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(cont’d on page 2) Vol. 55, No. 6 June 2012 REV. USUKI’S PAGE Mythology and Superstition We rely upon Tathagata Amida with our whole heart for Enlightenment in the life to come, abstaining from all sundry practices and teachings, and giving up the trust in our powerless self. Rennyo Shonin, Ryogemon Myths, superstition, spirit, luck, fate, and such beliefs are as old as mankind and existed in all early religions, societies, and cultures. Infused permanently into our thoughts and lives, they are an intriguing and con- fusing part of culture. We may believe that we live in a highly educated and sophisticated society—with tremendous scientific, medical, and technological accomplishments—yet many human beings still remain fundamentally reliant on emotion-based ideas and teachings. Despite counting on logic and common sense to live a well-calculated and painless life, people fall apart at the slightest thought of separation caused by the difficulties of life or the thought of death. During such encounters, some tend to grasp at immediate salvation in one form or an- other. They yearn for relief in a better afterlife, while embracing myths and superstitions as a reasonable approach to life. It is easy to be com- forted by others when they assure us that every- thing will be all right and that time will heal all wounds. Some pray to certain buddhas and offer incense and food as forms of supplication. Shakyamuni Buddha clearly dismissed and warned against such practices. This man who was seen daily begging in the Indian marketplaces is now represented in golden images on the altars of pagodas throughout the Far East. There he sits enveloped in clouds of incense amid a buzz of prayers. All this in spite of his having forbidden it before his death. His disciples, believing him to have supernatural intelligence and moral power, have turned him into a god. Even those who are not Buddhists admit that his great figure is the one most human and most worthy of universal admiration ever produced by India. A. Foucher, The Life of the Buddha Shinran Shonin, who relied faithfully on Sha- kyamuni Buddha’s teachings, also encouraged his followers to abandon such unreliable ideas. The opening passage, which is from Ryogemon (“Statement of Conviction”) and is attributed to Rennyo Shonin, is a clear rule of conduct for Jodo Shinshu followers, who continue to heed the words of Shinran and Shakyamuni Buddha. However, superstitions have played a major role in folk religions and commonly influenced peo- ple of the past who lived in village societies and lacked proper Buddhist education. Such beliefs have been passed on to us in a widely detrimen- tal way. Whether in jest, for fun, or due to igno- rant or hidden personal beliefs, superstitions can present a danger to the faithful and can undermine warnings issued by our teachers. Most religions consider superstition to be anti- thetical, for those who may consider it indicate a lack of trust in the teaching. Superstition is a deviation from truth-reality and although this may be obvious, we are easily persuaded to suc- cumb to its influence. mail: [email protected] Web: http://westlosangelesbuddhisttemple.org

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Page 1: REV. USUKI’S PAGE - West Los Angeles Buddhist Templewestlosangelesbuddhisttemple.org/.../uploads/2012_06_… ·  · 2012-12-28fall apart at the slightest thought of separation

(cont’d on page 2)

Vol. 55, No. 6 June 2012

REV. USUKI’S PAGE

Mythology and Superstition

We rely upon Tathagata Amida with our whole heart for Enlightenment in the life to come, abstaining from all sundry practices and teachings, and giving up the trust in our powerless self.

Rennyo Shonin, Ryogemon

Myths, superstition, spirit, luck, fate, and such beliefs are as old as mankind and existed in all early religions, societies, and cultures. Infused permanently into our thoughts and lives, they are an intriguing and con-

fusing part of culture. We may believe that we live in a highly educated and sophisticated society—with tremendous scientific, medical, and technological accomplishments—yet many human beings still remain fundamentally reliant on emotion-based ideas and teachings.

Despite counting on logic and common sense to

live a well-calculated and painless life, people fall apart at the slightest thought of separation caused by the difficulties of life or the thought of death. During such encounters, some tend to grasp at immediate salvation in one form or an-other. They yearn for relief in a better afterlife, while embracing myths and superstitions as a reasonable approach to life. It is easy to be com-forted by others when they assure us that every-thing will be all right and that time will heal all wounds. Some pray to certain buddhas and offer incense and food as forms of supplication. Shakyamuni Buddha clearly dismissed and warned against such practices.

