Professional Documents
Culture Documents
(#1181-1211)
JODO-E SERVICE
Jodo-E (sometimes referred to as Bodhi Day) is the day that Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. The Hawaii Buddhist Council*, invites everyone to join in the Jodo-E Service: This year it will be held at the Soto Mission of Hawaii.
NEW YEARS EVE At this time of the year, Buddhist temples observe two kinds of special services to welcome the New Year. They are New Years Eve service and New Years Day service. Have you attended these services before? If not, the following are meanings for these services. New Years Eve Service. New Years Eve service is one of the most familiar annual ceremonies for Buddhists in Japan. Here in Hawaii, New Years Eve Service is observed with the ringing of the Temple Bell at each Buddhist Temple. When we listen solemnly to the sounds of the bell in the silent midnight atmosphere, we reflect in ourselves, and have a feeling of deep meditation. Do you know why the temple bell rings 108 times on New Years Eve? To ring the bell 108 times signifies the dispelling of 108 evil passions which all human beings have. According to Buddhism we have 108 different kinds of evil thoughts in our minds. While the temple bell is rung, we pray to dispel our evil passions and thoughts. Japanese people call that night Joya. Joya means the very night when we should try to dispel all evil things in our lives. The New Years Eve service gives us a good opportunity to meditate and reflect on our life on this last day of the year. And it is also a time to express our gratitude to every blessing which we have received in our lives and at the same time to our ancestors, parents, our country and our Lord Amida Buddha. In so doing, we can welcome a most Happy New Year! New Years Day Service. New Years Day Service is another special service held on January 1st. New Years Day has three beginnings. It is the beginning of a new day, a new month and a new year. Therefore, it is a very important and significant day. Buddhist temples have a special service which is called Shusho-e. This service means a religious gathering to reflect on the past life (year) and correct it and think of the New Year with hopes of a better life. We can reflect on our past lives (years), confess to past deeds, and resolve for a better life by following the teachings of Amida Buddha. And we can begin the New Year with hopes for the future. These two services have long been the practices for Buddhists to finish the old year and begin the first day of the New Year. In so doing, you can begin the New Year with strengthened faith in Amida Buddha.
Page 2
OMAMORI
Omamori are spiritual charms, talismans, and amulets in Japanese religious tradition that possess the power to ward off misfortune and procure good luck. They can be made of pieces of wood, patches of cloth, strips of paper, or rings of metal and come in various sizes though the majority found in Hawaii tend to be no larger than the size of ones palm. Omamori can often be seen dangling from car rearview mirrors or pasted on bumpers and windshields where they are at once expressions of faith and portals of magical power. They can also be worn on the body or placed in the home as symbols of protection of the Buddhas. It is even fashionable to attach omamori to handbags and schoolbags. Omamoris are available at Jodo Mission. Please call Jodo Mission at 949-3995 for more information.
13
201112
15421616 1615250 Vol. 13 The Tokugawa Shoguns Crest (Dec. 2011) Over the inside entrance to the sanctuary, you can see a big banner showing two family crests. The right one is St. Honens crest, and the left one is Tokugawa Shoguns crest. Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616) became the first Shogun of the Edo government in 1603. He was a religious man and was called the Nembutsu Shogun. Even now, we can find many Nembutsu writings by Ieyasu. He is said to have chanted Namu Amida Butsu 60,000 times a day. Ieyasu and the Shogun family supported Jodo Shu and donated to temples such as Chion-in in Kyoto and Zojoji in Tokyo. That is why we display the Shoguns crest to honor this family. Ieyasu lived in a turbulent age called Sengoku. Conflicts between relatives and rebellions against the rulers were common. The country fell into ruin and the people were exhausted. People desired peace for a long time. Finally, Ieyasu won the battle of Sekigahara and unified Japan. He ended the wars and built a peaceful world. For 250 years after 1615, the Japanese enjoyed a peaceful world without war. The peaceful Edo period led to the prosperity of modern Japan. Please remember that religion was behind Ieyasus achievements and personality. He was devoted to his faith in Nembutsu for life. The teaching of Jodo Shu gave him great
Page 4
spiritual strength during this turbulent age. You should also remember that peace is precious and priceless. The Tokugawa Shoguns crest, or Aoi, is a symbol of Nembutsu and eternal peace.
Photo: Tokugawa Shoguns crest (left) and St. Honens crest (right)
*********************************************************************
Page 5
The moral is: Respect for the wisdom of elders leads to harmony.
Page 6
BAZAAR NEWS
Variety of plants. Can I see the red T-leaf plant back there?
