Maui Wildfires

Over the past several days we have watched in disbelief the devastation caused by the wildfires on Maui. Our hearts go out to the Sangha of Lahaina Hongwanji and to everyone who has been affected by this disaster.

In Our Pledge, Gomonshu Kojun Ohtani encourages us as fellow travelers along the Nembutsu Path to “…share a life of joy and sorrow with others. Just like the Buddha, whose caring heart always embraces us.” This is a time for us to embody Amida Buddha’s compassion by caring for our Sangha and all who are in distress. This is the living Nembutsu that is grounded in our everyday lives.

The Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii Committee on Social Concerns has created the MAUI WILDFIRE DISASTER RELIEF FUND to aid the members of Lahaina Hongwanji and relief efforts on Maui.

How to Contribute

  1. Online at www.hongwanjihawaii.com by clicking on the “Maui Wildfire Disaster Relief” button under the “Donate” tab.

  2. Through GoFundMe at the following link: https://gofund.me/ff77a520

  3. Check and cash donations can be sent directly to Hawaii Kyodan Headquarters. Please make check payable to HHMH and in the memo line designate “Maui Wildfire Disaster Relief” to ensure proper credit. Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, 1727 Pali Highway, Honolulu, HI 96813

August 13, 2023 Update

 Statement regarding the Disaster on Maui from Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani:

Visit to Mo'ili'ili Hongwanji

On our first weekend of “summer vacation” we attended Sunday Dharma Service at Mo'ili'ili Hongwanji Mission. Mahalo for having us! A familiar face, Rev. Sumikawa, gave a great Dharma Talk. Rev. Sumikawa is doing double duty as the interim minister at Moiliili and as the oversee minister at WBT.

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Family Dharma Service

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Dr. Michael Jaffe and Rev. Barbara Brennan

Dharma Service for Sunday, July 30, 2023 with a Dharma Talk by lay speaker and WBT member Dr. Michael Jaffe, at Windward Buddhist Temple. The service was officiated by Rev. Brennan at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii. Mike's Dharma Talk is titled "The Dharma of Dopamine and Desire."

We will observe our annual Summer Break in August. There will be no Dharma Services during the month of August. Sunday Dharma Services at WBT will resume on Sunday, September 3, 2023.

  • 00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

    00:12 - Ringing of the kansho (temple bell)

    02:52 - Meditation

    03:42 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

    05:52 - Sutra: Sanbutsuge (page 47 in the red service book)

    14:29 - Recitation: The Creed (Ryogemon)

    16:02 - Gatha: Golden Chain

    18:13 - Dharma Talk: Dr. Michael Jaffe

    40:29 - Gatha: Becoming Free (page 18 in Praises of the Buddha)

    43:09 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in the red service book)

    45:19 - Announcements

    54:01 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)

    55:06 - How to Donate to WBT

  • We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description

  • Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook

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Remembrance Day Service

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Rev. Barbara Brennan

Remembrance Day Dharma Service for Sunday, July 23, 2023 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Barbara Brennan, at Windward Buddhist Temple. The service was officiated by Rev. Brennan at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii. Rev. Brennan's Dharma Talk is titled "A Time For Reflection" and she shares the Japanese art of self-reflection called Naikan.

She asks everyone to reflect on three questions:

  1. What have I received from _____?

  2. What have I given to _______?

  3. What troubles and difficulties have I caused __________?

Remembrance Day is a time to honor family, friends, and even pets who passed away during the month of July, regardless of the year. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist church service was recorded at Windward Buddhist Temple, a Shin Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii.

After the service, Yi-hsin demonstrated Chinese calligraphy using a brush and ink

After next week's service (July 30, 2023), we will observe our annual Summer Break in August. Sunday Dharma Services at WBT will resume on Sunday, September 3, 2023.

  • 00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

    00:22 - Ringing of the kansho (temple bell)

    03:01 - Meditation

    03:51 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

    06:11 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)

    10:42 - Remembrance Day - July

    14:36 - Sutra: Gassho With Amida

    21:59 - Recitation: Shinshu Pledge II (page 6 in the red service book)

    23:14 - Gatha: Arigatai

    26:02 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Barbara Brennan

    39:00 - Gatha: Hotokesama II (page 74 in Praises of the Buddha)

    41:09 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in the red service book)

    43:27 - Announcements

    47:39 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)

    49:06 - July Schedule

    49:19 - How to Donate to WBT

  • We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description

  • Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook

Caligraphy Demonstration

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Family Dharma Service

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Rev. Barbara Brennan

Intergenerational Dharma Service for Sunday, July 16, 2023 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Barbara Brennan, at Windward Buddhist Temple. The service was officiated by Rev. Brennan at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii. 

The first Sunday of the month features an intergenerational Dharma Talk for kids and adults. Rev. Brennan shared the book "Peaceful Piggy Meditation" by Kerry Lee MacLean. 

Dennis also shared a photo slideshow of last week's Bon Dance.

If you'd like to order copy of the book "Peaceful Piggy Meditation," it can be found on Amazon.com here.

