April 2016 The Newsletter of Mililani Hongwanji Mission Volume 39 Issue No. 4

1 Fri 7:30 PM Mindfulness Meditation

3 Sun 9:00 AM Joint Memorial & Family Service

10:15 AM BWA Meeting

5 Tue 8-12N Flower Arrangement Class

8 Fri 9--12PM BWA (Salt Lake Reading Program) Carpool at 8:30 AM

10 Sun 9:00 AM Buddha Day Service at Higashi Hongwanji--No Service At Mililani

Hongwanji

12 Tue 9--12N Parkinson's Support Group Meeting

13 Wed 7:30 PM Kyodan Board Meeting

16 Sat 8:30 AM BWA Hosha Group 4

17 Sun 9:00 AM BWA Eshinni & Kakushinni Service & Dharma School

Guest Speaker: Irene Nakamoto

BWA Hosting Light Lunch

19 Tue 8--12N Flower Arrangement Class

23 Sat 7:00 AM No-Host Kyodan Breakfast at Zippy's: All Welcome

23 Sat 9:30 AM Ehime Maru Clean-Up/Carpool From Temple

24 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service & Dharma School w/Guest Speaker Timber Hawkeye

26 Tue 7:30 PM Bazaar Evaluation Meeting

28 Thu 9:00 AM Lotus Connection

29 Fri 9--12 PM BWA (Salt Lake Reading Program) Carpool at 8:30 AM

1 Sun 9:00 AM Joint Memorial & Family Service

10:15 AM BWA Meeting

6 Fri 7:30 PM Mindfulness Meditation

8 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service & Dharma School (Mother's Day)

10 Tue 9--12N Parkinson's Support Group Meeting

11 Wed 7:30 PM Kyodan Board Meeting

15 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service & Dharma School

21 Sat 8:30 AM BWA Hosha group 1

10:15 AM Hospital Visitation: ALL TEMPLE MEMBERS WELCOME

22 Sun 9:00 AM Gotan-E Service (Last Day of Dharma School)

23 Mon 7:00 PM Oahu Buddhist Education Meeting

26 Thu 9:00 AM Lotus Connection

28 Sat 7:00 AM No-Host Kyodan Breakfast at Zippy's: All Welcome

29 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service (No Dharma School)

Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii HEADQUARTERS UPDATE

(Go to Mililani Hongwanji’s website for full update)

Message

On June 6, 2014, I came to inherit the legacy of the Jodo Shinshu tradition through receiving the transmission from the Monshu Emeritus Ohtani Koshin, succeeding to the posts of the resident priest of Hongwanji and the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Monshu. Today, I would like to announce that the Commemoration on the Accession of the Jodo Shinshu Tradition (Dento Ho-koku Hoyo) shall be scheduled for the years 2016 and 2017. My succession of the Jodo Shinshu tradition will be officially pro-claimed to the Buddha and Masters, and through its observance, it is anticipated that the teaching of Amida Buddha’s Primal Vow shall gain prosperity and Hongwanji in its entirety shall achieve further growth.

Amida Buddha’s Primal Vow is directed without discrimination to every life and saves them just as they are. Despite our being filled with delusions and suffering, we are enabled to entrust ourselves wholeheartedly to Amida Tathagata’s great com-passion and be born in the Pure Land, the manifestation of the Buddha’s true enlightenment. Although everything in this world, including ourselves, is unreliable, which Shinran Shonin expressed as “empty and false,” we are always able to realize the assur-edness in the working of the Primal Vow.

Modern scientific and technological sophistication urges us to pursue convenient and luxurious lifestyles, thereby mak-ing our desires swell boundlessly. However, I feel that people have begun to realize the futility of these efforts. In addition, such factors as the nuclear family unit and demographic shift from rural to urban areas have forced the conventional social structure to change greatly. As a result, the bonds between people have become weak, causing new anxieties and feelings of uneasiness to arise. On the global scale as well, we can see that there are a number of issues that threaten humanity’s existence, such as armed conflict, economic imbalance, climate change, and the proliferation of nuclear materials, and it is anticipated that the situation will likely intensify.

