BERKELEY BUDDHIST TEMPLE May 2014 Web Edition

the Padma
BERKELEY BUDDHIST TEMPLE
May 2014
Web Edition
Our Vision
A Community Where Our Spiritual Life And True Self Can Be Realized
Our Mission
To Live A Life Of Joy In The Nembutsu And Share The Dharma With Others
the Padma
May 2014
BERKELEY BUDDHIST TEMPLE
Sun
2121 Channing Way, Berkeley, California 94704 (510) 841-1356
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WEB EDITION
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NOTE:
For temple matters, please contact Rev. Matsumoto at (510)841-1356,
or leave a message on the temple answering machine.
Temple web: www.berkeleysangha.org
Temple e-mail: info@berkeleysangha.org
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Gagaku Practice
11 am – 1 pm
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9:30am Shotsuki Hoyo Service
Jodo Shinshu Center
NO DFS
BAZAAR CONSTRUCTION
Temple Bd Mtg
7:30 pm
9:30am Gotanye/Parents’ Day
Service
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SATSUKI BAZAAR
3 – 9 pm
Bazaar Prep
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Bazaar Clean-up Padma Newsletter
Starts @ 4 pm
6:30 pm
SATSUKI BAZAAR
12 – 9 pm
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9:30 am Dharma Family Service
11:15am BBWA Cabinet Mtg.
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HOLIDAY
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FUTURE DATES TO REMEMBER
May 4 - Shotsuki Hoyo at Jodo Shinshu Center
(due to Bazaar Construction)
May 4 - Bazaar Construction Day; No DFS
May 11 - Gotanye/Parents’ Day service
May 17 & 18 - Annual Satsuki Bazaar; No DFS
May 20 - Bazaar Clean-up
June 1 - DFS & Shotsuki Hoyo
June 8 - DFS & DS Graduation service
Don’t forget to pick up your BBT CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE BOOK Copies (one book per family) can be picked up by all temple members and current Dharma School families after Sunday services. During the bazaar, they will be available in the sushi‐packing area in the Old Temple (see Emiko). Additional copies will be available on a first‐come first‐served basis for $25 each. A limited number will also be sold at the BCA Bookstore. For questions, please call Emiko (510.841.1356) or email her at info@berkeleysangha.org. Ball of Twine
THE ARTISTRY OF JUDITH SCOTT (1943-2005) speaks to us from a place of disarming simplicity.
She was many things—a woman, sister, person with Down Syndrome, outsider, artist and human being.
I first learned about her through a brilliant film, “Outsider: The Life and Art of Judith Scott,” by Betsy
Bayha. The film was given an award in 2007 by CULTURE! DISABILITY! TALENT!, an amazing organization under the peerless direction of our own Liane Yasumoto. (Liane is another brilliant human being
who was recently inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame.)
Judith Scott was born in Ohio in 1943, when children with Down Syndrome were usually institutionalized soon after birth. She was lucky to be raised by a loving family with her twin sister and brothers.
However, illness led to complete hearing loss, which went undiagnosed for years. When she was seven,
Judith was placed in an institution for the mentally retarded, where she was to live in isolated and silent
anguish for 35 years. In 1985, her sister, Joyce, became her guardian and moved with Judith to the Bay
Area. There, at the age of 44, Judith had the first chance in her life to express herself through art. Judith’s
medium was “found art.” She would find items of various shapes and wrap them over and over again
in yards of yarn and twine. The results were multi-colored sculptures of odd, almost organic shapes and
features.
In time, Judith’s sculptures came to be celebrated around the world as brilliant pieces of “outsider art.”
It is said that “outsider art” arises from some inner creativity of persons who are on the fringes of society
and completely free of any wish to follow artistic fads or need to receive wealth or fame. But, even more
than that, I feel, the artwork of Judith Scott speaks simply and directly of the fundamental humanness that
we all share.
We, so-called “normal” individuals, have a hard time recognizing such humanness. We assume that we
are so much more able, or better, than people who don’t talk like us, walk like us, or express themselves
in ways that we consider “normal.” We are the humans. They are the outsiders: the poor, the immigrants,
the uneducated, the disabled, the retarded, the outcastes.
