2016 February Bulletin - West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple

mail: wlabtoffice2003@gmail.com
web: http://westlosangelesbuddhisttemple.org
Vol. 59, No. 2
February 2016
REV. USUKI’S PAGE
February and Happiness
We seem to be like flies caught in honey. Because life is sweet we do not want to give it up,
and yet the more we become involved in it, the more we are trapped, limited, and frustrated.
Allan Watts
Happy February and Valentine’s Day to everyone, young
and not so young. Since February is the shortest month of the
year, I am inclined to let the
feeling, emotion, passion, and
excitement of the month speak
for itself. After all, with too much talking we will
not have enough time to enjoy ourselves.
If you are a young or gracefully-aged romantic,
your heart may be beating faster with the expectation of the most important of all February
events, Valentine’s Day. It is a wonder how we
can succumb to such pleasing and rather fun
emotions and thoughts through flowers and
chocolates.
Have you also looked at the calendar for the
many observances we have in the month of
February? … Groundhog Day, Nirvana Day,
Chinese New Year, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday,
Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, and perhaps
your birthday or anniversary. With the many
holidays and occasions, February should be a
month of awareness, mindfulness, and reflection for the many suggestions concerning our
history, life, and happiness. Every month is also
filled with entertaining events, as well as more
serious observances, that are all part of our culture and history. Moreover, it is fun to anticipate and re-visit these events we tend to quickly
forget. February also means “purification” as
explained below.
The Roman month Februarius was named
after the Latin term februum, which means
purification, via the purification ritual Februa
held on February 15 (full moon) in the old
lunar Roman calendar. January and February
were the last two months to be added to the
Roman calendar, since the Romans originally
considered winter a month-less period.
Wikipedia encyclopedia
When I was casually looking up Valentine’s Day,
I came upon rather unique quotes from people
you may not expect to be noted on this day
(source: IBTimes Co., Ltd.):
Love is composed of a single soul
inhabiting two bodies. – Aristotle
Let us always meet each other with a smile,
for a smile is the beginning of love.
– Mother Theresa
The best and most beautiful things in the world
cannot be seen or even touched. They must be
felt with the heart. – Helen Keller
Where there is love there is life. – Gandhi
I am weird, you are weird. Everyone in this
world is weird. One day, two people come
together in mutual weirdness and fall in love.
– Dr. Seuss
As Allan Watts carefully suggests in the
opening passage, our life can be full of great
moments, yet it can also be a trap if we get
caught up within the overwhelming allure of
honey-like events. At such times the allure of
happiness can overwhelm us and we soon let
our emotions get the best of us. While enjoying such moments, we should also be grateful
and feel fortunate to be alive to enjoy these.
[cont’d on page 2]
West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
February 2016
times with others. After all, we are social animals in need of companionship, friendship, and
family for meaningful relationships, support,
and dialogue. We are continually supported in
many ways by all things around us and we do
not live this life alone.
and sorrow that are part of our everyday existence. Thus, they are also part of life’s equation.
To be able to know and live with all events,
whether uncomfortable, sad, difficult, or good,
is what gives us strength day to day with the
most sincere humility and gratitude. With such
an attitude we can be sincerely “happy” with no
attached delusions.
Yet we often view happiness through the measure of wealth, position, social stature, and other
self-created ideas. While these are important in
life and success, we are also confronted with the
many unseen issues and circumstances of loss
I hope you can take the time to enjoy every day
as it comes and continue to appreciate each
moment in your life.
Shinshu Corner
“The True Teaching”
Jodo Shinshu, A Guide (Hongwanji International Center;
Kyoto, Japan; third printing, April 2004; pages 65-67)
The Larger Sutra
If we humans had true higher wisdom, we would not have to agonize over global environmental problems. If we were free of self-centered greed, there would be no wars, murder, or other senseless acts on
our part.
Only because we fail to see things as they truly are—because we are unable to separate ourselves from our self-centeredness—are we burdened with problems. As a result, we are forever plunging
further into the abyss of suffering.
The purpose of Buddha Dharma is to cultivate our higher wisdom and to lessen our selfcentered greed; in other words, to remove our “unawareness and worldly passions.” Stated in yet
another way, the goal is the attainment of Buddhahood.
