet.

The “greatest poet” referred to here is RobinsonJeffers.

Rip Rense

Our Buddhist Education Committee chair(jointly with Annie Chuck) is the ExecutiveProducer of a recently released CD titled ThePersuasions—Live at McCabe’s Guitar Shop.What is this CD about? Short excerpts from theCD insert written by Rip himself may give a feel:

It was my cherished privi-lege to get to know andwork with The Pers for anumber of years, … Witharranger Jerry Lawson’spartnership, we managedto bring off some winning

projects: their multi-award winning chil-dren's album, “On the Good Ship Lolli-pop,” the fabulous tribute to Zappa,“Frankly A Cappella: The PersuasionsSing Zappa, …

Fate is a funny thing. I was a longtimeZappa fan and a longtime Persuasions fan.Never imagined that I would one day havethe pleasure of becoming friends withFrank (so terribly missed!), and also with… (The Pers) … I certainly never imaginedthat there would be an almost literalharmonic convergence of the two, butthat's what happened, and it started atMcCabe’s. It was there that I nearly felldown laughing after hearing The Pers singZappa’s mordant skewering of “Jesusfreaks,” “The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing.”I turned to my future wife, Annie, andsaid, “Somebody needs to get them to

make a whole album of Zappa.” To whichshe replied, “Well, why don't you?”

She didn’t know what she was getting meinto.

It was during the time I worked to get“Frankly A Cappella” rolling that ThePersuasions came back to McCabe’s, forthe last time … I decided that at least oneof these joyful, nearly miraculous eve-nings with this singular American groupneeded to be put on tape.

Eleven years later, you have the result inhand. I hope it knocks your socks off.

―Los Angeles, 2009

Footnote: In this excerpt, Rip refers to “futurewife, Annie.” On May 17, 2008, Rev. Usukiperformed the ceremony that bonded Rip andAnnie Chuck into husband and wife.

Friday

April 16

7:30 p.m.

April 2010

Saturday Buddhism Classes

April 10 at 10:00 a.m.

April 17 at 10:00 a.m.

(Thursday afternoon study classes continue)

E-Mail Addresses Wanted

We would like to increase the number ofBulletins we send by e-mail.

You get it in color and get it earlier than paperones mailed through the post office. Photos areclearer, and it saves us a lot of postage andlabor. Please give us your e-mail address.


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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple

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April 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Office hours: 10 am - 4 pm

Phone: 310-477-7274E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: www.wlabt.org

Bulletin foldingtoban:

Asoka Fujinkai

1

1 pm Study Class (E)

7:30 pm Taiko

2 3

10 am Shotsuki hoyo

49:30 am Hanamatsuriand Hatsumairi svc12 pm BWA mtg1 pm Matinee w/BWA

Oxnard: 2 pm Hana-matsuri svc, brunch

5

7:30 pm Service andboard mtg

6 7 8


7:00 pm B-Men mtg7:30 pm Taiko

9 10

10 am Buddhismclass

119 am Jr YBA class

10 am Eshinni, Kaku-shinni, Takeko Kujomemorial serviceRev. S. Fukuma (J)

12 13

10:30 am SDMA mtgat LA Betsuin

14

7:30 pm Obon mtg

15


7:30 pm Taiko

16

7:30 pm Bingo

17

10 am Buddhismclass

18

9:30 am Service/discussion

19 20 21 22


7:30 pm Taiko

23

4/23-25 (Fri-Sun):hosted by

24

FDSTL conferenceSouthern District

25NO service atWLABT

FDSTL conference

26

12 pm 80+ lunch

27 28

7:30 pm Asokaservice and mtg

29


7:30 pm Taiko

30

West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple

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UCLA seeks Japanese American students whoseeducation was interrupted during World War IIBy Claudia Luther February 17, 2010UCLA is searching for Japanese American students from the early 1940s who were forced to interrupt theireducation at UCLA when federal orders sent Japanese Americans to internment camps during World War II. Thishistoric "wrong" will be righted on May 15, when UCLA bestows honorary degrees on these students.

Some of the former students, most now in their 80s and 90s, are expected to attend the ceremony, and familymembers will receive diplomas on behalf of others who are unable to attend. Still others will receive diplomasby mail. Many former students are deceased.

Approximately 700 University of California students were affected by the World War II directive, more than 200of whom attended UCLA. The UC Board of Regents voted last July to suspend its moratorium on honorarydegrees in order to recognize the students forced from UC classrooms.

"It's never too late to join with others throughout the nation in recognizing that the mass removal andincarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II was wrong," said Don Nakanishi, who is chairman ofUCLA's honorary degree task force, professor emeritus and director of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center."More than 700 UC students had to terminate their studies at UCLA and other campuses, and most neverreceived degrees from these institutions."

Nakanishi added that by honoring these former students, "We acknowledge the many diverse contributions theymade to campus life in student government, athletics and academics and formally welcome them back to ouracademic communities."

The keynote speaker at UCLA's honorary degree event will be state Assemblyman Warren Furutani (D-SouthLos Angeles County), who carried legislation in the Assembly calling on California's higher education institutionsto extend honorary degrees to individuals whose college education was disrupted. The ceremony at UCLA, whichis the fourth of the UC campuses to bestow these honorary degrees, will take place on the same day as thecampus's annual Alumni Day.

UCLA is encouraging family members and others to help identify UCLA students who were unable to graduatebecause of internment and is asking that information be sent to Patricia Lippert, associate director of specialevents and protocol at UCLA: [email protected] or 310-794-8604.

In addition to Nakanishi and Lippert, the members of the UCLA honorary degree task force are Anita Cotter,UCLA registrar; Margaret Leal-Sotelo, assistant provost in the chancellor's office; Gann Matsuda, technologydirector of the School Management Program at the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies; ValerieMatsumoto, professor of history and Asian American studies; Karen Nakasato, internal vice president ofthe Nikkei Student Union; Julie Sina, chief of staff for the College of Letters and Science; and Paul Terasaki,professor emeritus of surgery.

For more news, visit the UCLA Newsroom and follow us on Twitter.

ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY SERVICEANNOUNCEMENT

We thank Grace Murayama, daughter of AtsieMurayama, for bringing this press release fromUCLA to our attention.

WEST LOS ANGELES BUDDHIST TEMPLE2003 Corinth AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90025

Return Service Requested

Major Religious Services for April 2010(See Calendar page for schedules of regular services)

April 2010

Sunday, April 4

9:30 a.m.

Hanamatsuri and Hatsumairi

service

Sunday, April 11

10:00 a.m.

Eshinni, Kakushinni, and Takeko Kujo

memorial service

J. Guest Speaker: Rev. Seikan Fukuma

Non-Profit Org.U. S. Postage

PAIDLos Angeles, CAPermit No. 20953

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