And so it often takes the voice of someone outside of ourselves to make us appreciate the fundamental humanness that we all share. Sometimes it takes a deceptively simple work of outsider art—an odd
shape wrapped in yarn or a ball of twine—to make us see that all of us are really just balls of twine. Each
person and experience that we meet in life is another piece of yarn or twine that creates our unique shape,
color and character. No one is better or more valuable than anyone else. Each of us is simply the product
and the process of “entwinement,” which connects us to all of life and makes us complete. The life and
art of Judith Scott express the beauty of the “entwinement” and “interconnectedness” of life, which we all
share and which allows us to realize the infinite value and promise of our humanness.
Namu Amida Butsu,
Rev. D. Matsumoto
May 2014
PRESIDENTS’ MESSAGE
The cherry blossoms are in bloom. The blossoming of cherry blossoms does not
occur independent of other conditions. The sakura rely on the soil and the rains to
provide nourishment through the year, allowing the trees to burst forth in their
splendor. Their brief yet glorious display reminds us of the transience of life. After
the blossoms fall, the trees depend on the winds to blow the petals away. From
Buddhism, we learn that the only thing that is permanent is impermanence…except
for the Berkeley Buddhist Temple’s Annual Satsuki Bazaar.
Our Bazaar Committee has been convening regularly since the start of the year and
the various members have been hard at work coordinating in advance of this great
undertaking. They have laid a strong foundation for all of us upon which we can
build. Just as our Temple continues to offer all of us a spiritual oasis and social
venue throughout the year, the Bazaar is more than just one weekend. It is a
process that occurs over time. We implore you to join all of us in assisting in the
creation of this wonderful event.
Some dates to remember are: Sunday, May 4, Bazaar Construction Day; Saturday
and Sunday, May 17 and 18, the days of the bazaar; and Tuesday, May 20, Bazaar
Clean Up. Through our participation we can convey our gratitude to the Temple
and those who have gone before us for all they have provided. It will only be with
all of our participation and esprit de corps that we will make this year’s Bazaar a
success; one that, based on all of the work performed before and after, will bloom
as beautifully as the cherry blossoms around us.
A quick note in case you have trouble at a cocktail party. The term “satsuki” is an
ancient term meaning “fifth month.” The kanji is 皐月 and it can be literally
translated as “swamp month.” Keep in mind that its use was based on the Chinese
lunar calendar and therefore it related more to the time frame of June in our
Gregorian calendar, which so happens to be a rainy time of year in Japan. A fitting
name for a month that is muddy!
We look forward to seeing you all and thank you for your support.
In Gassho,
Takashi Nikaidoh and Ron Hiraga
BBT Co-Presidents, 2014
COMBINED DHARMA FAMILY SERVICE &
SHŌTSUKI MEMORIAL SERVICE
JODO SHINSHU CENTER
2140 Durant Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704
May 4, 2014
9:30 am
PLEASE NOTE THE DATE AND PLACE!
Shōtsuki Hōyō Service – May
4, 2014, 9:30 AM
The following persons will be remembered during the Shōtsuki Hōyō (monthly memorial
service) for May.
Hideyo Adachi
Bill Goleta
Terry Hiramoto
Edward A. Imazumi
Shigenori Iyama
Chika Kawamoto
Michio Kono
Roy S. Matsushino
Naokichi Mitsuyasu
Yuta Morimoto
Miyoko Nakagawa
Larry Takeo Sato
Mary Bonzo Suzuki
Wataru Tsuchihashi
Kiyomi Uehisa
Ninosuke Yoshida
Douglas B. Davis
Junji Hamai
Kiriye Hiraoka
Kazuhiro Ishida
Toshio Jimbo
Stella Kimura
Kane Maida
Priscilla S. Mayeda
Kimiyo Miyaji
Fusako Morita
Miyoshi Nakano
Chizuko Shimada
Lucille Takano
Toshiko Tsujimoto
Kawayo Yamasaki
Toshio Yoshida
Sansuke Fujinaga
Florence N. Hiramoto
Yonezo Hirose
Tamayo Ishida
Shigeru Jio
Teruko Komure
Torayoshi Maida
Alma T. Hirose Miller
Ayako M. Miyasaki
Robert Nagahisa
Edwin S. Oki
Ginzo Suto
Kikuye A. Tokuyoshi
Toshiko Tsurumoto
Satoshi J. Yamasaki
Takehiko Yoshimura
Note: If there are any additions, corrections or deletions to the above list, please
notify the Berkeley Buddhist Temple at 510-841-1356.
