English Newsletter - Buddhist Church of Lodi

Vol.XXVIII No. 3
March 2015
Buddhist Church of Lodi
Newsletter
23 North Stockton St., Lodi, CA 95240-2214
(209) 368-5589 office@lodibuddhist.net
http://lodibuddhist.org/
Sunday, March 1, 2015
No Service
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
1:00 PM Dharma Discussion (Annex)
“River of Fire River of Water” Chapter 5
Sunday, March 8, 2015
(Daylight Savings Time Begins)
8:30 AM Chanting & Meditation
9:30 AM Shotsuki Service
10:30 AM LBWA meeting
Sunday, March 15, 2015
8:30 AM Chanting & Meditation
Shinran’s Monthly Memorial Service (Oasaji)
9:30 AM Spring Ohigan/Dharma School
Guest: Sensei Tadao Koyama
(Florin Buddhist Church)
After the service, the LBWA Sushi Sale
Sunday, March 22, 2015
8:30 AM Chanting & Meditation
9:30 AM Family Sunday Service (DS/AD)
10:30 AM Introductory Class on Buddhism
Lecturer: Rev. Katsuya Kusunoki
Sunday, March 29, 2015
8:30 AM Chanting & Meditation
9:30 AM Family Sunday Service (DS/AD)
<SAVE THE DATES>
BCL Annual Obon Bazaar
Saturday & Sunday June 27th & 28th
The newsletter is a monthly publication of the Buddhist
Church of Lodi, 23 N. Stockton Street, Lodi, CA 95240.
There is no subscription charge
for members and friends, but donations are welcome.
23
Vol.XXVIII No. 3
MESSAGE FROM REV KATSU
[The 70th Anniversary of A-Bomb]
The first A-bomb was dropped on Hiroshima city
on 8:15 AM, August 6th, 1945, and the second one
was dropped on Nagasaki city on 11:02 AM,
August 9th, 1945. About one-third of each city’s
population were instantly killed; about one hundred
and forty thousand people in Hiroshima and seventy
thousand people in Nagasaki. Seventy years have
passed since then. My father, Rev. Tatsuya
Kusunoki, who is a survivor of the Nagasaki’s Abomb, was 6 years old at that time.
His unceasing desire is to share his experience and
his wish for peace with others. I would like to
introduce the local newsletter articles of my father’s
reminiscence of the A-bomb written in 2013.
<Overcome the religious barrier and wish for
peace>
Every year, the night before August 9th, in
Nagasaki, religious leaders of various faiths:
Buddhism, Christianity, Shinto (the traditional
polytheistic religion of Japan), Islam and others,
gather together at the Nagasaki’s Peace Park to have
a peace assembly and memorial service for victims
of the A-bomb hosted by the Nagasaki Inter-Faith
organization. Rev. Tatsuya Kusunoki (75), who is
the president of Nagasaki Buddhist Association, has
been in charge of the Inter-Faith Peace gathering
since 2012. His family temple is located 3.5km (2.2
miles) southeast from the ground zero. The temple
suffered huge damages from the bomb blast and
many people took refuge at his family temple,
Kougenji.
He mentioned the relationship between religion and
war.
“Within the history of human, religion has been the
cause of war. During the WW2, our country, Japan,
used Shinto for the war and the other religions also
supported the war.”
Nagasaki is a small town where many different
faiths exist. Buddhist ministers attend Christian
church for Christmas. Shinto priests and Christian
pastors visit the “Hanamatsuri” (Shakyamuni
Buddha’s Birthday) to celebrate. All religious
groups have emphasized Love for the humankind
March 2015
yet at the same time, they have fought and killed
each other. The Nagasaki Inter-Faith organization
was formed to overcome such a history of religion.
The organization has kept working for peace.
“Overcome the religious barrier and wish for peace.
It is the proper aspect of religion.”
<Enjoy playing the game “KAMIKAZE”>
There is a street with many Buddhist temples in
Nagasaki. The Kougenji temple, which is Rev.
Tatsuya Kusunoki’s family temple, is located on
this street. The temple is famous for an old story
that the ghost of a mother came out from her grave
and went to buy some candy to raise her baby. Rev.
