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.
- 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.
- 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