Are you living S.M.A.R.T. or with G.A.S.? That was the question Rev. Umitani asked us during today's service.
The younger members pitched in to help to clean the temple after we enjoyed refreshments.
Today's service was about giving thanks. The Eitaikyo service gives thanks to those who have handed down the Nembutsu teachings and have protected the temple through multiple generations. Rev. Umitani spoke of his home temple growing up in Japan, where services were held every morning, 365 days a year.
Keiji Kukino gave today's Dharma Talk, focusing in on two Japanese words that Rev. Umitani shared in a previous Dharma message: mottainai (もったいない) and okagesama (おかげさま). Kuki asked us to consider incorporating these words into our daily vocabulary, much in the way that other Japanese words have become part of our everyday language.
The amaryllis bulbs that we planted last week have started to grow.
Dexter Mar was our guest speaker at today's First Sunday Family Service at Kailua Hongwanji. Dr. Mar is a Hawaii Betsuin Certified Ministers’ Lay Assistant who serves the Betsuin temple and Honpa Hongwanji of Hawaii buddhist temples with buddhist education programs through the Buddhist Study Center. Mahalo Dr. Mar for your informational and inspirational talk! Dr. Mar's Dharma Talk, "Experiences Along the White Path," can be replayed below.
Families participated in several First Sunday activities. Upon entering the temple, everyone wrote down something that they were thankful for on an assortment of leaves. The leaves were hung from our Thankful Tree and is currently on display in the temple. The second activity was making paper-bag turkeys, which were stuffed with popcorn.
Finally, the children and several of the most senior attendees planted amaryllis bulbs. The bulbs will be kept at the church and will hopefully bloom over the next several weeks, just in time to be taken home for the holiday season.
Today's service by Rev. Umitani was about the Nembutsu. Though he had many followers of his Nembutsu teachings, Shinran did not consider himself to have disciples. Rather, he was given the Nembutsu, just as we all are given the Nembutsu. Our recitation of the Nembutsu expresses our gratitude for what Buddha has given us.
Following the service, the sangha enjoyed several spooky treats, including "worms in dirt" and spider cupcakes.
Prudence previewed next week's First Sunday family activities. We will be hanging leaves filled with what we're thankful for on our Thankful Tree. We'll also be making stuffed mini-turkeys.
For today's Dharma Talk, Shirley spoke of gratitude and how she's grateful for the sangha, who come together to help and support the temple.
She also shared a recent newspaper article about the Choose Love Enrichment Program. Last fall, Kaelepulu Elementary in Kailua became the pilot school for the Choose Love program in Hawaii. The curriculum is centered around four core values: courage, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion.
“You can’t always choose what happens to you, but you can always choose how you respond and you can always respond in love.”
“You can’t change the past. You can change the future.”
Bob Nishita's Dharma Talk was around two themes: "You can't change the past. You can change the future," and "You can't change others. You can change yourself."
Rev. Umitani shared the Buddhist origins of four Japanese words or expressions that we often use:
For today's Dharma Talk about greed and its role in causing suffering, Prudence shared Should I Share My Ice Cream?, a book in the Elephant & Piggie series by Mo Willems. The dilemma faced by Gerald the elephant as he debated sharing his ice cream with Piggie, and the surprising outcome, was one that both kids and adults could relate to.
Rev. Umitani & family
After today's service, we had, not one, but two fun First Sunday craft activities. First, we made paper spider hats complete with bulging eyes and eight creepy legs, each one uniquely decorated.
The second activity was making slime using glue and a secret ingredient (hint: it was saline solution). Everyone chose their own colors and added their choice of glitter to make it sparkle.
Today's service was about Ohigan (Autumn Equinox) and Peace. Rev. Umitani said Ohigan is when we should set aside time during our busy schedule to listen to the Buddha's Teachings for guidance.
September 21 was a day people all over the world celebrated International Day of Peace (aka "Peace Day"). Rev. Umitani said we should understand the importance of peace and that peace comes from within.
At the end of the service, the Sangha individually rang the temple bell ("Kansho") to announce our want for world peace.
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