“No matter how busy we are or how diligent we are in studying the Dharma, we are already Buddhists in action!”
Joy Nishida shared a multimedia Dharma Talk on Buddhists In Action, which was the theme of the 2017 Annual Lay Convention.
Rev. Kevin Kuniyuki
Rev. Nakamoto spoke about sustainability and how it starts with just a little act, like bringing a reusable mug to Sunday service.
Our first Family Service since our summer break was also our Rededication Service. Rev. David Nakamoto gave today's Rededication Dharma Talk and reflected on his conversations with the late Rev. Dr. Alfred Bloom, who recently passed away.
Being that it was also our First Sunday Family Service, children and adults alike participated in two fun craft activities after the service: making peace bracelets in celebration of Peace Day later this month, as well as coloring paper dolls. The dolls are on display in the church.
The new uchishiki (altar cloth) donated by the Kailua Hongwanji Buddhist Women's Association (KHBWA) was on display on the alter. Rev. Umitani helped to order and pick up the uchishiki on one of his trips to Japan.
International Peace Day is on September 21, 2017
Today was our final Sunday service for the month of July, as well as the last service before our "summer vacation." Rev. Umitani gave the Dharma Talk, recounting his recent experience at the Accession ceremony and explaining the meaning of Kailua Hongwanji's newsletter, Kalyana Mitra, or "Good Friend."
Prudence gave us a preview of the next First Sunday craft activities. We will be making peace bracelets and coloring peace dolls.
There will be no Sunday services through the month of August. Our next service will be our First Sunday Family Service on September 3, 2017. In addition to the First Sunday activities, it will also be our Rededication Service. See you then!
We held our Hatsubon Service today, remembering those who passed before us and those in particular who passed since last year's obon. Families of those who passed in the last year were called individually to offer incense.
Rev. Umitani gave the Dharma Talk, focusing on the hatsu ("first") portion. The left side of the kanji character for hatsu represents clothes and the right side is a sword. To make clothes, one must first cut the cloth.
Betty Okamoto shared her thoughts about previous guest speakers' Dharma Talks.
Rev. Umitani shared that Hongwanji Mission School's summer session performance is Honk! Jr., a musical adaption of the Hans Christian Anderson story The Ugly Duckling. Performances are on July 14 and 15 at Honolulu Myohoji Mission, Maluhia Hall. More information and tickets are available here.
Dennis Tashiro gave today's Dharma Talk, highlighting several key events happening for him in July: Kailua Hongwanji's Bon Dance on July 22, the 4th of July holiday, and the upcoming Tashiro family reunion, which takes place every 5 years. While all three are distinctly unique events, they are all opportunities to express gratitude for those who've come before us.
After the service, we had two First Sunday craft activities for both kids and adults. We decorated fans, perfect for our Bon Dance, and we made 4th of July lanterns to hang at home.
Rev. Umitani gave today's Dharma Talk, sharing with us the difference between a "house" and a "home." The kanji character for "west" (nishi) depicts a bird settling into its nest, or its home.
We got a preview of next week's First Sunday craft activities for July from Dennis and Prudence. We will be decorating fans (just in time for Kailua's Bon Dance) and making 4th of July windsocks.
Yes, Cotton Candy grapes actually taste like cotton candy!
Our Guest Speaker, Pieper Toyama, President of Honpa Hongwanji of Hawaii, gave us a special Father's Day Dharma Talk. He shared seven Shin Buddhist principles through the letters written by his father while he was attending the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
Pieper Toyama was born and raised on a sugar plantation on the Big Island. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with a BA in English and Northeastern University with a Masters of Education Degree. His teaching experiences include teaching in high schools and at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
Pieper is the founding head of the Pacific Buddhist Academy. It is the first Shin Buddhist high school in the Western Hemisphere. One of the primary missions of the school is to develop students with the courage and skills to nurture peace within themselves, in their communities and in the world. Every facet of the school’s curriculum and operations is driven by the values of gratitude, compassion, mindfulness, and unconditional acceptance of others. Along with values, its peace education program is firmly based on the importance of critical and independent thinking among its students and faculty.
He is retired and currently serves as president of the Honpa Hongwanji Missions of Hawaii (state organization of Hongwanji’s 34 Buddhist temples).
He is married to Lois and has two daughters, Malia and Eily, and three grandchildren.
Our M.C. for today's Family Service was the Fujikawa family and Rev. Umitani shared a Dharma Talk about the writings of D. T. Suzuki, who studied Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, and the concept of living vs. practicing.
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