Members of Moiliili Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and Windward Buddhist Temple gathered for a joint service and summer picnic on Sunday, August 4. Together the sanghas shared Nembutsu Moments playing ice breakers, doing some mental and physical exercises, and talking story over a delicious meal.
Mahalo to the teams from both temples who planned and organized today's joint picnic!
Rev. Sol Kalu, Resident Minister
With the departure of Rev. Barbara Brennan effective July 31, 2024, Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani has assigned Rev. Sol Kalu to be Resident Minister of Windward Buddhist Temple effective August 1, 2024. We extend our mahalo to Rev. Barbara for her service and friendship and wish her much happiness.
There are no Sunday services during the month of August. Rev. Kalu will spend that time acclimating with his office and facilities and do some initial work and orientation with WBT officers. Rev. Kalu's will officiate his first service at WBT and share a Dharma talk on September 1, 2024. Please welcome Rev. Kalu to the WBT Ohana (Sangha).
Rev. Sol Kalu is from the Republic of the Philippines. In 1980, after receiving his BS in nursing in the Philippines, he served as a nurse in the U.S. for many years, specializing in dialysis.
On a visit to Kyoto, Rev. Kalu encountered the Jodo Shinshu Teachings and eventually followed the call to become a Buddhist minister. He received Tokudo ordination in 2007 and Kyoshi ordination in 2010.
He served two years at the Hawaii Betsuin, which was followed by an assignment to Makawao Hongwanji in 2012. His last assignment was at the Hawaii Betsuin and as the oversee minister of Mililani Hongwanji.
He has a faciity for languages, speaks Japanese, and enjoys writing kanji (Japanese characters). His other interests include snorkeling, martial arts, science, and travel.
Rev. Kalu was our guest Dharma Talk speaker for our Nirvana Day and Pet Remembrance Service in February 2020.
This was Rev. Brennan's final Dharma Service as Windward Buddhist Temple's Minister. Rev. Brennan will be retiring on July 31, 2024. Mahalo to Rev. Barbara for all that she's done for Windward Buddhist Temple over the last two years!
Rev. Barbara Brennan & Rev. Bert Sumikawa
Remembrance Dharma Service for Sunday, July 28, 2024 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Barbara Brennan. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service was officiated by Rev. Barbara Brennan and Rev. Dr. Bert Sumikawa.
This was Rev. Brennan's final Dharma Service as Windward Buddhist Temple's Minister. Rev. Brennan will be retiring on July 31, 2024. Mahalo to Rev. Barbara for all that she's done for Windward Buddhist Temple over the last two years! Watch our aloha to Rev. Barbara at 50:02 in the video.
This was also the final service before we take our annual summer break in August. There will be no Sunday Dharma Services during the month of August. Our next service will be on Sunday, September 1, which will be officiated by our new resident minister, Rev. Sol Kalu.
The monthly Remembrance Service is a time to honor family, friends, and even pets who passed away during the month of July, regardless of the year. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist church service was recorded at Windward Buddhist Temple, a Shin Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii.
00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program
00:11 - Ringing of the Kansho (temple bell)
03:18 - Meditation
04:11 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)
06:21 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)
09:38 - Remembrance
14:52 - Sutra: Sanbutsuge (page 46 in the red service book)
23:08 - Recitation: Shinshu Pledge II (page 6 in the red service book)
24:12 - Gatha: Arigatai
27:03 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Barbara Brennan
40:44 - Gatha: Namo Amida Butsu I (page 104 in Praises of the Buddha)
44:22 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in the red service book)
46:05 - Announcements
50:02 - Aloha Rev. Barbara
53:11 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)
54:27 - Summer Service Schedule
54:42 - How to Donate to WBT
We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description
Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook
Prudence Kusano & Rev. Barbara Brennan
Dharma Service for Sunday, July 21, 2024 with a Dharma Talk, "Generosity, Attachment, & So Much More" by WBT lay speaker and board member, Prudence Kusano. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist church service was officiated by Rev. Barbara Brennan and Rev. Bert Sumikawa and recorded at Windward Buddhist Temple, a Shin Buddhism Temple in Kailua, Hawaii.
Mahalo (thank you) to all those who came out to our Bon Dance on Saturday, July 13. We didn't have service on July 14, as it was a temple clean-up day after the Bon Dance. A big thank you to all the volunteers who helped with setting up the yagura, stringing up the lights and chochin lanterns, donating ingredients and preparing all the food for the Food Concession, baking manju, prepapring bitter melon and takuan and more, setting up audio equipment, and taking everything down after Bon Dance.
00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program
00:18 - Ringing of the Kansho (temple bell)
02:50 - Meditation
03:54 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)
06:07 - Sutra: Gassho With Amida
12:52 - Recitation: The Creed (page 4 in the red service book)
14:27 - Gatha: Shinshu Anthem (page 147 in Praises of the Buddha)
17:25 - Dharma Talk: Prudence Kusano
35:29 - Gatha: Buddha Loves You (page 24 in Praises of the Buddha)
36:59 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in the red service book)
39:14 - Announcements
45:14 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)
46:02 - July Dharma Service Schedule
46:18 - How to Donate to WBT
We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description
Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook
Rev. Jeffrey Soga
Our annual Obon & Hastubon Service held on Sunday, July 7, 2024 with a Dharma Talk by guest speaker Rev. Jeffrey Soga, resident minister of Waipahu Hongwanji. Obon is a time when Buddhists remember those who have left this world before us, with gratitude for enabling us to exist and to encounter the dharma. This was also our Hatsubon Service, for families of those who passed away since the last Obon.
