Sunday Family Service

FullSizeRender.jpg

Bob enjoys history and his Dharma Talk included several bits of historical information. Bob showed three kanji (Chinese characters) and how from ancient times the first two were combined to make the third kanji.

門 – Mon (“Gate”)

耳 – Mimi (“Ear”)

聞– Kiku (“Listen”)

The third kanji suggests “putting your ear to the gate and listen.” Perhaps, in modern times the third kanji would suggest that we open the gate to the temple and listen to the Dharma.

In past centuries, foreign countries had influence on Japanese food.

  1. Portuguese sailors introduced kabocha to Japan bringing it from Cambodian.  The Portuguese name for the squash, Cambodia abobora, was shortened by the Japanese to kabocha.  In some regions of Japan, it is called bobora.
  2. Tempura and Anpan are also the results of Portuguese influence.
  • For tempura, the Portuguese introduced the frying technique of using flour and egg as a batter.
  • The dessert anpan is derived from part Japanese, an – bean paste, and Portuguese, pan – derived from pao, the Portuguese word for bread.

The above are examples of our interdependence and interconnectedness with others.

Dayle Kuniyuki, friend Grace, and Rev. Kevin Kuniyuki

,

Sunday Family Service with Guest Speaker Jay Sakashita

,

KHM President Prudence Kusano, Guest Speaker Jay Sakashita, & Rev. Kevin Kuniyuki

Guest speaker Jay Sakashita gave today's Dharma Talk about love from the Buddhist perspective. Dr. Sakashita is a Professor of Religion at Leeward Community College and a lecturer at UH Manoa. He also writes a popular column on religion in MidWeek called "Misfit Spirit."

Rev. Nakamoto Honored at Legislative Assembly (Giseikai)

Photo courtesy of Alan Kubota

Rev. David & Irene Nakamoto were honored for his retirement at the 106th Annual Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii Legislative Assembly (Giseikai) on February 10, 2018.

Rev. Nakamoto retired in September 2017 after seven years as Kailua Hongwanji's resident minister.

,

First Sunday Family Service

,

For today's Dharma Talk, Rev. Kuniyuki reviewed a fundamental teaching of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths.

  1. Life is suffering (dukkha) 
  2. Suffering is caused by greed, anger (aversion), and ignorance (not knowing)
  3. Stopping suffering can be achieved by eliminating greed, anger, and ignorance
  4. The way to eliminate greed, anger, and ignorance is the Eightfold Path

After the service, the sangha participated in First Sunday Family Activities. This month, members young and young-at-heart enjoyed a variety of Valentine's Day-themed crafts including valentine visors and heart-shaped pillows. 

We celebrated February birthdays. Happy birthday!

Battleship Missouri Memorial Visit

On January 28, 2018, Kailua Hongwanji visited the Battleship Missouri Memorial. Organized by the KHBWA, the tour included temple members and families. We learned about the rich history of the battleship that played an important role in World War II.

Neil and Jack were our very knowledgeable guides for the tour, recounting the history of the Missouri and the end of World War II on the Surrender Deck.

We learned about the kamikaze pilot who crashed into the starboard side of the Missouri and the compassionate actions of Captain Callaghan, who ordered an honorable burial at sea for the enemy pilot whose body was found amid the wreckage.

The Kamikaze exhibit, gave us a glimpse into the lives of the kamikaze pilots.

After a bento lunch in the mess hall, we toured the kitchen and living quarters beneath the deck.

Boarding the bus back to Kailua

,

Hoonko Service

,

The Hoonko Service is the annual memorial observance for Jodo Shinshu's founder, Shinran Shonin. With his Hoonko Dharma message, Rev. Kuniyuki took us back over 750 years ago and the evolution of Shin Buddhism.

Rev. Kuniyuki gave us a homework assignment. As a Shin Buddhist, what's my take on the missile false alarm that occurred on January 13?

,

Sunday Family Service with Rev. Nakamoto

,

In 2010, Rev. David Nakamoto came to Kailua Hongwanji and spent the next 7 years as our minister before retiring in 2017. Rev. Nakamoto was our guest speaker for today's Family Service. Click below to watch his Dharma Message.

After today's service, the sangha celebrated with Rev. Nakamoto at a retirement luncheon at the New Mui Kwai restaurant in Kailua.

,

First Sunday Family Service

,

Rev. Kevin Kuniyuki of the Buddhist Study Center has been temporarily assigned as overseer minister of Kailua Hongwanji Mission during the months of January and February 2018. Welcome Rev. Kuniyuki!

For today's Dharma message, Rev. Kuniyuki shared the story of how and why he became a Shin Buddhist minister. Over the next couple of months, Rev. Kuniyuki's Dharma messages will cover the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Members with birthday in January were recognized and celebrated. Happy birthday!

Following the service and refreshments, we participated in a couple of First Sunday craft activities. We painted "Year of the Dog" posters, which were put on display in the temple. We also made fire-breathing dragons using toilet paper rolls and streamers.