Ho-onko Service

We will be observing Shinran Shonin's Memorial Service (Ho-onko) on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the MPB. Let us join together in celebrating the life of Shinran Shonin and the teachings of the Nembutsu.

The speakers are as follows:

English:

Rev. Peter Hata, Higashi Honganji Betsuin

Japanese:

Rev. Ryoko Osa, Higashi Honganji North American District Office

Upon the conclusion of the service, we will have the Japanese speaking Sangha go to the BEC Classroom (Social Hall - 3

rd Floor) for the Japanese Dharma message,

while the English speaking Sangha will remain in the MPB for the Dharma message. Installation of the 2017 OCBC Cabinet Officers will be conducted after the Dharma message in the MPB. Please join us following the services in the social hall for a luncheon sponsored by the Cub Scouts. We hope you can join us for this special service, Thank you.

Orange County Buddhist Church

KORIN Wisdom and Compassion of Amida Buddha

January 2017 909 South Dale Ave., Anaheim, CA 92804 (714) 827-9590 E-Mail: OCBC909@AOL.com Web-Site: www.OCBuddhist.org Fax: (714) 827-2860

It Really Is A Wonderful Life

I am sure that for many of you, one of your holiday rituals is to watch the classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. I never tire of watching this movie, as it is a classic. I know I have written about this movie before some years ago, but as I watch it again, I cannot help but feel the wonderful Buddhist message expressed in this classic film.

In the movie, the main character, George Bailey, becomes so despondent because he faces bankruptcy and maybe even criminal charges for the missing money from his savings and loan. His despondency leads him to jump off a bridge, wishing to end it all. A guardian angel saves him, but George still wishes “he had never been born.” The angel cleverly thinks of a good idea to “save” George, which is to grant him his wish and show him what life in his town would be like had he never been born. The whole town is different. There is no savings and loan that George ran. His wife never got married, because there was no George to meet and fall in love with. The lives of people in the town, everything is different, “because there was no George Bailey.” No one knows him, of course, because he never existed...not his wife, not his friends,...no one. How lonely he is now. How saddened he is to see how his town turned out without him.

Now, all the more, he wishes to have his life back again. If only he could have his old life back again, with all of its problems....old house, financial problems, savings and loan on the verge of collapse,....everything.

And as the movie goes, the angel gives him his life back. George is able to return to his wife and family. He is able to return to his old job and his old house and his old car that he ran into a tree. But George’s perspective on life has changed. He is deeply grateful for his life now. He doesn’t need anything more, whether it is a bigger house or more money. He realizes that his life is a wonderful life, it is the only life that he has, and to think that he tried to throw it all away.

If I could put words into George Bailey’s mouth that never comes out in the movie itself, perhaps George would say, “What a fool I was! How ignorant I was! What a sad case of self-pity I had fallen into. What was I thinking? What a wonderful life I have. What a wonderful wife and children I have. What a wonderful job I have. How could I have tried to throw it all away?”

We don’t have guardian angels in Buddhism like Clarence the guardian angel for George Bailey, but what Buddhism is trying to awaken us to, is the very thing that Clarence the guardian angel tries to awaken in George Bailey.

In the dramatic scene near the end of the movie, George

Bailey returns to the bridge where earlier he had jumped off, trying to end it all, but now he begs to have his life back again. He pleads to Clarence the guardian angel, “I want to live again! I want to live again!” And so George Bailey miraculously is returned to his old life, with all of its problems and troubles. But somehow, now they no longer seem to him as problems and troubles. He is glad to have them.

Shin Buddhism talks about “birth in the Pure Land.” Many would argue that this is talking about our transition to the world of nirvana when our life comes to an end. I think that this “birth” is talking about a birth that occurs in this life, a new perspective of life that we are awakened to through encountering the light of the Dharma, the light of Amida. It is to awaken to this “wonderful life,” just like George Bailey. When we receive or encounter this awakening, then we truly want to live, from the depths of our being. We truly appreciate our life, including all of its problems and troubles. We wouldn’t exchange our life for anything or anyone else’s.....not for a million dollars, not to become Bill Gates, ....nothing is more precious than our own, unique life.

Our problems and troubles haven’t miraculously disappeared, just our perspective on them have changed. But with this new perspective, life is totally different. We do not wallow in self-pity. We do not stay in a state of despondency. We don’t seek to be somebody else or wish we had never been born.

Now we want to live. We want to live this one life that has been given to us in all of eternity, in eons and eons of time. How could we ever want to throw it away? How could we ever want to have it replaced by anything? After all, it really is a wonderful life.

Namuamidabutsu, Rev. Marvin Harada

January Korin Page 2

A WAY OF SEEING (1/17, New Year)

Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu. Sakunen-chū wa iro-iro to osewa ni nari-mashita. Kotoshi mo mata dōzo yoroshiku onegai-itashimasu.

Happy New Year, everyone! Thank you for all you did for me and my family last year. Please continue to favor us again in this Year of the Rooster, 2017.

Surely, we all feel that we each have had an event-filled

year this past year, if not as much as some, yet more than others. I know that I did, so much so that I can now only barely recall what those events were. In fact, I have already forgotten nearly all of them. The only thing I do remember is that almost all of the memorable ones had something to do with my physical self. I have already told you of the more dramatic ones, and the less so are simply milder forms of those, just not as much blood flowing.

I’m certain a good percentage of you have experienced some dramatic moments, like broken bones, major auto “accidents,” getting lost, or maybe having your car stolen, which we just experienced in the parking lot of the Cerritos Walmart! My editor parked the car in the Walmart lot, locked up and went shopping. After about 25 minutes, she came back only to find the car gone. She looked around for awhile, reported it to Walmart, the police, and AAA (our insurer), and to me; perhaps not in that order. She was not harmed in any way. It’s been only about a week or so, but we haven’t heard any news about it, let alone good news. We don’t expect to hear any news, good or bad, soon. However, on our part, we need to start working on government and insurance company-required docs, even though its so-called value is not very significant. The stolen car was a 2003 Toyota Camry, but it ran okay. It is not likely still to be in good shape, even if it is found. We shall see.

Let me write about Buddhism per se for a while. Sometimes I wonder if the person we call Shakyamuni (Sage of the Shakya clan, aka the Buddha) would have recognized as his teachings, what we call Buddhism. I hope what follows will not confuse you. Many of what we consider to be his teachings are of a moral (good, bad, evil) nature, as might be expected. He did not speak much of an afterlife, or of Pure Lands. He died of food poisoning. What we consider to be his spoken teachings, much later written down and called “sutras,” run the gamut from teaching of good and bad/evil to purifying one’s mind, not in a moralistic sense, but from clinging to being and non-being, almost in an existential manner.

I was reading some translations by the Rev. Dr. Nobuo Haneda, whom most, if not all, of you should know. He has translated much, if not all, of the works of the late Rev. Shuichi Maida, who is probably better known by those of the Higashi Honganji. Maida says that Shakyamuni boiled down to one word his view of the world, including himself: impermanence. “This also means that he has not understood anything. Simply, “impermanence,” one truth, is playing itself out in this world. That’s all. After having gained “insight into the truth of impermanence,” Shakyamuni lived his entire life one with the truth. In this fact, we can see his unshakable ‘absolute affirmation’ of this actual world.”

He says of Shinran, “[he] does not say that he has

understood the meaning of life. He says that he is ‘a foolish bald-headed one.’ He says that he does not understand anything. Honen says the same thing. He calls himself ‘Honen of stupidity.’”

When I was a lot younger, around my late teens, early twenties, I often hung around with a group of guys in their 30’s and 40’s. We talked about Buddhism, existentialism, and stuff like that. This was San Francisco, after all. Ha! It was fun. I bring it up simply because the last couple of paragraphs made me reminisce about our conversations, discussions, arguments about similar, even the same, topics. As I said, it was fun. You should try it.