To accomplish this, Sakyamuni Buddha is said to have discoursed the dharma in 84,000 different ways, which were later recorded and handed down to us as sutras. Sakyamuni Buddha always took
the personality and nature of the person he was teaching into account. Rather than signifying the specific number, 84,000 actually refers to a vast amount. As a multitude of types of personalities were
considered to exist, he was said to have given 84,000 different discourses on the dharma. From among
these many dharma messages, Shinran selected the Sutra on the Buddha of Immeasurable Life (Larger
Sutra), and announced, “This is the true teaching.”
Why did he make such a statement?
Amida Buddha’s Compassion
The Larger Sutra is considered to be the true teaching because it explicitly expresses the Buddha’s aspiration for all sentient beings.
Generally speaking, in the Buddha Dharma, the way to become awakened and attain Buddhahood is to accept the Buddha’s teaching and perform prescribed spiritual practices.
However, when we consider the reality of our lives, we begin to realize how difficult this is. As
long as we have a physical body, delusions and problems will confront us. It has been 2,500 years since
Sakyamuni Buddha appeared in this world and attained Awakening. If prescribed practices were
extremely difficult to fulfill then, Awakening would be impossible to achieve in the same way now with
so many expectations, distractions and conveniences in our fast-paced modern world.
On the surface, we may believe that we can approach ultimate Truth if we just follow the practices taught in the Buddhist tradition. But actually, the more we perform spiritual practices, the more
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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
February 2016
entangled in our limitations we become. Then, the more we become aware of the depths of our unawareness, the more we realize how impotent we are to realize Awakening through our own efforts. Accordingly, although the ideal of aspiring to attain Buddhahood is very important, in reality, it is practically
impossible.
It was in response to such hapless circumstances that Amida Buddha showed compassion to us,
and rather than wait for us to seek our Buddhahood, vowed to bring it about even before the idea occurred to us. This is what is taught in the Larger Sutra, which Shinran declared to be the true teaching.
He further stated that for himself, there was no other way to attain Buddhahood.
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by Connie Yahata
Last month, I wrote about WLA’s
Onaijin Restoration Campaign.
As mentioned previously, our
goal is to raise $150,000.00,
which will cover the cost of this
much needed restoration. So
that you may be able to view the
various damaged onaijin furnishings, a display board with photos will be set
up in the hondo. Please take a moment to look
over the photos.
We would like to begin the restoration process
during the 4th quarter of 2016; however, this
can only be attained if we have a successful
fundraising campaign. This is your temple and
the only way it can be preserved is with your
help. Let us all work together to make this a
reality. With much appreciation and gratitude.
- - -  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ONAIJIN RESTORATION CAMPAIGN
Name: _________________________________________________
Option 1:
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
Other __________
Please make checks payable to: WLA Buddhist Temple and note “Onaijin Restoration” on
the memo line.
Option 2:
I pledge $________ total, with donations of _____ per month over the next _____ months.
Please make monthly donations to: WLA Buddhist Temple and note “Onaijin Restoration”
on the memo line.