  • 00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

    00:36 - Ringing of the kansho (temple bell)

    03:43 - Meditation

    04:37 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

    06:48 - Sutra: Twelve Homages (page 120 in the red service book)

    14:42 - Recitation: Homages (page 2 in the red service book)

    16:23 - Gatha: With These Hands (page 174 in Praises of the Buddha)

    18:41 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Barbara Brennan

    31:34 - Gatha: On This Morn (page 119 in Praises of the Buddha)

    33:38 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in the red service book)

    35:58 - Announcements

    37:18 - Bon Dance Slideshow

    42:55 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)

    43:48 - July Schedule

    44:01 - How to Donate to WBT

  • We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description

  • Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook

Playing Bingo

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Bon Dance | Kailua 2023

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A big mahalo out to everyone who joined us in Kailua for Windward Buddhist Temple's first Bon Dance at our temple in 4 years. We hope everyone enjoyed themselves, whether it was finding treasure at the Rummage Sale, getting a tub of takuan at the Country Market, enjoying ono andagi and BBQ stick dinner plates at the food booth, cooling down with shave ice by the Junior YBAs, learning about our temple from Rev. Brennan and Rev. Sumikawa, or simply dancing the night away around the yagura.

We were amazed at not only how many came from the Windward side, but from just about all over the island to attend our Bon Dance. The Obon season truly is a time to come together as a community and celebrate those who came before us. Thank you to all!

Around the Yagura

Food Booth

Country Market & Rummage Sale

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Obon & Hatsubon Service

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Rev. Bert Sumikawa

Our annual Obon & Hastubon Service held on Sunday, July 2, 2023 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Bert Sumikawa, at Windward Buddhist Temple. Obon is a time when Buddhists remember those who have left this world before us, with gratitude for enabling us to exist and to encounter the dharma. It was also our Hatsubon Service, for families of those who passed away since the last Obon. 

The service was officiated by Rev. Sumikawa at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii. 

  • 00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

    00:16 - Ringing of the kansho (temple bell)

    02:53 - Meditation

    03:56 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

    06:05 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)

    10:14 - Offertory by Families for Hatsubon & Obon

    16:47 - Gatha: Obon Obon It's Festival Day (page 115 in Praises of the Buddha)

    19:27 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Bert Sumikawa

    41:43 - Gatha: Ondokusan/Gratefulness

    44:13 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in the red service book)

    46:29 - Announcements

    55:19 - July Birthdays

    57:16 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)

    58:07 - July Schedule

    58:20 - How to Donate to WBT

  • We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description

  • Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook

July Birthdays

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Remembrance Day Service

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Rev. Barbara Brennan

Remembrance Day Dharma Service for Sunday, June 25, 2023 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Barbara Brennan, at Windward Buddhist Temple. As part of her continuing explanation of the elements of a Jodo Shinshu altar, Rev. Brennan shares the 7 Patriarchs of Jodo Shinshu, who are depicted on a scroll in the altar. From India: Nagarjuna, Vasabandhu; China: T’an Luan (Donran), Tao ch’o (Doshaku) and Shan Tao (Zendo); and Japan: Genshin and Honen

Remembrance Day is a time to honor family, friends, and even pets who passed away during the month of June, regardless of the year. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist church service was recorded at Windward Buddhist Temple, a Shin Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii.

  • 00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

    00:23 - Ringing of the kansho (temple bell)

    03:18 - Meditation

    04:16 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

    06:28 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)

    11:13 - Remembrance Day for June

    17:08 - Junirai (page 59 in the red service book)

    26:50 - Recitation: The Creed (Ryogemon)

    28:48 - Gatha: Namu Amida Butsu (page 104 in Praises of the Buddha)

    31:55 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Barbara Brennan

    47:20 - Gatha: Quest of Life (page 126 in Praises of the Buddha)

    49:18 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in the red service book)

    51:47 - Announcements

    58:06 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)

    58:53 - July Schedule

    59:07 - How to Donate to WBT

  • We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description

  • Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook

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Father's Day & Juneteenth Dharma Service

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Bob Nishita

Father's Day and Juneteenth Dharma Service for Sunday, June 11, 2023 with a Dharma Talk by Lay Speaker Bob Nishita, at Windward Buddhist Temple. The service was officiated by Rev. Brennan at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii. Rev. Brennan starts off the service with a brief discussion about the observance of Juneteenth and its importance.

After the service, Rev. Bert Sumikawa shared the history of the Buddhist flag that he received on his trip to India a few years ago. This was followed by the raising of the Buddhist flag on our new flagpole.

  • 00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

    00:20 - Ringing of the kansho (temple bell)

    02:55 - Juneteenth: Rev. Barbara Brennan

    07:51 - Meditation

    08:37 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

    10:46 - Verses Reaffirming the Vows (page 117 in the red service book)

    17:29 - Recitation: Our Pledge

    18:51 - Gatha: Gentle Hands

    20:39 - Dharma Talk: Bob Nishita

    33:29 - Gatha: Shinshu Anthem (page 147 in Praises of the Buddha)

    36:31 - The Nembutsu (page 107 in Praises of the Buddha)

    38:41 - Announcements

    42:08 - Buddhist Flag: Rev. Bert Sumikawa

    47:34 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)

    48:17 - Raising of the Buddhist Flag

    48:47 - June Schedule

    49:01 - How to Donate to WBT

  • We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description

  • Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook

FLying the Buddhist Flag

Myles Yamamoto, Neil Yamamoto, Rev. Bert Sumikawa, & Rev. Barbara Brennan