On June 10, 2019, 12 members and guests from Windward Buddhist Temple visited the Bellows Japanese Cemetery in Waimanalo. Located on the military base, it requires permission and an escort to visit. Rev. Sumikawa held a brief service and flowers were placed on the approximately 30 graves, many of which date back to the 1910s. We are hoping to make this into an annual Obon service and invite the family members of those buried at the site.
Sunday Family Service
At today’s Family Service, Shirley Yanagisawa’s Dharma Talk was about the interdependence of all life. Shirley shared examples from her recent trip to Japan to visit extended family members and brought a few chrysalis that started as caterpillars in her yard and will eventually turn into monarch butterflies.
Sunday Family Service
Today’s Dharma Talk was given by Rev. Bert Sumikawa. Rev. Sumikawa described two types of Buddhism. The first one is based on learning the concepts and theories of Buddhism. It’s around studying the teachings objectively. With the second one, Buddhism is about experiencing the teachings subjectively. One’s self is challenged and negated. This is what Shin Buddhists refer to as shinjin.
To put it another way, the first type is like becoming an expert on food by collecting a library of recipes, while the second is about actually preparing those dishes and tasting them.
We celebrated our June birthdays today. Happy birthday Cynthia and Ron!
June 2019 Newsletter
Sunday Family Service & Remembrance Day
Dr. Michael Jaffe gave today’s Dharma Talk on suffering, both from a Buddhist perspective as well as from a medical standpoint. Dr. Jaffe specializes in pain management and he shared how both Buddhism and medical science can interact in managing suffering.
Gotan-e Service
At today’s Gotan-e and Family Service, our guest minister was Rev. Satoshi Tomioka who currently is serving as minister of Puna, Pahala and Naalehu Hongwanji Missions on Hawaii island. Gotan-e is to celebrate the birth of Shinran Shonin the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. In his message, Rev. Tomioka said that we must remember Amida Buddha’s compassion and that he embraces each of us just as we are.
Sunday Family Service
For today’s family service, Rev. Sumikawa started by sharing a story, Can I Play Too? by Mo Williams. As today was Mother’s Day, Rev. Sumikawa’s Dharma Talk was about mothers and their unconditional love.
The Dharma School students made flower arrangements using mini vases donated by Irene Nakamoto. After the service, every mother and grandmother were given an arrangement. We also celebrated May birthdays with cupcakes.
May 2019 Newsletter
Earth Day & Remembrance Day Service
Today was our Earth Day service, with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Bert Sumikawa. Earlier in the morning, before service, the Dharma School held a beach cleanup activity at Kailua Beach.
Dharma School: Earth Day Kailua Beach Clean Up
Our Dharma School students held an Earth Day beach cleanup activity at Kailua Beach before the Earth Day & Remembrance Day service. The kids, families and friends met at the Kailua beach at 7:30 am. After a brief service led by Rev. Bert Sumikawa, about 16 participants went about picking up buckets of trash. It was a great way to appreciate and protect our environment and potentially save ocean creatures and animals.