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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
February 2016
Celebrating 20 years
80 Plus Appreciation Lunch
Wednesday, December 16 - Aki Restaurant
photos by Rev. Usuki
Masako Ishioka, Charlotte Sasaki, Lorraine Soda, Mrs. Kay & Rev. Harold Oda, Tamiko Hada
Sei & Yasuko Shohara, Grace Fujimoto, Kayo Ohkawahira
Terumi Iwamoto, Kiyoka Totani, Matsumi Baba, Hisako Kokado, Noriko Matsumoto, Ritsuko Uto
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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
February 2016
UPCOMING SERVICES AND EVENTS
January 15 (Friday): Bingo
February 14 (Sunday): Family service
January 17 (Sunday): Ho-onko - Shinran Shonin
memorial service
February 19 (Friday): Bingo
January 24 (Sunday): Family service
February 20 (Saturday):
Southern District Jr. YBA seminar
hosted by Venice and West LA
January 25 (Monday): 80 Plus lunch
February 21 (Sunday): Family service
January 30 (Saturday): Winter Pacific Seminar
East Meets West: Jodo Shinshu
from the Higashi and Nishi Perspectives
February 28 (Sunday): Family service
January 31 (Sunday): Family service
March 6 (Sunday): NO service
February 6 (Saturday): Shotsuki hoyo
Rev. F. Usuki (Eng)
Rev. Shinji Okada (Jpn)
March 12 (second Saturday): Shotsuki hoyo
February 29 (Monday): 80 Plus lunch
March 12 (Saturday): BCGA Cymbidium Show
March 13 (Sunday): Family service
February 7 (Sunday): Nirvana Day service
March 19 (Saturday): Spring Ohigan seminar
(see flyer on page 7)
March 20 (Sunday): Spring Ohigan service
Rev. Masao Kodani (Eng)
Rev. Mutsumi Wondra (Jpn)
March 27 (Sunday)
Temple and garden
clean-up
(no service)
February 7 (Sunday): Buddhist Men farewell party
COME TASTE THE DHARMA!
Join us for Study Class
Thursdays at 1:00 PM
Coffee and refreshments, too!
~ Everyone Welcome ~
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February 2016
West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
FEBRUARY SHOTSUKI HOYO, 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 6, 2016
Akutagawa, Hidemi
Akutagawa, Hidetaro
Akutagawa, Karoku
Akutagawa, Kinu
Akutagawa, Misuno
Akutagawa, Shinpei
Akutagawa, Tetsuo
Akutagawa, Torako
Arita, Kayo
Arita, Kosaburo
Doi, Yaeno
Endo, Kathleen
Fukumoto, Furi
Gomez, Frances
Hatanaka, Ben
Hatanaka, Haru
Hayashida, Minoru
Higa, Risa
Ikkanda, Tsuma
Minato, Chiyo
Mochizuki, Hama
Morikawa, Mitsuru
Morimoto, Shizue
Morita, Masato
Nakamoto, Hiroshi
Nakashima, Dan
North, Joyce
Ohara, Kageo
Ohkawahira, Richard
Okitsu, Kazue
Onami, Masato
Oshinomi, Masato
Oshinomi, Ted
Ouchi, Moto
Ozamoto, Sae
Sakahara, Shigenobu
Sasaki, Chitose
Shimasaki, Masateru
Ishibashi, Tama
Ishibashi, Yoshio
Ishioka, Wakano
Iwasaki, Toshio
Kato, Yasutaro
Kawaguchi, Natsuto
Kawai, Ichisaburo
Kobuke, Yoshio
Koda, Takao
Kojima, Kenzo
Kokado, Robert
Kokuryo, Atsushi
Kudo, Goro
Marumoto, Hamaye
Marumoto, Rokuichi
Matsuno, Tosa
Matsuura, Yoshinori
Mihara, Gunzo
Mihara, Katsuji
Soga, Toshiye
Takeda, Ichizo
Takeda, Paul
Takemoto, Katsumi
Takenaka, Akiyo
Tanaka, Kenjiro
Tanaka, Tetsuji
Tanaka, Yoshiye
Terashita, Sueko
Uchida, Jue
Yagura, Katherine
Yamamura, Yaeno
Yamanaka, Sotaro
Yamane, Sadako
Yanokawa, Mary
Yoshii, Masuki
Yoshino, Kikuji
Yoshino, Kikuno
MARCH SHOTSUKI HOYO, 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 12, 2016 (second Saturday)
Endo, Asako
Enseki, Mitsuyo
Hada, Toyo
Hara, Masazumi
Hayashi, Michiye
Hirai, George
Ichiho, Jane
Ii, Ritsuye
Iino, Akira
Imada, Eugene
Ishibashi, Shinaichi
Ishihara, George
Kaisaki, Ida
Kawasaki, Hatsuo
Kishi, Hidenori
Kobori, Mura
Koda, May
Kodama, Naoyo
Kuwahara, Miyuki
Labadie, Kazu
Machida, Kiyoji
Masuda, Mitsujiro