What Do We Mean by Ignorance?
By Diane Ames
Buddhism teaches us that delusions are caused by desire, aggression (or aversion), and ignorance. So
what do we mean by ignorance?
The most obvious meaning, lack of knowledge of the truth, certainly can apply. But in Buddhist
teachings, ignorance can also mean something like what psychologists call denial. Now, we evolved with
a capacity for denial with a reason. Back when humans were sleeping in smoke-filled caves, living on
anything they could kill with stone spears plus any roots and berries they could scrounge on the
savannah, and dodging saber toothed tigers as best they could, they were better off being in a state of
chronic denial about just how nasty, brutish, and short their lives really were. Of course denial could
become counterproductive even back then. A caveperson who simply never thought about the local saber
toothed tigers because the topic was upsetting would probably soon be eaten by one. But all in all, early
humans were no doubt happier and better able to function for being able to ignore their existential plight.
Even in modern America, where life is in general longer, less difficult, and more pleasant than it
was in the Paleolithic, denial serves a purpose. We are happier and more able to go about our business
because we rarely face the fact that we are all going to die, probably in some unpleasant fashion. Yes, for
all but the most spiritually advanced among us, it is denial of that particular downer that enables us to
make the most of life while we still can. But of course we can all point to situations in which denial
becomes dysfunctional or even gets in the way of survival. For example, chronic denial enables us Bay
Area residents to go blithely about our business, scarcely giving a thought to the apocalyptic earthquake
that might happen at any minute, or to the God-awful drought that is definitely happening now, or to the
very real possibility that the drought will go on for years. If we ever do think about these things, we
comfort ourselves with the possibility that the earthquake will wait for a few more decades and that maybe
a strong El Nino will bail us out next year amid floods and mudslides. But the seismologists keep saying
that the quake is overdue; and the climate experts keep making gloomier and gloomier predictions to the
effect that California’s will gradually sink into ever worsening drought, punctuated by occasional El Ninos
that will turn into monsters, in the decades ahead.
It would probably not be healthy for us ordinary mortals to think about these gloomy facts all the
time. We would just become depressed and be unable to enjoy our grandchildren’s birthday parties. Thus
a certain amount of denial keeps us going. But if we completely ignore the situation and neither retrofit
our houses nor find new ways to conserve water, our problems will be seriously compounded. So denial
is ever a two-edged sword, but nonetheless a weapon we can’t really do without. It is indeed a cause of
delusion and an obstacle to enlightenment. But not only is a capacity for denial hard-wired into us weak
mortals, we can’t go on living without it. It is one of the reasons we cannot make spiritual progress without
Amida’s help.
BAZAAR CONSTRUCTION DAY
May 4, 2014
9:00 AM
Please come out to help set up for our annual fundraiser.
Everyone's help is needed and appreciated.
Refreshments provided.
GOTAN-YE
&
PARENTS’ DAY SERVICE
May 11, 2014
9:30 AM
Coffee social following service
BAZAAR CLEAN-UP
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Come anytime from 4 PM
Help is needed for bazaar clean-up.
The more the merrier and the sooner the
completion of task. Dinner will be served.
TEL: (510) 841-1356
FAX: (510) 841-1435
Berkeley Buddhist Temple
2121 Channing Way
Berkeley, CA 94707
April 15, 2014
Dear Members and Friends of the Temple,
On May 11, 2014 the Berkeley Buddhist Temple will observe Gotan-e,
a gathering to commemorate the birth of Shinran Shonin, the founder of Jodo Shinshu
Buddhism.
At the same time, we will celebrate our annual Parents’ Day Service, which will
feature presentations by our high school senior students. Rev. David Matsumoto will
deliver the Dharma talk for the adults.
We hope you will attend the Gotan-e and Parents’ Day family service. There will
be a coffee social following the service.
The Temple would appreciate your special donation for Gotan-e. An envelope is
attached for your convenience.