A few of you know that my main area of study while in Japan was Nagarjuna, who was Shinran’s first choice of his seven Pure Land Masters. Nagarjuna’s Madhyamika teaching was studied by many of the masters of the time before and after Shinran. The strange part of this is that Shinran apparently did not study Nagarjuna’s Madhyamika teaching, which is a lot like logic. Wow! I just looked at this last paragraph, and it smells like self-aggrandizement (aka bragging), which I hope was not my intent, conscious or otherwise. I know it was not my conscious intent. My unconscious will have to answer for itself. I think, at the time, that Shinran’s way of expressing his thoughts was too personal and might possibly have made me uncomfortable. In any case, at the time, I preferred studying Nagarjuna’s works. I think Shinran’s works began to make sense only a few years ago. Just in time.

I think I am going over the limit, so I will stop. Please take care of yourselves. Make this life worthwhile

in your own eyes. That includes studying Shinran’s works. Before it’s too late.

Gassho,

Donkon Jaan Doami

2017 March Japan Trip For Accession Special Service

Final Meeting with Kintetsu Int'l Saturday, February 11, 2017,

at 11:00AM at the BEC Classroom (social hall 3rd floor)

All participants, please join this meeting. Kintetsu will present the final

itinerary and cost, room sharing.

Any question, please contact Rev. Mutsumi Wondra

January Korin Page 3

Putting Out Fire With Gasoline

One of my favorite songs is entitled Putting Out Fire. It is by David Bowie. He wrote this song in 1982 for the movie Cat People. It was also used in the more recent 2009 movie Inglorious Bustards. The first verse starts out very slow, filled with sadness, and then suddenly the fourth line

crescendos as if he has just realized something shocking.

See these eyes so green? I can stare for a thousand years. Colder than the moon, it's been so long. And I've been putting out fire with gasoline.

Bowie also describes eyes so green – a traditional

symbol for greed. Later in the song, he references red eyes of anger

See these eyes so red? Red like jungle, burning bright. Those who feel me near pull the blinds and change

their minds. It's been so long. and blue eyes of ignorance.

See these tears so blue? An ageless heart that can never mend. These tears can never dry. A judgment made can never bend

Blue usually symbolizes sadness but in this song he

clarifies this as ignorance in the last line of this verse. It is not a coincidence that Greed, Anger and Ignorance,

in that order, are also the three poisons in Buddhism. Initially, I had thought that I was good at finding Buddhist messages in popular culture but my thinking has changed. Instead, these are works of art made by artists who have been exposed to Buddhism and are using these ideas to transmit an emotional truth.

One of the reasons I like this song so much is that it can have two different interpretations. This is the power of lyrics as poetry and metaphor. The first interpretation is that we are constantly adding fuel to the fire. Whenever someone gets angry with us, we immediately respond in kind. Thus the anger grows and the argument gets increasingly more heated. We suffer because our emotions are not under control. This is the more obvious interpretation. Here we try to remove our greed and anger.

The second interpretation is that we are trying to put out the fire but what we think is water is actually gasoline. We are trying to do “good” but are mistakenly causing harm. Arguments overheat due to misunderstandings. We suffer because we lack insight. Here we try to remove our ignorance.

It is very interesting that these two interpretations are also represented as two different paths within the Buddhist tradition. One sees our passions as our main obstacle to realizing awakening and the other sees our views as the real barrier. This is basic Mahayana Buddhism. But the former resonates more effectively in the West. It has more

of a moral flavor to it that is more in line with a Christian understanding of religion. In fact, this phenomenon is actually called Protestant Buddhism. This is a Buddhism that emphasizes doctrine and morals.

Focusing on attaining insight rather than removing passions is a bit more foreign. The claim is that our greed and anger are only symptoms while the cause is actually a lack of insight. Once one sees gasoline not as water but as gasoline then our fire of greed and anger are removed as a natural consequence.

The following line from the Shoshinge, written by Shinran Shonin, illustrates this second approach.

不 斷 煩 惱 得 涅 槃

FU DAN BON NO TOKU NE HAN No Sever Afflicted Distress Obtain “NE” “HAN” Without severing our blind passions, we shall realize Nirvana.

Shoshinge Verse 7 Line 2

This is one of my favorite lines. It is certainly the most bold. But how can a spiritual person make such a claim? How can we realize awakening without removing our passions first? It would seem much more sensible if Shinran had said that we will realize awakening only after we get control of our emotions and cravings. This alternate statement would be more in line with our common sense understanding of both religion and Buddhism. However, it is our common sense that actually gets us into trouble. Our normal way of thinking is just too common. Instead we need to listen to the Buddha’s teachings for an alternate approach. In this case, our common sense is betraying us.

In gassho, Rev. Jon Turner

Southern District Dharma School Teachers Workshop, on February 18, 2017. More information in December’s Korin.

January Korin Page 4

President’s Message

Happy New Year or “Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu”. This is the customary way to start the new year and one that I would like to extend to everyone at OCBC. This is also the year of the Rooster. The forecast for next year is the following: “The Rooster being the sign of dawn and awakening, triumph and success can only be achieved at the price of hard work and patience in 2017”. Working hard is not something that is foreign to the Sangha and patience is something that I will continue to develop. But the combination of both will result in a successful completion of the hondo and the platform we will need to communicate the Dharma to our members and to those who seek to know about Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. Let’s hope that the weather will be mild and the work that needs to be done will continue without any major surprises.

By now, everyone should have received the BCA 2017 calendar. I don’t usually take the time to look at this from cover to cover, but I truly enjoyed seeing the other temples that I have yet to visit and an occasional chance to see a photo of a friend or relative. I wanted to also point out the New Year’s Greetings by Bishop Kodo Umezu and BCA President, Ken Tanimoto. They both extend greetings and wishes for good health, a successful and continued desire to develop ourselves in bringing the teachings to our lives. Rev. Umezu express an allegory, about the significance of everyday greetings in our daily life to the communication of Namo Amida Butsu. He states “Namo Amida Butsu is the calling and greeting from our True and Real Home”. He goes on to say “Until we hear and receive it, we will not be able to find true satisfaction and fulfillment”. Heartfelt and truly intended greetings are part of our lives and part of what we are. We will all need to individually explore and contemplate how we can make them personally meaningful.

The past year has been a good year. Membership is stable and the Finance Committee has managed our budget successfully. Whether it is painting the outside of the classroom building or upgrading our audio visual systems, we have been able to move forward to fix things that will help our church and to keep it a safe place. We will continue to explore different ways to communicate to our members and to make our Jodo Shinshu messages available to anyone that wants to hear it. Our vital organizations continue to evolve and adapt to the times from Dharma School to BWA. These groups continue to bring in new members, and this will be an indicator of what our future will be. We need the continued success of our groups welcoming new members and to support the church. Thank you to all of you for your contributions to our church.

This year will be my last year as president of OCBC. My goal is to insure that the church continues to move in the direction that was originally envisioned 50 years ago. The dream was to make OCBC a place where the Buddhist teachings will continue to be taught and will provide the opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy the strength of our Sangha.

In Gassho,

Alan Endo, OCBC President

BEC News

This month, the Shin Reader relinquishes its space to BEC News to give a preview of the 2017 BEC program.

In 2017, the Buddhist Education Center (BEC) will continue to offer luncheon seminars. This new approach has been successful in reaching out to new students. The courses are held in the Social Hall, 1st floor, after Adult Study with lunch served at 11:45 am and the lecture beginning at noon. We will be offering two such courses this winter.

First, I will be teaching a course on The Process Driven Life on Sunday, January 22. We often overlook the path when we focus on the goal. As an alternative, this course will explore a life of process rather than one of purpose. A life in the here and now rather than yearning for an idealized future. The how then becomes more important than the what.

The second seminar will be taught by Rev. Tetsuo Unno entitled Western Thinkers and the Nembutsu Path on Sunday, February 26. Various Western thinkers have touched upon themes that can also be found along the Nembutsu path. These insights can potentially aid our understanding of Shinran Shonin’s teachings and help us appreciate our Buddhist tradition more fully. We are very lucky to have Rev. Unno as our special speaker.

The BEC will also be publishing a new book in 2017. It is Awaken to Your True Self by Hideo Yonezawa. The author was a doctor living in Japan who gave wonderful Dharma talks. These talks were transcribed by those in attendance and later translated from Japanese to English by Rev Harada. The BEC has taken several years to edit this book and it is now ready for publication, sometime in the first half of 2017.