Therefore, I believe it is important for us to listen to the Dharma. Listening to the Dharma clarifies for us the compassionate working of Amida Tathagata that always embraces us as just as we are and never abandons us. Hence, we should share our appreciation and gratitude for it with as many people as possible. As Nembutsu followers who are guided by the Buddha’s wisdom, it is important for us to take the initiative and actively carry out programs to cope with the numerous problems and issues in contemporary society. I feel that such efforts will contribute to the actual-ization of a society in which everyone is able to live a life of spiritual fulfillment. It is my hope that this upcoming Commemoration of Accession shall become a significant event as the first major step of our organization. May this occasion serve as the impetus for the Hongwanji to effectively cope with the changing times while upholding the traditional religious val-ues based on Amida Tathagata’s unconditional compassion. The Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha ad-ministration is currently formulating new long-term plans in anticipation of the 850th Anniversary of Shinran Shonin’s Birth and the 800th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Jodo Shinshu Teaching. We kindly request your active cooperation and participation.

Shaku Sennyo OHTANI Kojun Monshu Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha

January 16, 2015

Social Concerns: Bishop Eric Matsumoto and Dean Sakamoto, Com-

mittee on Social Concerns Chair, presented a monetary donation to Ms. Mary Saunders, Executive Director of Family Promise of Hawaii, on March 11, 2016. Family Promise of Hawaii’s mission is to mobilize existing community re-sources to aid families with children experiencing homelessness and help them transition to sustainable independence. The Honolulu Hongwanji Coun-cil have hosted families associated with the Family Promise of Hawaii’s pro-gram. Family Promise of Hawaii is also very appreciative of the support re-ceived from various other Hongwanji related Affiliated Organizations like the Girl Scouts and Buddhist Women’s Associations too.

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Confessions of a “Generation Xer” As a result of the annual legislative assembly, I have been wondering what it

means to be born as a part of Generation X. For those of you not familiar with the term, it is a demographic label given to those that were born in the 1960s all the way to the 1980s. In a recent 2014 Pew Research study, Generation X people were considered to be the “Neglected Middle Child” being that we are between the two largest genera-tions, which are also the generations that differ the most.

In our generation, we saw music change from records to tapes, then CDs to digi-tal music players like the iPod. We saw the rotary phone turn into the touch tone and then cellular phones. We were the generation that saw the first music video on an “All-Music Station” called MTV.

We saw on television the Chernobyl Disaster, the end of the Cold War, and we learned via Sesame Street. Economically, we are highly educated, but paid more and longer for college because our loans were at a higher rate than the generations before us enjoyed. When we graduated from college, we had no job, so many defaulted on their loans and ended up bankrupt.

Generation X is an interesting generation. The outcome to all the events in our lives has surely determined what we deem as important and how we set our priorities. As a result, we’ve turned very individualistic, cynical, and have disrespect for authority especially for the baby boomers, which sociologist argues, “made us this way.”

One of the things that Generation Xers had to learn was to be adaptable. In being able to adapt our lives to include the Teachings into our lives, we see that the natural byproduct is living a life not only of happiness, but of ap-preciation and gratitude. When you really think about it, although much of the life of a Generation Xer revolves around the “self” and the “me”, in adapting, we’ve learned to take care of each other and resurrect an old Greek concept and made it cool, we call it “Paying it Forward.” I know many of you have benefited from this. Although we may not be able to afford it, we still do it out of the kindness of our hearts. This is called selfless giving in Buddhism.

For Generation Xers, religion is at the bottom of the list. We grew up in a generation that went to church as young children, but never grasped religion, because we never quite understood what was going on.

I believe that the Teachings of Shinran Shōnin was made just for us Xers and the generations that have pre-ceded us and will follow us. In his time, Shinran made accessible the Teachings to everyone, so that they too could find the comfort of being embraced in Amida Buddha’s Infinite Wisdom and Compassion.

Even if we don’t have time for Amida, Amida always has time for us. In the writings of Shinran, he states, “Although I too am within Amida’s grasp, blind passions obstruct my eyes and I cannot see him; nevertheless, great compassion untiringly and constantly illuminates me.”

Coming to church offers us that opportunity each week to escape the world that obstructs our eyes and focus on ourselves spiritually and mentally. We should make every effort to be able to celebrate the working of Amida Bud-dha and express the Teachings through Sūtra chanting, celebrating the teaching by singing Buddha’s Praises, hear the Buddha’s Teachings through our shared experiences, and most importantly, take care of ourselves and our loved ones.