In Gassho,
Berkeley Buddhist Temple
Berkeley Buddhist Temple expresses condolences and deep sympathy
To the Family of
Mr. Ryoichi (Roy) Anzai
Shaku E Nichi
October 28, 1940 - March 24, 2014
To the Family of Dii Lewis
on the loss of his mother
Mrs. Minetta Normil
October 14, 1921 - April 9, 2014
Namu Amida Butsu
Namu Amida Butsu
Namu Amida Butsu
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The following is a list of special service years. If you have a departed relative who has
passed away in any of the listed years and would like to make arrangements for a
memorial service, please contact Rev. Matsumoto at (510) 841-1356.
***********************************************************************
2014 MEMORIAL SERVICE SCHEDULE
YEAR
2013
2012
2008
2002
1998
1990
1982
1965
1915
SERVICE
1st Year
3rd Year
7th Year
13th Year
17th Year
25th Year
33rd Year
50th Year
100th Year
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Dharma School Class Schedule
May 4: No Dharma School classes (Bazaar construction)
May 11: Parents' Day! Students have been working hard on a surprise for parents!
May 18: Satsuki Bazaar. Help out and have fun! May 25: Regular Dharma School classes
Thank you Larraine Nobuye & Detlev Gempf for donating a jump rope to the Dharma School!
A gigantic thank you to parents, Robin McGuire, Akemi Hamai, and Takashi Nikaidoh, for all
their help and support of Jr. YBA students this year! We appreciate you!
COMBINED DHARMA FAMILY SERVICE &
SHOTSUKI MEMORIAL SERVICE
June 1, 2014
9:30 am
PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DATE!
Shōtsuki Hōyō Service – June 1, 2014, 9:30 AM
The following persons will be remembered during the Shōtsuki Memorial Service for June.
Takeshi Ariyoshi
Jiro Fujii
Joseph Fukuda
Hisao Hamachi-Brillon
Sono Hataye
Giichi Imada
Masao Iwawaki
Shiki Ito
Edward Kurokawa
Tom T. Daikai
Norma Fujikawa
Yoshio Fukunaga
Masako Haraguchi
Chiyoko Hishida
Takeyo Inouye
Kaz Izumi
Marlene Keen
Hisako I. Mitsuyasu
Toshio Doi
Umeyo Fujioka
Hiroko Goto
Toi Hata
Hisayo Hooki
Richard Itaya
Tome Kaneko
Mitsunori Komure
Mitsugi Miyasaki
Niichi Miyasaki
Bert Morinaka
Chiyoko Morita
Eddy Morimoto
Betty Nakahara
Toshiyuki Nakano
June M. Okimoto
Kishichi Saito
Nobuyuki Sasaki
Kinichi Shiromoto
Asano Tanabe
Tomojiro Mizusaki
Kinuko Morinaka
Nobuo Muramoto
Shimo Nakamura
Shika Nishikawa
Hajime Ota
Mine Saito
Bunji Morita
Ren Muramoto
Gonkichi Nakano
Heihachi Oda
Haruno Oto
Sayo Sameshima
Ichitaro Shigematsu
Sana Sumisaki
Yoshijiro Tanabe
Yumi Shigematsu
Yoshibe Sumisaki
Tadashi Tanaka
Don T. Ueda
William M. Waki
Toyoko Oda Williams
Sumiko Yokoyama
Asaki Umawatari
Waichi Watamura
Arthur Satoshi Yamada
Toru Yokoyama
Tayeko Waki
Toshiko Watanabe
Katsuyo Yamada
Note: If there are any additions, corrections or deletions to the above list, please notify the Berkeley
Buddhist Temple at 510-841-1356.
ANNUAL BAZAAR CONSTRUCTION DAY
SUNDAY MAY 4
9 AM
BERKELEY BUDDHIST TEMPLE
ALL TEMPLE & DHARMA SCHOOL MEMBERS & FRIENDS INVITED
PREPARE & SET UP FOR THE BAZAAR
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
ASSEMBLING BAZAAR BOOTHS & OTHER STRUCTURES
PRIMPING LANDSCAPING – CLEANING AND TIDYING
HANGING SIGNS –LAYING CARDBOARD ON KITCHEN FLOORS
BUILDING HANDICAPPED ACCESS RAMPS – ETC., ETC.
