Dear Fellow Member and Friends,
I am writing to inform you that the newsletter will move to a bi-monthly schedule in order to have enough material to fill each issue. Until such time when there are live services and other activities the amount of material will be limited.
This letter will serve as the February issue. The next newsletter will cover March and April activities.
February 7 Family Service: Rev. Sumikawa
February 14 Dana Day & Pet Memorial: Rev. Sumikawa
February 21 Nirvana Day: Dr. George Tanabe
February 28 Remembrance Day: Rev. Sumikawa
Dana Day & Pet Memorial Service
Each year we celebrate Dana Day throughout the Hongwanji world. Dana, one of the Six Paramitas or pathway to enlightenment is one of the most important practices in Mahayana Buddhism. It is selfless giving, with no thought of reciprocity. The short answer to what is Dana means that it is to share and give whatever we think that we possess. Dana can be done by material, time, space, a smile, kind and gentle words, and much, much more. In the words of Bishop Yosemori, it is to place oneself in the position of another and to give service with joy and gratitude.
Once a year some of the Hongwanji temples throughout will observe a Pet Memorial service in their Sunday services. This in gratitude to all our pets who teaches us unconditional love and selfless giving, and are non-judgmental. They do not care how rich or poor, what type of job a person has, or of their status. They teach us about impermanence. By a Pet Memorial, we are thanking all the pets that came across our lives and enriched us with their presence.
If you want to remember your pet on this day, please send in the name and photo, if available, to Rev. Sumikawa by February 10. His email is bertsumi@gmail.com.
Nirvana Day
Nirvana Day is an annual Buddhist festival that remembers the death of the Buddha when he reached Nirvana at the age of 80. Nirvana is believed to be the end of the cycle of death and rebirth. Buddhism teaches that Nirvana is reached when all want and suffering is gone.
On Nirvana Day, Buddhists think about their lives and how they can gain the perfect peace of Nirvana. They remember friends and relations who have recently died. They reflect on the fact that death is a part of life for everyone.
The idea that nothing stays the same is important to Buddhism. Buddhists believe that loss and change are things to be accepted rather than causes of sadness.
Dr. George Tanabe is our guest speaker for our Nirvana Day service. Dr. Tanabe was born and raised in Waialua. He graduated from University High School, Willamette University (B.A.), Union Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Columbia University (M.A. and Ph.D.). From 1977 to 2006 he taught in the UH Department of Religion and is currently Professor Emeritus. He is President of BDK Hawaii and Chairman of BDK America. He is a specialist on the religions of Japan, especially Buddhism, his books have been published by university presses of Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, and UH. In 2007 he received the Foreign Minister’s Award from the Japanese government, and in 2012 he was honored with the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun. George and his wife Willa (Professor Emerita of Japanese Art History) published Japanese Buddhist Temples of Hawai`i: An Illustrated Guide (UH Press). He still lives in Waialua.
Remembrance Day
If you want to remember someone who passed away in February regardless of the year, please send in the person(s) name and photo, if available, to Rev. Sumikawa by February 24. His email is bertsumi@gmail.com.
Please continue to keep yourself safe and healthy. I am optimistically hoping that we will be able to open the temple to services and other activities this year.
In gassho,
Prudence
President, WBT