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End of Year Service 31-Dec-2006

Minister's Message by Rev. Fujimoto

Good evening! This is the last night of the year, New Year's Eve. Thank you for making time to attend this Joya-E or "End of Year Service". This Service gives us a chance to look back on the year that is coming to a close in just a few more hours.

In Buddhism, we are often reminded to reflect. This is the mind of meditation. This is also a natural process, we look back from where we came, we look around to see where we are right now, we look ahead the way we want to go from here. Are we going the right way? If the answer is no, we make an adjustment. If the answer is yes, we keep going. Either we adjust and keep going, or we keep going. As we move ahead, Buddhism reminds us that the Middle Path is the most stable.

At this time, I would like to thank each of you for all you have done for the Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple throughout this past year. I would also like to thank you for the support you have given me. Your attendance and all your efforts mean so much here and to me. There are Services, activities, and fundraisers that each of us make important with our presence. There are also dinners, memorials, and birthdays that we share. All of these gatherings make the Temple what it is. Thank you so very much. Namo Amida Butsu.

I was flipping through my calendar book in my own reflection of this past year. So much happened here. Let me go through this with you. As last January began, we were all looking forward to hosting the BCA High School Reunion Retreat. We received much recognition throughout BCA for our hosting efforts. There were articles and pictures for the following four months. At the conclusion of the retreat, Sacramento's Rinban Oshita was our first guest speaker of the year, for our Hoonko Service. If you remember, we were practicing the Shoshinge, just to get ready for the kids. Before the kids even got here, Mr. Joe Nagaki passed away, reminding us of the truths and the frailties of life.

As the retreat settled down, some of us were downstairs, painting gold Kanji onto black banners for the Annual Cultural Center Ball. Shortly after that, I was able to attend my first NW District Convention. We had a busload of people, and a busload of fun in our visit to Spokane. In March, Rev. Hirano from Salt Lake joined us as our second guest speaker of the year. His presence made our Spring Ohigan Family Service a special event. At the end of the month, we had our very first 100 Day Baby Blessing for the Usui family of Boise. This was an unusual and rare event. April began with the celebration of Madame Fujima's 50 years of dance instruction. It was a happy and well deserved recognition for Sensei. Before the month would end, we lost both Mr. Kaz Hinatsu and Mr. Shig Kitamura, just two days apart, again reminding us of our human-ness and the fragile nature of our lives.

As Spring came into full bloom, we were able to celebrate Kathy Chatterton's retirement with encouragement and envy. High school graduations for Laurel Saito and Brady Kameshige were milestone occasions for our stars from the January Retreat. June brought the Portland Taiko Camp, attended by most of our Sangha Taiko. They returned with energy and enthusiasm that is still going strong.

Summer started full speed ahead. Japan Nite was a big success, and it took another heroic effort by all of us. Grant Saito attended this year's BCA Youth Retreat in Sacramento over the July Fourth week. Because of the Youth Retreat, he missed our Dharma School trip to Salt Lake City and their Obon Festival. As soon as we were back, we had to get ready for the bus to the White River Reunion. Happy Bowl week was just around the corner, requiring another huge effort. Surprising us all, Mr. Dick Harada passed away. Our only wedding was in August, a very special day for Darlene and the Kondo Family. Wedding and Funeral were on days back to back, making it very clear that both the highs and lows of life are just a blink apart.

In September, was the World Fujinkai Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. None of our members attended, but I want to mention this because in five years, the World Convention is in Japan. Save your nickels, I hope many of us will be going to this one together. October started with Kakimochi, heroic effort #3, yare yare, 12 hours of hell. We were still sore when the Bazaar came up, heroic effort #4. In mid-month, we lost Mrs. Yoshiye Hironaka and Mr. George Uyeki on consecutive days. We were saddened and shocked. Even still, it is hard to believe.

October ended with the district MAP Seminar in Seattle. We sent Kathy Chatterton, George Gledhill, Sharmon Sadamori and Anne Spencer. Although we had been preparing for months earlier, this occasion made it a reality for our participants and for our temple. As they continue, we will all benefit from their efforts.

In November, I was invited as guest speaker to Marysville and Placer Buddhist Temples. These engagements were on my calendar for over a year. As a kid, my father was assigned to the Placer Buddhist Temple. I was seven years old. I was this tall. Itazura kozo. Even today, every time I hit the Kansho to start service, I can hear my father hitting their Kansho. To speak there meant so much to me. As I was giving my Dharma talk, my leg was shaking. As I got back, the Fujinkai Memorial was around the corner. My mother's visit as guest speaker was special and fun. It was November 19. On that same day, we lost Mr. Kenji Arima. Again, the ebb and flow of life, such is as it is.

We arrive at the holiday season, Thanksgiving and Christmas give us occasion for family and friends, to gather and regroup, we catch up with each other, and we catch our breath. The snow on the ground made it pretty and perfect.

As we reflect upon the past year, we can see both the highs and the lows, just like the graph of the heartbeat. Sometimes, we hear people say, "I'm so busy, I can't get anything done." But it's the highs and the lows that bring meaning to our lives. As each subsides, we return to the middle. In the middle, we find stability. The Buddhist Teachings encourage us to walk the Middle Path. This means to recognize and to seek the stability of the middle. The Nembutsu is the middle. Namo Amida Butsu reminds us of the middle and returns us to the middle. It is with the stability of the middle that we can truly enjoy and appreciate the highs and we can have the capacity to endure and weather the lows. Fortunate or unfortunate, either way, everything will be all right as we return to the middle. This is the benefit of living the life of Nembutsu.

Tonight at the end of service, we each take turns to hit the Kansho behind the Onaijin (Altar). This ritual is called "Joya no Kane", or "Bell of the last night." We are to hit the Kansho 108 times, to remind ourselves of the 108 Passions or Bonno that bind us to this world of delusion. The 108 passions are neither good nor bad � they are the highs and the lows of life. Despite them and because of them, there is the middle. It is with these thoughts that we can understand this life we go through. Returning to the middle, we are ready for more, we have no choice. Shuffle the cards and deal, lets see how it all unfolds.

........GASSHO..........RAIHAI

Rev. Dennis

End of Year Service 31-Dec-2006

Minister's Message by Rev. Fujimoto

Location

Sunday Service