GOOD THINGS TO BRING:
1/2” WRENCH
SCREWGUNS AND OTHER WOODWORKING TOOLS
GARDENING TOOLS, GLOVES, UTILITY KNIVES
COFFEE & REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED
QUESTIONS? Craig Griffin 510.910.9232/griflckj@lmi.net
REMINDERS:
SILENT AUCTION IS LOOKING FOR DONATIONS – Contact Miki: adachimiki26@yahoo.com
BAKERY IS LOOKING FOR BAKED GOODS – Contact Naomi: nfukumori@sbcglobal.net
BAZAAR WORK SCHEDULE QUESTIONS – Contact Karen: bbtbazaarschedule@gmail.com
Kenny Endo Returns to 2014 BBT Satsuki Bazaar & Arts Festival Photo courtesy of Toyo Miyatake Taiko master Kenny Endo will make a
return appearance and headline the
entertainment at the 65th annual Satsuki
Bazaar and Arts Festival on Sunday, May 18,
at the Berkeley Buddhist Temple.
When asked why he continues coming back
to perform at the Satsuki Bazaar and Arts
Festival, this is what Kenny Endo said:
“The Satsuki Festival is one of my favorite
events to perform at. Over the years, I’ve
performed there four or five times. I always
appreciate the temple members coming
together to work so hard to make the
festival successful every year. There’s a
positive feeling of community spirit that’s
been lost in most areas. It’s a modern
manifestation of true Buddhism.
“The [Berkeley Buddhist] Temple has also
been supportive of my music and efforts to
bring taiko to a new light by collaborating
with great artists in original compositions. Always look forward to performing
there, seeing my friends there, and always
enjoy the challenge to present something
that is worthy of the audience’s time and
attention.”
MAY 2014
Help us create the best Silent Auction ever! You would
like to help, but don’t know what to donate? May we make
a few suggestions? Brand-new or like-new, preferably in
its box:
Artwork: Japanese artwork, house-ware, ceramics, paintings, photographs…
Electronics: iPhone, iPod, iTunes, Wii, cell phone, MP3 player, digital camera….
Entertainment: civic light opera tickets, movie passes, Lawrence Hall of
Science…
Gift Certificates to your favorite restaurant, fun centers, spa treatment, massage...
Kitchen appliances: perhaps an unopened wedding gift?
Services or lessons: yard-work, construction, swimming, SAT, math, reading,
music………
Sporting event tickets to: As, Giants, Raiders, 49ers, Sharks, Bears, Cardinal,
tee-times at golf courses, auto-racing……….
Travel: spare frequent flyer mileage…..
Weekend Get-Away: donate your condo for a weekend in Tahoe, Reno, Hawaii,
wine country, Monterey bay…..
Contact Silent Auction Co-Chairs: Grant Din or Miki Adachi (510-841-1356)
Cookies, Cakes, and Cupcakes, Please!
The Bakery is soliciting your help to provide baked goods for the
Bazaar this year. Cookies in particular sell like hotcakes. Please
consider putting on your aprons and making a batch of cookies,
brownies or something yummy for the bakery. Popular items include:
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•
•
•
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Cookies of any kind are very very popular (no nuts though)
Pies (always a hot item) or a cake!
Brownies
Cupcakes are always popular with children
Or any special creation of your own.
Think of it this way – 100% of all proceeds from the bakery goes to
the Temple ’s bottom line. That’s a great return on a couple of hours of
your time in the kitchen.
Thank you for your generous support!
Your Help is Needed to Make Sushi and Manju
Saturday, April 26 at 9 am & Saturday, May 10 at 9 am
The sushi crew needs help on Saturday, April 26 at 9 am at the temple. That is the
day the age for the delicious BBT age sushi is being prepared for the bazaar. Work
alongside the experts (Susan Gabriel, Patty Fujiwara, and Yuki Otake) and learn the
secrets of the BBT sushi. Everyone is welcome, from old pros to people with no
experience. Call Susan, Patty, or Yuki or leave a message on the temple phone (510)
841-1356, if you can help or need more information.