Often I joke that I too don’t go to church on Sundays, because I have to work. However, I do cherish going to church services when I can not only hear the messages of my fellow ministers, but also others that share in our jour-ney on the road of the Nembutsu.

Rev. David Fujimoto

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President’s Corner

Aloha Kakou! As Buddhists living our lives with gratitude, we naturally are always thinking of others, making sure they are safe, healthy and happy. How often do we stop to think about ourselves? Please remember your own health. Just in this past month, our members welcomed the Oahu District members to make Sangha Day the most memorable and proud to be Jodo Shinshu, volunteered with Project Dana, helping the elderly who are alone and homebound; and they attended an Alzheimer’s Training to be able to communicate better with clients. The Mililani Buddhist Women’s Association adorn our altar with beautiful flowers weekly, and visited with the clients at the Wa-

hiawa General Hospital Long Term Care and shared the opportunity to offer incense, hear the Golden Chain of Love, and spread the joy of music! Seeing the gleeful appreciative fac-es of the clients was reward enough for the ladies’ efforts. Of course, the Annual Bazaar was an extravaganza for the community! Everyone loved the Country Store, Rummage Sale, and ono grinds! Our temple leaders also wanted to engage everyone in defining who we are and Mililani Hongwanji’s role in the community in the 21st Century. You can count on me to continue to expand our Jodo Shinshu message of peace, compassion, and fel-lowsp. Finally, we also need to stop and reflect and enjoy Mililani Hongwanji’s mission and the journey. Thank you for all that you do for our temple and Sangha! Namo Amida Butsu. In Gassho, Rene Rene Mansho

California Pizza Kitchen Pearlridge Mall (Downtown)

98-1005 Moanalua Road

Open 10:00 AM till 10:00PM

(808) 487-7741

Fundraiser in support of

Oahu Jr Young Buddhist Association April 5, 2016, Tuesday

(All Day)

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BWA NEWS

Judge Ed Kubo, who was invited by Rene Mansho, spoke to members who attend-ed our annual membership luncheon at Paesano Restaurante on Sunday, March 13. His talk concerning “Elder Fraud” taught us to be aware of several recent kinds of fraud such as dumpster diving, skimming, shoulder surfing and red flagging. He emphasized that we should always report attempted fraud/theft even though you may not have fallen victim. Authorities keep track of these attempts and it may help them locate businesses/areas that are being targeted.

Thank you to the Program (chaired by Diane Yoza) and Member-ship (chaired by Joyce Ogawa) Committees who planned the luncheon and to Paesano Restaurante who provided prompt and friendly service.

On Sunday, April 17, we will be sponsoring the Eshin’ni/Kakushin’ni Day Service. The guest speaker will be Irene Nakamoto, Hawaii State Feder-ation of BWA President. Following the service, we will be having a light lunch for the sangha provided by our members. Please wear your purple BWA shirt.

The Ehime Maru clean-up will take place on Saturday, April 23. For lunch, following the clean-up, Janice Yasunaga has reserved the party room at Kam Bowl Restaurant (formally Kenny’s Coffee Shop) at the Kam Shopping Center in Kalihi. Maybe the famous “Kam Bowl oxtail soup” will be on the menu? If you plan to participate, be at the temple at 9:30AM to carpool.

The Hawaii Public Library (Susan Nakagawa at the Salt Lake Library)

has once again asked for volunteers to help prepare materials for their annu-

al Summer Reading Program. A sign-up sheet was passed around at the

March 13 meeting to select a Friday (or Fridays) in April to assist this worth-

while community project. See BWA calendar for additional information. If

interested, contact Carrie Kawamoto.

UPCOMING BWA ACTIVITIES/EVENTS

APRIL

3 10:15AM Sunday…BWA meeting in Ed. Bldg.

8 9AM-12PM Friday…Help prepare Summer Reading Program materials at Salt Lake Public Library…1st of 2 days…Carpooling to leave temple at 8:30AM.

16 8:30AM Saturday…Hosha Group 4 (coordinator: Nancy Tanaka)

17 9:00AM Sunday…Eshin'ni/Kakushin'ni Day Service. Guest speaker: Irene Nakamoto

23 9:30AM Saturday…Ehime Maru clean up…meet at temple to carpool.