This man who was seen daily begging in the Indian marketplaces is now represented in golden images on the altars of pagodas throughout the Far East. There he sits enveloped in clouds of incense amid a buzz of prayers. All this in spite of his having forbidden it before his death. His disciples, believing him to have supernatural intelligence and moral power, have turned him into a god. Even those who are not Buddhists admit that his great figure is the one most human and most worthy of universal admiration ever produced by India.

A. Foucher, The Life of the Buddha

Shinran Shonin, who relied faithfully on Sha-kyamuni Buddha’s teachings, also encouraged his followers to abandon such unreliable ideas. The opening passage, which is from Ryogemon (“Statement of Conviction”) and is attributed to Rennyo Shonin, is a clear rule of conduct for Jodo Shinshu followers, who continue to heed the words of Shinran and Shakyamuni Buddha.

However, superstitions have played a major role in folk religions and commonly influenced peo-ple of the past who lived in village societies and

lacked proper Buddhist education. Such beliefs have been passed on to us in a widely detrimen-tal way. Whether in jest, for fun, or due to igno-rant or hidden personal beliefs, superstitions can present a danger to the faithful and can undermine warnings issued by our teachers. Most religions consider superstition to be anti-thetical, for those who may consider it indicate a lack of trust in the teaching. Superstition is a deviation from truth-reality and although this may be obvious, we are easily persuaded to suc-cumb to its influence.

mail: [email protected] Web: http://westlosangelesbuddhisttemple.org

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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple June 2012

2

There are many instances of Buddhism today that embrace and suggest a path designed around myths, superstition, prayer, and wor-ship. Buddhism is known for its highly creative and beautiful parables and legends, created by people of India, China, Southeast Asia, Japan, and more recently, Tibet. Many of these repre-sented an early form of transmission, for the tradition was passed on only orally for some

four centuries after the Buddha’s passing. These legends and myths, purported to be told by Shakyamuni, include many supernatural stories. In the Jataka Tales, Shakyamuni was portrayed as having many previous lives as a bodhisattva, taking form as animals, gods, and other beings:

The Jatakas, or Birth-stories, form one of the sacred books of the Buddhists and relate to the adventures of the Buddha in his former existences, the best character in any story being identified with the Master. These legends were continually introduced into the religious discourses of the Buddhist teachers to illustrate the doctrines of their faith or to magnify the glory and sanctity of the Buddha, somewhat as medieval preachers in Europe used to enliven their sermons by introducing fables and popular tales to rouse the flagging interests of their hearers.

Ellen C. Babbitt, The Jataka Tales of India Although he specifically directed his disciples to follow his path to Enlightenment and to treat him as an ordinary person, because he was able to attain the highest wisdom and compassion that was beyond normal understanding, people could not treat him otherwise. The greatest tribute was paid to him, and it continues to this day. In this way Shakyamuni was bestowed a god-like status, contrary to the reality that all people could be like him and attain awakening in this life. Thus, people soon separated the potential of individual attainment of bodhi from the path of worship and devotion to Shakyamuni Buddha. Since we know very little of his actual life and because no written words from his era can be found, most sutras—written by monks and scholarly priests long after his death—took liberties to create ideals based on mythical bodhisattvas, buddha lands, and other new images. These were part of a glorified and

metaphorical new Mahayana Buddhism. Thousands and thousands of such writings remain today to portray the greatness of the Buddha, his image, and the various ways we might understand a life of enlightenment. However, all Buddhists have accepted, whether mythical, legendary, or plausible, certain ele-ments of Shakyamuni’s life. These are Gau-tama’s birth, studies, curiosity, leaving home, ascetic practices, attaining bodhi, 45 years of teaching, and his death and final Nirvana. Nonetheless, there are scores of schools of Bud-dhism, and each has a different approach to practice and to realization of enlightenment. So what are we to understand and how are we to engage meaningfully with so many fantastic sto-ries, ideas, and contradictions? Rev. Masao Kodani suggests the following on the legend or myth of the most famous story, the Hanama-tsuri (“Flower Festival”), which describes Gau- tama’s birth:

To a child, the legend is a fascinating world of images; to the young cynic, it is a silly and meaningless myth; to the psychologist, it is perhaps pregnant with meaning; to the religious, it is perhaps true as an act of faith. It may be one, all, or none of these things to any given person. Yet, Hanamatsuri story is one of the most powerful stories in Buddhism, and the one most vividly remembered. Its power cannot be felt in the world of reason, logic, or history. Its meaning and ability to move us deeply is of another realm, not magic, not supernatural, but nevertheless not of our everyday world. Hidden in this story is the outline of enlightenment. Hidden in this story is Namuamidabutsu.

Myth holds a unique place in Buddhism whether it is considered just a story or a means by which we can understand the underlying reality. For many it is much easier to use myth as dharma-working in everyday life. It helps

transcend those difficult encounters we may not wish to face, but can help penetrate the mind and heart through its skillful means.

Rev. Fumiaki Usuki

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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple June 2012

3

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: Rally Cry

I’d like to draw our members’ attention to a number of impor-tant calendar items this month.

First, the annual Southern Dis-trict Buddhist Conference is being hosted by Gardena Bud-

dhist Church on Saturday, June 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. The theme of the conference is “Buddha Embraces Me,” and the keynote speaker will be Prof. Duncan Ryuken Williams of USC, a prolific author and ordained priest in the Soto Zen tra-dition. The Gardena sangha turned out in force last year when West Los Angeles hosted the 2011 SD Buddhist Conference at UCLA, and I hope that we will have a good showing at Gar-dena this year. The deadline for registration is May 11, which will be around the time that this bulletin arrives in members’ mailboxes. Late registration will be possible, however, if you sign up by the end of May. There is a sign-up sheet in the temple office. For anyone needing trans-portation to and from Gardena, please contact me directly at 310-452-0455. No one need miss this conference for lack of transportation!

The next day, Sunday June 10 at 9:30 a.m., our sangha will be visiting our sister temple in Venice for a joint service. This is a wonderful opportunity to renew our close ties with our nearest-neighboring sangha, so please attend! Afterward, we will convene at nearby Blanco Park for a picnic. Again, anyone who needs transportation should call me at the number above. Transportation is easily arranged.

On Saturday June 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., we will hold our annual Yard Sale, which benefits the 80+ lunch program. Many of our

temple members work hard to arrange this sale. Please come and support the effort.

The following Sunday, June 17 at 10:00 a.m., will be our Fathers’ Day/Graduation Service and Scholarship presentation, followed by a lunch in the Social Hall. My wife has sometimes wondered why our Fathers’ Day service is fol-lowed by a lunch, but our Mothers’ Day service is not. I understand her point. After all, fathers and mothers alike will agree that mothers are much more important. Therefore, I will (for myself only of course) henceforth consider the lunch in honor of our graduating seniors—and if some year there is none, then in anticipation and encouragement of the next year’s graduat-ing seniors.

The following Sunday, June 24, is Temple and Garden Clean-Up. Our temple always looks good, thanks to the efforts of so many people, beginning of course with Rev. Usuki. But this is our chance to spit-polish it in advance of Obon. Please come and help out if you are able!

I am writing this on a very full stomach after our joint service in West LA on April 29, when we hosted the sangha of the San Fernando Val-ley Hongwangji Buddhist Temple. The ladies of BWA and Asoka Fujinkai went to extraordinary lengths to present a superlative lunch that was remarked on and enjoyed by all. The Social Hall was filled with a marvelous, home-cooking smell. Thanks to all who made this wonderful lunch-eon possible.

In gassho,

Rob Kafka [email protected] 310-452-0455

~ New Member ~ Please extend a warm welcome to

Emiko Matsumoto

V O L U N T E E R N E E D E D

The Temple is in need of a volunteer to take the folded and sorted Bulletins in two trays to the Barrington Post Office branch each month. (The folding and sorting is done by temple organizations, and is not part of this task.)