Tons of clothing were available! The day started out with clothes stacked neatly by volunteers but as people searched through the stacks they became mountains!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday School
Sunday School invites Everyone to their End of the Year Party. Date: Sunday December 11 Time: 10:30 a.m. after Temple General Clean-up Malama Childrens Choir will perform before Sunday School Year End Party begins. Please come and join our Sunday School as they celebrate the end of 2011. ************** Sunday School will also meet again on Sunday, December 18 at 10:45 a.m.
Fujinkai
No Fujinkai Meeting in December
YBA
No YBA Meeting in December
Sewing Circle
No Sewing Circle in December
MOCHI
With the New Year just around the corner it is once again time to order our delectable mochi. This year, we will be selling Okasane and Komochi. Please fill out the mochi order form below or call at 949-3995. The deadline to submit your mochi order form is Thursday, December 8th.
Mochi can be picked up on: Thursday, December 29, 2011 From 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
And to those who would like to learn how to make mochi, we will be making mochi on Thursday, December 29th from 7:00 am. This is a fun and memorable experience for all, especially families (a family who makes mochi together sticks together). Please come and join us. It is a time to meet new friends and renew old acquaintances. We look forward to seeing you!!
KOMOCHI $3.50/POUND
TOTAL
SETS
LBS
DOLLARS
DOLLARS
Date accepted: _____/_____/_2011 (In person/ Mail / Phone) Date paid: _____/_____/_2011 (Cash / Check# )
Obituaries
The Jodo Mission of Hawaii extends its sincere condolences to the family members and loved ones of the following members who have recently left this world for the Pure Land.
Raymond Shigeo Kishida Wayne Shoji Nakata Fudeko Simeona Shigenobu Tamashiro 88 64 83 86
How to apply
Stop by the office, and fill out the application form. Each name costs $200. After the application is accepted, the name will be listed on the record.
Wedding Services, Baby Blessings, House Blessings are available upon request.
Jodo Mission Office Hours: Monday to Saturday: 8am5pm Sunday & Holidays: 8am3pm
Phone: 949-3995
If you are planning to get married or know someone who is planning a wedding or if you would like to renew your wedding vows, you are welcome to recommend our Temple. To pledge eternal love between husband and wife to Amida Buddha is very important. Baby Blessings: May Amida Buddhas love surround our children with love. House Blessings: May your new house, apartment, home be blessed. Please call for an appointment.
10 Hyoichi Sugihara Asa Nanba Chokichi Nakamura Hiroshi Hayamoto Ito Kawanishi Matsu Gushiken Jiro Saiki The Sugihara Family 11 Asajiro Inada Zenshiro Sato Paul Tanigawa Edward Yokoyama Hanako Uchiumi Inada & Morimoto Family Grace Saiki Beringer 12 RokuichiYanagihara Jisaku Yanagihara 13 Mosaku Hayashi Hana Imai Sachiko Fujikami The Yano, Konaka & Hayashi Family 14 Umetaro Ogata Yuichi Nose Tamikichi Yasuda Naoji Nishimura Yoshiko Tanigawa Tsuruko Gushikuma 15 Masagoro Kitagawa Yoshio Miyao Masami Kawamura The Kitagawa Family Ichiji Kiyuna Kisei Takara Manabu Omura 16 Fusakichi Okawa The Shigeoka & Okawa Family 17 Yasukichi Kaya Rinsuke Uesugi
20 Satoshi Yasumoto
21 Tokutsuchi Saeki Masao Yano\ George K. Kimoto Seiichi Kimura Judith K. Kodama The Saeki Family 22 Emiko Hirai Kama Chinen Tsurumatsu Miyamasu Umekichi Yamachika Kikuyo Goto Harold T. Hamasaki The Hirai Family The Chinen Family The Miyamasu Family The Yamachika & Matsushige Family 23 Tsuru Nakamura Teruo Asai Hideko Wada Giichi Kawamura The Nakamura Family 24 Totsuchi Nanba Tokutsuchi Muranaka Matsu Yokomichi Kame Yanagihara Ryuichi Ipponsugi Hatsuno Hirai Michika Umeda Gaines The Nanba Family The Muranaka Family The Nanba Totsuchi Family 25 The Sato Family Robert Mitsuyasu 26 Haru Ogawa Seiji Minehira Maurice Bungo Udo Shinemon Toishigawa
7 8
8:30am Morning Service Everyday Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
December 2011
1
**3:15 pm Jodo Shu Hour
Sun
4 7
Deadline to Order Mochi
5 8 9
10
11
**3:15 pm Jodo Shu Hour
12
13
14
15
16
17
10:30 Sunday School End of the Year Party 11:45 Board Meeting
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25 28
26
27
29
30
7:00 am Mochitsuki 1 pm to 4 pm Mochi Pick up
31
11:30pm
Joya-e Service
COMING EVENT: Shusho-E or New Years Day Service
on January 1, 2012, at 10 am Sunday, January 22, 2012New Years Party and General Membership Meeting