T. Kusunoki was the third son of his father, Rev.
Monshin Ecchu, who was the resident minister of
his family temple. He would wake up early in the
morning and chanted a sutra since he was a little
boy. He was already able to chant a sutra by
memory when he was five years old. His oldest
brother is Rev. Tetsuya Ecchu (91) who is a famous
Nagasaki historian. He has been calling his brother
“Ecchu Sensei (Teacher Ecchu)” because his
brother was his teacher, greater than his
schoolteacher. The Kougenji temple was a very
lively, crowded temple. Besides his family, there
were also ministers, housemaids, boarding students,
and beggars all living together.
During those days, he liked to play the game of war
everyday. It was called, “Playing as a Kamikaze air
corps”; he would spread his arms out and butt into
the other players. Another game was to break the
roofing tiles, and throwing them at each other. He
had longings for war and soldiers. However, his
longings have changed in 1944 because the war
situation was getting worse. Provisions were
running short. People, who lived together, were now
leaving for other places. Bells, altar vases, and more
altar fittings made of metal were taken for making
weapons. When an air–raid warning was issued, his
father wrapped the Amida Buddha’s statue in a
white cloth and took it to a safe place. It was just
like a mummy. It was very strange and scary for
him to see the mummified Amida Buddha’s statue.
(To be continued)
<A Word of Wise Teaching>
Forgiveness is a lifetime treasure.
Vol.XXVIII No. 3
March 2015
<Monthly Dharma Discussion>
A monthly Dharma Discussion is held on the first
Tuesday of every month at 1:00 PM in the annex.
The textbook is “River of Fire River of Water”
written by Rev. Taitetsu Unno. Everybody is
welcomed to attend.
<ORIGAMI Crane>
We made Origami cranes for the 199,000 Crane
Project hosted by the Peace Committee of Honoka’a
Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in Hawaii. I truly
appreciate those who participated your in this
project. We collected 3,043 Origami cranes and sent
them to the Honoka’a Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
on Feb 5th.
<2015 Resolutions>
The evaluation of 2014’s resolution
(E-excellent, G-good, S-so so, B-bad)
Lodi: Get 24 new members
WG: Get 8 new members
Give my dharma talk without paper
Practice playing “Ryuteki”
Practice playing golf
S
B
E
E
E
-The number of attendees (Lodi) Attendees
Attendees
Date
Date
th
th
Jan 25
38
Feb 8
43
Feb 1st
38
Feb 15th
35
2015 Memorial Service Schedule
2015 is the memorial year for those who passed
away in:
2014 1 year
1999 17 year
2013 3 year
1991 25 year
2009 7 year
1983 33 year
2003 13 year
1966 50 year
In Gassho,
Rev. Katsu: reverend@lodibuddhist.net
BUDDHIST CHURCH OF LODI
General Meeting February 10th
Members present: Rev. Katsuya Kusunoki, Mrs.
Ayano Kusunoki, Gordon Nitta, Judy Waters,
Hannah Egi, Steve Ogata, Sach Watanabe, Bruce
Sasaki, June Shimozaki, Jill Walter, Ann Tanimoto,
Noreen Nagao, Corey Okazaki, Steve Sasaki,
Shirley Komatsu.
President Gordon Nitta called meeting to order at
7:05 PM. Gordon Nitta led Gassho.
Minutes
The minutes of the January 13, 2015 meeting were
approved as published in the church’s monthly
newsletter. (M/S/P) B. Sasaki/C. Okazaki
Correspondence: Gordon Nitta
Thank you letter received from Rev. Kiyonobu
Kuwahara for inviting him as lecturer for the Winter
Seminar. Thank you for year-end oreis from
Nagako Sumida, Harriet Matsumoto, Ken Egi,
Shirley Komatsu, Frank Teranishi, David
Morimoto, June Shimozaki, Rev. Kusunoki. Thank
you note from Past President Ron Oye for gift of
onenju w/carrying case. Christmas card from Terry
and Judy Klimko.
Treasurer’s Reports:
General – Bruce Sasaki
Bruce went over the January entries and pointed
out: Items under misc. income were year-end oreis
from LBWA $1,000 and Shinyukai $200 and
Winter Seminar signups of $350. He reported 2015
dues have been coming in steadily.