Another opportunity to learn to make one of our bazaar specialties takes place on
Saturday, May 10 at 9 am at the temple when we make everyone’s favorite kuri
manju. We will need lots of help because we will be making a lot of manju to try to
meet the demand for more manju. Both experienced help and those who just want to
learn are welcome. Call Yuki Otake or Amy Shinsako or leave a message on the
temple phone (510) 841-1356 if you can help or need more information.
BBT Member Liane Yasumoto Inducted into Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame On Saturday, March 29, 2014, Ms. Liane Yasumoto was honored at the 21st Annual Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame for her work as a filmmaker and an advocate for people with disabilities. The awards ceremony took place at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Oakland, California. Twelve women were honored. The Women’s Hall of Fame recognizes women leaders who bring their unique perspectives and excellence to business, community service, culture and arts, education, environment, health, justice, philanthropy, science, technology, engineering, sports, and athletics. Congratulations, Liane! BBWA “Raffle Mania” Quilt Winners Announced! Congratulations to the winners of the Berkeley Buddhist Women’s Association’s
Raffle Mania drawing! First prize went to Avery Fujikawa (Lena Yin’s granddaughter);
second prize to Terry Jean Arakaki; third prize to Emiko Katsumoto; and the fourth
prize to Lisa Cogar. The beautiful quilts were donated by Mieko Taketa, Denise
Gervais, Carolyn Hayashida, and Libby Lowrimore.
The BBWA would like to say a special thank you to our Superstar Seller, Denise
Gervais, who sold an incredible number of books of raffle tickets!
And thank you to everyone who supported this fundraising event for the Berkeley
Buddhist Women’s Association Centennial!
Berkeley Buddhist Temple’s Chapel of the Chimes Urn Niche Site Update
As of April 13, 2014 there have been 54 urn placement rights purchased for
the BBT urn site. There is currently interest from others to purchase 20 more
urn placement rights. BBT will continue to offer the first 100 acquired urn
placement rights for the site for $1,170 each, which is just slightly over 1/2 of
the current market rate of $2,200, until May 31, 2014.
After May 31, 2014 the remaining unsold first 100 acquired urn placement
rights will be offered by BBT at the then market rate with a 20% discount. The
remaining 180 urn placement rights can be purchased directly from Chapel of
the Chimes at the then market rate at time of sale.
The whole site is owned by BBT and only BBT members or those with Temple
affiliation who are approved by BBT can place urns at the site. This applies to all
280 urn placements.
Some temple families have purchased multiple urn placement rights for
parents, children, and grandchildren before need. This allows the family to
reserve their individual Site Name Plaques ahead of time together in a common
location on the Site’s Master Name Plaque. This also locks in the discounted
price and availability of urn placement for the whole family. If any of the urn
placement rights are unused BBT can assist in the resale of the urn placement
rights, which should appreciate in value in the future.
Checks should be made payable to “Berkeley Buddhist Temple” with a
notation in the memo line “for urn placement rights” and sent to BBT Urn Niche
Committee, 2121 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94704. The BBT Urn Niche
Committee will send an acknowledgement when BBT receives the check.
Others who are interested in purchasing urn placement rights should send
in their checks in the manner described above, along with a completed response
form. Response forms can be picked up at BBT or printed from the BBT Temple
website. The general membership letter that describes the Site and the response
form can be viewed on the Berkeley Buddhist Temple website
www.berkeleysangha.org. Click the word “Forms” located at the bottom of the
home page.
