family service

Sunday Family Service

Today’s Dharma Talk was given by Bob Nishita. Bob shared a cartoon that he saw that showed two people facing each other with a sign in between them. One person insisted that the sign showed a “nine,” while the other was positive that it was a “six.” Both were right; they just couldn’t see it from the other person’s perspective.

He also shared a show he watched on NHK, The Fisherman and the Forest. The documentary tells the story of an oyster farmer Shigeatsu Hatakeyama, who is forced to rebuild after the 2011 tsunami devastated the ocean that he farmed. The story demonstrates the interdependence of all life, as the path to recovery is found in the surrounding forest.

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Hoonko Service with Guest Speaker Rev. Thomas Okano

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The Hoonko Service is the annual commemoration of the passing of Jodo Shinshu founder, Shinran Shonin. Our guest speaker for our Hoonko Service was Rev. Thomas Okano, retired Bishop of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii.

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Sunday Family Service

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Rev. Sumikawa welcomed the new year in our first family service in 2019. It is the year of the pig, the twelfth of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac cycle. It is a year to reflect on the previous 11 years and period of joy and relaxation. He also shared Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii’s theme for 2019, “Embrace Change: Transformation (Walk in Peace).”

We celebrated January birthdays today. One member, Patsy, is celebrating her 95th birthday. Happy birthday!

After refreshments, which included ozoni, we held our monthly First Sunday activity. This month, we made botamochi (ohagi), a Japanese sweet made with glutinous rice, rice and sweet azuki paste.

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Sunday Family Service & Jyo-ya no Kane

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For today’s Dharma Talk, Prudence Kusano shared a book from the temple library, The Banyan Deer, by Rafe Martin. It is a story of courage and compassion by a brave deer king who stood up for all living beings such that they could all live in peace. The book is available to borrow from our temple library.

We marked the final Sunday service of 2018 by ringing the kansho (temple bell) 108 times (Jyo-ya no Kane) and enjoying soba noodles.

Sunday Family Service & Remembrance Day

Today marked the second-to-the-last Sunday service in 2018. For today’s Dharma Talk, Rev. Sumikawa spoke about the Christmas holiday and how it’s a time to reflect on the interdependence of all living beings. It is a time to enjoy every family gathering and cherish the time together. We need to embrace each day with appreciation, as every gathering is a once in a lifetime moment, never to be repeated in exactly the same way again.

As today was the fourth Sunday of the month, we started the service with our monthly Remembrance Day. The names of those being remembered for the month of December were called and family members offered incense.

Group Ginger prepared today’s refreshments

Group Ginger prepared today’s refreshments

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First Sunday Family Service

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Rev. Sumikawa gave today’s Dharma Talk. He shared that the appeal of Buddhism is that we are able to apply many Christian or other belief systems principles to our own. There are many similarities and differences in each other’s approach in words.

We celebrated December birthdays today. Happy birthday Betty and Margaret!

After service, there was a very special guest. Santa (and his 100% recyclable beard) visited with the kids and adults and gave everyone a bag of holiday treats.

Our “First Sunday” craft activity was decorating ornaments with glitter. Each ornament was unique based on the colors that were mixed.

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Bodhi Day Service with Guest Speaker Sherman Thompson

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Bodhi Day celebrates the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha under the Bodhi tree. Our guest speaker for today’s service was Sherman Thompson. A member of Lahaina Hongwanji Mission and their Kyodan board, Mr. Thompson also serves on the Hawaii Kyodan board, Pacific Buddhist Academy Board of Trustees, and the Honpa Hongwanji board.

Watch his Dharma Talk below or on our YouTube channel.

Sunday Family Service & Remembrance Day

For today’s Dharma Talk, Shirley Yanagisawa shared three things in November that help us to remember and give thanks:

  1. Veterans Day: we are reminded of the many sacrifices of the past and present members of the Armed Forces for our freedom.

  2. Eitaikyo: we held this special service last week as our expression of gratitude to the many members of our temple whose dedication, sacrifices, and support have made it possible for Kailua Hongwanji Mission to be what it is today.

  3. Thanksgiving: we all enjoyed our turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, and other food items, some of which we are all still enjoying as leftovers days later. Shirley made her broccoli casserole on Thanksgiving, and she made it again to share for today’s refreshments.

Shirley asked each member to note three things we are thankful for. The notes will be strung together and placed on display in the temple.

Our next Family Service will be on Sunday, December 9, 2018, which will be followed by the Annual General Membership meeting. There will be no service on Sunday, December 2.

Shirley’s broccoli casserole, the recipe to which remains a secret

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Eitaikyo Service with Guest Speaker Rev. Alan Urasaki

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We held our Eitaikyo service today, a special service where we remember all the members who have come before us and their many contributions that have allowed us to continue spreading the dharma today.

Our guest speaker was Rev. Alan Urasaki. Rev. Urasaki is the Supervisory Chaplain at the Federal Detention Center. When he joined the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 2002, he was the first Buddhist chaplain in the Federal Prison system.

Click below to watch the complete Eitaikyo service on our YouTube channel.

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Sunday Family Service

Today’s Dharma Talk was given by Keiji Kukino. Kuki just returned from a trip and shared his observations as he attempted to win it big in Las Vegas. Kuki also noted that we’ve entered November, when those in the East and West gather together and take time to give thanks, Eitaikyo and Thanksgiving, respectively.

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