Under
expenses, he reduced expenses with reimbursement
for 85th anniversary room, $895 and Year-end Orei
check that was donated back to the church, $600.
Special – Steve Ogata
Steve reviewed his report. He transferred additional
funds into the BCA Custodial Account. He has also
received additional 85th anniversary celebration
donation.
Both reports accepted: (M/S/P) J.
Waters/J. Shimozaki
Minister’s Report – Reverend Kusunoki
January 14th through February 10th: 1 pillow
service, 1 49th day service, 1 yearly memorial
service, Shinran’s monthly memorial service
(OASAJI), Shotsuki service, 3 FSS (DS/AD), 4
Chanting and Meditation services, Japanese Dharma
Discussion (OCHANOMI HOZA), monthly cleanup, Nihongo Gakko, cooking gathering, and Winter
Seminar at BCL; conducted Shotsuki service,
Shinran’s monthly memorial service (OASAJI) at
the Walnut Grove Buddhist Church; I also
Vol.XXVIII No. 3
conducted a service at the ACC Green Heaven
Terrace. I participated in NCDC meeting, NCBWA
meeting, NC ministers’ New Year’s party, LBWA
meeting, LBWA New year’s and New member’s
luncheon, Shinyukai and Propagation Committee
meeting. I was invited to the Stockton BC’s crab
feed. Sensei Roy conducted 1 memorial service, 1
dharma school and adult study class at the Walnuts
Grove Buddhist Church.
LBWA Report – June Shimozaki
The LBWA had their New Year’s Lunch prepared
by the members under the direction of Toshi
Yoshioka.
Many thanks, Toshi.
The menu
included many delicious Japanese dishes and chow
mien from Golden China. Thanks also to Mitsuko
Kishi for her delicious kuromame. Our thanks also
for raffle and door prize donations made by Sue
Morita, Susan Nitta, Sumi Okuhara, Mitsuko Kishi,
Sandy Tessare of Avenue Florists, David & Janet
Morimoto, Rose Sasaki, Shirley Komatsu and Toshi
Yoshioka.
We will have Sushi Sale after the Ohigan Service.
Sushi packages include combination inari and maki
sushi, all maki sushi, all inari and spam musubi.
We will assist the Dharma School with the coffee
and tea for the hamburger luncheon following the
Hanamatsuri service on April 12th.
We will be updating the Keirokai members for the
luncheon after the Gotan-e service.
Next Meeting: March 8th
Toban: Group – February
Dates to remember:
February 15th- Nirvana Day/Dana Day Service
March 15h – Sushi Sale following Ohigan Service
April 12th – Hamburger Luncheon following
Hanamatsuri Service
May 17th – Keirokai Luncheon following Gotan-e
Service
Shinyukai Report – Mrs. Ayano Kusunoki, CoPresident
January luncheon included tuna sashimi with
shredded daikon, nikujaga (potato, onion, carrot,
ground beef stir-fry okazu), rice and zenzai (red
bean sweet soup with mochi) for dessert. Forty-five
people really enjoyed fresh sashimi and new dish.
Tuna sashimi donated by Mark Shimozaki and
Kazuko Shimozaki. Zenzai donated by Ayano
March 2015
Kusunoki. Oranges donated by Kazuko Shimozaki.
Tangerines donated by Rose Sasaki.
Next Shinyukai will be Tuesday February 24th.
February luncheon will include udon with age,
kamaboko and green onion; kabocha with ground
chicken and ice cream for dessert. Ayano is going
to shop.
Dharma School Report – Jill Walters
Dharma School will be opening each class with a
short mindful meditation and will generate a
question for the Reverend to answer. We will be
bringing refreshments and desserts for Spring
Ohigan, learn how to cook a new dish from either
Ayano or Warren and then engage in Spring
activities that include weeding the area in which we
have planted the Daffodil bulbs. Hannah would
also like to go over the proper etiquette for Oshoko.
Jill will be posting flyers for Reverend Kusunoki’s
introductory Buddhism class in various post offices,
businesses, in and around our area. The Dharma
School Dana flyer will be included with the next
newsletter. The students are working on a box,
which will be placed in the hondo foyer to accept
the donations.