29 9Am-12PM Friday…Help prepare Summer Reading Program Materials at Salt Lake Public Library…2nd of 2 days…Carpooling to leave temple at 8:30AM.

MAY

1 10:15AM Sunday…BWA meeting in Ed. Bldg.

21 8:30AM Saturday…Hosha Group 1 (coordinator: Bobbi Chang)

10:00AM Hospital visitation following Hosha. ALL TEMPLE MEMBERS WELCOME.

Annual BWA Membership Luncheon with Guest Speaker, Judge Ed Kubo.

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Please mark on your calendars the dates, Septem-ber 24 and 25, 2016, when the sixth Choralfest of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii will be held at Honpa HongwanjiHawaii Betsuin, 1727 Pali Highway, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Singers from all Ha-waii temples, plus a few from Japan and BCA, will assemble at noon on Saturday for an afternoon of rehearsal, followed by a welcome banquet at night, and a music service the following morning. Selec-tions this year will include Touched by Kindness (Shiawase ni deattara), Entrusting Heart (Marui ko-koro), Buddha’s Great Light, Where Oh Where? (Hotokesama wa), How Happy I Am (Go on ureshi-ya), and Gratefulness II (Ondokusan). The festival choir will be conducted by Honpa Hongwanji Mis-sion of Hawaii Living Treasure Nola Nahulu. Close of registration is April 30, 2016.

Honolulu Buddhist Council Hanamatsuri (Buddha Day Service)

Due to the Honolulu Buddhist Council’s Hanamatsuri (Buddha Day Service), Mililani will not be holding Hanamatsuri Service on April 10. There will be no service on that day. Please join us at Higashi Hongwanji on that day for the Honolulu Buddhist Council service. Service will begin at 9am.

$1,000 Kyodan Scholarship

Opportunity The Mililani Hongwanji Kyodan will be accepting ap-plications for a $1,000 post high school education scholar-ship. The scholarship is open to all 2016 high school gradu-

ating seniors whose family are members in good standing of the Mililani Hongwanji Kyodan. Applica-tion forms and instructions are available on-line at Mililani Hongwanji’s website: www.mililanihongwanji.org The deadline for submitting applications is on April 30, 2016. Applications should be sent to Mili-lani Hongwanji, P.O. Box 893308, Mililani, HI 96789 or dropped off at 95-257 Kaloapau St., Mililani, Ha-waii. Attention Scholarship Committee. Seniors should take this opportunity to defray some of the cost of higher education. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Cliff Togo at 625-7053, or 625-0925 temple office.

New Office Hours Effective April Effective starting the month of April, Rev. Fujimoto will be changing his office hours to accommodate the added responsibility of the ‛Ewa and Kapolei communities. Rev. Fu-jimoto’s new day off will be on FRIDAY, and will be holding office hours at ‛Ewa

Hongwanji on WEDNESDAY. MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY 9:00AM-11:00AM (Mililani) WEDNESDAY ‛Ewa Hongwanji Office Hours Please note that these hours are subject to change due to other commitments and meetings. Please call ahead or feel free to make an appointment.

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Mililani Hongwanji A Shin Buddhist Temple

Minister: Rev. David Fujimoto Kyodan Pres.: Rene Mansho Mail to: P.O. Box 893308 Mililani, HI 96789 Location: 95-257 Kaloapau St Mililani, HI 96789 Phone: 808.625.0925 Email: dharma.connection@gmail.com

Weekly Services on Sundays, 9:00 am

Visit us at mililanihongwanji.org

Dharma Connection A Publication of the Mililani Hongwanji. Sub-mit articles, photos, dharma reflections by the 3rd Sunday of each month for publication in the following month to Editor, Reverend Da-vid Fujimoto at:

dharma.connection@gmail.com 2 ways to get the Dharma Connection—the

newsletter of the Mililani Hongwanji: By snail mail—US Post Office will deliver to

your mailbox.—available by request only!

(This edition is online at mililanihongwan-

ji.org)

In your “inbox”—available by subscription

only! Please forward to friends and others

interested.

If you wish to receive the Dharma Connec-tion by email, contact dharma.connection@gmail.com Spread the news to your family members. For additional information check out our Fa-cebook Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mililani-Hongwanji-Buddhist-Temple/114271522485

Approved thank you monetary donation for leaders of temple programs (Judo, Aikido, Qi Gong, Mindfulness Meditation, Ikebana)

Minister 2015 Performance Review Report (Dean Sakamoto): The written report that was prepared and submitted to Bishop Matsumoto was circulated among the board.