The drop-off hours at the Barrington location have recently been limited to 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. It is also possible to deliver the trays to the Jefferson Post Office branch near LAX, which has longer hours.

The task includes filling out and printing a report from a step-by-step list of instructions prior to delivery.

Interested members should call Rob Kafka at 310-452-0455, or email him at [email protected].

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June 9th, 2012Gardena Buddhist Church

1517 West 166th StreetGardena, Calif. 90247

Keynote SpeakerProf. Duncan Ryuken Williams講演: ダンカン・R・ウィリアムス博士

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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple June 2012

5

UPCOMING SERVICES AND EVENTS

Father’s Day and Graduation Service - Sunday, June 17 - Rev. Alan Sakamoto

May 21 (Monday): 80 Plus lunch

May 28 (Monday) Memorial Day cemetery services

10:00 a.m. - Woodlawn 11:30 a.m. - Inglewood

June 1 (Friday): drop-off deadline for Yard Sale

June 2 (Saturday): Shotsuki hoyo

June 3 (Sunday): Regular family service

Matinee with BWA (see flyer on next page)

2012 SD Buddhist Conference

Professor Duncan Williams (English and Japanese)

Saturday, June 9

(see President’s message on page 3)

Sunday, June 10

Venice Hongwanji BT invites WLABT to its picnic

(NO service at WLABT)

80 Plus Lunch YARD SALE 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, June 16

deadline to drop off donations:

Friday, June 1, 2012 Thank you very much your support!

Sunday, June 17 Father’s Day and Graduation Service

Rev. Alan Sakamoto

June 24 (Sunday): Temple and garden clean-up

June 25 (Monday): 80 Plus lunch June 26 (Tuesday): Bon dance practice starts

June 28 (Thursday): Bon dance practice

Don’t miss WLA Taiko

performing at SFVHBT’s

Obon Festival June 30 - July 1

Mark your calendar: 2012 West LA Obon Festival - July 28-29

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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple June 2012

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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple June 2012