We have also reprinted our service book with a stronger, sewn binding. Perhaps this is not as exciting as publishing a new book but this version should be much stronger and durable. The pagination is the same and it looks nearly identical to the original lay-flat version.

Perhaps further out into 2017, we hope to provide more online content. For example, links to videos of our Sunday services and classes. We are recording the content now and hope to have this edited and posted soon. Many who live far away from OCBC have asked for the teachings in this format.

Podcasts and e-books may soon follow as well. Social media is also another approach to explore in order to reach more people. This is an area that we could use more help and expertise from new volunteers. This is a different kind of endeavor – rather than working in a concentrated way, these require daily, ongoing support and testing; thus, a different kind of volunteer.

In gassho,

Rev Jon Turner

January Korin Page 5

BWA News Announcements Our next meeting will be held on January 15th, 2017. Please meet in the Kodo after the Ho-onko Service and luncheon at 12:30pm. We are always grateful to the Sangha for supporting our fundraisers and hope you’ll consider joining the BWA as we celebrate our 60th or Diamond Anniversary this year. Eshinnisama and Kakushinni Memorial Service and BWA Year-end Celebration On Sunday, December 4, our OCBC BWA held its annual service honoring Eshinnisama, Kakushinni and our BWA women who have passed away, since our temple’s beginning. We honor Eshinnisama who was the first woman to marry a Buddhist monk, Shinran Shonin. Their daughter, Kakushinni, cared for her father the last ten years of his life. Rev. Marv read the list of women who laid the foundation for our present BWA organization. We are indebted to their dedication to our temple and are the reason our BWA continues to be a strong and vital organization. During the service, Rev. Marv and Rev. Wondra gave a very heartwarming and touching sermon. The service was followed by the year-end luncheon and celebration and was well attended by 82 of our members and guests. Delicious bento lunches were ordered from California Rice. Three women were recognized for turning “80 years young” – Mrs. Mary Nakayama, Mrs. Masako Sawada and Mrs. Shizuko Matsumoto and presented with a Sagarifuji Mon pendant. Sunny Meylor, Janet Sakahara and Jeannie Shimozono were presented with an ojuzu for joining this year. Jodi Hisamoto, president, thanked all the members for their dedicated service in all the year’s events. The program ended with a hilarious game. We are never too old to have a good laugh and just have fun. A special thank you to Irene Yamanishi and Phyllis Uyemura, who coordinated the event and donated the special key charms and ceramic tea-bag caddies. Thank you also to Tobans G and I for helping with set up, providing the furikake crispix mix and tea bags, and serving and clean up. Senior Luncheon On Monday, December 12th, 52 seniors and guests enjoyed a tasty lunch and celebrated birthdays for Seiko Hoshino, Nancy Inafuku, Rosa Somen, Jane Sasaki, and Eizo Yasuda. The menu included Honeybaked Ham, cabbage ramen and potato salads. Thank you to Seiko Hoshino, Nancy Inafuku, Rosa Somen, and Eizo Yasuda for the monetary donations, Toshiki and Nancy Hara for providing the delicious lunch, Rev. Wondra for the grapes, and Alan Maruyama for the poke. We look forward to seeing you at our next senior luncheon on Monday, January 9th, 2017 and a delicious bento will be ordered from California Rice. Mochitsuki – A note of thanks Thank you very much to everyone who came out and helped at mochitsuki. There’s a lot of preparation involved so once again, we’d like to thank the Boy Scouts who washed 863 pounds of rice, the an making/an ball forming groups, and the equipment and rice steaming crews for their

continued support year after year. The breakfast crew prepared a delicious American and Japanese breakfast for the early arrivals and the lunch team prepared a flavorful ozoni and lunch for all the hard working volunteers. A special thank you to the many OCBC youth groups, scouting organizations, parents, and our dedicated Sangha for making this a successful fundraiser for BWA. Thanks to all of you, we made approximately 8,240 komochi, 2,274 an mochi, and 104 okasane for everyone to appreciate and enjoy! Winter Pacific Seminar: East Meets West Dharmathon – January 28th, 2017 If you are interested in attending this seminar at Nishi Hongwanji from 9:00am-4:30pm, registration is $40 (includes lunch), but the cost for BWA members is $20. Please make checks payable to OC BWA and turn in to Kyoko Shimizu or Amy Iwamasa. Deadline to register is January 15th. Three of our ministers will be on the panel, Rev. Harada and Rev. Turner in English and Rev. Wondra in Japanese. Questions: For general questions regarding BWA or its activities, BWA members may contact Jodi Hisamoto at jahisam@pacbell.net.

In Gassho, Chris Nakamura

WANTED PART TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT

*applications now being accepted*

for details contact the office manager at

(714) 827-9590 or email resume to

ocbc909@aol.com

January Korin Page 6

Maintenance Report

Domo arigato. Thank you to our dedicated OCBC volunteers, noted

below, for their help in the December Clean Up. Paul Fujimoto Kay Fujimura David Fusato Wat Iwakoshi Dan Kaneko Hideo Kawamura. Dennis Morinaga Glen Morita Eric Nakahara Rod Nishimura Norman Nishioka Akio Nitta Dennis Okada Frank Okamura Winston Shigenaga Eizo Yasuda 1) General

a. Continued trash removal from the Ball Road and Dale Street frontages.

b. Pruned the Podocarpus along the west wall, removed weeds, and tended to the plantings.

c. Modified the dumpster smasher. d. Prepared for Mochitsuki in December. e. Added more shelving to Shed 5 to improve storage.

2) Hondo a.Avoided this area due to construction.

3) Class Room Building a.Moved supplies into, and out of, storage room. b.Cleaned up around the stairs.

4) MPB a. Replaced a leaking faucet in the women’s restroom. b. Replaced a few lights. c. Replaced vertical blinds in room 209. d. Modified the lobby lighting. e. Had two vandalized door locks repaired. f. Had two vacuum cleaners professionally repaired.

Next monthly workday is Monday January 9, 2017(!?) at

9 A.M. Any being that would like to contribute time and energy to helping the temple is welcome to join us. A delicious “home” cooked lunch is provided by the BWA in conjunction with the monthly senior lunch. (Please let me know if I left your name off the list).

Gassho, Jim Mitchell

Dharma School News Oseibo Taikai On December 11, Dharma School observed Oseibo Taikai. Thank you to the following chairpersons: Student Gift Preparation: Joyce Yada, Irene Yamanishi. Special thanks to the PK craft ladies who helped package the gifts. Mochitsuki Lunch Prep The DS staff was in charge of lunch prep for mochitsuki on December 18. The staff prepared lunch for the workers under the direction of Alison Yoshihara, Cheryl Higashi, Linda Nakauchi, Craig Shibata, and Nanelle Wong. Upcoming Events Ho-onko Service Date: January 14, 2017 Please make sure students sign the attendance sheets. Students who attend this service will receive attendance credit. D.S. Class Schedule D.S. classes will be held on the following dates: January 8, 22, 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 19, and 26. Classes begin immediately after service and end at 11:30 a.m.

Gassho, Tracy Yamashita-Perry

In recognition of our past Korin editor. Forever grateful.