Anyone requiring additional information about the Site can contact Gary Oda
at BBT Email: info@berkeleysangha.org
BERKELEY BUDDHIST TEMPLE Board of Directors Meeting March 11, 2014 Attendance: Rev. David Matsumoto, Ron Hiraga, Takashi Nikaidoh, Judy Fujimoto, Lucy Hamai, Don Hamasaki, Emiko Katsumoto, Kiyoshi Katsumoto, Millie Nikaidoh, Emi Nakao, Art Nishimura, Gary Oda, Yuki Otake, Wayne Sugihara, David Ushijima, Russell Ware. Proxies: Patty Fujiwara, Judy Kono, Denise Lapidus, Dii Lewis, Lena Yin. Co‐president Ron Hiraga called the meeting to order at 7:32PM with opening gassho led by Rev. Matsumoto. Co‐president Takashi Nikaidoh then presided over the remaining part of the meeting. FEBRUARY MINUTES were accepted as corrected (change December to January minutes). MSC – J.Fujimoto/E.Nakao MINISTER'S REPORT: Rev. Matsumoto presented a written report for the period 2/11/14 to 3/11/14, which included the following: 8 meetings; 5 consultations; 1 visitation; 10 BBT services. Two temple members passed away: Mr. Richard Kurakazu and Mrs. Toshiko Ehara. He provided a list of upcoming activities. Minister’s Assistants: Matthew Hamasaki will be leaving this month for a year in Japan with the IBS‐Ryukoku exchange program, and Edythe Vassall was the guest speaker for the Pet Memorial Service March 9. Sensei thanked Ron and Takashi for bringing back his 25‐
year award, and the board thanked HIM for 25 years of dedicated service as a BCA Kaikyoshi minister. TREASURER'S REPORT: Satoshi Steimetz issued a written income/expense report for 2/1/14 to 3/1/14. Ron and Takashi will ask Satoshi to separate out all incoming monies for the Chapel of the Chimes niches as a separate line item. CORRESPONDENCE: Co‐president Ron Hiraga circulated the correspondence binder which included a thank you card from J‐SEI for BBT’s support of Flavors of Spring and four tickets (bought by Hiraga/Katsumoto); NJAHS announcement of its Go for Broke essay contest; announcement for the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival golf tournament April 27; custodial statement of 3.9% income for February from our BCA Endowment account; announcement of the Obon 2015 project (returning flags to Japanese families); and thank you cards from the Yamasaki, Hayashida, Matsunaga, and Nojima families. REPORTS BY AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS BBWA: Yuki Otake requested board members to purchase quilt raffle tickets in support of BBWA’s Centennial celebration. She also thanked the temple for the overwhelming response to the canned food drive. J‐SEI – No report DHARMA SCHOOL: Superintendent Stacy Uyeda gave a report on DS’s request for a wireless network. Mark and Wayne Sugihara and David Ushijima are working to expand the network by relocating the existing Cisco router to the lower west window of the Old Temple in response to DS’s request. If successful, this move would also improve wifi capabilities in the main temple and upstairs classrooms. JR. YBA: VP Noel McGuire issued a written report for February 2014. A letter asking each temple to recommend one high school student to participate in the BCA YAC youth retreat in Sacramento, July 7‐13 was given to Stacy. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS RELIGIOUS COMMITTEE: Art Nishimura provided an updated 2014 service calendar report, and several updates were provided. Matthew Hamasaki will be the guest speaker on March 23 during Sensei’s absence. PLEDGE/MEMBERSHIP: A written report from Mimi Kagehiro showed that we have 135 individual members from 96 family units as of 3/11/14. BUILDING MAINTENANCE: Ron reported that work to repair pipes creating the natural gas odor from the new kitchen was completed on February th
12 by Berkeley Plumbing & Heating at a cost of $498. PG&E inspected the site on February 18 and replace the gas meter. GARDEN MAINTENANCE: Kiyoshi reported that the new gardening service owned by Jose Diaz submitted a bill for work done last Wednesday. The service will continue hereafter on Friday mornings. APARTMENTS: Ron Hiraga reported that the Channing Way apartments are fully occupied; sewer lateral work for the Channing apartments was completed March 6th by Gladiator Rooter & Plumbing at a cost of $5800. The newly renovated unit in the Fulton Street apartment is still available. OTHER REPORTS CHAPEL OF THE CHIMES NICHES: Gary reported that he and Ron signed the contract with Chapel of the Chimes on February 20. The response to the niche project has been good: he has received checks to cover 40 placement rights and he has been contacted for interest in an additional 24 spaces. He will file the presentation DVD. Chapel of the Chimes is willing to make another presentation about other services they can provide. BAZAAR: Russell Ware reported that the entertainment for the bazaar is set with Kenny Endo heading the bill. Postcard and posters will be ready next month, and the first draft of the work schedules will be sent out next week. Craig has constructed a prototype of the PVC‐constructed booth, which still needs additional bracing. Russell