The service was officiated by Rev. Sumikawa at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii.
Join us at our Bon Dance in Kailua on Saturday, July 13, 2024. One night only! Visit https://tinyurl.com/bondance2024 or https://windwardbuddhisttemple.org for details.
00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program
00:16 - Ringing of the kansho (temple bell)
02:58 - Offering of Flowers & Light
03:45 - Meditation 04:41 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)
06:57 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)
10:11 - Obon Aspiration
11:22 - Hatsubon Remembrance
14:28 - Sanbutsuge (page 46 in the red service book)
22:16 - Gatha: Obon Obon It's Festival Day (page 115 in Praises of the Buddha)
24:43 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Jeffrey Soga
51:53 - Gatha: Ondokusan/Gratefulness
54:19 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in the red service book)
56:45 - Announcements
01:06:25 - July Birthdays
01:08:09 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)
01:09:03 - July Schedule
01:09:19 - How to Donate to WBT
We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description
Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook
Mahalo to the team that assembled the yagura this morning for next week's Bon Dance. Our yagura is a bit unique in that it can be completely disassembled for storage. Each year the team puts all the pieces together, along with the lights and chochin (lanterns). We hope to see everyone on Saturday, July 13 at WBT!
This is my last message as WBT's minister as I will bid aloha to the Sangha at WBT at the end of July. I have mixed feelings about leaving. It has been such a privilege serving this temple and meeting all of you in this very special Sangha. I have been the recipient of your friendship, guidance, support, patience and warm smiles and laughter. But now is the time to spend with my three grandsons, Kainoa, Kenji and Renzo. Each day with them is precious. This next journey is as a lucky bachan (grandmother)!
While getting through life is no easy matter, it is in the midst of our challenges that we find ourselves illumined by the Light of Amida's Compassion. When we see ourselves in the Light of Compassion, this awakening imparts us with a lasting sense of peace that helps to get us through life.
Shinran taught that the true meaning of a person's life is determined by living with awareness of the Buddha's compassion moment to moment throughout one's life. The spirit of mindfulness and gratitude in which the words "Namo Amida Butsu" are recited is the key to our happiness.
Rev. Ty Unno wrote that for us to be grateful for anything, we must be able to recognize and acknowledge things done for us. He explained that the original term for gratitude in Japanese is "On" which primarily means kindness, goodness, grace, etc. Everything that we receive in life that sustains us is by virtue of on.
“Shinran taught that the true meaning of a person’s life is determined by living with awareness of the Buddha’s compassion moment to moment throughout one’s life. The spirit of mindfulness and gratitude in which the words “Namo Amida Butsu” are recited is the key to our happiness.”
Another meaning for on is our appreciation for this gift of life and our deep wish to compensate or repay it which is conveyed in the word gratitude. It is this word that is the basic ethical principle in the life of many Buddhists. Traditionally in Buddhism we speak of the Four Gratitudes - to Mother, Father, Buddha and Teacher of the Dharma. They give us life, nourish us and enrich our existence. To them we ought to feel infinite gratitude. We must be able to recognize and acknowledge things done for us. If we are not aware of the good that comes our way, no matter how many blessings we receive, there is no way that we can feel any sense of gratitude. There are so many things that others have done and are doing for us that we never know about. Not only do we fail to recognize the favors and kindnesses that others have done for us because of our egos (self-concern), we are unaware of the pain that we may have inflicted on others. Reflecting on the Four Gratitudes - Mother, Father, Buddha and Teacher of the Dharma-how many of us really and truly live in thankfulness for the countless gifts we receive from them? As we go about our daily activities, let us reflect on this life and cherish the memories with joy, remembrance and deep gratitude.
Jeff Wilson writes in his article Path of Gratitude: "As a Shin Buddhist, my primary practice is not meditation, sutra study, ritual or precepts. All of these can be valuable, but in Shin Buddhism our main focus is the practice of gratitude through the recitation of the Nembutsu, Namo Amida Butsu. For Shin Buddhists being aware of our interconnectedness involves being aware of the teachings of Amida Buddha and Shinran Shonin and to acknowledge the generosity of all who come into our lives."
Let us reflect each day on our amazing good fortune to simply be who we are, just as we are, in the here and now. And let us appreciate and make the very most of each miraculous day. Namo Amida Butsu!
It is with sincere gratitude I say aloha to all of you and look forward to visiting Windward Buddhist Temple whenever I can. With a warm smile and with hands together in deep respect, Namo Amida Butsu!
Rev. Barbara Brennan & Rev. Bert Sumikawa
Remembrance Dharma Service for Sunday, June 30, 2024 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Dr. Bert Sumikawa. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service was officiated by Rev. Sumikawa and Rev. Barbara Brennan.
Join us for our Bon Dance in Kailua on Saturday, July 13, 2024 from 7 pm - 10 pm!
The monthly Remembrance Service is a time to honor family, friends, and even pets who passed away during the month of June, regardless of the year. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist church service was recorded at Windward Buddhist Temple, a Shin Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii.
00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program
00:18 - Ringing of the Kansho (temple bell)
03:12 - Meditation
03:57 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)
06:15 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)
10:06 - Remembrance
14:52 - Sutra: Twelve Homages (page 120 in the red service book)
21:44 - Recitation: Homages (page 2 in the red service book)
23:40 - Gatha: On This Morn (page 119 in Praises of the Buddha)
26:08 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Bert Sumikawa
46:07 - Gatha: Flying Free
50:20 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in the red service book)
52:41 - Announcements
01:02:14 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)
01:03:01 - July Dharma Service Schedule
01:03:17 - How to Donate to WBT
We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description
Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook
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