7

JULY SHOTSUKI HOYO, 10 a.m. Saturday, July 7, 2012

Arimoto, Kotsuyu

Deguchi, Taizo

Fujihiro, Shigeko

Fujisawa, Ben

Hada, Saichi

Harada, Shimano

Hayashi, Ikutaro

Hayashi, Shizuko

Ichikawa, Shoji

Ikeda, Fuye

Ikeda, Minosuke

Inabu, Minoru

Ishihara, Haruo

Iwasaki, Masamitsu

Kaizuka, Fred

Kajiwara, Shimo

Kato, Shigeko

Kikuma, Satoye

Kishi, Asako

Kiyohiro, Kenso

Kurosaki, Kazuma

Maruyama, Robert

Matsumoto, Chiyo

Mayeda, Kimiyo

Mayeda, Sankichi

Morioka, Yuriko

Nagao, Eddie

Nagao, Mary

Nakagawa, Shio

Nakamura, James

Nakamura, Toshio

Naramura, Glenn

Niida, Kosue

Nimori, Shizuka

Nishi, Kikuo

Nishikawa, Katsumi

Nishikawa, Yoshio

Nunokawa, Henry

Oshinomi, Sumiko

Osumi, Terry

Otani, Tomoo

Ozamoto, Tominosuke

Sumida, Evelyn

Suzuki, Kanenori

Takahashi, Larry

Takemoto, Natsuko

Takemoto, Shigeko

Tanabe, Shinkichi

Tanaka, Masaki

Tanaka, Sato

Tashima, James

Teruya, Zenichi

Tochioka, Ryuhachi

Tonai, Grace

Toya, Fusajiro

Uto, Masayuki

Watarida, Ayame

Yahata, Kuniye

JUNE SHOTSUKI HOYO, 10 a.m. Saturday, June 2, 2012

Adachi, Kensaburo

Akashi, David

Akutagawa, Taro

Amiya, Katsuyoshi

Daly, Denise

Fujino, Harry

Gomez, Bernard

Harada, Kakuji

Hayashi, Yoshio

Higa, Tomohiko

Hirano, Kimiko

Ikeda, Eki

Inouye, Margaret

Ishikura, Yoshio

Iwamoto, Tomiko

Iwasaki, Echiko

Kagawa, Harry

Kagawa, Rich

Kamibayashi, Roy

Kamikihara, Nobuko

Kamitsubo, Ayako

Kamitsubo, Guri

Kato, Nobukazu

Kikunaga, Joe

Kobayashi, Masasuke

Kobayashi, Tamako

Koyama, Chokichi

Maeda, Edith

Matsubara, Tsuruko

Matsuura, Kanjiro

Minato, Joe

Miyamoto, Yukino

Mori, Masaki

Mori, Taka

Morikawa, Yae

Morioka, Kentaro

Nakamura, Tatsuno-

suke

Niiya, George

Nishi, Nijiro

Nishi, Toyo

Nishimoto, Asayo

Nishimoto, Masao

Nishimoto, Kito

Nishimura, Frank

Noda, Mitsuaki

Okimoto, Yuriko

Okita, Setsuyo

Oyanagi, Sumiko

Oyanagi, Tetsu

Sakahara, Kiyoshi

Sato, Marion

Shinmoto, George

Shirai, Kimiyo

Shirasawa, Katsusuke

Shirasawa, Keith

Shirasawa, Matuko

Suzuki, Hatsuko

Suzuki, Tatsuo

Takata, Ikuo

Takayama, Tom

Takayama, Tsune

Takazumi, Bunsuke

Takazumi, Hatsu

Takeuchi, Bea

Takeuchi, Michiko

Tanaka, Jungo

Tominaga, Harry

Yamada, Kohei

Yamanaka, Gregory

Yoshii, Chizuru

Yoshimi, Gerald

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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple June 2012

8

BUDDHISM AND WESTERN LANGUAGE Examination of Jodo Shinshu service books and other texts

SDDSTL Mini-workshop, Saturday, March 31, 2012

Thank you to Dan Leopard for the photos.

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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple June 2012

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HANAMATSURI Birth of Shakyamuni Buddha

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Dharma School message Rev. Ensei Nekoda

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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple June 2012

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BWA NEWS Yasuko Shohara

Before we get into the upcoming events of June, we must report on a very special event that occurred in April. Rev. Patti Usuki and members of San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple joined us at our service on April

29. Among the SFVHBT members was Riki Higashida, a member of the winning 2011 Aca-demic Decathlon Team from Granada Hills

Charter High School. We thank him for giving an impromptu talk about that experience.

Our very energetic VP, Connie Yahata, not only played the organ for the service but also was the chief cook and supervisor for the delicious lunch that everyone enjoyed. Thanks to BWA and Asoka members, who donated salads and desserts and helped on Saturday and Sunday to prepare the lunch:

SALAD DONORS DESSERT DONORS HELPERS

Terumi Iwamoto Hisako Kokado Toshiko Yamane

Chiyo Nishina Kayo Ohkawahira Lorraine Soda

Molly Takahashi Aiko Tsuboi Alice Umeda

Shirley Ito Haru Matsumune Kiyoko Nakamura Chiyo Nishina Kayo Ohkawahira

Kazuko Seike Yasuko Shohara Kiyoka Totani Toshiko Uyekubo Beverly Yahata

BWA gratefully acknowledges a generous dona-tion from Dorothy and Tom Ikkanda. They re-cently moved to a residential facility in Pacoima. They have joined other BWA members, Atsie Murayama and Mary Yanokawa, at the very pleasant residence.

The Southern District Buddhist Conference will be held on June 9 at Gardena Buddhist Church.

The speaker will be Professor Duncan Williams from USC. We will be car-pooling so please join us. If you haven’t already registered through BWA, please contact the temple office.

Obon season begins in June, and at the end of the month, our Taiko group will be playing at the SFVHBT Obon Festival on June 30-July 1.

[Thank you, Shirley, for the photos.]

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SFVHBT VISITS WLABT - Sunday, April 29, 2012

Thank you to Shirley Ito for the photos.