Propagation Committee Report – Reverend
Kusunoki
The Winter Seminar had 24 people attend lecture.
The Welcome Brochure has been updated and
copies placed in the church hondo. The monthly
study class will begin Tuesday, March 3rd from 1:00
to 2:30 PM in the annex. Reverend has received a
white board donated by the Stockton Buddhist
Church that will be placed in the annex.
Building Maintenance – Sach Watanabe
Sach has requested a replacement for his position as
soon as possible. He reports the stovetop and oven
replacements are done, bathroom window installed
in the minister’s residence, but shutters not yet
installed. Judy Waters found gas leaks in the annex
the day before the Fujinkai’s New Year’s luncheon
and thanked Sach for calling the plumber and
having him fix it that day so we were able to cook
Friday and Saturday. We need to fix broken
window upstairs in office building.
Vol.XXVIII No. 3
Old Business:
National Convention in San Diego: Reverend and
Gordon will be attending. Gordon reports two
items under consideration:
a. Dues increase of $10.00 per member to
cover the cost to install solar panels at IBS
Center.
b. Changes in By-Laws, i.e. resident minister
designation not be used any longer, use
designation of “Kaikyoshi” instead.
1. Funeral Committee call list: pending
2. Old Photos: Old photos of memorable
occasions, i.e. 25th, 50th anniversary
celebrations, etc. be mounted flat on acid
free boards to preserve. Gordon and Steve
will get estimated cost.
3. NCDC Meeting:
Budget was passed.
David Ito (Walnut Grove) elected President.
Next Chicken Throw down set for
November 14th. Each chapter is requested
to bring 2 dozen cookies for the February
21st lecture in Florin. June Shimozaki
volunteered to bring cookies.
New Business:
1. Office doorbell: Gordon checked and will
install wireless bell for about $20.
2. JACL parking lot: JACL and church
exchange activity calendars. We are to
advise JACL when we have activities
involving the use of the parking lot. When
JACL rents out the building, the parking lot
is for the use of the renters and we are to
avoid parking there.
3. Buddhist Banners: Reverend reported his
father has donated $1,000 to celebrate the
85th anniversary of the temple and Reverend,
his wife and father would like to purchase
Buddhist banners to put up when we have
special services/events.
These colorful
banners will be placed above the entrance
door, side of the hondo and the fence in
front of the courtyard. The approximate cost
of $2,000 will be supplemented with the
funds left in the 85th anniversary celebration
fund.
Motion accepted. (M/S/P) J.
Shimozaki/C. Okazaki
Upcoming events: Spring Ohigan, March 15, 2015
with LBWA sushi sale after service.
March 2015
Next Church monthly meeting: Tuesday, March 10,
2015, at 7:00 PM
There being no further business, the general
meeting was adjourned at 7:55 PM and meeting
was turned over to Corey Okazaki for the 1st Obon
Planning Meeting. Rev. Kusunoki led closing
gassho.
Respectfully submitted,
Shirley Komatsu, recording secretary.
LBWA UPDATE – June Shimozaki
The attending LBWA members enjoyed the New
Year’s Lunch including many delicious Japanese
dishes and chow mein from Golden China. Thank
you to Toshi Yoshioka for chairing the event and all
the ladies and gentlemen who helped prepare/cook
the wonderful meal. We all had a great time.
Save the Date: March 15th. Sushi Sale after the
Ohigan Service.
Sushi packages include
combination inari and maki sushi, all maki sushi, all
inari sushi, and spam musubi.
Next meeting: March 8, 2015
Toban: Group F – February
LBWA SURVEY
Included in this newsletter is a survey (yellow page)
to determine the number of individuals that are
interested in taking part in social activities that are
being planned for the LBWA members. Please take
a few minutes to complete the survey and return it
to Joyce Nagata or the church off before Monday,
March 9th. Further plans and arrangements cannot
be made until this survey is returned.