Masukawa, Tamaso
Matsuda, Hajime
Matsumonji, Tatsuo
Miyada, George
Miyamura, Yaeko
Miyashiro, Sakaki
Mochizuki, Terumi
Mori, Masao
Morioka, Henry
Mukai, Yaeko
Murakami, Junkichi
Nakabara, Torataro
Nagatome, Tomiko
Nakagawa, Irene
Nakagawa, Sumie
Nakamoto, Toyoko
Nakamura, Junichi
Nakanishi, Harumi
Nakanishi, Tatsuji
Naoye, Susumu
Nicho, Chizuko
Nitta, Hayami
Omoto, Shinjiro
Omura, Takashi
Oshinomi, Shigeto
Pierce, Jeffrey
Ryokai, Terukuni
Sakahara, Ura
Sasaki, Ernest
Sasaki, Satori
Shintaku, Kyuichi
Shiosaki, Mitsuko
Soda, Geich
Strauss, Umeko
Sunada, Suye
Tachiki, Joseph
Takamura, Yoshito
Takayama, Kimi
Takeda, Shizuko
Takemoto, Ritsu
Tamura, Hatsuko
Tanaka, Manjiro
Taniguchi, Satoichi
Taniguchi, Shizuichi
Taniguchi, Susumu
Terama, Shizuye
Tominaga, Kurahachi
Totani, Tomio
Toyofuku, Shinzo
Uematsu, Sue
Ueno, Yoshiye
Yamane, Saburo
Yano, Hiromu
Yokode, Shigeru
Yonemori, Chiyoko
CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF:
Mary Haruko Ishihara
April 25, 1917 - December 10, 2015
Alice Hanako Hirai
May 12, 1926 - December 24, 2015
Dorothy Yasoye Ikkanda
February 10, 1921 - December 29, 2015
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SPRING OHIGAN SEMINAR
春季お彼岸セミナー
土曜日 2016 年 3 月 19 日
午前 9 時半 - 午後 1 時半
Saturday, March 19, 2016
9:30 am - 1:30 pm
ウエストロスアンゼルス仏教会
日本語のセミナー
West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
Seminar in English
ワンドラ睦先生
Rev. Masao Kodani
Rev. Mutsumi Wondra
小谷政雄先生
Orange County Buddhist Church
BCA Minister Emeritus
The seminar is FREE and lunch is included, but
YOU MUST SIGN UP
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - WLABT Ohigan Seminar (SAT 3/19/2016)
Name
Registration deadline: Thursday, 3/10/2016
Phone number
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e-mail address
日本語
Eng
West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
February 2016
BWA NEWS by Connie Yahata
BWA held its end-of-year party
on December 13, 2015. We
began with a delicious lunch
catered by Rutt’s Café, followed
by bingo (always a crowd favorite!). I would like to thank the
following ladies for their assistance at the party: Mary Hahn, Shirley Ito, Haru
Matsumune, Janice Ikkanda-Trost, Diane
Ohkawahira, Silvia Diaz-Perez, and Beverly
Yahata. It would not have gone as smoothly as
it did if it weren’t for their help. We hope all
those who attended had a good time.
Next meeting: February 14 at 11:00 a.m.
See you there!
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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
February 2016
back: Connie Yahata, Haru Matsumune, Beverly Yahata, Silvia Diaz-Perez, Janice Ikkanda-Trost,
Kayo Ohkawahira, Rev. Fumiaki Usuki; middle: Mary Hahn, Aiko Tsuboi, Reiko Totani,
Noriko Matsumoto, Ritsuko Uto, Molly Takahashi, Yasuko Shohara, Diane Ohkawahira;
front: Toshie Doi, Tamiko Hada, Ikuko Yamamoto, Fusaye Kurosaki, Jean Saito, Matsumi Baba, Terumi Iwamoto
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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
February 2016
MOCHITSUKI - Saturday, December 12 - photos by Masao Sasaki
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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
February 2016
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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
February 2016
JAPANESE INSTITUTE OF SAWTELLE - 90th Anniversary
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Miwa Takahashi and Judy Okita
at right
Dr. Jack and Grace Fujimoto
Matsumoto Family: Grace Mizushima, Candy Meyer, and Kathy Tagawa
Mrs. Alice Umeda at right
Some photos taken during the event and others from JIS 90th Anniversary booklet.