Korin Articles Due

1/29/2017* OCBCKorin@GMAIL.com

2017 Dates: 2/26**, 3/26*, 4/30**, 5/28*

* Taiko, DW,ST JrY can submit articles

January Korin Page 7

Project Kokoro Senior Luncheon March 19 Our 30

th Annual Senior Luncheon will be held in the OCBC

Gym from 12pm to 3pm on March 19. Special entertainment is by COLD TOFU, the nation’s longest running Asian-American improve and sketch comedy troupe. Get ready to laugh and have fun. Seniors are free, non-OCBC Seniors and Adults will be $20, and kids are $10 (ages 4 – 12) Please see the flyer for more details and reservation information or contact Kathy Ito at 714-401-8711 or kathyito@verizon.net. Society of Seven Feb 26 Save the date for an upcoming bus trip to Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center to enjoy a 50

th Anniversary concert

by the Society of Seven Band – known as “Hawaii’s Best and America’s Premier Showband”. They have performed in Hawaii and Las Vegas and now you have an opportunity to hear them. Seniors will be mailed a flyer for reservation deadline this month. If you would like to be added to the mailing list or would like more information please contact Diana Ono: dianaocbc@gmail.com Appreciation . We would like to express our appreciation for donations received from Alan & Sue Endo, Dorothy Matsuoka, and Dennis & Ethel Okada. These funds will support future programs and events. Next Meeting Feb 8 Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month in the Senior Room at 7pm. We invite you to come learn about upcoming events or find out how to help or get involved! For questions or more information contact Co-President’s: Lori Kosakura: lorikosakura@gmail.com or Judy Uyema: jujuterao@hotmail.com

In Gassho, Neddie Bokosky

Adult Buddhist Association

ITSUDEMO DOKODEMO, AKEMASHITE OMEDETO GOZAIMASU!!!!!

Greetings and Happy New Year, ABA wants happiness, prosperity, good health, and loving kindness to all the temple members. What will happen in 2017, as you look back to 2016. Did you make good or bad choices, happy or unhappy decisions, failed or passed the DMV test, or got into an auto accident? Did your life go two steps forward and then one step backward, did it stay the same, or did you get a rude awakening? Whatever happened in 2016 is in the past, and now it is time for reflection and gratitude.

Awaken to 2017, the Year of the Rooster, and become a temple participant by becoming an active member of ABA. Do not sit back, do nothing and complain, you must adjust your perception thru “thoughtfulness in action.” This has been the general theme of ABA members whose inter and intra activities make them active temple members for the Sangha. ABA is not a criminal group, but it is a group where fun and work unite for the temple. Join ABA, look ahead, no regrets, and keep smiling. This means YOU!!! 2017 ABA OFFICERS PRESIDENT: Margie Mio VICE PRESIDENT: Karen Kino RECORDING SECRETARY: Joyce Kato CORRESPONDING SECRETARY: Joan Tani TREASURER: Ron Suzuki AUDITOR: Art Mio RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES: Richard Kuramoto ACTIVITIES: Sue Endo, Karen Kino, Chieko Miyake MEMBERSHIP: Edie Gulrich ABA INSTALLATION SERVICE January 8, 2017 Will be held at 11:30 AM, before the January ABA meeting. CHAIR SET UP: January 15, 2017 Participants meet in the MPB to set up chairs for the HOONKO service at 9:00 AM ABA PAST PRESIDENTS 1995 Bill Moore 1996 Mike Kimura 1997 Kei Shimizu Daikon no hana: A friend is someone who reaches for your hand, but touches your heart. (Kathleen Grove)

With sincere gratitude, Ron Suzuki

January Korin Page 8

Cub Scout Pack 578 (Bear Den)

Greetings to all. I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season!

The Cub Scouts have been very busy in the past few months working on their achievements and holiday events. Specifically for the Bear Den, in October we had a camp out at San Clemente State Beach. The Scouts had experience learning about setting up a tent and a camp site, cooking a meal, safe use of a knife, knot tying, and fire starting during the 2 night campout. The Scouts also had their annual popcorn fundraiser. This year again, the Pack had record breaking sales. The Cub Scouts would like to send a heartfelt “thank you” to all the church members for helping raise funds to be used for various Pack activities.

In November, the Cub Scouts had the Zoo Sleepover. Over 70 participants from Pack 578 experienced exclusive viewing of the nocturnal animals at the unlit L.A. Zoo. The Scouts viewed many animals which are hidden from view during the day. The

boys were especially excited about learning how animals see at night by the use of the night vision goggles. As an extra treat, the Scouts also enjoyed the L.A. Zoo Light Show during their stay. However, the month was not all play for the boys. At the beginning of the month, the Pack along with their parents cleaned up the front garden of the church. The boys worked as a group to beautify the garden.

The Pack’s Annual Holiday Party was held in December. The Social Hall was transformed into a festive party by the artistic skills of the Wolf Den. There were lots of delicious food and desserts. The Scouts shared their acting skills by performing their skits for all the guests and awards were handed out.

Wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2017!

In Gassho,

Lou Nakagawa

Boy Scout Troop 578 Church Clean Up

On Saturday, November 5, all of Troop 578 participated in the annual Church Clean-Up. We did lots of outside work, including clipping the hedges and making sure that the back parking lot shrubbery was in top condition. Most scouts arrived around 7:00 and worked until about noon, when we were invited to a luncheon in the Social Hall. A big thanks to the Ichiho family for organizing the event.

January Korin Page 9

Boy Scout Troop 578

Rock Climbing

On November 11, 2016, 18 scouts and their parents traveled to Apple Valley Craggs to go rock climbing. When we arrived at the campsite, everyone ate dinner and then set up their tents. The next morning, the group woke up to a beautiful sunrise and ate their breakfasts. After the campsite was cleaned up, we met our rock climbing instructors from SoCal Adventures. The instructors were very helpful and taught us how to safely climb, belay, and rappel. They also provided us with special climbing shoes that were flexible and had a very sticky rubber sole designed to grip the rock surfaces. We also received helmets and harnesses to ensure our safety.

We set out for a mini hike up to our climbing location. With everyone eager and ready to climb, the instructors demonstrated how to belay and rappel correctly. We also had to pass a climbing assessment to make sure that we had the skills necessary to have fun and climb safely. We were given a choice of three different climbing levels. Many scouts scaled vertical rock faces that ascended up to 50 feet. By the end of the day, 12 scouts had earned their climbing merit badges and everyone, including the adults, had a great time.

As the sun started to set, the troop started preparations to cook dinner. All of the meals that the patrols created looked fantastic. At the end of the day, we concluded with a campfire, skits, and songs. The campfire looked amazing, the weather was perfect, and we were even treated to a view of the “super moon”. The campfire skits were very original and funny and the songs made everyone happy. Around eleven o'clock, it was lights out and everyone went to sleep.

The next morning, everyone ate breakfast, dismantled the tents, and did a sweep of the campsite. After working very hard, everyone went back to OCBC with their designated drivers. We would like to thank ASM Rodney Ueno, ASM Matt Ching, and Mrs. Yuko Sugiyama-Ly for coordinating this very fun event. We would also like to thank all of the ASMs and adults for their help in driving us to Apple Valley and for their help in making this a successful event.

Keiro Caroling On December 10th, Boy Scouts and adults from Troop

578 went to the Keiro Nursing Home to carol for the residents. Back on the 2nd, we decorated ornaments that were given to the residents. Our day started bright and early at the Target parking lot at 8:30 AM. Mrs. Eng had drinks and snacks for the scouts and adults. Everyone was eager to start our day of singing. Once we arrived, we took our group photo and headed in to begin. We sang many songs on all of the floors of the nursing home. We even had scouts with instruments to accompany us to enhance the experience. Michael Nishimoto gave a short speech in Japanese to the residents on each floor. We were very surprised and impressed with his ability to speak. After we finished singing, we headed out to Noodle World for lunch. It was delicious. We would like to thank all of the parents who drove us to this event, and a special thanks to the Eng family and Mr. Wakai for organizing this event.

Rice Washing

Every December, the Troop washes rice in preparation for Mochitsuki the next day. On the 17th, approximately 35 scouts woke up bright and early to drive down to OCBC at 7:45 to wash rice. When all the scouts got there, we signed in and had a hearty breakfast provided by the attending parents. We then proceeded to set up benches, wash our hands, and start cleaning the rice. After a few hours we finished up the rice (while the machine did most of the work) around 11:00. We washed a total of 800 pounds of rice, cleaned up any trace we may have left, and went home.

January Korin Page 10

Brownie Girl Scout Troop 916

Brownie Troop 916 has been busy over the past few months! We had our Investiture Ceremony on October 28 where we welcomed our new Brownies and rededicated our current ones. Our troop also collected donations for the Second Harvest Food Bank for their "Scouting for Food" program. We also helped with the church clean up by prepping, providing and serving lunch to all the volunteers.