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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple May 2012

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FROM THE DESK OF: DR. JACK FUJIMOTO

BUDDHIST MEN NEWS

DONATION: The Buddhist Men received a dona-tion from Tom & Dorothy Ikkanda, who are living in Nikkei Senior Gardens (Arleta in the Valley). Thank you, Ikkandas!

SUBSIDY: The Buddhist Men agreed to pay half of the registration fee for members attending the Saturday, June 9, Southern District Buddhist Conference at Gardena Temple. Those attending should contact Milton Iwamoto, President.

CALENDAR June 9 (Saturday) 9 a.m. - Southern District

Buddhist Conference in Gardena June 10 (Sunday) 9:30 a.m. - Invitation from

Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple to join them in their picnic. More information available at the Temple Office.

June 15 (Friday) 9 a.m. - 80+ Yard Sale set up.

Buddhist Men are asked to help setup. June 16 (Saturday) 8 a.m. - 80+ Yard Sale setup.

With the anticipated large crowds, Buddhist Men would be welcome for crowd control and sales.

June 24 (Sunday) 8 a.m. -Temple and Garden cleanup.

OBON BOOTHS: For 2012, Buddhist Men will operate the udon booth along with beer concession and hot dog with chili and rice combination. No tamale booth this year.

July 20 (Friday) 7 p.m. - tent setup July 22 (Sunday) 8 a.m. - Garden cleanup and

booth construction July 28-29 Temple Obon Festival (Saturday 4-

10 p.m.) (Sunday 3- 9 p.m.) July 30 (Monday) 7 p.m. - General take down

THE 3I GROUP: Informal, Intelligent/Ignorant, Investors Group

As an offshoot of the Buddhist Men and Temple Endowment Committee, the 3 I’s Group has been meeting to learn more about growing the Temple’s Endowment Funds.

Most recently, Tosh Ishioka along with Victor Naramura, Endowment Committee chairman, had us convene with representatives from the Santa Monica office of Fidelity Investments in a working–educational session (April 25, 2012).

We want to keep the informality of meeting and learn about investments. We also want to move the pendulum from ‘ignorant’ to ‘intelligent’.

Others meeting with Tosh and Victor are Neal Yahata, Jack Fujimoto, Milton Iwamoto, and Rick Stambul. Interested others can join us after the next Buddhist Men meeting, 7 p.m., second Thursday of the month.

3I Group:

Victor Naramura Tosh Ishioka Jack Fujimoto Neal Yahata

Milton Iwamoto

Photo courtesy of Victor Naramura

(See the next page for Dr. Jack’s “Sawtelle Stories” article)

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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple June 2012

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SAWTELLE STORIES - Sunday, April 22, 2012

Sawtelle Stories Forum 8 featured speakers fo-cusing on life from Pearl Harbor Day (December 7, 1941) to Resettlement in Communities (most concentration camps closing December 1945). Speakers from the Westside told their stories to a capacity crowd at the New Center for Psycho-analysis on Sawtelle Boulevard.

Speakers told of their experiences living in American-style concentration camps, Canadian-style concentration camps, and US Department of Justice camps such as Santa Fe and Crystal City. Also, the story of great interest was about those who did not go to camp but relocated east of the wartime zone.

Rev. Ensei Nekoda spoke about his personal ex-periences in the harsh Canadian environment of evacuating east of the 100 mile wartime exclu-sion zone. Through Rev. Nekoda’s stories, I could readily sense the immense cruelty im-posed on the Canadian Nikkei by the Mounties (governing authority) and the Canadian govern-ment. For the Canadian Nikkei, it was “go east,” not “go west.” Tosh Ishioka of our Temple talked about his younger days in Denver, Colorado, where his family relocated rather than going to one of the ten concentration camps administered by the War Relocation Authority. Tosh told stories about going to school, getting ‘bullied’, and how

he survived before returning to Sawtelle and joined his dad in operating the Kobayakawa House.

Robert Goka, scion of the Frank’s Nursery Goka, told stories about his dad and his political acumen. In those early days, Robert’s father was an entrepreneur, running bingo parlors in Houston, Texas, buying parcels on Wilshire Boulevard between the Santa Monica and Los Angeles property lines, and running nurseries. Bob was able to recount several stories about his colorful dad and family in Manzanar as well as his early ‘out’ from camp.