will recruit student help when the UCB Nikkei Student Union holds its event in the BBT social hall on May 2. Miki Adachi requested help with soliciting more Silent Auction items. SOUND PROJECT – Tabled until next month CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE BOOK – Emiko reported that at long last the books will arrive March 31 and the distribution will begin on April 13 after Hanamatsuri service. All temple members and active DS families will receive books. Additional books may be purchased for $25. Some will be available for sale at the BCA bookstore. Emiko thanked all those who helped to bring this four‐year project to fruition. WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME ‐ Temple member Liane Yasumoto will be among those honored at the 2014 Women’s Hall of Fame sponsored by Alameda County at its awards luncheon on Saturday, March 29 at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Tickets are available at $75 to those interested in attending. TAIKO EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE – Lucy presented this committee’s preliminary findings. The committee wishes to establish this under a Buddhist philosophy with an emphasis on learning and experiencing rather than on performance. Temple member Bradley Menda is volunteering to teach this class and has enlisted four UC Berkeley students to help him. This would be a temple‐connected activity open only to temple members/DS students. Lucy reported on the desired parameters of this class, and discussion followed. The class will be announced in June and will commence in the fall to interested temple members. BCA NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING: Lucy and Ron gave the report on this meeting, which was attended by 155 delegates. There was a dramatic opening with a combination of taiko, chorus, and chanting. The JSC debt was not discussed, but many other reports were given. The BCA assessment was increased from $105.20 to $107.20. BCA membership decreased from 15,105 to 14,999. There is a move to change the National Council Meeting to a National CONFERENCE. NEW BUSINESS NEW MEMBERS Ian Ho and Michael Green and his children will be introduced this Sunday after the Ohigan service per Emiko. TULE LAKE PILGRIMAGE will take place July 4‐7 at a cost of $475 for bus/food/lodging per Gary. BBT SCHOLARSHIP application will be given to our high school senior (only one) soon by Wayne, scholarship chair. Russell Ware and Yuki Otake were thanked for the delicious refreshments. Next month: Wayne Sugihara and Don Hamasaki. The meeting was adjourned at 9:22PM with closing gassho led by Rev. Matsumoto. Respectfully submitted, Emiko Katsumoto, recording secretary * * * * * * * * * * * (Please contact a Board member is further clarification of these minutes is required.) Services And Information
Berkeley Buddhist Temple
Services
Visitor Information
Our regular Sunday program begins with a Family
Service at 9:30am. A Dharma talk is available after the
Family Service while Dharma School classes are
convened for students.
Please feel free to ask any of our greeters for
information. We are here to assist you with whatever
level of participation you may be seeking.
Special Services
January 1
Shusho-e
February 9
Nehan-e
March 16
Ohigan
April 13
Hanamatsuri
May 11
Gotan-e
July 13
Kangi-e
September 21
Ohigan
November 16
Hoonko
December 7
Jodo-e
December 31
Joya-e
New Year's Day Service
Nirvana Day
Spring Equinox
Flower Festival
Birthday of Shinran
Obon
Autumn Equinox
Shinran Shonin Memorial
Bodhi Day
Year End Service
A Shotsuki Hoyo (Monthly Memorial) Service is held the
first Sunday of each month.
Whether you are here to satisfy a slight interest or to
make a more personal connection, we wish you well and
hope that you will be visiting us again soon.
Membership Information
Membership is open to all who view our Temple as their
religious home and seek the Buddha-Dharma.
To join, complete a membership form, have your name
entered on the membership roll and support the Temple
through a pledge and participation.
To inquire about becoming a member, please speak with
our Membership Chair or Minister.
Dharma School
Our Dharma School (Sunday School) has classes from
preschool through high school. Our teachers are happy
to discuss the appropriate level of spiritual enrichment
for your child.
Monthly Discussions
In our discussions, we strive to experience the BuddhaDharma with our entire selves – with our bodies (quiet
sitting and other forms of meditation), voices (chanting
and other liturgy) and minds (study and discussion).
Our sessions focus on ways in which Buddhist teaching
and practice can impact our everyday lives. Each session
will take up a different topic and so you are welcome to
attend any or all sessions.
All interested persons are welcome to attend. Please
invite your friends! We hope to see you!
Berkeley Buddhist Temple
2121 Channing Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
Office Hours
Monday – Friday
10:00am – 1:00pm
Phone: 510-841-1356
email: info@berkeleysangha.org
web: www.berkeleysangha.org