Our troop attended the "Anaheim Ducks Scout Night" with the Daisies and watched the Ducks play against the Calgary Flames. They also worked on their "First Aid Badge" with the help of a doctor who is one of the dads in our troop. The girls learned about medical emergencies, made their own first aid kits, learned about outdoor injuries and how to treat scrapes and nose bleeds, had a chance to play around with some of the doctor's medical equipment and play doctor. Our troop also attended the "Aquarium of the Pacific Scout Day" to earn their Brownie Senses Badge.

Scout Day at the Long Beach Aquarium

Senior Ambassadors with our Brownies

For our holiday party in December, we had a potluck dinner with the girls and their families. The Senior Ambassador Troop dedicated their meeting to help us earn our "Fair Play Badge." The girls had to come up with their own holiday games and rules. They had a lot of fun playing all the games. They also enjoyed having dessert with the Senior Ambassador Troop afterwards. We are excited and looking forward to another great year of scouting in 2017!

Junior Girl Scout Troop 885

OCBC GS Juniors Troop 855 has kicked off the year with lots of fun and educational activities!

5th grade girls have begun working towards their Bronze

Award projects, helping marine life. In October some attended an etiquette class and a STEM expo. Also, a big Thank you to all of you who supported us during our annual nut sales. It was another successful year of sales. Rounding out November was the annual sleepover where the girls learned to cook outdoors with the help of Nancy and Kent Suzuki. This year we will venture out to camp in Irvine in the spring. Some of the girls also attended Ask A Scientist night lead by GSOC where they made Elephant Toothpaste! In December the troop went to see a play, a Christmas Carol at the Segerstrom center where the girls got a backstage tour and learned about different jobs available in theater and what type of education they would need to get to those jobs. Rounding out the year- end was a Robotics Class at the Columbia Memorial Space Center.

We are now gearing up for Cookie sales in the spring. We appreciate and thank you in advance for your support! Did we mention that the cookies are calorie free? Just kidding of course. Have a Happy New Year!!!

January Korin Page 11

Cadette Girl Scout Troop 675

Church clean-up, a service project, holiday party and Mochitsuki were activities that engaged Girl Scouts in Cadette Troop 675. We were assigned to clean the mpb conference room chairs, tables, windows, walls and floor. It was fun shuffling our feet around with paper towels on the bottom of our shoes! When we were done, the room was lemon-scented, spotless and shiny!

For our service project, we provided dinner for Anaheim firefighters at their station to show our gratitude for all their hard work serving our community. We prepared miso soup, a salad, spam musubi, sesame chicken and holiday sugar cookies. They were happy to enjoy a homemade meal from us.

Afterwards we had our holiday party back at OCBC! Entering the room, you would have seen festive drawings all over the whiteboard, scouts at the tables eating and chattering away, and many exciting games going on. We ate curry rice, salad, cookies and mini cupcakes! Cadette Troop 675 had lots of fun!

To close the year, Cadettes assisted BWA with Mochitsuki! It was an assembly line as we gathered the mochi onto trays, lined them up on tables and periodically turned them over to cool them down. When the mochi was cool, the extra powder was dusted off, placed on trays and all wrapped up. Our part was done!

Upcoming events in January include mochi-making with our Daisy little sisters and a mini Taiko workshop. Hope you enjoy the holidays!

In Gassho,

Carina Furumoto

Senior Ambassdor Troop 881

November was a busy month for Senior/Ambassador Troop 881. We participated in church clean up and helped the Brownies earn a game badge at their holiday party. On November 13, we attended a financial literacy class at the Girl Scout Center in Irvine. The class was insightful and gave us an opportunity to learn how to budget and spend money. The class was centered around the idea, “The Game of Life” which proposed real life scenarios. We creat-ed our own futures by selecting a college, job, and a home. By the end of the game, our troop was able to understand the harsh realities of spending and budgeting money.

Congratulations to Brianne Hanamoto, Amy Leung, Kellie Yada and Laura Sato for dedicating over a year of Buddhist studies to earn their Padma Award!

December was full of holiday fun. Our troop had our annual holiday party at Marie Callender’s in Garden Grove. We had a breakfast buffet and the senior class planned a gift exchange and a craft. We also participated at Mochitsuki on December 18, by packaging and weighing many orders of mochi.

We would like to give special thanks to our leaders for a wonderful year and we are excited for our many activities to come in 2017! Girl Scout cookie sales start Jan. 29

th!!!

In Gassho,

Lauren Wong Troop 881

January Korin Page 12

Acknowledgments (continued from page 16)

Shotsuki Hoyo Donations

Aoki, Eiko Asahino, Thomas Domen, Hisako Fujita, Kiyoko Gayle Tadokoro Hamano, Dianne M. Hamasaki, Yuzuru Hara, Richard/Lily Hayasaka, Keiko Hayashi, Clara Hirao, Gene Hirokawa, Annie Hoffman, Karen Homan, Shiro Ishii, Blaine M. Iwata, Norio Kakihara, Kiyoko Kamei, Kiyoshi Kano, Yorie Kimura, Masao Kitagawa, Janice Korin, Mitsuko Kusumi, Sachiko Kyomen, Yoshie Larson, Rhonda Cannon Maeda, Fumiko Miyamoto, Katsuhiro/Michiko Monzingo, Cindy K. Nagahori, Fred Nakamura, Charles Nakamura, Joe/Carol Nakamura, Setsuko Nakatsuka, Betty Nakawatase, Mickie Nakayama, Mary Y. Nishioka, Norman Nitta, Akio Nomoto, Teruyo Ohara, Ted Sadakane Babcock, Jeanne Sakahara, Bill Sasaki, Jane H. Shimazu, Maile Tadokoro, Barbara Tadokoro, Karen Takata, Toshiki Ujihara, Kinuko Uyema, Judy Various Yamamoto, Cynthia/Kathy Yamanishi, Louie Yamaoka, Thomas Yamasaki, Betty Yamauchi, Rose S. (2) Yasuda, Eizo

Total: $2,633.00 Nokotsudo Maintenance Donations Domen, Hisako Ito Properties Korin, Mitsuko Maeda, Fumiko Morris, Sirima Sugimura, Bert K. Various (2)

Total: $967.22

Eitaikyo Service Donations (Add’l) Kawamura, Hideo/Jane

In Memoriam

The Orange County Buddhist Church wishes to express its deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the late:

Isamu Hazama

Dennis “Kazu” Tsujimoto Harry Harunori Oda

May the family members find solace and

comfort in the infinite compassion of Amida Buddha

Namu Amida Butsu

Services Conducted

December

3 Shotsuki Hoyo, Monthly Memorial Service

4 Sumiko Okura, 1 Year Memorial Service

Somie Kosakura, 17 Year Memorial Service

7 Isamu Hazama, Funeral Service

17 Aiko Yasuda, 3 Year Memorial Service

19 Harry Oda, Funeral Service

21 Dennis “Kazu” Tsujimoto, Funeral Service

January Korin Page 13

Ministerial Scholarship

By the time you receive this article, we will have rung in

the New Year. Best wishes to each and every one of you for a healthy, Happy New Year.. This time of the year is always one for reflection on all of the happenings of the previous year and on our hopes and aspirations for the New Year. As I reflect on 2016, I am filled with gratitude to so many of you for all of your support both personally and as chair of the Ministerial Scholarship Committee. As we begin the New Year, there is so much to look forward to at OCBC with the completion of Phase II. Our Hondo will be expanded, our Naijin will be sparkling and bright with its refurbishment back from Japan and in place will be a beautiful new courtyard. Though we have adapted well to services in our social hall, how awesome will it be to be able to spread out in our Hondo and to be able to hear the wonderful messages from our fantastic ministerial staff. What I am most grateful for is that the Buddhadharma will continue to flow throughout this coming New Year. You all have made it possible. Thank you.

The Ministerial Scholarship Committee acknowledges the donors below who have generously contributed to our fall campaign. Please note that any donations received subsequent to December 28, 2016 will be acknowledged in the next issue of the Korin.