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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
February 2016
TAIKO NEWS by Connie Yahata
Members of WLA Taiko, along with family members, gathered at Aki Restaurant on
December 17, 2015 to celebrate our annual holiday party. We enjoyed great food, great
company, good drinks, and good conversation.
WLA Taiko would like to thank our teachers, Elaine Fukumoto, Joyce Laine, and Audrey
Nakasone, for their tireless dedication to our group, and we look forward to 2016.
back: Rev. Fumiaki Usuki, David Mann; middle: Beverly Yahata, Connie Yahata, Joyce Laine,
Mari Muki, Diane Ohkawahira, Audrey Nakasone, Nathan Ohkawahira, Lisa & Victor Sasaki;
seated: Neal Yahata, Tosh & Masako Ishioka, Elaine Fukumoto
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February 2016
Sunday
Monday
1
2
Bulletin folding
toban:
BWA
7
Tuesday
Rev. Usuki off
Rev. Usuki off
7 pm service and
board meeting
7:30 pm Taiko
8
9
10
11
12 pm Buddhist Men
farewell party
[1-3 pm Shigin]
Rev. Usuki off
15 [President’s Day]
5
16
TEMPLE CLOSED
12
[7 pm WLAYC]
7:30 pm Taiko
7 pm service and SD
Council mtg, Gardena
17
18
19
[1-3 pm Shigin]
9:30 am Family
service
23
6
13
1 pm Study Class (E)
24
20
Southern District
Jr. YBA
Seminar II
(WLABT)
1 pm Study Class (E)
Rev. Usuki off
22
Saturday
10 am Shotsuki hoyo
Rev. F. Usuki (E)
Rev. Shinji Okada (J)
10 am Omimai
12 pm Shigin Kinyukai
21
4
Friday
[1-3 pm Shigin]
10:30 am SDMA mtg,
LA Betsuin
9:30 am Family
service
11 am BWA meeting
3
Thursday
1 pm Study Class (E)
9:30 am Nirvana Day
service
14
Wednesday
7:30 pm Taiko
7 pm Bingo
25
26
27
1 pm Study Class (E)
[1-3 pm Shigin]
Rev. Usuki off
28
29
9:30 am Family
service
12 pm 80+ lunch
Rev. Usuki off
7:30 pm Taiko
Office hours: 10 am - 4 pm
phone: 310-477-7274
e-mail: wlabtoffice2003@gmail.com
website:
http://westlosangelesbuddhisttemple.org/
2016 年 2 月
日曜日
月曜日
1
2
会報作リ
当番: BWA
7
水曜日
3
[午後1詩吟]
木曜日
4
金曜日
5
午前10 祥月法要
午後1
宇宿先生休み
宇宿先生休み
8
9
午前10:30
開教師会
西別院
正午 Buddhist Men
farewell party
宇宿先生休み
14
午前9:30サービス
15 [President’s Day]
午後7 サービス
幹部ミーテング
午後7:30 タイコ
10
11
岡田真治先生(日)
宇宿文章先生(英)
[7 pm WLAYC]
午後7:30 タイコ
17
18
午前9:30サービス
SD council ミーテング
19
20
Southern District
Jr. YBA
Seminar II
(WLABT)
スタデークラス(英)
宇宿先生休み
22
午前10おみまい
午後 7:00 サービス
午後1
お寺休み
正午 Shigin Kinyukai
13
スタデークラス(英)
[午後1詩吟]
午前11 BWA
ミーテング
12
午後1
[午後1詩吟]
16
23
[午後1詩吟]
土曜日
6
スタデークラス(英)
午前 9:30
涅槃会サービス
21
火曜日
24
午後7:30 タイコ
午後7 ビンゴー
25
26
27
午後1
スタデークラス(英)
宇宿先生休み
28
午前9:30サービス
29
正午80+中ランチ
宇宿先生休み
午後7:30 タイコ
オフィス時間：
午前十時 — 午後四時
電話：310 - 477 - 7274