At today’s family service, in honor of Veterans’ Day, we recognized our military veterans and thanked them for their service. Today we were visited by Mililani Hongwanji Dharma School children and parents. The WBT and Mililani children made stone soup and did crafts together.
Prudence read a story called “A Swim” from the children’s book, “Adventures of Frog and Toad.” The story is one of several stories in the book about the friendship between a frog and a toad. The story Prudence read was fun for the children but also was interesting for the adults.
Today we celebrated November birthdays, but only Rev. Bert was present. Two children celebrated with Rev. Bert as the congregation sang happy birthday.
Our inter generational activity was Thanksgiving card making.
Today was a very busy day, starting with our monthly Remembrance Day program. On this day, we remember those who passed away during the month of October of any year by reading their names and offering incense.
Jennifer Kane, who attended this year’s Minister’s Lay Assistant Retreat lead today’s sutra reading. Bob Nishita gave today’s Dharma Talk.
Bob reflected on the importance of learning from the past while looking ahead to the future. Growing up, he remembered playing games and losing — and being a poor sport about it. His father would remind him that losing was something that would happen in life — you have to learn from it and move on.
Following the service, we had a parade of those who came in their Halloween finest and we enjoyed an array of spooky treats.
We held a mini-bazaar featuring 1-day sale pricing on a selection of items. We sold our remaining inventory of fabric cushions, luggage identifiers, and greeting cards, along with freshly baked mango bread, chutney, hand-crafted nenju, and fukubukuro surprise bags.
Finally, several volunteers remained after refreshments to assemble our November newsletter for mailing. Mahalo!
In his Dharma Talk, Dr. Michael Jaffe shared what he’s learned about Hawaii after moving his family to the islands a couple years ago. Dr. Jaffe has found that the aloha spirit is what makes Hawaii special and that it often parallels the spiritual principle of karma, or causation, where kind thoughts lead to kind words, which in turn lead to kind actions.
We were joined today by Cub Scouts of St. Anthony’s School Pack 223, who attended our Sunday Service and Dharma School. They read the story, Stone Soup, learned about interdependence, and took part in a fun physical challenge to untangle themselves through the use of good communication (and the help of some of the adults).
Today’s Dharma Talk was given by Rev. Sumikawa, who shared the principle of dependent arising. Dependent arising, or dependent origination, can refer to the cycle of rebirth in Buddhist teachings, as well as things depending on causes and conditions.
Today’s Dharma Talk was given by Keiji Kukino. Kuki gave a brief history of yesterday’s first ever Bon Dance Festival at Windward Mall and how it came to be. Kuki also shared how he came to the understanding through Shinran’s teachings that the remembrance services after a death are really for the living, as the deceased are already cared for.
After today’s service, we celebrated October birthdays and, following refreshments, we welcomed the return of our monthly inter-generational First Sunday activities. Today’s activity was a toilet paper pumpkin craft.
Happy October birthdays, Jett and Annette!
In collaboration with Windward Buddhist Temple, Windward Mall in Kaneohe hosted their first ever indoor Bon Dance Festival on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Attendees danced in air conditioned comfort around our yagura, repainted for the Bon Dance and relocated to the mall’s air conditioned Center Court.
WBT’s Keiji Kukino served as the emcee for the Bon Dance, which took place from 2 pm to 4 pm and featured members of the Ko’olau Sakura Odori Kai and Aiea Taiheiji Yagura Gumi.
At the Windward Buddhist Temple booth, our famous andagi, as well as homemade takuan, boiled peanuts, and Bon Dance towels were available for purchase. The food items sold out before the end of the Bon Dance! White paper fans were the perfect canvas for creative keiki (and adults), who stopped by to customize them with their own personalized artwork.
Rev. Sumikawa’s Dharma Talk asked the question, “Are Shakyamuni & Shinran’s Teachings the Same?”
We often focus only on Shinran’s (the founder of Jodo Shinshu) teachings. We need to remember that the true founder of Buddhism is Shakyamuni. Although Shinran used terms such as Amida, Pure Land and Nembutsu, Shakyamuni never did. Terminology may be different, but the essence of the teachings are the same. They obtained the same awakening – Shakyamuni: Bodhi and Shinran – Shinjin. They both said that “life is suffering and we need to understand this.” Their universal message was the liberation from suffering.
Scholars agree: Shakyamuni & Shinran had the same teaching – one authentic awakening by experience. They attained it and taught it.
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