Donations received from October 3, 2016 through October 30, 2016: Margaret Abo Robert & Setsuko Eto Paul & Miyuki Fujimoto Paul & Joyce Fujita Harry & Joyce Furuya Tomoaki & Dianne Hayata Steve & Cheryl Higashi Annie Hirokawa Kaz & Fusako Ichikawa Paul & Nancy Inafuku Wat & Hiromi Iwakoshi Keith & Noreen Kamimura Masao & Joyce Kimura Harry & Hiroko Koike Noel & Judy Kurai Takeshi & Ritsuko Kuroki George & Ellen Mabuni Joel & Wendy Marutani Roy & Masako Matsuo Glenn & Lynn Morita Willie & Betty Ann Nagami Maurice & Carrie Nakagawa Joe Natsuhara Kazuko Nishimoto Tommy & Loreen Okada Hiro & Nancy Sakioka Tamiji & Rosa Somen John & Mary Sunada Tom & Muriel Sunada Kent & Nancy Suzuki Ron & Kyoko Suzuki Alan & Akiko Tomiyama Roy Tomooka Masayuki & Kiyoko Ueda Kinuko Ujihara Robert Wada Yoko Yamashita Tracy Yamashita-Perry Donations received from October 31, 2016 through November 28, 2016: Hayami Helen Fukino Roy & Clara Hayashi Neal & Taeko Hayashida Kenneth Hirata Yukiko Hirata Tsutomu & Miyoko Hirayama Shiro & Toku Homan Dan & Noriko Kaneko Edward Kato Fred & Jill Katsuda Hideo & Jane Kawamura Sho & Mitsuko Korin Edwin & Hatsuko Matsumoto Mutsuko Miyakawa Mitsuo & Sachiko Mizutani Dennis & Mona Morinaga Michael & Cynthia Nishida Kathy Nishimoto Jan Okinishi Patricia Ruiz Junji & Kiyoko Sarashina Gary & Nancy Sato

Winston & Ruth Shigenaga Michiko Sueda Sue Togashi Eizo Yasuda Donations received from November 29, 2016 through December 21, 2016: Robert Bolander Ray & Helen Kato Richard & Charlene Kuramoto Taka & Setsuko Noguchi Tilden & Lisa Osako Bill & Janet Sakahara Masa Tominaga Tracy Yamashita-Perry

Total donations received through December 28, 2016: $5,275.00

Gassho, Carrie Nakagawa

More information in December’s Korin

January Korin Page 14

50th Anniversary Project Report

The 50th Anniversary Project staff wishes the OCBC Sangha and all our friends a Happy New Year! We've had an eventful 2016, and with your help, we look forward to a successful completion of the Phase 2 project in 2017!

With the shoring installed, we've been able to proceed with final grading. Additionally, to take advantage of the relatively light OCBC activity during the holidays and before we got too busy with the new year. the contractor decided to remove the last portion of the old courtyard in front of the social hall entrance and replace that section with the new courtyard concrete. Unfortunately, the unexpected large amount of rain we received recently not only delayed grading, but also the trenching for the new Hondo footings. While we wait for the ground to dry, the contractor scheduled other indoor tasks, like installation of the new fire sprinklers and even some new Hondo ceiling light fixtures. These were tasks that were previously slated for later in the project, but if completed now, it can help with the overall schedule. We anticipate a very busy January!

On the fundraising side of the project, the year-end collections have been tremendous. We've not yet tallied all the donations that arrived on the last days of 2016, but the strong pace we'd experienced in the last two months has continued. Donations raised to-date now total $9,049,192, just $250.8K short of our $9.3M goal! We are hopeful the year-end donations arriving in the new year will push us that much closer to "Completing the Dream". OCBC is grateful for everyone's continued support and acknowledges the following new and repeat donations received between Nov 27, 2016 and December 29, 2016. Family and Individual Donations (new and repeat): (Coin donor names reported separately) Madalyne K. Adams Alex A. Accetta, CPA & Associates, Inc. in memory of Carolyn Fujishige Janet Arima & Steve Chase Justin Brennan Daryl & Lily Doami Rev. & Mrs. John Doami, David, Kim, Daryl, & Lily Alan & Sue Endo (2) The Folick Family Brian & Patricia Fukuma Roy & Clara Hayashi Yukiko Hirata Jon & Jodi Hisamoto (2) Doug Iwanaga Sakuye Iwata Hideo & Jane Kawamura Mary Kodama in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Matao Kodama Wayne & Irene Koga Family Richard, Charlene, & Mark Kuramoto George & Margaret Miyoda

in memory of Shige Honda-Miyoda Howard & Karen Nakagiri Eric & Gwen Nakahara Mrs. Yasuko Nakahara Jim & Joni Nakaso Miles & Bonny Okino Richard & Marilyn Oshiro Kiyoshi & Mary Sakaeda Ron & Annie Sakahara Hiromichi & Nancy Sakioka Roy & Lillian Sasaki Winston & Ruth Shigenaga Stephen & Carole Sugimoto (2) John & Helen Sun Mr. & Mrs. Akira Takata David & Ruby Tamashiro Edward & Grace Tanaka Clyde & Claudia Tokumoto Masa & Kazuko Tominaga Pamela Tsushio Charles & Helen Uejo Jim & Chris Uyeno Richard & Janet Uyeno (2) Bill & Doris Yamanoha Janet Arima & Steve Chase Eizo & Aiko Yasuda Additionally, we sincerely apologize to the following donors whose donations were received in November, but were mistakenly left off the December Korin donor list. Robert & Setsuko Eto Nancy Hara in memory of Diane Urasaki Cheryl Higashi in memory of Diane Urasaki Dan & Noriko Kaneko Greg & Sandra Kimura Family/Individual Donations this period: $156,243.00 Total Family/Indv'l Donations to Date: $4,085,608.00 Family and Individual Pledges (new and add'l) this period: Maurice & Carrie Nakagawa Total Pledges (collected & uncollected) to Date: $3,828,330.00 OCBC Organization Donations, Pledges (new and repeat) this period: OCBC BEC Book Club for Kodo Scrolls $500.00 Girl Scouts Troop 881 $300.00 OCBC Mindfulness Center $250.00 OCBC Organization Donations, Pledges to Date: $1,108,752.00 Total Pledges and Donations: $9,049,192.00 (includes coin collections) Total Donations and Pledge Payments Collected to date: $8,905,575.00 Phase 2 Goal - $4,000,000.00 Additional donations required $250,808.00

In Gassho,

Howard Nakagiri, Project Manager Bill Sakahara, Project Treasurer

January Korin Page 15

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Orange County Buddhist Church gratefully acknowledges the following for their very generous donations, received and recorded from November 26, 2016 through December 29, 2016.

Oseibo Donation Abo, Margaret Adams, Madalyne Kinue Ando, Susan T. Anonymous (2) Askew, Kirii Beckker, Vivian Bokosky, Neddie James Bolander, Robert Brennan, Justin Crane, Ellen Hamada/Tom Eguchi, Ron Endo, Alan Esaki, Merrill Eto, Robert Folick, Jeff Fujimoto, Miyuki Fujimura, Kay Fujita, Osamu Fujita, Paul Fusato, David T. Garden Grove Nursery & Flower Shop Gow, Midori Hamasaki, Donald Hara, Richard/Lily Hara, Toshiki/Nancy Hasegawa Trust, Lester /Riko Hayashi, Clara Henmi, Morihei Hide, Cherry Higashi, Cheryl Hirata, Yukiko Hirayama, Tsutomu Bud Hirokawa, Annie Homan, Shiro Hori, Susan Horiba, Saburo/Clara Ichikawa, Fusako Inafuku, Nancy N. Inokuchi, Laurence Ishibashi, Alan Ishihara, Kenji Iwakoshi, Setsuken Iwakoshi, Wat Iwashita, Bobby Iwata, Norio Kamimura, Keith M. Kaneko, Dan Kano, Eugene Kano, Yorie Kato, Arlene Katsuda, Fred Katsumoto, Kaiji Kawamura, Hideo/Jane Kawauchi, Y. Burt/Tamiko Kido, Rodney Kimura, Masao King, Earl Fred Koike, Harry Korin, Mitsuko Korin, Yayoko Kotake, Janet Yasuko Kouchi, Claude Koyama, Sanford Gerry Kurai, Noel/Judy Kuramoto, Richard Kusano, Asao Kusano, Gail Kusumi, Sachiko Kusunoki, Eunice Maki Marutani, Joel K. Maruyama, Alan Matsumoto, Hatsuko Matsumoto, Shizuko Matsunami, Juichi Matsuo, Roy Mauldin, Jon/Janis Meylor, Sunelei Mio, Arthur Miyakawa, Mutsuko Miyamoto,Michiko/Katsuhiro Miyoda, George Mizutani, Mitsuo Mori, Akiko Tamura Morita, Glen/Lynn Munemitsu, Setsuyo Murakami, Kyohei Muramoto, Karen Nagami, Willis S. Nakahara, Eric Nakamura, Nobuko Nakawaki, Fushio Nakawaki, Tad Natsuhara, Joe M. Nishida, Kenneth Nishimoto, John Nishimoto, Kathy H. Nishimoto-Nishida, Cynthia Nishimura, Gilbert Nishimura, Marion/Rodney Noguchi, Setsuko Numata, Tammi Ogawa, Sumiyo Ohama, Nancy/George Ohta, Yasuko Okada, Thomas/Loreen