Ben Takashi Takeuchi has lived in the Westside much of his life except those years that he spent in Crystal City, Texas. Crystal City was one of nearly twenty Department of Justice and War Department camps holding POWs, including Japanese Americans, Japanese-Peruvians, and several others from Latin American countries. Ben told of living among the Nikkei of the US as well as Latin America, but also included stories about dealing with the German and Italian POWs who lived in the same compound.

Jack Fujimoto of our Temple moderated the sessions that illustrated the sharp contrasts of Nikkei life during WW II. What this forum illustrated was the fact that ‘everyone has a unique story to tell’ and that opportunities need to be opened so that ‘each can tell their story’.

The forum is displayed at the website, www.sawtellejis.org, linked to the news umbrella.

HO-ONKO SERVICE - January 27, 1991 Photo courtesy of Mrs. Kay Oda

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West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple June 2012

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June 2012 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Office hours: 10 am - 4 pm

phone: 310-477-7274 e-mail: [email protected]

website: http://westlosangelesbuddhisttemple.org/

Bulletin folding toban: Temple

1 2

10 am Shotsuki hoyo

3

9:30 am Family service, discussion

11 am BWA meeting 12 pm Matinee w/BWA

4 Rev. Usuki off

5 Rev. Usuki off

6 7:30 pm Service and board mtg

7 1 pm Study Class (E) 7:30 pm Taiko

8 9

SD Buddhist Conference at Gardena

Prof. Duncan Williams

Arizona Obon

10

NO service at WLA WLABT visits Venice

(picnic)

11 Rev. Usuki off

12

6/12-13 (Tue-Wed):

13 SDMA Fuken 7:30 pm Obon mtg 7:30 pm Taiko

14 1 pm Study Class (E) 7:00 pm B-Men mtg

15 9 am Yard sale set-up 7 pm Bingo

16 9 am - 3 pm 80+ Yard sale

17

10 am Father’s Day and Graduation service, lunch

Rev. Alan Sakamoto (E) Rev. F. Usuki (J)

18 Rev. Usuki off

19 Rev. Usuki off

20 7:30 pm Taiko

21

10 am omimai

1 pm Study Class (E)

22 23 Sun Valley Obon

24

NO service

8 am Temple and garden clean-up Sun Valley Obon

25 12 pm 80+ lunch

26 7:30 pm Bon dance practice

27 7:30 pm Taiko 7:30 pm Asoka svc/mtg

28 1 pm Study Class (E) 7:30 pm Bon dance practice

29 30

WLA Taiko at

SFVHBT Obon Festival

Senshin Obon

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2012 年 6 月 日曜日 月曜日 火曜日 水曜日 木曜日 金曜日 土曜日

オフィス時間:

午前 10 時 — 午後 4 時 電話:310 - 477 - 7274

会報作リ

当番:

仏教会

1 2

午前 10:00 祥月法要

3

午前 9:30 サービス

デスカッション

午前 11 BWAミー テング、正午ムービー

4

宇宿先生休み

5

宇宿先生休み

6

午後 7:30 サービス

幹部ミーテング

7

午後 1:00 スタデークラス(英)

午後 7:30 タイコ

8 9 SD Buddhist Conference Gardena Buddhist Church

お盆 Arizona

10

ベニス

サービス ピックニック

11

宇宿先生休み

12 6 月 12-13 日 (火-水):

(Claremont)

13 SDMA フケン

午後 7: 30 お盆

ミーテング

午後 7:30 タイコ

14

午後 1:00 スタデークラス(英)

午後 7:00ブデスト

メン•ミーテング

15

午前 9:00 ヤード・

セール set-up

午後 7:00 ビンゴー

16

午前 9:00 - 午後 3:00 ヤード・セール

17

午前 10:00 父の日

サービス/ランチ

坂本アラン(英)

宇宿先生(日)

18

宇宿先生休み

19

宇宿先生休み

20

午後 7:30 タイコ

21

午前 10:00おみまい

午後 1:00 スタデークラス(英)