Religious Services & Functions (Sharon Freitas): April 3 will be joint memorial ser-vice. Buddha Day will be on April 10 at Higashi Hongwanji. There will be no Buddha Day at Mililani this year.

Planning (Dean Sakamoto): Will hold a strategic planning workshop for the whole Mililani Sangha on March 27, 11:30-1:30pm

Adopt-A-Highway (Evan Babcock): 2016 dates - May 21, Aug 27, Nov 19

Please join us in a First Friday

Mindfulness Meditation 7:30-8:30 PM

Mililani Hongwanji Temple

Notice of Privacy The new privacy and confidence rights of individuals limit ministers from visiting medical, residential, and long-term care residents without the expressed consent of the respec-tive residents. The Mililani Hongwanji minister is more than

happy to visit members and friends, but by law, such visits require a re-ferral from the respective resident or family representative. A spiritual relationship with the minister can be a positive and spiritual experience for loved ones and their family. If you have any questions, concerns and/or would like a visita-tion, please notify Rev. David Fujimoto.

A Parkinson’s Disease Support Group at Mili-lani Hongwanji has been developed for our Sangha and for our community. The group will meet every second Tuesday of each month from 9-12 noon at the temple. This is

an opportunity for those living with the challenges of Parkinson’s, in-cluding their caregivers, to meet, share information, learn from different area of interest presenters and to form supportive network. Please call Rev. Jan at 342-6550 if you have any questions.

In Need of a Minister? Please call Rev. David Fujimoto at Mililani Hongwanji at 625-0925. If no one answers, please leave a detailed message, and he will get back to you. In case of a religious emergency such as a bedside service, please call Rev. David Fujimoto on his cell at 492-6649. His cell phone is on at all times, so please do not hesitate to call. WCCHC Adult Day Care at Mililani Hongwanji

Aloha! We would like to let everyone know that we are accepting applications for Adult Day Care enrollment. Do you know anyone caring for a loved one that needs respite or help caring for their loved one throughout the day? We are welcoming new clients. For any interested new applicants, we are offering tuition assistance. Please contact our ADC Director Trece White for more information at (808)561-2147. We are OPEN at Mililani Hale 5 Days a week Monday thru Fridays from 8am – 5pm; with early drop off available as early as 7am.

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2015 1st Year 2010 7th Year 2000 17th Year 1984 33rd year

2014 3rd Year 2004 13th Year 1994 23rd Year 1967 50th year

1992 25th year 1917 100th year

Joint Memorial Service for the families of the following will be held on Sunday, April 3, 2016, 9:00 am.

Please call the minister at 625-0925 and/or email dharma.connection@gmail.com if there are corrections or additions to the published list. Families may call the minister to schedule special family memorial services for their loved ones. For 2016, special memorial years are observed for loved ones who passed away in:

(February 23, 2016 to March 21, 2016)

General Donation Mililani Hongwanji Qi Gong Class Gloria Okada IMO Umeno Okada Russell & Dale Saiki Joint Memorial Service Deanna Sato IMO Harold Sato

George Ando Susumu Ando Tsuruko Asato Chad Cortez Hatsuno Fuji Flora Fujimoto Jane Hamamoto Tsuki Hashimoto Satsuma Hayashi Gilbert Hirano Nancy Hirata Kona Itagaki Chiyoko Kayatani

Kenichi Ito Masanobu Kawahara Shinichi Mashiba Mitsuko Masuda Taka Matsumoto Carl Mutobe Hatsue Nakagawa Anna Nakamura Yaeko Nakaue Makoto Nishioka Edith Ohara Susumu Ono Sumie Rodero

Donald Sakahara Noboru Sato Ronald Sato Kazuki Tanioka Saichi Tanioka Masayuki Tashima Sally Tateishi Hatsue Togashi Toby Tsunezumi-Shin Benton Yamanaka Inao Yoshino Dianne Yoshizawa

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Sangha Day

Lots of Fun, Fellowship, and Music.

Aloha, Mahalo and Sayonara

Rev. Jay Okamoto and Family

Columbarium near completion.

BWA at Paesano for Lunch.