Okinishi, Jan Y. Onishi, Frances Osako, Lisa Osako, Michiko Osako, Takanobu Ted Otsuka, Stella Oune, William T. Overzyl, Midori Wada Perry, Stephen Sakahara, Bill Sakakura, Michiko Sakamoto, Carol Ito Sakamoto, Jeffery Sakioka, Hiromichi Sarashina, Junji Sato, Gary Sawada, Masako Seko, Betty M. Shigenaga, Winston Shoda, Dan Sollberger, Mark Somen, Tamiji Sugimoto, Stephen Sumioka, Makiko Sunada, Thomas Suzuki, Hiroshi/Emiko Suzuki, Kent Suzuki, Ronald M./Kyoko Taira, Jane Takahashi, Alice Takazumi, Ruby Emiko Tanaka, Fred K. Tani, Gordon Togashi, Sueko Tominaga, Masa Tomooka, Raymond Tomooka, Roy Tsujimoto, Shoko Tsutsui, Bob Uchiyama, Gordon Ujihara, Kinuko Ukegawa, Joni/Nakaso, Jim Urabe, Judith Uyemura, Phyllis Wada, Juji Wada, Robert Wakamatsu. Taeko Waki, Terry Watanabe Netty /Paul Yada, Frank/Joyce Yamamoto, Laura Kariya Yamamoto, Misae Yamanishi, Louie Yamasaki, Betty Yamashita, Yoko Yasuda, Eizo Yee, Megumi/Clifford Yoshihara, Glenn

Total: $12,710.00

Orei to the Church Anonymous Harada, Marvin Harada, Ruth Hazama, Kenneth Kouchi, Claude Kubota Nikkei Mortuary Nakano, Garrett OCBC Boy Scout Troop 578 OCBC Dana Program Oda Family Charitable Foundation Okura, Gregg Osako, Sherrie M. Sakaeda, Kiyoshi Sakimoto, Dan Sakimoto, Judean A. Sasaki, Donna L. Shimazu, Maile Tsujimoto, Shoko

Total: $9,530.00

Special or Miscellaneous Donations

FIA Insurance Services Inc. Folick, Jeff Hikiji, Helen Kino, Stan Kuroki, Takeshi Maruyama, Alan Nitta, Akio (2) OCBC Mindfulness Center Ogasawara, Paul W. Okino, David Suzuki, Edward M. Tanizawa, Mitzie

Total: $12,510.00

(Acknowledgments continued on page 12)