22 23

お盆 Sun Valley

24

[NO 日曜日サービス]

午前 8:00 お掃除

お盆 Sun Valley

25

正午 80+中ランチ

26

午後 7:30 盆踊り

ケイコ

27

午後 7:30 タイコ

午後 7:30アソカ サービス/ミーテング

28

午後 1:00 スタデークラス(英)

午後 7:30 盆踊り

ケイコ

29 30

WLA タイコ

お盆 SFVHBT

お盆 Senshin

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2012 Southern District Obon Festival Schedule

sorted by date (please contact temple to confirm) 6/09 Arizona 7/07-08 Los Angeles Betsuin 7/28-29 Vista, West LA, Higashi

6/23-24 Valley JCC 7/14 Oxnard 8/04 San Diego, SLO

6/30 Senshin, West Covina 7/14-15 Pasadena, Venice 8/04-05 Gardena

6/30-7/01 San Fernando Valley 7/21-22 OCBC 8/11 Las Vegas

7/22 Guadalupe

sorted by temple (times given below dates are dance start times)

6/09 Arizona Buddhist Temple 4142 West Clarendon Avenue

6:45 pm (602) 278-0036 [email protected] Phoenix AZ 85019

8/04-05 Gardena Buddhist Church 1517 West 166th Street

6:00 pm (310) 327-9400 [email protected] Gardena CA 90247

7/22 Guadalupe Buddhist Church 1072 Olivera Street

3:00 pm (805) 343-1053 [email protected] Guadalupe CA 93434

Obon: Veterans Memorial Building; 214 W Tunnel St Santa Maria CA 93458

8/11 Las Vegas Buddhist Sangha

12:45 pm Obon: Cimarron Memorial HS; 2301 N Tenaya Way Las Vegas NV 89128-0422

7/07-08 Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple 815 East 1st Street

Sat: 7:00 pm Sun: 6:30 pm (213) 680-9130 [email protected] Los Angeles CA 90012-4304

7/21-22 Orange County Buddhist Church 909 South Dale Street

7:00 pm (714) 827-9590 [email protected] Anaheim CA 92804

7/14 Oxnard Buddhist Temple 250 South "H" Street

6:00 pm (805) 483-5948 [email protected] Oxnard CA 93030

7/14-15 Pasadena Buddhist Temple 1993 Glen Avenue

6:30 pm (626) 798-4781 [email protected] Pasadena CA 91103-1521

8/04 Buddhist Temple of San Diego 2929 Market Street

6:30 pm (619) 239-0896 [email protected] San Diego CA 92102

6/30-7/01 San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple 9450 Remick Avenue

Sat: 7:00 pm Sun: 6:30 pm (818) 899-4030 [email protected] Pacoima CA 91331

8/04 San Luis Obispo Buddhist Temple 6996 Ontario Road

6:30 pm (805) 595-2839 [email protected] San Luis Obispo CA 93405

Obon: Veterans Memorial Building, 801 Grand Avenue San Luis Obispo CA 93401

6/30 Senshin Buddhist Temple 1311 West 37th Street

7:00 pm (323) 731-4617 [email protected] Los Angeles CA 90007

6/23-24 Valley JCC 8850 Lankershim Boulevard

Sat: 7:00 pm Sun: 6:30 pm (818) 767-9921 [email protected] Sun Valley CA 91352

7/14-15 Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple 12371 Braddock Drive

6:30 pm (310) 391-4351 [email protected] Culver City CA 90230-5869

7/28-29 Vista Buddhist Temple 150 - Building B Cedar Road

6:30 pm (760) 941-8800 [email protected] Vista CA 92083

7/28-29 West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple 2003 Corinth Avenue

6:30 pm (310) 477-7274 [email protected] Los Angeles CA 90025

7/28-29 Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple 505 East 3rd Street

6:30 pm (213) 626-4200 [email protected] Los Angeles CA 90013

6/30 West Covina Buddhist Temple 1203 West Puente Avenue

7:00 pm (626) 913-0622 West Covina CA 91790

With appreciation to San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple for permission to reprint this list.