DHARMA SCHOOL – Jill Walter
Dharma School will be opening each class with a
short mindful mediation and will generate a
question for the Reverend to answer. We will be
bringing refreshments and desserts to the Spring
Ohigan, learning how to cook a new dish from
either Ayano or Warren, and then will be engaging
in Spring activities that include weeding the area in
which we have planted the Daffodil bulbs. Hannah
would also like to go over the proper etiquette for
Oshoko.
Vol.XXVIII No. 3
SHINYUKAI UPDATE - January 27th
Birthday Donations:
Rose Sasaki
$20.00
Merry Sasaki
20.00
Special Donations & Contributions:
Rose Sasaki
Oranges
Kazuko Shimozaki
Tangerines
Mark Shimozaki
Sashimi for
the main meal
Ayano Kusunoki
Zenzai for the
dessert
The Shinyukai made year end donation of $200.00
to the Buddhist Church of Lodi
PROPAGATION NEWS
The church has recently purchased books for the
library that may be of interest to our Sangha
members. Remember, you can check out any of the
books in the library and return when you have
finished reading them.
Titles include:
Shinran’s Gospel of Pure Grace
When Things Fall Apart – Heart Advice for
Difficult Times
What Makes You Not a Buddhist (PB)
Bearer of the Light
Hearing the Buddha’s Call
Going Home – Jesus and Buddha as Brothers
Living Buddha Living Christ
Mysticism – Christian and Buddhist
No Death No Fear – Comforting Wisdom for Life
Wherever You Go There You Are – Mindfulness
Meditation in Everyday Life
Bringing the Dharma Home
The Kindness Handbook – A Practical Companion
The Heart Sutra
We have quite a collection of books in our library.
Please stop by and take a look.
SCRIP UPDATE
In March, Yume restaurant will be offering a 15%
bonus benefit. Enjoy a delicious lunch and/or dinner
out and participate in our easiest fundraiser ever!
March 2015
In addition to the gift cards, Raley’s has a new
electronic scrip program and you don’t need a card
to participate! It is called Extra Credit and is part of
the Something Extra rewards program. To enroll,
please sign up for a Something Extra rewards
account at www.somethingextra.com. After
enrollment, you can visit Extra Credit and select
the church (listed as Buddhist Church of Lodi)
as a scrip beneficiary.
Thank you to all who are using their SaveMart
SHARES card. Every time you shop, your card is
scanned and the church receives a 3% benefit.
Please contact me if you would like a card – the
SHARES cards are free! Like Raley’s, SaveMart is
not able to provide reports by individual
contributions for their SHARES program. In 2014,
the church earned $1,122, as a result of purchases
with your SHARES card. If you purchase SaveMart
gift cards (2% benefit), we can continue to track
your individual contributions.
Thank you to all who are participating in the
program! If you have any questions, please contact
Kelly Yamane at 365-7124 or any of the scrip
supporters listed below.
Scrip orders will be due by 10 a.m. on the order
date.
February Scrip Supporters
Ayano Kusunoki
Chris Smith
Hannah Egi
Haru Onishi
Janet Morimoto
Joy Sasaki
Kelly Yamane
Mitsuko Kishi
Nagako Sumida
Nancy Burgess
Pam Kriter
Terry Oga
Calendar Dates:
Scrip orders due: 3/6 at 10 a.m. (Friday)
Scrip pick-up: 3/16 (Monday)
THANK YOU
Vol.XXVIII No. 3
The First Friday of the Month Clean Up Crew:
Rose Sasaki, Frank Teranishi, Sach Watanabe, Ken
Egi, David Morimoto, Anne Tanimoto, Hannah Egi,
Sergio Torres, Nagako Sumida, Shirley Komatsu,
Reverend and Mrs. Kusunoki.
The ladies who have been arranging the beautiful
flowers in the tokonoma for the Sunday Services:
Mary Tsutaoka, Rose Sasaki, Mitsuko Kishi and the
cut flowers donated by Kiyono Nitta and Irene
Furuoka.
Sach Watanabe for getting the plumber to fix the
gas leaks in the Annex right away so the Fujinkai
ladies could use the kitchen to cook the delicious
food for the New Year’s party.
Dr. Kimi Sakai for the donation of two display
showcases that have been placed in the church
library. The cases are displaying various Buddhist
items that may be purchased.
March 2015