― 1 ―

オレンジ郡仏教会

２０１７年

一月号

新年

しんねん

のご挨拶

あいさつ

―

いのちの不思議

ふ

し

ぎ

さ

―

皆さま、新年明けまして、おめでとう

ございます。昨年は、多くの皆さまから

ご寄付やお手伝いをいただきまして、誠

にありがとうございました。今年も、引

き続き、よろしくお願い申し上げます。

２０１７年４月には、本堂がいよいよ

完成する予定です。本当に待ち遠しいで

すね。

新たな年を迎える節目

ふ

し

め

にあたり、いま

一度みずからを見つめなおし、確かな足

どりで人生を歩みたいものです。

八代目、蓮如

れんにょ

上人

しょうにん

は年の始めに、勧 か

ん

修しゅう

寺村

じ

む

ら

の道徳

どうとく

と門徒さんに、次のよう

に

仰おっしゃ

られたとあります。

道徳はいくつになるぞ

道徳、念仏申さるべし

一つ年を重ねるにあたり、あらためて

念仏を勧 す

す

められています。

子供の頃は、お正月が来るのが楽しか

ったのですが、年齢を重ねるとともに、

「また年を取るのはいやね・・」と思い

ませんか？

しかし、一年また一年と、

年を重ねることは、決して当たり前のこ

とではないのです。私自身にも、やがて

この世の縁 え

ん

が尽 つ

きる時が来るのです。蓮

如上人はそのことを道徳に分 わ

からせるた

めに、念仏することを勧 す

す

められました。

いま、私たちが真実の教えに出 で

遇 あ

い、

念仏する身となって、大いなる安心

あんしん

のな

かに人生を歩んでいけることは、まこと

に不思議なことです。

毎年のように、日本人の平均寿命が発

表されます。現在、女性が約８６歳、男

性が約８０歳なのだそうです。そうだか

らといって、私がこの数字の年まで生き

られる保証は何もありません。今終わっ

ても不思議ではないのが、私の生命

い

の

ち

だと

いうことです。そう思いますと、お浄土

に往 ゆ

き生まれる生命

い

の

ち

を生かされているこ

との尊さが、いよいよ身にしみてきます

ね。そして同時に、今生きていることの

不思議さに、いのちの底から「新年明け

まして、おめでとうございます」とお念

仏が出てくださいます。

一月十五日は当寺院では親鸞

しんらん

聖人

しょうにん

御正忌

ごしょうき

報恩講

ほうおんこう

が営まれますが、京都にあ

る本山では一月九日から十六日まで行わ

れます。私が京都の龍谷大学で学んでい

た五年のあいだ、本山の報恩講にお参り

したものです。冷蔵庫のような本堂に坐

って、『正信偈

しょうしんげ

』をお称 と

な

えして、『領解

りょうげ

文 もん

』を出言

しゅつごん

します。とても、

厳おごそ

かで

緊張

きんちょう

が漂

ただよ

うものでした。

この「報恩

ほうおん

」、つまり恩 お

ん

を報 ほ

う

じるとは、

どういうことでしょうか？

『正信偈』

のなかで龍樹

りゅうじゅ

菩薩

ぼ

さ

つ

を讃 た

た

えられる最後に、

ただよくつねに如来

にょらい

の号 ご

う

を称

しょう

して、

大悲

だ

い

ひ

弘 ぐ

誓 ぜい

の恩 お

ん

を報 ほ

う

ずべしといへり

（『註釈版』二〇五頁）

と示されています。すなわち、阿弥陀如

来さまが誓われた本願の大いなる慈悲の

恩に報いなさいと言われています。

報恩とは、平たく言えば、ありがとう

と感謝することです。逆に言えば、感謝

する想 お

も

いがなければ、報恩はできません

ね。この報恩の前提として、恩を知ると

いうことが大切です。

― 2 ―

例えば、「子を持って初めて知る恩」

などともいわれます。恩を知ることがで

きれば、その恩に何からの形で報 む

く

いたい

という想いが当然、起こってくるでしょ

う。お念仏を称 と

な

えさせていただき、お念

仏を生活の

柱はしら

として生きていくこと、

そのことが恩を報 ほ

う

じる姿であるといえま

しょう。そのことに気づかされるとき、

受けた生命

い

の

ち

と南無阿弥陀仏を聞きいただ

いた不思議さに、自然と手が合わされま

す。

合掌

がっしょう

ワンドラ

来年２０１７年３月３１日

「伝灯奉告法要」について

ようやく、当仏教会、ビスタ、サンデ

ィエゴ、そしてガーディナからの参加者

が決まりました。

近鉄インターナショナルとの最終ミー

ティングは２月１１日（土）午前１１時

からＢＥＣ教室で行います。ワンドラ先

生の土曜真宗講座の直後です。出発前の

大事なミーティングですので、参加者の

方は是非お越しください。

冬季ＢＥＣ土曜真宗講座

引き続いて、宗祖親鸞聖人のご著書で

ある『浄土和讃』をひとつひとつ丁寧に

読みながら、難しい真宗・仏教用語を説

明しつつ、皆さまとご一緒にご和讃を味

わいます。また、ビデオ鑑賞や深川

ふかがわ

宣暢

せんちょう

先生の『摂取の法―すくいのみの

り』を読んでいきます。

途中からのご参加も大歓迎です。どう

ぞ、お気軽にお越しくださいませ。

講座日は、

１月１４日、２１日、

２月４日、１１日で、

時間は午前９時から１１時までです。

但し、１月１４日は１０時半に終わり

ますので、ご了承ください。

二〇一七年一月の祥月法要

７日（土）午後７時３０分より営まれ

ます。

日本語法話・・ワンドラ先生

英語法話･･

・・ターナー先生

二〇一七年二月の祥月法要

４日（土）午後７時３０分より営まれ

ます。

日本語法話・・ワンドラ先生

英語法話･･

・・原田先生

二〇一七年三月の祥月法要

４日（土）午後７時３０分より営まれ

ます。

英語法話のみ･･

・・ターナー先生

ワンドラ先生はサンノゼ出張のため、日

本語法話はありませんので、ご了承くだ

さい。

宗祖

しゅうそ

親鸞

しんらん

聖人

しょうにん

御正忌

ごしょうき

『報恩講』法要のご案内

毎年一月には、日本をはじめこの米国

仏教団の各お寺で、浄土真宗御開祖、親

鸞聖人さまのご命日法要として報恩講が

勤められます。

親鸞さまのご威徳を讃えて、私たちも

お念仏に出遇えた喜びを感謝いたしまし

ょう。どうそ、ご家族お揃いでお参りく

ださいませ。

日時…２０１７年１月１５日（日）

法要…午前１０時より、ＭＰＢにて行います。

・

日本語

講師：

長 おさ

良子

りょうこ

師

（東本願寺別院、北米監督部）

・

英語

講師：

秦

ピーター

師

(

東本願寺ロサンゼルス別院）

なお、日本語法話は講堂で行われ、その

後はソーシャル・ホールにてカブ・スカウトに

よるランチがございますので、ご参加くださ

いませ。

― 3 ―

婦人会だより

▽お知らせ

＊次のＢＷＡミーティングは新年１月１

５日、報恩講法要後に講堂で行います。

今年は当婦人会６０周年記念に向けて、

メンバーを募集しています。多くの方々

から基金集めにご協力いただき、ありが

とうございます。

＊恵信尼さま・覚信尼さま・ＢＷＡ先亡

者追悼法要が１２月４日に行われました。

原田先生、ワンドラ先生から心温まるご

法話をいただきました。法要後は恒例の

ランチョンがあり、８２名の出席があり

ました。８０歳以上のメンバーとして、

中山メリーさん、沢田正子さん、松本静

子さんに下がり藤ご紋のペンダントがプ

レゼントされました。また、サニー・メ

イラーさん、坂原ジャネットさん、下園

ジーニーさんが新メンバーとして加わり、

念珠が贈呈されました。会長の久本ジョ

ディーさんからメンバー方々へお礼の言

葉がありました。企画担当をされ、また

キーチャームや茶袋皿を進呈された山西

アイリーンさん、上村フェリスさんに、

また当番Ｇの方々にお礼申し上げます。

最後はゲームをして、楽しいひとときが

終わりました。

▽シニア・ランチョン

１２月１２日（月）に催されましたシ

ニア・ランチョンでは、５２名のシニア、

およびゲストの方々が出席され、左記の

方々のお誕生日をお祝いしました。

（敬称略）

星野清子、稲福ナンシー、

素麺ローザ、佐々木ジェイン、

安田栄三

今回のランチは原俊樹・ナンシーご夫

妻からのご寄付で、メニューはハニーベ

イクト・ハム、キャベツ・ラーメンとポ

テト・サラダで、大変美味しくいただき

ました。

＊当日ご寄附戴きました方々のお名前で

す。（敬称略）

ぶどう・・・ワンドラ睦

＊金一封ご寄付お名前です。（敬称）

星野清子、稲福ナンシー

素麺ローザ、安田栄三

次回のシニア・ランチョンは、１月９

日（月）で、カリフォルニア・ライスか

らお弁当です。皆さまのお越しをお待ち

します。

▽餅つきのお礼

＊餅つきは１２月１８日（日）の早朝か

ら行われ、８６３ポンドの餅米を使用し

ました。修理した機械も正常に動き、ボ

ーイスカウト、ガールスカウトからお手

伝いをいただいて、無事に子餅８，２４

０個、アン餅２，２７４個、またお重ね

１０４個を完売しました。当日には、朝

食、ランチを用意くだり、多くの皆さま

のご協力に感謝します！

▽冬期パシフィック・セミナー

来年１月２８日、羅府別院にて午前９

時から午後４時半まで行われます。参加

費は４０ドル（弁当を含む）ですが、Ｂ

ＷＡメンバーは２０ドルとなります。

日本語法話ではワンドラ先生、英語法

話では、原田先生、ターナー先生が予定

されています。皆さまのご参加をお待ち

します。

▽ご質問

婦人会に関してご質問がありましたら

久本

ジョディー会長へご連絡下さい。

jah

isam

@pacb

ell.com

合掌

中村

クリス

― 4 ―

ご寄付

（１１月２６日～１２月２９日までに

御寄付戴きましたご芳名）

「１２月祥月法要」

さる１２月３日に営みました「祥

月」法要にご寄付戴きました方々のお

名前は、英語欄のページをご覧

くださいませ。

合計

２，６３３ドル

「仏教会に特別寄付」

ご芳名です。（敬称略）

FIA Insurance Services

フォリック

ジェフ

ヒキジ

ヘレン

キノ

スタン

黒木

たけし

丸山

アラン

新田

アキオ

（２）

OCBC Mindfulness Center

小笠原

ポール

沖野

デビット

鈴木

エドワード

谷沢

ミッヅィー

合計

１２，５１０ドル

「永代経法要」

ご寄付ご芳名です。(

追加分・敬称略）

川村

日出男・ジェイン

「お歳暮大会」

去る１２月１１日の「お歳暮大会」

にご寄付戴きました方々のお名前は、

英語欄のページをご覧くださいませ。

合計

１２，７１０ドル

「仏教会にお礼」

ご寄付ご芳名です。（敬称略）

匿名

原田

マービン

原田

ルース

ハザマ

ケネス

コウチ

クロード

久保田日系葬儀社

中野

ギャレット

OCBC ボーイスカウトTroop 578

OCBC

ダーナ

プログラム

織田ファミリー

チャリタブル

ファウンデーション

オオクラ

グレッグ

大迫

シェリー

サカエダ

キヨシ

崎本

ダン

崎本

ジュディーン

佐々木

ダーナ

シマズ

マイリ

辻本

しょう子

合計

９，５３０ドル

「納骨堂」

ご寄付ご芳名です。（敬称略）

堂面

ひさ子

伊藤

プロパティーズ

光林

満子

前田

ふみ子

モリス

シリマ

杉村

バート

匿名（２）

合計

９６７．２２ドル

お葬儀

故ハザマ

イサム

２０１６年１１月２７日往生

故辻本

デニス

一雄

２０１６年１２月７日往生

故織田

ハリー

春教

２０１６年１２月１４日往生

仏教会一同、心よりお悔やみを申し上げ

ます。

南無阿弥陀仏

January Korin Page 16

January Korin Page 17

January Korin Page 18

January Korin Page 19

January Korin Page 20

January Korin Page 21

January Korin Page 22